Please help Identify

This was with some of my father's pictures.  I was thinking the woman in the middle was my Grandmother Melissa Shaw Wardle, but she was the youngest of three sisters.  Any other ideas? She was 9 years younger than her oldest sister, seven years younger the the next oldest.

Charlie Found this Story About our Great-great Grandfather

Thomas Evans Jeremy
    Thomas Evans Jeremy, a patriarch in the Salt Lake Stake of Zion, was born in the parish of Llanegwad, Caermarthenshire, South Wales, July 11th, 1815. He was raised on a farm and received a good education. After his marriage, he joined the Baptist denomination, but believed the principles of Mormonism from the time he first heard them proclaimed. March 3rd, 1846, he was baptized by Elder Dan Jones, he being one of the first who embraced the fullness of the gospel in Wales. On the evening of the day of his baptism, he was ordained to the office of a Priest and soon afterwards, when the Lianybyther branch of the Church was organized, he was appointed to preside over the same. By his continued efforts, being assisted also by other Elders, four new branches were raised up in the immediate neighborhood of where he resided.
    At that time Elder Jeremy lived on a large farm, which he had rented from a rich land-owner, who was an enemy to the Mormons, became very angry when he heard that Thomas E. Jeremy had united himself with them, and furthermore was spearing the doctrines of his creed among his other renters. On one occasion when Elder Jeremy brought him the half-yearly rent, this man commended to abuse him and finally broke out in a passion, saying, "These dammed night-dippers, (meaning the Mormons) will lead you down to Hell". Brother Jeremy in his usual calm and conservative manner, told him in reply that although he knew his duty to his landlord, and would do what was right to him, he considered it his privilege to serve God according to his own conscience; and he felt it to be his duty to obey God more than man. This exasperated the landlord, who commenced to curse and swear, but was immediately seized by a strange and mighty power, which hurled him back in his chair and made him speechless, while he foamed profusely from the mouth and his limbs were twisted nearly out shape.
    On one occasion Elder Jeremy, on his way to attend a conference meeting at Myrther Tydfil, South Wales, was crossing a high mountain on a cold stormy day, together with a companion, who, in consequence of the ground being slippery, stumbled and dislocated his ankle. The young man, whose name was John Rice, and who had only been a member of the Church a short time, sat down by the roadside and wept, they being about seven miles from the nearest house, where they could procure any help.  Elder Jeremy explained the ordinance of the "laying on of hands" to Brother Rice, and promised him that if he had faith he could be healed. He then placed his hands upon the young man's head and commanded in the name of Jesus Christ that everything in his body which had been dislocated should be restored. He was immediately obeyed, and the young man, who was instantly healed, leaped to his feet, shouting for joy, after which the two continued their journey praising the Lord for the miraculous manifestation of His Power. The young man's ankle was as strong and well as before the accident and Elder Jeremy testifies that when he was administering to the young man, he plainly heard the bones in the dislocated ankle click together as if being set by some unseen physical power.
    On another occasion when Elder Jeremy was shooting at a flock of crows, the barrel of the gun bursted (burst) and one piece of it struck Elder Jeremy with such force in the forehead that he lost consciousness, and it was thought by those who saw him that he could not possibly live. Among the visitors on the occasion was a Baptist minister, who on seeing him, declared that if he could get well, he would be willing to acknowledge that there must be some extraordinary power connected with him and his people. Through the faith and prayers of the Elders, Brother Jeremy recovered so quickly that he was out preaching to the people the following Sunday, three days after the accident had taken place: one week later he baptized three persons. the Baptist preacher, however, refused to believe, and when Elder Jeremy exhibited several pieces of bone which had been extracted from the ghastly wound, this disbeliever in miracles wickedly insinuated that Elder Jeremy must have found some sheep bones in his field, and was trying to deceive the people. Elder Jeremy bore the scar from this accident in his forehead to his death, but experienced no inconvenience there from after the time he was first healed.
    In 1849, Elder Jeremy emigrated to Utah, with his family, consisting of his wife and seven children and three other persons, (one young girl and two young men) that he paid for, crossing the Atlantic in the ship "Buana Vista", which sailed from Liverpool, England, February 25th, 1849. In crossing the plains, the company in which he traveled was snowed in on the Sweetwater and before relief could be sent out from the Valley, the emigrants suffered much from cold and hunger. In one night seventy of their cattle died from cold and starvation.
    Elder Jeremy located with the Welsh Saints (Saints from Wells) west of the River Jordan, near Salt Lake City, but shortly afterwards settled in the Sixteenth Ward, Salt Lake City, Where he resided the reminder of his days. In 1849-52, he presided over the Welsh (Saints from Wells) meeting, which were held weekly in the city during that time. These meeting were often visited by some of the Apostles and were generally very spirited and interesting.
    In 1852 Elder Jeremy was called on a mission to his native country. He left home September 16th of that year, and after a severe journey across the plains and a stormy passage over the ocean, he arrived in Liverpool, England, December 24th, 1852 He was appointed to preside as pastor over three conferences, "Swansea, Llanelly and Caermatheen", and subsequently acted as counselor to Dan Jones., in the presidency of the Welsh Mission. After a successful mission, he returned home with a company of saints which sailed from Liverpool, England, in the ship "Chimborazo",  April 17th, 1855. On the voyage, he acted as a counselor to Edward Stevenson, the president of the company. During the few following years Elder Jeremy and family suffered considerably from scarcity of food, the grasshoppers destroyed the crops in the valley of Utah. As long as he had any bread-stuff, he divided liberally with his neighbors, and when all was gone, he stood his chance with the rest of the people in subsisting on roots and other things which could sustain life for a time. At the time of the general reformation in 1856 he took a very active part in preaching to the Welsh Saints and exhorting them to renewed diligence. Later (1857-1858), he participated in the expedition to Echo Canyon, making two trips out in the mountains. One of these he served as Captain of ten and on the other as Captain of a company: he suffered considerably from cold and over-exertion, and frequently had to make his bed on three feet of snow.
    In 1860 he was called on a mission to Europe. He arrived in Liverpool December 12th of that year and was appointed to preside over the Welsh Mission. While acting in that position for about three years and a half several thousand people joined the Church in Wales. George G. Bywater was his first and David M. Davis his second counselor. He finally returned home in charge of a large company of saints which sailed from Liverpool, on the ship "General M'Clellan" May 21st, 1964. In October following he was set apart to act as a member of the High Council in the Salt Lake Stake of Zion, a position which he occupied until May 1887, when he was released with honor because of his advanced years. Soon afterwards he was ordained a Patriarch. In November, 1875, he filled another mission to England, arriving in Liverpool December 1st of that year. He traveled among the branches in Wales, and also attended to some private business; returned home in March, 1976.
    Elder Jeremy was one of the faithful and true Elders who showed the same noble characteristics in times of prosperity as in time of adversity: he has ever been true to his God and his noble example will be held in honorable remembrance by future generations. Brother Jeremy died April 7th, 1891, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The following line is hand written at the end of the paper
My Grand Mother Minnee Bosch Jeremy (Abrahamina Margrette Bosch Jeremy) was Thomas E Jeremy second wife.
I believe my Grand Mother Mina Geneva Brandly Wright wrote this line.

An Early Olsen/ Wardle/Wright Picture

James Wilford Wardle Sr, Melissa Shaw Wardle, Mina Geneve Brandli Wright, Ileen Wright Wardle, Donna Phyllis Wardle, Donna Olsen, Sara Wardle, Connie Wardle, Weldon Wardle, Ray Olsen

I do not know the circumstance, but this picture is taken at Grandma Wright's home in Lincoln.  Grandma Wright's husband was still alive when this picture, which is probably from 1956 (before I was born).

My Brother Shared some more Shaw Pictures

Melissa Ann Atwood Shaw

My Father Osmond W. Shaw

Osmond Shaw and his dog Whiskers: Dad told me the dog name was Whiskers

Charlie added this story: Dad told me once getting a spanking from his grandpa Shaw. His grandpa Shaw told him not to go by some baby pigs. Dad did and got a spanking from Grandpa Shaw.

Grandma Wardle (Melissa Ann Shaw) Youngest Picture I Have Seen

This is a picture from family search contributed by Leslie Coburn.  It is identified as
back row l-r Alma Ray Shaw, Allie Cornelia Shaw, Earl Weilding Shaw, Melissa Ann Shaw, James Albert Shaw; front l-r Rosa Eliza Shaw, Osmond Wilding Shaw, Melissa Ann Atwood, William Lewis Shaw.

My Mother and the Gold and Green Ball

1947 Lincoln Ward

Stake Ball 1947

1947

My mothered was honored with being in the Lincoln Ward Gold and Green Ball royalty two years while she was a young woman.  In 1947 she was queen in the Lincoln Ward Ball.  Charleen was an attendant.  The Post Register Files in 1947 recorded, "Bishop Gordon C. Gaily will crown Ileen Wright as queen of the Lincoln LDS Ward MIA Gold and Green Ball.  Her attendants are Joyce Jensen, Charlene Wright and Marie Weaver.
In 1947 she was also an attendant at the stake Gold and Green Ball.

1948, Lincoln Ward

She was also involved in the Lincoln Ward Gold and Green Ball in 1948.  Rose Marie was an attendant.  My mom later wrote of these events, "I was queen of the Gold and Green Ball and Delbert Nield  (from Ammon) was my escort.  It was very nice and the theme was "Old Dutch Garden".  I was also an attendant in the stake Gold and Green Ball and Kim Johnson was my escort."

This article explaining the Gold and Green Ball was published in the Church News in 1992:

GOLD AND GREEN BALL
Occasionally, one still hears of a Gold and Green Ball being held in one of the units of the Church, the last vestige of what was once a pervasive custom in stakes and wards. The balls were best-dress dances put on yearly. Within the confines of limited budgets, the best band available was hired and the cultural hall decorated as lavishly as possible. Sponsored by the MIAs, the dances typically attracted young and old. In later years, most people had forgotten the significance of the colors gold and green, but the dances continued to be popular until changing tastes in music and dancing made it somewhat difficult to put on a dance that appealed to both adults and youth.
"Actually," wrote Harold Lundstrom in the Jan. 26, 1949, Church News, "Gold and Green Balls were first introduced to the MIAs of the Church through a recommendation of Pres. Oscar A. Kirkham, then a member of the YMMIA general board. He proposed that each year the Mutuals sponsor a formal dance with the highest and most beautiful standards possible. Clarissa A. Beesley of the Young Women general board suggested using the names of the MIA colors, green and gold.
"These suggestions, adopted at the suggestion of Ellen Wallace Green, stands for youth and growth; gold stands for purity and perfection - combined, they symbolized the young men and women of the Church and their MIA program. Some years later, by official action of the general boards, the order of the words was changed from green and gold to gold and green so that they would be more euphonious."

Book Review: Rescue of the 1856 Handcart Companie: As it pertains to Isaac and the Ashtons

Rescue of the 1856 Handcart Companies  Rebecca Cornwall and Leonard J. Arrington  Charles Redd Monographs in Western History No. 11  Brigham Young University Press 1981.

This is a very interesting piece of history.  For whatever reason, the last two handcart companies of 1856 were late, and without rescue all would have perished.  When Franklin Richards arrived in Salt Lake with a group of returning missionaries on October 4 he reported to Brigham Young that four companies were still on the plains, two handcart and two wagon, Brigham went into immediate action.  He convened a meeting that night to discuss what was needed, and then introduced the rescue of the handcarts as the theme of conference the next day.  Notes indicate Brigham Young was directly involved in the planning, how much provisions to send and how.  “One brother [Daniel Jones] was impressed that the president was in earnest; he seemed moved by a spirit that would admit of no delay.  Of course the rescuers met the Willie Company first; but not before they hit a significant storm themselves.  Brother Willie went forward, putting his own life in peril, and found the rescuers and encouraged them to come forward.  This lead to the scene at Rocky Ridge, where the handcart pioneers struggled up the rocky hill, and many of them perishing after giving their all.

The Martin Company was still imperiled.  The same storm had stopped them at the Platt, after the last crossing.  Our family lore says Betsy froze her feet at the last crossing of the Platte.  She would pass away we don't know where, but sometime between the last crossing and Martin's Cove.  Joseph Young, Abel Garr and Dan Jones as the lead scouts, found them in poor condition, and unable to move.  They asked Captain Martin to distribute food to the hungry Saints and informed them they must press on to Devil’s Gate where ten wagons of provisions were waiting.  They made an heroic effort to move on the next day, and after checking on the wagon companies, Dan Jones came back upon them in their struggle, “A condition of distress here met my eyes that I never saw before or since.  The train was strung out for three or four miles.  There were old men pulling and tugging their cars, sometimes loaded with a sick wife or children—women pulling along sick husbands—little children six to eight years old struggling through the mud and snow.  As night came on the mud would freeze on their clothes and feet.  There were two of us and hundreds needing help.  What could we do?  We gathered onto some of the most helpless with our riatas [lariats] tied to the carts, and helped as many as we could into camp on Avenue Hill.”  Isaac reportedly left bloody footprints in the snow.

The provisions for relief were almost exhausted before the Martin Company met the relief wagons, however provisions of clothing and shoes and socks were distributed.  This included “102 pairs of boots and shoes, 157 pairs of socks and stockings, 30 quilts and comforters, 100 frock coats and jackets of various kinds, 36 hoods, 80 petticoats and bloomers, 27 handkerchiefs, 14 neckties, and 8 pairs of mittens.”  AT some point Isaac found some shoes, it may have been here.  They were tight on his feet, but he still gave thanks for them.  The great benefit to the company was one of the young men.  Heber McBride (whose father had passed away a couple weeks earlier) would later say, “…As they were hearty and strong they took upon themselves to [do] all the work about the Camp and the Captens of companies had no more to say….  The men from Salt Lake would clean off the snow and pitch the tents and get wood for all the families that had lost their Father and then they would help the rest what the could.  Of note to Isaac’s history is the difficulty it was to pitch tents. In the letter Langley Bailey later wrote to Isaac he talked about the care and effort Isaac put into pitching the tent.  "You did stake it down well my dear brother."  Many of the tents were blown down one night, but Langley says theirs was not due to Isaac effort.   The pioneers were met with another northern storm while at Devil’s Gate.  The temperature dropped to eleven degrees and there were 18 inches of Snow on the ground.   (See p 22)  “Many of the immigrant men were so weak that it took them an hour to scrape clear a space on which to pitch their tents.  ‘The boys’ had to drive the stakes for them into the frozen ground.”  (p 22)
As Devil's Gate could not accommodate all of the pioneers, the handcart company moved to martin;s Cove.  For this they crossed the Sweetwater, cold and icy.   Valley boys helped many of the immigrants across.  Sarah and Mary Ashton would have been among those carried across.  However Isaac would have pulled the handcart across the river.  Langley had been a passenger, but most likely he rode across the river in the sick wagon.

Even though more provisions had not arrived, the weather improved slightly and on Sunday, November 9 they moved out of Martins Cove.   “Many handcarts ere indeed left behind, but only the very weak were permitted to ride in wagons.  (p 24)

November 11, as the immigrants were preparing their camp they were met by Ephraim Hanks.

Nov 2 Brigham Young expressed in early November, “We can return home and sit down and warm our feet before the fire, and can eat our bread and butter, etc., but my mind is yonder in the snow, where those immigrating saints are, and my mind has been with them ever since I had the report of their start from Winter Quarters on the 3^rd of September.  I cannot talk about anything, I cannot go out or come in but what in every minute or two minutes my mind reverts to them.”  More and more rescuers would eventually meet the handcart company.  There were over 200 rescue wagons on the trail bringing supplies, or just keeping the road open.
They arrived in Salt Lake City Nov 30, 1856.  Of this Isaac wrote, "President Brigham Young along with many of the other Brethern and Women came to welcome us and took us into their homes, fed and warmed us and gave us warm clean beds to rest our weary bodies."

Jed Kelly Fornoff: Baby Pictures

Connie's son (my sister) Jed Kelly Fornoff, was born November 1, 1977. 

With Grandma Wardle shortly before she passed away

With his momma

With his Daddy

One Month

Four months

Nine months

Ten months

With Dianna

With Grandma

With Sara

With Geneve and Krista

With Charlie and Weldon

I think Jed must have been the most photographed baby ever. These are a few samples.