Information, stories and photos of Joseph Smith and Talitha Cuma Cheney Eggleston and their children
Melvin Eggleston was born April 7, 1922 in Eden, Utah, the son of Joseph S. and Talitha Cuma Cheney Eggleston.
Melvin at age 6
Melvin Eggleston was born and raised in Eden and went to the same schools as the others. Melvin’s special talent was his personality, almost everyone liked him. He did have one fight, but that person became a friend. When he was going to Huntsville he tried to get Dale and me involved with his girlfriend’s sisters. He was active in sports.
Alice was born on Mormon Row and was still a child when they moved to Eden. She went to school in Eden and Huntsville and graduated from Weber High School in Ogden. She was a good student and made many lasting friends. As a young lady she babysat for several families. Because our mother was not in good health after I was born Alice did a lot of raising me and we were very close. A friend of hers moved to California and invited her to come down there and be a nanny for a family. She thought that would be interesting, so she went to California. While there she enjoyed many things including dancing. Continue reading
Lola was born on Mormon Row and was just a baby when the family moved to Eden. My first recollection of her was that when I was born she wanted a little sister and treated me like I was. She curled my hair and treated me like I was Shirley Temple, who was my age. She went to the same schools as her brother and sister – Eden Elementary, Huntsville Junior High and Weber High School. She was friendly and was well liked in school. I don’t really remember how she got acquainted with Phil. But I do remember them getting together at the house. They were married and moved in to a house just to the west of his parents place. I was so busy with my own life that I do not remember a lot about them growing up. I do remember the joy she had when after three boys she got a girl(a beautiful girl)the prize of her life. Continue reading
Dale went to the same schools that the others had attended, Eden Elementary, Huntsville Junior High and Weber High School. In Junior high Dale played Father’s violin( I do not know what happened to it). Continue reading
Selar Orland Eggleston was born May 5, 1919 in Grovont, Teton County, Wyoming, the fourth child of Joseph Smith Eggleston and Talitha Cuma Cheney. These are some memories of Orland by his brother.
Orland was born on Mormon Row, but the family moved to Eden that same year. Orland went to school at Eden Elementary, Huntsville Junior High and Weber High School like his siblings and he was the first to go on to College. Weber was a two year College at that time so he got an associate degree. Orland was a good worker and was closer to Dad than the rest of us.
Life Sketch of Joseph Wesley Eggleston, born April 26, 1916 in Grovont, Wyoming and died June 15, 1968 in Ogden, Utah.
I first became aware of the existence of Mormon Row in 1996. I had done genealogy research for some time and knew that Grandpa and Grandma Eggleston’s first four children were born in Grovont, Wyoming. I had no idea where Grovont was – I don’t think it is on any current maps – just somewhere in the Jackson Hole area. In 1996, my Dad was invited to a Mormon Row Centennial Celebration for descendants of the original homesteaders. The first homestead was granted in 1896. Eventually there were 21 homesteads there.
1918 Map of Mormon Row – Joe Eggleston homestead in the center
Laura went to school at Eden Elementary, Huntsville Junior High and Weber High School. She had one real problem getting to school. She would get car sick. She tried to get the driver to save a seat right up front for her. If he did not then he would have to clean the bus. This was a real problem because she rode the bus down the canyon to Weber High. She was an average student and got along well with her fellow students.
Laura in 1937
Laura on the right with school friends in 1937
After graduating from High School she was somewhat lost. Mother had died and she did not get along well with Dad, he had trouble communicating with us. When Mel got out of school, she did a lot with him. She got an apartment on the corner of Lincoln and 25th Street. She met and married Stevens and had a son Guy. He abused her so she divorced him.Then she married Lee Saunders. Continue reading
Dad was born in Eden, but because his Father had three wives, to avoid problems, he moved to Grover in Star Valley Wyoming where Dad was raised. Besides farming Dad got several other jobs. One was taking the mail from Idaho over Teton Pass into Jackson. He also worked on the Hoback road into Jackson. There were several people Homesteading and creating a road that became Mormon Row. It was over a ridge by Moose Junction. In 1896 the Government granted homesteads on that road. I have Dad’s Homestead deed signed by President Wilson. Dad’s Uncle Jacob Johnson Homesteaded next door to him. His uncle’s twin brother Ephraim built a saw mill in Wilson Wyoming and provided lumber for them to build. Dad started to build before he got the Homestead papers. He built a barn and started a house. Mother’s family had settled in South Park in Jackson Hole and Dad and Mother got together there. They went either by buggy or horse back to get married in the Salt Lake Temple. That was quite a trip.
Wedding Photo of Joseph and Cuma Eggleston
