177. Young boys (and girls) need a HAPPY MOTHER! My Grandma Pal was one of those!
I wrote about my "Grandma Pal" in blog # 29, on Dec. 8th, 2013, and of her husband William Gustavus Miles in blog #58. Today I'll tell some of the same stories, but a bit more complete. I have always known that I was named after a very loved, strong and faithful grandmother, who died a few years before I was born. Her name was Paralee Amanda Church, and she married William Gustavus Miles about 6 weeks before she turned 17. Her husband "Gus" (as he was called) was 6 years older than she was.
As I have heard, she was a very happy person, and people loved to be around her. One precious family story is about my father, "Pratt" (Orson Pratt Miles) who was the son of "Grandma Pal". I have a younger sister, Mavis, who went through a difficult divorce when she had 3 young boys. One time she had called our parents in St. George, from the Salt Lake area, and was quite sad at the time. Our dear dad, Pratt, immediately, without my sister knowing, started immediately to drive north to Salt Lake.
Late that night, Mavis heard small tapping on her upstairs bedroom window. Dad had arrived, and was throwing a tiny rock at her window, so as to not awaken her boys. Mavis hurried down the stairs and opened her front door, and asked "Daddy, what are you doing here?" (or something like that.) Our dad's comment was "Mavis, I've come to give you a message. YOUNG BOYS NEED A HAPPY MOTHER!" At that point Dad (Pratt) turned around to go home. Mavis said, "Dad, come in! It is late." But Dad said, "No, I've given the message I came to give, and I'm going home now!" (The conversation was something like that.)
He turned and left in the car -- whether he went somewhere and slept in his car, or drove clear back to St. George isn't known. BUT ! The way the message was given was so impressive to Mavis that it had a tremendous way in which she was a mother to her three precious boys from that day on. She did become a "happy mother" who made their lives fun, and full of joy, and they have become fine men!
Even though that happened to Mavis, and not to me, that story has had a great influence on my life, and my understanding of not only my own father, but also his mother! HE HAD A HAPPY MOTHER ! And when I go outside these days in the over 100 degree weather (now around 105 during the hot part of the day -- sometimes more, sometimes less) I think of those dear St. George pioneers, and what they went through. Pal was 4 years old when her parents were called in 1861 to the Dixie Cotton Mission. Her husband "Gus" and his family came the next year when he was 11, and they both lived out their lives in this beautiful but hot desert country, -- which I TRULY LOVE ! (before electricity, with it's air conditioning and refrigeration.)
To this day, none of my descendants have been given the special name of "Paralee", (which I have) and with which comes automatically the nickname of "Pal". Perhaps it will happen after I'm gone! But it is a revered name, and gives me a lot to live up to. Now here below, I'll tell her story (again) ---
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF PARALEE AMANDA CHURCH MILES
WRITTEN BY HER DAUGHTER SARAH ANN MILES WALLACE
Paralee Amanda Church Miles, was born 8 July, 1857 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her parents were Haden Wells Church and Sarah Ann Arterbury Church. Her parents were true Latter-day Saints and real pioneers, her father having been a member of the Mormon Battalion. He was converted to the Gospel by missionaries when only a boy of 17 years. He said the first time he heard the Elders sing, he knew within his heart, they were preaching the truth. His father, Abraham Church, was kind to the Elders and invited them to hold meetings in his home at Shady Grove, Tennessee.
This was at a time when the Southern States were very bitter against our Church and many of the Elders were mobbed and persecuted in various ways, but Abraham Church protected the Elders and allowed them to organize the branch of the Church (which was the first organization of the Church in the Southern States) in his home. Although he did not join the Church at this time, he was baptized later when his son, Haden, was on a mission to the Southern States. Paralee’s mother was also baptized when a young girl. Her mother's father joined the Church in Perry County, Alabama and became an Elder before his death, although he never did get to Utah. Both her parents were interested in endowment work for their kindred dead and accomplished much in doing the names of their kindred dead.
Paralee, with her parents, moved from Salt Lake City, to St. George, Utah in 1861. This was a call from Brigham Young to go and help settle Dixie. Her girlhood days were real pioneer days, with many hardships and privations, but with it all she was a girl of cheerful nature and earned the name of being one of the most charitable of women, always looking for the good in others and forgetting the evil.
Being the only girl of a family of five, she early learned to be a good housekeeper. Many a day she was left alone to do all the housework as her mother acted as midwife and spent many years in the town of St. George as a practical nurse. Her father went on four missions, so her mother had to earn part of the living while her father was away from home so much. Paralee graduated from the 8th grade in St. George and was a bright and intelligent woman. At that time there were no high schools there. In May 24, 1874, she married William Gustavus Miles.
They took a trip to Salt Lake in a covered wagon to be sealed to each other in the Endowment House. The Temple in St. George was not then completed. They took a load of dried peaches along to help pay the expenses. Another couple went with them, George and Cornelia Brooks. It took three weeks to make the trip. Uncle George and Aunt Cornelia, as we always called them (although they were not relatives) were always the dearest friends to my parents. They lived in the same neighborhood for many years and every time mother (Pal) or Aunt Cornelia had a baby, the children would all go to the home of the other and stay until the baby was born. I remember of eating dinner many times in the home of Aunt Cornelia.
(Note by Pal: Dad (Pratt) said that when they were at the other home and they had bread and gravy and rice pudding, they knew that when they got home there would be a new baby.) I don't know how many children the Brook's had, but Pal and Gus had 11 children, my father Pratt being the 9th, with 2 brothers Lorin and Robert (Bob) younger than he was. Some of the children died at a young age, and a couple of her sons died in young adult hood from working in the mines, and getting mine dust in their lungs.
Mother was noted for her hospitality and kindness. Her actions showed that her thoughts were always for others. Many ladies who knew her have told me she was one of the most loved women in town, and I remember her as such. She had the name of never speaking evil of anyone. She was good company, being witty and humorous. She delighted in telling jokes, but they were generally on herself. She visited the sick and gave comfort to many. Her friends were numbered among both the rich and poor.
She was a beautiful woman as I remember her with long black hair and deep blue eyes. Her height was medium. In her elder years she was very thin. I remember combing her long black hair many times and making long braids. In her early married life she had the misfortune of losing the sight of her left eye. A cataract grew over the pupil. She went to Salt Lake to see a specialist, but never did regain the sight of the eye.
All her life she was a prayerful and humble servant of the Lord. She was an active Church worker. For thirteen years she was the President of the West Ward Primary. For twenty years she was a member of the St. George Stake Relief Society Board. She was an excellent public speaker and was noted for her gift in rendering a prayer in public. At the time of her death she was Chaplain in the American Legion Auxiliary at St. George. She passed away in St. George on July 29, 1929, 3 weeks after she turned 72. At the time of her funeral friends came from far and near and many tributes were paid to her. Beautiful poems were written and read at her funeral. The following are a sample of the kind words said about my mother:
“I want to speak of Paralee in words of praise
Just as we found her in by-gone days
She labored for years with our children so dear
In her Primary work she tried to make clear
To their dear little minds the Gospel Plan
And exercised patience as few woman can.”
Other poems were given. I have a copy of one given by her friend, Rene Rancher at the time of one of her birthday parties as follows:
“P is for Paralee, our dear sweet Pal, your Pal, my Pal, and everybody’s Pal.
Whatever’s to be, whatever’s indicted, wherever it is Aunt Pal is invited.
If a dance, Pal is there on the fling, if a funeral, Pal is there to sing.
I’ve tried to solve it, Yes even resolved it, the problem was mixed
But I’ve got it fixed: Pal is so fine in manners and face,
They won’t pass her up, not any place.
She comes with her pails full of sunshine and joy
‘Tis her part, I think she carries it all in her heart.
She is good all through, our dear Gal,
She never speaks lightly of anyone but Pal.
Mother’s life (remember this has been written by her daughter, Sarah, in the photo above with her,) was one of sacrifice and toil. She was never blessed with riches as far as money was concerned, but she was blessed with many friends and the riches that come from living a life of service to her fellow-men. She really lived up to the teachings of the Church and believed and practiced the words of Benjamin, the Nephite Prophet, when he told his people this: “Know Ye not that when ye are in the service of your fellow men, ye are in the service of the Lord.”
A part of another tribute was as follows:
“Her life has been one of sacrifice, never forgetting those in distress, Cheering them up in their darkest hours, and giving them her best.”
Grandma Pal, as her posterity always called her, was known for never saying a bad word about anyone, but saying something good instead. There once was a group of women really gossiping about a mutual acquaintance, and during their conversation Grandma Pal spoke up and said, “I’ve never seen her with her shoe laces untied.” Someone spoke up and said, “Pal, I bet you could say something good about the devil!” She said, “Well, you’ll have to admit he is mighty industrious!”
As I have heard, she was a very happy person, and people loved to be around her. One precious family story is about my father, "Pratt" (Orson Pratt Miles) who was the son of "Grandma Pal". I have a younger sister, Mavis, who went through a difficult divorce when she had 3 young boys. One time she had called our parents in St. George, from the Salt Lake area, and was quite sad at the time. Our dear dad, Pratt, immediately, without my sister knowing, started immediately to drive north to Salt Lake.
Late that night, Mavis heard small tapping on her upstairs bedroom window. Dad had arrived, and was throwing a tiny rock at her window, so as to not awaken her boys. Mavis hurried down the stairs and opened her front door, and asked "Daddy, what are you doing here?" (or something like that.) Our dad's comment was "Mavis, I've come to give you a message. YOUNG BOYS NEED A HAPPY MOTHER!" At that point Dad (Pratt) turned around to go home. Mavis said, "Dad, come in! It is late." But Dad said, "No, I've given the message I came to give, and I'm going home now!" (The conversation was something like that.)
He turned and left in the car -- whether he went somewhere and slept in his car, or drove clear back to St. George isn't known. BUT ! The way the message was given was so impressive to Mavis that it had a tremendous way in which she was a mother to her three precious boys from that day on. She did become a "happy mother" who made their lives fun, and full of joy, and they have become fine men!
Even though that happened to Mavis, and not to me, that story has had a great influence on my life, and my understanding of not only my own father, but also his mother! HE HAD A HAPPY MOTHER ! And when I go outside these days in the over 100 degree weather (now around 105 during the hot part of the day -- sometimes more, sometimes less) I think of those dear St. George pioneers, and what they went through. Pal was 4 years old when her parents were called in 1861 to the Dixie Cotton Mission. Her husband "Gus" and his family came the next year when he was 11, and they both lived out their lives in this beautiful but hot desert country, -- which I TRULY LOVE ! (before electricity, with it's air conditioning and refrigeration.)
To this day, none of my descendants have been given the special name of "Paralee", (which I have) and with which comes automatically the nickname of "Pal". Perhaps it will happen after I'm gone! But it is a revered name, and gives me a lot to live up to. Now here below, I'll tell her story (again) ---
INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF PARALEE AMANDA CHURCH MILES
WRITTEN BY HER DAUGHTER SARAH ANN MILES WALLACE
Paralee Amanda Church Miles, was born 8 July, 1857 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her parents were Haden Wells Church and Sarah Ann Arterbury Church. Her parents were true Latter-day Saints and real pioneers, her father having been a member of the Mormon Battalion. He was converted to the Gospel by missionaries when only a boy of 17 years. He said the first time he heard the Elders sing, he knew within his heart, they were preaching the truth. His father, Abraham Church, was kind to the Elders and invited them to hold meetings in his home at Shady Grove, Tennessee.
This was at a time when the Southern States were very bitter against our Church and many of the Elders were mobbed and persecuted in various ways, but Abraham Church protected the Elders and allowed them to organize the branch of the Church (which was the first organization of the Church in the Southern States) in his home. Although he did not join the Church at this time, he was baptized later when his son, Haden, was on a mission to the Southern States. Paralee’s mother was also baptized when a young girl. Her mother's father joined the Church in Perry County, Alabama and became an Elder before his death, although he never did get to Utah. Both her parents were interested in endowment work for their kindred dead and accomplished much in doing the names of their kindred dead.
Paralee, with her parents, moved from Salt Lake City, to St. George, Utah in 1861. This was a call from Brigham Young to go and help settle Dixie. Her girlhood days were real pioneer days, with many hardships and privations, but with it all she was a girl of cheerful nature and earned the name of being one of the most charitable of women, always looking for the good in others and forgetting the evil.
Being the only girl of a family of five, she early learned to be a good housekeeper. Many a day she was left alone to do all the housework as her mother acted as midwife and spent many years in the town of St. George as a practical nurse. Her father went on four missions, so her mother had to earn part of the living while her father was away from home so much. Paralee graduated from the 8th grade in St. George and was a bright and intelligent woman. At that time there were no high schools there. In May 24, 1874, she married William Gustavus Miles.
They took a trip to Salt Lake in a covered wagon to be sealed to each other in the Endowment House. The Temple in St. George was not then completed. They took a load of dried peaches along to help pay the expenses. Another couple went with them, George and Cornelia Brooks. It took three weeks to make the trip. Uncle George and Aunt Cornelia, as we always called them (although they were not relatives) were always the dearest friends to my parents. They lived in the same neighborhood for many years and every time mother (Pal) or Aunt Cornelia had a baby, the children would all go to the home of the other and stay until the baby was born. I remember of eating dinner many times in the home of Aunt Cornelia.
(Note by Pal: Dad (Pratt) said that when they were at the other home and they had bread and gravy and rice pudding, they knew that when they got home there would be a new baby.) I don't know how many children the Brook's had, but Pal and Gus had 11 children, my father Pratt being the 9th, with 2 brothers Lorin and Robert (Bob) younger than he was. Some of the children died at a young age, and a couple of her sons died in young adult hood from working in the mines, and getting mine dust in their lungs.
Mother was noted for her hospitality and kindness. Her actions showed that her thoughts were always for others. Many ladies who knew her have told me she was one of the most loved women in town, and I remember her as such. She had the name of never speaking evil of anyone. She was good company, being witty and humorous. She delighted in telling jokes, but they were generally on herself. She visited the sick and gave comfort to many. Her friends were numbered among both the rich and poor.
She was a beautiful woman as I remember her with long black hair and deep blue eyes. Her height was medium. In her elder years she was very thin. I remember combing her long black hair many times and making long braids. In her early married life she had the misfortune of losing the sight of her left eye. A cataract grew over the pupil. She went to Salt Lake to see a specialist, but never did regain the sight of the eye.
All her life she was a prayerful and humble servant of the Lord. She was an active Church worker. For thirteen years she was the President of the West Ward Primary. For twenty years she was a member of the St. George Stake Relief Society Board. She was an excellent public speaker and was noted for her gift in rendering a prayer in public. At the time of her death she was Chaplain in the American Legion Auxiliary at St. George. She passed away in St. George on July 29, 1929, 3 weeks after she turned 72. At the time of her funeral friends came from far and near and many tributes were paid to her. Beautiful poems were written and read at her funeral. The following are a sample of the kind words said about my mother:
“I want to speak of Paralee in words of praise
Just as we found her in by-gone days
She labored for years with our children so dear
In her Primary work she tried to make clear
To their dear little minds the Gospel Plan
And exercised patience as few woman can.”
Other poems were given. I have a copy of one given by her friend, Rene Rancher at the time of one of her birthday parties as follows:
“P is for Paralee, our dear sweet Pal, your Pal, my Pal, and everybody’s Pal.
Whatever’s to be, whatever’s indicted, wherever it is Aunt Pal is invited.
If a dance, Pal is there on the fling, if a funeral, Pal is there to sing.
I’ve tried to solve it, Yes even resolved it, the problem was mixed
But I’ve got it fixed: Pal is so fine in manners and face,
They won’t pass her up, not any place.
She comes with her pails full of sunshine and joy
‘Tis her part, I think she carries it all in her heart.
She is good all through, our dear Gal,
She never speaks lightly of anyone but Pal.
Mother’s life (remember this has been written by her daughter, Sarah, in the photo above with her,) was one of sacrifice and toil. She was never blessed with riches as far as money was concerned, but she was blessed with many friends and the riches that come from living a life of service to her fellow-men. She really lived up to the teachings of the Church and believed and practiced the words of Benjamin, the Nephite Prophet, when he told his people this: “Know Ye not that when ye are in the service of your fellow men, ye are in the service of the Lord.”
A part of another tribute was as follows:
“Her life has been one of sacrifice, never forgetting those in distress, Cheering them up in their darkest hours, and giving them her best.”
Grandma Pal, as her posterity always called her, was known for never saying a bad word about anyone, but saying something good instead. There once was a group of women really gossiping about a mutual acquaintance, and during their conversation Grandma Pal spoke up and said, “I’ve never seen her with her shoe laces untied.” Someone spoke up and said, “Pal, I bet you could say something good about the devil!” She said, “Well, you’ll have to admit he is mighty industrious!”
WHAT A GREAT LEGACY TO LIVE UP TO, WITH THE NAME OF "PARALEE" (PAL)
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