And Just When you Thought It Was Safe To Return - MORE MATTSON PHOTOS!

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Just in time for Camille's wedding this weekend.  Just when you thought it was safe to return to the blog, I zing you with MORE MATTSON PHOTOS!  Yes folks,  I discovered a few more photos from Aunt Bev's photo album I had to include in our family history.  Time to sit back and enjoy,

Simply,
Victor

Aunt Bev

Grandpa Walter Mattson.  Grandma Violet Pierce Mattson

Taken Shortly Before Grandpa's death

 John Mattson

Missionary Photo

John and Bev

John and Bev, as the years pass.

  

Joseph and Jake Mattson

 

Camille and Angie Mattson

The Mattson Men

John with sons Kirk, Joe and Jake

The Mattson Women

Bev with Daughters Gina, Angie Camille and Candace.

 Camille, Jake and Joe

Black Hills  1983

J

John and Violet Mattson and the Dennis Grave in Hot Springs.  1983

Kirk and Jake on the old Mattson Ranch in Eastern Montana.  1983

 And now, a series of photos of Ma and Pa Mattson of Brodus Montana and their offspring

 in their Goin to Town finest.  This photo was takin right after Sunday Meetin.

The family gathered outside the saloon to have their photo took.  Ma Mattson wanted the photo took

at the photo salon by the Methodist Church but the boys wouldn't oblige, bein' neck deep in cards an drink you see.  Besides, daughters Angie and Camille (front left end) weren't  neighborly with most of the town's women folk.  Seeins how they knew most of their husbands......

Ma Mattson finally got 'em to settle down for their photo.

"Ma, its a hot as a whorehouse on nickle night," Kirk complained while pulling on his scarf.

"Kirk Mattson, don't you put a spoke in the wheel.  I ain't gonna have my photo took on a lick and a promise, no suree.  You boys ain't gonna beat the devil around the stump all afternoon.  We gonna get this done by hook or by crook.  Am I clear on that?"  Ma Mattson shouted while waving a pistol haphazardly in the air.  "Now Fetch those whiskey crates, set yerselfs down and let's getter done." 

"Yes ma'am," Pa Mattson replied as he cut the swell and struck a pose.   

Finally, the Mattson Boys with a friend sittin Simon pure for their photo to be took.  Shortly after the photo they robbed the Bank of Missoula.
Kirk is the leader of the gang. He's so mean he'd steal a fly from a blind spider.  They say he'd make an ordinary fight look like a prayer meetin.  The last man to tangle with him got beat up so bad there wasn't enough of him left to snore.

Behind Kirk is Jacob.  You know him by his teeth.  They are so crooked he could eat corn on the cob through a picket fence.

Beside Kirk is Joe.  Looks ain't Joe's strong suite.  They say he's so ugly he looks like the hindquarters of bad luck.
"His face looks like a dime's worth of dog food," one woman said who saw him recently.

The last boy in the photo is new to the gang.  I don't right recall his name but I remember what they say 'bout him.  He couldn't teach a hen to cluck.  He didn't have nothin under his hat but hair.

Keep an eye out for the Mattson Gang.  Specially if you have a bank in yer town heavy in coin.

Slavery in our Family History (Williamson Line)

 From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Williamsons,
Tonight in our digital family gathering I'll introduce you to some of the slaves in our Williamson family history.

For years I remember being told an old family tale of a distant ancestor who supposedly sold a slave to Thomas Jefferson.  I doubt this can be proved.  One thing I can prove is that our family did indeed own slaves; several of them.  Our Williamson ancestors were farmers in Virginia and Virginia was a slave state.   Owning slaves would be expected if they had sizable farms.

The slave chapter in our family history is detailed in the Wills of a few of our direct ancestors.  Let me begin by posting a section of our Williamson family tree.

George Mathew Williamson (our common GG Grandfather through his son, our common Great Grandfather William Jonathan Williamson) was the son of Mathew Williamson and Selina D. Jeffries.

The Wills from the records of Charlotte County, Virginia.

We begin with the will of our  5th Great Grandfather,  John White.  You can trace him to us through the family tree above.
Grandfather White's will mentioned several slaves (15 by my count).  Their names were:

Bob: A negro boy
Mary: A negro girl
Milley: A negro girl given as a slave to our 3rd Great Grand Uncle Charles Williamson, son of his daughter Susanna White Williamson married to Cuthbert Williamson Junior. 
Sarah:
Saul:
Nancy:
Bartlet
Bett
Jane:
Hannah:
Dick:
Yellow Dick:
Lucy:  A wench
Luce:
Aggie:  The will mentions that Dick, Yellow Dick, Luce and Aggie are to be divided to his daughters at the time of his wife's death.  Therefore our 4th Great Grandmother Susanna White Williamson would have received one slave from her father.

This is the will of our 4th Great Grandfather Cuthbert Williamson Jr.   According to his will, each of his children were to be given one slave at his death and when they reach the lawful age.  Our 3rd Great Grandfather Mathew is mentioned to receive one slave.   The will states that the remainder of his slaves stay with his beloved wife Susannah.  Upon her death, the remaining slaves (which would include their dependents) would be divided among his children - again our Grandfather Mathew is mentioned.

It is my opinion that slavery ended along the Williamson line with Mathew.  We know that George Mathew Williamson left the south for Illinois shortly after his marriage to Margaret Willis.  Illinois was a free state.

Victor
 

Sunday's Assortment of Windows to the Past: 1950's to the 1980's.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,

I've got a few interesting and fun old photos for you today.   It's a smorgasbord from several decades and I make no apology about it.  I wouldn't keep writing this blog if I felt I had to organize these stories and photos in some kind of chronological order.  It would take too much time and effort.  Time and effort make for good New Year's resolutions, but have little prolonged sticking power.  I keep this history blog believing that sometime in the future, someone in our family will organize these posts into a logical series of events in a chronological order.  I'm trusting you.  Make me proud - whoever you are.

My sister Jilane called yesterday afternoon asking if I'd help her set up her daughter Brooklynn's 16th Birthday Party dance set to a 1980's theme at the Vibe Dance Studio.

"Meet us there at 5:00 P.M.," she ordered.

At 5:00 P.M. I sat in the Battlestar at what I thought was The Vibe.  The parking lot was empty.  The Vibe signage was removed from the door and canopy.  Then I remembered the studio moved locations several months earlier.  I fumbled for my cell phone, lost amidst the junk I keep in my arm rest storage unit.  The phone powered up, then immediately shuta down.  I rarely use it so I keep forgetting to charge it.  The phone was bought for emergencies only.  Well, this was an emergency and the phone wasn't charged; hence my reason for paying the $12.00 a month for my 30 minutes of peak time was meaningless.  I drove to a nearby convenience store to use a pay phone.  There were none to be found.  Pay phones are extinct - soon to become the next exhibits in science and industry museums.   I drove back home, called Jilane, and got the address.

 Brooklyn Bodily

Sweet 16 and Driving.

Keep your pets indoors for at least a few months.

Brooklynn had a great party.  I take partial credit.  I provided cookies and ice for snow cones (a small contribution from a loving uncle).   Jilane looked like 700,000 dollar's (a million bucks in 1980's money).  I'd swear she stepped out of a 1985 Sears Roebuck Catalog.  She spent much of the dance encouraging the reluctant boys to the dance floor.  I sat back in the semishadows away from the spinning lights from the disco ball with Annette, Kevin and Chaz.  Chaz was in charge of the music.  He did a good job, WHILE he watched a football game on his computer.    It was classic Chaz.

At 9:30 P.M. I decided to call it a night.  It was approching my bed time.  I'm a creature of habit.  It would take something more than a 16th birthday party to get me to change my routine :)  I wound my through the writhing bodies on the dance floor to get to  the refreshment table .  I loaded up on chips, cookies, candy and popcorn to take home and wished everyone "Good Luck".

Happy Birthday Brooklynn.

And now, today's photos....

Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg Mattson (right) with a friend holding her granddaughter Luella.  Luella was 21 months old.  October 1941.  Montana.  

Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg Mattson with Granddaughter Luella.  October 1941.



Luella Mattson with bunny.   Easter, early 1940s on the Mattson Ranch in eastern Montana.

Our Great Uncle Walter, brother to Grandma Violet Pierce Mattson.  Luella's uncle. 

Grandma Elda Vercellino Liessman, mother to Charles Williamson, in the Black Hills.  1950s. 

A Valentine's Day card sent to Grandma Elda from Luella.  Valentine's Day 1965.  Read the dedication in Luella's handwriting.  Can you guess who "?" turned out to be?  Yes, Jilane.
Jilane was born a month after the card was mailed.  



Lisa's second birthday perhaps.  July 5, 1973.  Karen Holtz is there from next door with her two sons Glenn and David.  Jonathan Williamson is standing behind Karen.

   
 An unknown person sitting in our living room at 2214 38th Street, Rapid City.  One of my siblings must recognize her.  Let me know.  I'm guessing it was taken in 1973 about the same time as Lisa's birthday.  You can also tell that its the early 1970's by the dress she's wearing.  



Lisa's 4th Birthday.  July 5, 1976.  Gina and Angie Mattson are with her.


 This is either Forest or Brandon DelGrosso taken on our front lawn in Rapid City.  I'm thinking its Brandon because Forest was scrawny kid.   

August 19, 1979.  Uncle Ed and Aunt Iris Vercillio at their 40th wedding anniversay in Belle Fourche.  Uncle Ed was Grandma Elda's little brother.   He and Iris rand the 5th Street Market in Belle Fourche.  He was a kind, quiet man.

Uncle Ed and Aunt Iris's family.  I remember Karen (standing beside Iris).  She was their eldest daughter. 
 

Janice and Luella sitting in Grandma Mattson's trailer in Rapid Valley.  The blonde coffee table use to belong to us.  I remember it from our house on Signal Drive.  I used to play under it as a child.  

And finally, Lisa Williamson during her high school days.

She will need to tell the story that goes with this picture.

 Thanks for reading.

Victor

An Addition to our Growing Family and a Missionary Leaves for South Africa

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,

It was 37 degrees at the top of the Timp Cave Trail this morning.  I stepped out of my car at the Timp Cave Visitor's Center at 8:30 A.M., felt a blast of arctic wind coming down the canyon and nearly decided to pack it in and head for home.  I considered my options and decided to soldier on.  I was already there and had nothing better to do.

Hiking the 1.5 miles up the mountain soon warmed me up to the point where I hardly noticed the cold.  My nose became a bother though- the cold kept things very liquid.  It wouldn't stop running.   This nasal problem brought a couple embarassing moments on the trail.  Every time I'd wipe my nose on my sleeve or blow it onto the pavement, someone would round the corner and see me.   

Welcome Levi Wallace Turley

Today I announce two historical milestones. We'll begin with an addition to our family.

I'd like to introduce you to Levi Wallace Turley.  Levi was born on Monday, August 20th at 12:34 P.M. coming in at 6lbs 14 oz length and 19 1/2 inches.  Levi is the third child of Autumn and Derek Turley.  The Turley family lives in American Fork, Utah (by the way, his Great Aunt Annette took the picture above).

The Relationship Chart helps you place Levi on our family tree:  

Autumn Holding Lydia and Derek holding London

Welcome to our family Levi!  It's a odd clan,  but never dull. 

Brock Bodily Leaves on an LDS Mission

 Brock, giving us that GQ look

Brock Bodily left for Johannesburg, South Africa on September 11 to serve a two year LDS mission.  Brock is the 19 year old son of Jilane and Kevin Bodily.  He graduated from Pleasant Grove High and was a student at Utah Valley University before leaving for South Africa.

The Relationship Chart will help you place Brock in our family tree:

The Bodily's.

Standing Left to Right.  Chaz, Kenedee, Brock, Kevin, Jessica (Brayden's Wife) Brayden.

Kneeling Left to Right:  Jilane, Brooklynn

Brock spoke to his local LDS congregation on September 9.  He did a pretty good job.  Brock got emotional toward the end when he spoke about his family.  His praise of his awesome Uncle Victor was one of the highlights of his speech.  He thanked me for the time and effort spent helping him to succeed in school.  There was one other thing he said that brought laughter from the congregation. 

"Ladies, I'll be back in two years. I'm worth the wait!"  

Yes, that's what our Brock is like.  There has never been a problem with self esteem.

 

Brock would love to hear from you.  You can reach him through this email address: 

brock.bodily@myldsmail.net

You can read Brock's weekly emails home by become friends with Jilane on Facebook.  

Simply,

Victor

 
   

Luella's Lecture on Being a Gentleman and Pictures from Rapid City. 1956 to 1985.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
The end of September has fallen on a beautiful day in Utah Valley.  We have cool Autumn temperatures in the evenings and warm sunny skies during the day.

My morning started with a lecture (or lesson depending on who is on the receiving end).  The title of this Sunday morning's lecture was, On Being a Gentleman,  delivered by my mother Luella.  It was 8:00 A.M.  We were in the Battlestar on our way to Orem's friendly Winco Grocery Superstore.  Going to Winco early on a Sunday morning is our weekly ritual.  Early Sunday morning shopping in Utah means empty stores.  It makes you feel like you're the sole survivor of a world wide apocalypse.

Mom struggles up the steps from her basement apartment, gets in the car, wrestles first with her carry on luggage sized purse, then with the seat belt;  she almost always forgets the Battlestar's seat belts must be fully rewound before they can be unwound to fasten the occupant to the seat.  She panics if I back out of the driveway before she straps herself in.  I think she's afraid of my driving  I've been know to exceed the speed limit by 5 mph.  I also take corners a bit too sharply for her liking. The 1.2 G Force nudge she experiences against the car door has been known to dislodge her upper dental plate (it rarely stays in place anyway).

I've learned to keep the radio tuned to NPR during our outings.  NPR is her favorite station.  Please don't say, "Ah, what a loving son!"  I've heard it too many times, and deservedly so I might humbly add (primarily from my brothers and sisters who say it thinking it somehow absolves them from their responsibilities towards our aging parents).  Me being a good son isn't necessarily true in this situation.  I just know that she likes the commercial free stories on NPR, and a good story will keep her mind engaged - leaving me to a nice, quiet conversation free journey :)

The radio was on, louder than usual.  A good in depth news story was playing; but alas, it did me no good.  As soon as she proclaimed victory over the stubborn seat belt, she started on something she'd been planing on discussing with me all morning.

The bits and pieces I listened to revolved around her disgust with today's modern man.  She elaborated at great length listing reasons why men should open car doors for ladies.  That led to a diatribe blasting the male gender for not standing when a lady enters the room.  I could tell the topic was important to her because of the tone of her voice.

Evidently my nephew Tate got the lecture after his soccer game yesterday.  Now he knows not to get into the minivan before opening the door for his Grandma.  Now he knows not to close the car door until after she is completely in and settled into her seat.  I could tell she was fishing for a flurry of guilt on my part.  I didn't give her the pleasure.

"Women want equality and we gave it to them," I explained.  "Do women deserve to be equal to men AND have their doors opened for them?  Why should a man stand whenever a lady walks into the room if the sexes are equal?  Shouldn't we stand for each other?"  I knew how to push her buttons.  I regretted doing so.  It got her even more flustered and that led to a longer debate.

I got to the check out stand before her.  I got out of the store before her.  I unloaded the groceries before her.  I sat in the Battlestar waiting for her return.  I knew she was expecting me to jump out and open the car door for her.  I didn't.  Now you're calling me a very bad son.

I unlocked her door. She got in.  "There, you see what I did for you?" I asked before starting the engine.

"What did you do for me?" she replied while battling the serpent seat belt.

"I unlocked the door for you!" I replied proudly.

Ah, it is good to have the last laugh when engaged in a battle of wits.

And so it was.

Time Well Spent Sorting Through the Old Wicker Baskets.    

Today I'm posting a series of older photographs taken from one of the wicker baskets I use to store hundreds of old photographs waiting to be posted.  It is a Pot Luck posting, having no real theme.  Please enjoy.  

         This is a school photograph of my sister Jilane taken sometime in the 1970's. 

at Canyon Lake Elementary School in Rapid City.

Isn't it amazing how little she has changed over the years!?

   Jilane and her fiance Kevin Bodily the summer before they wed.

There really was a time when Kevin and Jilane cuddled in public. The picture above was taken in our backyard at 2214 38th Street, Rapid City.  The Williamson's overgrown garden is visible.  Somewhere in the weeds are a few tomatoes and cucumbers and a host of well intentions.

Standing around the picnic table are:  Dad, Uncle Marvin holding Luke,  Grandma Mattson and Mom.

In those days people use to hang their laundry on an outdoor line to dry. Mom hung our laundry out to dry not for lack of a dryer or trying to save energy.   She did it because our pre World War I  dryer forgot the purpose for its existence - to dry clothes.  

Kevin Williamson's Senior Picture

Rapid City, 1979.
Compare Kevin to his younger sister Janice below.
Now you'll notice who was spoon fed in our family.
Kevin - cool, suave, dressed like he belonged.
 While Janice had to constantly remind everyone she was there :) 

Janice Williamson, now Janice Williamson Burrows.

Taken at Canyon Lake Elementary in the 1970s.

I think Janice had a liking for mushrooms :)

Magic mushrooms....

I post this picture to silence those who doubt Jilane actually has some college.

Here she is getting her Honorable Mention from Rick College, back in the day.

And speaking of graduations.  The year, 1979.  

The place, Steven's High School, Rapid City, South Dakota.

Kevin Williamson graduated from High School.

Yes, you see a look of joy and surprise bordering shock on his face!

  

Talk about random.

Mom and Dad in Dad's convertible.  Spearfish, South Dakota.  1956.  The year before they wed.

The early 1980's.  Rapid City.

Annette, Shane Mattson and Lisa standing in the middle of 38th Street.  The Rich's giant willow tree 

is looming over them.  The Weber's home is to the right. 

Why they are standing on the street is a mystery.

Perhaps they're counting cars.  I'll bet they got to 8 by supper time.

Annette, Lisa and two unidentified children enjoying a Burger King Lunch at 

Canyon Lake Park in the late 1970's. 

Annette and Lisa knew where to go to get something to eat if the house was barren.  Canyon Lake Park was a five minute walk from our house.  They knew they could always count on someone having a picnic with a bit of extra food. 

"Its easy, all you have to do is ask!" Lisa always said.  

Have a Great Week,

Victor 

P.S.  Annette was gracious to send a comment after this article was posted.  Thanks Annette.  

Yes, someone actually reads the blog! 

Annette adds:

So, here's the real story... and you spelled Tait wrong ;) We were walking to the car after looking at a yard sale and Tait opened Nana's door without anyone asking him to. This started the gratitude talk about how he will be the most popular boy and all the girls will love him if he shows courtesy. So after that, we stopped at another garage sale and I got out before Tait and Mom. Tait opened Nana's door for her and the woman sitting on the driveway with her teenage daughter whispered to her "Did you see that!? That boy just opened the door for his grandma!" So now Tait has learned a valuable lesson, one that started from his father, who gets mad at me still if I don't wait for him to open the door for me. AND the picnic at the park with Burger King, that was my birthday party. Those two girls I am assuming are my friends. I remember it because it was a rarity to get to go out to eat and go to the park all in the same day :) Thanks Victor for all the posts!