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My early life was spent riding after cattle in Morelos and helping variously in making canals, fencing and all types of work incident to making a new settlement. My schooling began in Jurez under Sarah A. Clayson and under Martha Cox and daughter, Geneva: T.C. Romney in Morelos and Lorenzo L. Payne in Dublan; Rose Bunker in Guadalupe. I missed some time then took preparatory work at Juarez Stake Academy. I worked at El Tigre mine in Sonora for one summer. During the Revolution of 1912 rebels looted the mine carrying off all bullion and the mine closed. I started home arriving at Colonia Dublan and found the general exoudus of Mormons from the Colonies had taken place, some 60 men were left and the last train had just pulled out as we entered town--the most desolate sight one could wish to see. The next day howling dogs were running hither and thither. Loose pigs and cattle wandered at will through the town. After the family had left for El Paso, Father returned to his railroad contract at "The Park" in the Mountains, leaving Lehi in Guadalupe where I joined him. Father sent orders by a mexican for him to gather up our horses, travel at night and take them to a point near him. The mexican was 48 hours in delivering the message so when we reached camp some 500 rebels camped there had taken over all provisions, etc. Father, Joe, and Mr. Johnston had gone through the mountains to Sonora. Lehi and I hid by day and traveled back to Juarez by night, hiding our our horses in a wash west of the Academy, we walked to Ivin's place to get food in the form of apples.(the orchard hung full.) While gathering we were arrested by rebels and at the point of rifle poked in our ribs obeyed orders to open barn doors and corral gate while they hunted for guns and ammunition. Some 24 hours before we reached Jurarez all Mormon men had left over-land for the the United States. The rebels, thinking Lee and I were lost stragglers from them treated us with contempt. Apples were the only food for two days. While we were in a small room in Ivin's barn I whispered to Lee to make for our horses. Soon I saw my chances, pulling the door shut we made our escape. We filled our shirts and hats with apples and put them in our saddle pockets when we reached the horses. We made for Guadalupe through the mountain pass west of Casas Grande. We found the river swollen. At sunrise we unexpectedly came on to a camp of rebels at Don Jacobos' ranch. We rode right through and on to the river and we were pursued by them. We swam our horses through the swollen stream and hid our saddles and turned the horses loose and hid ourselves for some three hours while observing the situation. We each had a rifle and I also had a pistol. We expected we would have to kill or get killed at any moment. We headed for Guadalupe on foot and reached there about noon. We found it had been ransacked and gutted. No food was available other than fruit. We learned throgh a mexican that a train was being made up to go to the states. We went to Casas Grandes to try to get passage. Our horse and buggy was taken from us. We could buy no provisions such as flour or tortillias. We started home, raiders saw us and took us back for questioning. We made friends with General Alanez, head of the rebel forces, who befriended us. His wife, Mrs. Alanez and two small children were being sent to the states for safety. the train consisted of about 36 box and cattle cars and one passanger coach at the rear in which we rode with Mrs. Alanez. It was after many hours of anxious waiting that this wood operated train finally pulled out leaving day break. It was laiden with 500 wounded soldiers, their hidious shrieks and groans rent thr air continously. Some were rebels and Federals, and Tapasitus. Railroad ties were burned for the engine fuel. Lehi and I were placed as guards at the rear end and 20 mexicans at fore end of Mrs. Alanez coach. She gave us breakfast of tortillas. We all had orders not to let anyone enter. There were som 50 soldiers on board in case of an attack. The Mormons had quarters at "Cattle Pens", so-called (an incompleted lumber yard) in El Paso. When we arrived, Father had arrived via Douglas and our family was occcuping a place at Highland Park until transportation could be arranged. Louise, with whom I had corresponded all summer, had come out with Dublan folk. We now decided to start ourselves. We went to the Court house to apply for a marrige license. The clerk asked if we expected to get married that day, we anzwered affirmative. He pushed a button, the judge appeared and said the ceremony, I in overalls. Father had bought a wedding dress, but it was unwrapped as we expected to have Bishop Thurber oficiate for us, but it was all over before we knew it, August 17, 1912. On the 19th of August in the A.M. We all left for St. George, Utah, as people were leaving fast as possible to points where relatives lived. We stayed at Modena, Utah with Uncle William Defriez until outfits from St. George arrived to take us overland. In September we were taken to Aunt Rose Jarvis' place. Lehi and I soon found work at a company ranch near Modean at New Castle Development Co, where we worked until early December. Father left to attend October Conference in Salt Lake City and then he went on to Mexico. He gathered up and disposed of what few cattle he could find. Things were too unsettled for any immediate future so he went to Douglas where he had left animals in Will's charge and they moved to St. David Arizona. Here Father traded outfits for a 40 acre homestead near Benson, Arizona. He sent (to St. George) for Mother, Pearl and familes to come to Benson. We all returned overland to Modena leaving St. George 17 December. We spent a very cold night camping out on the desert. Louise and I went to Salt Lake City to visit her Mother, going to folks in Benson weeks later. I found work for a while with Myer Brothers wholesale Company and later with ... (Incomplete story)
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