Eunice Ivera Fuller

Sketch of the life of Eunice Ivera Olsen Fuller by herself. · 30 July 2014 · 0 Comments The subject of this sketch is Eunice Iverie (Ivy) Olsen Fuller. I was born July 7th, 1891. A daughter of Christian and Mary Carlsen Olsen. I was born in the small village of Harper Ward – six miles north of Brigham City, in Box Elder County Utah. Situated at the foot of the high and rugged peaks of the majestic Wasatch Range of the Great Rocky Mountains.

Here I grew to school age and passed through the eight grades of elementary school in the old rock one room school house. It was erected the year I was born and all eight grades met together. The same teacher taught all of them. I remember and loved all of my teachers.

Our home was a large two story rock house built of rock from the mountain close by. Warm in winter and cool in summer. A very humble home filled with the love and respect of a family of ten children. One brother, Ira Joseph, just older than myself, and I were the only ones born at Harper Ward as my father purchased the farm in 1888.

My brother Carlos was born in Paradise in Cache County. The rest of the family namely Christian Olsen Jr., Anna Margrete Olsen, Peirce, Orson James, Oliver Woodruff, Lorenzo Olsen, Mary Rebecca Olsen Korth, and Birdie Lavon Olsen Hansen were born in Brigham City, in the home on the First East and Forest Street built by our Grandfather Olsen when the town was first laid out in 1855. It was recently torn down by the Bestway Lumber Company and became a lumber yard. It was later bought by the city.

Our parents were wonderful people who had joined the L.D.S. Church through the efforts of Mormon Missionaries who came to the land of Denmark. They came to preach the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Father was a hard worker and wonderful provider for his family. I cannot remember that we ever wanted for anything we needed. He was kind and generous. He used to take us to Ogden to the circus. Each year we went to Salt Lake City to the beautiful old Crystal Salt Palace and Saltair.

Father’s people came to Utah with the pioneers in 1854. He came directly to Brigham City in the second company of Scandinavians. He was seven years old and walked most of the way some 1500 miles of plains. He was born on the 3rd of October, 1847, and died February 21st, 1920 in the old Olsen home in Brigham City.

Mother’s people came in 1862 in the famous Willie Handcart Company (***Not correct. See note at the bottom of this sketch about her mother's pioneer company.). She was 12 years old and walked the entire distance. She helped tend the children, herd the cattle, and gathered buffalo chips for the fires along the way.

She was born September 10, 1850, and died September 5, 1927, at my home in Brigham City. My mother and father are buried in the local cemetery by the side of my Grandfather and Grandmother Olsen.

I was baptized at the Harper Ward Church Building September 16, 1899, by Bishop Joseph Yates. When quite young I began teaching in Sunday School class. I remember working with brother Watkins, brother W.H. Barnard, sister Louise Whitworth, and others whom I loved and respected very much.

When the Religion classes were organized I taught there until it was abandoned. I have taught in all the organizations of our church. In 1913 father sold the farm and we moved to Brigham City and lived in Grandfathers old home on First East and Forest Street.

I was called at once to serve as secretary of the Primary Association in the 4th Ward. I also taught a class of eighteen young boys. Here I worked with sister Hazel Reese Hanson. We enjoyed those boys very much. Five of them still live in Brigham City and hold responsible positions in Church and business activities. I help this position until 1917.

On August 21, 1916, I married Joseph Elijah Fuller. He was a handsome young man who lived across the street. Three children came to bless our home on First North and First East. Beth was born March 20, 1919, she is now Mrs. Ralph R. Massie. They live at Bountiful, Utah. Madge was born January 13, 1927, she is now Mrs. John E. Anderson of Bountiful, Utah. Joseph Olsen Fuller was born December 16, 1922, now of Butte, Montana. We have nine lovely grandchildren.

Joe was a good businessman. He spent a number of years working in Wyoming but when we were married he opened a business of his own in Brigham City. He started the first taxi service in Brigham and wore out eleven Ford cars. The roads were bad for travel. He drove rich men from the east who came here on the train, out to their hunting club on the Bird Refuge.

In 1928 he purchased two building lots at the south side of the block on Seventh South and Main Street. Texaco Oil Company built a service station and we built a small store. We sold groceries and served light lunches. We also opened a free camp ground for tourists traveling through the city. Later we built thirteen cabins and opened Fullers Tourist Court, the first in Brigham City.

In 1931 we built a home and moved the family to this location. We spent many enjoyable years here. We provided accommodations to hundreds of tourists from the United States and some foreign countries.

In 1945 we sold this property and bought a home up town in the same block where our former homes were located. For two years I taught the visiting teachers topic in Relief Society. I have been a visiting tetacher for over thirty years. I was Captain or Lieutenant in the beehive camp for eight years. I have been a member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers since 1930. I have enjoyed it through the years. I have worked five summers as a missionary guide at the Stake Tabernacle. It is a beautiful pioneer landmark.

We have traveled considerably through the United States. We have enjoyed participating in ballroom and pioneer dancing throughout our state. On January 22, 1958, Joe passed away after a five year illness. He is buried in the local cemetery by the side of my Father and Mother. Life has been lonely since, but very enjoyable due to the thoughtfulness and kindness of my children, my family, and my many friends. I am very grateful. My six brothers and two sisters have passed away. Only one sister (Rebecca) and myself are left in mortal life.

I pray daily that the Lord will keep me and mine on the straight and narrow path until our time is finished here. I pray we might be privileged to go on and enjoy our family and friends in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

In 1950, Mothers 100th birthday anniversary, I put my thoughts in to words. It was read at our family reunion that year.

COMMUNION I feel so near to you Mother, today I fancy I can hear you say, Come in my dear and sit a spell And to me all your troubles tell. My life is so full, Oh! Mother dear I often have to shed a tear, The troubles leave me so forlorn Yet with happiness goes arm in arm

The children and their children Whom you have never met Are happy and contented And grateful to me yet.

Oh! I hope to them, dear Mother I might always helpful be And leave with them sweet memories Like you have left with me.

In closing I leave this to my family. June 16, 1966, Ivy Olsen Fuller

THE WATCHER

She always leaned to watch for us, Anxious if we were late, In winter by the window In summer by the gate.

And though we mocked her tenderly, Who had such foolish care, The long way home would seem more safe Because she waited there.

Her thoughts were all so full of us, She never could forget, And so I think that where she is She must be watching yet.

Waiting till we come home to her Anxious if we are late. Watching from Heaven’s window Leaning from Heaven’s gate.

Since Mother wrote this sketch, she has passed away, on June 13, 1972. Her son Joseph Olsen Fuller passed away June 18, 1973. They are buried by Dad and the Olsens in the Brigham City Cemetery. Madge has eight grandchildren; Beth has seven grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Mother was a wonderful caring mother, and we miss her very much.

• **Eunice "Ivy" Fuller says that her mother, Mary Carlsen was part of the Willie handcart company, but it seems this is not so. I could not find her name on the list of those who were a part of that company. The Martin Willie handcart company left in the year 1856, but Ivy says that her mother was 12 when she walked across the plains. Mary was only 5 or 6 in 1856. In doing some research I believe Mary Carlsen was part of the John R. Murdock pioneer company, although they said her name was Maria (but the birth and death dates match). Her parents are also listed as being in the company. This seems to make more sense because this company left in 1862 when Mary was 11 or 12 which is what was stated in this sketch.