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Show Farm ;Vl.C1tClYl" v b ~ ma..rgctre-+ S · Hess Apostle John W. Taylor John W. Taylor's six wives were: May Rich, Nellie Todd, Janet Maria (Nettie May) Woolley, Roxie Welling. Rhoda Welling and Ellen Sandburg. His third wife, known as Nettie May. began building the large brick horne at 49 East 500 North in 1901. (This is now the home of Dewey and Donna Rue Mortensen.) There was a little adobe house, one large room, on the property and the brick home was built in front of it. The brick work was done by Edward A. Cottrell and William Levedall, who were good masons and did a wonderful job. Later someone made some changes and built more on the north of it. It is thought that Joseph Christensen from South Farming. ton was one of the carpenters who worked on the brick home. I remember when I (Margaret Steed Hess) was a girl a few of us used to go up in the evening to see how the house was progressing. It was one of the ' largest in our town and we thought it would never be finished. We were anxious to meet the folks who were to live in it. John's third wife, Nettie, didn't have enough money to finish the house, so May Rich, his first wife, took it over and paid for everything. and she and her family moved in. I remember her two lovely daughters were so talented and such an asset to our community. Nettie Woolley lived in a little home much smaller than the one she had started. She had a beautiful head of red hair. I worked for her and tended her little family. I think her oldest son, Joseph Taylor, lived in Utah. I knew five of the Taylor wives and many of the 36 children. N Taylor, a son, lives in North Farmington and is a fine religious man. When the beautiful brickwork was finished, we went up to watch the builders one day and they let us go through the big home. We were shocked to see the beautiful fireplaces in five of the large rooms and wondered why . so many were needed. There were two on the main floor and three upstair~, . all polished mantels, and a beautiful front porch. It was a well-made beautJ- . ful home, and is well kept today. There are 21 rooms in the home at this time. John W. Taylor was in our First \\"ard and was loved by everyone. He did so many kind things for folks: especially the aged. He bought twelve ' . lovely platform rocking chairs for them to sit in comfort in our chapel. !Ie had the chairs close to the front so they could hear well and enjoy everything in the meetings. .,.... """ .. __._ for two terms, helping in the installation of the city reservoir for use. During the late twenties Mr. Van Fleet was appointed Deputy Shc>riff lIfDavis County and served two terms. He was a diligent law'enforceml'nt ""officer. Many boys in Davis County received proper guidance from him wllPl1 they became involved in infractions of the law. In mid~thirties he was again a member of the Davis Count~· School Board ~d during his term many fine improvements were carried out in the school . !liistrict. He again was a member of the city council and was chairman of the . committee and shared the responsibility for improving the cit~· play· ." 2.I.UU','UO> and park. He started the improvements on the Farmington Cit~, .He was president of the Lions Club in Farmington and always involved civic activities for the improvement of our town. Mr. Van Fleet had an outstanding character, with a great love and pride folks and his town. He was always taking care of our cit~· park and the garden there. If anything needed rppairing. hl' would take carp of it lind the expense out of his own pocket. Every night for severn I yean; he would both gates to the cemetery, so the destructive kids wouldn 't bp lcmptl'd drive in and destroy things. After he passed away. those gates were nevcr ~IoSE~d and as we drove bv them we would remark. "Well. Horacl' didn 't his gates." I worked"with him for a few years at the F.C.&M , store in ·!. l'J'OUlllgE~r vears. Evervone loved him. as he was so kind to evervone. II (. i!' missed by us all. Horace Van Fleet Native Pioneer of Farmington Horace Van Fleet, Sr., at the age of 24. married Eva L. Soule. age 19. January 16, 1902. She was the daughter of Louise Logan and Emory L. Soule of Hooper, Utah. She was a constant, true companion. Her judgment was always good. Their family consisted of two sons, Horace Emerson and Stanford S. Van Fleet. Mr. Van Fleet was active in the L.D.S. Church and served as a Sunday School teacher. President of M.l.A .. and two years on M.l.A. Stake Boar:. He was a member of the Farmington Civic League and a member of t e school board when the Farmington (Hilltop I School was constructed . .~~ was instrumental in beautifying the grounds. Hl' was a member of th e C1t~ Horace Vall F'l eet, Sr . - !';atlve Pion eer . |
