PERSONAL HISTORY OF JAMES LEWIS NIELSEN
(my 1 i f e)
I was born May 24, 1907, on the - f a m i l y -farm one and one-half m i l e s
north of Spring C i t y , My parents were James Rusmus N i e l s e n and Emma
Irene B u n n e l l N i e l s e n . I was the oldest of four c h i l d r e n : myself, Venon,
Irene and Burton made up our f a m i l y .
We l i v e d on the farm u n t i l I was old enough to go to school. At t h i s
t i m e father purchased a home i n S p r i n g C i t y where we l i v e d our e n t i r e l i f e
except for parts ot four years in S p r i n g Canyon (Sorrs) from 1914 to 1918.
I attended grade and j u n i o r h i g h school i n S p r i n g C i t y and S p r i n g
Canyon. I graduated from North Sanpere H i g h School in Mount Pleasant, Utah
in 1927. I also graduated from seminary in Mount Pleasant in 1927.
D u r i n g the years I was growing up I attended church in my home town
of S p r i n g C i t y . Samuel A l 1 red was the bishop d u r i n g most of the t i m e .
In the later p e r i o d of my l i f e before I got married, James F. E l l is was
my bishop. Bishop A l l red and h i s counselors ordained me i n the offices of
the Aaronic Priesthood.
L i k e a l l boys I worked on the farm. My father grew hay and grain w h i c h
we fed to dairy cows,hogs and chickens.I learned how to farm from my father.
D u r i n g the depression years (1929-35) I worked as a farm hand d u r i n g
the summer and f a l l months in Utah and Idaho. Wages were low but I saved
enough to f i n i s h College i n 1935. I took parts of e i g h t years to f i n i s h
Snow College and Brigham Young U n i v e r s i t y .
On September 6, 1935, Ruth Madsen and I were married i n the Logan
Temple. She had w a i t e d f i v e long years for me to f i n i s h school so that I
cou1d make a l i v i n g .
The f i r s t year after our marriage we 1 i v e d i n Afton, Wyoming where
I taught Vocational A g r i c u l t u r e at Star V a l l e y H i g h School. The f o l l o w i n g
year in September I accepted a p o s i t i o n as a Soil S c i e n t i s t w i t h The S o i l
Conservation Service. In t h i s work I was connected w i t h a M o b i l Soil Survey
u n i t that made soil surveys i n several states where water or w i n d erosion
were problems. The work stated in Utah the f a l l of 1936. D u r i n g the f a l l
and w i n t e r we worked in New M e x i c o and Texas. The early spring of 1937 was
spent near Ogden, Utah. From Ogden we moved to Western Colorado where we
worked on a general s o i l survey of 13 western Colorado counties. We l i v e d
in Grand J u n c t i o n and Montrose, Colorado u n t i l T h a n k s g i v i n g t i m e . The w i n t e r
and early spring months of 1937 and 1938 we did surveys in the Dust Bowl
area near S p r i n g f i e l d , Colorado. Because of severe w i n d erosion in Crowley
County, Colorado we worked out of Rocky Ford, Colorado d u r i n g the summer
of 1938. By the end of 1938 the M o b i l Survey Organization and been changed
and I was assigned to regional offices.
I was assigned to the S o i l Conservation Demonstration Project in
Cheyenne W e l l s , Colorado. We l i v e d there u n t i l the spring of 1939 when
the Eastern Colorado Reconnaissance Survey was started. The Soil Conserv a t i o n S e r v i c e , the Bureau of A g r i c u l t u r a l Economics and the state of
Colorado a l l cooperated. We worked out of B u r l i n g t o n , Colorado. After
most of the Reconnaissance Survey was c o m p l e t e d d u r i n g 1938-1940, i t
was decided to do a d e t a i l e d soil survey of Kit Carson County. A 4 inch
to the M i l e Soil Survey was f i n i s h e d in May 1943.
By t h i s t i m e the So i 1 Conservat i on D i s t r i c t s were we 1 1 establ i shed i n
many parts of Colorado. Since the d i s t r i c t s in Kit Carson County and
Cheyenne County were now covered by soil surveys s u i t a b l e for farm
p 1 a n n i ng, I was moved to For t Col 1 i ns.
In Fort C o l l i n s I worked on very d e t a i l e d "8 i n c h to the m i l e " s o i l
surveys for farm p l a n n i n g on i r r i g a t e d land. I took sick in late 1943 and
was off-duty u n t i l the s p r i n g of 1944 w h i n I returned to duty. I was tranferred to Colorado Springs in the f a l l of 1945 where we l i v e d u n t i l 1946.
The R i o Puerco area i n New M e x i c o had aroused n a t i o n a l a t t e n t i o n i n the
1930 and 1940 years. It had f i l l e d the Rio Grande R i v e r channel w i t h eroded
s o i l for many m i l e s and the watershed land was g u t t e d by huge g u l l i e s .
To determine a water program a reconnaissance s o i l survey was needed..
I was assigned to t h i s project i n the f a l l of 1946. After the Rio Puerco
job was f i n i s h e d , we did flood control work on the Pecos and Rio Grande
watersheds. The flood control work was f i n i s h e d i n 1950. I was then
assigned to do s o i l surveys in Western Colorado.
From 1950 to 1970 I did survey work in a l l c o u n t i e s i n Northwest
Colorado. D u r i n g these years Ed Graves and myself did T e c h n i c a l G u i d e s
for the S o i l Conservation Service d i s t r i c t s near Glenwood Springs. I also
h e l p e d w i t h Eagle, R i f l e , and Meeker area t e c h n i c a l guides. Even though
these guides are outdated now they served a good purpose. I respected Ed
Graves very much. We spent many days out on farms h e l p i n g farmers w i t h
i r r i g a t i o n problems w h i c h i n c l u d e d land l e v e l ing.
For the f i r s t year in Glenwood Springs I was under the d i r e c t i o n of
the Grand J u n c t i o n o f f i c e . Then a separate u n i t was set up i n Glenwood
Springs w i t h M e r i o n Weaver as D i s t r i c t Conservationist. He d i e d suddenly
i n 1963. Jack H a l l followed Weaver and the last few years R i c h a r d Porter
was in charge of the Glenwood office. In 1963 Norman Bare came in to
h e l p me. Besides 61enwood Springs our work area i n c l u d e d a l l of Northwest Colorado. In our survey work in Jackson County we observed that
" C h i c k e n Sage" grew on s o i l w i t h dense hard subsoils. T h i s led to a
paper pub!ished i n the Journal of Range Management by Don Robertson,
Norman Bare and myself.
D u r i n g the 1950's and 1960's, our c h i l d r e n graduated from h i g h school
and c o l l e g e . A l l our c h i l d r e n qraduated from Brigham Young U n i v e r s i t y and
the boys f u l f i l l e d missions. They a l l were married i n the temple. T h e i r
spouses are Brigham Young U n i v e r s e t y graduates.
As t i m e went on we began t h i n k i n g of r e t i r e m e n t . Ruth r e t i r e d from
t e a c h i n g in 1967 after A l l e n f i n i s h e d his m i s s i o n . My h e a l t h was not the
best. Dr. N u t t i n g couldn'"t locate the trouble.
Just when we were ready to ease up on our work the stake presidency
d e c i d e d to change b i s h o p r i c s . Never i n my l i f e have I ever coveted p o s i t i o n s
i n my work or in the Church. I have never f e l t my n a t i v e a b i l i t y was good
enough to do extra hard jobs. I was not able to control emotions. But i n
s p i t e of a l l my shortcomings President L i v i n g s t o n c a l l led me to be bishop
of the Glenwood Spring Ward in the Craig Stake (Colorado), October 29, 1967.
Jay M R a i r and Robert Bauml i served as counselors. They were very s p i r i t u a l
men. D a r r e l l Hatch and Ned Oyler served as clerks. Joseph Bagby was chosen
to r e p l a c e Robert Bauml i . Brother B a u m l i served as f i n a n c i a l c l e r k for
many years.
Brother Bagby and his w i f e Jean (MariHean) were converts to the Church
in the early 60''s. They are very f a i t h f u l members. His a d v i c e was used
-3in many ways. He was head o-f the Social S e c u r i t y 0-f-f i ce -for Northwest
Colorado. He knew the law and advised us on many legal matters. He- h e l p e d
w i t h welfare cases. Many t i m e s he kept us out o-f trouble w i t h his knowledge of welfare rules.
We enjoyed the twenty years we 1 i v e d in Glenwood. Our c h i l d r e n grew
up there. It is t h e i r home. A l l qraduated from h i g h school there. James
and A l l e n both f u l f i l l e d missions as members of the Glenwood Springs Ward.
Ruth taught 17 years in the f i r s t grade. She also served as Mia President
for many years. She worked in the stake MIA w i t h Sister Bagby. We hated
to leave Glenwood but because of the Church we wanted to 1 ive in Utah.
Also James a n d Carol t h e i r f a m i l i e s were l i v i n g i n Utah. A l l e n f i n i s h e d
Brigharn Young U n i v e r s i t y in August of 1972. Then he and his f a m i l y moved
to I n d i a n a to further h i s schooling. We b u i l t a modest new home i n Orem
(557 E. 500 North) where we have l i v e d since October of 1970.
ANCESTRY
I was born in S p r i n g C i t y the son of James Rasmus N i e l s e n and Emma
Irene B u n n e l l N i e l s e n .
The N i e l s e n 1 i n e come from Denmark. My grandfather Mads N i e l s e n was
born in G e r l e v , a small town about 50 m i l e s west of Copenhagen. He and most
of his folks were converted to the Mormon Church i n the early 1850"'s. Mads
a r r i v e d in Ephraim in October 1854. Mads met E l l e n A u r e l i a A l l r e d , daughter
of James T i l l m a n Sanford A l l r e d w h i l e they l i v e d in Ephraim. They were
marr i ed i n 1865.
Both the N i e l s e n s and A l 1 reds were stalwart members of the Latterday S a i n t f a i t h . My father came out of these l i n e s and from them I trace
h a l f of my ancestry. The A l l reds were converts to the Church i n the early
1830's. They suffered much persecution in Missouri and I l l i n o i s . The A l l r e d s
came from the Carol inas by way of Tennessee and Missouri.
The B u n n e l l f a m i l y joined the Latter-day Saints in the 183G's and
followed the Saints to Utah before the r a i l r o a d was f i n i s h e d . The
B u n n e 1 1 s came from a 1ong l i n e of re 1 i g i ous, freedom 1ov i ng peop1e.
They came to America by way of France, H o l l a n d and England. They
joined the Huguenot group but because of C a t h o l i c p e r s e c u t i o n had to
leave France, then H o l l a n d and f i n a l l y England. S a l l y H e l l e r Conrad
B u n n e l l who is my great-grandmother married D a v i d Edwin B u n n e l l . They
moved to Provo in 1854.
She was the housekeeper in the Peter W h i t m e r
home in 1829 when the Prophet and O l i v e r Cowdery f i n i s h e d t r a n s l a t i n g
the Book of Mormon.
The Zabriskies, my Grandmother B u n n e l l •'s folks, also joined the church
early and moved west w i t h the Saints to Utah. They o r i g i n a t e d in e i t h e r
Prussia of Poland. They came to America i n the e a r l y 16DG / s and took part
in the R e v o l u t i o n a r y War.
There is much history w r i t t e n about my ancestors i n the N i e l s e n ,
A l l r e d s , B u n n e l l and Zabriskie h i s t o r i e s w h i c h is too long to i n c l u d e
here. They can be read i n my f a m i l y history books.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
I was born w i t h an average body and m i n d . I g r a d u a l l y grew i n H e i g h t
and w e i g h t r e a c h i n g my a d u l t h e i g h t and w e i g h t when I was twenty years of
age. I then was 5 feet 10 i n c h e s t a l l and weighed 160 pounds. My w e i g h t
has v a r i e d from 160 pounds to 200 1 bs. At one p o i n t in my 1 i f e I got s i c k
and lost 70 pounds. After that my weight l e v e l e d out at 185 pounds where
it has stayed. A l t h o u g h I was never as t a l l as my father, I was t a l l e r
than Vernon and Burton.
My f a c i a l features are modest. I i n h e r i t e d a s l i g h t pug nose from my
mother. My eyes are hazel or maybe greenish gray. Somewhere in my hered i t y I i n h e r i t e d a bad c o w l i c k on the l e f t side of my head. Because of
t h i s i could never keep a part in my h a i r . Even though I lost my h a i r in
my t h i r t i e s t h i s c o w l i c k s t i l l shows up when my h a i r grows out. My b e a u t i f u l
brown h a i r started to turn gray at an e a r l y age, even before I was m a r r i e d .
By the t i m e I was 35 i t was q u i t e gray.
I always had good feet. My shoe size v a r i e d from n i n e and one h a l f
to ten. As a young man I often had i t c h y feet and suffered from c h i l b lains
My eyes have always been e x c e p t i o n a l l y good. I inked f i n e l i n e maps
for 34 years w i t h o u t glasses. Today at 75, a l l I need is cheap m a g n i f y i n g
glasses for reading.
I was short waisted and short armed. I never could touch the floor
w i t h my hands. I was strong and could h o l d my own in w r e s t l i n g but in f i s t
f i g h t s I u s u a l l y lost and was a slow runner. I was a f a i r football player.
I have very poor h e a r i n g i n my r i g h t ear. My l e f t ear is f a i r .
I have a hearing a i d but seldom use i t . I lost over half of my heari n g i n my l e f t ear by age 45.
My I.Q. is the 110-115 range. I d i d w e l l in school but didn't r e a l l y
learn to read u n t i l the 4th grade. My memory was mediocre. If I had a
better memory, I t h i n k I would have done somewhat better i n my school
work. As i t was, I s t i l l got good grades a l l through h i g h school and
c o l l e g e by working hard.
I was not a good p u b l i c speaker but i n l a t e r years I learned how to
g i v e good talks to h i g h school students if I had charts and tables and
si i des.
One of the burdens I have had to endure i n my l i f e has been a very
f a g i l e nervous system. One doctor told me I was the world's worst worrier.
This weakness nearly cost me rny l i f e several times. During the 1940'"s due
to rny back c o n d i t i o n w h i c h is also an i n h e r i t e d weakness I worried so much
i t broke down my h e a l t h . I took sick leave for three months i n 1943. I recovered and went back to work but s t i l l had lots of back p a i n . My stomach
trouble did get better. We moved to Albuquerque i n July of 1946. My back
s t i l l gave me trouble and caused me to have a near nervous breakdown.
F i n a l l y the p s y c h i a t r i s t sent me to a good bone doctor. He located
my trouble. He fused three of my lower back vertabrae on December 16,
1948. I had i n h e r i t e d a backbone that had f l a t vertebrae instead of
b e i n g wedge shaped. T h i s allowed s l i p p a g e and over the years had been
the cause of the p a i n . The fusion cured rny back pains. To t h i s day
-5I have never- had any more back trouble. Worry, however, had taken i t s
t o l l on other parts of my body,
I i n h e r i t e d a tendency for g a l l bladder trouble from my Grandmother
Z a b r i s k i e B u n n e l l , (my mother's mother). She d i e d from an i n f e c t e d g a l l
bladder. Probably from her we i n h e r i t e d a tendency to become o v e r w e i g h t .
Most of the descendents of E l l e n K e z i a h Z a b r i s k i e B u n n e l l were o v e r w e i g h t
unless they c a r e f u l l y watch t h e i r e a t i n g . Many had g a l l bladder operations.
D u r i n g the 1 950' s and 1960's I suffered from c o l i c (stomach ache)
almost constantly. Dr. N u t t i n g , our doctor i n Glenwood Springs couldn't
locate t h e trouble. F i n a l l y i n 1969 I became desperately i l l . Dr. N u t t i n g
gave me m o r p h i n e to r e l i e v e the p a i n . Then the attacks became more frequent
On October 31, 1969 they took me to the h o s p i t a l . T h i s t i m e Dr. N u t t i n g
was sick and I had to have Dr. Hostettler. He k e p t me in the h o s p i t a l
long enough to f i n d out i t was my g a l l bladder. After the acute inflamat i o n was corrected, Dr. Hostettler advised me to have the i n f e c t e d g a l l
bladder taken out. On December 8, 1968, Dr. V i e h e spent three hours cleani n g out a hard calloused g a l l bladder that was as hard as 1 i n o l e u m . Many
gallstones were present. Dr. ^iehe said I had a hard spot of scar tissue
for every nervous attack I had had.
My brothers, Vernon and Burton i n h e r i t e d a tendency for h e r n i a . Father
had a bad hern-ia. He nearly d i e d once when h i s i n t e s t i n e s came through
t h e o p e n i n g i n h i s stomach. A l t h o u g h I made m y l i v i n g d i g g i n g holes i n
the s o i l I never d i d develop a h e r n i a .
In later years I became a l l e r g i c to lactose in m i l k . I f i n a l l y found
that i f I added lactose enzymes to m i l k I could then use m i l k w i t h o u t
d i scomfort .
MARRIAGE
I met my dear w i f e Ruth in h i g h school in the year 1924. We were in
many classes together but never r e a l l y became a c q u a i n t e d u n t i l we went to
Snow C o l l e g e in 1927-29. Reese B u n n e l l , my cousin encouraged me to date
Ruth along w i t h h i m and H e l e n , Ruth's sister. From t h i s we developed a
long c o u r t s h i p that lasted u n t i l we were m a r r i e d in September of 1935.
I d i d n ' t dare to propose marriage u n t i l I was q u i t e sure I could support her. I was 28 and Ruth 27 when we were married.
CHILDREN
£}
James W i l l i a m was born J u l y 31, 1963 i n Mount Pleasant, Utah i n Ruth's
mother's home. I had accepted a p o s i t i o n w i t h the Soil Conservation S e r v i c e
and we were not sure where our home would be.
James m a r r i e d Nadeane Tuft in November of 1965 and they l i v e d in
B o u n t i f u l a l l t h e i r m a r r i e d l i f e except t h e f i r s t year i n Salt Lake C i t y .
Carol Jean N i e l s e n , our only daughter was born i n Burl ington,Colorado on January 23, 1940. She was m a r r i e d James N e i l J a r v i s in J u l y of 1964.
A l l e n Madsen N i e l s e n was born in Fort C o l l ins, Colorado on A p r i l 24,
1945.
-6EMPLQYMENT
After f i n i s h i n g c o l l e g e I was never w i t h o u t a job. S u p e r i n t e n d e n t
Jones of the North Sanpete School D i s t r i c t gave me a contract to teach
school i n S p r i n g C i t y i n the f a l l of 1935. I had prepared to teach Voca t i o n a l A g r i c u l t u r e in h i g h school and shortly after school started I
was offered the v o c a t i o n a l a g r i c u l t u r e t e a c h i n g job i n Afton, Wyoming.
The f o l l o w i n g year I q u i t teaching.
W h i l e at Brigham Young U n i v e r s i t y I took agronomy and s p e c i a l ized
in s o i l science. Because of the Dust Bowl disaster there opened up C i v i l
S e r v i c e jobs i n agronomy. I was h i r e d as a soil s c i e n t i s t i n September of
1936 and followed t h i s profession for the next 34 years, u n t i l I r e t i r e d
in 1970.
SKILLS
My m e c h a n i c a l s k i l l s are modest compared w i t h most p e o p l e . In s p i t e
of t h i s I have done considerable home r e p a i r s of note. I d i d most of the
f i n i s h i n g in the basement of our new home in Or em. I i n s t a l l e d p a n a l i n g ,
and a drop c e i l i n g and w i t h some h e l p hung the doors.
In Glenwood S p r i n g my sons and I, w i t h some h i r e d h e l p , f i n i s h e d the
basement. I d i d most of the cement work and c i n d e r block l a y i n g .
As a young h i g h school student I half- soled my brother's shoes.
L i k e my father I learned to sharpen a l l of the tools used on the farm
and around the house.
Because we were poor I learned to cut my brother's and father's
h a i r . T h i s t r a d i t i o n has been passed down from me to my daughter Carol
and now to my w i f e who cuts my h a i r . I cut my sons' h a i r u n t i l they dec i d e d that the c i t y barber should do i t . I am a f a i r l y good barber.
I bought the m a t e r i a l s for the s p r i n k l e r on our yard i n Orem and
i n s t a l l e d the system. It works p e r f e c t l y after ten years.
My social s k i l l s are q u i t e v a r i e d . For many years I have been a
program arranger. I was in charge of ward d i n n e r p a r t i e s for r a i s i n g money
i n Glenwood Springs. I was chairman of several S o i l Conservation S o c i e t y
affa i rs.
S i n c e we moved to Orem, my m a i n job for ten years has been program
chairman for the R e t i r e d Federal Employees o r g a n i z a t i o n . I was p r e s i d e n t
tor one year of that organization.
As a bishop I was f a i r l y successful. The members 1 i k e d me and to t h i s
day they r e s p e c t f u l l y c a l l me "Bishop".
I have always had a good bedside manner. I c o u l d make p e o p l e feel
better whenever I v i s i t e d them i n the h o s p i t a l , rest homes, or at t h e i r homes .
Professionally I was a good s o i l s c i e n t i s t . My s o i l surveys are used
in many parts of Western A m e r i c a for farm p l a n n i n g .
-"?
I was a good judge of land. Even as a boy I a d v i s e d my father to get
better land. Besides a judge of land I c o u l d recognize good farm a n i m a l s .
D u r i n g my p e r i o d of employment I did considerable w r i t i n g . I assembled
and d i d much of the t e c h n i c a l w r i t i n g i n p r e p a r i n g the " S o i l Survey Report
for K i t Carson County, Colorado", A l o n g w i t h two other S o i l Conservation
Servoce employees I h e l p e d w r i t e a t e c h n i c a l paper on " S o i l s and U e g e t a t i o n
in North Park Colorado" w h i c h was p u b l ished in The Journal of Range Managemen t.
In 1943, I, w i t h the h e l p of another S o i l Conservation S e r v i c e employee prepared the s p e c i f i c a t i o n for a s p e c i a l s o i l auger. The s p e c i f i c a t i o n s along w i t h a short w r i t e - u p were p u b l ished by Colorado State
U n i v e r s i t y . T h i s type auger has been w i d e l y i n Western A m e r i c a for
forty years.
As long as I can remember I have real ized the importance of good money
management. A l t h o u g h we have not become what you would c a l l f i n a n c i a l l y
w e l l off, my success as money manager has been above average.
Maybe my i n t e r e s t in c o l l e c t i n g and r e s t o r i n g a n t i q u e s is more of
a hobby than a s k i l l . I t represents a s p e c i a l t a l e n t i n t h i s f i e l d . My
c o l l e c t i o n s range from o l d irons to the restored v a n i t y of my mother.
Because I d i d not have the necessary tools I have h i r e d a s p e c i a l i s t to
h e l p me. Many v a l u a b l e f a m i l y keepsakes are i n my possession.
My scrapbooks are very e x t e n s i v e and represent a form of s k i l l that
few p e o p 1 e have.
My s k i l l as a parent is modest but our c h i l d r e n turned out q u i t e w e l l .
My w i f e and I are good average t e m p l e workers. We are not in the adm i n i s t r a t i v e class, however.
By t r i a l and error my w i f e and I d e v e l o p e d considerable s k i l l i n doi n g genealogy work.
A g i a n , my i n t e r e s t in unusual books is more of a hobby than a s k i l l .
It represents a t a l e n t I have for a c q u i r i n g rare books.
WHERE WE LIMED
We p l a n n e d on g e t t i n g m a r r i e d November of 1935. However, when the
V o c a t i o n a l t e a c h i n g job opened up i n Wyoming, i n September of that year,
we d e c i d e d to get m a r r i e d and go to Afton, Wyoming together.
We 1 i v e d i n Afton from September 9 u n t i l the end of the school year.
Ruth stayed i n Mount Pleasant the summer of 1936 where James was born.
I r e c i e v e d a job offer from the S o i l Conservation S e r v i c e i n the
l a t e summer of 1935. I reported for work in Salt Lake C i t y , Utah, September 3, 1936. The seventeen western states was my work area. Dr. Joel
was my boss and made the work assignments. For the f i r s t two months I worked
i n Morgan, Utah on a demonstration project w i t h Clem Dodson. Because I
belonged to a m o b i l s o i l survey crew of about twenty men they moved us to
New M e x i c o e a r l y in November where we worked on s o i l surveys in the Dust
bowl area i n New M e x i c o u n t i l December of 1936.
From there they moved us to Garland, Texas on a watershed survey.
By Christmas t i m e they had moved us to Paris, Texas on another watershed
survey. Ruth and baby James and Aunt Irene j o i n e d me in Paris for C h r i s t mas. We worked i n Paris d u r i n g January and Febuary then as s p r i n g weathercame, we moved to Waco, Texas where we worked u n t i l A p r i l .
By now s p r i n g had a r r i v e d i n Utah and they assigned us to do s o i l
surveys on a demonstration project near Ogden, Utah. We f i n i s h e d t h i s
project in early J u l y of 1937. The goverment needed general soil informa t i o n on the t h i r t e e n western c o u n t i e s in Colorado and d e c i d e d to use our
men for t h i s job. We were s t a t i o n e d i n Grand J u n c t i o n for several months
and ended the season i n Montrose, Colorado.
The Dust Bowl s i t u a t i o n was g a i n i n g n a t i o n a l a t t e n t i o n and was r e q u i r i n g spec i al invest!gat i ons to f i n d ways for con trol 1 i ng the erod i ng so i 1 .
We were assigned to S p r i n g f i e l d , Colorado i n l a t e November where we 1 i v e d
u n t i l the s p r i n g of 1938. The S p r i n g f i e l d area was part of the Dust Bowl
at t h i s t i m e and part of a demonstration project.
As there was a w i n d erosion problem i n Crowley County, Colorado, they
used part of our crew there. We 1 i v e d i n Rocky Ford that summer.
By the end of 1938 the m o b i l survey o r g a n i z a t i o n had been changed
and we were assigned to r e g i o n a l offices. I was assigned to the S o i l
Conservation Project i n Cheyenne W e l l s , Colorado. We l i v e d there
u n t i l the s p r i n g of 1939, when the Eastern Colorado Reconnaissance
Survey was started. The Bureau of A g r i c u l t u r a l Economics along w i t h
the S o i l Conservation S e r v i c e and the State of Colorado a l l worked
on the project together. We 1 i u e d in B u r l i n g t o n , Colorado.
As there
was need for more d e t a i l e d s o i l survey i n f o r m a t i o n on a p i l o t area
study i t was d e c i d e d to do a d e t a i l e d survey of K i t Carson County;
the K i t Carson County 4 i n c h t o t h e M i l e S o i l Survey w a s f i n i s h e d i n
May of 1943.
For the n e x t two years we 1 i v e d i n Fort C o l l ins where I d i d s o i l
surveys on i r r i g a t e d farms for farm p l a n n i n g . The f a l l of 1945 and s p r i n g
of 1946 I worked i n the Colorado S p r i n g s area w i t h Se1 by Young as my boss.
After t h i s , I had an assignment in A l b u q u e r q u e , New M e x i c o w h i c h ended
i n J u l y of 1950. I requested a job some p l a c e closer to Utah. T h i s request
was honored and we were assigned to the Blenwood Springs area. I did s o i l
surveys for twenty years i n a l l the S o i l Conservation d i s t r i c t s i n Nortwestern Colorado e x c e p t the Grand J u n c t i o n area. In 1960 they assigned two
men to work w i t h me i n the North Park and Steamboat Springs areas. We l i v e d
in Glendwood Springs u n t i l I r e t i r e d the f i r s t of August in 1970.
We sold our home i n Glenwood S p r i n g s in August of 1970. We had d e c i d e d
to l i v e i n Utah. After d e c i d i n g on Orem, we had a small home b u i l t there.
It was c o m p l e t e d in September and we moved i n the f a l l of 1970. It has been
our home for the last t w e l v e years. As of September, 1982 we are i n the
same home and have no p l a n s on m o v i n g .
MY PHILOSOPY OF LIFE
I b e l i e v e the w o r l d is governed by law. I b e l i e v e that even our Fatheri n -Heaven i s subject to law. The reason he i s God is that he has mastered
every law that governs the u n i v e r s e of w h i c h we are a part.
As a wise H e a v e n l y Father He knew we needed to come here and have the
chance to master the laws of t h i s u n i v e r s e , something we had to do i n the
f l e s h . I am sure he h e l p s us through the g i f t of the Holy Ghost. He knew
we would break many laws, some o-f w h i c h c o u l d o n l y be p a i d -for bx the
atonement of our Father- i n-Heaven •" s o n l y begotten son, Jesus C h r i s t .
I b e l i e v e our p h y s i c a l and mental c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s are i n h e r i t e d .
Each of us have very d i s t i n c t p h y s i c a l and m e n t a l features. Most o-f us
f a l l w i t h i n normal l i m i t s . Some p e o p l e a r e endowed w i t h superior p h s i c a l
and mental a b i l i t i e s . Others i n h e r i t p h y s i c a l or m e n t a l defects that cause
much suffering. I b e l i e v e suffering i s the r e s u l t of the operation of law,
part of w h i c h is due to the b r e a k i n g of laws and c o u l d have been a v o i d e d
Other c o n d i t i o n s such as low m e n t a l a b i l i t y or deformed bodies are i n h e r i t e d
and the person i s i n no way to blame. In my o p i n i o n i t is our duty to
master the laws that govern us by l e a r n i n g how to e l i m i n a t e defects that
occur .
I bel i e v e i n progression a n d that i t is slowly t a k i n g p l a c e i n each
of our l i v e s . We are saved no faster than we progress. T h i s i s e s p e c i a l l y
true i n such t h i n g s as honesty, l o v i n g our neighbor as ourselves, c a r i n g
for the poor and the needy and those less fortunate.
I real ize the importance of repentance. Each week as I partake of the
sacrament I renew my d e t e r m i n a t i o n to overcome the t h i n g s I d i d wrong the
week before. It h e l p s slowly.
I bel i e v e that hard work is necessary i n e v e r y t h i n g we do. Honesty
i n the work p l a c e is e s s e n t i a l . I b e l i e v e in f u l l pay for work done. No
one should be u n d e r p a i d or taken advantage of. In fact, I bel i e v e much
of the shop! i f t i n g that takes p l a c e i s because p e o p l e feel they are not
p a i d f a i r wages.
We should never say a n y t h i n g t h a t injures another person. T h i s is
one of the real shortcomings i n my 1 i f e . We should not l e t jealousy or
c o v e t i n g destroy our l i v e s . I am g r a d u a l l y overcoming t h i s f a i l i n g .
I want to l i v e so that I w i l l have f r i e n d s , t h i s i n c l u d e s my w i f e
and ch i 1dren.
I know that the p r i n c i p l e s of the Gospel f u r n i s h the o n l y way we can
be saved and i n h e r i t the c e l e s t i a l kingdom. I must learn to accept l i f e
as i t is and make my e x p e c t a t i o n s r e a l i s t i c .
Bas i c a l l y t h i s is my ph i1osopy of l i f e .
MISCELLENEOUS AND JOB RELATED STATISTICS
b o i l S c i e n t i s t , S o i l conservation S e r v i c e
U n i t e d State Department o-f A g r i c u l t u r e
M a r r i e d Ruth Madsen Sept. 6, 1935
She graduated -from BYU i n Aug. o-f 1954 i n e l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n
Taught school 23 years. M a r r i e d in the Logan Temple.
Chi1dren
65
James W i l l i am, Born J u l y 31 , 1936
B.S (Music) BYU 1957
M i ssion to Denmark 1958-1961
M a r r i e d Nadeane Tuft i n Salt Lake T e m p l e , Nov. 19
Carol Jean,
A l 1 en Madsen,
Born Jan. 23, 1940
B.S (elementary e d u c a t i o n ) BYU 1962
M a r r i e d N e i l J a r v i s i n M a n t i T e m p l e , J u l y 1964
Born Apr. 24, 1945
B.S < bac t e r i o1ogy) BYU
M.A (bacteriology) BYU
Ph.D.(bacteriology) U n i v e r s i t y of I n d i a n a
M i ss i on to We s t M e x i c o 1965-1967
Mar r i ed Ar t i e Fay Woodward i n Logan Temp 1 e ,
J u l y 10, 1968
Teacher of Uoc. A g r i c u l t u r e , Star U a l l e y H i q h School , Af t on, Wyom i n g ,
1935-1936
S o i l S c i e n t i s t USDA So i 1 Con se r v a t i on Se r v i c e , U t a h , Texas, and Colorado,
1936-1938
S o i l S c i e n t i s t USDA S o i l Conservation S e r v i c e , Eastern Colorado, 1938-1946
S o i l S c i e n t i s t For Northwestern Colorado 61enwood Springs, Colorado, 19501970
Ret i red Aug. 1 , 1970
Publ i cat i ons:
"General Purpose S o i l Auger", May-June 1946 issue of the
COLORADO FARM BULLETIN, Colorado Ag E x p e r i m e n t a l S t a t i o n ,
Colorado A £ M c o l l e g e . Fort C o l l ins, Colorado
W r i t t e n by J.L. N i e l s e n and B u r n e l l G. West
"Physical Land C o n d i t i o n s i n K i t Carson County, Colorado",
Bu 1 1 e t i n USDA-SCS 1948
W r i t t e n i n cooperation w i t h other s o i l surveyors
"Vegetation and S o i l of A l k a l
Sagebrush and Adjacent
B i q Sagebrush Ranges i n North Park, Colorado", JOURNAL
RANDE MANAGEMENT Ool 19 (1) 17020, 1966
J o i n t P u b l i c a t i o n b y D . R Robert son, J.L. N i e l s e n , N. H. Bare
R e c e i v e d a cash award for i n v e n t i n g a map measuring d e v i c e from the USDANov. 1966, G1enwood Springs.
CHURCH SERVICE
OFFICE
DATE
Branch Clerk
1943
-
1944
Ft. Col 1 i ns, Colo.
F i r s t Course 1 or
1945 -
1946
Co1 or ado Sp r i n g s , Colo.
Branch Clerk
1945
-
1946
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Group Leader,
E1der's Quorum
WHERE
l a t e 1946 - 194?
A l b u q u e r q u e Branch, N.M.
- 1950
Albuquerque Branch, N.M.
Sunday School
Super i ntenden t
1947
Branch Home T e a c h i n g
Super u i sor Cha i rman
1950 - 1951
G 1 e nwood Sp r ings Branch, Co1o.
Genealogy Committee
1952
Glenwood Springs Branch, Colo.
Ass i s t an t Br an c h C l e r k
for H i •=• tor x
1952 -
Inst i tu t i onal
R e p r e s e n t a t i v e torBox Scout Troop
1954
G1e nwood Spr i n gs Br an c h , Co 1 o ,
1 956
1959
G 1 e nwood Sp r i n gs Br an c h, Co1o,
Era D i rec tor
1958
1959
Glenwood Springs Branch, Colo,
Secretary, T h i r d
El de r f s Qu or urn Gr ou p
1956 - 1961
G1e nwood Sp r i n g s Bran c h , Colo,
Second Counselor,
B i shopr i c
1961
1963
G1e nwood Sp r i n gs Ward, Co 1o.
H i gh Counc i 1 man
1 963
1 967
C r a i g Stake, Colorado
B i shop
1 967
1 970
61enwood Springs Ward, Colo.
E x e c u t i v e Secretary
1970
1974
Orem Second Ward, Or em, Ut.
Secre tary,
H i g h Priests Gr ou p
1974 -
1976
Orem Second Ward, Orem, Ut .
Seere tary,
H i gh F'r i e s t s Gr ou p
1976
F'rovo Temp 1 e
0 r d i nance W or k e r
1972 -
1 932
1982
Orem 68th Ward, Orem, Ut.
Pr ou o Temp 1 e , Pr ovo, U t.
PRIESTHOOD 0 R DINATI ON 3
OFFICE
BY WHOM
DATE
Deacon
C h r i s t i a n A. Larsen
31 Jan. 1921
Teacher
C h r i s t i a n A. Larsen
2 J u l . 1922
Priest
Henry L. Acord, Sr .
24 Jan. 1926
Elder
H. W i l l i a m Peterson
24 Mar. 1931
High Priest
Theodore M. Burton*
3 Nov. 1967
JAMES LEWIS NIELSEN PRIESTHOOD LINE OF AUTHORITY THROUGH
THEODORE M. BURTON:
sPeter, James and John were ordained Apostles by the Lord Jesus
Chr i st (John 15:16)
Joseph Srn i t h , Jr . and O l i v e r Cowder y r e c e i v e d the Me 1 ch i zed i k
Priesthood in 1829 under the hands of Peter, James and John.
The Three Witnesses were c a l l e d by r e v e l a t i o n to choose the Twelve
Apostles and on February 14, 1835, were "blessed by the l a y i n g on of
the hands of the Presidency, "Joseph S m i t h , Jr., S i d n e y Rigdon and
F r e d e r i c k G. W i l l i a m s , to ordain the Twelve Apostles. (History of the
C h u r c h , Vol. 2, pp. 187-188.)
Br i gharri Young was o r d a i n e d an apostle February 14, 1835 under the hands
of the Three Witnesses, O l i v e r Cowdery, D a v i d W h i t m e r and M a r t i n Harris.
Joseph F. S m i t h was o r d a i n e d an Apostle J u l y 1, 1866 by Brigham Young.
Joseph F i e l d i n g S m i t h was ordained an Apostle A p r i l 7, 1910 by Joseph F.
Sm i t h .
Marion G. Romney was ordained a H i g h P r i e s t A p r i l 20, 1935 by Joseph
F i e l d i n g Sm i t h
Theodore M. Burton was ordained a H i g h P r i e s t January 27, 1945 by
M a r i o n G. Romney.
SCHOOLING
GRADE
YEAR
PLACE
TEACHERS
F i r s t grade
1913 - 14
Spr i ng C i ty
Eva Er i ckson
F i r s t grade
1914 - 15
S p r i n g Ci ty
Mera B l a i n Larsen
Second grade
1915 - 16
M i ss Morr i son
Th i rd grade
1916 ~ 17
Fourth grade
1917 - 18
No School
1918 - 19
Storr-s ( Spr i ng
Canyon >
Storrs <Spr i ng
Canyon >
Storrs (Spr i ng
Canyon >
Flu
F i f t h grade
1919 „ 20
Spr i ng
C i ty
Ar i al W M 1 i ams
S i x th grade
1920 - 21
Spr i ng
C i ty
Fret Strate
Seventh grade
1921 - 22
Spr i n g C i ty
(Juni or H i gh >
James W. Bl a i n
Reed A l 1 red
Leolette Christensen
Ernest Terry
E i g h t h grade
1922 -
Spr i ng C i t y
< J u n i or H i gh)
James W. B l a i n
Reed Al 1 red
Mr. Pe terson
M i ss Woodard
Miss Smi th
N i n th grade
1923 - 24
Spr i ng C i t y
< J u n i or H i gh)
Ernest Terry
James U). Bl a i n
Reed A l 1 red
M i ss Woodard
M i ss Smi th
<maybe E v e 1 y n Maeser)
Tenth grade
1924 - 25
Mt. Pleasant
(North Sanpete
H i gh School>
C.L. Stewart
Henry Terry
M i ss Woodard
Uern Gunderson
Dan i e1 Rasmussen
E. V. Staker
E l e v e n t h grade 1925 - 26
Mt. Pleasant
(North Sanpete
Same teachers as Tenth
e x c e p t : Mr s. N i e l s e n
Mr. G l e d h i 1 1 - coach
A.E. Parley
I 1 a Larson
I 1 a Larson
SCHOOL ING <CONTINUED)
GRADE
YEAR
PLACE
TEACHERS
Twe1 f th grade
1926 -27
Mt. Pleasant
(North Sanpete
H i gh School)
Same as e l e v e n t h
except:
Mr . Hughs - coach
Freshman
1927 - 28
2 quarters
Ephr ai m
(Snow Jun i or
Col 1 <?ge>
Lucy Ph i 1 1 i p=.
Ul i 1 1 i am G . Bar ton
M i l t o n H. Knudsen
H.E. Jensen
Heher Sne11
Hans R e i d Christensen
Iuan Young
Sophmore
1928 - 29
3 quarters
Ephra i m
Same as Freshman
(Snow Jun i or Col 1 e g e >
Jun i or
1929 - 30
2 quarters
Pr-ov o
< Bri gham Young
Un i <•.>er s i ty)
Jun i or
1930 - 31
1 quarter
Provo
J.M. Jensen (Engl ish)
< Br i gh am You n g Un i u er s i t y')
D i d not 90 to
school
1931 - 33
Sen i or
1934 - 35
Prouo
< Br i gham Young
Un i Mers i ty)
Graduate
Uo. Agr.
1936
Laramie
Mr. Dadisman
(Uni M e r s i t y of Wyom ing)
< col 1ege)
Summer
Dr . T.L. Mar t i n
Dr. Charles E. Maw
Lowry Ne1 son
Gran t I v i ns
Bertrand Harrison
Seth Shaw
A l f r e d Osmond
Dr. T.L. Mar t i n
Seth Shaw
Amos N, Merr i 1 1
Joseph Sudweeks
Edna Snow