Henry Richard Emanuel Wessman: A Biography, Part 2

The two oldest children, Harry and Merle

Henry loved to read, as did many of his children. He loved to read Western stories that were published weekly. He liked the Zane Grey books. Different reading material was passed from person to person. It was definitely well used by the time the last person received it. His daughter Jean remembers staying up late with her dad and both would be reading. Jean (the mother) would come and lovingly chastise them for staying up so late. Many times, the father and daughter would not talk but it was very comfortable spending time together in this way. Jean loved being around him anytime she could. He would tease but not a lot. Jean called him “Daddy.” She said, “My father was a great father.”

John learned how to read with help from his sister Jean but also by reading the newspaper as Henry read it. John would stand in front of Henry and read it upside down. Henry would lovingly tease him and say, "You must be a printer. Can you read this the right way up?" Many of the other children could read upside down and from right to left instead of left to right. Is this because the printing skill was genetically in the family?!

Henry and his family always went to church while they lived in Mammoth, Utah. They belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He went to church a lot in his early years but in his later years when he moved to the city, he had to work quite a bit and could not go as often as he liked. When it came time for his children to be blessed and given a name, the family would do it in Henry John and Elizabeth Ann Hayward's ward in Salt Lake City. Church was a big part of his life even though he was not able to participate, as he wanted to.

No one is sure how Henry and Jean met. Some suspect that it may have been at a church function. It is also possible that they met in some sort of music activity. [Another history says that it was at a dancing class.] Jean's parents did not think it was a good idea for her to get interested so they thought it would be good for her to get away for awhile. They sent her away to Germany to study music. It did not make them forget each other. She was gone for a year. Sometimes Henry did not write as often to Jean as she wanted. One time, she sent a post card saying something to the effect "Henry, why haven't you written?" They married sometime after she returned to America.

He was very devoted to his wife. Henry liked to take Jean out on dates. One activity that was enjoyable was going out with his brother Joe and his wife Anna Wessman. They would like to play cards. Henry loved to play cards. When they would get together, someone always brought candy. John made sure he was around so he could kipe a piece if the situation arose. Someone would come and stay with the kids so they could have time together.

Henry adored his wife. They were a close couple. They always seemed to have a sparkle of romance in their eyes for each other. Is that why they had 14 children? He would show his love by bringing her little special things. He would bring little seafood dishes, desserts, and nippy cheeses that he really liked to share with his spouse.

He tried very hard to take good care of her.

He taught his sons mainly through example that they should reverence womanhood. He did this in many ways. When Hazel was sick, had a baby or anything like that, a woman would come into the home and help. Many times, it meant more strain on the budget, but Henry felt that it was important for his wife to have that help.

During the times that Jean was feeling bad or her health was poor, Henry would make breakfast and lunch for the kids. This was a great support to her. When the woodwork needed cleaning, it was the boy’s job because "cleaning woodwork is not a woman's job." The girls did light work like vacuuming.

He was kind to his wife in so many ways. She knew that she was truly loved and valued by him.

Henry Richard Emanuel Wessman: A Biography, Part 1

Here is another wonderful history by Toni Wyeth.

Henry Richard Emanuel Wessman was born in Göteborg, Sweden in 1885. He and his family belonged to the Lutheran Church. He was christened and given the biblical name of Emanuel. It was the custom of the church at that time. As an adult, Henry had light brown hair with a little gray. He was fair complexioned. He was in pretty good health except for ulcers. “Feeding 14 kids would give anyone ulcers.” He was a quiet and a loving family man.

Over in Sweden, Henry used to go down to the fjords to where the ships would come in. He used to explore the ships. He would go down into the hulls and see what they brought in. It was quite the adventure for that young lad. His diet consisted mainly of seafood. Henry also always loved to swim. He and his brothers (Joe and Herb) would dive off the docks. It was in the Baltic Sea that he learned how to swim as a little tyke. He was good at it.

When Henry was six or eight years old, he came over from Sweden for religious convictions. The family had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He did not know a word of English. His oldest sisters came over first with some other convert families. His father (who was a sailor) came home from sea and asked where his daughters were. Amanda told him "they were with friends." It is unknown when or what he did when he found out that they had gone to America. Amanda came over with her three sons (Herb, Henry and Joe). [Amanda came with Joe in 1893. I don’t know when Herbert and Henry came. Another source notes that they came before Amanda and Joseph. I cannot find the immigration records for the four older children.] Amanda’s husband came over when his time of military service was over for Sweden. It is unknown who the family stayed with when they first got to Utah. Henry's father got a job as a sheep man up in Kamas, Utah. That was where he was when he died.

Henry learned to spell and punctuate by reading the western novels that he used to sell. He was self-taught. He went to school but did not get very far with only three years of formal education. As soon as he learned the English language, he got a job as soon as he could find one. He learned the language pretty well and did not have too hard of a time. He could not stand it when anyone would murder the English language by saying such things such as "I done it” or "I ain't got none." He thought it was important to speak correctly.

His mother Amanda Matilda Hall Wessman, however, did have a hard time learning English. She had a thick accent that was at times hard to understand. It was obvious that she was a typical Swede. Her husband was not around and so no one can remember about his accent but he probably had one.

Henry would get angry with his mother when she tried to converse too much in Swedish with him. He could still talk and understand it but he felt that since they were in America that they should speak English. Amanda felt more comfortable speaking in her native language. Even in his later years, Henry had a slight Swedish accent.

When Amanda died February 15, 1931, her body lay in state in her home that was on Fourth Avenue and E Street. Norinne (4 1/2 years old) remembers her father lifting her up to see her.

After reaching maturity, Henry was not really tall. He was about 5'6" - 5'8" and about 135-140 pounds. He had gray eyes and wore round lens glasses that made him look European. The first thing that he did in the morning was to put on his glasses. He had to have them in order to shave, read the newspaper, etc. His sight was so poor. He was in his mid-teens when he first got glasses. He had a full head of hair. He was quite the fine-looking man.


To be continued...

Hazel Jean Hayward Wessman: A Biography, Part 8

View Larger Map

In her older years (1952-1959), Jean lived with her daughter Jean at 2505 Commonwealth Avenue in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jean would read and talk with JoAnn Shirts (granddaughter) by the hours about family history and family stories. They would read out of the book series Heart Throbs of the West. These books dealt with the pioneer history.

Jean loved her tea. She always fixed it in the morning and afternoon. Many times, she would take her tea and go sit in the sun. This was her quiet time. She loved being in the sunshine with her favorite breakfast of toast and tea. John Shirts (grandson) was quite the active lad. When he would start being active and it bothered her, she wouldn't say anything. However, she would give him that "look" that meant, "You're bothering me."

Jean had a bird that she loved. She would make sure it had fresh food and water everyday. After she started having strokes and could not do it anymore, it made her furious. The stroke affected her one side of the body. It made eating hard. Since it affected her throat, she had to have baby food or some type of liquid. It was easier to swallow. After the stroke, she could not play the piano. This made her depressed and very unhappy.

Jean was so quiet and never said much. She kept things to herself. One of her greatest strengths was that of handling loss and the problems that came her way with strength and dignity. This was due to her faith. She did her own thing basically in the sense that she was no bother to anyone. She liked being part of a family situation and did not feel as if she had to be the center of attention. She was very accepting of who you were. She did not make too many comments.

Jean had heart problems for which she took digitalis. She would say that she was having "palpitations." Due to her health problems, she had a hard time doing the everyday things such as bathing, walking etc. She would not call for help. There were many times that her son-in-law Joe picked her off the floor and put her to bed. Joe and Jean got her a little bell to ring if she needed anything. However, she refused to use it. She wanted to do it all on her own. She did not want to be a problem in anyway to anyone at anytime.

She had been sick for a while with thrombosis (blood clots) in her leg. She had even lost the feel of her leg due to that. She was on a blood thinner. It was necessary for her to go over to the hospital and have her blood tested. The doctor told her that she had to have a little wine to help strengthen her blood. She refused it even for medical purposes.

She was worried about her health but thought that generally she was all right. To some it seemed to happen so fast. The night that she died, she tried to manage on her own and Joe ended up carrying her to bed. Later on that night, Jean (daughter) thought she heard her mother call her. She listened again and heard nothing. A few minutes later, Jean went in to check on her mother. She found her sitting on the edge of the bed with her head leaning against the headboard. She had a sudden heart attack and died.

Jean was a very good mother. She was the glue that held the family together. She (along with Henry) are described as hard working while trying to raise their family. Especially with 14 kids! They worked constantly in some way to have a relationship with their children. 

A dream and goal that Jean had was that her children would be the best that they could be in all areas of their lives. She always wanted them to be happy. She was so very proud of her family.

Photo of Heart Throbs from www.amazon.com/HEART-THROBS-WEST-Treating-Definite/dp/B000M80KZA.

Hazel Jean Hayward Wessman: A Biography, Part 7

Jean played the prelude music at her husband's funeral. They were songs that he especially enjoyed. Liebestraum was one song. The funeral was big. One of his friends from the newspaper came and gave a good talk. Harry's father-in-law, James Fowlie, supplied a car from his construction company so the family could go in it. The funeral was in Ogden but the burial was in Salt Lake.

The children did most of the housework as they did previously anyway. The older kids (as already stated) went out and tried to find a job. Harry was the only child married at the time. It was in the middle of the depression and no one had work.

Dick would sometimes haul people out to farms to harvest onions and things like that. He would get onions for his pay. He had an old truck that was hand to haul people, onions, etc. Dick also worked on what was called street gangs that shoveled snow, swept schools, shoveled coal etc. It was hard work but any job was gratefully accepted due to the poor job market. Getting a job was basically taken one month at a time. It might be quite awhile before getting another job.

At that time, city employment was such that it was very limited. It was maybe a month’s work. They would be paid in scripts (coupons). They could only buy groceries and clothing. They could be used at any store.

She belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She had a strong testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and of the church. Jean always went to church. She would not let down her beliefs. She refused to even make coffee.

In their earlier years, Henry would always go to church with her and the family. However, when they moved to the city, he had to work quite a bit so he could not go as often as he wanted to. Church was a big part of both their lives. When some of her children stopped going to church, that broke her heart. She never stopped loving her children and accepted them for who they were. She loved them to the utmost.

She shared her talent of music in church. She was the church organist. She loved to go to church and play the organ. Jean played for different ward organizations while in the Parley's Stake. At first, the ward was on 21st South and 21st East. Then a new chapel was built on Stringham Avenue.

While the family lived in Mammoth, Utah (mining town) in the year of 1918, Henry and Jean would play together in church. Henry worked at a newspaper and print shop there. It did not last very long because the town was going broke and the employment possibilities were better in the cities.

Elizabeth Ann Pugsley Hayward recorded in a small notebook about her daughter:

Hazel Jean Hayward-daughter born March 30, 1884 and blessed June 5, 1887 by Bishop Kesler. She was baptized by Elder Hilton on June 6, 1895 and confirmed August 1, 1895 by Bishop Kesler. She married Henry R.E. Wessman on November 25, 1908.

To be continued...

Hazel Jean Hayward Wessman: A Biography, Part 6

Jean lived with her daughter Jean and Jean’s husband Joe in her later years. She loved and enjoyed having the kids and grandkids come see her. However, she did not like to stay anywhere over night. Jean was good with kids. Her great-grandson Scott (grandson of her daughter Jean) would go into her room every morning, put his little hand on her cheek, and say good morning. She could also console about any baby. She would plop the baby face down on her lap and it would settle down. She had the magic touch.

Jean and Joe Shirts and family.

Keith and Lilly did not know if their first boy was going to live week to week. Due to damage around the brain, the doctors said that Buddy would not be able to do certain things. The young lad always made liars out of them. Jean was always concerned about how her grandson was doing. She would visit them from time to time. That was quite the thing for her since she was not feeling very well herself back in those days. Buddy loved being with grandma. He would recognize her and giggle. She was very close to him and wanted to spend as much time as possible with Buddy.

Keith and Lilly Wessman and family.

She was always concerned about all of her grandchildren. She knew some of the problems that growing up entailed. She also wanted to know what was going on in their lives. As with her children, she wanted her grandchildren to be happy.

She had the knack of making people use their thinking power. She was the ultimate on making comments to make people think. She also had the ability to put things in perspective. Even though she was very quiet and did not share much personally, she knew what was going on. She also had the talent of being very organized. She liked things to be in order. Everything had its place.

Lorraine Wessman's (Paul's wife) first impression of Jean is that of being a very lovely person. Jean had gone to the movies with Paul and Lorraine before they were married.

Paul and Lorraine Wessman and family.

The family always had a house with electricity. Back then, that was not the case with many families. When television came into being, she was not too crazy about it. She thought it was a waste of time. She would rather play the piano. However, she thought it was remarkable.

Jean was very active in politics. She was Democratic. However, she was not as active like her famous political mother. Her mother was a very strong Democrat.

It was very hard when an animal (which they always had) or loved one died. Ernie remembers at the age of five when his grandfather died. It was about 1927 and the Wessman family was living on Van Buren Street in Ogden.

When her beloved Henry died, that too was very difficult. She felt overwhelmed many times. He had left Jean a little insurance money, which did help some, but times were still tough. The money lasted about two years.

She coped very well even though it was very difficult. She was heart broken and wept. Some of the children only remember the empty stillness of the house during that time. Jean (daughter) remembers going into the bathroom and crying all by herself. She does not remember anything else about that day.

Henry had a hernia that had bothered him for many years. He also suffered from ulcers later on. His wife made him eggnog to take to work hoping that it would help in someway. Henry had gotten sick with ulcer complications and so a couple of doctors were called in for consultation. The decision was made to take him to the hospital. The condition of peritonitis was too far advanced to save him. At that time, there were no antibiotics or painkillers. It was very difficult for Jean to watch her husband suffer so much in pain. He had done so much for her when her health was poor but at this point of time, she could not help him. That bothered her. She did not want him to be in pain. The death of Henry took many by surprise especially his children.

Dick had been away from home a couple of years working and he had just got home before his father died. Henry talked to Dick, Harry and Jean at the hospital. He told them that they would have to pull together and scrape together a living. He had told Jean that he could not go through this illness again. He knew that he was dying. He had been through something similar years earlier when he was 13. He almost died then with peritonitis.

After talking, the family left the room for a short while. Joe Wessman was in Salt Lake and wanted to come to Ogden to see his brother. However, he could not leave his business unattended. Therefore, Dick went to take care of the business so Joe could go. That was when Henry died a very painful death.

To be continued...

Hazel Jean Hayward Wessman: A Biography, Part 5

Jean’s mother Elizabeth Ann Pugsley Hayward would come and visit with Jean. There usually was a basket full of mending. She would mend stockings, overalls, skirts, etc. She would sit and visit with her daughter Jean while doing this. The kids just basically sat and listened to them talk. They would go over what was happening in their life. Elizabeth Ann was a very dignified lady from the "old school." When the kids to a little rowdy, she would put her glasses on the tip of her nose and look at them.

Elizabeth Ann Pugsley Hayward

Dick remembers his mother always being there, cleaning house, playing piano, singing and things like that. She had a sewing machine that had an electric motor on it. That was very unusual at the time. The kids would run it because they liked the noise it made. Of course, this was not done when their mother was around.

Jean fought tooth and nail about Keith going into the service during World War II. Finally, she said that he was going to be 18 on his next birthday and there was nothing she could do to stop him. She signed for him to go a month before he turned 18. She was a good letter writer to all her sons in the service even though others may or may not have been. Ernie and Keith frequently sent letters home to their mother. Getting mail to Keith was tricky because he was on the ship.

Jean kept herself busy during the war by writing letters. It wasn't only to her sons. She answered every letter that was sent to her. She also spent time with the girls that were in Salt Lake. She enjoyed that. Sometimes, she would do choir work. At times, she would be the organist in almost all the church organizations that she was involved in. She always kept busier than usual.

She was so tickled and relieved when all her seven sons came home from the war. She was very blessed as not one son was killed in action. Dick had very serious injuries. He was knocked off an engine scaffold and had several broken bones. He came home from Europe in a cast from his waist to his shoulders. Even though Dick came through it very well, Jean had her heart twisted knowing that her son was hurt like that.

She almost had a heart attack (not really) when Keith almost did not go on his mission. She had the bishopric and priesthood leaders working on him. Finally, he made the commitment to go and she was delighted. She was worried about him. She never was tough but she did keep encouraging and reminding him of what he should be doing and all that. She was always interested in how his hard work came out especially when missionary times were tough. He was in good health so she did not have to worry about that aspect. However, she did.

Jean had many priesthood blessings due to her health during her life. They were always fulfilled. One benefit that she had as a result was that all her bishops were very close to her. They watched over her very carefully. They were very concerned about her and the children. They wanted to take care of this wonderful widow and her family.

Bruce McConkie was a good friend and was also very concerned about her. He was always checking up on the Wessman family. He had a soft spot in his heart for her. Church leaders were always there for her trying to make her life easier and happier. If it was not the Bishop, it was the Stake President or the fantastic Relief Society (as Keith calls it). They took good care of the family.

A fun time (for the kids anyway) was the time that the family had to leave the house on Adams Avenue in Burch Creek and they went to the house in Salt Lake on E Street. They had to camp out in Weber Canyon for ten days. There was a lot of fishing, swimming, ball, hiking and rock throwing. After that, for a short period of time while the house deal was still being closed, the family stayed at one of Elizabeth Ann Hayward's places. It was on University Street.

Jean loved to walk. She would walk whenever she could. Many times after many of the children were gone, she would take Norinne and Marilyn with her. They would just walk or go visit someone.

To be continued...

Henry and Jean married in 1908. Records from the 1910, 1920, and 1930 U. S. Censuses show them living at different locations around Utah.

1910 U. S. Census. Henry and Jean were living at 261 West Second North in Salt Lake City. Merle was born in 1909 but is not listed. Perhaps she was in the hospital?

1920 U. S. Census. Henry and Jean were living at 1158 Roosevelt Avenue in Salt Lake City. In the ten years since the prior census, they had gone from one child to seven: Merle (10), Harry (8), Richard (7), Paul (5), Jean (3 and 10/12), John (2 and 8/12), and Elizabeth (1 and 2/12). The census notes that they owned their home and had a mortgage.

View Larger Map

1930 U. S. Census. Henry and Jean were living at 3602 Jefferson Avenue in Burch Creek (South Ogden), Weber County, Utah. Also at home were: Henry (18), Merle (20), Richard (17), Paul (15), Jean (14), John (12), Elizabeth (11), Phillip (10), Ernest (8), Gammon (6), Keith (4), Norinne (3), Boyd (2), and Babe (0) (Marilyn, the youngest). They were paying $20 a month in rent. Henry R. E. Wessman died two years later.

View Larger Map

Historical Music

For all the musicians among the descendants of Jean and Henry Wessman, you can find historical sheet music at the Johns Hopkins Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music. 

It's an amazing collection, with over 29,000 pieces of popular music from 1780 to 1980, much of it available for download.

I just sight read through "Sonny Boy" and "There's A Long, Long Trail," two of the songs mentioned in the previous post about all the music in the Wessman home. Lovely pieces, both of them.

Hazel Jean Hayward Wessman: A Biography, Part 4

Jean loved household plants and canaries. When she would play the piano, the canaries would just sing away. Jean would sing as she worked around the house. She and Henry seemed happiest when the kids gathered around (there were always many children around) and they sang together. The popular songs of that era and the WWI songs were forever played in their home such as "Sonny Boy," "Long Long Trail," "Mighty Like A Rose” ["Mighty Lak' a Rose"]. They would also play songs such as “Poet and Peasant Overture," "Invitation to the Dance,” etc. Jean would be the one who usually started playing first.

Sonny Boy


Long, Long Trail


 Mighty Lak' A Rose


Poet and Peasant Overture


Invitation to the Dance

Liz remembers waking up to her parents playing duets. As the years went on, Jean would share the enjoyment of the piano with her family, friends or whoever would hear her. It was easy to enjoy listening to her. Many times, her grandkids would sit and just listen to her as her hands spread across the keys of the piano with great skill and ease.

The children remember spending evenings together. There were many enjoyable times. Distractions outside the home at that time were not as convenient or available as it is now. The family was very close. This closeness has translated itself through the years because the children get together whenever they can even though they live in different places and are involved in different activities. There is still a bond between the children.

Henry and Jean really enjoyed music together. Jean was highly trained in music to a concert level. Henry did not have any training but loved to sing together. They played duets often on the piano to such an enthusiastic level that could be heard blocks away.

The children were also musically inclined. Many enjoyable memories for Norinne were made with her mother when they would play duets together. Around 1930-31, John got an accordion for Christmas. Dick played quite well also on the guitar, ukulele and mandolin. They played quite a bit together. Keith took up the accordion and the girls took piano lessons. They were good at it. Hazel tried to teach Keith the piano, but he never took to it.

There was a musical combo that played on the radio. In this combo, were Jim Nerdon, Carl Mansell, John and Dick Wessman. Carl and Jim were both pretty good singers. Jim played the harmonica. It was a 15-minute program once a week. The Wessman family did not have a radio during much of this time to listen to them. Around 1930 or 31, they got a little radio from Jean's mother. It was their first radio and very popular. It had a battery set. It had to have wet cell batteries for it and a trickle charger. There were three dials on it that had to be tuned. It was complicated.

After that radio, they got what they called the "baby grand." The neighbors would come in and listen to Amos 'n' Andy, and the radio programs of the day. Not many people had a radio those days and so it was quite the novelty. The favorite programs were Amos 'n' Andy, Fibber McGee and Molly and The Great Gildersleeve.

Jean was practically walking on air because she was so excited to play the Tabernacle organ for a Relief Society conference on the day that Keith and Lily got married. She was so tickled.

She would go down to Salt Lake from Ogden once a week to see a friend where they would have musical discussions and practice together. She also enjoyed being in the opera club in Salt Lake. Whenever she had a few minutes to spare or wanted to enjoy herself, she would play the piano. Jean pursued music all her life until shortly before she died. When she had a stroke, she was not able to play the piano and that bothered her immensely.

Photo of the organ from www.flickr.com/photos/lljohnston/3981655849/.

Hazel Jean Hayward Wessman: A Biography, Part 3

Ten of the Wessman children.

Family was the first priority with Jean. She however was not a disciplinarian. She usually would start crying. It could be heard, "Don't make mom cry." Henry did more of the disciplining. The children were not allowed to sass or talk back to their mother without their father's wrath coming down on them.

She would get bent out of shape when the kids didn't do the household job that they were given. She felt that they had a job to do and they had better do it.

Family entertainment was mostly music, playing cards (Rummy, Hearts etc.), riding in the car and picnics. They would also go to resorts such as Saratoga and Warm Springs in Salt Lake to go swimming.

Life was never boring in the home with so many children. When the family lived on Adams Avenue in Ogden, they lived in a two-story house with a big attic. To get into the attic, one had to go through the trap door that leads there. Ernie was about six years old and Liz was going to help him up. She got there first and started to pull him up by holding his hands. Ernie was part way up when someone called her name. She said "What?" and at the same time let go of Ernie's hands. He fell all the way down. The next thing that he knew he was wobbling down the stairs. Jean asked, "What in the world happened to you?" Ernie replied, "Betty just dropped me out of the attic." He then keeled over and needed to be revived by his mother. The wind must have been knocked out of him.

Another time, some of her children with their friends snuck in to an irrigation pond that was called either Ellison or Beuss Pond. Liz almost drowned but someone saved her. She was scared to death and wouldn't go back in. A friend named Owen threw her back in so she would not have a fear of the water.

The whole bunch of kids made a deal that they would not tell anyone what happened. Especially to their parents. They were afraid of the repercussions if the situation was made known. Jean (the daughter) does not know who squealed but someone did. Henry and Jean found out about the incident by reading about it in the newspaper. What an interesting way to find out what happened!!!

One night, Norinne was sleep walking and walked out the second story window of their home. Jean heard her daughter crying but did not know what had happened. She had someone go check on her. Jean then realized that the crying came from outside. Norinne does not remember going out the window. She does remember being in her parent's bed and her mother was showing her the mud that was covering her nightgown. She had gotten muddy when she ran outside to get her daughter. Norinne was not hurt. Henry soon came home from work also to make sure that she was all right. Someone had told him about the incident.

Jean was scrubbing the kitchen floor in her bare feet. Keith was in the bathroom (just off of the kitchen) taking a bath. He was about seven or eight years old. She said that she just got done and needed to wash her feet so she could get her socks and shoes on. She came and sat on the edge of the tub and put her feet in the water. She slipped right into the water. It ended up that she popped Keith up in the air and he ended sitting on top of her. It was a big surprise but they laughed about it for many, many years.

Keith's first memories of his parents are of taking two cars loads full of family and friends and going up to the canyons to camp, eat, swim and play ball. On Saturdays, Jean made bread. She would also cook beans all day. After coming home from the canyons, the family would sit and eat biscuits and beans. Keith learned to love biscuits and beans from this experience. Dick loved to watch Jean cook.

To be continued...

Hazel Jean Hayward Wessman: A Biography, Part 2

Jean taught her son Keith through her attitude that a mother should be able to rely on her sons for support and help. Not just monetary support but emotional support too. John was her shining star in this area when they moved to Salt Lake. He was the one who made sure the house got fixed up and things like that. He was the organizer. Keith remembers cleaning a lot of wallpaper under John's command so that the household would run smoother for Jean.

After his father died, Keith (even though he was six) felt as if he had to grow up. He wanted to do things that would bring his mother comfort. He did not want to give her anything to worry about. He knew that she was counting on him to do what he should.

Jean enjoyed going out with her husband. At times, when her husband got off work early in the morning (from his night job), he would take her out for breakfast before the kids got up. That was a benefit of having a large family. There was always someone to pitch in if necessary to help with the daily events. Jean usually got up early so she could accomplish all that needed to be done.

Henry and Jean would go out with their friends or go out to dinner by themselves. The older kids would take care of the younger children. They made many good friends with Henry's coworkers from the newspapers. They would often socialize with them.

Henry had a good sense of humor. He loved to tell his wife jokes because she would not get them at first. Awhile would go by and then she would start to laugh. Henry thought this was cute and funny.

Jean and Henry liked to go out with Joe and Anna Wessman (Henry’s brother and sister-in-law). They would like to play cards. They had a lot of association with Henry's siblings.

Henry and his brother Joe had certain opinions about hair. They liked long, straight hair. Joe's wife Anna and Jean decided to have their hair cut one day. Their spouses were quite upset when they saw the new hairdos. Jean loved her haircut though. However, Jean did bring home her hair in one braided piece.

Jean did have struggles. One of her children was born stillborn. She never talked about it. Could it be that it was too emotional for her? She was sick after the childbirth. She kept things in and never talked about herself much. She bore 14 other children. It was very challenging raising that many children. Especially after her husband died. When he died, the older children gathered around to help make ends meet. She had a serious heart condition so she could not go out and work.

Jean was sick for four or five years after she had Keith. Her daughters Jean and Betty (also called Liz) had to take care of him. After that bout, she started to improve somewhat. She struggled with how much money was coming into the home. Especially since the jobs that the children had didn't go on forever... Different jobs were sought after at different times depending on the circumstances and the job availability.

Jean (center) with family members.

Merle was her daughter who was born with [neonatal hypothyroidism (cretinism), a condition which is very treatable today]. She was named after Jean's sister who had died. She required a lot of attention. When she was first born, Jean had a lot of pressure and ridicule from the outside to put Merle in American Fork, Utah where the handicapped lived. At that time, the handicapped did not receive the skills and training that they do now. She said "No way! She is my baby." Merle was a very happy but simple person with the mentality of a six or seven year old. She was treated like the rest of the family so when she died, it was a loss. Merle could do many things around the house such as iron, sweep, dishes, make beds, etc. Jean would help watch her daughter Jean's children (JoAnn, Elaine and John Shirts) while she worked and Merle would help her. She did a beautiful job. This was at 184 E. Street. They all lived together in the same house. Jean, her husband Joe Shirts and their family lived upstairs while her mother Jean lived downstairs. All Merle's brothers and sisters would work with her in different areas. She eventually was able to write her name like a first grader.

There were no hard feelings about Merle and her handicap even though the children knew it was a hard situation. Whenever the extended family met with Jean's family, Merle was always given hugs and kisses and accepted as the other family members.

To be continued...

The photos are from my mother's collection.