MARGARET PRICE CASPER

Margaret Price (Casper) was born to Ann Powell and James Price Jr in Charleston, Utah where she lived her entire life.

She was named after her mother's sister, Margaret, which was the custom in those days. She was born in a little log house on the old Price farm where some of the Prices still live. It is located just east of where the old railroad used to run in Charleston. Many years later, the old home was sold and moved into Heber City, Utah.

Later on she met a man who was tall, dark and handsome, by the name of Jim. She knew that first look that he was the one for her, so on a cold day on January 13, 1899 Margaret married James Moroni Casper on January 13, 1899 in Charleston, Utah. They moved into a little one-room home on the Casper farm and spent her entire married life there. As the family grew, the house grew, and since there were nine children, they had a pretty good sized home. There was no electricity in that end of town.

They all learned how to read by the light of a kerosene lamp. On washday they all took turns at turning the old hand wshing machine. Then one day a man came along and sold them a gasoline washing machine. They had to cut a hole in the wall to put a exhaust pipe outdoors. Then in the year of 1935, the electricity on that side of town was installed. That was the day all the kerosene Lamps were put on the shelves for emergency only. Margaret would never have a lamp as she said, "I have had all of those that I ever want to see".

Then came the day, the electric motor replaced the gas motor on the washer. The hand irons were replaced with electric. Margaret did keep an old iron on back of the stove in case she needed to press something in a hurry.

The next great event was a radio which they could use with electricity instead of the car battery. Margaret was always happy at any job that she was doing. On wash day, you could hear her sing above the noise of the washer and when she was sewing on the old treadle sewing machine, you could hear her voice. She never complained.

She was a good homemaker and manager. In the fall, she filled the cellar with fruit, pickles, jams and jellies. Twice a year she made soap that you could smell allover the yard. The soap would last to keep their clothes clean through the winter. They could not use that water for baths because of the lye.

Every Saturday she made cookies, usually with a few raisins, but by the time Monday rolled around the cookies were all gone. There was always a time when some of their friends would stay. There was always a spare bed and something to eat for everyone.

She never learned to drive a car but was very adept at handling the horse team and buggy. When she worked in the Daughters of Pioneers or Relief Society she took her sleigh or buggy. She was very neat and clean, with her hair always combed. She always had a lacy hankerchief in her apron and when a child came around she'd reach in her pocket and come out with a peppermint for him.

Her brother, Charles Price and his wife Sarah Bethers Price would visit Margaret's home. She was close to this brother. She would always have beans and pudding ready to eat.

They had to bury their child, James Elden, of two weeks, from complications of measles and pneumonia.

Then on a Sunday afternoon, her sister Bell visited, and then their brother Will phoned and talked for some time and then she fixed super. She became ill and vomited. Uncle Will was called to come and he hurried but Margaret went to sleep and never awoke.

-from Margaret's history written by her daughter, Mae Casper Jones.