Joseph Platte Callister

Joseph Platte Callister

   * Born: 7 Mar 1879, Oak City, Millard, Utah

   * Marriage (1): Sarah Elizabeth Christensen on 16 May 1907 in Manti, Sanpete, Utah

   * Marriage (2): Margaret Ann Crook

   * Died: 3 Sep 1931, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah at age 52

   * Buried: 6 Sep 1931, Oak City, Millard, Utah

Ancestral File Number: 2VWB-CW.

1. Sarah Elizabeth Christensen

• Joseph Lathel Callister

   * Carlie Callister

   * La Dean Callister

   * Anthony "C" Callister

2. Margaret Ann Crook

LIFE HISTORY OF JOSEPH PLATTE CALLISTER

Joseph Platte Callister, was born, March 7, 1879, in Oak City, Utah, to Thomas Callister and Caroline (Carlie) Eliza Lyman. Thomas was born on the Isle of Man, England and Carlie was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Carlie lived with her widowed mother until she was married late in her twenties to Thomas who was in his fifties and had three other wives. When Joseph was born, his mother became very ill with a high fever. She died in Oak City, March 20, 1879, when he was just 13 days old. Carlie requested that her son be raised by his grandmother, Eliza Maria Partridge Smith Lyman, and that he be named for his two uncles, Joseph and Platte Lyman. She also requested that her mother “teach him to love his Pa.” Her husband asked if she regretted marrying him. She said she would go through it all again to have her son. Thomas was very active in the community and Church, serving as a bishop and stake president. He died, December 1, 1880.

Joseph Platte lived with his grandmother, the oldest daughter of LDS Bishop Edward Partridge, for five years. Although they had many hardships, she raised and taught him well. As a baby, Joseph Platte was nursed by his half sister, Mary Miranda Callister Lyman. The following excerpt is taken from a letter she wrote to her husband, Edward Leo Lyman, during this time: March 26, 1880, Eddy from Mary: “Joseph grows nicely and he is such a dear little fellow.”

After his grandmother Lyman’s death on March 2, 1886, he went to live with his uncle Joseph (Jody) Alvin Lyman and aunt Nellie Grayson Roper Lyman, who had a store in Oak City and Scipio, Utah. Here he was loved just like one of the family. When he was in his early teens he lived in Fillmore. Joseph loved to return to Oak City for a visit each summer. He and John Nielson loved each other as ‘Jonathan and David’ in ancient times.

As he grew older, he went to Blanding, Utah, to help build corrals and a canal. He was there with his uncle Jody's boys, Alvin and Henry, cousin Albert R. Lyman, and Hans Bogh. The work was hard, and they had some trouble with the Indians. Through it all he learned to work and put his trust in the Lord. Albert R. Lyman relates: “He had a faith in God from his early childhood, inherited I think, and breathed into him by his grandmother Lyman in his early youth. Later built upon by Uncle Jody Lyman, who taught him well the ways of truth.  One day, while working on White Mesa ditch, I returned earlier than expected, having left him alone there, and found him in a grove of trees with his face upturned, kneeling in prayer.”  

In Joseph’s Patriarchal blessing we read: “Notwithstanding thou wast left without parental care in the days of thy childhood, the Lord has not forsaken thee, and his holy angels have watched over thee and will continue to do so throughout all the days of thy life.”

Joseph Platte had made the acquaintance of Sarah Elizabeth Christensen, a beautiful young lady in Oak City. She was born August 12, 1883, in Oak City, the sixth child of Anthony Christensen and Kirstine (Castina) Lovell Christensen. (Anthony was born in Denmark and Castina was born in Fillmore, Utah.) Elizabeth lived a normal rural LDS home life with her 13 brothers and sisters. On May 16, 1907, she and Joseph traveled to Manti from Oak City by horse and buggy to be married for eternity in the Manti Temple. He was a handsome, sturdy, dark-haired man of 30, had gray eyes, stood 5' 8" tall, and weighed 190 pounds. She was 26, had blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and was almost as tall as her husband.

Their first home was in Oak City. After a short time they moved to Burtner (now Delta) where he was a pioneer in building a dam to supply water for the valley. Delta was a desert full of snakes, grease woods and alkali. They lived in a house west of the railroad depot where they had to carry water from a centrally located well. It was a new country with possibilities so people started moving in. They drew lots for property. Joseph Platte drew a farm north of Delta on the Sevier River. They were building a dam on the river to store water, and after a few wash-outs, it finally held. Delta developed into a good place to live.

In 1908, a Sunday School was organized in the home of Henry J. McCullough, with 66 people present. William E. Bunker was superintendent with Levi H. McCullough and Joseph P. Callister, as assistants and Nellie McCullough as secretary.

On July 4, 1909, the Callister's first child, Joseph Lathel was born. He was about the third baby born in Burtner. Their second child, Carlie, was born September 16, 1911. Sarah Elizabeth’s health was failing and two babies were a lot of care so in 1912 they moved back to Oak City where her sisters could help her. They traded places with Joseph Platte’s half-sister, Mary Miranda Callister Lyman. The house was just west of the northwest corner of the old town square (75 North 1st West). There was land for a large garden and he acquired an apple orchard in town and some hay ground 5 ½ miles out of town. Their living was made from the sale of vegetables, fruit, chickens, and farming. They had a new black top buggy with shiny red wheels and an old fashioned phonograph.

On December 10, 1913, their third child, LaDean, was born. On October 16, 1916 their last child, Anthony C. was born. After this time Joseph Platte watched his wife’s health fail until it was impossible for her to take an active part and he was required to take over many of the household duties. His brother-in-law Willard Christensen said that he learned to make good bread and was always watchful of his children. being sure they were clothed and fed. His wife’s sisters Hilda, Pearl, and Sylvia came and gave her loving care. They felt that no one could possibly give more loving, tender, and attentive care than Joseph Platte showed his wife during this difficult time. She died April 25, 1920, at age 37.

Taking care of four children, under the age of 12 years, was quite a task for him. Carlie Lyman, a daughter of his Uncle Jody, came to live with them to help take care of the children. She remained with the family for four years until Joseph Platte remarried.

His son Lathel said that he had never been acquainted with a man who could and would work harder than his Father, and he even seemed to like it. He taught his children to enjoy work, and that anything can be accomplished with a strong enough desire, backed by hard work. He taught his children to save half of what they earned. When Joseph Platte built the dairy barn and chicken coop, he hauled the lumber and other materials from Lynndyl and Delta. Lathel related that at noon-time, when they were working in the field, he and his father would unharness the horses and often race home on them.

Joseph took his children to their church meetings. He taught his children to pray at an early age, to love each other, and to be honest. He took them to tithing settlement regularly where they each talked with the bishop briefly.

In the year, 1923, Joseph Platte’s cousin, Millie Lyman Lovell, arranged for him to meet Margaret Ann Crook. She was well educated and was teaching school at the time. They were married on January 2, 1924 in the Manti Temple. She was born on January 18, 1876 in Heber, Utah to John Crook and Mary Giles. She and Joseph Platte had many close friends in Oak City. He was the second mayor of Oak City and served a term from 1921-25. In 1925-26 he was superintendent of Oak City Sunday School.

In the spring of 1926, he moved his family to Delta into the same house he had left in 1912. After living in town for a few months, the decision was made to buy a farm and go into the chicken business. They bought a house and ten acres, four miles southeast of Delta. In 1928 he was president of the Mutual of the Delta Third Ward, which at the time had 26 to 30 families. He was ordained a Seventy by President Heber J. Grant on March 23, 1931. From 1929 until the time of his death, he was the ward clerk to his brother-in-law Bishop Lorenzo Christensen.

In the late summer of 1931 he developed acute appendicitis. He was in a great deal of pain. Not wanting to bother anyone, he had waited as long as he could stand it before asking for help. Dr. Wright told his wife Margaret that his condition was serious and that she would need to take him on the train to Salt Lake City for medical help. He died, September 3, 1931 in the Salt Lake Hospital, just 25 days before his first grandchild, Sheldon Lathel was born. It was a great shock to his family as he had enjoyed good health all his life and was only 55 years old. Funeral services were held in Delta. Abel Roper, a lifelong friend, spoke. Musical numbers were: “We Shall Meet Beyond the River” and “God Be With You.” As a hearse was not available, Leo Lyman's truck was used to haul the casket. He was buried in the Oak City Cemetery beside his wife, Elizabeth.

  LtoR: Carlie & Leland Davenport, Marge & Lathel 

 Callister, LaDean C Keeler, Tony & Beryl Callister

He had lived a good life and had taught his children well, by precept and example. He seemed to enjoy work and never complained. His second wife Margaret said of her husband: “He was very active in Church work and enjoyed meeting with his friends. He wasn't much of a singer. He was an even-tempered, spiritual man, and seldom got angry. He was easy to please as far as cooking and art were concerned.” His son Lathel wrote: “The lessons father taught me in faith, courage, and the will to overcome adversities have been an anchor to me always.” - compiled by Margaret Church Callister.

Footnote: The information for this history came from accounts written by Joseph Platte’s son Joseph Lathel Callister and daughter LaDean Callister Keeler. Also from letters written by Mary Miranda Callister Lyman to her husband Edward Leo Lyman, and letters written by Albert R. Lyman to LaDean Callister Keeler