Meadowbrook Farm

While visiting with Joy Hadley on Sunday she related a few stories to me about her father (my great-grandfather). These stories were ones I had not heard before and so indicated. She then handed me the following....

Meadowbrook Farm

We say those words knowing that they evoke strong memories-tied to deep emotion-from the seven children of Bryan and Elsie Winward. Bryan and Elsie's grandchildren have heard snatches of stories told them by their parents. And the next generation, their great grandchildren, probably "only wonder" about the place that was Meadowbrook Farm and the people whose lives evolved there...

Today, let's share memories and make them more vivid for family members of four generations. Let's leave our reunion with all of us knowing a little more about the place that was Meadowbrook Farm and the people who made that place relevant in all of our lives.

Meadowbrook Farm. The time was the span of years from approximately 1920 to 1950. The people were Patriarch Bryan Hunsaker Winward, Mother Elsie Farmer Winward, and their family of seven children- Ofa, Lola, Sheila, Mark, Ned, Farel and Joy.

Memories of the place are captured as Ofa explains, "When Mother and Dad returned from the mission field, they bought the farm in Clifton, Idaho." Mark tells us that "We had a couple of sections of pasture land including the little mountain and Deep Creek where the cattle pastured." He adds that "all memories of growing up in the family of Bryan and Elsie Winwasrd - on the family farm at Clifton Idaho, - are happy ones," and that he is grateful for this start in his life.

Of this time, people and place, Ned writes, "Life for mom and dad was undoubtedly easier for them in Tonga, than it was farming 65b acres of irrigated land and 40 acres of day land in Clifton, Idaho. Dad worked from daylight till dark. Then two nights every nine days, Dad would spend all night tending the irrigation stream. he would take a flashlight and blanket and nap between changing the stream.

But even as hard as Dad worked, life was probably more difficult for mom, Imagine bearing and raising seven babies in primitive, crude cxonditions! Mom had no bathrooms, no refrigerator and no close-by grocery store. The wooden frame house had no insulation. It was cold int ehwinters and hot in the summers. Thank goodness for spring and autumn!"

All seven children remember 'work - hard work' on the farm. They had milk cows to feed, water and milk. there were horses, pigs and chickens to care for. They raised potatoes, corn, peas and sugar beets to sell, and wheat, barley, oats and alfalfa for their livestock. Mark emphasizes that, "It was a family farm and all the girls worked in the fields and barns too."

Ned explains, "We were usually happy and w had reason to be. Dad and Mom wisely used their kids to promote the welfare of the family. Sure we worked hard and long. That is the way our farm paid off. Work, coupled with sincere prayer, were the keys to our success. Somehow Mom and Dad not only survived, but they gradually climbed the economic ladder and made a success out of their farming enterprise."

Outside the farm itself, Mark remembers that he and his siblings, "would hunt magpies nests on Deep Creek each spring. The county paid 1 cent/egg and 1 1/2 cent/magpie head. They also paid 3 cent for squirrel tails, We - the brothers anbd sisters - could make dollars doing this." Joy especially remembers hunting magpies with Ned. She says, "He climbed the thorny Hawthorne trees to get the babies for the nest. I'd make the babies cry so the mama came for Ned to shoot her. I had to wring their necks. He got 10 cents a head." In all, Mark says, "our farm survived the Depression of the 1930s. I attribute this to the hard work of all the family."

So the Winward family knows the value of hard work. The principle of self-reliance is an eternal principle. It is ordained of God from the beginning, and brings great blessings into our lives and the lives of our families. Bryan and Elsie taught that there is great dignity and worth in an honest occupation, and set an example for their posterity to follow.

Of that time, Ofa tells us, "We didn't have lights or running water. Our playmates were our brothers and sisters. We had cats and dogs, but our really dear pet was our horse, Bucky Boy. While growing up there wasn't much time for play because of the chores, but we had fun riding our horse, We also shared a doll...We raised most of our own food. We put our mild and butter in a well to cool. Mother made our butter. We canned the fruit and vegetables."

Farel writ3es, "When we were kids we didn't have many games. We played marbles and out-door games like Run Sheep Run and Hide and Seek. Mother fascinated us and taught each of us how to play the string game of Cat's Cradle. She could do it so fast and was always very patient while teaching us."

Joy raised a "bum" lamb, or a motherless lamb, that her father brought home and told them was a "buck." She jokes today about how the next spring "Billy" had twins, and she was in business! She remembers doctoring, taming, and loving all the wild animals that needed her. her Dad would bring any injured or orphaned animal he found to her for care. Again she laughs about the huge kingdom she might need in the next life if all her pets meet her there!

And that takes us from the things of this life to the things of the next. Overwhelmingly the seven children remember the part "living the gospel" played in their early years, these memories take in the generalities of gospel living as well as specific experiences that served to cement their faith in Jesus's teachings.

This from Farel...."When we were kids, we didn't have many books, but Mom and Dad were able to purchase a se to Church books and read to us often, never tiring. Mother knew many of the stories about our Savior. She held the books so we could see the pictures while she taught us about him." And, then, this story that puts the Savior's teachings into practice: "Mother was always good to the tramps who walked the railroad tracks. This was during The Great Depression. They would come to our farm, which was close, to water and food. After sharing food with them she would let them rest in the shade. And then they would chop wood to show their thanks."

Farel also remembers, "great trips to Brigham City to pick peaches at Brother Barnes' big orchards." And, she says, "That was the best work ever- to get to eat thos big, juicy peaches while we filled our buckets. Dad always loaded our trailer to capacity so he could share with other families who didn't have a car or a trailer."

Then, of her mother Farel writes, "Our mother was the Ward Primary President for years and years. In the winter, she'd bundle up the pre-schoolers and drive the sleigh over two miles to the chapel. Mother showed the same kind of caring to the new convert of the Church who was willing to serve in a music capacity for the Primary but who was frightened at the thought of being called on to offer a prayer. So mother told her not to worry about hte latter explaining that there were plenty of others who could pray but they certainly couldn't do what she could with the music!" And Mom was of the very generous nature too. This same convert sister remembered how much mother had loved flowers. Apparently when this family moved to a bigger farm out on the hill, Mom took her a tub full of flower starts. The sister hesitated at taking so many plans, but Mom just said, 'Don't you know that the more flowers you give away the more they grow?!"

There were times when prayer, the Priesthood, and the fellow Saints blessed the family that lived on their Meadowbrook Farm. One of Ofa's clearest memories is of her baptism in the canal that ran about a block from their home. She writes, "The currant was so swift I couldn't keep my feet on the cement bottom, so Dad held me by my arms as my feet floated down the canal. As I recall, I was baptized on my 8th birthday with Mother, Lola, Sheila and Mark watching."

Mark and Ofa both tell the terrible accident Mark had at age four - when riding Old Buck. Apparently Old Buck go tangled up in some barbed wire and fell to the ground - Taking Mark with him, Mark hit his head on teh ground knocking him unconscious. The horse came home without Mark on it, so the family went looking for him and found him lying in the dirt. He remained unconscious for three days, but finally recovered 9and probably not without much fasting and prayer).

Farel's appendicitis brought the whole family together in prayer. She was only in the second grade, but she remembers very well how bad the pain was. She crawled under her bed at night and cried into her pillow so that no one would know how badly she hurt. Finally Farel told her family aobu the pain, but "mother refused to let Dad take her to a doctor because a cousin had died the year before when they had operated on her form a ruptured appendix. A priesthood blessing was given from Dad and cousin Bert, and Mom made me chicken soup. They and the Lord worked together to save my life."

When Ofa was in the first grade, she had diphtheria. She says simply, "My Mother saved my life by syringing the chunks from my throat every hour or so - and the prayers...."

Everyone remembers the fire that completely destroyed their home and all of their belongings. And everyone remembers where they were when it happened. Farel said, "Mother and Dad were serving in the Logan Temple, which was their home away from home, when they received the call about the terrible fire and had to return quickly to Clifton." Ofa, who was in Logan too - at Nurse's Training - was there when they got that emergency phone call, and she "risked being kicked out of the nursing program to accompany them home to get them support and to survey the damage." And, then, Sheila can never forget the image of the lone man at twilight - poking through the glowing embers that once was his home. She could only imagine what his thoughts were at the time......A family of nine, no home, no clothing, not even food and he was the one responsible for his family's well being....

Ned called the fire on April 2nd 1937 "one of Dad and Mom's greatest trials." He goes on to say that all the kids except baby Joy and 20-year-old Ofa were in school at Clifton. He remembers running home through the fields only to find nothing left of 'home.' He says, "When Mom and Dad drove up an hour or so later, I ran to the car and stated the obvious - 'We still have the clothes we are wearing.' - For that Mom gave me a hug and a compliment."

And, so, where were the blessings? Where was the comfort? Ofa said that the dress made out of bark that she wore as a toddler in Tonga was saved in a trunk along with some precious photographs. Mark says the family lived in Karl and Wilma's house till a new home was built. And Farel said, "Mother was like an old Mother hen comforting all of us kids. Once more she was courageous and helped each of us through that awful time in our lives." Ned tells us that the food was dispatched to their temporary two-room dwelling. And he said, "Dad expressed his gratitude for the Church assistance many, many times following the fire."

But, maybe no one remembers the fire and the lessons learned there better than Lola. A negligent plumber was at fault, and many advised the family to sue for damages. But Patriarch Winward would hear nothing of this.... Years later, when Lola suffered from an accident at the school in which she worked and was counseled to file suit, she remembered her father's example and didn't.....

How do you summarize the spiritual influences of Bryan and Elsie on their seven offspring? Ofa calls her mother a saint. "She taught us Gospel principles and loved them. she paid her tithing first always, and the other things came late." Of her father she says, "Dad was honest as the day long." And of the family life? She writes, "We had reunions with our aunts, uncles and cousins often. We would get together when the cattle needed branding or at other times when we would help each other out. I know all of my first cousins. My love fro them extends and grows with me to this day."

And Faral expresses it through memories like this. "My most spiritual memory is of our family kneeling in family prayer. Dad called on Mother to ask the prayer, and I couldn't understand her - but I knew she was praying in Tongan. Often through the years,and even after her terrible strokes, she would ask the family prayer in their beloved Tongan language. And then she remembers when her Father was able to buy the book about our Savior, Jesus the Christ....He would sit by the big stove and read. Tears would roll down his cheeks as he read aobut Jesus praying to our Father in Heaven in the Garden of Gethsemane and later being hung on the cross to suffer more. And, oh the joy, when "Dad read out loud to all of us about he resurrection of our Savior."

So, now, let's look at the lives of those who "lived" the Meadowbrook Farm - through the simple, but poignant, kinds of memories. Ned remembers hunting ducks with his father on Old Buck. he remembers his father's first asthma attack and getting him safely to the hospital. He remembers how his father taught him "to be brave in the throes of physical pain...when I got hurt, Dad would say, "Gosh, I can't feel it a bit!' He remembers mowing alfalfa and what happens when yo have a run-in with a skunk! He remembers hitting a silver dollar in midair with his 22 rifle for Al, and another time sharing his freshly-killed deer meat with he and Sheila.

And 'this' from Joy...She remembers riding her horse down on Deep Creek accompanied by her dog...swimming in the canal...Walking the railroad tracks looking for half-burned flares....Sleeping overnight with friends Delora Winward, Bonnie Dip, and Thelma Willis....Playing ginnie...eating gooseberries, green apples and raw rhubarb but not getting sick!....Thinning and topping sugar beets adn coming in from the fields with shaky knees...Looking for watercress at the spring....Giving up her bed every time they had company....Crawling through the canal tunnel by straddling the stream that oges through the tunnel....And walking the mile to the highway to catch the school bus.

Mark wants us all to know what it was like listening to the coyotes howl at night as they prowled around their house - and how frightened the seven kids were to go out after dark because of them. His memories include swimming in the twin lakes canal -and one day riding his bike off the edge and into the water below. He remembers their parents taking them into Dayton to roller skate, and he remembers riding four miles to the Clifton Church on his bike for mutual and scout meetings.

Ofa, trying to be helpful at the age of 5, tried carring fresh milk to the house and spilled it on the way in. She felt so bad about it that she stooped down and tried to pick it up out of the snow! Another time she was helping her Dad with chores when one of the cows kicked her into the manure trough! She remembers that wearing overalls to help with the chores, but otherwise she never wore pants. In fact, she even took the overalls off to eat lunch.

Ofa and Lola shared memories too. There was a rattlesnake in the weeds. Ofa took off running and Lola stood there and chopped the rattlesnake into pieces. Ofa and Lola came home from a Halloween Party one night to see their yard lit up with electric lights for the first time. And both remember their first Ford automobile. It had curtains at the windows instead of glass! Lola once received and unforgettable kind of gift from Sister Ofa. Ofa gave Lola money to buy frames for her glasses that Lola had only dreamed of getting. There was a vacation to Yellowstone National Park-and fishing....When the two girls were in high school, their mom went to visit one of Dad's older sisters--where she gave birth to child number seven, Joy. They were thrilled when Mom brought home a beautiful baby sister.

Farel remembers the real, living mountain lion on Deep Creek. She remembers a Mother Who loved playing ball and who gave everyone all the strikes everyone needed until they could hit the ball. Especially real is the memory of another fire caused by sugar syrup, boiled over. Lola spotted the smoke first, and the whole family ran in from the beet field to rescue Mother and baby Joy.

Sheila remembers the long ago with a sotry about her Dad that bespeaks the kind of man he was-and is-today...."One morning while it was yet dark Dad came back into the house as upset as I ever saw him be. "Elise," he cried, "We're ruined!" He explained in great agitation that most of our cows had been killed by a train. The railroad track ran right by our house and barn. He was angry because he knew someone must have left the gate open. Mom tried to calm him, and siad it wasn' the end of the world. But he was too distraught to listen. He assured her and everyone within hearing distance that htis was a blow we'd never recover from.....Eventually, he went back out to round up what was left of our cows, and all were safe and accounted for. The gate was closed-just as it should have been....The dead cows belonged to Jack Chole. But Dad wsa not at peace. He was more upset than ever as he said, "No way can Jack stand such a great loss. He's youn and just starting out." And, then, came the words that I'll never forget. Dad said, "Why, oh why, couldn't it have been our cows instead of Jack's?"

Sheila tells stories of her Mother's simple goodness-a gooness that followed mother Elsie till the very end of her earthly life. "One day, in her latter years, when Mom did not understand as she had in the past, I was getting her ready to go to the car. And since I didn't want her to have an accident on the way, I took her to the bathroom, sat her down and suggested she try to have a bowel movement. she looked at me puzzled and said, "What are you talking about?" I tried again, "Push down and try to move your bowels, Mom." But this, too, was to no avail. Finally, in desperation, I said, "Mom, Poop!" Her response was immediate and very clear. In a loud voice she reprimanded, "Shame on you!" And that is kind of a fun story to start winding things up with...

So what was it like living in those days - and in that place? Maybe we all know, feel and understand that a little bit better now?!....very simply, Ofa explains, "The church was our life line. Religion was a backbone of our family."

From Mark, "Dad and Mom were good parents. They took us to Church and taught us to work and get along with other people. I love my family very much!"

And from Ned, "Suffice it for me to say that Mom and Dad left us with a rich legacy while living on the farm, (our Meadowbrook farm), in Clifton, Idaho."



Joy personally told me that not only did her Dad not hold the plumber accountable for the destruction of his homebut also assisted in helping pay for his son to go on a mission---since his business was never the same after that accident. Although I have no documentation to back it up I don't doubt her word.

It is fun to read and learn about ones family!