Melvin J. Porter History By Alice Johnson (his mother)

Melvin J. Porter History

Written by Alice Johnson (his mother) between 1960-1965 and included in the book "Melvin J. Porter and VaLoy Shumway Family Histories", compiled by Amy Porter (Laurel project), July 1998.

At 11 o'clock A.M. February 15, 1922 a small round faced baby boy announced his arrival at the home of Wilford Austin Porter and Alice Johnson Porter.  He was the second child to be born to this union.  He was given the name of Melvin J. Porter and weighed 7 1/2 pounds.  Dr. George Washington West attended his mother with the help of his grandmother, Joan Grunig Porter and Sister Sara Jane Taggart.  Melvin had lots of dark hair and a very strong voice.  He was a sweet good natured baby and didn't cause to much trouble for his parents, except when he wanted to be fed and then he used his strong voice to be heard and attended to.  About the only really bad quality I can think of in his baby days was when I tried to train him.  He simply couldn't seem to see what the little chair was good for and would almost always manage to get behind a big chair or bed and proceed to dirty his pants.  He knew he shouldn't do this and he always hid when he did.

Our daughter, Eva, was born about 16 months after Melvin and was a very dainty little girl.  Grandma Porter always called her, her little bum lamb and Melvin her little pugilist.  Melvin had cute, little, fat fists and was always trying to spar.

When Melvin was about three years old, we bought him and Max each a "Kiddie Car." These cars didn't have peddles but were made to go with their feet on the floor.  They would race around the table and always Max could beat Melvin but he would come up behind Melvin ready to pass him and we would tell Melvin he was now in the lead and to hurry and keep ahead of Max.  They spent many hours playing like this and learned to enjoy each other at a very early age.

Melvin started school when he was 6 1/2 years old and his first teacher was Chloteal Hill (Griffith). 

There were always cows to milk, pigs to feed, wood to be brought into the house.  After school the wood had to be brought in for the next day and this was always a chore for the kids.  Melvin learned to chop and carry wood very early and with the help of Grandma Porter (Joan Grunig Porter) the wood carry job was always made available for them.  Melvin started to milk cows with Daddy (Wilford Austin Porter) at the age of 7.  He learned to ride and saddle a horse and would bring the cows in for milking.  This sometimes took quite a bit of time as they were turned out on the range to feed in the summer and about 4 in the afternoon, Melvin or someone would have to go hunt the cows and bring them home for milking.  There were times when they weren't found until late and then Daddy usually found them.  Another very interesting thing they did as children was to hunt for a cow and her calf.  This sometimes went in to the days.  They would try and find her and then follow her to the calf.  She sometimes led them a merry chase.

It wasn't all work and no play.  They spent many hours playing games with each other.  Some of the games they played were kick the can, touch football (with a doll's head).  They did some swimming in the river as this was about the only place there was to swim.  Once in a while we took them to the Sulphur Springs and this was always a great occasion.  Melvin liked to swim and they had a good time in the water.  Another thing Melvin liked to do when we would go to town or some place and leave the kids home, he would dress up in the girl's clothes and cook candy or whatever he might like and was a pretty good cook, so Della Mae said.

 One time we left them and it was always our policy to stress to them to not build fires.  But he proceeded to build a fire one day and used gasoline to start it with.  This was in a gallon jug and he lit the paper and then poured the gas onto the fire.  The fire followed the gas back into the jug and Melvin carried it out of the house and set it on the ground and let it burn itself out.  Melvin always showed calm judgment and good sense in most things and the above is an example of his good judgment because if he had become excited and had thrown the jug, it would have exploded and burned the home perhaps and the children.  He always seemed to have the ability to think a problem out and exercise good judgment in his decision. 

Another thing Melvin loved in his younger life was a horse called Nip.  Daddy had a mate to her called Tuk.  They could really run and more than once they did run away with the buggy and one time Mother was seriously hurt.  Nip was Melvin's pride and joy and whenever he could he would ride her and let anyone that was near enough see how fast and pretty she was.  One morning she was sick and they spent the day trying to help her and get her well.  All three Daddy, Max, and Melvin practically stayed near the haystack where she lay and did all they could for her, but she died.  This was a hard blow for Melvin to take and he shed tears over the horse.  I believe this was about the first thing he had that meant so much to him and it was hard to see her suffer and go and he couldn't do anything for her.

Another thing they could do well was play marbles.  Melvin and Max could win a great many marbles from the other boys at school and they would come home and display them in great pride.  They had about 500 marbles and one time they were quarreling so Daddy took the marbles and threw them into a deep hole we had dug for a cellar.  Most of these marbles were never found, but they did hunt for them for a while and found some of them.  Melvin was always willing to play the game and he was most willing to play it fair.

One time Daddy had him drive Old Prince and King on the leveler and they became frightened and ran away.  When he saw he couldn't hold them, he rolled off the leveler and we were thankful for this as he wasn't hurt.  All we could see was dust and horses running.  There was many runaways on our place but we were fortunate as none of the children were hurt seriously by them.

Melvin didn't go to high school the year after he was out of grade school.  He stayed at home and helped Daddy.  He, (Daddy), had been sick and Melvin stayed to help and then, too, he didn't care for some of the teachers and this was a good excuse to stay home this winter.  The next winter he started high school; the same year as Della Mae, and they graduated the spring of 1942.  Some of his boyhood friends were, Douglas Findlay, Reed Schwab, Hyrum Pringle and Boyd Weaver.  Melvin always had lots of friends both boys and girls and was liked by most everyone.  He also took seminary in high school and graduated from this course.  He was good to attend his church duties and to remember his Father in Heaven at all times.

When Betty came to our house to stay (born), Melvin always called her his little girl.  When they grew up and he was a grown man, you would see them arm in arm going to church or with their arms around each other's waist.  They were always thoughtful of each other and Melvin was the protecting brother to her at all times.  Whenever there was a dance and there were a good many of them, Melvin was never too proud to dance with his sisters and always with his mother if she was there.  (Melvin was about 21 or 22).  He liked to dance with his mother and she was a good dancer and they enjoyed this companionship together.

When war broke out between the Germans and the United States, Melvin went into the Army and served his country for four years.  He spent time in Georgia, Alabama, Washington, Hawaii and Japan.  He was in Japan after the Atomic Bomb had been exploded and he saw a lot of country and things.  He was good to write and remembered us on all special occasions.  He always acknowledged the hand of the Lord in all things and was willing to serve Him.

After he returned from the Army, he started to court VaLoy Shumway.  This wasn't the only girl friend Melvin had but I believe it was the only one worth mentioning.  They were married on the 24th of June, 1947 in the Logan Temple in Logan, Utah.  I remember well the words of President L. Ray Christiansen when he told Melvin he had a wonderful girl and for him to cherish and love her always and she would be a good mate for him.  I believe this has been true.  They have had their ups and downs but have been true and faithful to each other.

The first years of their married life was spent living on the old ranch place at the South end of the valley or Forest Dell, as it is commonly called.  They didn't start out with all the conveniences of life.  They had an outdoor toilet and heated the house with heaters.  They carried their water from a tap that Daddy and the boys had earlier piped down from the spring on the Moser place to the ranch house and it was just a tap outside of the house.  In time they remodeled this house and brought the water into it and had a bath put in the house also.  In the meantime, they had a family started and as of this date they have six children, three boys and three girls.  They are all good children and their mother has taught them how to sing and enjoy the beauties of music.  She being well educated in this line.  They spent one winter in Murray, Utah where Melvin worked on a church farm.  In the spring they returned to Star Valley and sold their ranch to Dell Lancaster and bought them a ranch in Grover, Wyoming and are living on this ranch at the present time.

There was many good hours spent on the ranch at Forest Dell and most of Melvin's life was spent in and around Smoot until he moved to Grover.  Melvin has always had the companionship of his father and brothers and they have enjoyed a close relationship with each other that can come to only those who work together and do together.

I think this poem applies to both my life as mother of Melvin and also to his life as father and husband to VaLoy and their children:

My Jewels

 

Life has given me jewels more precious than sapphires or pearls.

More treasured than rubies or diamonds.

They are my boys and girls.

As I have gathered my jewels and watched

Them sparkle and glow,

It has brought me such happiness,

As only a mother can know.

I have jealously guarded my jewels,

Have called them my own through the years

And I'll always have the memory of their

Baby laughter and tears.

Other settings will hold my jewels,

Other hands will help and guide,

But, I have had the happiness of

Walking by their side.

I have loved and guided them

And no matter where they roam,

They will not forget the setting

Of Dad, Mother, love and home.