AS TOLD BY TILLIE

Luther Vanmeter Young was born December I, 1885, Woodfruff, Platte County, Missouri to Jacob Harrison Young and (Betty) Elizabeth Gorrell. His brothers were Harrison, Kennie, Lewis, and John; there was one sister, Zella. His mother died after giving birth to a little sister, Elizabeth who also passed away. Luther was three years old then. Later his father married Jessie Marshall who took care and loved him as her own son. By this union, Luther later gained two brothers and two sisters, Leonard Kane, Olive, Joseph Thornton, and Hazel. After his own mother died, his father moved the family to Kansas where the children attended school in a one-room schoolhouse where one teacher taught all eight grades. There, he received his formal education, along with his brothers and sisters. As a boy, "his brother, Thornton, loved to listen to Luther tell things that happened when they were kids. Luther said he saved Thornton's life when he was about two years old. Thornton fell in the spring and had gone under a couple of times, when Luther caught him by his hair and pulled him out. The first year the family lived in old Rantoul, Franklin County, Kansas, Luther did the field work with the horses. He cultivated the corn though he was only age fourteen. His dad and little brothers followed behind him with a hoe.

Later the family moved across the river, Luther continued to go back to the little schoolhouse north of Rantoul. He would take the cows across the river on his way to school. Sometimes the water was up, and he would have to ride a cow across the river, and then when he returned from school, he would ride a cow back across. Education was something very difficult to get in those days.

They had a lot of dances and box suppers for the young people in those early days. Luther, his brother, Kennie, and their friend, "Ern" Ball, started playing for dances. They all played the "fiddle lots, so they were gone two or three nights a week playing up a storm. He could really make that violin sing. They were paid three or four dollars each -- a lot then.

When Luther was about age 18, he joined the National Guard. His folks were very worried about it. After he received his discharge, he went back home and helped on the farm - working with the little pony team of horses. Later the family moved about two miles south of Rantoul on the place, called the "Old Cartzdafner farm". Luther worked with the horses again and helped with other farm work. He had a beautiful little brown mare (he called Ribbon), which was given to him by his dad. He broke her to ride and work single. He bought a new buggy in the fall of 1904

July 6, 1905, he married Bertha May Seetin whose parents, Tom and Elizabeth Seetin, owned a farm not far from the Missouri Pacific Railroad O'Brien Station, five miles from Osawatomie, Kansas. Bertha and Luther rented a house in the west part of Osawatomie when they were first married. He worked in the Missouri Pacific Railroad Shops. His brother, Kennie, worked there too, and he was married to Myrtle Gregg. The two couples enjoyed many good times together at this time.

July 27, 1906, a daughter, Hatilda Young (nicknamed "Tillie"), was born. Ten months after "Tillie" was born, Grandpa Tom Seetin contracted blood poisoning, and while under treatment with his doctor, he stayed with Luther and Bertha at their little house where he died the spring of 1907. That spring Luther and Bertha moved on Grandma Seetin's farm. He bought a team of black horses along with a set of fine harnesses. His brothers were really impressed. He fed those horses ten ears of corn each, three times a day. The boys had to swing on the lines to hold them; a wonderful team.

During the year 1908, Grandma Seetin sold the farm, and divided the Estate with her three daughters and four sons. With her part, she purchased a Boarding Home near the Railroad Shops in West Osawatomie, Kansas. At this time, Luther and Bertha rented a farm across the river on Wilde Creek where he farmed, worked on Public Works, the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and other work. Times were difficult then, as the "Money Panic" of 1908 was on and general business conditions had become slow. Banks were in trouble; people were worried about savings, and were making runs on them-trying to draw their money out.

During this year, a daughter, Oma Young was born at Grandma Seetin's home on September 27, 1908 in Osawatomie, Kansas. For some time Homesteads had been available in Idaho. Bertha's brothers were homesteading in Boise, Idaho area, and Leonard, Luther's brother, came back from Idaho, looking prosperous with good reports on opportunities. Luther and Bertha decided to sell out and try their luck in Idaho. The family was to stay with Grandma Seetin in Osawatomie at her Boarding Home until Luther could make arrangements to locate and send for them. He left for Idaho in the spring of 1910. In Idaho, he worked at the Roundhouse for the Union Pacific Railroad and searched for the Homestead he had dreamed about. Homesteads were becoming scarce by then', all the good ones had been applied for, so he went to work for a man named Heber Crane in the little town of Nounan, Idaho. During this period back in Osawatomie, Kansas, a son, Walter Alvin Young, was born at Grandma Seetin's home.

After working for Heber Crane on a large ranch, Luther drew a check for $500.00. He rented a farm south of Montpelier, Idaho from Mr. Reader, owner of the place at that time. A house and other necessary buildings were there which enabled him to farm and send for his family back in Kansas. Luther bought a team of horses, a cow, some chickens, and a pair of white rabbits for his children, and sent for his family. He went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad at Montpelier and started getting his farm in shape. Bertha and the children arrived in the spring of 1911. After about thirteen months apart, they were happy to be together again. It was quite a task to ride horseback from Wardboro to Montpelier (4 miles) in sometimes below zero weather, and then have the chores to do. They lived there from 1911 to 1916 and accumu1ated some farm machinery and household possessions and a nice little cash stake for those days. He liked to raise beef cattle mainly, which he and his neighbor, Fawn Berry, shipped to Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City, Missouri; they sometimes shared the same railroad cars in order to complete their shipments. He enjoyed riding in the roundups of the cattle, which were put on the range. He always told us exciting stories about their experiences at camp and the danger of the wolves to the stock.

He loved horses and owned ten head of them at one time. They consisted of his work horses, driving horses and two beautiful saddle horses, name Fly and Fannie. He was often seen in the area riding on his favorite saddle horse, Fly, with his dog, Sport, following. He was an excellent rider and with his black Angora chaps, boots and spurs, he looked like the cattle rancher of those days. He took excellent care of his horses and other stock and treated them very kindly.

Bertha and Luther talked about buying the ranch, but being from Kansas, they often got lonesome for their birthplace and the loved ones they had left behind. Kennie, his brother, still worked at the Missouri Pacific Railroad at Osawatomie, Kansas, and he wrote Luther that they were going to hire help there. About that time, Bob Young, his older brother from Fresno, California, came to visit with Luther and Bertha. He brought his three sons, Robert, Price and Edgar with him. Robert was in very bad health. Bob was looking for a new location where it would be better for their health. After talking it over, Bob decided to buy Luther and Bertha's holdings and take over the lease on the ranch. When the deal was closed, Bertha and the children left to visit with Grandma Seetin who was living in Boise, Idaho at the time, trying to regain her failing health. Luther left for Osawatomie, Kansas to seek work and to make arrangements to move his family there.

Bertha came later, and they rented a small house on East Main at Osawatomie, Kansas. He went to work and they planned to buy a home there, but he decided to go back to Idaho and get back on a ranch. He went to Montpelier, Idaho and looked around for a place.

It had been only about a year since Luther and his family had moved back to Kansas, but the picture had changed very much. World War I was being fought in Europe, and it seemed possible that the United States would eventually be engaged in it. He found employment with the Studebaker Company at Montpelier, Idaho; they were engaged in selling and repairing of farm machinery. He rented a house there and sent for his family. Be still continued to look for a ranch where he could get back in the Cattle business. That was his dream, but conditions were different, and he could not find a satisfactory one. His brother, Kennie, wrote and told him that he could come back to work as an Apprentice Boilermaker for the Missouri Pacific Railroad back home in Osawatame, Kansas. Since he had served part of his time as an apprentice, he would be able to finish and receive his Boilermaker Card. United States had entered World War I, and they were really in need of Boilermakers, so they were employing men in that field right then. That interested him, so he moved his family back to Kansas, where he rented the Gregg farm, 6 miles west of Osawatomi. He farmed there and worked at the Missouri Pacific Railroad in order to complete his time as an apprentice for his Boilermaker Card. He worked there until after the end of World War I and received his Boilermaker Card. After harvesting the crops in the fall of 1918, he moved his family to a house located on Hospital Hill about a mile north of Osawatomie; he could drive to work and drop the kids off for school on his way. He still dreamed of raising beef cattle. Since the war had ended and business was changing again, he decided he would like to try his luck in Idaho once more. Bertha said she was willing to give it another try; so it was decided they would move back to Idaho again.

Luther left again for Idaho in the summer of 1919. Bertha and the children were all at the train to say goodbye. It had been decided that the family would join him later when he found a location. He wrote several letters and the last requested his winter clothing, shotgun and violin which were sent immediately. As considerable time passed and no further communications were received, she filed for divorce in 1920. He received the papers, but did not contest or appear; so later, she was granted the divorce with full custody of their three children, ages 9, II, and 13 years. She moved from Hospital Hill to down town in Osawatomie, Kansas. Her sister, Ora, and husband, Red Eichorn, and her brother, Arthur Seetin, helped her get settled in an apartment on West Pacific next door to Arthur, She found a job in the laundry, and later when she gained more confidence, she found employment with the Farmer's Telephone Company. She served as Night Operator which enabled her to care for the children days and be with them when they arrived home from school. In a year or two, Oma and Tillie were able to take part time jobs in the restaurants and candy kitchens. Walter was given a newspaper route. It was a difficult time, but with the help of her sister, Ora and husband, Red; she was able to raise the children giving them what education she could afford. She taught them to have goals, and be willing to work hard to achieve them, and above all respect others and practice the Golden Rule. In 1925, she moved the family to Wichita, Kansas where better opportunities were available. Tillie joined them after graduation from High School in June of that year.

Oma studied classical dancing at the Edler School of Dance in Wichita, Kansas. Bertha, Oma and Tillie all three found jobs and managed to maintain an apartment and pursue their interests. Walter went to school at Rose Hill, Kansas which was close to Wichita. He stayed with a family named Dennett. Jess and Lill had five daughters, and they became very fond of Walter. This arrangement was better for Walter.

He would have been alone there in Wichita most of the time. He was also able to earn some spending money there on their farm. He became very fond of the family and always spoke of them with the highest regard.

Oma left for Chicago, Illinois on her Dance Contract in 1926, and in October of 1927 Tillie married, so Bertha went back to Osawatomie, Kansas to live. She became very ill in 1931 and was in the hospital most of the time for two and one half years. Tillie and Walter lived in Kansas City, Missouri and visited her often. Oma came home and spent one whole summer to be near her. She had her loved ones around her to the end. She passed on at the age of 48 years in May of 1934, and was layed to rest at "Elmdale" cemetery, Kansas.

Luther's 4th child, a son, named Dwain Cover McDonald, was born March 24, 1921, in Caldwell, Idaho. His mother is Ecco (called Dollie) Cover. They separated when Dwain was 4 years old, in 1925. Dollie later married Frederick Forest McDonald. Dwain was not adopted by him, but later, while in the Air Force, had a legal change of name made. Dwain located his father in 1967; he had been searching through Railroad records and other sources where he thought he might get information about his father. He was successful in finding him at American Fork, Utah, where he called on him; also he called on his Uncle Thornton at Orem, Utah. Later he called on his sisters, Oma and Tillie whom he had never seen. They immediately liked each other and felt comfortable. They all attend the family Reunions which are held every year in Utah and Southern California. After Dollie and Luther separated, he remained in California for two or three years and worked at Needles as a Boilermaker and at Barstow for a railroad company. Then he went back to the Los Angeles area, and later worked in the oil fields at Signal Hill, Long Beach. At this time, the great depression was beginning to effect business, and employment was extremely difficult to find. Luther remained in this area and worked at whatever he could find. In 1929 at the time of the stock market crash, work became exceedingly difficult to get and he could not find work at all. He worked with Thornton selling door to door, trying to earn enough to live on, but finally he went to Blackfoot, Idaho. He spent one winter working for his room and board; he stayed some with his brother, Leonard and wife, pitched hay for a dollar a day and helped with the potato harvest.

Luther was a man about five, feet six inches tall and remained an ideal weight; he looked young 'for his years. While working in the Blackfoot, Idaho area, he met a wonderful girl, Teresa Bruggenkamp, and they were married November 10, 1934. Teresa was born August 25, 1911 in Blackfoot, Idaho, and received most of her education in the Blackfoot schools. She attended a Catholic school in Wisconsin for three of her High School years. Then she returned to Blackfoot to graduate. She is a member of the Catholic Church. Luther and Teresa met while working at the same place for a Mr. Dunn. She was doing the cooking and he was working in the fields. They had some tough sailing during the early years of their marriage. They lost a baby boy (still born). He worked in the fields and other work he could find during those trying times. Finally, they both went to work at a big farm not far from McCammon, Idaho. Teresa cooked for the hands, and Luther worked in the field. Later, they went to American Fork, Utah where they went to work for the Training School. They took care of a home for mentally retarded boys. Teresa did the cooking, and he worked on the farm. He also worked on Thornton’s farm, shifting back and forth from one to the other. World War II had started; so, Luther and Teresa went back to Ogden, Utah, where he worked as a Boilermaker at the Union Pacific Railroad and Teresa worked for a bakery. They lived there until after the war ended and made a nice little stake.

Luther began to have trouble with his stomach, and it was found that he had ulcers. He received a disability retirement from the railroad company, after 20 years of service. They moved back to American Fork, Utah. They rented an apartment, and he worked for Thornton at a produce business, grading onions and potatoes and loading cabbage. Later he helped on Thornton’s farm where he did various jobs. He was very thorough in his work. Every fence post and every row in the field had to be just right. He was what you would call a perfectionist. He finally retired entirely. Teresa worked at the State Training School where she continued to work for the next 24 years and retired at the age of 62 years when Luther's health became very bad. They lived very conservatively in their small apartment and did not have a car until just about two years before Luther passed away. They were very good managers and very careful with their purchases; they seemed very happy with just the simple things in life and lived very quietly. In other words, they saved their money and were content with a simple life and having their loved ones visit them. They always went places together. Sometimes they visited the relatives in California, and also visited Teresa's relatives in Idaho.

His children came to see them and attended the family reunions held in Utah and Southern California. He played cards at the Senior Center, took long walks, read a lot, listened to the radio and television. He loved music, especially on the violin, so he enjoyed his retirement" He had loved to hunt in his youth and was a good shot. When he came west, Leonard and Thornton hunted sage chickens, and finally Chinese pheasants with him. He also loved coon hunting, liked to hear the hounds bawl and enjoyed following them to "tree" coons. He was in the light of his glory when with a bunch of hounds hunting in the timber. He liked to go with Leonard and Thornton to exercise and train the dogs, and sometimes when the¥ would get a drag, he would stay in the truck and listen to them run it. They would either have a cat or a coon up the tree at the end of the trail. Luther got a big kick out of that. He would help set some drags when he was able. He would drag one for maybe a mile and put it up a tree, and Thornton and Leonard would come around with the truck and put something alive up the tree, then go back and put the dogs on the trail and hear them run until they treed. Luther liked sports and really enjoyed playing baseball when he was younger. When living up in Idaho, the boys used to have a little baseball team, and Luther played with them. He seemed to get a lot out of life.

Luther did not attend church very much in life, but he believed in a Creator who governed things on earth. He said he thought that if we could understand about life and the hereafter that it would be very simple.

In the early part of 1973, he became ill and went to the hospital. He was very sick after that and had to have oxygen. Of course, he liked to be at home, so Teresa took him home and she prepared special salt-free, sugar-free meals for him. She stayed up at night and watched over him when he could not sleep. She took the oxygen tank along when she took him for rides in the car. He was able to attend the family Reunion in late June, but they took him in the wheel chair, as it would have taxed his strength too much otherwise. In early September, the family took him back to the hospital where he gradually began to loose ground. His sister, Ollie, passed away in California, and Thornton went to funeral. When he returned, Luther was unconscious. In the meantime, his daughter Oma had come to help Teresa take care of him. So one of us remained with him until the end. He passed away September 20, 1973 at the grand old age of 87. We laid him to rest in the little Timponogas Cemetery in Orem, Utah beside his brother, Leonard.

Teresa stayed in their little apartment for a while, until she straightened up some of her business, and she visited Oma and Tillie in California for the Christmas Holidays. After a while, she decided to move to another apartment, which she furnished nicely; she began to adjust and make a new beginning. She and Luther were very close; she missed him terribly, but she began to circulate and take a greater interest in her church. She joined the "pink ladies" at the American Fork Hospital. She has been a great help to Thornton, helping with his wife, Erma, who has been extremely ill for a number of years. Whenever he is having difficulty, Teresa is always on the dock and ready to give her services. She helps at the Senior Center with serving the meals as a volunteer. She is a marvelous woman, and we hope she will live a long and happy life. Luther’s whole family is very fond of Teresa and they all visit, and are very close. She attends the family reunions regularly at Utah and Southern California. She is well adjusted now, and she takes a nice vacation trip once in a while, which she so richly deserves. She went to Europe and took a tour through the southern states. We all wish her the best and we all love her very much.