The following information was found on some life history forms. The forms have a printed date on 1960 on them. It is likely that Arvilla asked Delilah these questions and recorded her comments on this form. Some of the information is in her words, sometimes she is refered to in third person. Sometimes there were just random comments on the page.
I, Sarah Delilah Anderson was born Oct 18, 1886 at Oak City, Millard County, Utah. I was born at home. Sister Mary Grayson Roper was midwife at my birth. The color of my eyes: blue, hair: dark brown, average weight: 150, adult height: 5' 3 1/2".
Lila or Liley has always been nickname. Ed Dutson, Leo Lyman, Jos. Finlinson called her Delilah.
Delilah washed and carded wool for her first quilts when married.
Orlan was born 4 P.M., Aunt Ann Lyman was midwife. She was in labor a long time. Buttocks born first. 2-3 days old thought they should name him & bless. Alice J. had heard this name [Orlan] in a magazine and suggested it. I took to it right now.
Orlan was 3 yrs old when we moved to the farm. We lived there 10 years. Were in town a lot because mother was quite crippled up and I did her washing and ironing.
Arvilla - they took her in the kitchen and spanked her, doctor did. Leavenworth. Pearl Christensen thought that was terrible.
My Physical and Health History
Usual childhood diseases. All the family had measles at the same time. Had mumps after married. Started having sick headaches during adolescence, usually happened on Sunday. Felt the strain of being with crowds. Had migr[?] until operation in 1933, tumor in uterus removed the uterus. Later had a lump taken from neck below the ear. Started with arthritis early. Suffered all her life with that. Heart attack when Adele died.
My Youth
Rosie Dutson, a cousin, was first playmate. Played around the yard. Lucy Anderson, half sister, Alta Huff, Lottie Broadhead, Nellie & Libby Jacobson, Lizzie Talbot, Retta Lovell.
Go to others house. Molasses candy, steal sticks, marbles, run sheep run.
One time Geo., Eldon, Lucy & I were up canyon, riding in a wagon down canyon road. Boys couldn't control horses and theyran away Lucy and I jumped out on Jack Hill. Another time on May Day another wagon ran into the Anderson wagon and tipped it over. I came out with a bloody nose.
Christmas tree in church for everyone. All ch. got presents at that. Always had a program and visit from Santa was the most a little girl could expect. The doll often a rag doll.
My Parentage
I am the seventh child of nine children born to my parents. May father is Anders Peter Anderson. He was born 10 Dec 1847 at Svendstrup, Denmark. His father is Jans Anderson, his mother is Anna Jorgensen. My mother is Martha Ann Lovell. She was born 24 March 1849 at Pottawattamee, Iowa. Her father is John Lovell, her mother is Ann Parsons. I have 4 sisters and 4 brothers. Names and birthdates (starting with the oldest):
Peter Edwin 29 January 1874 Oak City
John Lee 20 May 1876 Oak City
Martha Ellen 27 May 1879 Oak City
Ann Elizabeth 27 May 1879 Oak City
Sylvia Alice 28 Feb 1881 Oak City
Agnes Eleanor 6 Oct 1883
[two younger brothers not listed]
The following are some memories of my mother and father:
My father was quite an even tempered man. I never saw him lose his templer and become angry. He was a very religious man. Leader in community.
He spent a lot of time at his mine; he had high hopes that he would find valuable ore. He'd come home week-ends for supplies. Homesteaded large acreages north of town, both dry land and irrigated. He had horses and cattle.
He was bishop all through my childhood. We used to pay tithing in chickens. The three girls would carry live chickens up to Geo. Finlinson's for the tithing - also paid in potatoes, other vegetables and fruit, eggs.
My mother was a homemaker. She was tied down at home with a large family, so didn't go out much. She was quite a heavy woman and very motherly looking.
Stake officers would come and stay at the bishop's home. The family would make room for 2 or 3 men and their horses. She cooked for them and made them comfortable while the boys tended the horses and wagons, an excellent cook. She made salt-rising bread that was loved by everyone. Famous for her rice puddings and sweet cakes. Carded wool, made quilts, made extra good soap.
Membership in the Church
I was baptized on 1 Aug 1895 by June Anderson in the Oak City ward in Deseret Stake Utah. I was confirmed on 1 Aug 1895. Baptized in the big ditch. Did it only once or twice in the whole year.
Primary: They held Primary. Attended.
Sunday School: Assistant sec. for a while. Elizabeth Christensen (cousin)
Relief Society: Rel. So. visiting teacher.
Others: Religion class asst. sec.
Special teachers I remember are: Ed Dutson was S. S. teachers as far back as I can remember.
Wards lived in: Lived in Oak City ward all her life.
My School Days
I started school at the age of about 6 attending Oak City elementary school at Oak City. There were two teachers 1,2,3,4 in one room. 5,6,7,8
My favorite teachers were: First teacher Ellison Teeples. Quite a few lady teachers. Mattie Hillhouse and her sister Birdie.
Thrifty, careful family
School books - Hist, geog., spell, read, arith., grammar.
Went to school in church house. Didn't graduate but went thru 8th grade. Didn't have H. S. in those days. Jos. Finlinson and some older ones went to S. L. or Provo to go to school.
Lucy and I were in same crowds. Eldon and Geo. can't remember Lucy much before school. Don and Elmer didn't feel like they were. Used to feel a bit jealous of Lucy. When I had a toothache I had to go have it pulled. We had to scrimp and save. Lucy said she was going to ask Pa.
Libby (Roper Jacobson) & Lucy, Arletta Lovell (cousin)
Lizzie
Hair Parted in middle, hanging straight, sometimes a braid on each side fastened together in back with a ribbon. The other hair hanging straight under the braid.
"Have had a good life but not very eventful. I guess our life has been fun & we've got a lot out of it even if it wasn't eventful."
Having May party in the canyon probably May party. Somebody's team ran into our wagon (hit tongue of wagon) and tipped it over. The children & mother were in the wagon. I got a bloody nose. I remember Hanna Rawlinson wiping blood off my face.
Lucy & I were riding with Geo. & Eldon coming down canyon road. Horses got scared of something & started to run. Lucy & I jumped out along Jack Hill. The horses ran part way thru town before being stopped.