I was born in Payson, Utah, 6 April 1889. My mother died 12 April 1898, six days after my ninth birthday. As I go back into my childhood, my first recollection was in 1892. I was about four years old, living at Utah on the Hill. We children were playing with a butcher knife when Mildred got her finger cut badly, just hanging by the skin. I recall the excitement as she was rushed to a doctor and had the finger sewed on. Alvino Antonio was born in San Pedro, Mexico, and died the same year of pneumonia.

I next remember Father as he rushed mother, Mildred and me into a wagon in the dead of night and hurried us out of town to avoid apprehension of the government officers. These were the days of the "Underground" in Utah. When I awoke the next morning, we were in a small house in Mapleton. Here Lester was born August 5, 1894. While here, an old Indian man came to our door and asked for food. I was much afraid, but Mother quieted my fears by telling me that President Young had told us to be kind to the Indians and feed them and they would not hurt us. This mother did by giving him his breakfast, and he was on his way.

The next recollection of our family life was when we were living at Spanish Fork. My father came to see us and brought Ade with him. Ade was my older brother of father's first family. He built me a rabbit pen for my two rabbits. From that time on, throughout my entire life, John Adrum was always a real brother to me, always interested in my welfare.

Due to severe trials that many had to endure in those days, mother separated from my father and married a bachelor, Andrew Crump. From Spanish Fork town he moved us to Spanish Fork Field where my half-brother, Dan Crump was born.

David Barnabas Lant: One morning a man came to our house who was a stranger to me. He had been wounded by a gun shot through his chest while resisting an arrest of officers of the law. Mother dressed his wound and gave him something to eat, and then he left. After he was gone, Mother told me that this was her brother, David Lant, my own uncle.

While still living at the Field, on special occasions we would go as a family to Grandfather Lant's home at Payson. I remember on one of these occasions when Aunt Lydia was married to Mr. Berry, and Grandfather performed the ceremony. On another occasion on Christmas Eve, mother and the aunts were arranging the gifts for Santa Claus. My aunt said to Mother, "which one of these pocket knives is Lynn's?" At that moment Santa Claus went up the chimney, and I never believed in him again.

My fondest recollection of Grandfather Lant was the occasion of the evening meal, which consisted of bread and hot milk. After calling the family together, prayers were said. Grandfather sat like a patriarch at the end of the table in his arm chair. The rest took their places at the end of the table and were served from a large punch-like bowl in the middle of the table. He was dignified and gracious and really loved all of the grandchildren. I have always been grateful for these experiences.

While yet at the field, Mother received a letter from my father who now was living at Colonia Oaxaca, Sonora, Mexico. Father always loved his children and hoped Mother would consent for me to join with him in Old Mexico. He offered to give me a good start financially - a thousand acres of land, several head of cattle, and a horse or two. All of this would have appealed greatly to any normal boy, but mother was indignant, tore up the letter, and burned it in the cook stove in my presence. However, she did tell me what my father had said. This was my first realization that mother was very bitter against my father; and having seen my father so little, I assumed she was justified.

Shortly after this Mother died in childbirth from complications and blood poison. The baby died with her April 12, 1898. Dan Crump went to live with one of his father's sisters, who raised him. Mildred and I were taken to Payson to live with Aunt Ella Kerr, and Lester went to Uncle John Lant.

As soon as father learned of Mother's death, he came to Payson to claim his children. Mildred and Lester were willing to go with him, but due to my previous impressions, I resented meeting my father. Being informed by Aunt Ella that he was coming to see me, I ran away to the cow pasture and spent the day. It became impossible for me, a child of nine, to avoid my father any longer and I met him on the porch as I came home. After coming face to face with my father, I felt a confidence in him, and my trust continued to grow. So we went to Mexico with him. I have been most grateful to my father that he came for us, and that he was always a faithful and good parent. He was an honorable and righteous man, always setting a fine example for us, and giving us wise counsel. I honor and respect him and am most grateful to be his son, and I find comfort in the fact that the temple marriage, which he had with my mother still stands. She is buried in Spanish Fork cemetery.