Dear Relatives

ACIE LUVELLA PROVOST GILES

Acie Luvella Provost Giles was born on March 20, 1889 in Midway, Wasatch County, Utah, the daughter of David Woodruff and Clarissa Van Wagoner Provost. She attended the Midway Schools, and was baptized a member of the LDS Church 6 November 1898.

She married Franklin Shelton Giles the 24th February 1909 in Heber City, Utah, where they made their home until 1917. During this time they were blessed with three daughters. From Heber they moved to Magrath, Alberta, Canada, March 5, 1917 where their only son was born. They owned and operated a ranch while in Canada, but returned to Salt Lake City, Utah November 3, 1929. Franklin was Secretary and Treasurer of the Lehi School District for nine years. Acie worked on the Table Committee for old folks for nine years, and was a Relief Society Teacher. At present they own an apartment house. Guy is foreman of the Salt Palace, and Lora is Manager of the Cross Roads Hotel Utah Motel.

HENRY VAN WAGONER

Henry Van Wagoner was born in Provo, Utah County, Utah the 2 May 1862. The eighth child and fourth son of John Halmagh Van Wagoner and Clarissa Tappen.

Henry never married, but lived in Midway all his life. He had his own home. A red brick at the bottom of the Midway cemetery hill. His yard and home looked inviting. He was a painter, brick layer and mason by trade. Henry would paint and clean a room, live in it and then paint and clean another room as needed and move into that.

John Halmagh and his sons David and Henry were musicians and furnished music for dances in the early days. Henry played on many programs and for his own amusement on what is called "A one man band". This included a base drum, snare drum, cymbals, guitar and jazz horn, which he strapped to him and placed on stands so he could play them all at once. He also loved to chord on the piano. He played the flute in the County Marshall Band until his death. The people of the valley would awaken to its music on the mornings of July 4th and 24th holidays as they drove around the valley by wagon - later by car. This was something we all expected and loved to hear. Then the band would play in the parades.

Henry loved people and enjoyed visiting many of the people in Midway, most of them relatives. Often being invited to share the families evening meal.

He was large of stature, with kind strong features. He was a clean man and loved the Gospel. He was well-known through out the valley.

In later years he owned a little Ford car. This he drove slowly with real pleasure.

He died July 27, 1933 at his home in Midway. He left behind many life-time friends and relatives who loved and respected him.

Gr. Neice Loree Orvillian

GEORGE VAN WAGONER

George Van Wagoner, son of John Halma and Clarissa Tappen Van Wagoner, was born March 25, 1869 at Midway, Wasatch County, Utah. He was the youngest of ten children born to this couple.

As a boy he experienced the pioneer hardships of that day. Theirs was a Polygamous family, his mother being the second wife. The third wife and an equally large family lived in Provo. It became necessary for the boys to help as much as possible in supporting the family. George who loved the outdoor life, did his share in hunting wild game and fishing to help with the food supply.

With his older brother Henry, they made brick for the building of many homes in the valley. He also helped another brother William, who owned and operated a Lime Kiln. In the making of both brick and lime the fires used in making these products had to be kept burning at a certain temperature both day and night, so the boys were kept busy.

He and his brother built their mother a brick home consisting of two large rooms with an upstairs bedroom. At his mothers death this home became George's home.

On January 5, 1892 he married Margaret Eva Bunnell. He and Eva lived in one large room of the house and his mother lived in the other. Later he added to the back or west side of the house a large bedroom, closet and pantry which was later made into a bathroom and a small utility room.

George loved horses and dogs, and always owned a nice team of horses and a good dog. He was one of the first game wardens of Wasatch County and made good use of his horses and dogs in traveling to different points in the county. Which covered a larger territory than it does at this time.

He and Eva never had any children of their own, but in 1910 a young half sister, Stella Jane Titus, died leaving four young children; three boys and a baby girl. George and Eva took the second boy, Bliss Eugene Titus, into their home.

Bliss recounts with pleasure the hours he spent following Uncle George in his travels as game warden. He, too, gained a great love of the wild creatures and a respect for law and order from his Uncle George. George kept this job until Bliss was about 18 years old, when politics entered this picture and someone else replaced him in this position.

The Midway Fish Hatchery had become the property of a group of sportsmen from Salt Lake City. It was called Timpanogos Rod and Gun Club.

Uncle George and Bliss were offered the job of managing this place. George and Eva moved to the home on this property and with Bliss' help managed it for the next several years. He later sold cars in this area for Schofield Brothers of Provo, and other car dealers.

They also made a home for Eva's niece, Bessie Baum.

His wife Eva passed away 29 April 1948. Later he married Sarah (Sadie) Thomas Austin. They were later divorced.

About this time his health began to fail. When it became evident that he could no longer live alone and care for himself, Bliss found a rest home owned and operated by Mrs. Hyrum (Vienna Clyde) Henline in Salt Lake City where he received the best of care and where he passed away November 17, 1954.

I should like to pay tribute to Uncle George Van Wagoner and Aunt Eva. No son could have been treated with more kindness and love, than I had from these good people.

My wife and family were also treated with this same spirit of love and kindness, as though we were in reality their very own. (This article was written by a grateful nephew, Bliss E. Titus.)

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ELIZABETH YOUNG VAN WAGONER

Explanation: This article was written on March 25, 1881 by Elizabeth Young Van Wagoner. This page is the original and it is in Elizabeth’s own handwriting. The spelling is also Elizabeths. The original is the possessions of Frank Van Wagonen.

Elizabeth Van Wagoner Daughter of Alfred D and Anna M. Young. Borned April 6, 1839. I was Baptised in the winter of 48. They cut a hole in the ice Baptised me and my Sister after that the mob drove us from Nauvoo to winter quarters about three hundred miles in a desert contry inhabited by Indians at the time we left the wicked gentile Nation to seek in everlasting World salvation in 47 we ploud the ground and put in Grain to subsist upon where I remained with my parents until the spring of 48 when we started a crost the plains with our teams. One thousand miles we traveld on day after day and week after week untill we reached the valey of Salt Lake whare we found a very few Log houses we went to cotenwood ten miles south of the city where we took up a farm and remained thare until the spring of fifty four when we moved to provo when I was seventeen I maried my husband John H Van Wagoner and we had seven children and these or their Names John A Van Wagoner Borned December 27 1857 Elizabeth A Van Wagoner Borned December 18 1859 Married May 23 1879 Parley Van Wagoner Borned November 6 1863 May Van Wagoner Borned May 19 1866 Frank D Van Wagoner Borned March 3 1870 Stella J Van Wagoner Borned October the 26 1873 Lilly Maud Borned December 23 1878. I have been in this Church 35 years passed through a grate many hard ships and I know this is the true Church and kingdom of God.

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