(Written by Nellie Haskell and Stella Dunn in 1976)
John Pickles Youd, son of Thomas Youd and Elizabeth Pickles, was born January 18, 1860. His parents joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England and emigrated to America. They were eight weeks on the water. They sailed March 4, 1851 on the ship Olympus. There were 245 Saints on board and 50 were converted and baptized during the voyage. They arrived at New Orleans about April 27, 1851.
Thomas and Elizabeth Pickles Youd and family of three moved up the river to Saint Louis. Four of their ten children were born in England, one dying there. A baby girl, Mary Ann, was born at St. Louis on September 9, 1852.
At St. Louis the father, Thomas, worked for three years preparing to cross the plains to Utah. He was a mason by trade, and we have reason to believe that he helped build a sugar refinery while there.
They started across the plains May 4, 1854. They traveled by way of the southern route in a company under the direction of James Brown. Charles, a boy of six, died while crossing the plains; he was buried in a trunk on the plains some distance from St. Louis. They arrived in Salt Lake on September 29, 1854; here they stayed for three years and then moved to Spanish Fork in 1857 and made their home in a dugout. Father, John Pickles Youd, was born in this dugout on January 18, 1860.
John Pickles Youd was baptized by Charles A. Davis on August 23, 1868 in Spanish Fork Millrace and confirmed a member by John Robertson. (The Millrace is the water that came out of the river through the old Mill and was used as irrigation water as it came into the valley.)
John first attended school in homes. They used slates and slate pencils to do their lessons. He attended the School of Spanish Fork and the Young Men's Academy of Spanish Fork; this building stood on the park in Spanish Fork as a relic hall for many years. Two of father's teachers were George W. Brimhall and William R. Jones; the latter taught geography by song. One was, "The mountains are before and the tops hang o'er, and now in lovely chorus with the Andes we'll commence." John was a bright student but excelled in arithmetic. One day on the way home from school, Morelds McKell, a schoolmate, told him, "He was a poor speller but a good arithmeticer."
As a child John went to the canyon with his father to get sagebrush to burn. At the age of eleven he went with other boys his age to get wood. Brakes were not known so they would lock a wheel with a chain while coming down the steep mountains.
Indians were very numerous at this time. When going to the canyon Father tells of meeting a band of Indians of three or four hundred. He told of coming out of the granary as a young boy and meeting a big Indian face to face. This really gave him a fright. Indians were always begging for food.
When John was fifteen, his father died suddenly from a sunstroke on July 14, 1875, this making it necessary for him to take the responsibility of the farm and to help his mother support a family of four at home. Two sisters were married.
On the farm hay, grain, corn, potatoes, sugar cane, and broom corn were the usual crops. Though young, he was very successful. He truly learned responsibility. It was the custom in those days to go to the canyon for wood to burn, poles, posts, etc., and he planned to make a trip each week for this purpose along with the work on the farm.
Before his father's death he had given John P. three calves; this gave him the incentive to be a stockman in which he became very successful.
In 1879 John P. purchased a twenty acre farm in Lake Shore, and for seven years he traveled to Lake Shore from Spanish Fork to do the farm work. In 1886 a home was built on this 20 acre farm. He and his mother lived in this home until 1889 when John P. was married. At that time his mother moved into a little home west of the family home; this small home stood where Ivan Youd's home now stands.
John P. Youd and Sorene Jensene Sorenesen were married September 25, 1859, in the Manti Temple by President Daniel H. Wells. While Joseph Creer was on his mission, his wife Agnes wrote him a letter saying that John Youd was marrying a good looking Danish girl.
Sorene was the daughter of Soren Peter Sorensen and Ann Jensen; she was born December 14, 1873, at Stoutrup, Denmark. When Sorene was seven months old, her father was called into military training. To help make the livelihood, her mother Ann Jensen Sorensen went to work as a wet nurse and Sorene's grandparents took care of her for three years. Her father was then released, and the family was reunited and lived in Aarhus, Denmark. Sorene lived at Aarhus until she emigrated to America. Her parents had joined the L.D.S. Church and had a sincere desire to gather with the Saints in Zion, but financial conditions were such that it was impossible for the whole family to come together. So at the age of eleven years,Sorene and a younger brother, Soren Peter (age 7), emigrated to America on June 15, 1885, in the company of Olie Sorensen, a missionary from Fountain Green. After twenty six days journey by boat, train and wagon, they arrived in Lake Shore in July 1885. She lived in the homes of Neils Anderson, Samuel Francis, and C.O. Hansen, working for her board. Soren Peter lived with Olie Sorensen in Fountain Green until his mother could come.
The next child, a girl, Ann Wilhelminnie (age 4 years, 9 months) was sent to America with missionaries in June, 1886. She also went to Fountain Green to a family by the name of Bishop. The mother, Ann Jensen Sorensen, Else Marie, and Christine left Aarhus on August 11, 1886. These three also went to Fountain Green. On April 5, 1887, the father, Soren Peter Sorensen, left Denmark to come to America. He arrived May 5, 1887, in Fountain Green. A son, Alma, was born in Fountain Green. Sometime before March 1889 the Sorensen family moved to Benjamin, Utah. This home was where Elma Willus now lives in Benjamin.
John P. Youd and Sorene started their married life on the farm and in the home in Lake Shore. Here they lived all their life.
In January 14, 1891, John P. was called on a mission to Great Britain. He sent his answer back on the twentieth and began to prepare to leave.
John P. and Sorene had one child, Anne, at this time. John P. left home on April 17, 1891 in the company with Aaron Gay, Ezra W. Robertson, and Job Measom, all from the little ward of Lake Shore.
John received his patriarchal blessing April 18, 1891. He filled a mission of faithful service. He was a very good fireside conversationalist and in this manner made many converts to the church. Many of these converts visited him at his home in Lake Shore. While on his mission he located and visited relatives of his mother and father in England and gathered some genealogy. He was released from his mission and returned home April 3, 1893. John was the last of the four missionaries to return home. A welcome home party was given in their honor.
John P. held many church and civil offices. He was a counselor in the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, served a two-year mission, was the first superintendent of Religious classes in Lake Shore Ward, was a ward teacher for many years; and was on the board of the Lake Shore Irrigation Company for five years, served two years as president, two as vice president and a member one year. On May 25, 1913, he was ordained a High Priest and Bishop over the Lake Shore Ward, by Elder Hyrum M. Smith of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. This position he held until September 10, 1920. During these seven years as bishop the ward chapel was remodeled and enlarged, a heating system was installed, a stage was built and equipped with scenery, a piano was purchased, and a baptismal font was built. Trees were planted behind the church known as The Grove.
All this time Sorene had been rearing a large family of eleven and keeping and making a home. She also found time to be actively engaged in church work. From a child she was of a sincere religious mind, and she possessed a fervent testimony of a truthfulness of the Gospel, thus giving to John P. support and encouragement in his work. She taught in the Young Women's MIA., worked on many committees, and was a Relief Society Visiting Teacher for more than thirty years.
From 1909 to 1921 she was the ward Relief Society President. During this time she spent days and weeks helping the sick and needy and in the care of the dead for burial. This was done in the home. She had been a member of the sewing committee since its beginning for some forty years. She was still a member in 1937. This committee sewed the clothing for the dead to be buried in.
During the years that she was Relief Society President, the Relief Society Hall was remodeled, and the first set for sacramental service was purchased for the ward. Sorene was never too tired or too busy to go where she was wanted or needed. During these years that she was over the Ward Relief Society she had three babies--the last of eleven children.
John P. was around six feet-one inch tall with light brown hair, brown eyes and he weighed around 145 pounds or less. He went gray at a very early age.
Sorene was near five feet two inches tall with medium dark brown hair, blue eyes, and weighed 150 pounds or about that.
John P. had many accidents that told of his faith and patience. In 1916 his leg was broken severely when a horse fell on him as he was riding. In 1919 his ribs were broken and his lungs could be seen. Doctors didn't expect him to live, but to their surprise, he was restored to health. In later years the ligaments of a leg were torn, and he was crippled for some time. In 1935 while helping with cattle in the canyon, a horse kicked him in the ribs, breaking some and injuring his kidneys. At this time Sorene was suffering severely, and both were taken to the L.D.S. Hospital in Salt Lake. The family was called to the bedside of Father, expecting the worst at any moment, and Mother was so serious that we were not permitted to say a word to her that her life might be spared. We watched breathlessly the outcome which doctors said would not be long, but their lives were spared and after weeks of convalescing were home again.
On John P.'s seventieth birthday a party was given in his honor. The family presented him with a gold watch. Many friends came to celebrate his birthday.
At the age of 77 he rode his pony like a young man; he was always a lover of horses and riding was a great pleasure. The last few years he enjoyed his horse and buggy and he went every day down to the pasture by the lake to check on cattle, fences, etc.
John P. was an accurate account keeper and stressed keeping records. He said that it was essential to success. He was always studious and did much reading. At a young age he read all the standard works of the Church and the Book of Mormon twice. He was a good listener, but had little to say. He weighed things with his best judgment before speaking. He was kind, gentle, and tender and could take knocks with a smile, never complaining. In all my life I never heard him swear or speak ill of anyone.
On Sorene's sixtieth birthday, a party was given in her honor. The family gave her a ring with her birthstone in it. She was a good housekeeper, a good cook, and an excellent seamstress. She could make old clothes into new ones. She was a lover of flowers. She was known for her good bread, wedding cakes, plum pudding and especially the willing service she rendered to others in time of sickness and death.
She never sat down but that she was busy reading, mending, or doing something for someone. After her operations in 1935 her health gradually became worse. The last eight months she suffered a great deal, but with all her suffering you never saw her feeling sorry for herself or complaining, but instead she cheered others in their troubles. Her life of endless service came to a close March 29, 1938, at the age of 64 years. She died of cancer. She was buried March 31, 1938 in the Spanish Fork Cemetery.
John and Sorene sent two sons on missions--Thomas L. to Canada from 1920 to 1922. He also served in World War I. Arthur S. went to the Central States from 1927 to 1930. They reared a family of eleven children, four boys and seven girls, all grown and married in the temple.
Family Portrait
(Front Row L to R: John Pickles Youd, Loa, Ruby, Serena Jensine Sorensen Youd;
Middle Row L to R: Nellie, Alice, Arthur, Florence, Stella;
Back Row: Annie, Ivan Thomas, Wilford)
Child Birth Date Spouse Married
Ann Elizabeth 7 Aug 1890 William H. Creer 1911
Florence Lorilla 8 Jan 1894 Albert Barney 1914
Thomas Leslie 27 Nov 1895 Mary Loretta Evans 1928
John Ivan 20 Jan 1898 Mathilda Peterson 1921
Wilford Joseph 29 Jan 1899 Esther Amelia Nelson 1920
Alice Sorene 11 Nov 1901 Charles Leroy Barney 1920
Nellie 5 Mar 1904 Lee Mearl Haskell 1921
Arthur S. 9 July 1907 Mary Carroll Jensen 1931
Stella 1 Jun 1912 Karl James Dunn 1936
Ruby 19 Feb 1915 Allan E. Parry 1936
Loa 21 Sep 1919 Ronald Curtis Nielsen 1935
Bert Hansen 1976
The family honored John P. on his 80th birthday with a dinner party. Friends and relatives and family were present.
The first radio in Lake Shore was at the Youd home. It had a horn, wet battery and dry batteries. Many came to see and hear this great invention.
Christmas was always a special occasion with all the married sons and daughters, their partners, and the grandchildren coming home for Christmas dinner. The day before was a hustle of preparation of turkey, pies, dressing, puddings, salad, cranberries, etc. The tables were set in two large rooms. John P.'s living two sisters, Anne Jane and Alice, Emaline Bowers, and Agnes Creer were always special guests. The afternoon was spent visiting. The children played games and often Agnes Creer told Indian stories--the better they listened the better the stories were. A plate supper was served, then the Christmas tree candles were lit. Oh! What a grand time as Santa gave everyone a gift! Everyone received a special gift, generally purchased at Kresses or Woolworths. I always thought one of my brothers-in-law went home to do chores and returned as Santa--I'm not really sure. This custom continued as long as John P. lived. I think sixty or more would be at these Christmas dinners.
John P. believed in getting up early to get farm work done before the heat of the day. On the upstairs door is a hollow place where he hammered with his pocket knife to get everyone up and going in the morning.
The fourth of July was another special day. On the south side of the park in Spanish Fork all the family gathered for a picnic. Quilts were spread on the lawn, and the table cloths spread with all the goodies. Every family brought their lunch. This was a great family outing. All the children knew where to find Grandma and Grandpa and their parents. It was a great place to find your brothers and brothers-in-law and beg for a dime.
Almost every Sunday some of the married children and grandchildren came for dinner. A large rice pudding was always in the oven; at least a dozen eggs went into the pudding and plenty of milk. Also there was bottled meat, fruit, preserves, good homemade bread, boiled raisin cake and vegetables from the garden. Mother must have been a wonderful manager.
The old pump organ really had its workout. All the grandchildren could work at it. The noise never seemed to upset our parents.
As John P. kindled the fire in the stoves in he morning, he sang perhaps not too well, but loud. One I remember was "He flies through the air with the greatest of ease; that daring young man on the flying trapeze."
Always before retiring at night John P. went to the barnyard to check on the cattle and horses. I'm told sometimes he hung the milk pail with milk on a nail and forgot and left it there all night. He loved spirited horses and each year had a corral of prize beef animals.
After Sorene's death, John P.'s health gradually failed. Death came February 1, 1942, after a lingering heart illness. He was buried February 5, 1942, in Spanish Fork Cemetery alongside his wife and his parents, at age 82.
(When this history was written in 1976 John P. and Sorene Youd had- 11 children, 46 grandchildren, 163 great-grandchildren, and 101 great-great grandchildren)