CHRISTMAS MEMORIES, BIRTHS OF GERALD, RICHARD AND WALTER; CAREER AND TRAVEL

Christmas Memories
Digressing from Kenneth’s story, I thought it would be fun to see a few photos from early Scott family Christmases.  These are all the photos we have digitized so far.  If anyone would like to contribute more, please email them to me and I’ll post them on the blog.

An early Christmas in the home of Elzumer and Carrie Mae, Kenneth's parents

Gerald?  What is the story?

This looks like Wayne, right?

Date? Place? Memories?

Porter Street?  Date? 

Flash forward to the future...I couldn't resist including this picture! 

Front: Mary,  Mary Lee, Cindy, Debbie.  Back:  Walter, Richard, Jeanene, June, ca. 1958.  Porter Street?

Back to Kenneth's autobiography:

First Home in Blackfoot
Our first home was in the Cobra Apartment in Blackfoot. We spent our first Christmas there. Later we moved to a house across the street from Mary’s parents.



Gerald’s Birth
Gerald was born on July 6, 1926 in the Whittle home, there being no hospital in Blackfoot. That was a mighty happy occasion for us. It was good that Mary could be close to her mother and learn from her years of experience how to take care of this precious young man.

Gerald Leroy Scott

Mary and Gerald

Gerald and Mary

Kenneth recreated with Gerald the picture his father took with him as a child

Manager of Livestock Credit Corporation
In 1927, I was asked to become manager of the Livestock Credit Corporation with headquarters in Blackfoot. I resigned as bank receiver and accepted the new position which proved to be a very good move. I became well acquainted with the officials of the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank at Spokane, Washington--the source of our loan funds and also with two very capable bankers who were members of my board of directors and who gave me invaluable counsel and training in the extension of sound credit. They were Edgar Largulier and John Galbraith. Ultimately it led to my being called to Washington D.C. to help organize and become an officer of the national Production Credit System.

The territory of the Livestock Credit Corporation extended west to Caldwell, Idaho, and throughout southern Idaho--with some range sheep loans in Utah and Nevada. I made occasional trips to visit our large borrowers and local bankers whom I often helped by financing some of their large livestock borrowers whose credit needs exceeded the loan limits of the local bank. Occasionally, Mary would accompany me on short trips up to Yellowstone Park or over into Jackson, Wyoming or to the Twin Falls, Idaho, country.

Move to Pocatello; Richard’s Birth
In 1928 we changed the headquarters of the Livestock Credit Corp to Pocatello--a more central point for our business. Mary and I rented a furnished house from Dr. R. O. Young. Incidentally, we were able to move our household items in two trips with our car.

Kenneth's and Mary's home in Pocatello in 1930s according to Richard, who took the photo several years ago.

Shortly after this our second son, Richard Gordon was born on Nov. 7, 1928 in the hospital in Pocatello. The blessings and joys of our home were multiplying.

Richard Gordon Scott

Gerald and Richard

Richard and Gerald

Gerald and Richard sledding

Mary with Gerald and Richard

Parents Move to Pocatello
By . . ., the volume of loans in LCC had increased so much that I needed additional help in the office to handle them. We persuaded Father to become Vice President of our company and he and Mother and Roland and Marvin moved to Pocatello.

Brother Roland
Roland, while still in high school, was showing evidence of natural leadership ability, along with a very cheerful and friendly manner. Mary has recalled the times she saw him in such a role where there were work assignments, for example, when a group of students were asked to gather up some trimmed limbs and haul them away in a truck. She said, “There was Roland on the truck, directing his schoolmates to put all the limbs on the truck and with his cheerful remarks having everyone doing the work without complaint.” Roland’s natural ability to play the piano led to his organizing a dance band that successfully performed.

Roland (1910-2003), Kenneth's brother, on a family hike

Roland Scott

Brother Marvin
Marvin had become quite expert with the trombone, in fact, he won the high school tryouts that enabled him to go to Chicago to compete in the finals for the entire country. Unfortunately, he became quite ill from food the day before the contest--but even with that serious handicap, he won second place.

Marvin Scott in band uniform with trombone

Elzumer, Marvin and Kenneth

While Marvin was attending his first year of study at the McMinnville, Oregon Baptist College, he contracted a serious kidney illness and passed away on May 19, 1936. He was buried in the family plot in Pocatello.

Marvin Scott (1916-1936), Kenneth's brother

[It is sad to realize that only two of Elzumer's and Carrie Mae's children, Kenneth and Roland, survived until adulthood.]

Walter’s Birth
On March 31, 1931, Mary and I were blessed with another fine son, Walter Conrad, in the Pocatello hospital.

Walter Conrad Scott

Walter and Kenneth

Walter and Gerald

Kenneth with Richard, Walter and Gerald

Mary with Gerald, Richard and Walter

Cook and Housekeeper Hired
We engaged the services of Juanita, a country girl who was a fine cook and housekeeper, to help Mazy with these three lively sons. 

Juanita is to the left of Kenneth according to Richard, who said she was his favorite of all the hired help they had.

  Juanita took over the job of teaching Walter to walk and had him doing that when he was only 8 ½ months old.  During this period, Mary and I would quite often play nine holes of golf early in the morning and come home to a warm shower and a delicious breakfast that Juanita would have ready. Mary was good at golf and we enjoyed those games together.

Kenneth and Mary with golf clubs, circa 1940s

Mary’s Parents Move to Pocatello
While we were living in Pocatello, Mary’s parents moved to Pocatello and were living there when we later moved to Washington, D.C.

Attended World’s Fair
In 1932, Mary and I, traveling in our new Chevrolet Sedan, drove to Chicago to attend the World’s Fair. That was a great experience for us. We stayed with my Uncle Charles Scott in west Chicago and rode the elevated train to and from the fair, as that city traffic was far too much for a country couple from Idaho.

Gerald’s Need for Glasses
When Gerald was about a year old, we discovered that the coordination of his eyes was weak causing them to turn in when they became tired--impairing his eyesight seriously. We arranged to have him receive special treatments which continued regularly with frequent changes of glasses until he finished college when his eyes were strong enough for regular glasses. We have always been grateful that there was expert knowledge and special equipment available and that we had the means to make it available to that fine son.

Richard and Gerald with glasses

Family Recreation
One of the things our family liked to do when we lived in Pocatello was to go to the foothills in the fall and pick wild choke cherries. They made delicious jelly.

Gerald and Richard joined the Pocatello school band at an early age. Gerald played the trumpet and Richard the clarinet.

Richard on drum, Gerald on trumpet

Gerald on trumpet, Richard on clarinet, in band uniforms

Richard and Gerald

Richard on clarinet, Walter at the piano, and Gerald on trumpet

Richard’s first instrument had “closed” keys as his fingers were too short for a standard instrument.  His instructor would hold Richard on his lap and say, “Bo, Ritchie, Bo!" They continued their private lessons until they became quite skilled with their instruments. The local theater in Pocatello announced a contest for young musical students. Gerald signed up Richard and the evening of the contest, we all attended.  Mother Whittle heard someone who saw Richard come on the stage with several others say, “That little boy surely can’t play very well. They have just let him come along to humor him.” When it came Richard’s turn to play, he walked out on the stage and played, “The Bells of St. Mary’s” without a mistake, and got a big hand from the audience as well as one of the prizes.

Courtship and Marriage

Meeting Future Bride
One day when I was sitting at my desk in the bank [in Blackfoot, Idaho], I noticed an attractive young lady passing by. During the next few days I noticed that she went by about the same time each day, but never even so much as glanced my way.

Mary Eliza Whittle in 1925, age 22

I had made the acquaintance of Paul DeMourdant, who owned the movie theater, since we both ate our meals at the Friendly Café. I asked Paul if he knew the young lady and he said from my description, he thought it was his cashier girl. So, the following evening, I went to the movie and sure enough there she was in the glass cage selling tickets. I thought she was certainly “all business” if not rather cold in dispensing my ticket.

A few days later, probably about the 28th of December 1924, Paul said, “I am taking my girl friend down to Pocatello this evening for dinner. Would you like for me to see if my cashier, Mary Whittle, would join us and make it a foursome?” I readily agreed and later in the day was told “Everything is arranged.” So that is how it all started.

We had a nice evening together and I was much impressed with the distinctly reserved attitude of this charming young lady. A few days later, I was permitted to walk with her when she was returning home from work. After several such walks and conversations, we began taking rides in my Ford coupe.

The members of Mary’s family--her mother and father, LeRoy, Clair, Lura, Ralph, and Theo were friendly and we soon became quite well acquainted.

It was the evening of June 18, 1925. The moon was full. We stopped the car where the moon reflected from the Blackfoot River and I proposed to Mary. To my great joy, I heard her say, “Yes”. I had felt confident enough that I had purchased an engagement ring that I slipped on her finger. Later on, we set our marriage date for July 20th, 1925.

Marriage (July 20, 1925)
It was not unusual at that time for friends of a bride and groom to play pranks such as forcefully separating a bride and groom on their first night of married life and Mary and I had good reason to believe our friends were planning that for us. In fact, they had arranged for Mary’s brother LeRoy to be watching for signs of our wedding day. So we quietly arranged for a simple wedding in the home of Mary’s parents.

The ceremony was performed by Bishop William Snyder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the presence of Mary’s mother, her sister Lura, and brothers Ralph and Theo.  LeRoy, who worked late each night at the movie house, was upstairs in the home sleeping.

Mary Eliza Whittle

Kenneth Leroy Scott

It was not until years later when I became an active and devoted member of the L.D.S. Church that I realized what a chance Mary took that she might never be able to have our marriage vows sealed for eternity in a holy temple of our Lord and bring our children up in the Church.

It was after I became an active member of the church that I became aware of why Mary had confidence that our marriage and family life would work out well. It was then that Mary told me that her wonderful mother had stated that she was confident I would become a member of the Church.

Margaret Smith Whittle, 1878-1952

I still believe that the time to get both members of a marriage right with our Savior and his teachings is to have their marriage performed in one of his holy temples for time and eternity when the marriage is first performed. Too many marriages have been unhappy when this was not the case.

Honeymoon
Immediately after our marriage, Mary and I got into our Ford Coupe and started on our honeymoon trip.

 

To try and keep away from our prank-playing friends, we stayed away from the main road toward Boise and drove to Arco, Makey, the Craters of the Moon lava deposits, and stopped in Hailey for the night.

Craters of the Moon, 1942.  Courtesy Library of Congress

The next day we took the “back road” over a low range of mountains and reached my parent’s home west of Boise in late afternoon. Roland and Marvin were in the yard watching for us. I was mighty pleased to present my sweet wife to my family where she was made to feel welcome.

After a few days, we started out again, headed for Portland, Oregon where Mary had a favorite uncle, George Smith. He was real nice to us. The next day we drove on over to Seaside, Oregon where we spent several delightful days on the beach.

Mary at  Seaside, Oregon

Kenneth at Seaside, Oregon

On our return trip, we especially enjoyed the Columbia River highway with its waterfalls and spectacular lookout points. We purchased a nice painting of Multnoma Falls that has always been in our home as a reminder of our delightful honeymoon trip. After a short visit with my folks, we hurried back to Blackfoot where I resumed my work as bank receiver.

Indian Experiences, Love of Nature, More College, Idaho Jobs

Indian Experiences
My stay in Kamiah proved to be a most interesting experience. It is the headquarters of the historically prominent Nez Perce Indians.  Chief Joseph, during the period of Indian wars, made the longest fighting retreat recorded in the history of those wars. A goodly percentage of the Indians in the Kamiah area were well-educated and were successful farmers or businessmen.

Example of a Nez Perce girl in 1910.  Library of Congress

A nice looking young Indian girl named Josephine, who had spent several years in schools in the East preparing to become a school teacher in an English school, returned to Kamiah while I was there. A few (white) young people with whom I had become acquainted knew Josephine and would invite her to accompany us on a picnic or cook-out. She would tell us about the history of her people and point out interesting writings on rocks made by Indians many years ago.

Example of Anasazi petroglyphs, New Mexico.  Library of Congress

One day she told us she would be leaving in a few days to accept a teaching position in a college in Kansas. The next day one of my white friends said, ‘Did you hear what happened to Josephine?’ The tribal council had held a meeting to consider Josephine’s plans and concluded she was about to get entirely away from the tribe. They decided she should marry one of the middle-aged men of the tribe and so informed her. A few days later, I saw Josephine on the street wearing the typical Indian shawl over her head and with her eyes looking downward. She never again spoke to any of us and was clearly back into the tribe--undoubtedly with a broken spirit.

Love of Nature
Never having lived in a mountainous area, I was truly fascinated with the Kamiah setting. I got a pair of elk skin high top shoes that were waterproof and began hiking among the foothills. Father had a Brownie (camera) that took 5” x 7” pictures and had a splendid lens. He had converted it to a film pack from the original glass plates. I would strap that camera over a shoulder, take a lunch Mother had prepared, and spend most of the day hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Kenneth ready for a hike

Carrie Mae, Elzumer, and Roland; Kenneth in back

Carrie Mae in the center; Roland is on the far left and Kenneth on the far right.  Others?

Winter was an especially interesting time. All cars were put in storage as the road up the bill to nearby towns was too treacherous for winter travel so horse-drawn sleds were in common use. The snow storms were the most beautiful I have ever seen. Being located in a “pocket” among the hills, we never had winds of any consequence, so the snow would pile up six inches and more on fences and tree limbs and the large flakes would fall so thickly one could hardly see across the street.

Occasionally the sun would appear and settle the snow, then another big snow would pile it up again. I would join a few boys my age in shoveling off a frozen part of the river nearby for skating but by the time we had the snow pushed away, we would be too tired to do much skating. Often there would be another snow during that night— so it was a contest with the weather and so far as skating was concerned we usually lost out.

Example of ice skaters at Lake Forest, Chicago.  Chicago Daily News negatives collection. Courtesy of Chicago History Museum

First Employment in Idaho
Father was able to get an appointment for me as his assistant to help him with his duties as receiver for the three failed banks. When he went to Kooskia [Orofino], I would stay at the bank in Kamiah and occasionally I would spend a few days at the Orofino bank.


Christmas with Indians
The most unusual Christmas program I ever at tended was at an Indian church in Kamiah. They had a large Christmas tree that reached to the ceiling and was attractively decorated with home made ornaments.

There was a program in which the children took part and finally the chief of the tribe recited the experiences of the tribe when the government troops were pursuing them in what has been recorded in history as the longest military retreat [1,600 miles]. This was given in their native tongue while the congregation swayed back and forth with a monotone that reached a loud pitch at crucial points of the story. A member of the tribe sitting next to me interpreted the story for me--and it was an exciting story!  [Click on Retreat and Surrender and scroll down to section of the same title read the account.] 

More College
I decided to enroll with the Lasalle Extension University for a higher accountant degree. I completed the course about three years later and took the C.P.A [Certified Public Accountant] examination in Boise.  At that time I was living in Blackfoot, Idaho. The man who took the two day examination when I did wrote me about the outcome. He learned from the clerk in the Idaho State House that our papers were graded according to the standards of the American Institute of Accounting in New York City and both of us received passing grades.

One of the two members of the Idaho examining board signed the report. When the other board member came in the clerk said, ‘We have two more C.P.A’s” The board member marked through our grades on the report and reduced them about 30%. He said, “Now add up the grades and see how many new C.P.A’s we have.” Of course that failed both of us.

My companion took the examination again and was given a passing grade. I had become manager of the Livestock Credit Corporation at Blackfoot and never took the time to go through that two-day ordeal again. So that is how near I came to a C.P.A. degree.

Kenneth Leroy Scott

Car Accident
One day when my father had a business trip to a neighboring town up on the prairie for transportation he engaged a man who had a taxi business, and took Mother, Roland, and Marvin along. While coming back down the canyon road, the steering gear broke and the car went off the road, rolled over, throwing everyone out and landed in a ditch. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt except Mother who had a ligament in one of her legs injured and she suffered from that the remaining years of her life. Roland must have been asleep and was pitched into some bushes and came crawling out shouting, “What is going on here?”

Experiences as Bank Receiver
In 1921, I was appointed receiver of the failed bank at Montpelier, Idaho not far from the Wyoming line. Later, I was receiver of the State Bank at Weiser, Idaho. My third assignment was at the Fruitland State Bank near the Oregon line. I rented a warehouse to store several big trucks that the former cashier of the bank bought with bank funds that I repossessed. Also I accumulated farm equipment and some livestock that borrowers turned in as payment on their debts. One day a borrower came in the bank and said, “I’m leaving town. The only thing I have left under the mortgage to the hank is a horse and saddle and I’ve tied him to the tree in front of the bank.” I occasionally would hold a public auction to sell those items.

My next and final receivership was of the D. W. Stanrod and Co. Bank at Blackfoot, Idaho. This had been one of the oldest and largest banks in southern Idaho. It was established by Mr. Stanrod who had a general store that supplied miners and truckers who hauled ore from the mines in the Salmon River Country to the smelters in Utah. The miners would ask him to store their gold nuggets in his safe and that led to his opening a bank.

Example of gold nuggets from a mine in Alaska, circa 1900.   Courtesy of Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library

At the time of the bank failure, Mr. Stanrod was quite old and he could never believe that his son, the cashier had committed many crimes of misappropriating bank funds and bonds left for safe keeping and had made many bad loans which caused the bank’s failure.

The State Bank Commissioner sent John Beaker, an able attorney and certified public accountant with much experience in investigating bank failure, to Blackfoot to make a thorough audit of the bank records. I was authorized to help him make the audit which proved to be an exciting experience. Presently, I was able to trace irregular transactions through the bank records and help assemble evidence for the criminal trial.

As receiver, I received many claims for preference over depositors. I would assemble facts from the bank records and prepare a formal presentation to the District Court. To save the expenses of an attorney presenting the cases, I was granted permission to present those cases to the District Judge for decision.

This period of bank failures when the depositors often lost practically all their deposits resulted in improved examination of banks and ultimately to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to guarantee deposits up to certain amounts.

In this period when I was a receiver, I saw many extremely tragic cases where persons lost their life savings. Sometimes well managed banks without any irregularities would be the victim of false rumors causing “a run” on the bank when depositors would form long lines into the bank to demand their deposit in cash.

Since no bank ever has more cash than a small percentage of its deposits, such a run would force the bank into receivership for no reason except the panic of depositors from false rumors. The difference now is that depositors have confidence in the government guarantee.