- Life Sketch of Monroe Bird Tew
By Della Tew Stander
Read at his funeral by Eugene R Fallentine, son-in-law May 7, 1970
Daddy grew up as a child in a family of seven children in Mapleton, Utah. His heritage was great in both lineage and love of the Gospel.
This he was proud of, and grateful to pass on to his posterity. His mother said of him in his childhood, “he
was a good boy-never any problem. He had a sweet voice and would sing while playing by himself.” One song in particular was “Green gravel, green gravel, how green the grass grows.” This song with many others was passed on also to his children.
When he was in first or second grade, he got wet while playing marbles. That night he went to his Grandma Snow’s to sleep and came down with pneumonia. He was very ill for some time and was restored by the Priesthood and faithful care of his mother and others.
When he was quite small he fell from a horse when it turned quickly in the opposite direction. When someone ran to pick him up, he jumped up himself and said, “It didn’t hoit.” He was, as his mother said, a good boy, and never brought his parents grief. Later in his high school years, he had to be operated on for appendicitis-which at that time was quite serious, especially with the complications which Daddy had.
Daddy was virtuous and clean-living in his youth. This was reflected in his love for athletics and sports of all kinds. He dearly loved to play basketball, and proved to be excellent in his performance. He loved to wrestle and held his own with men much larger than himself. From his personal history we read of a third love in sports. “In 1915 I went to Beaver Academy. I took second down there in shot-put, then that spring at the County track meet I took
first in the shot-put, second in Hammer throw and third in the Discus Throw. Then I went to Salt Lake
and took second in the shot-put for the State of Utah.”
When Mama talks about their courtship, she says: About the first of April 1913 I went to my first dance in Mapleton, with my cousin, Sam Sanderson. I met all the young fellows and danced with several. One I remember was Bird Tew. I asked him how to spell his name and he said T-E -W. then he curled his tongue over the corner of his upper lip. I noticed his real blue eyes, and curly brown hair. He was 20 minus 2 or 3 weeks, and I was 18 ½. My cousin, Sam, smoked...and most of the fellows did but Bird was different.” They shared many varied experiences as their schooling and courtship progressed. One, was singing in the Mapleton Ward choir. They were to put on a concert and a prize was given to whoever sold the most tickets. Daddy won the prize, which was a leather-back songbook of the Songs of Zion. This he treasured throughout his life.
Another part of Daddy’s life which he valued highly, was his participation in the band, both in Mapleton, and B.Y.U. He loved the trumpet and played in the orchestra for years. Later, as we children grew up, he would play it in our family home evenings, until he could no longer see the music and the loss of his top teeth made it impossible to form the pressure for sound. This love of band music remained with him, and he was desirous that all his children should learn to play an instrument, which we did. This brought many happy hours in our home as we played together each with a different horn.
Mamma and Daddy were married on the 3rd of November, 1915 in the Salt Lake Temple. After just one week of marriage, Daddy let for a mission to the Eastern Sates, and this was the beginning of his love for missionary work.
Although his efforts were cut short because of ill health, he cultivated within his children a love of missionary work and later six of them were called to missions of their own - four being out at one time. He was proud of us.
He returned from his mission Christmas day, 1916, and in February they moved to Lead Belt Mine in Antelope Canyon. The weather was severe, and on April 6th, they day war was declared with Germany, Mamma and Dad
dy moved to Leslie. They lived first in the old Furey place, which in its earlier days had been the station for stages and freight wagons, and the first post office for Leslie.
Life was not easy, and with still not the best of health, Daddy struggled to make a living. Like a lot of others Daddy lost his farm and machinery but UNLIKE so many others he stayed in the valley; and little by little recaptured sufficient for a living. This struggle gave him a love of the valley and people that few other possess. He became acquainted with most of the canyons and history of the valley, and at the time of his death could be called one of its few remaining pioneers. This struggle also developed within him the ability to accomplish the impossible as he
attempted what so many others said “couldn’t be done.” He did a lot of canyon work, cutting timber and freighting from the hills. He raised pigs and cattle, which he sold, built bridges and rerouted rivers. He moved houses by the hundreds. Any community in the valley reflected the work of his hands in this capacity. He developed a love of machinery and could take a car to pieces and put it back together and have it running smoothly. Every road was familiar to him and he could tell its history. He and Grandpa Hurst were the last ones to go over the old road of Trail creek to Ketchum; then it was closed behind them.
In 1919 the Lost River Stake was organized, and he was sustained a 2nd Counselor to Bishop Walker in the Leslie Ward. Later he served as Mutual President, Ward and Sunday School Chorister, Genealogical chairman, and Sunday
School teacher for adults for 20 years. Twice he was called as a Stake Missionary.
On several occasions he helped prepare the dead for burial and was called for many times to assist with the sick. He was known and called fondly by young and old alike in Leslie as “Uncle Bird.” Along with this, he became the father of seven children who all love him very much and have tried to bring honor to his name by serving wherever called and all marrying in the temple. We are so grateful for Daddy’s life. What would we be, and what would the valley have done without him?
We remember Daddy, getting out slivers and fish hooks and helping us learn our spelling words. We remember him talking over gospel principles, nights around the piano which he must have sacrificed to get for us. We remember learning to swim on Daddy’s back, his special fireworks at 3 O’Clock on the mornings of the 4th of July, hauling hay together, trips to the canyon for wood, sitting on his lap for a chat and a kiss, and lifesavers and pennies from his pocket to our hand, the tricks and games we used to play....his summers away from home in Antelope to put up
hay, and then calling us by way of the neighbor’s telephone so we could talk to him. We remember him straining to hear and communicate from his lonely world of quiet... We remember his proud and happy look when we did things well, and tears in his eyes when we suffered. We remember his family prayers that we might all reach the Celestial Kingdom and be together as a family...Yes, this and much more....for we know that he truly loved us.
Remarks added by Eugene R. Fallentine, husband of Lillian Tew (daughter)
Bird Tew’s life exemplified the Savior’s teachings. He sacrificed all for his family. Though he died with humble means, yet he was rich with eternal riches. Bird Tew had the raw courage to assist in settling this valley. This is why the Lord sent him here. He was strong. He did not shrink in trial. He did not palsy in difficulty. He did not avoid conflict in speaking out against evil. He stood up and was counted for righteousness. We will all benefit from his
example of undeviating righteous strength and courage.
We follow a noble father, his honor is ours to wear
He gave us a name that was free from shame -
A name he was proud to bear,
He lived in the morning sunlight and marched
in the ranks of right.
He was always true to the best he knew, and
the Shield was he wore was bright.
We follow a noble father and never a day goes by
But we feel he looks down on us
To carry his standard high.
He stood to the sternest trials
As a brave man can;
Tho the way be long, We must never wrong,
The name of so good a man.
We follow a noble father not know to the printed page
Nor written down the world’s renown
As a prince of his little age.
But never a stain attached to him
And never he stooped to shame.
He was bold and brave and to us he gave
The pride of an honest name.
We follow a noble father and him
We must keep in mind.
Though his form is gone, we must carry on
The name that he left behind.
It was ours on the day he gave it.
It shone as a monarch’s crown.
And as fair to see, as it came to us
It must be when We put it down.
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