Richard Bale Letter, 1865

I love this letter from my 3rd great grand father, Richard Bale, sent from England to his oldest brother, Israel, in Utah.  The main reason I love it is because of the way he wrote - he obviously learned to write phonetically, because you can hear his rich accent as you read his terribly misspelled but captivating letter.  I can almost hear his voice as I read it!  It is difficult to decipher, however, so I also included a corrected and edited letter.  This letter was part of a transcript of the "History of the Bale Family" found at the DUP museum, SLC, Utah USA.  The original owner of the letter and its whereabouts are unknown.

Letter from Richard Bale to his brother and sister-in-law, Israel and Emma G. Bale, dated 21 Dec 1865, from Whitwick England to Nephi, Utah, USA:

Dear brother and sister,

            I now take my pen in hand to right a few lines unto you hopeing to find you all well as it leave of hour welfare.  it is some time since you had a letter from me.  it’s not that I have annything against you but I have not had the sprite of righting until this morning at 6 i commenced to right.  i feel that i would like a letter from you.  i ham thinking of amagration and have to get away this spring.  i have not the means at present.  i have lent John Ward too pounds 10 of my money and hav three pounds 3 left. i whould like you to mension it to them if you see anny of them.  i dont doubt but they will send it.  i whould be very glad if you could do something for me if it be little or try to borro a little and i will pay back to them again as surre as i can.  things has not been that i could get it.  i have not been in very good gets.  we have had a verry bad summar and when we get a little more it as took it to make up for the bad times and tosed about in my work.  Now I have a prety good place of work now.  So if they will fetch the coal we shall do very well i think.  we hare trying to get stret [straight] as fast as we can so that if circomstance so are we may not have annything to stop us.  So much on me and mine hare right side up at present wich i feel thankful for i ham still the same now as when you ware heare with a little progecion.  things hare moving on prety well amongst the saints hear.  our meetings hear well atented and i think members will be increast.  Sis Freeston is ded.  Wee followed her to the grave.  she was a great sufferer and misses martha [this may refer to Martha Clifford Vickers, Sarah Miller Bale’s aunt] died very suddening.  i sent you a newspaper with her deth in and too more.  send word if you got them.  the first i sent was on the 26 of October.  We hare pretty well of for clothing so we should not hav much clothing to buy.  My daughter is getting a fine gairl. [Louisa, born 28 Sep 1864, in Whitwick]  she is about 15 months hold.  she can run about the house isely [easily] an she can chatter a little.  i think thear no mor on the road yet that i no of [anti-Mormon mobs?]but i want to get away for fear there should be. sarah and the little one hare gon to the harmtage [The “Hermitage” was in nearby Coalville and was like a rest home for the elderly and disabled.] to day to her hants [aunts] to prepare for Chrismas.  We hare going to have a tea party on Chrismas Day.  Me and my young brethren and sisters hare going out on Christmas Eve a singing, all being well.  ruben Fowler wife as got daughter.  i saw yor brother emanuel last night and wife, they was well.  they have son i did not know, Thomas [Emanuel’s first son’s name was Joseph, not sure where “Thomas” came from].  i should right so sone or they might have sent a line or two in it.  Father and Mother and all are well at present and sends thear love to you both.  Hyrum senses he shall come this spring.  i saw Emas farther and mother [Emma Goddard Bale’s parents, Lewis and Elizabeth Goddard]. . .as had one of his eyes took out and he’s suffering from the afect of it.  he is poorly at present.*  they seem rather cast down about it.  Selley gets a fine gairl.  they send thear love to you and like a letter from you.  louisa as not been hable to right of late.  right back as sune as you can. 

Your afectionate Brother and Sister. 

Richard and Sarah Bale. 

Richard Bale, Whitwick, near the Church.

[*Lewis Goddard died the next year, according to the Free BMD Death index.]

Below is an edited copy of the above letter for better clarification:

21 Dec 1865

Dear Brother and Sister,

            I now take my pen in hand to write a few lines unto you hoping to find you all well as you leave of our welfare.  It is some time since you had a letter from me.  It’s not that I have anything against you, but I have not had the spirit of writing until this morning; at 6 [a.m.] I commenced to write.  I feel that I would like a letter from you.

            I am thinking about emigration and have to get away this Spring.  I have not the means at present.  I have leant John Ward two pounds, 10 of my money and have three pounds left.  I would like you to mention it to them, if you see any of them.  I don’t doubt but they will send it.  I would be very glad if you could do something for me, if it be a little, or to try to borrow a little, and I will pay back to them again, as sure as I can.  Things have not been that I could get it. 

I have not been in very good gets.  We have had a very bad summer, and when we get a little more, it has taken it to make up for the bad times, and tossed about in my work.  Now, I have a pretty good place of work now..  So, if they will fetch the coal, we shall do very well, I think.  We are trying to get straight [out of debt] as fast as we can, so that if circumstances so are, we may not have anything to stop us [from emigrating].  So much on me and mine are right side up at  present, which I feel thankful, for I am still the same now as when you were here with a little progression.

Things are moving on pretty well amongst the Saints here.  Our meetings are well attended, and I think members will be increased. 

Sis. Freeston is dead.  We followed her to the grave.  She was a great sufferer. And Mrs. Martha [may refer to Martha Clifford Vickers, Sarah Miller Bale’s aunt, who helped to raise her] died very suddenly.  I sent you a newspaper with her death in [it], and two more.  Send word if you got them.  The first I sent was on the 26^th of October.  We are pretty well off for clothing, so we should not have much clothing to buy [for the emigration].  My daughter [Louisa] is getting [to be] a fine girl.  She is about 15 months old.  She can run about the house, easily, and she can chatter a little. 

I think there [are] no more on the road yet, that I know of, but I want to get away for fear there should be. [Anti-mormon mobs?]

Sarah and the little one are gone to the Hermitage [a nearby home for the elderly and disabled] today to her aunt’s to prepare for Christmas.  We are going to have a tea party on Christmas Day.  Me and my young brethren and sisters are going out on Christmas Eve a-singing, all being well.  Ruben Fowler’s wife has got a daughter.  I saw our brother, Emmanuel last night, and wife – they were well.  They have a son I did not know, Thomas.  [Emmanuel’s first son’s name was Joseph; not sure where the name “Thomas” came from.]  I should write so soon, or they might have sent a line or two in it.

Father and Mother and all are well at present and send their love to you both.  Hyrum senses he shall come this Spring.  I saw Emma’s father and mother [Lewis and Elizabeth Goddard]. . .has had one of his eyes taken out and he’s suffering from the effects of it.  He is poorly at present [Lewis Goddard died the year after this letter was written].  They seem rather cast down about it.  Selley gets a fine girl.  They send their love and like a letter from you.  Louisa has not been able to write of late.  Write back as soon as you can.

                                                Your affectionate Brother and Sister,

                                                            Richard and Sarah Bale,

                                                            Whitwick, near the Church.

Obituary: Louisa Bale Bowles

Louisa Bale Bowles

NOTE:  As I mentioned in my previous post, Bowles, Bales and Jensens, this obituary states that her husband, Thomas Edward Bowles, died in 1915.  He, in fact, did not die until 1942, but Louisa separated from him and moved from Nephi, Utah, where they were living, to live with her children and family in Idaho, and they divorced in 1922.  Because Thomas Edward had been excommunicated from the church around the same time that she moved, in her mind she probably felt that he was dead.  Divorce was totally frowned upon back then, and I think the family supported the story that Thomas Edward died in 1915 to save their mother from ridicule and gossip, for evidence suggests that they knew he was not dead. 

Louisa B. Bowles Funeral Held 

[No photo accompanied obituary] 

Louisa Bale Bowles, 84, died Friday morning at the home of her son, S. C. Bowles of Rigby, after a long illness. Mrs. Bowles had been an invalid for the past 13 years and bedfast for the past month.

Louisa Bale was born September 28, 1864, in Whitwick, England, the daughter of Richard and Sarah Miller Bowles. The family soon came to America and settled at Nephi, Utah. She married Thomas Bowles who died in 1915, and the family moved to Rigby in 1918, and bought a residence in the southwest part of the city.

Neighbors and friends will remember Mrs. Bowles with affection for her kindliness and charity.

Surviving are four sons and two daughters: W. T. Bowles, S. C. Bowles, Rigby, A. R. Bowles, Nephi, Utah, and A. L. Bowles, Salt Lake City; Mrs. Retta Crowther, Tule Lake, Calif., and Mrs. Vivian Field, Rigby; 47 grandchildren, 72 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild, making a total posterity of 126. Surviving brothers and sisters are Clifford Bale, Payson, Utah; Thomas Bale, Nephi, Utah; Mrs. Mary E. Goble, and Mrs. Sadie Ca-zier of Nephi, Utah.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon from the Eckersell funeral home with Bishop Jesse Call officiating.

Opening song was "Rock of Ages" sung by the Rigby Stake quartet; invocation, Bishop Horace L. Baird; speaker, Wm. J. Sperry; vocal solo, "Face to Face," by Thomas Andrus.

The second speaker was President Thomas D. Reese; vocal solo, Thomas Andrus, "When I Take My Vacation in Heaven," and the closing speaker was Richard R. Sudweeks. The closing song, from the Rigby Stake Quartet was "Not Dead, but Sleepeth." The benediction was by Bishop Elgin R. Garrett.

Burial was in Rigby Pioneer Cemetery with dedication of the grave by S. C. Bowles.

Pallbearers were: Wilford Bowles, Melvin Bowles, Lyman Bowles, Clifford J. Bowles, J. L. Bowles, and Allen A. Bowles.

Flowers were under direction of Rigby Third Ward Relief Society.

The Rigby Star, Mar 10, 1949

Buried in Rigby Pioneer Cemetery, Idaho.  Photo courtesy Find A Grave online.

The Bowles, the Bales, and the Jensens

Edward Bowles 1805-1895

These past couple of days while doing some research, I felt drawn to the Bowles family for some reason.  To set up who the Bowles are to the Jensens, there are two ways in which we are "connected":  once by marriage, and once through good old fashioned charity.

BY MARRIAGE:  In May, 1856, the Bowles family immigrated from England to Utah after accepting the gospel and being baptized into the LDS church.  The Bowles family who immigrated consisted of Edward, age 50 (1805-1895), and his wife Ann Bolton, age 52 (1803-1882), and their sons Thomas, age 19 (1836-1927), and Enoch, age 12 (1844-1934).  The family eventually settled in Nephi, Juab, Utah, just a few years after the town of Nephi was settled and became a prominent family in that town.  The Bowles family's full story can be found, along with many others, at the Wilding/Bowles Family History Blog: http://wildingbowles.blogspot.com/search/label/Bowles

Louisa Bale and Thomas Edward Bale, wedding photo

To Thomas and Susannah Bowles was born Thomas Edward Bowles (1860-1942).  Thomas Edward's full story can also be found by clicking on the Wilding/Bowles link above.  Thomas Edward Bowles married Louisa Bale, whom my grandmother, Emma Louisa Bale Pitt Jensen, was named after.  Louisa is my great grand aunt, daughter of Richard and Sarah Miller Bale.  This is how we are related by marriage to the Bowles.

BY GOOD, OLD FASHIONED CHARITY:  Thomas Bowles married a woman by the name of Susannah Washburn (1843-1917) and they had 7 (one was adopted) children, but two of the children died during childhood.  The family thrived in Nephi, despite their hardships (their full stories can be found at the Wilding/Bowles family history blog link above).  Thomas, at one time, was one of the largest land owners in Nephi, and earned money doing many various trades, one of them being a butcher.  He was a stalwart in the church; President Wilford Woodruff himself ordained him to be a High Priest.  He was known to be generous with all that God had blessed him with, often opening his home to any who was in need, be they white, red, poor or rich, and this would become very important to a young boy who eventually settled on the name of Charles Christopher Jensen - my grandfather.

Thomas Bowles 1836-1927

My grandfather, born Ole Christian Jensen Jr., left his home in Richfield, Utah at the tender age of 9, after his father had died and his mother remarried, and somehow ended up in Nephi, 75 miles to the North (his full story can be found in this blog).  He somehow ended up going to the home of a Mr. Bowles, who was a butcher in Nephi, who fed the runaway and took him in.  We aren't sure how long he lived at Thomas Bowles Sr.'s house, but we do know that for a while he changed his name to Charlie or Chris Bowles.  Eventually he decided to change his name to Charles Christopher Jensen.

Two connections to the Bowles Family:  Charles C. Jensen, my grandfather, being taken in by Thomas Bowles; and Thomas Bowles son Thomas Edward Bowles marrying my great grand aunt, the aunt of my grandmother, Emma Louisa Bale, who eventually married Charles C. Jensen.  I have no doubt as I think about these connections that the Bowles family are the reason why Charles C. Jensen met and married Emma Louisa Bale Pitt, after both of them suffered the loss of their first spouses and were both left with young children to raise.  As the Bowles family contemplated the plight of their friend on one side, and their niece on the other, I can just picture them saying, "you know, we should set these two up to get together, because they'd be perfect for each other!"

Emma Louisa Bale Pitt Jensen

Charles Christopher Jensen

It turned out that they were perfect for each other, and Charles married Emma in 1913.  He already had three children with his first wife, and she had two from her first husband.  Both of them, I've been told, married for convenience: he gained a housekeeper, wife, and mother for his children, and she gained a provider, husband, and a father for her children.  But there had to have been love, because the two eventually had nine children together!  Charlie and Emma were sealed to each other in the Temple after being married for 3 years.  They stayed married for 36 years when they were separated by Charlie's death in 1949.  Grandma often complained about Grandpa, and said that he was the biggest mistake she ever made in her life, and yet a spark would come into her eyes, and a lilt in her voice whenever she talked about him.  I think her bitterness was the result of having to take care of him after he had a stroke.  Charlie was much older than Emma, and I know that she would have loved to have gone out with him on the town, while he would rather stay home and read his paper.  I also think she resented him dying and leaving her alone; she lived to be nearly 96 years old, and died in 1987.  Emma could have remarried in the 38 years after Charlie passed away, but she didn't, further making me believe that she loved him.

Young Louisa Bale Bowles

Unfortunately, Emma's namesake, Aunt Louisa Bale didn't fare so well in her marriage.  Thomas Edward Bowles, when he was young, did not always behave himself, despite his LDS upbringing.  He was excommunicated from the church not once, but twice for adultery.  Louisa left Thomas Edward, after having 9 children with him, in 1918 and went to live with her sons in Idaho, shortly after Thomas Edward's first excommunication.

Thomas Edward went on to have a son out of wedlock with a woman, Sarah Jane Beagley (who had herself been married twice before and already had several children).  Sarah was in her 40's when she became pregnant with Thomas Edward Bowles' child, and, as can happen with babies born to older women, David Edward Bowles was born in 1921 with Downs Syndrome, or Mongoloid Defective Disorder, as they called it back then.  Thomas Edward did the honorable thing, though, and as soon as his divorce to Louisa was final, he married Sarah Jane in 1922, just months after being excommunicated the second time.  Thomas Edward was 64, and Sarah was 43.  They had another boy together in 1925, named James William, and in 1928 Thomas Edward was baptized into the LDS church again.  This time he was determined to improve his standing with the church and get his life back on track.  This he did, gaining the full priesthood in time.  In 1932 Thomas Edward and Sarah Jane's second son, James William, died of pneumonia, and then in 1937 his first son, David, died of pneumonia as well.  Thomas Edward eventually reconciled with some of the children from his marriage to Louisa, and died in 1942, a full fellow of the church, having done all he could to make up for his early shortcomings.

Louisa Bale Bowles

Louisa Bale never remarried, and her divorce from Thomas Edward was kept quite secret from society in Idaho - not surprisingly, since divorce was so frowned upon.  In her obituary it states that Thomas Edward died in 1915 and that is why she moved to Idaho in 1918, but certainly the family knew this to be untrue.  I can see, however, from her point of view how she could feel in her heart that Thomas Edward was dead to her.  1915 must have been somehow significant to her, perhaps because it was when Thomas had cheated on her, or when he was excommunicated the first time.  This is only speculation on my part, of course, because I don't know.