For some ancestors, there are no recorded histories. For others, there may be multiple. When we spotlighted Claude (Dad/Lamar's grandfather, great-grandfather to the Westra siblings) here on the blog, (
Claude Arthur Erskine - A Biography) it was a compilation of details from three different documents. From the "Life of Claude Arthur Erskine" featured below, from the similar
history written for Olive, and Lucille's "
I Remember Dad" document.
The original history had been saved to FamilySearch in PDF format. It is 20-pages long ... but only the first three pages are actually Claude's history. There is also a letter to a descendant from the President of the LDS church,
Thomas S. Monson, recounting his memories of Claude.
As we've been looking at the histories, if we can, we'll retype them up for easier reading and so that portions could be cut and pasted if needed. Chris retyped Claude's history, as written by Lucille.
Life of Claude Arthur Erskine
He was born February 7, 1883 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and died February 14, 1953 at the age of 70. His mother was Eliza Roberts and his father Archibald MacFarland Erskine. His mother came from England and his father from Scotland. He was #3 of 10 children. Archibald Frank born March 28, 1880, Kate May, August 3, 1881, Claude February 7, 1883, Stanley John December 16, 1884. Ruby November 10, 1889, Bessie March 30, 1891, Ralph Samuel January 6, 1894. His parents raised seven children. Archibald Frank, William Rob and Infant Son all died right after birth.
He lived at 726 1st Avenue while growing up. He has a wonderful mother and father, brothers and sisters. They were a close knit family and his memories of boyhood days and growing up were very precious to him. They had a large family and everyone had to do his share.
He broke his arm when a child, and the doctor set it crooked. He always said that is why he never had any money - couldn't hold his hand out straight.
He loved fishing, and used to bicycle to the canyons with his friends. They would camp for a week at a time. His friends were Bob Batley, Tom Squires, Will Sears, Rue McKnight, and Will Loveridge.
Olive Laura Cushing and Claude were married in the Endowment House on June 12. 1907. They had 6 children. Mildred lived only 2 days. She was born on Nov. 9, 1908. Ruth January 2nd, 1910, Lucille October 25, 1911, Maxine September 18, 1913, Harold Claude February 28, 1917, and Shirley Laura July 11, 1924.
Claude took Olive as a bride to their home at 836 Spruce Avenue, later named 831 Harrison Avenue. They lived there all their lives. It was fun having their own home, and Claude enjoyed working in the yard and fixing the place up to suit them. They had a fireplace in the living room which they thoroughly enjoyed and used often. They had a wonderful life together.
He learned the bookbinding trade as an apprentice, and worked at Arrow Press for years as a bookbinder. He belonged to a Union. He was unable to get work at one time and had to go to Butte, Montana in order to find work. It was very lonely being away from his family. He worked at Western Hotel Register as a bookbinder for many years and had a wonderful association with Spence Monson and Mrs. Zelley. She took over as head of the company when her husband died. Claude bought stock in the Company and enjoyed being a shareholder. (Spence Monson was the father of President Thomas S. Monson and we have a letter from President Monson recalling his relationship with Claude).
He lived in the 21st Ward, Ensign Stake while growing up, and when he was married they lived in Emerson Ward and Hawthorne Ward. He was baptized August 30,1892 by Charles W. Hardy, confirmed September 1,1892 by Wm. Bayles, ordained a Deacon March 26, 1897 by James Maxwell, ordained a Teacher January 13, 1902 by James Maxwell, ordained a Priest June 2, 1907 by Bishop M. S. Woolley, ordained an Elder June 6, 1907 by Bishop M.S. Woolley, ordained a Seventy February 13, 1931 by Rulon S. Wells, ordained a High Priest July 19, 1946, by Doreal Jensen.
He loved to drive his car once he got the Chevrolet in 1926. He always parked his car in front of the house so he could put it to bed at night, by driving around and up the alley. He always said that if he got so he couldn’t drive any more he didn’t want to live.
Claude was pretty healthy all his life. He had a broken arm as a child and a broken ankle while skating at Liberty Park. In November 1947 they discovered he had leukemia. He was in and out of the hospital for blood transfusions. He did get pretty strong for a while and went back to work, but died of leukemia on Feb 14, 1953 complicated by chickenpox, which he caught from his grandson Jim Dunlop. When his children were young and had chickenpox he was not susceptible to the disease
He used to play the mouth organ. He would accompany Olive on the piano. They also had a mandolin which he liked to play.
He loved fishing, and after he got his car the fishing trips were more frequent. He loved to go to Fish Lake and up on the Weber and Provo. He was a good fisherman and always got his limit.
The Erskines used to have fun home evenings. They would play Crokinole, Pit, Room, and Rummy. Olive would always have yummy refreshments. She was a wonderful cook. Claude liked to make stuffed dates and the children enjoyed them. Every Saturday he would bring a big bag of taffy from Keeleys home for the kids.
Claude and Olive used to love to go to the Wilkes theater on State Street, and see the plays. The Clollinger Company played there for years. When the Salt Lake Theater was on First South and State, they went there often to see plays and concerts. They used to pass a silver goblet down the aisle for those who were thirsty, They almost always brought chocolates to eat.
Their friends liked to play the game of 500, and mostly every Saturday night they would get together with one couple or another. They had their club for over 40 years. There were Helen and Bob Batley, Ethel and Will Sears, Tom and Virtue Squires, Teen and Will Loveridge, and Olive and Claude.
They enjoyed going to Saltair on picnics. When Saltair was first opened they had roller skating to music on the big dance floor. They enjoyed going to Lagoon, Liberty Park, Bear Lake, Hermitage in Ogden Canyon, Vivian Park in Provo Canyon, and to all of the beautiful canyons close to Salt Lake City.
Every summer they would have an Erskine Reunion at Liberty Park, honoring Claude’s grandmother. She was 99 years old when she died, and had her picture in the paper numerous times as the oldest lady on Old Folks Day. This was a big family and they enjoyed seeing Aunts, Cousins, Uncles and 2nd Cousins. They would pull a red wagon down to the park, loaded with a big picnic lunch. On the way home the youngest would get to ride back. They loved to go through the Zoo. It was located at the west end of the Park.
Claude enjoyed going down to the Municipal Ball Park close to his home to watch the baseball games. He enjoyed taking Harold down there to fly his kite. They would make the kite out of newspaper and sticks. Some flew and others crashed and they were back to make another one. It was fun to have a son to do man and boy things with. He taught Harold to fish and he loved the sport.
When Harold grew older they went to football, basketball and baseball games together. He didn’t neglect his lovely girls though. They had good times hiking, sleigh riding, and skating
Maxine was the first to get married. She married Clarence W. McEwan on Oct 1, 1931, and they had two children, Janice and Ronnie. This marriage ended in divorce after 10 years of marriage, and Maxine married John Blair who had a son Keith, on Dec. 27, 1949. They had a son by this marriage, Mike. This marriage also ended in Divorce.
Lucille was our next to marry. She married Joseph A. Westra in the Salt Lake Temple, Sept 5 1935. They have two sons and two Daughters. Joseph LaMar, Sharon Lucille, Diane, and Steven Arthur.
Ruth Married Oscar F. Benson on July 17, 1936. They had no children.
Harold married Frances Wilcke of Dayton, Ohio on July 12, 1946. They have four children. Dale, Mark, Dean, and Nancy.
Shirley married Phillip Dunlop on Feb 6, 1945 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had one son, James Phillip, and he was 18 months old when his father was burned to death in an explosion. Shirley later married H. LeGrande Lewis on Nov 24, 1950. He had two little girls, Barbara and Kathy. They have three children by this marriage. Connie, Kristie and Stephen.
They had 18 grandchildren, and loved every one of them. They have 18 great grandchildren to this date, Sept 1, 1973.
Olive and Claude had a very special marriage. They were happy that they could be together from 1907 to 1953. When their family was all grown and married, they had time to do things they weren’t able to do before. They went on many lovely trips around the United States, and had some good trips with their friends, Ethel and Will Sears. They enjoyed each other’s company.
Line of Authority
- Claude Arthur Erskine ordained a Seventy Feb. 13, 1931 by Rulon S. Wells
- Rulon S. Wells ordained Seventy Oct 22, 1875 by
- Brigham Young ordained Apostle Feb 14, 1835 by
- Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, who were called by revelation to choose the Twelve Apostles, and were “blessed” Feb 14, 1835 to ordain the Twelve Apostles, by
- Joseph Smith and his counselors in the First Presidency.
- Joseph Smith was conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood in 1829 by
- Peter, James and John, who were ordained by Jesus Christ the Savior.
