Each of these stories can be (or will be) found on this web site. But they are all grouped together here in a ".zip" file for your downloading convenience. (Click on attachment)
Absalom P. Free history
Anders Gustav Blad
Annie Hicks Free history
Carl and Addie Blad history
Ida Minerva Rollins history
James B. Wheeler;Rachel T.
JAMES HENRY ROLLINS
Mina Jean Blad history
Oscar Hamblin history
Rachel D. Wheeler history
Wenlock Wheeler Free
written by their daughter, Jean Blad Free
Carl Levi Blad was born August 13, 1886, a son of Andrew Gustaf and Mina Albertina Andersen Blad. He spent his childhood in Panaca and attended the local schools.
As a young boy he helped his father on the farm, being the main salesman for their truck garden produce at Bullionville. He later followed the carpenter and mason trade, working mostly for Syphus Construction.
Addie Minerva Hamblin Blad was born February 6, 1891, in Minersville, Utah, a twin daughter of Wallace and Ida Minerva Rollins Hamblin.
They first met about 1905 in Panaca, Nevada, the home town of Levi, when Addie, accompanied by her twin sister Ida, had come to visit their Aunt Melissa Lee and their Lee cousins, who lived there. These must have been times of fun for them, mingling with the young people of that little farming community; there were parties, hayrides, singing, dancing and much laughter on these visits.
The twins, Addie and Ida, were from Lyman, Wyoming. Their home was a ranch, which was shared with many brothers, where the western way of life was the real thing. This life style no doubt was influential in Addie's development into a capable, strong, beautiful girl; who could drive a horse and buggy or sew a pretty feather on a bonnet, as the need may be. Her trained soprano voice, her dancing feet and her happy disposition kept her in demand in the small town social circles of that day.
as recorded in the book "A Century in Meadow Valley"
Anders Gustaf Blad was born in Skattegarden, Hangelosa, Sweden, July 21, 1844, the son of Sven Anderson Blad and Eva Marie Palmgren.
He was the oldest of a family of five children and spent his young manhood following the fishing industry in Southern Sweden and as a sailor on the fishing boats. He came to America about 1868.
Little is known of his life between the time of his arrival here and his marriage. He married Mina Albertina Andersen, of Eidsvoll Akershus, Norway, November 26, 1879, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He worked for a freight line, hauling freight between Salt Lake City and Pioche, Nevada. After about two years, in February1881, he moved his wife to Nevada from Salt Lake City.
Their first home was a sort of camp in the area of what is now Oak Wells, where Gus, as he was called, burned wood for charcoal. This he hauled to Bullionville for use in the mills. While still living at Oak Wells their frist son, August Wallace, was born March 31, 1881. He lived only two weeks, died April 15, 1881.