Jesse and Luella Washburn had been married almost three years. The summers had been spent in Huntington, Utah, where they had built and made improvements on the first “red” brick home built in that area. The school months had been spent in Provo, where Jesse could attend Brigham Young Academy. Jesse had now completed the better part of two school years at the academy and had graduated from the “preparatory course.” While attending school in Provo, Jesse and Luella had rented a place from Ike Roberts at a location about 20 blocks from the academy. They paid $15.00 per month rent and the “Y” tuition was $33.00 for a full year. Neither Jesse nor Luella had a job, but had spent the summer before in Huntington canning, and drying fruits and corn in preparation for the school year in Provo. Jesse put in all week at school, but on Saturdays he could often go out and earn a few potatoes, fruit of some kind, or even a sack of flour. Luella was usually sewing for someone in exchange for a few needed items.
For graduation, Jesse needed a good suit which created a problem since they had little money. Luella records, “I tried to figure something out and finally went to the Provo Woolen Mills and bought a remnant of gray wool, enough for a suit for $4.50. I took it to a tailor who was to cut the suit out and make the coat for $7.50. I made the vest and trousers. On April 30th, Jesse’s birthday, I took my two articles and went to the tailor where we carefully packed the completed suit. I took it to my husband who was very pleased but amazed to have thus found a new graduation suit. It cost $12.00 and was paid for with cash I had earned laundering shirts for some of the “Y” students.”
The Washburns had one child, Alvin Verd, and Luella was expecting her second child in August.
Returning to Huntington that summer, they planned for other year at college, but were surprised when Jesse received a call from the Church [of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] to go on a mission. Since Luella was expecting a baby, they were given a choice of when Jesse would leave and they chose September 15th as the baby was due late August.
This time the Washburns were blessed with a little daughter, Lela, born August 31, 1899. However, Lela had medical problems. Luella wrote regarding Lela, “At once we found she had a weakness that no one could understand. She would swoon away when she cried and seemed to have little if any voice.” Jesse left as planned on September 15 for his mission to Arizona-New Mexico, and Lela lived only until October 4th. Jesse was not there for either Lela’s death or burial. Luella records in her journal, “Had I known then that we would have eight more sons and wait twenty years before getting another darling little girl the loss would have been even greater than it was.”
When their eleventh child and second daughter, Margaret Marie, was born, the family was residing in Duchesne where Jesse had been superintendent of Duchesne County Schools since June 1915. In late June, 1919, Jesse attended a convention of Utah school superintendents in Salt Lake City. While there he was urged by some men from Emery County to return to Huntington to be superintendent of schools there, he declined the offer, feeling it would be impossible to leave Duchesne with all the commitments he had there. Upon returning home, he told Luella of his decision. Luella “raised the roof,” feeling that returning to Huntington would provide much better educational opportunities for the children.
Luella records in her history, “I asked which was of most importance, land, cattle, bees, etc. or kids?” She added, “...that she was sick of pioneering and wanted to get away from it all. He [Jesse] finally said that if the farm [River Bend], was fenced that he might consider it. In my agitation I told him it would be fenced. I would see to that.” Jesse accepted the Emery County job as superintendent of schools. He left Duchesne for a convention in Huntington held June 29-30, but returned to Duchesne in time for what Luella described as the “…greatest event of our lives. The welcoming of our darling little daughter, Margaret Marie, born July 5, 1919.” Jesse could stay only a short time before returning to Huntington.
Now came preparations for the move. Luella records, “I had fought the idea of fencing from the start, and now with us moving was sure it would be money and labor wasted, but in my desperation I had made a promise.” Tom and Don were now sixteen and fourteen respectively, so as soon as Luella was physically able, the boys were enlisted to help with what Luella named “Operation Fence.” The wire had been purchased months before. “Little Margie was put in her buggy and wheeled out to the job. While two older brothers [Tom and Don] stretched the wire, mother and daughter followed with hammer and staples. After long, tedious unending days our job was finished.”
“We then began preparations to dispose of things preparatory to moving. But oh Heavens, what an undertaking. We had a neighbor, Jens Nielsen, in whose care we were going to leave twenty stands of bees, the cattle, a horse or two and all implements, and we had taken pride in having almost everything needed. During a night recently fire had destroyed a small building housing the buggy, saddles, harnesses, etc., so those things gave no further worry.” The wagon, containing the majority of their possessions, was sent ahead on the approximately one hundred mile journey with young Tom and Don driving the team through the canyons and mountains to Huntington. Luella admitted she was, “frantic with worry” letting two so young make the several day trip with heavy load and little experience in driving. Luella disposed of the home in town, then took a stage coach with the younger children, and Jesse met her in Colton, Utah in a new Ford car he had just purchased.
In Huntington there was nothing large enough available to buy, so they rented an apartment over Geary’s store. With the new car for traveling and a smaller school district to travel, Jesse was not away from home so much.
Nothing more is recorded in Luella’s history regarding Margaret Marie until long after the family’s move to Provo in 1922. Then Luella notes, that Margaret attended both seminary and Provo High School graduating from each with good grades, especially in stenography and typing. One high school report card lists her as taking classes in shorthand, office practice, psychology, physiology, acappella choir, and physical education. The comments of teachers were positive such as, “...in stenography takes dictation well, and is a rapid typist,” “splendid work,” “especially fine in journal work,” and “very good attitude.” The psychology teacher commented that she could, “do more out of class study.”
Margaret attended Brigham Young University where she continued until within one quarter of graduation when she left school, moved to Salt Lake City, and took employment with Remington Arms. Margaret did manage to graduate. As Luella reports, “I shall always be grateful to Dr. Amos N. Merril who came to see what could be done so that she could graduate after her successful years. He found it very simple. If she would make a written report on two books of his choosing, she could get her credit.” She completed the book reports and graduated from BYU with a B.S. degree in June 1942.
Nile’s son Van, Woodrow, and Margaret were close to the same age, so often did things together. Van remembers the times when Margaret was sent to Moulton’s store on 9th West and Center Streets with a list of groceries to buy. Van frequently accompanied her. Margaret would often buy, in addition to what was on the list, some ice cream or candy which she wasn’t supposed to have because of her complexion problems. On the way home they would hurriedly eat the treats. If they hadn’t finished by the time they got home, Margaret would hide the remainder on the window sill by the kitchen door, returning to finish it later. Van remembers that more than once she returned to melted ice cream.
Margaret eventually left the employment of Remington Arms and obtained a position with the United States Employment Service (War Manpower Commission). During the months living in Salt Lake, she met a young man from California, John D. Rutzebeck[i], who was in the military stationed at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake. John later left Salt Lake and served the remainder of his military obligation overseas for two years. During those years abroad, he and Margaret corresponded, and when the war ended, Margaret joined him in California. They were married December 29, 1945. They then made their home in Castro Valley, California. Luella writes, “What a heartbreak that our only daughter should have to go so far away from home to live.”
The newspaper wedding announcement states, “The wedding was held at the home of the groom, with relatives and close friends in attendance. The bride was graduated from the BYU in June, 1942, and left almost immediately for Salt Lake City, where she engaged in war work. Later she transferred to the U.S. employment service, and recently was made supervisor of her department [Johnny D. Rutzebeck] received his discharge from the army in August on his return from 30 months overseas, where he served in the North African, French, and Italian campaigns. He entered the army early in 1941, and was stationed at Fort Douglas, for nearly two years. It was during this period that the young couple first met.”
Shortly after their marriage, Margaret and John (often called Jake), along with Ruthie and Jimmy Price bought a chicken ranch in Castro Valley. The Prices were dear friends who had been like parents to John. John and Margaret had limited financial resources other than a few government bonds, John having just been released from the army. So, Ruthie, Jimmy and Margaret ran the ranch while John held a job elsewhere to bring in additional income. After two years of ranching, the market for chickens proved unprofitable and they sold the business to purchase a tool distributing company which they called Price and Rutzebeck. Margaret was very involved in getting the business started, acting as secretary, and traveling with John to tool shows. She was reported to be very proud of her role in the beginning of this new business.
Margie had been trying to have children, and after 3 miscarriages and one baby who died at birth, a baby girl, Sydney Frances, was born January 23, 1954[ii]. Two years later on March 3, 1956, a boy was born and named Del Kirk[iii]. John and Margaret were by then living in a new home at 18793 Sandy Road in Castro Valley just a few blocks from where their chicken ranch had been located. Finances with which to purchase furniture were scarce so they used orange crates for tables. Sydney remembers Margaret saying that those we some of her happiest days. As the family grew and Margaret’s home responsibilities increased, John hired a secretary to replace her so she could remain at home with the children.
The Rutzenbeck’s second son, John David, was born August 16, 1958[iv]. He had serious health problems at birth, giving his parents some anxious moments. He spent some time in the hospital following his birth, and had health problems on and off for several years.
Their business, Price and Rutzebeck, continued to grow and prosper. John was a pilot, and had his own 4-seater airplane, allowing him to fly himself to tool shows throughout the United States. The demands of the business necessitated that John travel extensively, and he was frequently away from home. Sydney recalls him being gone more than at home. This caused considerable strain on the marriage, with Margaret left home alone with the three children. In 1964, John and Margaret decided to separate. John moved to an apartment nearby the Castro Valley home. The children spent time with him three days per week for the next five years when he wasn’t traveling.
The extensive travel eventually resulted in tragedy. On a return flight from Houston, Texas where he had been negotiating tool sales with an oil drilling firm, John’s airplane crashed, taking his life. A newspaper article in the Hayward Daily Review dated January 20, 1969 reported that he had contacted the Hayward Airport by radio and said he expected to land in 10 minutes. The plane apparently hit bad weather, a fog bank, and heavy clouds. The plane was located by Civil Air Patrol searchers in a heavily wooded area during a drenching downpour. The date of the crash was January 18, 1969. According to the obituary, he was age 47.
During the summer of 1968, a year before his death, John had driven with the children to Alaska to visit his sister and her family in Halibut Cove. The children report “falling in love” with the area. They continued to return to Alaska each summer. As Sydney suggests, these summers in Alaska were probably an assist to Margaret since the children were a challenge for one parent to raise alone. With the death of John, Margaret became the president of Price and Rutzebeck and continued to run the business for the seven years following John’s death. She reportedly loved the work, but it was a strain on her. Her children suggest that stress was no doubt partly responsible for her untimely death on July 29, 1975. She was age 56.
Margaret is described as fun loving and generous to a fault, having many friends. Margaret loved to pack the car and go on family trips. The family went camping and Margaret seemed to relish sitting around the camp fire cooking a freshly caught trout. Sydney indicates that Margaret had the “pioneer spirit” which she undoubtedly inherited from her parents. Margaret was a loving, dedicated mother who sacrificed much to be home with the children. She is buried in a cemetery in Paradise, California beside John.
WASHBURN FAMILY (ca 1931)
Front (L to R): Woodrow, Nile, Luella, Margaret, Jesse, Verd
Rear (L to R): Fred, Clyde, Don, Tom, Barr, Roland
(Margaret about 12 years of age)
[i] John David Rutzebeck was one of the five children born to Hans Hjalmar Rutzebeck and Martha Johnson. His father, Hans, was an immigrant from Denmark who initially homesteaded in Haines, Alaska and later moved to Paradise, California. His mother’s family, the Johnsons, were from Kansas, and close descendants to Oliver Cowdry (Sydney indicates that Oliver Cowdry was her great grand uncle). Apparently John was quite independent, leaving home at an early age. His education was minimal, but this appeared to hinder him little. He was a successful business man, inventor, and airplane pilot, owning his own airplane for 25 years before his death. John enjoyed gardening, and always had a vegetable garden where he grew corn, tomatoes, chard, and other assorted vegetables. He had a real passion for outdoors and believed the best way to enjoy God’s creations was to take a Sunday drive in the country.
[ii] Sydney Frances Rutzebeck was born in Hayward, California on January 23, 1954. She is married to Dennis Gayle Bishop and has two children, Dennis Hans and Elsa Daisy. Sydney is an artist and a licensed boat operator. She also has a small business in Alaska, Halibut Cove Cabins, Inc. which she operates each summer. Her husband, Dennis, born August 11, 1949 in Oakland, California is one of five children born to Dr. John and Elva Bishop of San Diego, California. Dennis has a as degree in marine biology from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is a deep sea diver, and has dived extensively in California, Mexico, and Alaska. Sydney and Dennis met in Halibut Cove when Dennis was running boats for Sydney’s uncle there. Dennis worked as Executive Vice President of Ocean Farms of Hawaii, an aqua culture project located on the big island of Hawaii for some time. He is now employed by Marine Construction Company. His desire is to eventually own a dive shop. Dennis’ ancestors were some of the early protestant missionaries to come to Hawaii from New England in 1822. Both children, Dennis Hans and Elsa Daisy were born in Homer, Alaska. Hans, age 12, is in the 6th grade, and his interests include water sports, baseball, surfing, and running. Elsa, age 7, reportedly looks like her mom and maternal grandmother. She is described as a little “wild,” but is mellowing with age.
[iii] Del Kirk Rutzebeck was born in Castro Valley, California March 3, 1956. Kirk has two children, Amy and Sarah Jean by his first marriage to Jean Ann Scott of Anchorage, Alaska. Kirk has been a successful commercial fisherman and talented boat builder. At age 17, he began the five year project of restoring and refurbishing a 60’ mail boat, originally built in 1914. Kirk and his wife, Debbie, live in Homer, Alaska where they recently built a 16’ x 24’ two story log woodworking shop, purchased saw mill equipment and now build log cabins. A kiln drier is next on their list of projects. Debbie thinks Kirk is a lot like his mother, meticulous, with attention to detail. Debbie (who is from Denver) is very interested in nutrition and health issues, loves to read, and at one time operated a kitchenware shop. Both Kirk and Debbie love animals. They are active members of the United Methodist Church, and this past summer they accompanied 26 youth to Juarez, Mexico to build a home for a Mexican family. Collecting logs which drift onto the beach from all over the world has turned into a hobby for them.
[iv] John David Rutzebeck II was born in Castro Valley, California August 16, l958. Family members call him Johnny. He has a daughter, Lisa, age 15, born to him and his first wife Shelly. He has two sons, Jake, age 9, and Burton, age 5, by his second wife Peggy LeMay. John has worked in the Alaskan commercial fishing industry and has a house painting business in Homer, Alaska. He is the member of the family with musical talent, playing the guitar and harmonica in a band. Sydney reports that John kept this talent hidden while growing up, mostly playing when other family members were not home, He is described as a hard worker and loving father. He is currently refurbishing an older home.
