James Family Folklore
Bloomfield James LAKE MERRILL Morris Nelson Sanders Wanslee
Home
Pedigrees
Polygamy
GOT A STORY, PHOTO OR MAP? FIND AN ERROR? HAVE A QUESTION? Contact the Webmaster
Lost Scissors

BY MATTIE B. FISH
GRANDDAUGHTER OF PRICE WILLIAMS NELSON
AND LYDIA ANN LAKE

     Among other things sent to Mexico to the folks was a pair of barber scissors, sent by Uncle Levi and wife to Grandmother Nelson ( Lydia Ann).
     She was very glad to get them and took very good care of them, but one day they came up missing. She needed them for cutting quilt blocks, patching, cutting hair, and the neighbors needed them!
     One day she turned to Grandpa ( Price Williams), who sat chewing tobacco, and said, "My old man, I've lost my scissors. I've looked this house over many times. I've had the neighbors search their houses for them and we can't find those scissors, and I'm sure you know something about them."
     Grandpa sat quietly chewing his tobacco (he began chewing faster and faster when he was worried), and then he said, "Well, I guess I do know something about them."
     "Well, where are they?" she asked.
     The Nelsons lived on the bank of the Bavispi River and it was about 12 feet down in the water. "Well, I threw them in the river," he admitted. "They were such sharp things I was afraid some child would fall on them and put an eye out or hurt himself, so I just got rid of them."
     Elsenor Johnson Nelson, wife of Price's son Alvin Nelson, adds this about her in-laws:
     When Alvin and I were married, we settled on a ranch several miles from town where his parents and several other families lived. I soon learned to love my in-laws. Grandmother Nelson and I shared each other's joys and sorrows, while we spent many happy hours together. She was very religious and loved to talk about the principles of the Gospel.
     When our first child was born we named her Kindness, but Grandpa Nelson called her "Squint." He always had nicknames for his grandchildren. When little Alvin was born Grandpa called him "Skunk." Our third child, Lydia, was "Pocahontas" to Grandfather. He enjoyed entertaining the children as soon as they were old enough to follow him around.

Return to top

     

INDEX OF STORIES

Strength of Samson
General Conference talk that relates a story of Philemon C. Merrill.

John Bloomfield Finds a Baby
While keeping guard at night over his pioneer company, John Bloomfield finds an infant in the wilderness lying near its dead mother.

His name, not his town
Why John Bloomfield never lived in the town named after him.

A Heavy Fog
Cyrena Dustin writes about a miracle she experienced as a young woman.

Dinner Guest
A dinner guest sees Cyrena Dustin for the first time and declares he will marry her some day.

Hero on the River
A daring river rescue catches the eye of Lydia Ann Lake.

Lost Scissors
Expensive shears end up in the bottom of the river.

Killed by Innovation
Lumbermen in Mexico gather to watch Joseph Henry James and his boys send down the first log on a new chute.

Joe's Jokes
Joseph Henry James brings a sense of humor to the Mormon Colonies in Mexico.

Apache Raid
The Apaches attack in the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Expensive Lobster
A birthday party for George Heber James (Jr.) has a surprise ending.


©2001. Webmaster Daryl James