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Ted and Cora Bingham BLOG book

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Georgia Ann Horton Jack - A Tribute by Sadie Jack Johnson

In my search of genealogy, I find that the most interesting part is to find the histories, journals, and life stories of my ancestors. When you find a story or a history of a family or person, it means so much more than just a name. You can connect the name to the person and they become a real person, not just a name.

Perhaps the most precious and interesting thing that I have found in my genealogy research is the life story of my grandmother on my father's side, Georgia Ann Horton Jack. I knew my grandmother so well as she lived close by when I was a little girl and I saw her every day until she died 27 Feb. 1927. We called her "Glassy Grandma" because she wore eye glasses and they were rare in those days. Long after she died, we found her life written in the first person, but there are no paragraphs, no capitals, commas or punctuation; but it is beautifully told. After knowing my grandmother all those years, I never realized that she had such a colorful background. She was born in DeKalb County Alabama 30 May 1841 and her parents were apparently well-to-do. They had slaves and lived on a plantation and were prosperous. Grandmother married a northern man, James Hazelett Jack, who was a spy for the Union Army. Her story tells about the Confederate rebels and hard it was to have opposing factions within the family. She told about how grandfather was wounded and had to flee to save his life. So after the war, the family immigrated to southern Colorado where they settled and where all my people helped pioneer that part of the state.

We also found that our people were prominent people and leaders in the Revolutionary war as my grandmother states in her story that my great-great grandfather, James Jack helped form the Mecklenberg Declaration of Independence from Mecklenberg, North Carolina to Philadelphia. This happened in 1775 and this document is believed to be the fore-runner or pattern for the Philadelphia Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The Jack family were also prominent leaders in the Civil War. My grandmother often related to me the story of how my grandfather took my father, Robert Jack, who was then six years old, with him on one of his spy missions. He swam a river with my father on his back, received important papers from General Morgan Le Smith's headquarters and started back. He swam the river again with my father on his back, holding the papers up out of the water to keep them dry. As they neared the bank, the rebels started shooting at them and hit my grandfather in the back. He somehow scrambled to shore, sent my father on home with the papers and told him not to let anyone but grandmother have them. This happened at night and was a frightening experience for a little six year old boy. Grandfather then hid himself in a hollow tree. Grandmother found him in the tree, dressed his wounds, but had to leave him all cramped up in that tree as the rebels vowed to track him down and kill him. He remained in this cramped position for several days until some Union supporters helped get him into Union territory. He had stayed in this cramped up position for so long that he could never again straighten up. And this bent over position is how we remember him in his later years in Colorado.

There are so many stories and experiences told in this life story of my Grandmother Jack. I can read between the lines and tell of hardships she experienced and of her love for her family, and for the appreciation for the freedom in this country. I vowed I would write my life story so my children and grandchildren can know my inner feelings. A story of one's life is one of the most beautiful heritages anyone can leave for their children.

________________

This was taken from a photocopy of a manuscript in the possession of Larue Bingham Lawson.

Keith Edward Bingham

Keith was the oldest child of Ted and Cora Dunn Bingham. He went to school in Manassa and Romeo. He graduated from Romeo High School in 1945. He spent sixteen months in the Navy in 1945 and 1946. He has worked as a laborer, a truck driver, an iron worker for 17 years and then finished his work career as a field engineer and quality assurance supervisor for the Zia Company in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Keith married Erma Rae Reynolds in Sanford, Colorado. ... Six children blessed this family. Keith and Erma and their six children were sealed for time and eternity in the Mesa Temple on January 3, 1961.

Both Keith and Erma have held many church callings during the years in Los Alamos. Erma has worked in Primary, Young Women's and Relief Society. Keith has been a scoutmaster, stake missionary, branch president and counselor in two bishoprics. The The Bingham family has lived in Los Alamos, New Mexico for more than 45 years.

(We'll depend on Keith's family to add more to this history published in 1993.)

For the complete historoy, see pp 73 - 75 of History of the Ancestors & Descendants of Simeon Harmon and Anna Buletta Jensen, Compiled by Vera Olivier, Published privately June 1993.

80

80 years ago Gatha was born into this world. It seems she has had a variety of things happen in her life. These are some things she has done etc.:

1. Born
2. Baptized
3. Orphaned
4. Married
5. Mother
6. Grandmother
7. Great-Grandmother
   
8. Survived the great depression
9. WWII
10. Korea
11. VietNam
12. 6 day war
13. Establishment of Israel
14. Hot lunch
15. CCG&O
16. Manassa
17. Romeo
18. Antonito
19. Grand Canyon Mission
20. Chicago Mission
21. Washington Mission
    
22. Cub Scouts
23. Boys
24. Girl
25. Gardens
26. RS
27. Scouts
28. Drove
29. Flew
30. Walked
31. Ran
32. Horse
33. Widowed
34. Saint George
35. Sandy
36. Model A
    
37. Chevy
38. Ford
39. Nash
40. Pontiac
41. Carpet
42. Concrete
43. Lilac
44. Temple
45. Float
46. Parade
47. Romance Novels
48. Stolen Nail
49. Waterless cookware
50. World Book
51. Sew
52. Embroidery
53. Indexing
54. LDS
55. Paint
56. Draperies
57. Quilt
58. Bags
59. BLOG
60. Colorado Springs
61. Reverse Mortgage
62. Survived Breast Cancer
63. Chrysler
64. Sister
65. Aunt
66. Niece
67. Daughter
68. Grand-Daughter etc.
69. Cook
70. Pickled Beets
71. Drip Irrigation
72. Pluck a chicken
73. Make Bread
74. Farmer
75. Drove over son
76. Fish
77. E-mail
78. Family history
79. She loves
80. I love her
    

My Childhood--again

Our farm was 60 acres. It was a mile long and wider at the North end and narrow on the South end.

We had 3 ponies. One was a full grown size and was a wonderful horse. She was named Dixie. She was the mother to the other two horses. Tiny Tim was half shetland and was a small horse. Charlie was one fourth shetland and belonged to Keith. Our horses were very special to all of us. One day Keith took Dixie into town and she stepped in a hole and broke her leg and they shot her, as that is what they did with that kind of injury. We were all broken hearted. When our parents died, the shetland ponies were sold at the 24th of July rodeo. A man bought them and paid for them and gave them back to be sold again. Dorothy (Vaughn) Sowards' dad bought them and Dorothy told me that they loved those horses just as much as we did.

Our farm supplied most of the food that we had. During the end of the great depression, we had plenty to eat. Getting shoes and clothes was not as easy. We fared better than people in the city. Growing up on a farm makes a close family. We had a playhouse in the top of the granery. That was really a fun place to play.

When the hay was harvested, all of us helped as we got older. The hay was cut with a mowing machine, It was hauled to the barn and the stack on a wagon, pulled with a team of horses. Our work horses were white. They were Maud and Dobbins.

My Childhood--Gatha

Growing up on a farm that was two and a half miles from either Romeo or Antonito, it was necessary to travel to stores. Romeo didn't have a clothing store or a drug store, so sometimes we drove to Antonito for things that were not available in Romeo. We had an old car, but it was quite serviceable. There were eight of us in our family. so sometimes we were crowded in our car. Seat belts changed the number of people that can ride in a car. There were eight of us. I grew up through World War II, so there was a lot of things that were not available to purchase. Nylons, sugar, tires, gas was rationed, Being on a farm, gas was more available.

We had a garden that was about an acre. All of us pulled weeds and hoed. Our garden was very productive. One year we raised enough carrots to fill a wagon bed. We had a cellar that was big enough to park our car in through the winter when it was cold. There were bins for different vegetables. We always had enough potatoes to last until the next harvest. We had enough carrots that year to feed many people. The vegetables, and fruit that was raised in the San Louis Valley had a better flavor than any I have tasted since leaving there. We always had cabbage, onions, beets, and many other things. We raised rhubarb and we had a big strawberry patch, and we raised raspberries. I think the reason that I like raspberries so well is because Mom canned them. She did them in hot water bath. They were so good.

We had meat that we raised. We always had pork, beef, and sometimes mutton. We lived through the depression, but on a farm there was always food. That was a blessing.

The best part of growing up was the great love and acceptance we felt. I always felt that I was loved and approved of. I think my growing up years were very special.

New blogs added to blog list

Recently, Larry and I have added some new blogs to the list:

• Jordan and Candice is Laraine's son and his wife who live in NY City. They both graduated from BYU in April and Jordan got a great job working for an ad agency in NY. They always have lots of fun and Laraine tells us they are a bit crazy.
• Are they still alive? is the blog Laraine's daughters posted in Europe last summer (2007). They documented their trip sailing around the Mediterranean with their dad. They came home in July and never finished blogging about their adventures because they all went back to their busy lives. But it is entertaining.

I would like to add other blogs of family members. If you are aware of one I have missed, please contact Kent Vance with the URL and a little about why the link should be added.

Growing up in Romeo

We had a kitchen table in the kitchen, where we always sat down together for our meals. We had an assigned place at the table. In the winter when the nights were long, we would sit around the table and visit about what had happened through the day and what our plans were. Sometimes we would read stories or play table games. We had a fireplace and it was fun to have a fire there. Our heat was all wood and coal. Daddy and the boys would go to the mountains in the Summer to get wood. It would take them 2 days, with a team and wagon. We bought coal by the ton. We had a coal shed. We didn't have a pickup or a truck.

We often had friends stay with us. Nona and I spent a lot of time together. We would often go to family members and visit. Our life was good. The church was our life. That is where our friends and neighbors met and had church, mutual, parties and dances. We had a good life.

Laraine's Family

My children are all adults now. Amazing!

I live in Rocklin, CA. Before moving here in 2002, we lived in Danville, CA near Oakland. I have 6 children, 5 daughters and 1 son. This picture was taken at Christmas 2007. Rebecca (aqua sweater) is the oldest and she teaches art in Littleton, CO. She just got married Aug 26th and is now living in Arvada, CO. She married Dawson Jones and we should have pictures soon. Juliann (black sweater, red hair) lives in San Francisco and works in photography and web design. Lindsay (black sweater, blond hair) also lives in San Francisco and works for a graphic design/advertising firm. Jessica (white shirt) and her husband Scott DiMaggio (baseball cap) are remodeling a cute home in Walnut Creek, CA. Jessica is a real estate appraiser and Scott works at the Berkeley labs. Jordan (tall blonde with white collar) and his wife, Candice (beautiful smile, brown hair) live in New York City. They both graduated from BYU in April and Jordan has a job at a big advertising company in NYC. Candice is still shopping for a fabulous job. Malorie (orange coat) and her husband, Richie Smith (tall with dark hair) live in Rocklin and work for Richie's dad's construction company. We were all together last weekend for Rebecca's wedding and we had a great time. I love spending time with my kids. They are great people.

Family at Dad's funeral (Keith Edward Bingham)

Many family members came to be with us at my Dad's funeral. Back row: Kelly, Barry, Doris Faye's husband, Doris Faye, Harold, Gatha, LaRue, Leon and David. Front row: Laraine, Barbara, Sue Ann, Mom (Erma Rae) and Dick. We were so glad to have these wonderful people together.



On March 9, 2008 my father passed away in Belen, New Mexico. My brother, Kelly, directed the construction of a beautiful casket for Dad. It is made of pine and cedar wood. All of my brothers and Sue Ann's husband, Keith, and many grandsons helped to make this beautiful casket. Sue Ann and I lined it. My brothers added Dad's brand. See the BoxK on the lid? In this picture, David, Laraine, Kelly, Mom, Sue Ann, Barry and Dick are standing by the finished casket.



My Dad's siblings came to be with us for the funeral that was held in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Doris Faye's husband, Doris Faye, Harold, Gatha, Barbara, LaRue, Leon and Mom (Erma Rae) are in this picture.

Grandma Cora 100

I did this once but don't find it on the blog. Today my Mom would be 100 years old. I have never been able to see her in my mind since she died 64 years ago. She was a wonderful mother and I think of her so often. The years have gone by so fast and so slow. It seems forever.

Mom and Dad were very in love. Dad could hardly leave the house without Mom being with him. I think that is why it was so hard for him when she wasn't there any more. They were fun parents. We did a lot of fun things together. I remember sitting around the table after supper in the winter, we visited for long periods of time. Those are special memories for me. We didn't have TV or even radio that was plain enough to listen to very well. Living on a farm and spending evenings together was special. Sometimes one of our parents read to us or we played table games. We had a good life. The gospel was center in our lives. We talked about many things. Those were the days!!!
Doris Faye was 70 today.

I am sure that they would both have been very pleased with all of you. They didn't get to know any of you. I think it will be a joyous day when we are all together again.

Grandma Cora

Today, July 29th, my mom would be one hundred years old. The time has gone fast in a way and slow in another. It has been 64 years since my mom died. It always makes me feel sad that none of you children and grandchildren have never seen her or my dad. They would have been so pleased with all of you. The were good parents and everything was for our good. I feel that I was raised in a home full of love. My dad didn't want to go anywhere without Mom. They were very in love with each other. I look forward to the time when we will all be together again. Today Doris Faye is 70. She and Bert are in Alaska. They will be home tomorrow.

Cora Emily Dunn Bingham

Cora Emily Dunn (Second from the right in the back row of the picture to the left) was born on 29 July 1908. Her parents were Anna Buletta Jensen (known as Annie) and Simeon Harmon Dunn. Cora was born 25 August 1901 in Eastdale, Costilla County, Colorado. Her older sisters were Frances Edna, Ethel Leona, Ruth Carrie. Cora and these sisters were born in Eastdale.

The family then moved to Manassa, Colorado. Cora's younger siblings were born in Manassa. They were, Edgar, Ina, Hazel, Elma, Doris and Loyd. Her mother then had a stillborn child they named Keith Melford. Cora's baby brother was Rex.

Cora grew up with seven sisters and three brothers. Because the girls were born first, they milked cows, fed chickens, and helped in the fields. Cora was very good with math.

Cora had several friends that she spent time with. Nora Christensen, Dollie Christensen, and Leta Kaneaster were the closest friends. Cora was a good basketball player.

(Taken from Ted and Cora, A love story by Gatha Bingham Vance Wilson)

Crazy Drivers

You wonder why those drivers that always have a cell phone up to their head drive crazily. Their brains are cooked.

Where do we go from here?

I never knew Grandma and Grandpa Bingham. I have only the memories of stories I have heard from Mom and her siblings. I have searched for more, but have no more to contribute. If there is no contribution to this blog in the coming month, I wonder if it should be removed. Let me know what you think.

It would be valuable too if descendants of Grandma and Grandpa Bingham would like to share news of their families. I will be happy to add authors if there is any interest.

Kent

Dad died - 62 years ago today

Today is the 62nd anniversary of the day my dad died. It is really hard for me to even think of that time.

In June Arlo and I drove him to Alamosa to enter the hospital as he was having surgery the next morning to repair a hernia. We went to Ruth and Bill's and had supper and then went to a movie. He had the surgery and there were complications. He had pains from adhesions from a former surgery. They operated to remove the scars, but that was not successful either. He developed a bowel obstruction and it progressed to the point that it burst.

The day he died, Keith sent a telegram that he had been released from the Navy and was on his way home. We tried to find him, but were not successful. Some of the aunts and uncles met every bus and train that came into Alamosa. He was home in time to go to the funeral. We no longer had a home and Keith wanted to buy back the farm and take the four (Leon, Barbara, LaRue and Doris Faye), to raise them. He didn''t have the means to do that.

After the funeral, Leon went to Farmington, New Mexico, Barbara went with Ethel and Don, to California, LaRue stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. Doris Faye went home with Arlo and me. Keith went to Los Alamos, New Mexico and lived with his friend Bud Richarson. He found work and remained there to marry Erma Rae and to raise his family.

The years go by, but the facts don't change that there was no place to go home again. After a year Leon went to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn's home. After 6 years Doris Faye also went to Grandma and Grandpa's home. Barbara was the last one to go to Grandma and Grandpa's home. All of them graduated from Manassa High School. I will forever be thankful to Grandma and Grandpa Dunn. They were a great blessing to us.

Posted by Kent for Gatha

Ted and Cora's Family

Thank you, Bonnie Lynn Olsen, for sharing this picture. The pictures date about 1956.

Leon's Family

Yesterday we went to visit Uncle Leon. He lives in Washington, Utah. We talked for a while. They had a basketball game on TV. Leon took me out to his garden and showed me around. He then said come in here and let me show you a photograph. It is the one below. I e-mailed it to me so I could post it.


Justin, Jack, Jimmy, Jeff, Jay
Carol, Cindy, Leon, Loni, Brenda, Teddy

He was proud of his family. He says that two of his sons are in Bishoprics. All of his children have been to the temple. He said that all them, except Jim, are active in the church.

Offspring

My offspring are growing quite nice.

The oldest of three just obtained his first tax paying job.
He must sweep and mop the floors while taking cash from hungry patrons.

The middle child mows on Tuesdays for our neighbor across the street.
He plans on swimming with his buddies at the local swimming hole.

The youngest full of energy she is.
Growing strong muscles as she rides her two wheel up and down the street.

My Offspring

I have wanted to show all of you to my mom and dad, but that has not been possible. I think my dad's buttons would pop with pleasure for all of you. Dad Died before Don was born and I hadn't told him that I was expecting a baby. We had only been married for four months when he died and I knew that I was going to have a baby, but I didn't think to tell him. I think they know what is happening here with their family and I know that they would love to talk to each of you. I have always wanted my parents to be proud of their posterity. I can just see him with Don, Kent, Bonnie and Larry. I think they know our pleasures and our heart aches, just like we do. I love all of you so much and am thankful that you are my family.

Lurking

Are you Lurking;
Your duty Shirking?
Please say Something
About your Offspring!

James Edward Bingham

James Edward Bingham (right) was born in Manassa, Colorado on the 5th of August, 1898. His parents were Jeremiah Edward Bingham and Ada Zoa Jack. His older sister, Eliza May, was born 19 May 1897. James Edward, known as Ted, was born 5 Aug, 1898. His little sister, Bessie was born 30 May, 1900. She died 1 Jul, 1900. Ted's baby sister, Dorothy was born 18 Jul 1901.

Ted's father was killed in 1901. He worked for a sawmill. He was hit by a falling tree. Ted was just 3.

Ted's mother remarried to Charles Peterson. They had two more children. She died in 1907. Ted was but 9 years old.

Ted lived with his Aunt Mattie and Uncle Ab and with His Aunt Zem Jack until he was about 14. He was then on his own.

Ted's sister May and her Husband, Charlie Schofield lived accross the street from Simeon and Annie Dunn. It was there that he met Cora Emily Dunn. When they married, Ted was 27 and Cora was 17. They were married in the home of Cora's parents in Manassa, Colorado on 25 May, 1926.

Uncle Charlie and Aunt May

Recently, Mother mentioned "Uncle Charlie and Aunt May". I believe it was to mention that Leon had gone to live with them after Grandma and Grandpa Bingham's death. There have been many times in my life that I have heard the names, but I have never understood what our relationship was to them, or much about them.

This last week, I got a DVD from mom. The tile on the disk was "Schofield pictures and histories". I believe this is our Uncle Charlie and Aunt May.

I think that there is a possibility that May was Grandpa Bingham's sister. Mom, is that the case?

There were several pictures on the disk that were simply labeled, "Auntie". I don't know who this is or what her name might be.

Ted at the right I believe to be Ted Bingham.

I believe this is a picture of our Aunt May, our grandpa. Who is Dot?


There is a story about Grandpa, Aunt May, and a flower. Mom, could you please tell us that story?

My childhood

The first memories I have are when we lived in Saguache. Keith and I were playing in a two wheeled trailer , going back and forth in it until it hit the ground on front and then back. I fell out and cut my head. I still have a scar from that.

We moved from there to Manassa, We lived in a house that Eda and Rex Johnson live in now. We lived across the street from Wayne Rogers. They was an older couple, Aunt Tea and Uncle Al Nielson, that lived on the Southwest corner of the block on the South of us. We bought milk from them. Aunt Tea was Grandma Dunn's sister. She died and Phil Married Uncle Al. That is Nancy Dunn's mother.

While we lived there Mom was washing clothes in a washing machine in the back of the house. Keith and I got under the front porch and started a fire. It burned a hole in the porch. We ran to tell Mom that the house was on fire. She hurried and got the fire out.

We moved from that house to a house on the southwest corner of town. That is where we lived across the street from Lillie and Arch McKenzie. They were Helen Culler's parents. Helen and I always loved each other. We lived there until we moved to Romeo to the farm that is two and a half miles from Romeo and two and a half miles from Antonito. That is the home that we spent most of our lives with our family.

Doris Faye's Family

I got this email from Gloria and thought you would all like to see a picture of Doris Faye's family:

"Here is a picture of the family we saw in Mesa: Doris Faye and her children with new husband If you are not able to open the attachment let me know.

The names should be under the picture. maybe some of you will not know them, but they are cousins.

Maybe some of you may not recognize them either! Hope you all have a good day.

love ya gloria"

Slideshows

I have added a new slideshow to this site. I would have liked to start with Uncle Keith, but I'll have to rely on Laraine and her siblings to do that. I don't have enough pictures to make it work.

Life has taken its toll on the pictures I have. Thanks to Larry who took the time to scan some of Mom's albums, I was able to gather a few pictures of Mom.

I took the slideshow that was on the site and moved it further down on the web as it made me sea sick for them to be going at the same time.

I stuck a picture of a cabin in this slide show. I know why, do you?

I have really enjoyed working with the pictures I have. I am hoping that some of you will be able to add more. I am hoping too that you will be able to add more memories to this site.

A couple of the pictures in the "Gatha Bingham Vance Wilson" slideshow were taken when mother was an employee of the school hot lunch system in Manassa. At one time they used the kitchen of the old opera house in Manassa. She would being leftovers from the school home. She brought the food home to feed her "pigs" at home. My favorite was when she would bring home shepherds' pie or American pizza.

Visiting Family

Leon, Bonnie Lynn, Don and Gloria went to Belen, New Mexico for Keith's funeral, and on Friday evening we had dinner with Erma and Keith's family. The ward provided it. All of Keith's children were there and most of their grandchildren also. Loraine lives in California, three of her children are married and 2 of them are not. Dick and Cindy live in Los Alamos, I don't know about their family, Sue Ann and Keith live near Provo, We saw all of their chidren but I don't know about them. Barry and his wife live in Los Alamos. I know his wife's name but I can't think of it. Kelly and Ruth live by Belen. We didn't have time to get acquainted with them as I would have liked. The funeral was wonderful. The boys and grandsons and sons in law made Keiths casket. It was beautiful It was made of white pine with cedar panels. The girls made the liner. The funeral was good. The children did the talks and music. It was a real tribute to Keith. We returned home on Saturday after the funeral. Don and Bonnie had to be to work on Monday.

On March 24 I flew to Phoenix and Joe and Doris Faye picked me up at the airport. I spent the night and the next day with Doris Faye, getting her final things done before moving to Phoenix. On Tuesday Erma came and we rented a car and went to a motel. It was nice spending time with Erma. We went to the temple then helped get things ready for the wedding the next night. All of Doris faye's children were there. Joe and Darla came first. of course. Warren and kathy live in the valley and Carl and Naelene live in Mesa, I think. Pam and Philip live west of Phoenix so they were already there. Jacob and Ellen live in Minnesota. So does Joe and Darla. EJ lives in Alaska. There are a lot of grandchildren and some great grandchildren too.

The wedding was very nice and they are so happy. Erma and I went to Sun City West and saw Rex and Nancy. On Friday night Bonnie and Gloria came. We had breakfast with Leons three girls and Jay and Kimberly. That was special. We went to Phoenix on Saturday night for a reception with Bert's children. that was special too. On Sunday morning, Bonnie and Gloria came home. It was a good trip. Doris Faye and Bert are very happy.

Where are the Dobbins now?

Not too long ago, I had to have throat surgery and have my thyroid gland removed. I was feeling really anxious and learned that EJ had similar surgery. I reached out and sent EJ an email with questions and concerns. I was not disappointed. EJ responded and was a real support to me.

I learned that EJ and Bonnie are living in Alaska and he works the airlines. He travels a lot.

I understand that Billie Jean and Tom are in the Mesa area.

Warren and Kathy were in the Denver area. We saw one another at Larry's house in Littleton. We talked about getting together. We never did and I have lost contact with them.

I don't know where Joe, Karl, Jacob and Pam are now. There was a time that our families were close. We have all moved and I would love to know where everyone is. I love my cousins and draw strength from being part of an extended family.

Doris Faye is getting married this month. We wish her the very best and wish we could be there to pull some ornery pranks, but it's too far to go to be mischevious. Best of luck Doris Faye!!

Los Alamos

Dad worked in Los Alamos after it had been a boys school. They were preparing for the atomic bomb there, He worked in the winter, when there wasn't so much to do on the farm, so there was some cash. Sometimes Mom would take him to work so she had the car. some of the other kids rode with them, but I never did. Keith and I usually stayed home to do the chores and keep the house. They told us that the roads were awful in the winter time. They can be bad now. I think they must have been terrible. Dad said the they built a building that had six foot thick walls. He couldn't imagine what they were doing there. He worked there as a carpenter.

After Keith came home from the navy, he went to Los Alamos and lived with Bud Richardson's family. That is where he met and married Erma Rae. There was a time when we went to visit, we had to wait at the gate for them to take us in. People were not allowed to just drive in. They had to have a pass.

While Dad was working in Los Alamos, our cellar burned down. It was a big potato cellar and it was big enough to park our car in it. Luckily the car didn't burn. Our lights were out and the fire engine came. It was a scary time.

Dad had a lot of talent. He could do most any job. One winter he worked at Pando, a place where they trained soldiers to ski. That was for skiers who went into Germany through world War II. It is in Colorado mountains. He did carpenter work there too.

Keith's Obituary

On the web site at www.riversideofbelen.com is Keith's obituary. The information about the viewing in Belen is there. Gatha

---

Keith Bingham
(March 4, 1927 - March 9, 2008)

Keith Edward Bingham stepped into eternity from complications due to Parkinson's disease March 9th, 2008 in Belen, New Mexico. The son of James Edward Bingham and Cora Emily Dunn, Keith was born March 4th, 1927 in Manassa, Colorado.

He graduated from Romeo High School in 1945. He served in the United States Navy from 1945-1946. Keith married Erma Rae Reynolds on August 6th, 1949 and they were sealed in the Arizona LDS Temple. They are the parents of Erma Laraine Bingham Wheeler, Richard Keith Bingham (Cindy), Sue Ann Bingham Cook (Keith), Kelly Lawrence Bingham (Ruth), Barry Lynn Bingham (Cheryl), and David Alan Bingham (Bonnie). He is survived by his wife Erma Rae, brother Leon Bingham, sisters Gatha Wilson, La Rue Lawson, Barbara White, Doris Faye Nottingham, six children, twenty eight grandchildren, and twenty three great grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all family and friends.

He worked in Los Alamos as a Welding Supervising Engineer for the Zia Company, Pan Am, and Johnson Controls. He loved working with his co-workers. Keith was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in many positions in the church, and especially loved serving as the Branch President in Llano, New Mexico. He enjoyed working with the Boy Scouts of America where he served more than 10 years.

Family and friends are invited to visit with the family Friday March 14th, 2008 from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on, 2199 Hwy 304, Belen.

Family will also receive visitors, Saturday March 15th 2008 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. at the Los Alamos Ward Chapel, 1967 18th Street, Los Alamos. Interment will follow at Guaje Pines Cemetery, Los Alamos.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund or the Humanitarian Aid Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or The Boy Scouts of America.

Arrangements are being handled by Riverside Funeral Home of Belen, 418 W. Reinken Ave. An online guest register is available at www.riversideofbelen.com

More Pictures of Keith and his family

This is a hurried collection, but here are some more pictures of Keith and his family:

Maybe with time, we can ask Keith's family to add more photos of their family.

Keith's Funeral FridaySaturday

Gatha called and informed me that Keith died this morning at 5 AM. She said that it is a relief to have his suffering removed. His family is there today and the funeral will be Friday Saturday to accommodate having the family there for the funeral.

My condolences go to all those that knew and loved Keith.

Our Ranch Home

When I stop to think of the past, I feel it is too far back. I remember the things about our home and yard. We had a big grainery. It had a floor plan that had a room to work in. That is where Dad fixed bridles and other leather goods for the horses. He repaired our shoes and fixed a lot of things. There were three bins to store grain and an upstairs, that was one big room. We used to play house in the loft. There was a stairs that could be raised up to the ceiling or let down to go up stairs.

There was a shed on the north side where machinery was stored and an ice house where the guys went to the river and cut ice and covered it with sawdust to use through the summer.

We had a cellar where potatoes and other foods were stored. It was big. One winter it caught fire and burned all of the wooden parts. The adobe walls were left standing but it was never restored.

Mom

Grandma Cora

My parents didn't have the pleasure of knowing any of their grandchildren or great grandchildren. She was the kindest person I knew. She never said a bad word about another person. If someone said something unkind about someone, she would say something nice about them. That had a tendency to stop bad rumors. Mom was a gentle person. She would be so proud to be your grandmother.

My Mom and Dad were so in love that being apart was painful for my dad. He was so sad when Mom died that life was too hard for him. I always felt that he died of a broken heart. They spent as much time together as it was possible. That is why she was on the tractor with him when the power take-of on the tractor broke and cut her leg from the knee to the hip to the bone. It was a terrible thing. She never recovered from that injury.

I didn't know that my mom could die. That kind of thing only happened to other people. We were back in school and almost everyday when we got off the bus and opened the door, someone would say "Mama", that was a hard time for all of us. That is the reason why we never talked about our parents. It was a too hard subject. I guess we never got over it.

I have great respect for my mom and hope when I see her again she will be pleased with the kind of person that I am. I also hope she and Dad will be be happy with all of you. I know they already love all of you. Grandma Gatha

Some things about my Dad

My Dad was a person that could do anything he set his mind to do.

As a young man, he was a guide for people who fished the high lakes or for hunters in the mountains. He worked for a dude ranch. He loved horses.

He was a trained meat cutter and worked for several stores as a meat cutter. He had training as a barber, but never set up a shop.

He farmed and raised cattle.

He was a great Dad. It was important for us to respect our mom. We were not allowed to talk back to her or in any way be disrespectful to her. My dad didn't allow it. I have always loved that in him.

I hope that my parents are proud of each of you. I'm sure they would be proud to be you grandfather and grandmother.

The Cockroach

The image above is one that Debra created as a consequence of a story that I related about a night in Argentina. I was sleeping when I felt something with claws on it feet crawl across my face. I was startled awake and jumped out of bed to find whatever it was that had just traversed me. I turned on the light and found on the wall a large cockroach. I reached for a shoe to eradicate the little bugger, but before I could muster the pest took to flight and out the window it went. We were sleeping with the windows open to help cool the room during the night.

Don't you think that Debra did an admirable job painting a cockroach?



How would you like to have a cockroach for a pet. Here is Debra showing her bravery when she went with her mother to visit the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver.



These cockroaches were large, I was told.



And demonstrating her outstanding courage is Jeanette when she was so bold as to hold a young Tarantula.

What kind of pet do you have?

Home in Romeo

I feel that it is a great blessing to grow up in a home where love and acceptance is. That is the way it was in our home. Winter nights we sat around the dinner table and talked, sometimes into the night. The church was our life. Because it was war time and we had an old car, sometimes our dates were family affairs. Our parents went to mutual and dances with us. There are some great memories.

The cousins.

I have fond memories of my cousins. I can say that I miss seeing and knowing them. My uncle Leon Bingham would visit Manassa to come celebrate the 24th of July. I always wanted to see Jim, Brenda, and all the others. We would play together, I don't remember just what, but we would. It was an exciting time to have them come. I remember going to Mesa Arizona once to visit them. It does not seem like a fair trade. I thought that they were the perfect family.



Sometimes we would go on a road trip to New Mexico to visit uncle Keith Bingham and his children. Kelly and Barry were the boys that I remember playing with. I do remember riding down the streets of their town in a wagon. They lived in Los Alamos. I vaguely remember going to the atomic processing plant and touring the facility where the atomic bomb was created. I can't remember anything other than the wall with the glass that had long rubber gloves attached to work on the materials on the opposite side.




The Whites lived in Manassa for the years when I was in early grade school. Barbara White lived in the white house a few blocks away with her children. Bob, Connie, Larry, Danny, and Jeff.

Larry, Danny, and Jeff were my buddies. They are all gone now. I get somewhat melancholy when I dwell on it. I don't have any good pictures of them. Only of few.

Larry Dean and I (Larry Arlo) are kneeling down in the front in the picture below Aunt Barbara. Barbara moved to Albuquerque New Mexico and we did not have much contact after that. I miss the days when we boys would go on our adventures. (I do not miss getting into trouble.)




LaRue Lawson came to live with us in Manassa while her husband Harold was serving in Viet Nam. They had a trailer that was parked on the lot where the garden plot used to be. Eddie and I were about the same age, but Eddie was a little older and quite a bit larger than me. I don't have any pictures of them.

Eddie and I play together, after a fashion. Eddie always wanted things his way (anyway that is the way I remember it) and I did not want to always do what he wanted, so we would sometimes engage in arguments and what our parents thought were fights. Go figure!

One day LaRue and Gatha determined that they were going to have an end of our fighting. They were going to make us fight until we wanted to fight no more. They secures some willow switches to use to threaten us if we did not continue to fight. We fought. But as seeing that Eddie was much larger than me, it was not long before he had the upper hand. I was on the bottom and he was sitting on me while we pushed each others hands and arms around. Nobody was really getting hurt, but I was getting tired.

I laid down on the ground and rested. Eddie exclaimed, "I KILLED HIM! I killed him!" and started to get up. As he did I actually hit him with a right cross to the head. I don't remember how the fight ended, but there we were having fought with probably no clear victor, and as I remember, not much changed in the way we played. Maybe Eddie, Gatha, or LaRue could add some light as to what really happened then and thereafter.

Doris Faye was mostly like a big sister. I don't remember her living with us, but I do remember her living in the house that Barbara used to have. Doris Faye and Bill and their children were close enough that we spent a lot of time interacting. Billy Jean was the one that we played with the most. When Bill died things changed a bit. I hear Aunt Doris Faye is getting ready to get married again.



I have lost touch with all my cousins. I wish then all well.

Memories

Although I never knew Grandma and Grandpa Bingham, they have touched my life.

For many years, I had a two drawer dresser that I put my clothes in. Grandpa Bingham had made it from an old upright Radio cabinet. I think that LaRue has it now.

I still have a picture that hung in the home of Grandma and Grandpa Bingham. I have really enjoyed it over the years. When it fell from the wall one time and the glass broke, I realized that it was actually the cover of a Relief Society magazine.

As I look at photos of Grandma and Grandma Bingham, I can see their grandchildren. I see Leon's boys in Grandpa, and I see Connie White as I look at Grandma Bingham. They left their marks on our contenances and on our hearts.

Gatha's family

There are 60 people in Arlo and My family. I don't have a large family, but we are growing slowly.

How this BLOG works

Some people who visit here may have an interest in being involved, others may just want to come look. There are two levels at which a person can be involved with a BLOG.

1. Post comments to articles published
2. Publish articles

The information for the BLOG is stored by blogger.com as a service. One person creates the BLOG and sets the limits on how the BLOG is used. There are two levels of privilege associated with a BLOG as an author. The original author is the site administrator. The site administrator can invite others to be contributing authors. Contributing authors can also be designated as administrators by the original administrator or subsequent administrators.

This BLOG is set so that the general public can view the BLOG. Anybody in the world can visit and look at what is published here. The administrator(s) can change the permission on viewing the BLOG to just those who have OpenId accounts, those invited by the administrator, or just authors. This BLOG is wide open to everybody for comments and viewing.

So in review, there are three levels of participation.

1. Administrator
2. Author
3. General Public

Anybody can look and comment. Only authors can post articles. The administrator controls who can do what.

If you are a part of the Ted and Cora Bingham family and would like to have permission to be an author, then please notify Kent or me (Larry) that you would like to be invited by an administrator.

My address is larryavance1954 at gmail dot com. Replace the at and dot with the right symbols.

My Aunt Doris Faye

Doris Faye and her family lived in Manassa for the years when I was a teenager. She was very kind to me. She and Uncle Bill would allow me to use their vehicles. I don't remember now much about what I did when I was out with their cars, but I do remember the exchanges.

Doris Faye was good enough to let me try to learn to drive in her Chevrolet sedan. We went out of town behind the "M" where the roads are not level, but have an incline. As we were going down the hill I stepped on the clutch. This allowed us to accelerate along the road. The road curved. I lost control. Doris Faye grabbed the wheel and told me to step on the brakes. I tore the muffler from the exhaust system on the rocks at the side of the road. What an adventure.

I am a member, but ....

I am a grandson of Ted Bingham and Cora Dunn. I have completed family group sheets and pedigree charts that include them, but I have no memories of my own. Knowing dates and places is not really knowing someone. I must rely on Mom, Doris Faye, Leon, Larue, Barbara, Keith and others who knew them to tell us what they know. This is the best source of information we have right now.

Others have heard stories about them from their parents. Those would be wonderful sources of information too.

There are a lot of cousins like me, with children and grandchildren. It would be wonderful to see some posts about that portion of the family as well. Please, Please join us in talking of Ted and Cora's family. We could have fun, gain strength, and draw closer to one another if we would but take the time to share with one another.

Pres Hinckley

We will definately miss him, however I'm sure he is happy to be with his bride!

Hi this is Doris Faye

I am learning about Blogs

Help me identify the photos

To the right, you will see photos that Gatha has collected over the years. Larry scanned them, and I added them to the blog as a Slide Show (to the right). There were a number of faces that I didn't recognize. Please help identify them by clicking on the SlideShow and leaving comments on the pictures you recognize. I'll add the captions as you help me identify them or correct them as needed.

Feel free to leave comments even if the captions are correct. A picture is worth a thousand words, but a couple of words can still add value to a good photo.

Gatha

Ted and Cora are my parents and they didn't have the blessing of knowing any of their grandchildren. It has been a difficult thing to talk about them, because it has been so painful. I wrote a small book about them to tell their grandchildren. That was probably somewhat helpful for some understanding about them, but there is so much more. I hope this will help.

Family in Kanab

Don (Red) is working his winter schedule! He works 4/10's during the winter out of town, where ever they send him to fix and clean up projects. This gives him a little extra spending cash if he watchs his spending! ha ha... This makes it very quiet at home in Kanab since my part time job has been terminated do to sale of the company for where I worked. However this week will be busy as a election judge preparation. We have a new neighbor who is also keeping me busy a couple of times a month making trips to St. George with her. she is a 78y 'ole maid', who is a nice lady. (never married) As for the kids ... our descendants... Our oldest granddaughter just turned 14, and our youngest granddaughter 9 on this month. My life is shared with all our grandkids (9 of them) whom are very special and loving. it is interesting to read about the family. I hope I can share information too.

Kent and Betty Vance

We are living in Colorado Springs and our kids, Brenda, Andrea, and Robert are living in the North. Kent is telecommuting and works as an IT Specialist. Betty spends a lot of time with her dad.

Brenda and Tim Bonnichsen live in Sturgis, South Dakota with their girls, Aubrey and Chloe. Tim works in a retail store. Brenda is a beautician. Aubrey is going to school, and Chloe is still a pre-schooler.

Andrea and her children, Matthew, Luke, and Ashleigh live in Johnstown, Colorado. Andi works in a Lawyer's office. Matthew is in 10th grade. Luke is in 6th grade and Ashleigh is in first grade.

Robert and his daughter, Hannah live in Loveland, Colorado.

James Edward (Ted) Bingham

Ted was born in Manassa, Colorado on August 5, 1898. His parents were Jeremiah Edward Bingham and Ada Zoa Jack. He was just 9 years old when both of his parents had died.

When Cora died because of a farming accident, he was left alone with his children. In this picture, you see in the front row: Cora Larue, James Edward (Ted), Doris Faye, and Barbara Ann. In the back row, you see Teddy Leon, Keith Edward, and Gatha.

Cora Emily Dunn Bingham

Cora Emily Dunn was born on 29 July 1908 to Anna Buletta Jensen and Simeon Harmon Dunn in Eastdale, Costilla County Colorado. Her siblings were : Frances Edna, Ethel Leona, Wiliam Oliver, Ruth Carie, Edgar Harmon, Ina, Hazel, Elma, Doris, Loyd Jensen, Keith Melford and Rex Simeon.

Cora grew up with seven sisters and three brothers. Because the girls were first they milked cows, fed chickens , and helped in the fields.

Welcome

Please join me in writing about Ted and Cora and their family as they were then, and as they are now.

If you want to be an author on this site and if you are a descendant of Ted and Cora Bingham or are married to one, send an email to Kent Vance, and he'll insure that you get an invitation.