Josephine Whitaker

JOSEPHINE WHITAKER

  	 Josephine was the eighth child of Thomas William and Elizabeth Mills Whitaker.  She attended school in the Centerville village schoolhouse where all classes were held in one room with one teacher. When eight years old she won a prize for attending Sunday School every time for a year.  The reward was a picture which she kept in a scrapbook through her life.

Josephine began earning her own living by sewing for fifty cents a day in her sister's dressmaking shop." This training was beneficial to me," she said, "for I later had six girls to sew for."

She later attended the University of Utah where she met Hugh B. Folsom. After six years of courtship they were married on June 21, 1894 in the Salt Lake Temple. Josephine's mother gave each daughter a wedding dress and a wedding supper. One part of the evening's entertainment was a vocal duet, "The Blue Danube" by the bridal couple.

An honorary Golden Gleaner award was given in 1955 to Josephine

in recognition of her outstanding work in the MIA. She was chairman of the finance committee when four of the Salt Lake City stakes raised over $30,000 to build a summer vacation girls' home at Brighton. She had been active for 19 years in Mutual work. She was also president of the Relief Society while residing in the Second ward of Centerville where both her husband and later her son served as bishop.

During the first world war, she worked with Liberty Loan and Red Cross. She was active in several camps of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers. She had also been honored many times by the Principals' Wives club, Aurora, for being a charter member of 50 year's standing.

All the time she was working in these various interests she still carried on the multiple duties required in rearing eight children. All of them were married in the Temple, for she encouraged temple work , having embroidered many temple aprons for her children and friends.

Through the years family gatherings celebrating birthdays and weddings were enjoyed, especially Christmas Eve, which became a tradition when carols were sung along with stories, programs and refreshments. Santa Claus with his bells and dances and gifts for everyone became a family legend.

She had many hobbies including gardening, needlepoint, and decorating hats. Josephine was loved by all for her pleasant personality, wealth of humor, independent spirit and dignity.