History of John Robb Baxter II by Uarda Baxter Blackham

John Robb Baxter II was born October 7, 1888 at Manti, Utah, to John Robb Baxter I and Jannet Jack Baxter. After completing their service as ordinance workers in the Manti Temple, his parents returned to Spring City in 1890. John started school in 1894. At that time there were several school houses in Spring City, but after Christmas of 1900, the schools were consolidated into the new red brick school house. John graduated from this school in 1903. He attended the Brigham Young Academy in 1905. In his youth, John had learned to play both the piano and the clarinet well. He loved good music and enjoyed it all of his life. The Watson grandchildren were especially thoughtful in taking him to the high school and Snow College musical productions in his later years. John always had a keen interest in sports, dating from the days he played baseball on the Spring City baseball team. In 1906, John went with a man by the name of Alex Justesen to work in California and Nevada. He also worked with Alex Justesen for one summer up Big Cottonwood Canyon mining at a place called Silver Lake. In 1911, John became employed in the Young Men's Coop Store in Spring City. Morgan Johnson was the manager of the store which was located south of where the Strate's Garage building is located. It was while John was working at the store that he started dating Enid Diantha Nielsen who was employed at the Post Office. They became engaged at Christmas time in 1912, and they were married January 22,1913 in the Manti Temple. Several interesting things happened on their wedding day. They made the trip to the Manti Temple in a two-seated covered-top buggy. They had to leave that morning before light in order to get to Manti in time to get their license before going to the temple to get married. In their rush to get away, John forgot their temple recommends on top of the sewing machine at his home, but since his Father was well known at the temple, they allowed John and Enid to go through. Their temple recommends were sent down on the train and arrived at the temple that same afternoon. Also, on the journey down to the temple, John's Father's suitcase containing his temple clothes slipped out of the carriage, and when it was missed, they had to go back and find it. The evening of their wedding day, they had a lovely wedding dance at the Opera House. A large crowd of relatives and friends attended and all had a good time. Refreshments were served, and many presents were received. John and Enid made their home in Spring City for the remainder of their lives. John and Enid had four children, Genniel, Uarda, Janet and John. Genniel passed away February 18, 1972 of cancer. Genniel married Thayne Acord. They were divorced. They had one child, Noreen. Noreen was more like a daughter to John and Enid since she lived with them until she was 12 years old. Genniel later married Frank Watson. They had four children, Michael, Dennis, Pamela and Donald. Uarda married Clifford S. Blackham. They had three children, Anna, Ross and Marie. Clifford died January 8, 1975 of a heart attack. Janet married Larry Kitchen of Orem. They had seven children, Marilyn, Alan, David, Jeannine, Sheila, Diane and Nadine. John married Sonja Robertson of Moroni. They were divorced in 1974. They had three children, Jennifer, Mary Ann and Robb John. At the present time, 1984, John and Enid have a posterity of four children, 18 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. By the year 1910, John had become interested in the entertainment business. He got a lease on the old Opera House which he operated until he and his father built the Lyceum Theatre on Main Street in 1915. In the Opera House, he featured some very fine entertainment in the way of dancing and road shows. Prior to the opening of the new theatre, the following news items appeared in the Mt. Pleasant Pyramid: Friday, July 16, 1915: The new opera house is nearing completion and adds greatly to the appearance of Spring City. The name given to the new play house is Lyceum. Manager Baxter expects to have the opening July 25, 1915. Friday, July 23, 1915: The new Lyceum Theatre and dance hall will be open for business July 24. A first class confectionery and ice cream parlour will be run in connection with it by Mr. Baxter. The new Mirroride Screen will be a feature much appreciated by picture show goers. John operated the Lyceum until 1927 when it was sold to Sophus Bertelson of Ephraim. The name was changed to the Victory. In 1930, Mr. Bertelson sold it to the Spring City ward where it was used as a cultural hall until the new addition to the Spring City Chapel was completed in 1977. Now the building, once the center of cultural activities, stands empty -a ghost of by-gone days - and there are not many people left who remember the by-gone days. The Confectionery, or "Shop", as it was called by the Baxter family, was sold in 1973 after 58 years of continuous operation by the Baxter family. John wrote an article to the local newspaper, the Pyramid, after the sale of the Shop, and perhaps his own words can tell the story best. Following is the article published on June 7, 1973: Baxter's Confectionery Changes Owners After 58 Years After fifty-eight years of operating the Baxter Confectionery, John and Enid have this week sold it to Mr. and Mrs. LeGrande Hansen. The Baxters wish to thank you for your generous and continued patronage and trust that you will continue to do the same for the Hansens. The Baxters, John and his father, built the Lyceum Theatre and the Confectionery in 1915. Ice Cream Cones and soft drinks cost five cents then. Ten-cent bars weren't even thought of. The Lyceum was used for dancing, roller skating, motion pictures, and theatricals. The music for the first two dances was furnished by Frank Christensen from Snow College. Local orchestras and other orchestras were employed thereafter. Remember the "Harmony Four"? Everyone remembers "Jimmy Riddle," who played music one could dance to. The first shipment of candy came from Shupe Williams Candy Company, followed by Sweets, J.G. McDonalds and Startup. Candy came mostly in wooden buckets - remember? There were few five-cent bars and no ten-cent bars, and you could get more candy for a penny or an egg than you can get for a dime now. Now a word about the motion pictures. Universal's fifteen week serial was the first to be presented followed by the thirty-week serial, "Diamond from the Sky." Remember? D.W. Griffith's "Birth of a Nation" was the best picture of its kind ever produced and was shown in 1918. Later came Charlie Chaplin in "The Kid", "The Phantom of the Opera", "The Ten Commandments", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "The Covered Wagon," and hundreds of others, too many to mention. Traveling theatricals all stopped here. Remember Forrest Taylor, Vie Foote, A. Daniels and Toby Taylor shows. And do you remember Walter Christensen with Luke Cosgrove. Walter presented the first theatrical on the new stage. It was "Corianton" from the Book of Mormon. It was presented on a twenty-below zero night in December. The Lyceum was sold to Sophus Bertleson ofEphraim in 1927. It was renamed the Victory. He operated it for a few years and then sold it to the Spring City Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has been used as the Ward Cultural Hall every since that time. The Confectionery has been more than a Confectionery. It has been an institution, always striving to make Spring City a better place. John and Enid, Genniel, Uarda, Janet, John, Jean and Jessie, and the rest of the Baxters wish to take this opportunity of again thanking you for the pleasant associations and trust that the friendships, bred, born and matured here will endure through eternity. By John R. Baxter There are many memories of John in the Shop. Michael Watson expressed his as follows: "I remember a grandfather who, on a cold, wintery day, would always have some warm fire in the rear of the shop for those who might want to come in and just chat; of a grandfather who would sit looking out the window watching the passers-by on cold days and almost beckon them to come in to spend a few moments with him." "I remember a grandfather, who in my early days, I had the privilege of going past the store daily on my way to the elementary school or to catch the bus, and remember seeing him almost daily as he sat out in the front there and say 'hello'." "I remember a grandfather who would look through the glass to the other side of a cased-in-display of candy and watch the little hands and little noses pressed against the candy counter, pointing out the little pieces of penny candy that they wanted to buy." John hadn't wanted to sell the Confectionery, but he had fallen on the ice in January of 1973 and had broken his hip. At the time of his fall, his doctor didn't expect that he would get out of a wheelchair again, but he did. He was able to walk again without support, but he did use a "walker" most of the time thereafter for support. John was 84 years old and Enid was 83 at this time, and they had still been running the shop at this advanced age. John hoped that he was just temporarily incapacitated, and that Enid could perhaps keep things going, but Enid could no longer continue to be a superhuman being and take care of him, their home, and the shop, so the family encouraged them to sell it. John always thought it was a mistake that they sold it, but he didn't ever say what real alternative they had. It was hard for him to part with something that had been such a part of his life for fifty-eight years. After the shop was sold to the Hansens, it changed hands several more times, and has been closed entirely now for several years. It, too, is a ghost of by-gone days. John also had operated the Billiard Hall which was in the building just south of the shop during the early 1930's. Also, he built the Shell Service Station just across the street to the south of his home on Main Street. During the 1930's, the depression had set in, and it was very difficult for John and Enid to support the family on the income from the shop. From then on, Enid played a very important part in the running of the shop, and John found employment in other places. He found employment up Spring City canyon where a new tunnel was being built by Dan Teters. Dan Teters made the statement that John Baxter could figure as well as any man he had ever known. On one trip up to the tunnel, the car he was riding in,driven by Elmer Olsen, went out of control and rolled down the dugway. John was seriously injured, receiving a number of broken ribs. He was recovering from this injury for some time. Enid nursed him back to health. In the late 1930's, John worked for Niels Dahl, and also for George Crisp down on the Crisp farm. Around 1941, he went to McCormick and worked for Laurence dark, his brother-in-law, on his ranch. Early in 1943, he backed up to a bonfire and his clothing caught on fire, burning his leg badly with third-degree burns. Even though he was badly burned, he got on a horse and rode to where he could get help. He was taken to the Delta Hospital. After he had been there several weeks, he was brought home to Spring City where he was again nursed back to health by Enid with the attentive help of Dr. Madsen. After his leg became sufficiently well, he worked for a short time for Rulon Dahl in his grocery store. In about 1945, John began to work for Clifford Blackham, his son-in-law, in his turkey operation, and he worked with the turkeys for about fourteen years, retiring when he was about seventy years old. He and Cliff had a special relationship. Cliff trusted his judgment implicitly. They had one special trip together when they flew to Washington, D.C. While Cliff was attending meetings, John took in all of the sights of this historic city and the political scene. John had a special affinity for history, and could recall all the historic events of this great country. Cliff and John traveled on to New York by train, seeing the sights as they went along, and they spent a few days in New York. They took the city tours and even attended the great Broadway Musical, "My Fair Lady." It was a very memorable trip for both of them. John also went with Cliff and Uarda on a trip to San Francisco and Los Angeles. He and Uarda attended the San Francisco Opera. This was a highlight for him since he loved opera. Janet and Larry and John remember also of going with him to the opera. Earlier, in 1947, John and Enid both took a trip with Cliff and Uarda to San Francisco and the Los Angeles area. John loved to travel and see historic places. Enid did not care to travel. After John retired from working with Cliff and the turkeys at age seventy, he devoted his time to taking care of the shop and in serving as Mayor of Spring City, an office he had been elected to in 1957 at age 69. He served as Mayor for sixteen consecutive years, four terms. At an age when most people retire from public life, he had just begun. John had always been interested in politics, the party of his choice being that of the Democratic. John related that one day when he was going or coming from the turkeys, one of the city councilmen stopped him and handed him the keys to the city hall and told him that he was the City Treasurer. John said he told the councilman that he didn't want the job, and the councilman said, "Whether you want it or not, you've got it." He served as Treasurer until he was elected to the office of Mayor. In January of 1973, as was stated before, he fell on the ice and broke his hip. If this accident hadn't happened, it is possible that he would have wanted to run for another term. Although he was 85 years old, he still had a desire to serve his beloved Spring City. His spirit and desire was still very strong, but his body was wearing down. In 1971, he had surgery for removal of a tumor in his colon. At the close of his tenure as Mayor, the following article appeared in the Pyramid which tells of some of the accomplishments he and his co-workers were able to achieve: OUTGOING MAYOR HONORED AT SPRING CITY MEETING John R. Baxter, outgoing Mayor of Spring City was presented with a beautiful wristwatch by Mayor Glen S. Osbome in the city council meeting on January 2, 1974. Inscribed on the back of the watch is "To John R. Baxter for Devoted Service - 1973." To that date Mayor Baxter had given 16 years of service to this community. With his co-workers he has contributed many benefits as, at the time he went to the city office, there wasn't an oiled street in town. To date the streets are now oiled. The electric system was overloaded. It has been completely overhauled with a double number of transformers and the volume doubled with more electricity. The tax mill levy is presently 10 mills the last 4 to 6 years and one of the lowest in Sanpete County. Water has been put in the city cemetery, and the cemetery has been put on perpetual care during his administration. The debts on the water and lights have been paid, debts on both and all revenue bonds have been redeemed and the city is out of debt. Last year a large and very capable fire truck was bought by the city and later a building to house the truck was built. The Mayor and his co-workers have participated and lead in civic affairs, functions, holidays and all activities. Coworkers with Mayor Baxter were councilmen Eldon Nielsen, Glen Osborne, William Sorensen, Louis Allred, J.W. Crisp, Vernon Bosh, Jack Edmunds, Francis Black, Curtis Allred, Robert Graham, Lyndon Jensen, Roger Allred, Sherman Strate, McRay Justesen, Stanley Anderson, Ras Christensen, Roy Rostron, David Sorensen, Kenneth Strate. Mrs. Lila Allred, Treasurer and Mar Dye, Recorder, have worked with Mayor Baxter his entire terms. We wish to extend a very sincere "thank you" to Mayor Baxter and his co- workers and always a wish for the best. John wrote the following article which was published in the Pyramid following his retirement: Dear Friends: After several years as your Mayor, for which I thank you, I today retire. It has been a pleasure (with some headaches) to have been permitted to serve you. I haven't gotten everything done that I would have liked, but how many do? If my administration has been good or bad, lets leave that to the historians. Secondly, I must express my eternal thanks of gratitude to Mrs. Lila Rae Allred, Treasurer, and Mar Dye, Clerk, for their keeping our records in such beautiful shape. Every auditor (we must have our books audited every two years) have been lavish in their praise the way our books have been kept. Thirdly, let me express my sincere thanks for your response to our cemetery program. Please give the incoming Mayor and the rest of the city officials your complete support. You know the finest people in the world live right here in Spring City, and these same fine people are they who make nice cities and places to live. We have both. Thanks again, I am Sincerely yours, John Baxter After John had retired from being Mayor and no longer had the shop to occupy his time, he tried to content himself reading the newspaper, watching the news and some sports on television and sitting out on the lawn visiting with whomever would stop and chat. Conversing with him had become quite difficult because he had a very pronounced hearing problem. However, his eyes were still pretty good, and Time had not diminished the keenness of his mind. A friend, Francis Black, said of him, "He was a man you could discuss problems with and he could help you see both sides, and then help you reach a decision. He kept a confidence. He was discreet. He was a man who knew the difference between right and wrong, and he had courage to tell his convictions. He laid all his cards on the table; nothing was under. Everybody knew where he stood. His answers weren't sugar-coated, but he had enough wit to add feeling to his statements." At the time of John's 90th birthday, the family held an Open House at the home of Uarda in Moroni. Many friends and relatives called to greet him and Enid. They really seemed to enjoy the day. Three weeks later, on Thursday, October 26, 1978, he died at the Sanpete Valley hospital of respiratory failure. For a number of months he had been going down-hill. He didn't complain excepting that he felt very weak and tired. The doctor told us that he was experiencing heart failure. On Sunday, October 22, he was taken to the hospital as he was having difficulty breathing. He had pneumonia, but the doctor thought that it wasn't so severe that he couldn't overcome it. However, he died suddenly and unexpectedly. He was buried on Monday, October 30, in the Spring City cemetery, a place that he had worked so hard to change from sagebrush and weeds to green grass. John had a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In his early years, he was active in the YMMIA and the Scout program. In his later years he was ordained a high priest. It was a thrill when he went to the Manti temple with the family the day that Alan Kitchen was married. He and Enid also got to go through the new Provo Temple. His grandson, Michael Watson, was Secretary to the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. John was always interested in what was going on in the church, the progress being made, and about the health of President Kimball. He was always thrilled when Michael sent him personally autographed books written by the general authorities. Michael represented the grandchildren of John and Enid at John's funeral service in a very fitting tribute. John would have been thrilled at the respect that was given to him. He loved and was proud of all his children and grandchildren. Enid lived another five years after John died, living until she was 93 years old. Half of the five years she lived in her own home in Spring City with Johnny looking after her. The other two and one-half years, she lived with Uarda and Janet. She passed away on September 24,1983. In his eighty-ninth year, a grandson-in-law, Dill Broderick, asked John "When your time comes to leave this earth, what would you like to take with you?" John answered, "I would like to take Enid." Then he expressed a desire to make her remaining years as easy for her as he could. Without this kind, gentle, unassuming, patient wife, Enid, John's life would have been much different. She supported him with loyalty and devotion all of their lives. She nursed him through several serious illnesses, cared for their home, raised their children, and spent much of her time for fifty-eight years working and taking care of the shop. In addition, she did civic work, and spent many years working the church, including twenty-five years as secretary of the ward Relief Society. Her price was far above jewels. The fruit of her hands would surely "Praise her in the gates." John once said, "It doesn't matter where you're born or where you die, but what you do in between." John and Enid Baxter accomplished a great deal between the time of their birth and death. They have a large posterity who are proud that they are descendants of John and Enid Baxter. Recollections of John Robb Baxter John R. Baxter, being my Father, I came to know quite well. He left the upbringing of his children to my mother, yet he had a profound influence on my life through his example. I shall relate three great lessons I learned from him, and I hope these qualities will be carried on in my family. First: My Father believed in quality learning. He had a keen mind himself, and from my earliest recollection of him, he would say, "Don't read that trash," or "Don't listen to that trash," or "Don't look at that trash." There were times when Dad couldn't buy us shoes, but he would manage to take us to the opera. I can see now that developing an appreciation for the fine arts was of far more importance than the new shoes. Second: My Dad taught me a great lesson in what dedication and dependability means. He started out in his married life as a businessman, but due to the Great Depression, and several other reasons, by the mid-thirties the businesses would no longer support the family, and he worked at several jobs until in 1944, he began working for Cliff with the turkeys. He continued on for the next fifteen years until he was seventy years old. I learned during those fifteen years what dedication and dependability means. Third: I think that one of the most valuable lessons my Dad taught me was that "Age is a Quality of Mind." At ninety Dad was not old. Yes, his body was worn out, but his spirit had not lost its zest for living and doing. Today when I hear people at 50 or 60 looking forward to retirement, I shudder. Dad began a whole new career at 70, one that lasted sixteen years -- that of being Mayor of Spring City. I am proud of that record. During those sixteen years, he used those great traits I admired in him, those of quality effort, dedication and dependability. I am proud to be the daughter of John and Enid Baxter. Uarda B. Blackham, August 3, 1985