Charles Batt (1861–1949) married Eliza Brazier in England before they accepted the restored gospel, joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and immigrated to America. Most of his history details their life after they came to Utah. This is the third of six installments (see Batt & Lee Ancestors, 18–19). Charles was the father of William B Batt (1888–1959) and the grandfather of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982).
Charles decided to try looking for a job to get a few things they needed so badly and to pay the midwife who brought Ernest. He left his wife and children with Sister Kemp's promise to call and help with the family. He went to Logan to find a job. It took his team a long time to get there. The only people he knew in Logan were the John Mortimers, so he went to their home. Sister Mortimer gave him a good hot meal while Brother Mortimer took care of and fed his team. Then they sat down and talked over what kind of jobs to look for. Brother Mortimer wanted Charles to go to the new Agricultural College that was being built at that time in Logan.
Brother Mortimer hitched up his own horse and buggy and took Charles up to the college. The school buildings were about ready to take their first classes that fall, and someone was needed to plant the trees and the lawn. Charles was very backward and was afraid he didn't know enough about it to ask for the job. Fortunately, Brother Mortimer had more confidence in Charles than Charles had in himself, so the two of them went in to see the college president.
President Sanborne met with them and indicated they needed all kinds of workers but could only hire one or two at this time. He wanted to know what Charles could do. Charles answered that he could do many odd jobs but his real work was gardening and landscaping. President Sanborne wanted to know where Charles had learned that trade. Charles told him that he was an Englishman and had not been in America very long and that he had learned it in England. The president told Charles that he would have to talk to a board member about hiring him but to come back the next day.
The next day found Charles at the college before President Sanborne arrived. When the president did arrive, he took Charles into his office and told him it didn't look like anything could be done about landscaping until the next spring. He did want Charles to walk around the grounds with him though and look them over. As they were going out the door, it fell off its hinges, knocking President Sanborne down. Charles caught the door before it fell on top of President Sanborne. Charles examined the door and found all the screws in place, but they had never been tightened. He set the screws as tight as he could with his pocketknife and told President Sanborne to have one of the workmen tighten them with good tools. President Sanborne brushed the dirt from his suit and told Charles to go to work at once. He took Charles into his office and signed him up as a handyman, his first job at the Agricultural College.
Monday, November 30, 2009
2 Quote of the week
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
— Charles Dickens (1812–1870), in A Christmas Carol
3 This week in our family
As of today, 25 days until Christmas!
Wed, Dec 2: Talmage & Louise married 2006 [Dean]
Thurs, Dec 3: Hannah Grace Kersker's birthday [Lyle]
Fri, Dec 4: Curtis's birthday [Ray]
Sun, Dec 6: Fast Sunday
Sun, Dec 6: First Presidency Christmas devotional (6:00pm MST)
Mon, Dec 7: Brian's birthday [Gail]
Mon, Dec 7: Next issue of newsletter
Wed, Dec 2: Talmage & Louise married 2006 [Dean]
Thurs, Dec 3: Hannah Grace Kersker's birthday [Lyle]
Fri, Dec 4: Curtis's birthday [Ray]
Sun, Dec 6: Fast Sunday
Sun, Dec 6: First Presidency Christmas devotional (6:00pm MST)
Mon, Dec 7: Brian's birthday [Gail]
Mon, Dec 7: Next issue of newsletter
4 Bits and tidbits
Lyle's family
A post last Tuesday by Josh and Crystal Price: "We've begun the process of moving into our new house! Our church has a rental house that they have graciously decided to let us live in. I'm so excited to finally live in a house! We will be offline for a bit, so sorry if you don't hear from me for a while. We will do most of our moving over the weekend and will begin staying there next week. It's an older home (built 1910), with lots of character and just enough space for our family. Read more.
Kay's family
A post from a week ago Sunday by Kay and Karen in Peru: "For my birthday Sister Tyler gave me a pillow case with the mission logo embroidered on it. She also gave me the following message in a birthday card. 'Dear Elder Cleverly, How privileged we are to work beside such a man as you are: Accountant, consoler, good husband, father, grandfather, and surrogate grandfather (to many including the Tyler children), missionary and office manager. More importantly - Our eternal "Friend." We love you.' Actually Karen is the office manager.
"Then a couple of days later we received an e-mail from sister Elmer. She said, 'I wanted to tell you that what you are doing in the office is so important to the mission and to the Tylers and I seriously don't know how we did it without you and Kay for those two years you were not with us. So don't fret if you don't get to go to the provinces, you are doing a GREAT WORK right where you are and the missionaries love you and feel a great security having adults in the office. I am sure you two will go on another mission and you can request proselyting! Maybe we can go together. Now wouldn't that be fun!'
"The reason that I bring this up is every missionary wonders why he was called to that particular mission. President Elmer once told me that he called his very best missionaries, those that he could trust and would work their very hardest into the office. I have always felt that if I could just be of service to the president and his wife and to lighten their load and be an example and help to all the missionaries and at the same time free up the four missionaries that are always called to the office, then our mission would have been a success."
Dean's family
After spending several days visiting Robert and Rachael Hodson in Harrisburg, Illinois, Paul and Eliza Challis returned home to Atlanta, where Paul ran a half marathon on Thanksgiving morning. After dropping him off at 6:40 that morning, Eliza and the boys went home and made signs and then waited for him along the route and at the finish line.
A post last Tuesday by Josh and Crystal Price: "We've begun the process of moving into our new house! Our church has a rental house that they have graciously decided to let us live in. I'm so excited to finally live in a house! We will be offline for a bit, so sorry if you don't hear from me for a while. We will do most of our moving over the weekend and will begin staying there next week. It's an older home (built 1910), with lots of character and just enough space for our family. Read more.
Kay's family
A post from a week ago Sunday by Kay and Karen in Peru: "For my birthday Sister Tyler gave me a pillow case with the mission logo embroidered on it. She also gave me the following message in a birthday card. 'Dear Elder Cleverly, How privileged we are to work beside such a man as you are: Accountant, consoler, good husband, father, grandfather, and surrogate grandfather (to many including the Tyler children), missionary and office manager. More importantly - Our eternal "Friend." We love you.' Actually Karen is the office manager.
"Then a couple of days later we received an e-mail from sister Elmer. She said, 'I wanted to tell you that what you are doing in the office is so important to the mission and to the Tylers and I seriously don't know how we did it without you and Kay for those two years you were not with us. So don't fret if you don't get to go to the provinces, you are doing a GREAT WORK right where you are and the missionaries love you and feel a great security having adults in the office. I am sure you two will go on another mission and you can request proselyting! Maybe we can go together. Now wouldn't that be fun!'
"The reason that I bring this up is every missionary wonders why he was called to that particular mission. President Elmer once told me that he called his very best missionaries, those that he could trust and would work their very hardest into the office. I have always felt that if I could just be of service to the president and his wife and to lighten their load and be an example and help to all the missionaries and at the same time free up the four missionaries that are always called to the office, then our mission would have been a success."
Dean's family
After spending several days visiting Robert and Rachael Hodson in Harrisburg, Illinois, Paul and Eliza Challis returned home to Atlanta, where Paul ran a half marathon on Thanksgiving morning. After dropping him off at 6:40 that morning, Eliza and the boys went home and made signs and then waited for him along the route and at the finish line.
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