Relative Bliss

Genealogy of Julie Ann Bliss Hammons

Harriet Theobald

History of Norman Ingles Bliss Jr.
by Jesse Max Bliss

Norman Ingles Bliss, son of Norman Ingles and Lydia Mariah Stout Bliss, was born the 23 January 1875 at Toquerville, Utah. Norman Jr. was seven years old when his father was killed in a accident. His mother Lydia, then had her brother David (Stout) moved them from Toquerville to Rockville, Utah a town a few miles east.

Norman as a young man carried the mail in the Zion Canyon area. One of the places on his route he would have to lower the mail over a steep cliff, where another many would take it from there.

His mother, in the early part of 1884 married Cyrus M. Jennings. They had one son, David Stout Jennings, who later married Henrietta Webb.

Norman's mother died 14 Sept. 1888, leaving five children. Another son Stanford died (earlier) 29 May 1882. The other children are Fanny, Norman, Lillie, Alfred an David. Six months later Fanny married John P. Terry, she then had her sister and brothers come and live with her and John.

Norman married Mary Elizabeth Morris, the 31 Oct. 1895 at Rockville, Utah. She was the daughter of Daniel and Sophia Russell Morris. She was born the 16 of June 1878 at Grafton, Utah. To them was (sic) born five children; Clarence, Leon Clark, Oren Vernon, Maitlan and Earl Morris Bliss. Clarence was born in Rockville, Utah.

In 1897 they moved to Hinckley, Utah where the other four children were born. After arriving in Hinckley Norman jobbed around where ever he could get work. He worked for President Hinckley on his farm, and also hauled ore for him. Drum, a place about forty miles northwest of Hinckley, was were they hauled their ore from. There were quite a few people hauling ore and they would work together. Sometime in the early spring when the ground was thawing it would take them all day just to travel a mile. They would help each other pull their wagon(s) in the deep mud. It was so cold at nights that the horses would paw the ground trying to keep warm.

There was an old mine shaft that went down about three hundred feet. At the bottom it was full of water. They would hook a large wooden bucket on the end of a rope and lower it down the shaft to get water for their horses. the bucket would then be pulled up by a horse. One time this bucket got lodged at the bottom of the well. They tried all different ways to get it loose, but nothing seemed to work. Finally, Norman said that he would go down and try to free it. He put his back against one side and his feet against the other, then grasping the rope with his hands he went down the wall. There were some very exciting minutes waiting to hear from him that the bucket was free. After much maneuvering he freed the bucket and gave them the signal to pull it up.

Norman was considered a good boxer and he was quite often challenged by  new comers or they would have him box at different celebrations. Baseball was his favorite sport, at which he because very good. There was always baseball equipment around for his children to play with. Nearly all of sons became very good at the sport. His first wife, Mary, could play the organ, and he was a good singer. At parties and different occasions they would have his wife play and he would sing. While hauling ore or freight he would sing to pass the time.

He was considered a very good farmer, an expert in handling or horses, and a top driver in the hauling of freight. His horses were always taken good care of, and his equipment was in the best of condition. He was a good blacksmith and did all the shoeing of his horses. he owned a riding horse that he called Brownie, it was about the best roping horse in the country. Money could not buy this horse from Norman. A good fried of his, Alfred Jones, made him a raw hide quirt, and hackmore (sic), and a lariet (sic).

As a young man he would go out and catch wild horses, ride the, then just before he turned them loose he would pull out of their tail, by doing this he was able to collect enough horse hair to braid into a long rope. He was a very good horse trader, and seldom did he get beaten in a trade. He had the ability to look at an animal and tell if it would suit his purposes.

At one time the rail road washed out in the Southern part o the state, and he volunteered to take his horses and equipment and go down an help repair the washed out rail road. They loaded all their horses and equipment and shipped them down by rail.

On June 7 1907, his wife Mary died leaving Norman and five children, the youngest was just one and a half years old. Ten months later, on the first day of April, he married Harriet Theobald, the daughter of George and Naomi Ruth Tanner Theobald. She was born 30 March 1887 at Duncan's Retreat, Washington County Utah [town doesn't currently exist it was in the Rockville Utah area]. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple.

After Norman and Harriet's first child, Stanley, was born they moved to Abraham, a settlement, a few miles northwest of Hinkle. A Mr. Newton Woodruff and Mr. Howard had purchased a half section of land (320 acres). They hired Norman to run it. Normal was to furnish all the animals and they would furnish the equipment. they agreed to pay him $125.00 per month. Alfalfa and alfalfa seed was the main crop raised; sugar beets were also grown. One year they harvested 1400 bags of alfalfa seed, each bag weighing around 180 lbs. they received about 14 cents per pound.

Three children were born to them in Abraham; Mary Zelma (Zel), Charles Howard, and Theon Theobald (Bill) Bliss. Just before Howard was born, Norman had to go to Oak City. He told his son Clarence if anything came up that he was needed, he was to call by phone. A day or so later, Harriet told Clarence he had better call his dad, for she was already in pain. When Norman received word he borrowed the fastest horse he could get from Mr. Collier Lovell to make the trip. In just a little over an hour he had covered the distance from Oak City to Abraham, which is a little over twenty miles.

In 1915 they moved back to Hinckley and purchased a farm owned by David Stout. This farm was located about one mile north of Hinckley. Three more boys were born to them; Jesse Max, Ferron Lane, and George Ingles (Joe). This made a total of sever children born to Norman and Harriet. All together Norman was the father of eleven sons and one daughter.

In July, about a week after their last son was born, Normal had a terrible accident, which caused his death. he was getting ready to move a derrick they used to stack hay with, when the Jackson Fork got loose and swung around and one fork tine struck him in the back and penetrated his body. he suffered this terrible pain about three weeks before he passed away. he died the 12th day of August, 1919 at Hinckley, Millard County, Utah. (He actually was transported to Salt Lake where he died). He was buried in the Hinckley Cemetery beside his wife Mary.

The one thing that people said about Norman was that his word was as good as his bond.

Used by permission.
Max was the fifth child of Norman and Harriet. He passed away in 2000 and we miss him.

Harriet Theobald Bliss Lee
by Jesse Max Bliss

Harriet Theobald was born the 30 of March, 1887, at Duncan's Retreat, Washington County, Utah. He being the seventh child born to George Theobald and Naomi Ruth Tanner. Harriet had seven brothers and four sisters, although six of her brothers and sisters died before they were two years old.

Duncan's Retreat was a little settlement on the Virgin River, where the settlers retreated to when they were flooded out.

On June 6, 1895 she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. On the first day of April, 1908, she married Norman Ingles Bliss, a son of Norman Ingles Bliss Sr. and Lydia Mariah Fisk Stout. Norman was a widower with five boys. His first wife died June 7, 1907.

Harriet's father and mother moved to Hinckley, Utah in 1890. Hr father bought a farm about a mile North of Hinckley. Their home was the second one built in that town. As a young child she helped her father in the fields. he would cut the grain and the children would rake it, then they would bind it. her mother in her later years was very ill and children had to do most all the house work.

Harriet started out her married life with five step-children, (all boys) her first child was born January 31, 1909 at Hinckley. They named him Norman Stanley Bliss.

In the year of 1910, Norman and Harriet moved to Abraham, a small settlement a few miles northwest of Hinckley. A Mr.. Woodruff and Mr. Howard had purchased a half section of land and they had hired Norman to run it for them. Three children were born to them while living in Abraham;, Mary Zelma (Zel) Charles Howard and Theon Theobald (Bill) Bliss.

Alfalfa seed was the main crop raised on the farm. One of the years while living in Abraham they had a bumper crop of seed. They threshed 1400 bags of seed. Norman told Harriet that she could gleen (sic) the fields and  could have all the money she could make.  Every morning, early she could been seen out in the fields gleening (sic) the ditch banks and other places where the mover could not get at. After the threshing was done and her seed sold she had a check in her hands of $125.00.

In the year 1915, they moved back to Hinckley and purchased a farm that was owned by David Stout. This farm was located just across the road west of her father's farm.

While living there, three more children were born to the; Jesse Max, Ferron Lane, and George Ingles (Joe) Bliss. Harried and Norman had to work hard to make a living, and were not able to give their children very many luxuries, but at Christmas time they went all out in seeing that their children had a good Christmas.

In August 12, 1919 her husband died from an accident that happened about three weeks before. This was a terrible shock to Harriet, and left her with a big responsibility. now she had a large family to care for and times were real hard.

Harriet was a very hard working person, she would get up early in the morning, harness the horses and hook them on to the mower or rake or spring tooth or whatever job needed to be done. Then she would prepare breakfast and get her children off to school. Then she would walk a mile an a half and work in a grocery store from Mr. Woodbury. he was very good to Harriet and helped her out all he could.

After getting home at night she could be found hoeing weeds or irrigating the currant patch or he garden. One year she hauled water from the well to keep her garden alive.

Harriet was very faithful to her church calling and she always tried to see that her children went to church.

At Christmas time Harriet would dress up as Santa Claus and go all over town visiting the families, and giving the children a sack of candy and nuts. Only a few of the residents of the town knew who Santa Claus was.

In the town of Hinckley a number of farmers jointly owned a steam threshing machine, they would move this machine from farm to farm threshing grain or alfalfa seed. It was  a customary rule for the threshing crew to eat at the home they worked for. One time while threshing seed at the Bliss farm, the crew said they would like coffee served at dinner. Bishop Stratton, who was on the crew told Harriet that as long as he was in charge there would be no coffee served.

In the year of 1924, Harriet married John Raymond Lee, a neighbor who also had a large family. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple. To them were born two boys; Leo John, and Otto lee. Otto drowned in a well on the 3 day of August 1928. He was named after a very good neighbor, Otto Cook.

Harriet died the 28 day of February, 1927 in the L.D.S. Hospital in Salt Lake City. This was just one month after her last son was born. She was buried in the Hinckley Cemetery beside her first husband Norman Ingles Bliss.

Used by permission

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