Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• FSID: KWCH-BQ7

Notater:

James Elbert (Bert) Whetten taught the gospel to Pancho Villa Bert Whetten, brother to John Amasa Whetten once taught the gospel to Pancho Villa and later on had the opportunity to do his temple work. For details, see the personal page of James Elbert Whetten.

John + Ida Elizabeth Jesperson. Ida (datter af Jens Peter Jespersen og Emma Ida Johnson) blev født den 14 aug. 1881 i Richfield, Sevier, Utah, USA; døde den 17 sep. 1953 i El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA; blev begravet den 19 sep. 1953 i Evergreen Alameda Cemetery, El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• FSID: KWZ7-FMM
• Bopæl: 1930, Juárez, Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Mexico

Notater:

Ida Elizabeth, eldest child of James Peter and Emma Ida Jesperson, was born August 14, 1881, in Richfield, Utah. Her early childhood was spent in Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. When she was 12 years old, her family moved to northern Arizona. While living in St. Johns, in 1897, she was stricken with typhoid fever, a sever illness which lasted for months. With no doctors at all, it was only by the faith of her parents and the priesthood that her life was spared.

Ida grew to be a talented and beautiful young lady with brown eyes and long black hair. She had a natural ability to cut and sew material; being the eldest she had plenty opportunity to sew. When she was 14 she made a dress for her mother that fit so well that from then on she made all of her mother's clothes, as well as her own besides making shirts, trousers and underwear for her brothers.

During the winter of 1897 her family moved to Colonia Juarez, Mexico. It was at a dance in Pacheco that she met John Whetten, her future husband. She wasn't too impressed at the time except for his dancing. In 1899 her family moved to Colonia Garcia and she taught school. She married John March 7, 1900.

For the next 12 years John and Ida lived in Colonia Garcia. Seven of her children were born there, and her first 3 baby boys are buried there. In spite of the sorrows and hardships of frontier life, her influence was felt for good in the community. She had the reputation of raising the best vegetables and prettiest flowers in town. It was here that she was secretary for the Sunday School for 7 consecutive years.

At the time of the American exodus from Mexico during the Mexican Revolution she had a new home just ready to move into, but with her 4 babies came to the United States to live. It was here that her 8th child was born. During the five years that followed, they moved wherever work was available. Her 9th child was also born during their stay here in the United States.

In September of 1917, with 3 wagons loaded with their belongings and with their 6 children, they moved back to Colonia Garcia. In 1920 she gave birth to their 10th child. It was during June of this year that they moved to Chuichupa.

Her home stood at the edge of the valley shadowed by the tall pine trees. With more water, here she was able to garden to her heart's desire. Her yards were the most beautiful in town. The home was always open to her children's friends, and many were the parties and dances held there. In 1922 her twins were born, and in 1925 her last child, a son, was born, who died 15 months later.

In July 1925, John's second wife, Martha, whom he had married while polygamy in the Church was being practiced in Mexico, passed away in childbirth, leaving a family of 8. Ida opened her heart and her arms to the motherless children. They were not strangers as Ida had helped to feed and clothe them all of their lives. She now had 2 young babies, 5 others under 6 years of age besides the others, ranging from 8 to 18. She was now 44 years of age, having borne 13 children herself.

With this many children, she knew she would have to get nearer the high school; and so in September 1925, Ida with her large brood moved to Colonia Juarez. The large brick house, surrounded by a stone wall, stood as a monument to the happiest home in Colonia Juarez.

To the Academy, which she wanted her children to attend, 16 climbed the steps as timid freshmen and walked down the steps 4 years later and laid a diploma in her lap.

By the late 1930's the weight of her responsibilities was taking its toll. In 1937 it seems that her internal organs were simply wearing out. She had a serious heart condition and for months lay flat on her back, her life in a balance. Gradually she became better and once again could run her household, only this time it was from her bedroom, where she directed her daughters in the inside work and her 2 youngest sons with the outside.

No more could she do such physical labor as she had done all of her life, but that didn't mean her hands and mind stopped. There wasn't a baby born in Colonia Juarez that didn't receive booties and jackets crocheted from yarn. She read continually and continued to teach her children. As her strength gradually returned over the years, she found she could again sit at her beloved sewing machine. Few families didn't benefit from it. If she ever heard or saw of some child that needed a dress or shirt, one would be sewn up and sent over, warning whichever child took it not to say a word to anyone what was in the package.

She lived the teaching of Christ when he said, "Neither let thy right hand know what thy left hand doeth." She was a mother and grandmother to all. She sought out the poor, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, cheered the weary and oppressed. No one ever left her home without taking something away in their hands or heart. She never repeated to whose baby she made a dress for, or what hungry family received a loaf of bread. Little children loved and adored her.

In her last years, as her heath permitted, Ida and John came to Mesa to work in the temple. She was not only suffering with her bad heart, but she had a serious liver condition and diabetes. Doctors marveled at her strength of spirit. In June of 1953 the doctors informed her family that she was dying of cancer of the liver. She passed away September 17th of that year.

John's marriage to Ida was a civil marriage performed by Bishop John T. Whetten on March 7, 1900, in Colonia Garcia, Chihuahua, Mexico. They were sealed for time and eternity by the prophet Joseph F. Smith while he was on a visit to Mexico. They were instructed to make the trip to Salt Lake to recieve their endowment as soon as possible, which they did on April 4, 1912.

Andre Begivenheder og Egenskaber:

• FSID: KWZC-ZST
• Indvandring: 26 aug. 1864, Utah, USA
• Bopæl: 1880, Marysvale, Piute, Utah, USA
• Passport Application: 1918, Mexico

John blev gift med Agnes Belzora Savage den 11 dec. 1878 i St George, Washington, Utah, USA. Agnes blev født den 29 jun. 1861 i Holden, Millard, Utah, USA; døde den 29 maj 1939 i Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

Jens blev gift med Emma Ida Johnson den 19 sep. 1880 i Richfield, Sevier, Utah, USA. Emma blev født den 20 apr. 1862 i Fairfield, Jefferson, Iowa, USA; døde den 2 sep. 1953 i Duchesne, Duchesne, Utah, USA. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]

John blev gift med Sophia Atkin den 27 maj 1861 i Cross Plains, Dane, Wisconsin, USA. Sophia blev født den 4 apr. 1844 i Empingham, Rutland, England; døde den 7 dec. 1924 i Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, USA. [Gruppeskema] [Familietavle]