A SKETCH OF MY LIFE HISTORY by Frank D. Terry
I was born on the 18th of Dec. 1872. My birthday place was in Hebron, known as Sholecreek. I was born in a cellar with a dirt foof under an apple orchard. My father had two wives , who were sisters. They were Zera Pulspher’s daughters. My mother lived in Hebron until I was seven years old. Then she moved on to the Terry ranch five miles above Hebron. There I spent my young life until I was l5. Then we moved to Saint George, Utah. My father had the mail contract from the Terry ranch to Pioche and Barkley, known as Clovervalley. I helped father carry the mail in the summer time to Pioche and Barkley. I went to school in Saint George in the winter until I was 17. Then we moved to Panaca, Nevada where I was employed taking care of horses which we used to carry the mail. My father have 2 wives we were sought after by the U.S. Marshalls There names were Bushard and Johnny Armstrong. They gave us many a wild chase, Bushard was the Marshall who shot and killed a man in Parowan whose name was Dalton.
(THIS IS ALL HE WROTE AT THIS TIME) LIFE HISTORY OF FRANK D. TERRY I was born in Hebron, the l8th day of Dec. 1872. I lived in Hebron 6 years when my mother moved on to the Terry Ranch five miles above Hebron. My mother Moved to St. George where I went to school in the winter and in Summer I helped my father on a mail contract to Pioche and Glover Valley until I was 14 years old then my mother moved in to Panaca where we kept mail station for two years, I also went to school in Panaca while there for 2 years when my father moved us back to Hebron. Then for a number of years I owned and ran a freight team handling merchandice from Milford into Puche and Delamar. I married Rhoda Elizabeth Hunt, daughter of Amos P. Hunt in the Saint George Temple.(Dec. 21st 1893) I lived in Hebron 10 years after marriage where I was ward Chorister untill the town of Hebron was broken up and moved to enterprise. I have 12 children. 3 died very young and 9 are still living. All moved. I have 2 daughters living now in Caliente, Nevada Two living in Melford, Beaver County. Three boys and two daughters living in Enterprise, I helped build the first church bldg in Enterprise and also helped build the school building, I was mutual secretary 4 years, mutual president in Enterprise 5 years and ward chorister in all 25 years. My occupation has been farming and stock raising for a lively hood untill I was unable to work. Five years ago I had a stroke in my left side which disabled me from hard work. Now I’am 78 years old Dec. 18, 1950. I am a High Priest in the Enterprise ward.
Respectfully, Frank D. Terry
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN DURMOTH TERRY Written by himself
I first saw the light of this world on the 18th of December,1872, It wasn’t a very elaborate place, but it was the best my father, Thomas Sirls Terry, could provide for my mother, Eliza Jane Pulsipher Terry at that early development of Shoal Creek. This humble abode of which I speak was a cellar like house with hard packed dirt for a floor and a dirt roof.
The family was pretty crowded in this small place because I was the tenth child born to my mother. As you know, my father took the advice of the Church Leaders in the early days, and entered into pologamy. He believed it to be right and proper and always tried to take good care of his wives and children.
My early childhood days were spent in about the same way as other pioneer children. My mother lived in Hebron until I was seven years old, then we all moved to the Terry Ranch, five miles west of town. This ranch holds many fond memories for me. When father secured it, it was known as Moroni Springs, so called be¬cause of the Indian Chief by that name who claimed the Upper Meadow for his home.
I spent my young life at the Ranch until I was fifteen years old, then we were moved to St. George. My father had a mail contract from the Ranch to Pioche and Clover Valley, along about this time. In the summer time I would help my father with the mail carrying job and go to school in St. George in the winter time until I was seventeen years old.
When my mother and family moved to Panaca, I enjoyed taking care of the horses which we used to carry the mail through to Hebron.
Along in the early 1880′s a great stir was mads by the United States Government against the Mormons and their practice of plural marriage. My father being one of these, he was sought after by two ruthless men by the name of Burk and Armstrong, who were acting as Deputy United States Marshalls. Even in Parowan, a town about 60 miles from us, Burk shot Ed Dalton down in cold blood, right there on the street of his home town. Such heartless murders were to be feared by even brave men like my father.
Father kept dodging them, going from place to place. Aunt Hannah, the last wife, and her small children, he took down into Nevada, at Mesquite, where her people lived and where they would be safe. His youngest child was named Exile, but always called “Exie” — this name came about because of his having to be in hidding for so long. He later took this family to a Ranch on the Beaver Dam Wash, where they could safely make their home. By being very careful, father would make his trips to see how each of his families were getting along. We children always kept on the. look out for these Marshalls so we could warn father in . time for him to give them the slip.
I remember very well one day these men were giving me a very close run down a narrow road through the brush, when I came to a crossing in the old Hebron Creek, which I leaped over, some 15 feet. But right there is where the chase ended. Mr. Burk, who was right on my heels, not knowing the Creek was there, missed his jump and landed kerplunk, in that black, sticky, mud and water. I have to laugh even now, when I think of him coming sputtering, spiting and swearing out of that muddy mess, trying to get the silt out of his eyes and mouth. He wasn’t long in getting out of his soiled white shirt and giving it a throw, bless his old black heart.
Well, so much for him — I would like to tell one more little incident that happened on the Terry Ranch. My sister, Susie, was making pies in the kitchen and rolling pin in hand, when without warning or even stopping to show a search warrent, these U. S. Marshalls entered on the run - thinking to take my father by surprise,, But Susie handed the surprise right back to Armstrong, with a clomp on the head with the rolling pin. If I remember right, I think the back of his head had a few knots on it.
In my early life, I was employed as a freighter from Milford, in Utah, to Pioche and Delamar in Nevada. As is the case today, we then had to turn our attentions to every thing we could to make a living.
I always loved to farm and be around livestock. Just as soon as I could, I started to get something of my own. I was getting to that age when I started looking for a wife. I found just the girl I wanted in Rhoda Elisabeth Hunt, daughter of Amos and Rhoda Truman Hunt. I was 21 and Libby was 17 when we journied to St. George and was united in marriage for time and all eternity, by the servant of God, in the L. D. S. Temple there on the 21st of December, 1893.
Our life together has been a wonderful experience. Of course, we have had our joys and our sorrows. We haven’t known too much of worldly wealth, our riches cannot be measured in terms of dollars and cents. Our treasurers have been richer than gold and silver. I’m speaking of the 12 fine sons and daughters the Lord has blessed us with. Seven girls and five boys. Two of the boys and one girl weren’t permitted to remain with us, but we have been priviledged to rear nine to maturity. They are all devoted to us, especially to their mother, when she suffered a broken hip and needed care for so long, the children gave her every possible attention until she passed away, February 23, 1950, at our home in Enterprise.
I am very lonesome without her. I don’t know what I would do if it wasn’t for my nine children, 55 grandchildren and the 25 great grandchildren, all of which I visit around with. I haven’t mentioned my work in the Church yet, but I would •like to say that religion has been the thing our home life has been centered around. My wife and I have always tried to fulfill every call made of us in the different organizations and taught our children to do likewise.
After moving to Enterprise from Hebron, I acted as Secretary of the Elder’s Quorum for four years. I was Ward Choir Leader for 25 years and President of the Mutual for 5 years. I was also a teacher under Bishop George A. Holt. Now I am a High Priest, my age is 77, December 18, 1949.
NOTE: Uncle Frank died in a Salt Lake City hospital where he was taken for treatment, December 4, 1952. He was buried in the Enterprise cemetary December 8, 1952.