Their long-awaited nuptial day finally arrived and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on Wednesday, 26 June 1929, by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. The witnesses listed on the marriage certificate were John F. Howells and John Hagman. Why was Dad’s father, Andrew “B,” not a witness? We could assume from the above quoted letters that he might well have been back in California attending to his rapidly unfolding business interests. But certainly two proud mothers and several endowed siblings were there to honor the happy couple. 41
Unfortunately, we have no firm details as to what definitely transpired before the wedding or later at the reception. But, as I was growing up, I vaguely recall Mom talking about how she and Dad were kidnapped by her brothers, were dropped off at Saltair in their wedding clothes, and then spent their wedding night walking back to the city.
On the other hand, besides spending time at Yellowstone, I clearly remember her speaking about honeymooning at Jenny’s Lake, in Grand Teton National Park. The park had just been established in February of that same year.
As to what they would do and where they would locate after this initial blissful time together, they must have expended considerable thought. Economically, times were tough and jobs were scarce. Moreover, the promising mining prospects in which Dad had been involved for over a year had not developed to full expectation. Nonetheless, the two of them were evidently convinced that California held superior opportunities:
It was then with youthful hope and determination, in their newly acquired Nash coupe, that they set out along the road of opportunity for Southern California to seek their fortune–at the dawning of the Great Depression. As part of a new generation of pioneers, theirs was a different kind of frontier with which to struggle–unemployment, poverty, and national apathy. Being disappointed initially in the work opportunity that they had been assured before coming to California, they found themselves with a grand-total of ten cents, two potatoes, and one onion. 42
Dad elaborated further on their early history in his short autobiography:
[Following our wedding, we moved] to Los Angeles where we began keeping house in a small apartment, on Portland Street. I was unable to support a wife working for father and soon set out on my own. I got a job selling Christmas cards until the holidays ended, [and] then tried selling real estate. I did fairly well, but was unhappy with the people for whom I worked. [I] was finally able to get a job with the Standard Oil Company at their El Segundo plant as a fireman. [In 1930], I began to sell cooking utensils for the Century Metal Craft Corporation [Club Aluminum/Silver Seal]. I became district manager of Los Angeles and Southern California and continued until 1942. 43
Elaborating on the cooking utensil selling job and other early experiences, the following is recorded in my autobiography:
He and Mom used to put on successful home demonstrations to sell the cooking utensils. Mom states it was a team effort. She wasn't always completely thrilled with her assignment, however. Together they cooked dinner and demonstrated the cook ware. Then, while Dad completed the sale in the front room, Mom completed the dishes in the kitchen. Dad later became District Manager for the Southern California area in the marketing of this cook ware. For their first Christmas together, they gave each other a new back tire for their automobile. Mom also tells the story of debating with herself the following January about whether to splurge the remaining week's food money on buying a birthday card for her father, or not. She did. Then, upon walking out of the post office after sending off the card, she found a dollar bill on the sidewalk. Thanksgiving chicken was enjoyed courtesy of Grandma Howells, after being sent through the mail all the way from Salt Lake City. 44
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