Letter to Thomas Frederick Howells

BENJAMIN FRANCIS HOWELLS SR.  Born March 5, 1888, Died April 13, 1960

The following is from a letter written to his son Thomas in 1957. 

      I was born on Mar. 5^th, 1888 at Salt Lake City. The sister now living (Aunt Jo) was also born on March 5^th, some years later. At the time of my birth, Father taught school. In fact he taught school for about 35 years altogether. In the winter time I did a great deal of skating, and in the summertime I went out into the country and worked for mothers brother. From the time of nine years I did not spend a summer in Salt Lake City. This chance I had of going to the country was much in my favor as I learned to work and had good  ‘country’ food to eat. I recall that I went to Sunday School on Sunday and to Lagoon on all holidays.

     When occasion permitted I played baseball, both in Salt Lake and in the county. I really enjoyed playing this game. I either pitched or played 1^st base.  I had learned to curve the ball and the boys my age considered this quite an achievement.

     At home we were a normal Mormon family. Father was rather strict about going to church and especially Sunday School. I recall that I passed the sacrament a great deal and gathered the fast offerings

regularly. In those days we took a horse and wagon to gather the fast offering. One boy went from house to house on one side of the street and another covered the other side. The offerings were then taken to the bishop’s storehouse. I seem to remember Marvin Ashton, who with my brother Dave (now dead) usually took charge on these collection days.

     In 1915 I went to New York City to work for my brother Dave, I was there when we declared war. My brother was a great deal of time in Europe and of course, needed me in New York to care for the business.  I was anxious to enlist but I promised him I’d wait until he returned from Europe before enlisting. It was during this period of waiting that I meet Sylvia Tuttle, who was studying nursing. She was to become my wife after I had served Uncle Sam as an artillery soldier. 

     Our courtship was rather short but it was effective and three months after I got out of the army I got married. Of the six boys God blessed our marriage with, two were born in New York. The other four were born in Salt Lake City, to which place we came in 1926.

     I was on my mission in 1914 when hostilities broke out and in fact the war was just getting a good start when I came home, having been released from my mission. Apostle Hyrum Smith made me the President of the group of missionaries that came back to the U.S.A. This position was a difficult one as so many of the Missionaries were new Elders and were learning German. The boat on which we returned was English and you can bet we had a merry time keeping order. In addition to the Elders in the return company there were many musical students. All in all the German sympathizers composed about two-thirds of the group. At this time we were supposed to be neutral. B.F.H.