Father: Edward Crofts
Mother: Esther Hannah McConnell
Marriage(s)
Spouse: John Hyrum Fowler
Marriage: April 27, 1910
Spouse: Clarence Morley Allen
Marriage: September 3, 1938
Mildred Jane Crofts (Milly). Milly was shy and quiet. One thing John really enjoyed about their courtship was Saturday nights at the Ozone Dances. John and Milly were married April 27, 1910. (John was 29 and Milly was 20). Milly's little sister, Hanna, later married Elmer Packer. Milly and John made their home in Ammon where they were blessed with their first son. They gave him John's middle name, Hyrum. Hyrum Devon was only 17 months old when his little sister, Ester May, was born. May was a bright eyed little girl. John had a chance to buy a farm in Cotton so he moved his little family to their new home. Milly never worried when he asked her to pick up and leave. She had complete faith in him. Soon after they moved into their new home, another little son was born to them. This little boy was given the first name of his father. They named him John Leland and called him Lee. Seventeen months later the twins, Delbert (Deb) and Gilbert (Gib), were born. They felt a little pressed financially, so John planed a big horse sale. It wasn't uncommon for him to buy horses in herds of 160 at a time. So he had a good herd of horses built up. He thought if he sold most of them he could pay off the farm mortgage. The big horse sale was a great occasion. John and the boys were busy getting ready for the big day. They made a lot of good sales, even though they sold most of them on credit. He thought, Now the farm will be ours and we won't have to worry anymore. When he needed to make the farm payment, he was unable to collect the needed money from his neighbors who had bought the horses. Because of this they lost the farm the next spring. They were broken hearted and a little scared as they took the five little ones to start over. Although it wasn't what he wanted, the next farm he ran was 2 mile north of Shelley. That is where the rest of their children were born: Edward Glen, Elmer Laveral and Melvin Floyd. One spring he moved the family to Stanton on a ranch. Stanton was 2 miles north and 2 miles east of Shelley. Devon, the oldest, was then old enough to drive the horse and buggy to get himself and his younger brothers and sister to school. May, Lee and the twins all went with him to school. The next spring John was offered the chance to run the livery stable so they moved back into Shelley. The streets of Shelley were in such bad condition that the township decided to have them fixed. John got the contract. As soon as the boys got out of school, they began work. It was a long hot summer but working so close with his sons was rewarding. John loved running the livery stable and the boys were a big help. He always enjoyed working with the horses. John did not enjoy farming, but it was necessary to have a place to keep his horses. He was well known as a horse trader. While he ran the stables, he also ran a 270 acre farm which was east of the Shelley buttes. One year while they were still living in Shelley, a tragic thing happened. An epidemic of whooping cough was going around. Most of the children had it but May who was seven years old really had it bad. Milly said May had a morbid fear of death. She would come in the house crying, Please, Mommy, don't die and leave me. Don't die. They had many sleepless nights, watching over their little daughter. Gilbert remembered the terrible racking coughs that left her so weak. In one of those coughing spells a blood vessel broke in her head. She died June 27, 1920. They would never forget her smiling, happy face or the feel of her little arms as she kissed her parents and whispered, Good night. May was very talented. She taught herself to play the piano. The family missed her cheerful singing and piano music. One tune she played well was, Beautiful Ohio. For many years tears would come to the eyes of her parents when that song was played. May loved her brothers, especially the twins. She taught them their A B C's and counting and loved to show them off. Eventually Lee, Gib and Deb began talking about marriage. John wanted to help get them started on their own. He had been his own best customer for his homemade brew. By this time it had ruined his health. Once again his still had been discovered and he was again sent to jail -- if you could call it that. He was close friends with everyone he knew. This included the Sheriff and his deputies. Therefore he had a free run of the jail house, just so he didn't leave it. Once again Milly got frightened alone so she packed up the boys and came to stay at the courthouse with him. As John listened to Gib's excited voice talking about his plans to marry Joey in the temple for time and eternity, it struck a note of pain and he realized that he would soon leave his little family behind. That night when all was quiet, he wrote a poem expressing his feelings of sorrow for his wasted life, as he looked around at his sons. Laveral was only 11 and Melvin was just six. They were sound asleep in their bags on the floor. He couldn't help wonder what their lives would be like when he wasn't around to help raise them. His determination grew to change his life for the better. Lee married Zora Denning November 10, 1934 by the justice of the peace in Idaho Falls. Lee had met Zora when John had hired her to help Milly in the summer to do canning and other summer work. Zora's parents had both died. She had been a live-in mothers helper for another family. When Gib and Johanna Anderson took their vows November 20, 1934. John was ready to take Milly through the Salt Lake Temple to have Gilbert, their three younger sons and little May sealed to them. Their little family grew quickly. Delbert had married Florence Wiseman, April 4, 1934, giving John another daughter-in-law. They also gave him three more grandchildren to enjoy. Devon and Edith had lost their little Betty but they enjoyed Jack and Lamar. Lee and Zora had a lovely little daughter, Connie. John was thrilled with his new granddaughter. He took Connie everywhere to show her off. Gib and Joey had a little boy, Keith, who had red hair like John's. Then Deb and Florence also had a son, Kenneth, to add to the family tree. One day as John awoke from his sleep he saw little Connie playing on the floor. He asked to have her put on the bed beside him. As he quietly played with her, maybe his thoughts wandered to his own dear little May he had lost so many years before. It was September 21, 1936. John put little Connie back on the floor to play, then with happiness in his heart he rolled over on one arm, never to wake again. He was only 55 years of age. He left Milly a widow at 47 and seven children. Devon was 24, Leland was 22, the twins were 21, Edward was 17, Laveral was 13 and Melvin was 8. Everyone in the family was at home when John died.
Mildred Jane Crofts Fowler married Clarence Morley Allen September 3, 1938
Mother: Esther Hannah McConnell
Marriage(s)
Spouse: John Hyrum Fowler
Marriage: April 27, 1910
Spouse: Clarence Morley Allen
Marriage: September 3, 1938
Mildred Jane Crofts (Milly). Milly was shy and quiet. One thing John really enjoyed about their courtship was Saturday nights at the Ozone Dances. John and Milly were married April 27, 1910. (John was 29 and Milly was 20). Milly's little sister, Hanna, later married Elmer Packer. Milly and John made their home in Ammon where they were blessed with their first son. They gave him John's middle name, Hyrum. Hyrum Devon was only 17 months old when his little sister, Ester May, was born. May was a bright eyed little girl. John had a chance to buy a farm in Cotton so he moved his little family to their new home. Milly never worried when he asked her to pick up and leave. She had complete faith in him. Soon after they moved into their new home, another little son was born to them. This little boy was given the first name of his father. They named him John Leland and called him Lee. Seventeen months later the twins, Delbert (Deb) and Gilbert (Gib), were born. They felt a little pressed financially, so John planed a big horse sale. It wasn't uncommon for him to buy horses in herds of 160 at a time. So he had a good herd of horses built up. He thought if he sold most of them he could pay off the farm mortgage. The big horse sale was a great occasion. John and the boys were busy getting ready for the big day. They made a lot of good sales, even though they sold most of them on credit. He thought, Now the farm will be ours and we won't have to worry anymore. When he needed to make the farm payment, he was unable to collect the needed money from his neighbors who had bought the horses. Because of this they lost the farm the next spring. They were broken hearted and a little scared as they took the five little ones to start over. Although it wasn't what he wanted, the next farm he ran was 2 mile north of Shelley. That is where the rest of their children were born: Edward Glen, Elmer Laveral and Melvin Floyd. One spring he moved the family to Stanton on a ranch. Stanton was 2 miles north and 2 miles east of Shelley. Devon, the oldest, was then old enough to drive the horse and buggy to get himself and his younger brothers and sister to school. May, Lee and the twins all went with him to school. The next spring John was offered the chance to run the livery stable so they moved back into Shelley. The streets of Shelley were in such bad condition that the township decided to have them fixed. John got the contract. As soon as the boys got out of school, they began work. It was a long hot summer but working so close with his sons was rewarding. John loved running the livery stable and the boys were a big help. He always enjoyed working with the horses. John did not enjoy farming, but it was necessary to have a place to keep his horses. He was well known as a horse trader. While he ran the stables, he also ran a 270 acre farm which was east of the Shelley buttes. One year while they were still living in Shelley, a tragic thing happened. An epidemic of whooping cough was going around. Most of the children had it but May who was seven years old really had it bad. Milly said May had a morbid fear of death. She would come in the house crying, Please, Mommy, don't die and leave me. Don't die. They had many sleepless nights, watching over their little daughter. Gilbert remembered the terrible racking coughs that left her so weak. In one of those coughing spells a blood vessel broke in her head. She died June 27, 1920. They would never forget her smiling, happy face or the feel of her little arms as she kissed her parents and whispered, Good night. May was very talented. She taught herself to play the piano. The family missed her cheerful singing and piano music. One tune she played well was, Beautiful Ohio. For many years tears would come to the eyes of her parents when that song was played. May loved her brothers, especially the twins. She taught them their A B C's and counting and loved to show them off. Eventually Lee, Gib and Deb began talking about marriage. John wanted to help get them started on their own. He had been his own best customer for his homemade brew. By this time it had ruined his health. Once again his still had been discovered and he was again sent to jail -- if you could call it that. He was close friends with everyone he knew. This included the Sheriff and his deputies. Therefore he had a free run of the jail house, just so he didn't leave it. Once again Milly got frightened alone so she packed up the boys and came to stay at the courthouse with him. As John listened to Gib's excited voice talking about his plans to marry Joey in the temple for time and eternity, it struck a note of pain and he realized that he would soon leave his little family behind. That night when all was quiet, he wrote a poem expressing his feelings of sorrow for his wasted life, as he looked around at his sons. Laveral was only 11 and Melvin was just six. They were sound asleep in their bags on the floor. He couldn't help wonder what their lives would be like when he wasn't around to help raise them. His determination grew to change his life for the better. Lee married Zora Denning November 10, 1934 by the justice of the peace in Idaho Falls. Lee had met Zora when John had hired her to help Milly in the summer to do canning and other summer work. Zora's parents had both died. She had been a live-in mothers helper for another family. When Gib and Johanna Anderson took their vows November 20, 1934. John was ready to take Milly through the Salt Lake Temple to have Gilbert, their three younger sons and little May sealed to them. Their little family grew quickly. Delbert had married Florence Wiseman, April 4, 1934, giving John another daughter-in-law. They also gave him three more grandchildren to enjoy. Devon and Edith had lost their little Betty but they enjoyed Jack and Lamar. Lee and Zora had a lovely little daughter, Connie. John was thrilled with his new granddaughter. He took Connie everywhere to show her off. Gib and Joey had a little boy, Keith, who had red hair like John's. Then Deb and Florence also had a son, Kenneth, to add to the family tree. One day as John awoke from his sleep he saw little Connie playing on the floor. He asked to have her put on the bed beside him. As he quietly played with her, maybe his thoughts wandered to his own dear little May he had lost so many years before. It was September 21, 1936. John put little Connie back on the floor to play, then with happiness in his heart he rolled over on one arm, never to wake again. He was only 55 years of age. He left Milly a widow at 47 and seven children. Devon was 24, Leland was 22, the twins were 21, Edward was 17, Laveral was 13 and Melvin was 8. Everyone in the family was at home when John died.
Mildred Jane Crofts Fowler married Clarence Morley Allen September 3, 1938
Father: Edward Crofts
Mother: Esther Hannah McConnell
Marriage(s)
Spouse: John Hyrum Fowler
Marriage: April 27, 1910
Spouse: Clarence Morley Allen
Marriage: September 3, 1938
Mildred Jane Crofts (Milly). Milly was shy and quiet. One thing John really enjoyed about their courtship was Saturday nights at the Ozone Dances. John and Milly were married April 27, 1910. (John was 29 and Milly was 20). Milly's little sister, Hanna, later married Elmer Packer. Milly and John made their home in Ammon where they were blessed with their first son. They gave him John's middle name, Hyrum. Hyrum Devon was only 17 months old when his little sister, Ester May, was born. May was a bright eyed little girl. John had a chance to buy a farm in Cotton so he moved his little family to their new home. Milly never worried when he asked her to pick up and leave. She had complete faith in him. Soon after they moved into their new home, another little son was born to them. This little boy was given the first name of his father. They named him John Leland and called him Lee. Seventeen months later the twins, Delbert (Deb) and Gilbert (Gib), were born. They felt a little pressed financially, so John planed a big horse sale. It wasn't uncommon for him to buy horses in herds of 160 at a time. So he had a good herd of horses built up. He thought if he sold most of them he could pay off the farm mortgage. The big horse sale was a great occasion. John and the boys were busy getting ready for the big day. They made a lot of good sales, even though they sold most of them on credit. He thought, Now the farm will be ours and we won't have to worry anymore. When he needed to make the farm payment, he was unable to collect the needed money from his neighbors who had bought the horses. Because of this they lost the farm the next spring. They were broken hearted and a little scared as they took the five little ones to start over. Although it wasn't what he wanted, the next farm he ran was 2 mile north of Shelley. That is where the rest of their children were born: Edward Glen, Elmer Laveral and Melvin Floyd. One spring he moved the family to Stanton on a ranch. Stanton was 2 miles north and 2 miles east of Shelley. Devon, the oldest, was then old enough to drive the horse and buggy to get himself and his younger brothers and sister to school. May, Lee and the twins all went with him to school. The next spring John was offered the chance to run the livery stable so they moved back into Shelley. The streets of Shelley were in such bad condition that the township decided to have them fixed. John got the contract. As soon as the boys got out of school, they began work. It was a long hot summer but working so close with his sons was rewarding. John loved running the livery stable and the boys were a big help. He always enjoyed working with the horses. John did not enjoy farming, but it was necessary to have a place to keep his horses. He was well known as a horse trader. While he ran the stables, he also ran a 270 acre farm which was east of the Shelley buttes. One year while they were still living in Shelley, a tragic thing happened. An epidemic of whooping cough was going around. Most of the children had it but May who was seven years old really had it bad. Milly said May had a morbid fear of death. She would come in the house crying, Please, Mommy, don't die and leave me. Don't die. They had many sleepless nights, watching over their little daughter. Gilbert remembered the terrible racking coughs that left her so weak. In one of those coughing spells a blood vessel broke in her head. She died June 27, 1920. They would never forget her smiling, happy face or the feel of her little arms as she kissed her parents and whispered, Good night. May was very talented. She taught herself to play the piano. The family missed her cheerful singing and piano music. One tune she played well was, Beautiful Ohio. For many years tears would come to the eyes of her parents when that song was played. May loved her brothers, especially the twins. She taught them their A B C's and counting and loved to show them off. Eventually Lee, Gib and Deb began talking about marriage. John wanted to help get them started on their own. He had been his own best customer for his homemade brew. By this time it had ruined his health. Once again his still had been discovered and he was again sent to jail -- if you could call it that. He was close friends with everyone he knew. This included the Sheriff and his deputies. Therefore he had a free run of the jail house, just so he didn't leave it. Once again Milly got frightened alone so she packed up the boys and came to stay at the courthouse with him. As John listened to Gib's excited voice talking about his plans to marry Joey in the temple for time and eternity, it struck a note of pain and he realized that he would soon leave his little family behind. That night when all was quiet, he wrote a poem expressing his feelings of sorrow for his wasted life, as he looked around at his sons. Laveral was only 11 and Melvin was just six. They were sound asleep in their bags on the floor. He couldn't help wonder what their lives would be like when he wasn't around to help raise them. His determination grew to change his life for the better. Lee married Zora Denning November 10, 1934 by the justice of the peace in Idaho Falls. Lee had met Zora when John had hired her to help Milly in the summer to do canning and other summer work. Zora's parents had both died. She had been a live-in mothers helper for another family. When Gib and Johanna Anderson took their vows November 20, 1934. John was ready to take Milly through the Salt Lake Temple to have Gilbert, their three younger sons and little May sealed to them. Their little family grew quickly. Delbert had married Florence Wiseman, April 4, 1934, giving John another daughter-in-law. They also gave him three more grandchildren to enjoy. Devon and Edith had lost their little Betty but they enjoyed Jack and Lamar. Lee and Zora had a lovely little daughter, Connie. John was thrilled with his new granddaughter. He took Connie everywhere to show her off. Gib and Joey had a little boy, Keith, who had red hair like John's. Then Deb and Florence also had a son, Kenneth, to add to the family tree. One day as John awoke from his sleep he saw little Connie playing on the floor. He asked to have her put on the bed beside him. As he quietly played with her, maybe his thoughts wandered to his own dear little May he had lost so many years before. It was September 21, 1936. John put little Connie back on the floor to play, then with happiness in his heart he rolled over on one arm, never to wake again. He was only 55 years of age. He left Milly a widow at 47 and seven children. Devon was 24, Leland was 22, the twins were 21, Edward was 17, Laveral was 13 and Melvin was 8. Everyone in the family was at home when John died.
Mildred Jane Crofts Fowler married Clarence Morley Allen September 3, 1938
Mother: Esther Hannah McConnell
Marriage(s)
Spouse: John Hyrum Fowler
Marriage: April 27, 1910
Spouse: Clarence Morley Allen
Marriage: September 3, 1938
Mildred Jane Crofts (Milly). Milly was shy and quiet. One thing John really enjoyed about their courtship was Saturday nights at the Ozone Dances. John and Milly were married April 27, 1910. (John was 29 and Milly was 20). Milly's little sister, Hanna, later married Elmer Packer. Milly and John made their home in Ammon where they were blessed with their first son. They gave him John's middle name, Hyrum. Hyrum Devon was only 17 months old when his little sister, Ester May, was born. May was a bright eyed little girl. John had a chance to buy a farm in Cotton so he moved his little family to their new home. Milly never worried when he asked her to pick up and leave. She had complete faith in him. Soon after they moved into their new home, another little son was born to them. This little boy was given the first name of his father. They named him John Leland and called him Lee. Seventeen months later the twins, Delbert (Deb) and Gilbert (Gib), were born. They felt a little pressed financially, so John planed a big horse sale. It wasn't uncommon for him to buy horses in herds of 160 at a time. So he had a good herd of horses built up. He thought if he sold most of them he could pay off the farm mortgage. The big horse sale was a great occasion. John and the boys were busy getting ready for the big day. They made a lot of good sales, even though they sold most of them on credit. He thought, Now the farm will be ours and we won't have to worry anymore. When he needed to make the farm payment, he was unable to collect the needed money from his neighbors who had bought the horses. Because of this they lost the farm the next spring. They were broken hearted and a little scared as they took the five little ones to start over. Although it wasn't what he wanted, the next farm he ran was 2 mile north of Shelley. That is where the rest of their children were born: Edward Glen, Elmer Laveral and Melvin Floyd. One spring he moved the family to Stanton on a ranch. Stanton was 2 miles north and 2 miles east of Shelley. Devon, the oldest, was then old enough to drive the horse and buggy to get himself and his younger brothers and sister to school. May, Lee and the twins all went with him to school. The next spring John was offered the chance to run the livery stable so they moved back into Shelley. The streets of Shelley were in such bad condition that the township decided to have them fixed. John got the contract. As soon as the boys got out of school, they began work. It was a long hot summer but working so close with his sons was rewarding. John loved running the livery stable and the boys were a big help. He always enjoyed working with the horses. John did not enjoy farming, but it was necessary to have a place to keep his horses. He was well known as a horse trader. While he ran the stables, he also ran a 270 acre farm which was east of the Shelley buttes. One year while they were still living in Shelley, a tragic thing happened. An epidemic of whooping cough was going around. Most of the children had it but May who was seven years old really had it bad. Milly said May had a morbid fear of death. She would come in the house crying, Please, Mommy, don't die and leave me. Don't die. They had many sleepless nights, watching over their little daughter. Gilbert remembered the terrible racking coughs that left her so weak. In one of those coughing spells a blood vessel broke in her head. She died June 27, 1920. They would never forget her smiling, happy face or the feel of her little arms as she kissed her parents and whispered, Good night. May was very talented. She taught herself to play the piano. The family missed her cheerful singing and piano music. One tune she played well was, Beautiful Ohio. For many years tears would come to the eyes of her parents when that song was played. May loved her brothers, especially the twins. She taught them their A B C's and counting and loved to show them off. Eventually Lee, Gib and Deb began talking about marriage. John wanted to help get them started on their own. He had been his own best customer for his homemade brew. By this time it had ruined his health. Once again his still had been discovered and he was again sent to jail -- if you could call it that. He was close friends with everyone he knew. This included the Sheriff and his deputies. Therefore he had a free run of the jail house, just so he didn't leave it. Once again Milly got frightened alone so she packed up the boys and came to stay at the courthouse with him. As John listened to Gib's excited voice talking about his plans to marry Joey in the temple for time and eternity, it struck a note of pain and he realized that he would soon leave his little family behind. That night when all was quiet, he wrote a poem expressing his feelings of sorrow for his wasted life, as he looked around at his sons. Laveral was only 11 and Melvin was just six. They were sound asleep in their bags on the floor. He couldn't help wonder what their lives would be like when he wasn't around to help raise them. His determination grew to change his life for the better. Lee married Zora Denning November 10, 1934 by the justice of the peace in Idaho Falls. Lee had met Zora when John had hired her to help Milly in the summer to do canning and other summer work. Zora's parents had both died. She had been a live-in mothers helper for another family. When Gib and Johanna Anderson took their vows November 20, 1934. John was ready to take Milly through the Salt Lake Temple to have Gilbert, their three younger sons and little May sealed to them. Their little family grew quickly. Delbert had married Florence Wiseman, April 4, 1934, giving John another daughter-in-law. They also gave him three more grandchildren to enjoy. Devon and Edith had lost their little Betty but they enjoyed Jack and Lamar. Lee and Zora had a lovely little daughter, Connie. John was thrilled with his new granddaughter. He took Connie everywhere to show her off. Gib and Joey had a little boy, Keith, who had red hair like John's. Then Deb and Florence also had a son, Kenneth, to add to the family tree. One day as John awoke from his sleep he saw little Connie playing on the floor. He asked to have her put on the bed beside him. As he quietly played with her, maybe his thoughts wandered to his own dear little May he had lost so many years before. It was September 21, 1936. John put little Connie back on the floor to play, then with happiness in his heart he rolled over on one arm, never to wake again. He was only 55 years of age. He left Milly a widow at 47 and seven children. Devon was 24, Leland was 22, the twins were 21, Edward was 17, Laveral was 13 and Melvin was 8. Everyone in the family was at home when John died.
Mildred Jane Crofts Fowler married Clarence Morley Allen September 3, 1938
