Family Record of Albert Adam Rueckert

                             FAMILY RECORD OF ALBERT ADAM RUECKERT

               I, Albert Adam Rueckert was born December 12, 1916 at 1726 South 7th West to Johann Adam Rueckert and Elizabeth Schlerf Rueckert.  I am the eighth child, sixth boy and fourth living child of the family.  My father was a convert to the church from Germany and likewise my mother.  My father was a small man with a large handlebar mustache and thick hair.  He was 4 feet 11 inches tall and was stern but with a sense of humor. My mother was a large built woman who worked hard for us children and had a keen sense of pride in her garden of flowers.  My grandmother, my mother's mother, lived with us at first till her death and I was her pet. 

               I was born on a farm in a two story brick house.  In those days you didn't go to a hospital when giving birth to a child.

               I was blessed June 2nd 1917, by my father, John Adam Rueckert in the Cannon Ward Chapel.

               This home was just like any house we have today except we had no electric lights. Our lights for the house was candle light, kerosene, or coal oil lamps and later gas lamps.

               Our house had an upstairs as well as a downstairs.  We had two bedrooms upstairs, a living room and kitchen and two more bedrooms downstairs.  We had a coal stove in the kitchen which heated one room only.  The kitchen was the main place for us all to gather.  The other rooms were not heated in the winter except our front room was heated only on special occasions such as Christmas and other special occasions.

               We had no electric lights on our Christmas tree.  We had candle lights which had to be placed on very carefully and also watched continually.  No electric washer.  We had a scrub board and also a washer which was turned  manually about 15 to 20 minutes per wash.

               No bathroom in the house.  Our bathroom was an out-house as we called it about 200 feet or more from the house.  No soft nice toilet paper, but newspaper to use in our day.  Whether rain, snow, or shine outside we went.

               No water in the house.  Water had to be carried into the house by buckets, for washing laundry, a bath and all occasions.  Water was heated on the coal stove for baths, laundry, and etc.  This water was carried 200 feet.

               We had no radio, no television or automobile.  We had a phonograph, and our mode of transportation was wagon, horses, and bicycle, mostly on foot.

               My father was a farmer, we had cows, horses, chickens and so forth.

               As a child I had small pox, chicken pox, and measles, and later on what they called itchings, which they cured with sulfur and white vaseline.  In those days after the homes were quarantined and the disease was over they had to be fumigated.  I was fortunate not to have any broken bones or serious accidents as a child.

               I remember I struck my brother and my grandmother hid me under skirts so John couldn't find me and she defended men.  I used to sleep with grandma in an old bed that rolled up into a dresser in the daytime.  It was made into a cabinet of wood and stored in the kitchen.  There were doors on three sides of the house. 

               We attended very few shows or places of entertainment.  I can't recall seeing a show from my birth in 1916 till 1930.

               While living at 1726 South 7th West I recall some of the chores and happenings of that time during the years of 1920 to 1930.

               My Dad being a farmer grew wheat and sugar beets for a living.  I recall the beet fields.  They were all nice and pretty in rows, acre after acre of beets.  Dad used to hire the youth of Cannon Ward to thin the beets and blocked them.  Then at harvest time he would hire people to top the beets and throw them on a pile and cover them with beet tops to keep moisture in the beets.  Then came the wagon they would load them and haul the beets to a place where they would in turn load them and take them to the beet factory and process them.

               Dad had acres of wheat at harvest time.  He would hire a man with a binder that would cut the wheat and bundle it.  Then we would have to shock them or stand them up so they would become totally dry.  Then we would haul them on the wagon and stacked them, round stacks, until the threshing machine came to thresh the grain separating the wheat from the straw and chaff.  All the farm work was done by horse drawn machinery.  The crops were all watered by water coming from the Millcreek Canal which runs into the Jordan River.

               We raised chickens, cows, and pigs.  Dad had his own work horses and farm machinery.  All his transportation was horse drawn wagons.  Dad owned his own wagon which he would drive wherever he went if it was any distance or had to bring them home which was too heavy to carry.

               We delivered milk to Sands, Sailers, Pickle, Nolti, and Veenendalls.  This was our job.  It was an interesting life on the farm.  We were family oriented. We had only ourselves to associate with when out of school and etc.

               We all had assigned chores to do even though sometimes they were small.  We all had to pull weeds and help keep the crops clean and as we got older our assigned duties increased.  My first chores in the home was to bring in kindling wood and gather the eggs out of the chicken coop and little odd jobs of that nature.  Also to bring in water because at that time we didn't have running water in the house.

               While living on this farm we were bothered a lot by those whom would like to steal our chickens and etc. My older brother Eugene hooked up an alarm system from the barns to the house. When someone would open the barn door at night an alarm would ring in the house.  It was not a uncommon sight to see Dad and the boys rush out of the house without stopping for all their clothes to try to catch them. This time.  They would grab a gun, which was loaded, and they were on the run toward the barn.  Luckily they never found anyone.  But this would go on from time to time.  The guns were always loaded at night ready for action.  So we had our recreation in a little different way.

               My first recollection since my birth was starting school in the first grade at Riley School.  The Riley School contained the first four grades.  I t was located on 8th West and 14h South.  Sally White taught first and second grades and Miss Jardine taught the third and fourth grades. Miss Kelsey was the principal.   I was exceptionally shy and afraid to play with anybody, in fact you might say I was extremely backward.  While attending the Riley School I used to have as playmates Albert Beutler, Joseph Kiesig, Ray Johnson, and Burt Clayton.  We didn't play any special games, just horsed around a lot, played marbles, played ball, wrestled a little bit and things of that nature.

               The next two grades of school that I attended were at the Riverside School on 6th West and Sixth South. Miss Blackburn taught the fifth grade and Miss Porter taught the sixth grade. Miss Kelsey was the principal and nurse at each school.  Twice a week she would check our hands and clothes and see if you were clean.

               I liked to play marbles and indoor ball at Riverside.  We played on the slippery slide and threw snowballs.  My friends at this time were Paul Martinsen, Ken Martinsen, Glenn Odekirk and John Napier.

               I was baptized in the Salt Lake Tabernacle by Earl Peck on the 27th of November 1926.  I was confirmed December 56, 1926 by my father John Adam Rueckert.

               I remember Leland's funeral at Cannon Ward Chapel.  He was my brother who was only a few months old.

               Grandma died July 7, 1926 seven before Betty, my sister, was born.

               In spite of all the inconviences we were happy, content, and we knew no different.  This was our way of life.  Father and Mother were always good to us their children.  We had wonderful parents.  We never had what you would call luxuries, but we never lacked for the want of food.

               I don't recall of going to church too much.  Maybe we went to church with Dad and Mother and I don't remember. I was not baptized and confirmed until almost 10 years of age and I was not ordained to the office of a Deacon until March 9., 1930, 3 months past my 13th birthday, by my brother Eugene Rueckert.  But after I was ordained a Deacon I did start attending regularly and my greatest experience in the Church up to that time was passing the sacrament as a Deacon.

               We had plenty for the family in the old house before mother died.  Mother was sick quite a bit at this time.  We didn't have many family prayers but were taught to say Grace and night prayers.  My mother was sick a great deal and stayed in Aunt Augusta's home toward the end and went to the General Hospital where she died on August 16, 1930 when I was 13 years of age. It left an empty place at home.  But time goes on. 

               I remember the winters when 17th South would be drifted shut for weeks for the snow ploughs in those days could not keep them open. We walked to school, rain, snow or shine four blocks for grade 1-4, twelve blocks for grade 5-6, and thirteen blocks for grade 7-8-9.

               When Mother died our aunts and uncles wanted to break up the family unit to lighten the burden for dad.  He had a 4 year old daughter Betty and a two year old son Richard.  Alma was only 7 or 8 years old also.  They wanted to take care of the youngsters for dad. We appreciated their desire to help but Dad told them - NO!!  and we remained a family.  Dad did a great job taking care of all the responsibilities which rested on his shoulders   We have to admire Dad for not taking the easy road.  We were and remained a close family.  Each one accepted responsibilities which were placed before us.  He was 63 years of age when Mother died.  Hilda became the main chief, cook and bottle washer.  She quit school to take care of her younger brothers and sisters.  Yes, this was a trying time but with help of the Lord the battle was won. 

               In the year of 1931, we moved to 1726 South 600 West, where Dad purchased 22 acres of land and started a dairy business.  He was 64 years of age at that time and full of pep, vigor and determination to make a go of the dairy business.  He did succeed.  We had to build a cow barn with the standards prescribed by the Board of Health.  This barn housed his milk cows and we had another barn to house the younger cattle, also a horse barn and other sheds that are found on a farm.  This of course meant greater responsibilities from each son. We would get up at 5 a.m. and head for the barn and start milking the cows.  Then we would have to feed them hay also grain, clean the barns, and see that the cattle all had water to drink for we would have to drive them to the front of our place to get a drink and then put them back into the corral next to the barn.  In the summer we would have to drive the cattle to pastures and stay with them for the pastures had no fence around them.

               This was an assignment we really didn't like.  But seven days a week they had to eat, so seven days a week we would sit out in hot pastures herding our cattle. It could have been worse.  This was our livelihood.  We never had to worry about food.  Dad saw to it that there was always something to eat.  We never had any money as kids do in this day and age, but we kept out of mischief and had a good life.  Dad's motto was when there was work to do, work must be done.  While I was sitting in the pasture to pass the time away I read western magazines.  Dad wanted me to read the Bible.  I told him I would never have use for the Bible so why read the Bible.

               At one time we had a total of 40 cattle, milk cows, calves and all.  These were the good old days.  Every day in the heat of the day we would all relax and take a nap from about noon until 3 p.m.  Yes, these days were not all cream and sugar.  We also had some rough days and lots of work. We had some real old winters on old 17th South and 6th West, but our chores were number one.  I remember Brother Phelps used to drive his team of horses down 17th South over the snow drifts and they didn't even sink in the snow.

               I recall one night the dog was barking.  I heard voices outside.  This was about midnight.  I jumped out of bed and didn't put on any clothes.  All I had on was a shirt with which I went to bed in.  I grabbed a gun and out I went.  I saw a bunch of young men and girls just leaving our place.  I let loose and shot in the air and called them back. They returned and I told them in no uncertain terms to never again come on this property at this hour of the night.  We never saw or heard of them again.           

               We used to have a lot of hobos, from the hobo jungle, come over for  bite to eat. A glass of milk and a piece of bread or an egg was all we had but we shared with many in our day.  Most all of them would be willing to work for a bite to eat, but we didn't have any work for them to do.  The hobo jungle was about 1 1/2 blocks from our house.  We met some real nice people who were out on the road some only passing through.

               Hilda and Betty maintained the home, did the cooking, washing, ironing, and etc.  and also helped outside wherever possible. 

               I was ordained a teacher August 14, 1932 by Edward H. Sorensen in the Cannon Ward Chapel. 

               I attended Jordan Junior High for the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades.  In the seventh grade I had Mr. Belnap for home room and for arithmetic, Joe Christensen for gym, Mr. Coombs was the principal, Mr. Ransey for art, and Miss Callaway for English.  In the eighth grade I had Mr. Nelson for  algebra which I loved,  Mr. Joe Christensen for gym and Mr. Harwood for science. In the ninth grade I wanted to take a business course because of my love for mathematics but they insisted upon woodworking which I didn't like. 

               During my teen age years, I quit school at the age of 15 and worked around the farm.  There were a couple reasons.  One, I didn't want to go farther and Dad said I must work on the farm then.  I wasn't forced to quit and did it of my own free will and choice.  No one as to blame but myself.  During the ninth grade John got me a job at Riverside Dairy tromping corn silage for 50 cents a day and I entered school six weeks late.  I as so far behind I felt out of place.  I got discouraged and failed in geometry even though they and I tried and tried.  So I finished the year and graduated by working extra hard all the last month and taking three hours study each day but was discouraged that I didn't even go back for my report card. And that was my last schooling.  I got passing marks to go to a high school but I had lost interest.  No school authority ever checked up to find out why.  The school authorities wanted me to take shop and I wanted to take typing.  They wouldn't let me take typing because my English wasn't good enough and I couldn't understand that.  They made me take shop but I didn't want to, so I dropped out and took three study periods. 

               I used to like to play soccer ball and baseball.

               I was ordained a Priest by Bishop Tracy Y. Cannon, January 14, 1934 in the Cannon Ward Chapel.

               Alton Sorensen was my favorite teacher in the church and I believe the reason for that was that he took a great interest in all the boys.  One day Alton took me to town and bought me a new suit of clothes for all I had was a shirt, trouser and tie.  He made it possible that I would have the proper dress to fulfill my falling as a Priest.  He also gave me some money to see a show.  He was a special man.

               After leaving school I worked on the farm which my father had, and I worked there for approximately five or six years.  During this time we sold milk to a retailer off State Street and Thirteenth South for 12 cent per gallon. Later we started to sell milk on the place for 25 cents per gallon and still later for 40 cents per gallon until we went out of business.

               August 16, 1935, my brother Gene died.  This was exactly five years to the day from the time Mother passed on.  He had appendix operation and paranitis set in, which took his life.  Before passing on, he told my Dad that he had seen his Mother and she is waiting for him.  Dad replied, "Where is she?" and he stated, "Outside waiting for me and I am going with her."  Then he passed on.

               I was ordained an Elder December 20, 1936 by Ludwig Schmidt, the Elder's Quorum President, in the Cannon Ward Chapel.

               In the year 1936, I worked for the W.P.A.  Sometimes making a total of 56 dollars per month of which I gave my Dad 40 dollars each time for we really needed this money.  I also worked for Burton Place Dairy for about five dollars per week till I went on a mission.