Mabel Gardner Burton Anderson History

Dear Anderson Cousins,

I am starting a blog to be able to gather information about our family. My first focus is going to be on our Grandmother Mabel Gardner Burton Anderson. When I was very young I had an uncommon feeling of closeness to my Grandma Anderson. I didn't know her and yet I felt like I did. My dad (John) told me it was because she was in heaven picking us out to come to her family. Maybe so...
 As we know, our grandmother past away at a very young age. She was only 46 years old. So none of us were alive to know her personally. Jayne Robertson Kimball was born but after eleven months of her life grandma passed away. I feel the need to study her life and find out as much as possible so that we all may get to know her a little better. I will try to piece together her life in a timeline.



... "My mother, Mabel Gardner Burton was born 20 Jan 1900 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The second daughter, and youngest child of Willard Cushing Burton and Mary Jane Eliza Gardner. Mother had five older brothers, Willard, Carl, Arthur, Earl and Alma, and an older sister, Hazel. (I discovered several other siblings who were stillborn or died shortly after birth in my genealogy research. Mother may have never known of them.)
...My mother was very close to her father, perhaps because she wasn't close to her to her mother, who was 45 when she was born and didn't accept this new baby as lovingly as she might have. Mother was very close to her brother, Arthur and sister Hazel.
                                                             (Excerpt from writings by Shirley Anderson Robertson 9 Sep 2005)
                                                                                                   

     I have not found any information about Grandma Anderson's childhood. I have no journals kept by her or any writings from others about her childhood.

                                                    United States Federal Census 1900

                                  This is a census record taken in 1900 when Mabel was 5 months old.



                                                  United States Federal Census 1910

                               This is a census record taken in 1910 When Mabel was 10 years old.


         ... We eventually moved to Roberta St. and 21st South (2045 Roberta St.) which placed us in the Farmer's Ward where I met many fine people my age and there is where I met my bride-to-be. I had many happy times at M.I.A. dances and debates and public speaking contests. And Speaking of contests I had many of all kinds in that ward. Many fine fellows would assemble at the drug store corner (17th So. and State St.) and would harmonize all the old time songs and hymns. We were, I think pretty good too. Then some of the girls would come to the drug store for after meeting ice cream sodas, etc. I'm quite sure they came mostly to see the singers and perhaps an invitation to be escorted home. I'm sure it was the main reason for us fellow to assemble there.

     Some of the fellows did pretty well in their lives. One became the Mayor of Salt Lake, two attorneys and one a professor at the Utah State University at Logan. He was the singer with a fine tenor voice. I could have lost my Sweetheart to any one of them I think, including a fellow who was the secretary to Senator Reed Smoot. He was quite a bit older than I was, but was the choice of Grandma Burton (Aunt Molly).

     I'll have to tell you how I was first attracted to my little brown eyed Mabel. Her hair was long and almost jet black and shimmered with a beautiful gloss in the sunlight. She had a sort of sad look in her eyes sometimes and I wanted to gather her in my arms and say something to make her happy and smile. What A deep love I had for her and still do. Hopefully I'll be worthy of her again.

     An incident that sort of strengthened my determination to try to over come the competition is as follows. One Sunday morning in Sunday School we were having our singing practice and it was being conducted by Br. Evan Stephens, he who has composed many of our church hymns. Bro. Stephens lived in a nice home on State St. almost directly across the street from the old County Hospital. He had a small pond in his front lawn with a couple of white bark birch trees next to it and made a very pretty picture. As I passed his home on many occasions he would be sitting in his little row boat reading or perhaps composing some of his music.

     He was a fine man, but very exacting when conducting the singing, either in Sunday School or the Tabernacle Choir. On this particular Sunday he was walking up and down the aisle having first one group sing and then another. Suddenly as he walked to the front of the auditorium, a kitten began to meow. Bro. Stephens turned around and walked down the aisle in search of the kitten which promptly stopped it's crying, and search as he would no sign of it. Many of the folks also wondered where the sound came from.

     When Bro. Stephens would continue the singing the kitten would start to cry again. Finally, I discovered the kitten under or inside of Mamie's heavy coat and she would cover it up when Bro. Stephens would start looking for it and as soon as his back was turned she would uncover it. The kids all thought it was a good stunt and I made up my mind that she was the girl for me.

     I had a lot of competition from fellows who had been in that ward (farmers) longer than I had. There was the M.I.A. and all of the activities, such as the "open nights" when we would have either a dance or a one or two act play and speech contests. They were a lot of fun and I was fortunate to be able to walk Mamie home thru the snow storms and would have a chance to make plans for our future. I think she was about 14 and I was 17 when we first met and her Mom and Dad as well as my own Mom were concerned about our serious planning and our young age, but I was so sure that she was the only one that I at least paid no attention to them.

     Her hopes and plans had to be altered tho because of my lack of High School and College training. At one time I was told I should not see her so regularly and I tried to conform to the wishes of her parents and tried dating a couple of other girls (Thelma Hales and Dorothy Wieler) but it just didn't work; Mamie's beautiful brown eyes were before me in all my thoughts and dreams. I was deeply in love and there was nothing I could do about it. At on time after I had moved to 366 Hampton Ave. (Liberty Ward) I tried to make a break because we had had a little misunderstanding. We mutually decided to go our different ways. Mamie was going to the Granite High School at the time and had dates from the school and I lost some valuable time without her.

     I dated Ivy May Frazier (?) and we had some good times together. She played the piano well and I thought I could sing, at least Ivy May told me I could and after meetings we would go to her house or in the winter we would go skating on the lake at Liberty Park. All this time I was secretly singing to and skating with Mamie on my mind. I thought I had lost out completely with her. This went on for 6 or 8 months.

     Then one wintry day near Christmas time, the sleigh bells down the street came closer and a two seater sleigh drawn by two beautiful horses stopped in front of our house. I went out in the snow storm to see who it was and found Shipley Burton and his sister in the front seat and there in the back seat in a big furry robe was my Mamie. She handed me a very pretty leather bound book and wished me a Merry Christmas. I have thanked the Lord many times for that visit because it brought us together again and we were happy. Mamie accused me many times of never proposing to her and I guess she was right; I just assumed that it was the way it should be.

     The war (WWI) came and most of my friends left and some of them joined the 145th Field Artillery (Utah Sate National Guard) and that organization left for Camp Kearney for training. It left me sticking out like a sore thumb. not being in uniform, so I convinced all concerned that I should also go into the Army. I was told that if I joined (volunteered) I could choose the place I wanted to go, so I caught up with my friends in the 145th F.A. at Kearney.

     Before I left for Calif. I was sent to Ft. Douglas to get my uniform and orders. Mamie was graduating from High School during my two weeks at Fort Douglas. On the evening of her graduation she was sitting on the stage of the assembly room and as her name was called I had the happy privilege of handing a bouquet of red roses up to her. She was one of the loveliest girls in the world. Red roses were sort of accepted as the token of my love for her. Before we were married I made it a point to take red roses, usually buds of half blooms to her on occasions. She liked pink roses too.

     A few days later I went by train to Camp Kearney just outside of San Diego, Calif. for my basic training. It was sort of a hard thing for me to do to leave my Mom and Mamie, but my own sons can understand that ordeal. I liked California and made up my mind that if the opportunity ever came to me, this is where I would want to me. I met my friends who had preceded me her and felt quite happy at being in the service with them.

     Letters  came frequently from her and my mom. They were messages of love and encouragement and Mable and I planned a little rose covered home to me located some where in Roosevelt, Utah area where we hoped to settle some day. Now, I don't know why we chose that particular place as I had never been a farmer and I'm sure would not have been a very good one. But as it is said, "love is blind" and I surely proved the point except for the beauty of my Mamie.
                                                                                      (Excerpt from Clarence Wilford Anderson History)

                                                       Clarence Wilford Anderson

   

                                                        Mabel Gardner Burton Anderson
...While he (Clarence) was gone mother rolled bandages and helped out at the Red Cross. She survived the terrible influenza epidemic which killed so many people in 1918. Their (Clarence's) group of men were all under the command of B.H. Roberts and Dad always had very fond memories of him and some of his friends who were member of that group. Dad came home soon after the Armistice was declared, and he and Mamie started making plans for their wedding.
They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on July 16,1919. Their reception was in the State Street mansion and the only thing I can remember my Mother telling me was there were roses pinned on all the curtains and it was lovely.
I have often thought about how Grandma Anderson  (Mary Jane Eliza Gardner) and her daughters must have felt both at the temple and the reception. I am sure dear Grandpa Burton , aunt Hazel, and uncle Art must have been very kind and loving to them as they always were to dad. They accepted him and loved him, making it so mush easier for Mother.
After the honeymoon in the mountains above Salt Lake, the young couple settled down in the little yellow house on Main St. near 21st South. (It must have been a rather strange honeymoon, since most of the Anderson Clan decided to go camping with them.)We lived in the Main St. house for several years. It was in the Burton Ward and the Burton ward was full of Burtons.
My grandparents lived in the big house on State Street. I remember sliding down the long golden banister and racing through the many rooms, but only when my grandmother was not around. She said ladies don't do things like that,  to her I was already a lady.

Shirley Anderson Robertson age 4

                                                   Shirley Ann Anderson b. 26 Nov.1920

I remember being with all the aunts and some cousins, sitting underneath the beautiful trees during canning and harvesting season, when the ladies were preparing fruit and vegetables for canning, pies and just eating.
When all the women were together like that I can still recall how beautiful Mother (Mabel) was.
She was younger than any of the others and was by far the most beautiful. She had a look of serenity and peace about her that touched even a very young little girl. I loved to look at her, and really enjoyed those lovely days under the trees.
Grandpa had a big garden and lots of fruit trees. There were corn, peas, apples, pears, cherries, apricots and many other fruits and veggies, and my favorites, tomatoes and onions. They made the most wonderful chili sauce. I can still remember the wonderful smell of chili sauce permeating the air all the way home from school in later autumn days. It was a lovely happy time to be alive.
I always loved going down into the fruit cellars where the temperature was always about the same and the fruits and veggies could be stored there summer and winter. They were a lot like deep underground rooms, and boy did they ever smell good. Of course that was usually only where there was lots of produce grown and the only way to keep the produce fresh because we had no refrigeration. I remember the basement in my grandmother's house in Crystal Ave. also having a special fruit room which was for the bottled fruits and veggies.
When most of the Burtons left Burton Ward area, my grandparents, Aunt Hazel, Uncle Carl and Uncle Al all moved to the Highland Park area, and we moved there too. We moved to 2689 Beverly Street, within walking distance of all the family, the church and school.

                                                Clarence Burton Anderson b. 11 Mar 1922

     My first brother, Burt had been born in the Main Street house on March 11, 1922 with Art being born at a maternity home across from Liberty Park on Jan 24, 1924. I remember seeing him with a long scratch on his nose which he had done himself. When my Grandpa saw him he told mother not to worry about "this one", and though there were lots of times when "this one" seemed a real handful, Grandpa was so right. He has been a remarkable person and one of my most favorite people in the whole world. Since we lived in the city, I don't remember some of the things that many of my generation tell of.  So much of the population at that time were farmers or folks living in  rural areas that things were different than living in the city. We had indoor plumbing, though I do remember being bathed in a large wash tub in the kitchen during the winter because it was too cold to use the bathroom. I was the first kid to get a bath because the boys played harder and got dirtier than I did, so we could often use the same bath water more than once. I was always glad I was first.
We had a huge wood stove for hot water, and it also furnished most of the heat for the house in the winter.
I was running around the kitchen one evening as mother was preparing dinner, and bumped her arm just as she lifted a pan of boiling potatoes off the stove, and it tipped and the boiling water went on me just below my neck to my knees. The scars from the burn could be seen for years.

     When Burt was born he had what they called then a hare lip. He had surgery and it made a big difference, but still left bad scars and was always a source of embarrassment for him, I've wondered if that had anything to do with his rather withdrawn nature. He also is on of my most favorite people in the world. The later years of his life were such a wonderful gift to me and Keith, and of course, the rest of the family. I treasure the time we had with him.

                                                     Arthur Burton Anderson b. 24 Jan 1924

Back to the time we lived on Beverly St.
     We finally had a coal furnace and  coal had to be delivered periodically and dumped in the coal cellar in the basement, There was always a special room for that coal and it was delivered through an opening in the foundation and put on a slide thingy into the cellar. I love to see the coal man come  because he was so covered with coal dust, he was black. I thought he was one of the Negroes I had heard of, who had the black skin. The toilet had a water tank suspended from the ceiling with a chain to pull to flush the toilet. This was one of the most modern ones. Many of the houses, even in the city, still used the little outhouses way out in the backyard, and the weather was really cold and snowy during the winter, so they were quite uncomfortable.
     Dad had a model T Ford coupe and I remember so well how we all fit in the little car. At first it was just Burt and I , but when Art came along I sat in the middle and Burt sat on a tiny little blue wooden chair and Mother held Art. She must have been so cramped in that little car. Then we got a larger Hupmobile and Mother held baby Richard and we three older kids sat in the back. The thing I remember most is when Jack was a baby. Mother held him and I sat in the middle of the back seat holding Dick with Art on one side and Burt on the other side. Some of the time they were asleep because it was usually rather late at night coming back from family gatherings, and it seemed to take forever to go from Salt Lake to Midvale. I treasure those memories, but I sure got tired at the time.
     We had our dairy products delivered each day and I remember how strange the milk bottles looked in the winter time when the milk froze and the cream rose about 2 or 3 inches above the bottle with the milk cap still on top of the cream. I always felt lucky that we could get the milk without having to milk a cow or churn our own butter as so many folks at that time had to. I realize now that there was still a lot we missed that my friends didn't necessarily enjoy, but I still look back on with fondness.
     We always had the best home made bread in the world, though at the time I wished we could have "store bought" bread as some of the richer kids had. Little did I know how much I would miss the bread Mother made. I've never smelled a better smell in my life than Mother's bread baking or just out of the oven. She always had hot bread and honey with a cup of hot cocoa ready for us when we would come in after sleigh riding. What lovely memories!
     We didn't have refrigerators then and only the rich people had ice boxes, so the shopping was different, and we couldn't keep food for more than a day. We used a lot of the cold water in the sink to keep watermelons cool etc. Yes, we did have watermelons and they were so cheap, so we ate lots of it and I have always loved watermelon ever since.
Mother made all my clothes, including the black poplin bloomers that I wore. They reached clear to my knees and I longed for the time that I could have bloomers bought at the store.
     We had books, teachers and the fear of not learning. We had to furnish all our own supplies and we knew that out parents had to sacrifice and work so hard for our education that it must be pretty important that we learn, so learn we did. School was a fun experience and a choice part of a choice childhood.
     One day I went home from school and wasn't permitted to go into the house. My Mother was giving birth to my brother Richard. He was born breach and both Dick and Mother came so close to not making it. I know it was the faith and prayers of my dear Dad and the dear Lord that pulled them through. That was June 26, 1927.

                                                 Richard Burton Anderson b.26 Jun 1927

At that time most babies were born at home with a midwife in attendance. Mother had the same midwife for me, Burt, and Dick. She was Mrs. Draught and stayed with Mother for a week or so after the birth. Art and Jack were born in Maternity Homes. Dick was such a special person, He had a sweet sensitivity about him and a consideration that few people have. Mother always said he had come so close to going home that he must have retained more of the spiritual qualities of our pre-existence.
     We were a happy family and dad had gone to work at Grandpa's lumberyard. It became necessary to move to a larger house to accommodate the growing family. The house was still in the same neighborhood across the street from Aunt Hazel, back to back to Uncle Carl, and about three blocks from Grandpa and Grandma.
     I was so thrilled to be even closer to Jane, my cousin and best friend. Uncle Carl lived just across the street form the Hugh B, Brown estate and we played with Hugh B Jr. and his brother, Manley. I once knocked Manley flat for teasing Burt about his lip.
   

                                                  John Burton Anderson b. 17 May 1930

On May 17,1930 our Johnnie boy was born, What a blessing this last son was to the family. I was nine and a half years old and did so enjoy helping mother with this new little brother. It was just like I had a new doll, but much better. I love him and all my brothers so very much.
     Since he was born in a hospital or maternity home ( i don't remember which) we had a young woman come in to take care of us. I remember her as a very glamorous girl. She actually wore lipstick and perfume and had several young men come over during the time she took care of us. I was about shocked to death when I saw her smoke. That and the lipstick made me sure she was going to Hell. Of course she didn't do any of that when she thought we had seen her. Little did she know how much of what she did was seen by a little nine year old girl with a lot of curiosity.
     While we were in that house Dad was not home much at night so I think he must have had a second job or worked a night shift. It was during that time that there was a lot of home break-ins and robberies. One night the police came to the door and asked Mother if they could use the house to help catch the burglars. She said she would help in any way, so we made the house appear to be empty a lot at night and the police were watching all the time. The night our house was the target I remember so well. Mother and I were sitting in the living room when the police nabbed the burglar on our porch. It was exciting! That was also the place where Art and Burt set the dry field next to us on fire. I don't know what they were trying to do, but the fire department came out and Mother, who was visiting with her close friend, Jane Tingey made the boys go in the house and told them not to come out for anything or anyone. They must have told her they were responsible because she knew they had done it. After the firemen had questioned Jane and Mother, I remember Mother saying "Well, I know who did it, but I am certainly not going to tell them". That was the one and only time I ever knew my Mother to lie. I was so glad she did. I didn't want my little brothers to go to prison, and that's what I thought would happen. They were really a pain in the neck at that time, but I had seen the prison on 21st South and didn't want them to have to live there.
     Every year on the 25 of October, Robert Taylor Burton's birthday, all his descendants would attend the Burton Family Reunion. I remember that as an especially fun time.  It was usually at night at a huge building, probably a church, and all his children and grandchildren from all three wives would meet and have a wonderful time. There were usually more than five hundred people there and the kids just had a ball.

...Mother and Dad always spent their anniversary at Soltair. They would ride the old opened sided Bamberger train out there and Mother always packed ham ground up with sweet pickle sandwiches, fresh peaches and always made a box of Dad's favorite candy. It was a tradition that was sweet and loving, and a joy for me to remember.
The Depression was looming and Dad was asked to go to Midvale to run the Burton Lumberyard there, so the folks built a lovely home in Midvale. We stayed in Grandpa's basement for several months while the house was being built.
     There were several things that stand out in my memory while we were there. At first it was kinda fun because we were  almost camping and we did love camping. But it soon got to be a hassle.
The basement had one bedroom and a large area finished for a living room. I can't remember where anyone but I slept. I am sure the living room must have served as a dormitory for the boys and I had the bedroom, but where Dad and Mother slept is vague. Maybe there was another bedroom down there.
I was always excited when I would awaken and not hear any traffic on 13th East because that meant it had snowed during the night and I did love the snow. The toilet was in a very dark and frightening tiny room, more like a closet without any windows or lights that a child could reach. The room beyond the closet was so dark and scary I never did find out about it. It must have had more storage room, but it was like an unexploreable cave to me. Needless to say, there were many little feet that went up the stairs to the main floor bathroom.
     On Halloween Daddy brought pumpkins home and we had fun carving them. After that Art lit his candle but couldn't see it as well as he wanted to because it wasn't dark enough, so he put it under the couch. I told him that was not a good thing to do, but of course I was only the big sister and didn't know anything so he didn't pay any attention and the couch caught on fire. After Dad put the fire out and lectured Art on the dangers of fire and getting it too close to furniture, he ended the lecture by telling Art to listen more to his sister. I didn't wipe the smug smile off my face for a long time. Gee, I was obnoxious.

I remember how thrilled we were to move into the new house and how that new house smell was so nice. I had a room which I shared with my little brother Dick. Burt and Art shared the room next to mine and daddy and mother had the front bedroom. Later Dick and Johnnie had the room next to mine and the older boys moved to the bedroom in the basement. Dad bought fruit trees for each of us and it was wonderful getting cherries off of mine. We had peaches, pears, apricots and cherries. There was one other but I have forgotten what it was.
The folks bought a bicycle which was shared between Burt, Art and me, I was always so glad when it was my day, as I am sure Burt and Art were too.
I loved it there in the winter when we could walk right up to the roof on the snow drifts and when Mother hung the garments out they froze stiff and looked so funny. We would go sleigh riding after school and Mother always had hot homemade bread and honey with a hot cup of chocolate when we came home, We had  a priceless childhood.
     Our new home was next to a huge alfalfa field with an irrigation ditch all around it. That ditch became our hiding place, meeting place and play ground. What a lot of fun we had there. The ditch was almost a tunnel with the weeds and bushes growing over it and it was a wonderful place to be so no knew where we were.
There was also a huge tree right across the street and I spent hours up that tree looking down on a world that was mine and feeling so sorry for all the people who couldn't climb trees. It was about that time that I realized I didn't have very much self esteem and was extremely shy. My sweet dad also realized it and spent hour after hour making me feel loved and always told me I was just as good as anyone else.
...The Great Depression had been getting worse during 1929 and 30, but my first memories of it were not until late in 1930. There were times when my dad's sisters would bring us boxes of food, but we never went hungry. So many people were without jobs and soup kitchens went up all over trying to keep people from starving. Dad had had to take on the job of delivering coal because Uncle Al needed a job, and together they ran the lumberyard.
     It was during that time that Grandmother (Gunda) Anderson, who had moved to Long Beach California was coming by car to visit us. She was in an accident near Cedar City and we were notified that she was in the Iron Co Hospital in serious condition. Dad and his sisters immediately went there and got there in time to visit with her for a short time before she died. Dad gave her a blessing and she was gone.
I adored her. It was my first experience losing someone I loved and it was hard. I went to her funeral in Ogden where she was buried next to her dear Carl, Who had been gone for so long.
A gallant and courageous lady and one I shall never forget. I learned so much form her and have been so blessed to know her and to have the marvelous example she set for us to follow.
     After the funeral Dad had to go to Long Beach to take care of things there, and it was while he was there that I got Scarlet Fever from a lady who was giving me a perm. I was so ill and we were quarantined for a month. That meant we had a large yellow sign in the front window stating the quarantine and that no one was permitted to come in the house or leave it for that time. Dad came home and had to stay in the basement, but was really upset that he couldn't be of any help to my very tired mother during that month.

...That was a terrible time. So many rich men losing all they had, so there were many who ended it all by jumping out of tall buildings to their deaths. It was almost like an epidemic, and the people who weren't so well off had such a hard time finding work. It was a black black time for the nation as well as our family.
Aunt Pearl decided to come back to Utah after her mother died and she stayed with us for years.
     I can remember the looks on my parents faces as they tried to figure out how to manage. They never talked about it in front of us kids, but I could tell there was something terribly wrong by the worry and concern on their faces. They soon lost their lovely home, and realized they would have to do something fast.
Dad had been in the Army Reserves since getting home from France, and when things so so bad he went back into the Army and was sent to March Field in Riverside, California, then on to be the second in command of the CCC Camp in Miller Canyon not too far from Crestline in the mountains above San Bernardino. CCC Camp was created by the government to take care of men who needed work and couldn't get it. The Army was put in charge and the men were in camps as though they were in the military. They did many government projects that needed to me done,had the discipline they needed and I think they were paid a small salary. It was a life saver for many young men of the nation. I remember the departure from Salt Lake and how hard it must have been for mother with 5 kids, leaving her family and friends and going to such a different locale and environment.
We left the Union Pacific train station early one morning. It was the first time any of us kids had been on a train and we were really excited. I remember one thing vividly. After we had been going for a while we couldn't find Art, but because it was only Art I wan't too concerned. It was so typical of Art, but I decided to try to find him and take some of the worry off of Mother. We looked all over for him and finally found him several cars away telling several people they should not be smoking because it was against the Word Of Wisdom. They all thought he was so cute, but I just thought he was a royal pain in the neck.
     I saw my first palm tree in Las Vegas and was so thrilled. It was beautiful. Daddy met us in San Bernardino and we were so excited to see more palm trees. Dad had a Studebaker car and was in his uniform and so handsome. I was glad to see him and know we would not be separated again. My parents were so glad to see each other, and though we had been through some very hard times, we were a very happy family and the love exhibited between Dad and Mother was, and still is, one of my most priceless possessions.

I can remember Pres. McKay saying "The most important thing a man can give his children is to love their mother". Oh how true that is. They set the example for us.

...Dad was in the Bishopric and mother was Primary President and Relief Society President and made lots of friends which made her life a lot better....

                                                             (Excerpt from writings by Shirley Anderson Robertson 9 Sep 2005)

I asked my dad if he would write the things he could remember about our grandmother. This is his response. I feel so grateful to have these memories because he is our last link to her.

John Burton Anderson                                                                  June 26, 2015

Last month on May 17^th I turned 85 and it made me think of all the wonderful things that have happened to me since May 17^th, 1930 when I was born. I think it’s hard to say what is at the very top of the list but one that has to be at the top of the list has to be my birth into this life by my wonderful Mother and of course my wonderful Dad. (Our wonderful Heavenly Father was of course the cause of all of it.)

                Also, at the top of my list is finding my Sweetheart Shirley Anne and being given our beautiful family. Julie, Denece, Karilee, Laurie, Doug and Amy, and all of the family that are associated with them. How blessed can I be???  In the last few days, Karilee asked me to tell about my sweet Mom and give as much information as I can before I forget it or pass out of the picture. I want to do this while I can. I have a History of John Burton Anderson that I wrote and was published by Karilee. I wrote a lot about my mom in that history.

Right after I had turned sixteen I came home from school and Mom was in the hospital bed in the living room of our home. She was of very sick by reason of heart failure which became worse and worse during the prior 4 years. Dad was still at work.

                Mom very carefully got out of bed and stood in the middle of the room. She asked me to come over to her and then put her arms around me. She said “Jack, you know that I am very sick and I doubt that I have much longer to live. I want you to listen carefully. If I should pass away, you must watch over and take care of your Dad. Will you do that?”  I was devastated and my heart was broken. I knew that we would probably lose her eventually but I had never given up hope that somehow she would survive her sickness. She died a short time later on  8 July 1946. She was only 46 years old. The Lord needed her more than we did. What a great and wonderful Mom!

                Now, after 70 years I have many, many wonderful children and grandchildren and “in-law” children. I want all of them to know that wonderful sweet lady that is my mother along with my dad. He had so much influence on me and all of my family. My Shirley Anne knew these things a long time ago and in her own “special way” came to love my Mom too. (Some time I will write about another special mom named Shirley Anne.)

                Some special things about my Mom

-          Mom’s forever special sweetheart was and is my Dad, Clarence Wilford Anderson. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. The house of the Lord on July 16, 1919. Dad was 22 years old and mom was 19. They were madly in love with each other and always there after manifested that love to the whole world and especially to their children who would eventually be born. It was to be forever!

-          Mom was born on January 20, 1900 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Grandpa Willard Cushing Burton and Grandma Mary Jane Eliza Gardner. She was the youngest child of seven – 5 boys and 2 girls. The family was quite wealthy with Grandpa being in the Lumber business. The family lived in a large home located at about 2200 So. State Street in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-          The family lived in the Burton Ward.

-          Mom was always full of fun both as a child and as a grown up.

-          At age 16, she took a kitten into a sacrament meeting and let it out of her blouse long enough to “Meow” and then hide it again. (The church leaders did not appreciate it.) Dad was in the meeting and thought it was really cute and decided he wanted to marry “that girl”. Dad was 18.

-          Dad was later sent to France as a soldier. He came home at age 19 and courted Mom. They were married on July 16, 1919 in the Salt Lake Temple.

-          During all of their marriage, Dad called Mom, Mamie.

-          Their only daughter also named Shirley was born on November 26, 1920

-          Because of the death of dad’s father, dad was not able to obtain a good education and Mom went from a child in a wealthy family to a wife and mother in a very poor family. The marriage was based on love by her and Dad.

-          Dad worked a labor job at the time at the Burton Lumber Company owned by my Grandpa Burton.

-          Mom was very talented and could play the trombone, piano, accordion, and guitar very well and at times would perform at church functions, etc.

-          Mom and Dad built a home in Midvale during the depression and later lost it to economic foreclosure because of the Great Depression.

-          Through the early years Mom bore in addition to Shirl, 4 boys – Burt 1922, Art 1924, Dick 1927 and John (Jack) 1930.

-          As a small child I could always look in Mom and Dad’s bedroom where they were retiring. They would always pray on their knees before climbing in bed.

-          Mom always prepared a big dinner on Sundays and on birthdays of each of the family members.

-          On my (Jack’s) birthday Mom always baked a cake with orange frosting because it was my favorite.

-          Every Friday night Mom filled a large pot with beans to soak for boiling on Saturday to feed a large family.

-          Mom was always busy darning the family’s socks and washing and sewing worn out clothes of the family.

-          Mom always attended activities at school and other events whenever her kids were involved.

-          Because of limited funds to live on during the depression Mom knew how to make things last. For example gluing replacement soles on shoes and or cutting cardboard to fit inside shoes.

-          Whenever any of the kids became sick, Mom always stayed close to the sick child and gave tender care along with the medicine that was needed until the child was well again.

-          Mother’s love for every member of the family was genuine and came first to all the many demands that were imposed upon her.

-          Mom always displayed her genuine love for our father and this was so important to all the kids. Her family was most important to her above everything else!

-          My Mom had a very strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and this was her example to everyone and especially her family. This is what got her through the tough times and showed her love for her family

My Mom will always be in my heart and will help me to get through my “tough times”.

With all my love and gratitude for this wonderful mom,

                                                                                John B. Anderson (Her fourth loving son)

Addition:

One instance that illustrates the fun character of both Mom and the kids took place as follows:

 Both Mom and the kids loved to have fun with each other but still get the job done. We were living in a two story home at the time. Art’s bedroom was upstairs. Mom called upstairs for Art to get his bed sheets off and bring them downstairs to be washed. After several calls with no results, Mom called upstairs and told Art that she was really angry and was coming up to really spank him and teach him a lesson. Art was about 12 or 13 years old. Mom really had no intention of laying a hand on him. When Art heard her coming up, he took the sheets and hung them out the window and started yelling so the whole neighborhood could hear “Please don’t kill me. I want to live! Help!! Both Mom and Art were laughing hard and when she saw the sheets hanging out the window and Art yelling “Help” she just about passed out. They hugged each other and had a joyful time. That’s the way Art was and Mom too! 

More writings by my dad, John Anderson not dated.

In the year of 1900

On January 20 a very special and beautiful little girl was born. Her name is Mabel Garner Burton and she was last of seven children born to Willard Cushing Burton and Mary Jane Gardner Burton.

The Burton home was located in the area of State Street and Main Street at about 2200 to 2300 South in Salt Lake. A street known as “Burton Ave.” was named after the family as was the Burton Ward. Robert Taylor Burton who was notorious in the church history and in civic affairs gave his name to the area. The family was well off financially and Grandpa Willard was primarily responsible for establishing the Burton Lumber and Hardware Company which is located at about 2200 South State Street.

Burton Lumber also had a branch in Midvale in the late 1920’s.

Grandma Burton was 45 years old when Mom was born. As she grew she was raised in a happy home life and probably didn’t lack for most of the things that little girls desire in early life. The family was very active in church activity and mom began to acquire a strong testimony of the gospel at a very early age. Grandpa Burton was a great leader in his family.

At the same time Mom developed somewhat of a “free spirit”. She wasn’t wild of rebellious but she did love life and tried to have a lot of fun as she was growing up. She was very popular with her associates in school and participated in many of the various school activities. She was pretty good at playing the trombone in a band at school. She did enjoy doing exciting things and was indeed a fun-loving teenager in high school. She attended Granite High located at 3900 South in Salt Lake.  As she became older she had many boyfriends and for a while attended the University of Utah and L.D.S. Business College

For a while a young fellow who wanted to become a doctor courted her and eventually asked her to marry him. She turned him down. (Thankfully!)

Throughout all the period of her growing up , mom also developed an overwhelming dream of someday finding a handsome young man that she would really love and have a wonderful family in the church. This dream developed parallel to the growth of a very strong testimony of the church and divinity of the Savior.

When mom became acquainted with dad in the Burton Ward she soon discovered that handsome young man who would become the love of her life. There is a great lesson here because the background of that young man, in so many ways was in contrast to her back ground. He had really nothing to offer her by way of wealth of college training. But he loved her more than anything else in the world. The feeling was mutual!

When the Burton family realized that this courtship was taking place it didn’t receive overwhelming approval. In Fact, there was a great deal of resistance shown to dad. There was a great respect, but also concern because of contrasting backgrounds.

In the year of 1917

During the courtship period of mom and dad a very terrible World War was under way in Europe. It didn’t take long for this terrible war to affect mom and dad’s courtship. Eventually dad was drafted into the army and became a member of the “145^th Field Artillery”. His unit was sent to fight in France and dad served primarily as a telephone runner on the front lines. The war was of course eventually won by the Allies and after the armistice of November, 1918 dad was sent home with his unit. Mom and dad corresponded regularly while he was overseas and after arriving back home their courtship resume. On July 16, 1919 mom and dad were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity. Their honey moon consisted of a camping trip up Parley’s Canyon for several days. They camped in a small fold out trailer. Mom and dad’s great dream was becoming a reality.

Arthur B. Anderson’s memories of his mother (excerpts from his personal history)

Memories of my mother are among the most cherished of my life. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 20, 1900. She was the youngest child of Willard Cushing Burton and Mary Jane Gardner Burton. Mother’s life was shortened by the onset of heart trouble in 1942 and subsequent death on July 8, 1946 in Long Beach, California. Her death occurred just as my older brother Burt, younger brother Dick, and I returned home from our service in the military forces at the conclusion of World War II. Mother was the focal point of our home. She was a very gentle person who loved the Arts, Literature, Music, and Drama. Her favorite poetry was Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.” She played the piano exceptionally well and I remember as children we would be standing around the piano as she played “Under The Double Eagle.” She was a leader among women of the church and served for many years as President of both the Young Women’s Program (YWMIA) and the Relief Society. Her great sense of humor and varied interests softened the demands and hardships which came to our family with the great depression of 1929. She had the ability to make each one of us children feel that we were an individual and very special. I must report that the “mischiefness” referred to by my father previously was not spared on my mother. I’m afraid I gave my mother fits until I was about the age of 12. For some unaccountable reason, I seemed to understand my nonsense must cease—and for the most part it did. In its place, Mother and I enjoyed a special and loving relationship which was characterized by “dates” to include small corsages of gardenias (her favorite flower) as my meager finances would permit. While I no doubt presented the usual problems of a teenage son, my memories of Mom and I during those later years were of extreme closeness , love and appreciation. Having received a small diary as a birthday present, I asked mother to write in it for me. She composed and wrote the following poem which is still preserved in her handwriting among my personal mementos:

January 27, 1935

“May your years be full of happiness,

Your life be full of Joy.

And may you always be what you are,

Your Mother’s darling boy.

Your Mother,

Mabel Anderson”

Memories from Kathy Anderson Pope
I haven't forgotten about your request of any writings or memories Dad shared about his mother.  I even TRIED to see if Mom could remember anything--even though some of her long term memories are quite intact there is much that gets pretty mixed up for her now.   Anyway, when I think back whenever Dad spoke of his mother it was almost with reverence.  He loved her so much and said how much he missed her.  I always considered that she was such a perfect person and mother just based on the manner that he and our dear Grandpa Anderson spoke of her.  I have always held her on a pedestal because of that and look forward to meeting her someday.  I'm sure that she was of much the same nature as my Dad--very patient, quiet,  and concerned for everyone's happiness and welfare. Although with all those boys she probably wasn't quiet ALL of the time!   Dad did talk about those years of illness and how he loved helping her--even spoke of  bottling of fruit when she wasn't well enough to do it.  I think it was probably hard for him to leave home to join the Navy the summer of 1945, but that is just what was expected because of the war.

Memories from Jayne Robertson Kimball
Bunny knew Grandma and adored her.  She still had memories of her and she had known her only 6 years. Mother always told me she would hold me and kiss the back of my neck. I felt I knew her because Grandpa was in mourning, as was Mother, until the day he died.  He was never joyful, but pleasant...he missed her so.