Eli Clayson Searle 1896-1965

Eli Clayson Searle

1896-1965

            Eli Clayson Searle was a son of pioneer parents. His parents were Joseph Saxton Searle and Eliza Ann Clayson, who first came to the Snake River Valley in Idaho in the spring of 1891. Here his father worked with others to make the first canals for irrigation and to build the Union Pacific Railroad spurs. The family remained in this area for three years and then returned to Lakeshore, Utah, which if about twenty miles southwest of Provo. Eli was born here on February 4, 1896, the fifth child. While growing up in Lakeshore, one of his chores was gathering greasewood for his mother so she could heat the water for washing. His early school training was received here.

            Due to poor soil condition in the fall of 1906, the family moved to American Fork, Utah, and settled in a home on the southeast of town. They lived here for about five or six years. The family moved into a home built by George Oler, a great-grandfather of Eli’s future wife, north of town. He continued with his schooling and received many honors as an A student in all of his studies. He was a very good student in mathematics and could figure in his head quite fast. He was able to work the most difficult problems without the aid of pencil and paper. This was a simple task. In one of his high school annuals the following was written about him—“His picture is bound to appear in some future mathematics text.” Early in the morning and after school Eli helped his father with janitorial duties. This didn’t leave much time for school activities. In the summers he and his brothers thinned and hoed sugar beets. He and a good friend, Cliff Crooks, hauled hay for a neighbor, Dave Wagstaff. He went swimming often in the ponds by Lehi.

            After the completion of high school, Eli went to Burley, Idaho, to work for his brother, Ed. He lived with Ed and Mamie and helped clear the ground of sagebrush to make it farmable. During the winter he went back to be with his folks. He spent two summers in Burley helping Ed.

            In June of 1916, Eli came to Shelley to see Cliff Crooks, his school pal, and seek employment. He went to work for Joseph Oler, a farmer. He met his daughter Avilda, and that was the beginning of their romance. That fall after harvest he went home. During the holiday seasons Avilda and Mary Millar, her friend, went to American Fork to visit relatives of theirs and to see Eli. They had a wonderful time visiting, going to parties, dancing, and ballgames. The following March Eli returned to Shelley to work for Joseph Oler. Their courtship continued the summer and plans for marriage were made. They were married 19 December, 1917, in the Salt Lake Temple. After they were married, they lived with Avilda’s parents on Fir and

Sugar Avenue

. Eli worked for his father-in-law.

            In the fall of 1918 Eli was called into the service. He went as far as Provo, Utah, and was informed the war was over and he could return home. On the 7^th of January 1919, their first child was born in the Oler home. They named him Earl Joseph, “Joseph” after both grandfathers. That spring Eli rented extra land and used his father-in-law’s machinery to farm it. They wanted to get extra money to build a home.

            On the 9^th of December that year Eli was called to fill a mission in Northern California. He labored most of his time in Modesto and Stockton. He was there for 27 months. While he was on his mission, he sent Earl a pair of little rubber boots which Earl really liked. He returned in January of 1922. Avilda was in the hospital recovering from an appendectomy operation. Her parents met him and they went to Idaho Falls to see her.

            During the depression years, Eli lost all of his money in the banks when they all closed. It was a very hard time and he worked in the potato warehouse for Mr. Bair sorting potatoes. He often went back after eating supper and worked until 9 or 10 o’clock at night. He had headaches and sinus attacks quite often, which was probably caused from the dust in the cellars, for when he quite working there it cleared up. He worked three years in the warehouse, then he went to work at the Utah-Idaho Sugar Factory. In the 1930’s, John F. Kelley came and asked him if he would like to be a fieldman for the Sugar Company. He accepted and as years went on he was promoted to Superintendent of the two projects—Osgood and Hays. He held this position until his retirement at age 65. He worked there for 32 years. In service to the community he gave of his time on the school board for 11 years. While his youngest son Merwyn was in high school, Eli was Chairman of the Board. Merwyn was his joy and it was here he met many lasting friends. He devoted most of his time to his work and seldom took time off for pleasure.

            After returning from his mission, Joseph Oler gave him and Avilda one acre of ground to build a home on. They started saving money and with help of Mark Oler, Joseph Oler, and Eli, they finished the kitchen and bedroom by fall. They finished the rest of the home as they could with the help of Uncle Oscar Oler. Eli’s firm conviction was to pay your way as you go—and so they built their home as they could afford to buy materials. They didn’t have any running water. Eli recalls hauling water in a little red wagon from Grandpa Oler’s trough to do all the washing. As time went on, they did get a cold water tap in the house and a sink put in. After Earl left on his mission, they fixed the bathroom and put a tub and toilet in.

            It was in this home that five more children were born, making a total of five boys and a girl. This was duplicated in later years when his brother Leo came to Shelley to work and married Maurine, a sister to Avilda, and both brothers each had five sons and one daughter. Winona was something a little bit special in this family of five sons, and they claimed that by twisting her little finger she could get most anything from her Dad. Eli always wanted a farm of his own, and the year Earl graduated from high school, he purchased the old James Oler farm of 60 acres east of his brothers and sister. They bought one team of horses, and Knute Berg let them take a team of his in the summer. They fed and took care of his horses for their use. That is how they started the farming operation. Two years later, while Earl was on his mission, Wendell took over until he went into the service and Earl returned. Eli used to come over after work and on the days off, he helped them, giving instructions. A son-in-law, Garth, remembers him for the way he gave advice—for he gave it in such a way that no one was offended. This is one of the reasons his sons felt the importance of having his approval on decisions to be made. Eli enjoyed walking around the farm, and doing whatever he could do to help. He had cows and chickens on the home place, and for many years sold eggs and cream to all the neighbors and friends. Interest in working with the soil was handed down to his five sons. Even Leon, who went on to college and graduated in electrical engineering, has often said his love is in farming. In later years, Merwyn especially enjoyed his father coming to his home and talking over farm problems. Eli rarely missed a day of work and his love of the farm life and having an opportunity to work with his boys pleased him a great deal.

            His career in Church work shows his ardent devotion to the Church and Gospel, for he served many long and faithful hours in the service of the Lord. Some of his positions were: member of the Stake Sunday School residency, Counselor in the bishopric to Bishop Oliver Humphreys for a period of 8 years, leader of the High Priests Quorum in both ward and stake. He had a strong testimony of the Gospel and tried to teach his family its principles. He believed strongly in being honest and fair in his dealings, and carried this over in his work with the farmers on the projects.

            Despite his busy schedule, he did take some time for pleasure. A trip through Yellowstone Park was an annual event and Utah relatives were always impressed with the huge catch of fish. Eli enjoyed fishing and would go with Lou Oswald and their boys. They boys really looked forward to it. His first car was a model A Ford, and he used to load his family into it each summer and travel to American Fork, Utah, to visit his parents. They would leave at 4 o’clock in the morning and get there late at night. Eli was always good to take care of his mother, especially after his father passed away. He always attended every boxing match that was in Shelley and supported Merwyn that way. Avilda couldn’t see him get beat up, so she never went. One summer he took a trip with Clyde and Leo and their wives to Old Mexico. He often talked about this trip. He enjoyed it so much. Often he would say “there could never be another trip like that one, because we enjoyed it so much.” There were many funny incidents due to the country being so different and not being able to speak the Spanish language.

            Eli was law in the home and what he said was done. As a result there was very little quarreling. The following is an incident told by Merwyn: “I’ll never forget the time Karl and I were wrestling in the bathroom. The boys were always fighting with each other. Dad hollered a couple of times and told us to knock it off. We paid no attention and fell against the door which sounded like it was breaking. Here came Dad in about three steps. Karl was on top and managed to get out of the bathroom and away from dad. But I was on the bottom and so I took his full wrath on the seat of my pants.”

            Eli’s children—Earl, Wendell, Winona, Leon, Karl, and Merwyn—remember many wonderful traits of character their father had and have great appreciation for his trying to instill them into their lives by example and by word. He taught they early in life to be punctual to all meetings. He taught them that keeping their word to their fellowmen and being dependable was the only way. One of his pet sayings was “try to save at least 10% of any money you make, so that you will have a nest egg for a rainy day.” He was very thrifty. Another rule of Eli’s was “to keep a friend, never borrow; but if you must be sure to return it in as good condition as you received it.” Winona remembers that with his grandchildren he always tried to get them to be happy and often chided them with this verse; “Take home a smile, it is not much to do, but means much to those who wait for you.” Another favorite quote was “if you can’t say anything good about anyone, then don’t say anything.” This was especially true for Church authorities. He never spoke ill of anyone.

            His great concern in life was his family, his Church and agriculture. His family always respected him as well as people he would come in contact with. “He was a wise, family-oriented, church-going, successful man.”

Eli Clayson Searle passed away on January 17, 1965.