Along Colateral Lines

While I have been looking into the Australian relations I thought I would check again with the other Pollard siblings. James Pollard and Elizabeth Thrasher had a number of children baptised in the Corfe Castle parish church. The eldest was Sarah who married Peter Williams, a stone layer born in Steynton or Stainton, Pembrokeshire, Wales. They were married by banns in the Corfe Castle parish church December 1826. I have identified four children but have found little of any adult-aged records as marriage or death/burial.
James (bap 1813), William and Elizabeth (bap 1816) were born between Sarah and Joseph of our story and I cannot account for their having reached adulthood. Two others James (1806) and Fanny (1811) died the years they were born.
THE BISHOP'S DAUGHTERS
I believe I will begin the next generation's -the Daughters' grandchildren- in a descendency format: Mary Ann's grandchildren, then Louisa's etc.

Passages

In the Deseret News, Saturday April 16 we learned of Bessey Christensen Puzey's passing. She died in Richfield, Utah. She is the wife of Willard R Puzey whom she married in 1941- June coming would have been 70 years! This alone would make them remarkable and exemplary,if any doubt exists. Along with Willard, Bessey is also survived by their children Byron and Sandy Puzey, Vickie and Bill Lemmon, and Jimmie and Jeannie Puzey; a foster daughter, 19 grandchildren and 51-plus great grandchildren. Internment will be Spring City Cemetery April 18 following services in Richfield.
Willard Reid Puzey, a son of Albert E. Puzey is grandson to Lydia Pollard Puzey. We hold him and his family in high and sympathetic regard.

Collateral Lines

Years ago I had a chance to look at -in my own hands- a funeral notice for George Pollard, brother to Joseph Pollard.
This photographic item was produced in Melbourne Australia if my memory serves. And with that I knew that Joseph had maintained some sort of contact with his family of England. This month, on the 4th I received a note from a descendant of George Pollard who had settled in Australia.

When I looked in my files I found only dates: George Pollard born either 24 or 28 Jun 1824 at Corfe and died 1915. Nothing more. Because the funeral momento had a picture either with others in it or named on it I knew George had a family but I have no record. So it was that I delighted in receiving a note from someone who had chanced upon this blog. And with this contact perhaps we will learn a little of what became of Pollard siblings. (My record, probably based on the LDS Archive records has Joseph with 8 siblings, George the youngest, 5 years younger than Joseph.)
As I learn more about this brother in Australia and perhaps of the others I will bring that information to this site.

I have added a picture sent me by Kaitlyn Emmett. This is not the funeral card. Kaitlyn is the great great granddaughter of George's daughter Elizabeth Ann.

Passages

In August I rushed to finish the report of a generation before going on to another activity. This family has had much to reflect on- for me, at least- since then. These members have passed away: Thomas Van Latta, husband of the late Lynda Glade Latta (daughter of Lucile Backman Glade) on February 18; Mildred Jensen Puzey, wife of the late Charles Beck Puzey (son of Albert Puzey)on February 14. Mildred, is being honored today at services in Wales, Utah and in Spring City where she will be buried.
We lost Jan Kirkham Duncan on October 10 when she had a tragic fall while hiking in her beloved Big Timber, Montana mountains and we lost her, and my brother J Rex Kirkham the 9th of this month when he lost his battle with cancer in New Mexico. My personal knowledge of these last two and what I have learned of the former confirm my admiration and pride in the heritage we have, the legacy we can leave.
I have not had the determination to sit at this project again for a little while. It is the realization that there are many in the Bishop's Daughters' families I have not found and/or met. And I want as much now as before to offer a snapshot of what we have in common once I do.

Notes Before Moving On

Today I had the frustration and satisfaction that family history research brings: for some time I have had the birth record, located in Utah Archives of a male child born to Joseph Pollard and Emma Frances Olsen Evans on 06/26/1903. I had looked everywhere. No other record, not even a mention. So I have had this un-named son. Perhaps it was a stillbirth- but no, it would not have had the birth record, or at the very least the original would have had a note of such. At the Family History Library in Salt Lake today I asked a professional genealogist on staff here: Where else can I look? She suggested the filmed birth record book- a restricted film- but that added no information. Back at my work materials I wonderd: Would a child be buried with Louisa and Moses at the Salt Lake City Cem? But I have no name. Look anyway. There is a book of burials to 1909 compiled by students of LDS Business College in 1931 on the shelf. Burials are listed by sirname, but in burial date order, and I found no un-named Evans. Louisa and Moses were buried after 1909, so that thought did not pan out. I began with the birth date I do have and determined that I would write down every burial that would coincide with a male Evans born 1903. The first candidate was one Shure Dale Evans, 11 months, buried June 3, 1904. I could not wait and try others!I returned to Utah Archives and put in that name. You can do this as well: http://www.archives.utah.gov (go to name index, put in last name comma first name)and here I find Shure Dale. It took my breath away, I gasped so that the person next to me responded.
Sadly our kin did not survive long, but I -we- can now call his name when we share our love and gratitude for family. I am sad to have blank boxes throughout my record, now I have less.

Generation Three, or...

For nearly a month I have been laying out what I have learned of the third generation of Joseph Pollard's family. But I began the blog as the story of his daughters families! Should this have been, then, the second generation: the Daughters' Children?

I am not going to decide that right now. But I am going to go on researching the living family, in order to identify, locate and contact those for whom this story is meant.

I also have not decided how I will record the next generation. Presently I believe I will list name and state only, as there is the greater likelihood of the next and additional generations being living.

Whatever information I have in my file I will maintain and add to, but will not publish what is confidential: dates, addresses etc. I hope you are interested, as am I in what the descendants of this pioneer family have done to continue building this legacy, and it is that which I want to report, to honor.

The Backman Grandchildren

I have made some changes in earlier posts after being able to find obituaries and other helpful or interesting information. Sometimes I miss the omissions and errors, even while previewing the posts before publishing. I willingly submit to your corrections, and welcome your additions and clarifications.

The Backman grandchildren were the family I knew and became familiar with after I moved to Utah in 1985. Those, at least who were still living. It was the fortunate circumstance of being among the eldest of the youngest. My grandfather was about in the middle of his family, but my mother was his first child and I her second, while Grace Bailey Pollard was the youngest of Joseph and Mary Ann Pollard. After a severe injury that led to grandfather being housebound his last three years I learned more of the family than I had from any other source. Since then I have tried to research and fill in blanks with facts and dates. You have seen how I have had better success with some than with others.

Gustave Pollard Backman -"Gus" -was the eldest in this family. Born 11 November 1891 in Salt Lake City, he was a product of the city he was also a maker of. In an article published announcing his death he is referred to as 'a moving force in the growth and development of Utah for a major portion of his eighty years.' (SL Tribune Monday May 15, 1972, p.B1) He was often referred to as Mr. Utah and met regularly with David O. McKay of the LDS Church and the general Manager of the Salt Lake Tribune. He was executive secretary of the SLC Chamber of Commerce, leaving that organization after 34 years to head ProUtah, Inc. He served on boards of Hotel Utah, Zions Bank, ZCMI; he went across the country to sell Utah and was involved with bringing such ventures as Geneva Steel and Bonneville Salt Flats racing ventures. He was busy. He began in his father's firm, G.H. Backman and Sons, Abstracters and Attorneys, as did brothers LeGrand and Milton.
Gus married Annie 'Nancy' Davis (1890-1981)in 1912 and they were parents of three sons Gustave LeRoy 'Roy', Pollard Davis 'Paul' and William Davis Backman.

LeGrand Pollard Backman, 18 Dec 1893 to 19 Apr 1988, was active in church and civic affairs, having served as missionary to South Africa and returning to serve as Mission President in the same field. Later he served in the presidency of the Temple Square Mission. His son Robert L. Backman served in the First Quorum of the Seventy of the LDS Church. LeGrand also served in his ward bishopric and as stake Sunday School superintendent.
LeGrand was senior partner in the Backman Clark and Marsh law firm; he served as member and as president of the Salt Lake City Board of Education and later with the Utah State Board of Education. Active with the Sons of Utah Pioneers, he served as director of the Days of '47 activities.
LeGrand married Mary Edith Price. From his bio for SUP we learn this: At age of eight LeGrand began to take piano lessons...around 13 he studied with John McClellan, the Tabernacle organist...after graduating from Salt Lake high School in 1911 he was selected as one of the traveling teachers of the Utah Conservatory of Music...given the territory from Spanish Fork to Payson to Goshen to Elberta to Eureka to Mammoth to Knightsville. In Goshen, a 14 year old girl, daughter of a widow, named Edith Price was one of his students. They were reacquainted later while LeGrand studied law at the University of Utah. Their children are Robert LeGrand, Mary Jean, Richard Price, Beverly and James Hilmer.

Melvin Hilmer Backman lived 4 Jun 1896 to 6 Oct 1898.

Milton Vaughn Backman, 8 Sep 1898 - 21 Dec 1996, followed closely his brothers' patterns: began playing violin at age 8 and played in the Utah Symphony as well as other orchestras; followed his father's profession and became an attorney, practicing until age 95; active in civic affairs and church callings. Milt was involved in United States war efforts during WWII, finding and procuring lands for Topaz, on of the Japanese relocation facilities and for atomic-bomb development and testing. He was one of the organizers of the Salt Lake Junior Chamber of Commerce and president of the Ambassador Athletic Club, Sons of Utah Pioneers, and Boy Scouts of America, receiving the Silver Beaver in 1953. Milt played hand ball and racquetball into his 90s; he helped organize several dance clubs and was one of the earliest members of the Deseret Gym.
Milton married Florence Peterson (1898-1988) in the Salt Lake Temple in 1920. They were parents of Bette Ann Backman Esch and Milton Vaughn Backman, Jr.

Grace Lucile Backman, 31 Dec 1899 - 19 May 1995, wife of Harold Watson Glade, was the first of two daughters. She grew up in the 15th ward, attending Franklin School. Married in 1929 in the Salt Lake Temple, her married life took her around the country, finally letting her settle in Ogden where her husband was in charge of Utah Area Government Housing. They were active in the Ogden 37th Ward. Lucile and 'Doc' were parents to Marilyn- Mitzi- Vinson and Lynda Latta, and grandparents to five.

Ralph Vernon Backman, esteemed educator and youth advocate was born May 4, 1904 and passed away at home Mar 28, 1992. He graduated from U of U 1926 and in 1927 began his teaching career at Irving Jr High and South High Schools. That year he also began as the evening director at the Rotary Boys Club. Before retiring as associate dean of records for Westminster College he would serve as Sugarhouse Park Playground Director(1927-1930), Dean of Boys at South High(1932-1937), Area Director of the National Youth Administration(1934-1935), Director of Adult and Vocational Education for SLC(1938-1948), State Director of the Federal Recreation Project(1939), principal of South High (1948-1969)as well as faculty member, Department of Continuing Education, U of U; Lecturer in Educational Administration, U of U; professor of Education, Westminster and would help develop a program there wherein students could gain college credit for work experience, allowing working adults to increase their education. He supported many organizations concerned with child welfare and mental health.
Ralph went on to get his masters in philosophy from Stanford University and his doctorate in Educational Administration from U of U. He married Grace McCullough of Salt Lake City in Palo Alto California in 1927 and they were the parents of Joan B. Kirkham, Carol B. Munro, Jill B. Jones, R. 'Mac' Backman and Rod Backman.
Golf and cards were lifelong pleasures, the latter up through his final days.


Edna Louise Backman Courtney Schoffield, 16 Jun 1907 - 23 Apr 2000, was a business woman in the Salt Lake area until moving to Lake Tahoe, California where she and husband Robert Schoffield were involved in the hospitality industry of that area. Edna has one daughter, Janet and two granddaughters.

Harold Samuel Backman, 2 Jan 1909 - 27 May 1969, married Vera May Sorenson (1908-1973) He worked with U.S. Steel-Geneva Works in Provo, Utah as accountant. He sang with the Tabernacle Choir. He passed away due to a heart ailment after having had polio many years earlier. Harold and Vera had no children. They are buried in the Provo City Cemetery.