Mother: Charlotte Elizabeth Smart
Father: Samuel Rose Parkinson
Birth Date: January 8, 1875; Franklin, Oneida, Idaho
Death Date: January 2, 1948; Rexburg, Madison, Idaho
Spouse: Bessie Ann Doney
Children:
(1) Fred Doney
(2) DeVerge Doney
(3) Russ Doney
(4) Reed Doney
(5) Carrol Doney
(6) Ann Doney
(7) Keith Doney
(8) Lygia Doney
(9) Blaine Doney
(10) Max Doney
(11) Morris Doney
(12) Boyd Doney
My parents are Samuel Rose Parkinson and Charlotte Smart, both of English decent and from sturdy, stalwart families. They both joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and came to Utah among the early pioneers of 1852. In about 1860 they went with others and assisted in establishing and building the first permanent settlement in Idaho, which was Franklin.
Both the Parkinson and Smart families were leaders in the small village and active in establishing the people in their homes, locating them on farms, and both families took part in both church and civic affairs. Father was the first counselor to Bishop L.L. Hatch for about thirty years. He was by occupation a farmer, sheep man, and merchant. He believed in the principal of plural marriage and was privileged to accept three women as his wives. From them he reared thirty-two children.
My mother, Charlotte Smart, was the second wife and raised ten children—eight girls and two boys. In order of birth they are: Annie (Packer), Lucy (Lloyd), Joseph, Frederick, Leona (Monson), Bertha (Larson), Eva (Leigh), Hazel (Peterson), Nettie (Smoot), and Vivian (Taylor).
My other brothers and sisters are as follows: First family from Arabella Chandler—Samuel, William, Charlotte, Charlotte Pratt, George, Frank, Ester Rodgers, Clara Goseland, Caroline Goseland, and Albert. Third family from Maria Smart: Thomas, Luella Cowley, Bell Daines, Edmond, Saddie Marshall, Clarence, Olive Monson, Henry, Susie Neilson, Hazen, Glen, Chloe, and Lenora.
With such a large family, my parents were forced to practice economy, but gave their children the advantages of an education commensurate with the requirements for that day. All their children were taught to work and to be industrious. Most of them took advantage of their opportunities and grew up to be honored and respected citizens in the communities in which they lived and surrounded themselves with a large circle of friends. My brothers and sisters were all of a religious turn of mind and grew up under the teachings of the LDS church and took an active part therein. They were all married in one of the temples of that religion, not only for time but for eternity.A home for each of the three families was provided and father divided his time among the three branches. While each family held their household belongings separately, the rest of the property was held in common. The brothers would work together on the farms in the canyons, in the garden, with the sheep, or in the store, according to where father needed them most. When working together, the oldest, in father’s absence would direct the work.
In this little community of about 300 families is where the Parkinson families grew up. The brothers, sisters, and friends would group themselves together and enjoy themselves in song, dance, socials, sleigh riding, summer outings, and in all the activities of life. The whole community was about like one large family. The joys, sorrows, successes, failures, disappointments, etc., of one was almost the common knowledge of the whole. One’s business was largely known to them all.
Under these conditions and environments I was brought up to maturity. I was religiously inclined and was baptized in the LDS Church in 1882 and labored in the various organizations such as Primary, Sunday school, and Mutual all during my youth. I learned to believe in the mission of the prophet Joseph Smith and worked and accepted positions of responsibility to forward on the work.
My earliest education was had in a private school, conducted by my older sisters, held in one of Father’s old granaries. A little later in the district grade schools of Franklin. At seventeen years of age I went to the Brigham Young College of Logan, Utah from which I graduated from a two year Normal course in the spring of 1896. At that time a person graduating from a course of that kind was considered well educated. I felt however, I should go on to higher education.
I was given encouragement to enter the medical progression by one of my professors, Mr. G.W. Gowans, who became a doctor of medicine later. At this particular time, however, the proposition of marriage confronted me, which, if taken would likely end my schooling. I gave serious thought to each of the propositions and chose the latter.
My amusements during youth were had mostly in the little town of Franklin and the small town nearby. They consisted of small group parties, dances, summer outing, winter sports such as sleigh riding, skating on the ice, some hunting, fishing, and in taking part in the various school functions as they came along. Football, baseball, and jumping being among my favorite sports. Catching behind the bat was my job when playing baseball. I was considered second in the intermountain country on a long jump, being able to make 22 ½ feet, and first in vaulting where I have made 12 feet.
My associates of youth were mostly with my brothers, sisters, and with boys and girls of a similar age in the town of Franklin and with my school mates while at school. I was fortunate in having a desire to associate with the best boys and girls in the community and with those a little older than myself. This desire materialized largely and it kept me going right most of the item during youth. I was with my parents a great deal and their council and advice was of inestimable value to me. They always told me my associations were a great determining factor as to my success in life. So, I was led to watch well and select my company from those of high ideals.
My travels up until I was married were very limited, being confined to the close of communities. Occasionally, however, I would be able to go as far as Salt Lake City, and in April 1893, I represented the deacons of the Oneida Stake for about two weeks during the dedicatory services of the Salt Lake temple. I would travel horseback considerably in the mountains on either side of Cache Valley looking after sheep for father. When eight years of age I accompanied my brother George C. to Malad valley and to St. John and the mountains west of there I assisted in driving one hundred sheep over the mountains to Franklin. This was my first experience with sheep and possibly was where I received my inclination toward the sheep industry.
During my boyhood days, through the teachings of my parents, teachers, and noticing the difference in the success of people of mature age, I received the ambition to amount to something in life and be honorable, upright, and just in all my dealings with men. I desired to be successful in business and do service to my fellowmen. I was handicapped some, however, in my limited education, and felt it was a little hard for me to push myself forward in public affairs. I was blessed, however, in having parents who would do almost anything for me and early in my business life my father would sign notes with me to help me get started in business. This assistance, together with his wise council, was a great advantage to me.
So with a good desire and a limited education, I decided to start out for myself in the fall of 1896 and proposed to a lady, Bessie Ann Doney to become my help mate through life. I had known her since childhood—also the family. Her people were of English decent, sturdy, stalwart people, ambitious in their work. Their occupation was farming and dairymen. They were of LDS faith, having crossed the plains with pioneers of Utah in about 1854. They were among the first settlers of Franklin. They were among the prosperous families of the community and were considered fairly well to do. They gave their children, seven in all, an opportunity for education.
Her father’s name was John Doney and her mother’s Ann Temperance George Doney. Pursuant with our agreement, my wife and I were married in the LDS temple at Logan, Utah on September 2, 1896.
A few days after I had a chance to accompany my brother George C. to Chicago with a train of sheep. I was gone eight days and while away I visited Chicago, St. Louis, etc. On my return I applied for a school at Trout Creek in Gentile Valley. I received employment there for the winter at a salary of $45.00 per month and taught eight grades. I got what furniture we needed and small notions from Robert G. Lowe Furniture sore on credit, $90.00 in all. We put our belongings into a hayrack and drove to Gentile Valley where we commenced keeping house.
From that union 12 children were born in order as follows: Frederick Doney, DeVerge Doney, Ross Doney, Reed Doney, Carrol Doney, Ann Doney, Keith Doney, Lygia Doney, Blaine Doney, Max Doney, Morris Doney, and Boyd Doney Parkinson.
Reed died in 1915 of scarlet fever, and Boyd in 1922 of summer complaint. The others are all living at this date 1934. The sorrow that came into our home at the death of two of our children, Reed at nine years old and Boyd one and one-half years of age, we cannot describe, so intense was our sorrow.
The other children grew up with an opportunity of education and the advantages that are necessary to make good men and women. They are blessed with good, healthy, strong bodies and are intelligent.
After the school term ended in the spring of 1897, I moved to Franklin where I obtained employment in the Oneida Mercantile Union. I had charge of the Gents Department. I labored here for about a year. I was ambitious, ,however, to work for myself and to become established in some line of business and was looking for an opportunity. In about June of this year, 1897, the opportunity came. With my father’s help I bought my first band of sheep from my brother William, and a brother-in-law, O.L. Packer, interested himself with me and looked after them on the range.
I enjoyed my works in the store under a Mr. Shephard, who seemed to be together satisfied with my work and gave me many opportunities and liberties. In the spring of 1928 my brother F.C. Parkinson came from a mission to California and took over the management of the institution. I didn’t like the idea of working under a brother so handed in my resignation, and gave my time then to the sheep business. My sheep to date had registered a good gain for me, so I ventured in April of 28 to buy another band from Mr. Colburn of Wester Idaho, for $3.65 per head. I hired my brother, T.S. Parkinson to herd them. I had a very good lambing from both herds so ventured to buy some more sheep in July. Phylip Quayle of Treasureton, Idaho wished to sell about 5,000 head with their lambs. We closed the deal at $3.50 per head for the ewes. I was away from home most of the time. During the summer I was on the range with the sheep and in the fall sold my lambs, old ewes, and had about 2,500 young ewes left and mostly paid for. This gave me my start and from then on advanced materially and soon became known through the country as a successful business man.
About this time late in the fall of 1898 my brother J.S. Parkinson came from his mission and we entered into partnership with all our interests and in 1899 I turned the business to him and I took leave of my family and all and went on a mission to the Northern States. Previous to my going I had interested myself in dry farm land on the Rexburg bench, and in various ways had secured about 2,000 acres of land and had commenced to put it under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Rose Parkinson, J.S. Parkinson, and F.S. Parkinson took homestead and then brought others out near by. We had a great deal of trouble proving up on them due to Dave Sanders entering protest, but after much trouble won out in each case.
Before I started to do missionary work I was called to Washington DC to appear before the Secretary of Agriculture relative to the Parkinson Contests. I was informed while there that the case would all be decided in my favor, so I went back to Chicago and received my appointment to labor as President of the Minnesota Conference.
After being there about a year, I received word from home to return as my oldest son Frederick was seriously affected and would have to be taken to the doctors at Salt Lake City. I made for Salt Lake where I met my wife and son. Our taking him to the doctors [taught] that he had Tuberculosis n the shoulder. After several years he was able to overcome it.
I then took hold of all our dry farm interests, leaving J.S. Parkinson in charge of the sheep interests. We increased our dry farm interest to about 6,000 acres by the fall of 1912. Ed. S. Parkinson had been foreman over part of the ranches but in 1912 went out for himself.The O.S.L. Railroad was constructed on the Rexburg bench in the year of 1914. This saved us lots of work hauling grain to market. This year J.S. and F.S. Parkinson took over the S. and W. Livestock CO. interests of about 14,000 sheep, and all range rights. The years of 1911-1914 were very successful years with our interests.
IN the fall of 1914 I was called on a short term mission to California. I remained there until spring and my wife and Reed met me in Lost Angeles and we visited around the coast and returned to Rexburg in time for spring work in April.
For several years it became apparent that I must sever my partnership with J.S. Parkinson and the year 1914 saw that take place. We divided our lands during this year; I took what is known as the Home Ranch, all lands east of Parkinson Siding, while H.S. Parkinson took the west division, or state ranch. Our sheep were divided in the spring of 1916.
During the past four or five years I had been active in civic affairs, having served as councilman on the city council of Rexburg, also as mayor of Rexburg, which position I have held from 1931 to the 1934 save two years, and am still a member now in 1934. Also I was a member of the Pallisade National Forestry advisory board, president of the Farmers Society of Equity, vice president of the Commercial Club of Rexburg. After the J.S. and F.S. Parkinson books were closed and balanced, it was revealed that the assets of J.S. and F.S. Parkinson amounted to about $25,000.
I took J.A. Palmer and Ed. Priest in partners with me in the sheep business and had them active in looking after them and I gave my time to the ranches. 1917 was my banner year on the farm. I raised over 115,000 bushels of grain, making me the largest individual grower in Idaho, and possibly of this intermountain region. The world war was on and grain was a high price. My crop sold for around $2.85 cwt., and brought about $250,000. The sheep lost me money, $17,000.
The fall of 1918 found me worth about $250,000-300,000, giving my property a reasonable value. About 1910-1911, the automobile industry commenced to thrive and automobiles had been perfected so that they were commencing to be practical in business. I bought my first car in 1915, a Ford. Reed died shortly after. Lygia was born December 19, 1914.
The year 1919 I commenced to place or sell part of my land. I turned the Jacobs place over to F.D. Parkinson, the Klinger Ranch to the Nanwaring boys, the Ellsworth place to Deverge Parkinson, and the place near Pincock Springs on Canyon creek to H.S. Parkinson and rented the Home ranch to Henry Parkinson and Fred Darley.
This year commenced the slump after the war and great losses were entailed in nearly all lines of business. Prices of commodities and socks fell, people failed in business, banks commenced to weaken, and press their clients and what made it worse, dry years were on us and crops failed so that my losses were heavy, and I was left in bad shape. I sold my sheep to Frank Spaulding in the fall of 1920. Those t whom I had leaned money could not pay and some took bankruptcy; so it commenced to look like I would lose everything. I had invested in the Rexburg Home Builder and the Farmers and Merchants Bank, was director in the Bank and president of the Homebuilders. I lost all my stock and was held on notes and bonds which I had singed as director and lost heavily there. The years 1920-1921 took most o my earning and left my heavily in debt.
Blaine was born in July 6, 1917 and Max October 6, 1918. The war closed November 11, 1918. I spent the winter of 1918-1919 in St. Louis with my wife, Ann, Carrol, Keith, Lygia, and Blaine. Ann’s foot was affected and we had her at the McClain hospital. Morris was born July 4, 1920. Boyd died in 1922. By the year 1924, I had to take the H.S. Parkinson Manwaring places back and turned the H.S. Parkinson place to Frank Jenson, who could not pay for it so turned it to D.S. Parkinson.
During the years 1924-25 I had to take the Home Ranch back and farm in myself. In the fall of 1925, I was called to go on another short term mission to the Eastern States—I took my wife and Ann with me. Ann was kept under doctor’s care. During this year, 1925, President Mark Austin was released and George S. Romney was called to preside over the Fremont stake. The fall of 1925 my family was located as follows: F.D. and D.D. Parkinson were married and living in Rexburg and running dry farms. Carrol, Ann, Keith, Lygia, Blaine, Max, and Morris at home with me.
The winter of 1925-26 was a profitable one and many valuable experiences in the Eastern States mission were had by my wife and me.
The next few years, up until 1934, found me looking after the sheep and farms in connection with my boys and laboring hard to pay off my obligations and save my property. By the year 1934 most of my debts were paid and the Home ranch was turned to me about clear. I had in the meantime bought sheep and they were paid for. My books showed I was worth about $65,000 by placing a reasonable value on my property.
All these years I was striving to give my family every advantage of the day. They were interested and worked to take advantage of their opportunities. Ross got married in June 18,1928 and Keith in October 13, 1935; Ann in the spring of 1934. Carrol and Ann completed their college (four year course) at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University in the spring of 1934. Carrol entered the Louisiana Medical Institution at New Orleans, the fall of 1934.
Along with my labors gaining a livelihood, I never forgot my service to the public and to my church, always taking an active part in both civic and religious affairs, During my married life I went to four missions for the LDS Church, sent three boys on missions of two years each; besides being active in y religious duties at home. I have serve in nearly every capacity in both ward and stake, having labored in the stake Sunday School, also mutual and was senior member of the council of the 4th quorum of Seventies for about twenty years, and now, 1934, a high councilman in the Fremont Stake, which position I have held for about 6 years.
On my first mission to the Northern States I was president of the Manitoba Conference in Canada, also of the Southern Illinois Conference, my headquarters being at St. Louis.
On my second mission I presided over the Minnesota Conference of the Northern States mission. Through this work it has been my lot to travel in most of the states of the Union and have reached to many thousands of people and have hone into nearly every city in the Mississippi valley and borne my testimony to the divinity of the mission of Joseph Smith, the prophet. I have also gone into the cities of the east and the western coast and proclaimed the truth of the gospel. Also I have done considerable temple work, and assisted in the building of temples, tabernacles, meeting houses, and always been a consistent tithe payer. Many testimonies have come to me through faithful work of the truthfulness of the LDS church.
I believe in every principle, doctrine, and ordinance of the LDS church. I have a testimony of their divinity and take great pleasure in declaring their truth and divinity to others. I believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, and in doing good to all me, if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, I seek after these things. I appreciate all I have received. I prize, highly, the work and sacrifice of the early pioneers of this western country, for the part my parents took in subduing the desert. I hope to live a life that will be worthy of the heritage I bore; I hope to assist in carrying on the great work hey began; to honor them, to myself and my maker. I hope to be bale to instill in to the lives of my children a desire to be upright, honorable and to do good to all men. I hope to be able to inspire them all to live lives that will insure them a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
My political belief is and has been for all my mature years a progressive Republican. I am not a strong partisan man; however, as I believe good honorable upright conscious men of ability can serve the people best even if he has gotten outside the party.
I am for the government, of the people, for the people, and by the people. I believe monopolies should be destroyed and the wealth of the country equally distributed even to strict regulations that will break down monopoly and distribute wealth. I believe in the protection the individual endeavor, so long as it does not reach over into the field of monopoly. I believe one of the greatest factors causing this present depression and unemployment is the centralization of wealth, this together with the greed and avarice of the wealthy is a menace to our country. I believe our government has failed to properly serve its people by allowing the development of monopoly and the great civilization of wealth.