814. Wayne's own story of his birth and childhood with Blaine, and more about his parents, Roy Waldamer and Gladys Dayton Eckman.
Today I will print Wayne's own story of his birth and early life. He wrote this to go in our book about his ancestors. I plan to put more family history in my blogs, and not as many other subjects. I believe that will be more important for my posterity! (by Pal)
Personal Record of Wayne D. Eckman
I was very fortunate in being born a twin on September 18, 1930, to Roy Waldamer and Gladys Treganna Dayton Eckman. My twin brother, Blaine, was born 15 minutes before I made my entry into the world. The custom in those days to a great extent was to call the doctor to the home to deliver babies. It seems that we were ready to be born before my mother could be driven to the hospital, so we were born in a little green frame house at 6066 South State Street in Murray, Utah. Dr. Olie Sundwall was the attending physician and the minute he saw us, he declared that there was no earthly chance that we would survive the night, so Dad called Elder Joseph Blaine in to give us a name and a blessing so we would at least have a name when and if death occurred. We only weighed 4 and 4 ½ lbs. It is said we could fit into a shoe box with the lid placed on top. Elder Blaine blessed both of us that we would live to fulfill our mission in life and be heard by many in the defense of truth. You will see later that this blessing was literally fulfilled.
We grew up at the same address through our first 8 years. We got into our usual childhood mischief. It was double trouble as far as we were concerned and many were heard to say, “Lookout for those mean Eckman twins.” One event that I vividly remember was the time Blaine and I went over to Reading’s turkey pen nearby with our faithful black dog, Prince, and romped through the coop and let the turkeys out. What a day! There were turkeys on top of telephone poles, houses, barns, and literally all over. A few people may have had a free turkey dinner that night. One thing that stands out in my mind in connection with that event was when I went to get a haircut at Butcher’s Barber Shop on 64th South and State. Mr. Butcher had a club foot (a foot turned in the opposite direction) and I remember how he talked about how the turkeys got out and what the policemen would do to us if it ever happened again. It never happened again.
Wayne and Blaine around 10 years old.
Our dog, prince, practically grew up with us. He kept us in the yard and away from the irrigation ditch. He actually pulled one of us out of the ditch once when he toppled in. We used to hit him with sticks and throw rocks at him because he was so insistent on keeping us in the yard. One day, the oldest Greenwood boy came over to visit Floyd, my oldest brother. The visitor decided to romp with Blaine and I, but the last we saw of him, he was high-tailing it across the street with Prince in hot pursuit. He lost the seat of his pants to an angry dog. A sad day in our lives came when Prince came home sick with a poison and died. I remember how we cried over that.
I'll post more of what he wrote in future blogs ------
This below was first published in my blog on February 8, 2014. I am reposting it today, as it gives history of Wayne's parents, which gives insight into his early life.
When Roy Waldamer Eckman was born, all births were in the home and the doctor had to drive a horse and buggy from Salt Lake City, about 12 miles away. On the night Roy was born, (the youngest of 10 children) it was raining hard and the doctor had to change horses and get a fresh horse on the way there, as the original horse gave out. Roy was born on May 19, 1898, at home in Parley’s Canyon, and died September 19, 1975, in Salt Lake City, at the age of seventy-seven years.
This was the kind of buggy the doctor had to take to Parley's Canyon to help deliver Roy in 1898.
Blog # 86 tells about Roy's parents, and their history, and some of that story involved Roy.
From Parley’s Canyon Roy’s parents moved to West Jordan when he was 3 years old where they engaged in farming. When Roy was almost fourteen years of age his schooling was cut short when his family moved back to Sweden on March 12,1912 to farm there. His father had owned property in Parley's Canyon, and he sold water rights he owned there to the Salt Lake City. With that money he was able to buy a nice farm in Sweden. By the time they moved back to Sweden three of his grandparents had passed away in Utah. Roy’s grandfather, John Wengreen, the only surviving grandparent, was then living in California with his daughter, as his wife had died in 1905.
This was Roy's grandfather, Johan (John) Wengreen, who was then living in California with his daughter. He was the original ancestor to come to the United States from Sweden. His history is in blog # 75.
After 3 years in Sweden they talked about returning to the United States, because of the impending World War I. No one wanted to lose their citizenship in the U.S. Roy returned in September of 1915 on the same ship, M/S Gripsholm, that Wayne and Blaine went to Sweden on in 1950. He traveled back with Uncle Alvin and Aunt Jennie Wallin. (Jennie was Roy's sister, and had married Alvin in Sweden.) Fortunately Roy didn’t have to be inducted into the U.S. Army because World War I ended before he was eligible for the draft. Roy had about an 8th grade schooling before he left to go to Sweden, and when he returned to Utah, he had to begin to work to help support his mother, and didn't have any more education. As a result, he had to do hard labor jobs. His mother returned to the U.S., leaving his father to settle business matters in Sweden, selling the home.
A photo of Roy as a young man.
Margaret, Roy's mother, died here in Utah about 5 years after they returned from Sweden, and before her husband had returned. Roy quite resented this throughout his life. As a result, he and his father who stayed in Sweden didn't have a lot of contact during those 30 years. His father had made the decision to stay in Sweden, as his daughter, Tacy, had married, and subsequently lived her life in Sweden. Johann, Roy's father, died in Sweden at the age of 92 ½ , just 6 months before Wayne and Blaine went to Sweden on their first missions, in December of 1950. They regretted not having met him, and being closer to him during their growing up years.
I found this picture of Roy's father, (Wayne's grandfather) Johan Wengreen Eckman, which is also in blog # 86, but this is a better copy of it. In Sweden, he wanted his picture taken in front of the American Flag.
Roy supported his mother by working at the International Smelter in Tooele until her death on May 20, 1920. His father remained in Sweden and never returned to the U.S. This was disconcerting to Roy because he couldn’t finish school, after he returned to the United States, as he was needed to support his mother until her death.
A picture of Roy and Gladys about the time they were married in 1920.
Roy was most fortunate to meet Gladys Treganna Dayton while living in Tooele and employed by the Union Pacific Railroad. She was 19, and hired out to women who had babies and needed someone to help, usually 2 weeks or so. She was working for Roy’s sister, Jennie, when Jennie had one of her children, and that is how Roy and Gladys met. On December 1, 1920, they were married and that was the beginning of the present Eckman clan.
They moved from Tooele to Lyndale, Utah, in 1921 and Roy spent one year as a section hand on the Union Pacific Railroad. He also worked for the railroad in Ely, Nevada, in 1922. There were times that he would stand in lines for a day's work, during the 1920's, and 1930's depression. He later worked 22 years at the Murray A.S & R Smelter. He left their employ when the smelter was shut down in 1945 and worked for Allen Steel, a consolidation of Steel Engineers, at 1526 So. West Temple until his retirement at age 65, in 1963. He worked hard to support nine children, through the depression years. He managed to get what work was available and was known for his ability to put in an honest, hard, and fair workday.
This is a photo of Roy and Gladys's family about 1942, before their last child, Joyce Marie was born, and just when Floyd was going into the army for World War II. Top row, Wayne ?, Myrth, (Floyd's wife,) Floyd, June, Ruby, May, and Blaine. Bottom row: Ronald, Roy, Gladys, and Shirlene sitting between them.
They had 5 girls and 4 boys, (the same as Wayne and Pal). They did not have an easy time raising a family, because the Great Depression of the 1930's took its toll on many, but there was always food on the table and kind words at all times.ls and 4 boys. Hard times was a standard for most in those times, but love and gentleness had a soothing effect. We did not feel deprived in any way during our growing up years. (writes Wayne) Gladys was a wonderful cook, and often during those depressing days, "tramps" (people who were basically homeless, and traveled around the country) heard about her generosity. Often someone would come to their home for some food, and she would fix them a sandwich, and let them eat it out on the porch.
This was an article in the Era (Church magazine) at the time. Blaine and Wayne had perfect attendance at all Church meetings from ages 12 to 19, and their brother Ronald had perfect attendance until age 17, which he was in this picture. This was taken just before Wayne and Blaine went on their missions to Sweden in 1950.
Roy organized young men into work groups and helped secure employment for them in the beet fields during those hard times. It was said that no one could thin and top beets like Roy Eckman. Not to remain idle, after he retired, he worked the rest of his days as a repairman at Deseret Industries. A hip operation about 1965 slowed him down considerable and made him despondent at times, but he managed to get along and keep fairly active.
One tradition that we saw whenever we were invited to dinner at their home -- Roy would have his dinner plate with meat, potatoes, veges, etc., and next to it would be his dessert plate. He would have a bite of potatoes, a piece of cake, etc. The rest of the family had to clean their plates before they could have dessert! But Gladys was such a good cook, and had dessert every day, and Wayne can't get over that tradition! !
He loved his brothers and sisters. He had six brothers and three sisters, a family of ten children. Two older brothers, Olof and Anders, died shortly after birth. Another brother, August, died during the flu epidemic of 1919, two days before his wife Josephine died. August's son was Albert who lived with them.
Gladys and Roy, probably in the 1940's.
Roy and his wife also raised Albert, after he was about 10 years old, a son
of his brother August. Albert was always been considered one of their own
and loved them like a true son. Albert lived much of his life in Nevada City,
in California. We visited him once there where they had a lovely swimming
pool in their back yard. In Albert’s 90's, he became active again in the LDS
Church, and went through the Temple. He was known as “Swede” by all
his friends, and truly was a very strong man in many ways. His last years
he spent with his daughter in Carson City, Nevada. Roy’s family lived at various places in Murray, Granger, and their last location in South Salt Lake, at 3384 South 2nd west. Roy’s effectiveness in Aaronic Priesthood leadership was well-known to many.
Roy was so happy to be able to get a car that wasn't a Model A ! This was a Buick.
Roy's family blessed him with 44 grandchildren and many great grandchildren, all of whom love and respect him. He was once asked what would be the greatest tribute in life to him, and he answered, “To have my children live and grow to have respect for me.” Certainly this has come to pass.They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary December 1, 1970.
This photo was taken about 1974, after their Golden Wedding in 1970. Roy passed away in 1975, and Gladys in 1987. One of our children apparently took a red marker to this wonderful photo!
(Note from Pal) -- I remember he used to call me "honey". It meant so much to me.
The last paragraph in his Book of Remembrance reads, “I have had many faith-promoting incidents, and I know the work I am engaged in is the work of our Father in Heaven. And I pray that I may so live that I may be found worthy to enter into God’s presence after this life.”
This was the kind of buggy the doctor had to take to Parley's Canyon to help deliver Roy in 1898.
Blog # 86 tells about Roy's parents, and their history, and some of that story involved Roy.
From Parley’s Canyon Roy’s parents moved to West Jordan when he was 3 years old where they engaged in farming. When Roy was almost fourteen years of age his schooling was cut short when his family moved back to Sweden on March 12,1912 to farm there. His father had owned property in Parley's Canyon, and he sold water rights he owned there to the Salt Lake City. With that money he was able to buy a nice farm in Sweden. By the time they moved back to Sweden three of his grandparents had passed away in Utah. Roy’s grandfather, John Wengreen, the only surviving grandparent, was then living in California with his daughter, as his wife had died in 1905.
After 3 years in Sweden they talked about returning to the United States, because of the impending World War I. No one wanted to lose their citizenship in the U.S. Roy returned in September of 1915 on the same ship, M/S Gripsholm, that Wayne and Blaine went to Sweden on in 1950. He traveled back with Uncle Alvin and Aunt Jennie Wallin. (Jennie was Roy's sister, and had married Alvin in Sweden.) Fortunately Roy didn’t have to be inducted into the U.S. Army because World War I ended before he was eligible for the draft. Roy had about an 8th grade schooling before he left to go to Sweden, and when he returned to Utah, he had to begin to work to help support his mother, and didn't have any more education. As a result, he had to do hard labor jobs. His mother returned to the U.S., leaving his father to settle business matters in Sweden, selling the home.
Margaret, Roy's mother, died here in Utah about 5 years after they returned from Sweden, and before her husband had returned. Roy quite resented this throughout his life. As a result, he and his father who stayed in Sweden didn't have a lot of contact during those 30 years. His father had made the decision to stay in Sweden, as his daughter, Tacy, had married, and subsequently lived her life in Sweden. Johann, Roy's father, died in Sweden at the age of 92 ½ , just 6 months before Wayne and Blaine went to Sweden on their first missions, in December of 1950. They regretted not having met him, and being closer to him during their growing up years.
Roy supported his mother by working at the International Smelter in Tooele until her death on May 20, 1920. His father remained in Sweden and never returned to the U.S. This was disconcerting to Roy because he couldn’t finish school, after he returned to the United States, as he was needed to support his mother until her death.
Roy was most fortunate to meet Gladys Treganna Dayton while living in Tooele and employed by the Union Pacific Railroad. She was 19, and hired out to women who had babies and needed someone to help, usually 2 weeks or so. She was working for Roy’s sister, Jennie, when Jennie had one of her children, and that is how Roy and Gladys met. On December 1, 1920, they were married and that was the beginning of the present Eckman clan.
They moved from Tooele to Lyndale, Utah, in 1921 and Roy spent one year as a section hand on the Union Pacific Railroad. He also worked for the railroad in Ely, Nevada, in 1922. There were times that he would stand in lines for a day's work, during the 1920's, and 1930's depression. He later worked 22 years at the Murray A.S & R Smelter. He left their employ when the smelter was shut down in 1945 and worked for Allen Steel, a consolidation of Steel Engineers, at 1526 So. West Temple until his retirement at age 65, in 1963. He worked hard to support nine children, through the depression years. He managed to get what work was available and was known for his ability to put in an honest, hard, and fair workday.
They had 5 girls and 4 boys, (the same as Wayne and Pal). They did not have an easy time raising a family, because the Great Depression of the 1930's took its toll on many, but there was always food on the table and kind words at all times.ls and 4 boys. Hard times was a standard for most in those times, but love and gentleness had a soothing effect. We did not feel deprived in any way during our growing up years. (writes Wayne) Gladys was a wonderful cook, and often during those depressing days, "tramps" (people who were basically homeless, and traveled around the country) heard about her generosity. Often someone would come to their home for some food, and she would fix them a sandwich, and let them eat it out on the porch.
Roy organized young men into work groups and helped secure employment for them in the beet fields during those hard times. It was said that no one could thin and top beets like Roy Eckman. Not to remain idle, after he retired, he worked the rest of his days as a repairman at Deseret Industries. A hip operation about 1965 slowed him down considerable and made him despondent at times, but he managed to get along and keep fairly active.
One tradition that we saw whenever we were invited to dinner at their home -- Roy would have his dinner plate with meat, potatoes, veges, etc., and next to it would be his dessert plate. He would have a bite of potatoes, a piece of cake, etc. The rest of the family had to clean their plates before they could have dessert! But Gladys was such a good cook, and had dessert every day, and Wayne can't get over that tradition! !
He loved his brothers and sisters. He had six brothers and three sisters, a family of ten children. Two older brothers, Olof and Anders, died shortly after birth. Another brother, August, died during the flu epidemic of 1919, two days before his wife Josephine died. August's son was Albert who lived with them.
Roy and his wife also raised Albert, after he was about 10 years old, a son
of his brother August. Albert was always been considered one of their own
and loved them like a true son. Albert lived much of his life in Nevada City,
in California. We visited him once there where they had a lovely swimming
pool in their back yard. In Albert’s 90's, he became active again in the LDS
Church, and went through the Temple. He was known as “Swede” by all
his friends, and truly was a very strong man in many ways. His last years
he spent with his daughter in Carson City, Nevada. Roy’s family lived at various places in Murray, Granger, and their last location in South Salt Lake, at 3384 South 2nd west. Roy’s effectiveness in Aaronic Priesthood leadership was well-known to many.
Roy's family blessed him with 44 grandchildren and many great grandchildren, all of whom love and respect him. He was once asked what would be the greatest tribute in life to him, and he answered, “To have my children live and grow to have respect for me.” Certainly this has come to pass.They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary December 1, 1970.
(Note from Pal) -- I remember he used to call me "honey". It meant so much to me.
The last paragraph in his Book of Remembrance reads, “I have had many faith-promoting incidents, and I know the work I am engaged in is the work of our Father in Heaven. And I pray that I may so live that I may be found worthy to enter into God’s presence after this life.”
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