ADDED EXPERIENCES IN THE LIFE OF THOMAS S. TERRY
By Grandsons Amos Grank Terry and Thomas George Hunt Sent in Feb. 19, 1956
Amos Frank says - “I have been thinking for some time of writing a couple of experiences in the life of grandfather, Thomas S. Terry, Sr., that I feel are worthy of record since I am a living witness of his statements made regarding them. In the yars, and just before William McKinley was elected to the Presidency of the United States, my father, Thomas Kelson Terry, and Uncle Zera, due to grandfather’s persuasion, moved their families on to the Beaver Dam Wash Ranch where grandfather, with Aunt Hannah’s family lived. Before moving, father and I took our stock down. On this occasion grand¬father related the following story, which, as a boy, ever searching for the truth, noted very carefully. I have lived to see it fulfilled. Directly quoting grandfather’s words, I write:
“Aunt Hannah and I were camped for the night and had just retired to bed when four characters appeared, following each other. Three of them wrote on a board as though advertising their wares. The fourth did not write. It was President Heber C. Kimball. He looked me squarely in the eye and pointed his finger at me as I’ve seen him do many times and said: ‘There shall be four more Presidents then we will have a terrible war and blood shed in abundance.’”
Grandfather then said, “At first I wondered if it meant Presidents of the Church or Presidents of the United States, but the interpretation came to me that it was Presidents of the United States.”
Amos Frank goes on - It made such an impression on me then, at the age of 16 years, that I determined to keep close check on the future. McKinley was the first President. Theodore Roosevelt was the second President, William Howard Taft was the third President. Woodrow Wilson was elected in due time as the fourth President and then came the war, which involved the world in a great bloodshed.
While conversing with grandfather a short time before his death I asked him if he remembered it, he said “Yes, Yes! If I had been a betting man, I would have bet that Woodrow Wilson would be that fourth President.”
Then he told me something else that would come and said, “I will not live to see it, but you will take your notebook and pencil and write it down for you will live to see.” He then said, “I have the vitality to live and would like to do so, but because of this affliction on my face, if it is the Lord’s will, I would like to go right now. Right Now.” The next day or two my mother-in- law came into the field where I was working in the hay and told me that grandfather had stepped into a hole and broken his leg. Because of the nature of his conversation to me, I was so sure it was his time to go that I sat down and wrote a preparatory warning to my father at Ruby Valley, Nevada. Of course, we all know that the Lord did answer his plea and took him at that time. Another incident which I will relate also happened while we were living on the Beaver Dam Wash. Grandfather arose one morning and during the day said to my father in my hearing: “Something has happened to Tom Price. I saw Tom pass by as plain as I can see you. Before night we will hear something.”
Well, the Beaver Dam Wash was about 35 miles from Cannan’s Ranch on the west and no means of getting word only by someone passing that way. However, about 4 p.m. o’clock, a white-topped buggy came across by way of Cannan’s Ranch from Delamar, Nevada, going up to St. George to Tom Price’s funeral and got my father’s black team, Nig and Coaley, to go on into St. George, leaving their team with us until they returned. In the rig was Jode Price, Tom’s brother, and Ann Price, Jode’s wife; John Alger and Hy Bryson. So we did hear before night.
A few days later, as they returned, we learned that Tom and his son Bert, about 16 years old, were in the mountains (toward the Cliff Station from the Indian Reservation) for wood when Tom was run over with the wagon and killed. Young Bert mounted one of the horses and rushed to St. George for help.
Thus, I, Amos Franklin Terry, am a living witness to the inspiration of the Lord upon a humble and great man, Thomas Sirls Terry.
Source: Brent Bunker