Pioneer of 1847
A.O. Smoot Company

Daniel Babcock and Jerusha Taylor of Springfield, Massachusetts were married December 4, 1787 and had the following children: Betsy, Cloe, Daniel, George, Jehiel, Jerusha, Lavisa, Permelia, Reodolphus and Thankful. Reodolphus, the youngest was born February 23, 1800 at Middlefield Massachusetts.

Leland Paul Mathews, 76, of Riverside, passed away Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008, at Bingham Memorial Hospital.

He was born Dec. 7, 1932, in Antimony, Utah, to Benjamin Lynn and Esther Black Math- ews. He graduated from Piute High School in 1951. He attended Utah State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Animal Husbandry in 1957. During Leland's lifetime, he has lived in Logan, Utah; Sugar City, Blackfoot and Riverside, Idaho. Leland was drafted into the United States Army in 1954, serving a tour of duty in Germany, and returned home in 1956.

I, Jane Johnston Black, was born June 11, 1801, at Lombag, Antrim County, Ireland, the daughter of Daniel Johnston and Margaret Chambers. I lived at my father’s house until I was sixteen years of age when my father died, I was then called as a local preacher on the same circuit that my father had traveled, he being a Wesleyan Methodist. I remained in that position until I was over twenty years of age, and made William Black’s house my home, as he was my guardian. I lived there until my marriage to his son, William, who had been away serving as a soldier in the British Army.

Melba Moosman Mathews
Our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Melba Moosman Mathews, passed away at her home in Provo, Utah on Monday, January 7, 2008, after a long and valiant battle with cancer.
Melba was born in Escalante, Utah on June 28, 1925, to Lorin Melvin and Uvada Alvey Moosman. She grew up in Boulder, Utah and later married Gerald Lynn Mathews in the Manti LDS Temple on May 21, 1941. They made their home in South Provo where they raised their four children, and she resided until her death.

Ilene “interviewed” her mother, Vanese Barker Mathews, over a period of time by asking her questions. This is a summary of Ilene’s notes on what her mother told her.

10/30/78 Question - Tell me about buying the house in 1946. Response – Chose it because it had some yard. Rather have been on the side, but none of those were left. Remember Ilene sliding down the stairs in her birthday suit. We were glad to be in house and out of a couple of rooms. The house seemed much large then than now.

Written in 1975, shortly after returning from a trip to Utah for his parents 60th wedding aniversary.

Not sure when written. Tells of his growing up, church activity and his family life.

I am the second son of Benjamin Lynn Mathews and Esther Black. I was born in Grandfather Black’s home at Coyote (Antimony), Utah, on 6 December 1917. Shortly after I was born I became sick with the influenza that was sweeping the country in 1918; but, with the loving care of Mother and Grandmother Black and the blessings of the Lord, I recovered with no permanent effects.

Of Washington, DC, on September 2, 1988, beloved husband of the late Vanese Barker Mathews; father of Ilene Shelton, Gary A., Ruth, Thomas F., Lorin B., Dennis B. and Lydia Mathews, Ann Schmoldt, and Susan Landry; son of Esther Mathews; brother of Naomi Baker, Cella Cowley, LaRae Mathews, Pauline Hulet, and Dasil, Kay, Wendell, Paul, and Charles S. Mathews; also survived by 21 Grandchildren. Friends may call at Gasch’s Funeral Home, 4739 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD, from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Thomas Mathews

I guess that I have to break down and write if this family letter is to function.

I have had a cold ever since the funeral. I just hold on to make me feel miserable.

Thanks to all of you for coming to say goodbye to your mother. It made it easier for us all to endure the sorrow and we can now have some remembrance of each other.

Letter from Ilene Shelton to her family after Alton died. Scanned, OCRed, and spelling corrected by Ben Mathews.

September 14, 1988

Dear Family,

Finally I’m getting a few moments to write down the events of the past couple weeks . It has been very hectic, but filled with rewarding spiritual times and times being together with family members.