Edward Francis Guest and Rebecca Butterworth courted in the old fashioned way - by horse and buggy. After they met and became serious about each other, he would travel up east to see her. He lived about 3500 South West Temple and she lived just east of 23rd East on 33rd South. There is a ball field there now.

Edward Francis Guest had been born on 9 November 1858 in on the corner of Thirty Third South and West Temple Streets in Millcreek, Salt Lake County, Utah, the first of twelve children of Edward Francis Mailon Guest and Jane Walton. He was blessed by Reuben Miller on 10 April 1859. He was baptized 16 Jun 1867 by his father and confirmed the same day by J. F. Snedaker. He lived in that same area all of his life. His deceased membership record give a baptism date of 2 December by Edward F. M. Guest, and confirmation the same date by Cornelius Green. This was during a time when many members of the church were "rebaptized" as a sign of commitment to the covenants they had made, so this is likely what this was. He was ordained an Elder on 21 October 1876 by William J. Smith, ordained a Seventy on 20 September 1910 by George F. Richards, and ordained a High Priest 11 Feb 1917 by Tobe Felkins.

Rebecca Butterworth was born 6 February 1862 at Winwick Lodge in the parish of Winwick, Huntingdonshire, England, the eighth of ten children of William Butterworth and Mary Rose. She emigrated with her parents and all but the two oldest children on 7 September 1870. She was baptized 18 November 1873 in the 4th Ward by Charles Davey, her oldest sister Sarah Rose's husband, and confirmed by Thomas Jenkins.

Edward was a tall man, standing 6 feet tall in the prime of his life. Rebecca was 5 feet even. Edward had coal black hair, even until he died. Rebecca had snow white hair pinned in a bun at the back of her head. They were a handsome couple [Jean Guest Bryson Journal, JGBJ].

Rebecca appears to have been from a better than average family financially, and Edward from an average one. They were married on 13 December 1881 and endowed and sealed in the Endowment House on 13 April 1882 by Daniel H. Wells. Edward's mother passed away only about 4 months after their marriage, on 26 April 1882, and their first child, Edward Mailon Guest, was born about 5 months after this, on 17 September 1882. Rebecca was pregnant when her husband's baby sister, Jane, was born, and it must have been very hard on her to see that beautiful mother and baby die.

Rebecca was called as the first Relief Society President when the Miller Ward was created in March 1907. [Miller Ward History]. She was a very "emotionable" woman. That is, she was very empathetic to those with any kind of a problem. She was also quite panic-stricken if anything happened to her family. She loved children and they all loved her. At one time she took granddaughters LaRue and Jean on her back and pretended to be a bear. (A toothless bear, because she had removed her false teeth.) We rode all around her kitchen on her back. We were squealing joyfully, and she was growling as she crawled. She must have been pretty tired out when we finished our ride. She loved her grandchildren.

Once while baking bread, William James was in his cradle. Rebecca noticed an Indian standing at her door, and he came in. He asked for some of the bread, and when he was told it was not done and he couldn't have it, he drew his knife and placed it at Will's throat, and demanded the bread or he would kill the baby. At that moment Edward rode up on his horse, scaring away the Indian. When he heard what had happened, he got on his horse and chased the Indian all the way down the street, shipping him with his horse whip all the way. He wouldn't stand for such a thing to happen to his family.

Another time an Indian came to the house demanding food when Rebecca was alone with the children. She thought for a second, then yelled "Small Pox! Small Pox!" and the Indian, fearing that dread disease, fled for his life. [JGBJ].

Edward was a hard worker, and if ever he sold anything, he always gave the "Baker's Dozen." Their faith was tested many times. Once they only had enough money to buy some butter or pay their tithing because he was out of work. When he questioned Rebecca about what he should do, they decided to pay their tithing. The very next day a man came to their house and offered him a job at the Midvale smelter. He worked there for quite a few years. Edward was a wise and very calm man, but he had a temper that he kept to himself most of the time.

One time Edward was out of a job for some time and they only had 25 cents left. They had six children to feed and clothe. Rebecca asked him if he would go to the store and buy a pound of butter with the last money they had. As he was riding to the store on his horse, he remembered he owed tithing. With the 25 cents he headed for the ward house. Someone was usually there during the day. The clerk was in his office when Edward arrived.

He knew Rebecca would be upset if he didn't com home with the butter, but he knew he wouldn't feel right if the tithing wasn't paid. The ward clerk told Edward to hang on to the 25 cents because they might really need it before he could find a job, but no, he was determined to pay it, as the Lord had commanded all of His children.

When he arrived home Rebecca and the children were seated at the table waiting for Edward and the butter. When he told her he paid his tithing instead of getting butter, she also was relieved. As they finished the blessing on the food they were about to eat, they heard a horse nearing the house and a young boy's voice calling, "Mr. Guest!"

Edward went out to see what was going on and the boy told him his father had sent him to ask Edward if he would work for him. Edward gladly told him he would be glad to work for him. He worked for that man for years.

Edward always told his family to pay their tithing, because the Lord really does take care of you if you obey His commandments.

He would recite poetry his father, Edward Francis Mailon Guest, had composed. Beautiful poems. He had them all memorized. The grandchildren loved to hear them.

Edward was a hard worker. He was never idle. He had big fine garden, cows, a horse, chickens, pigs, cats, and dogs. Will's children, Lloyd, Vaughn, and Jean lived next door and their job was cleaning the chicken coops. They hated that job. There was never a dirtier job created than cleaning chicken coops [JGBJ].

He is listed in a pre-1910 Salt Lake City Directory as a foreman, residing on West Temple near 14th [33rd] South. In 1910 he is listed as a farmer, living on West Temple south of 14th [33rd] South. He was instrumental in organizing Miller Ward and was been an ardent booster for civic progress in the Mill Creek area.

He was still a hearty speaker well into his 80s, and told of the development of the community and how, when he was a small lad, he could count the number of dwellings on State Street from Seventh South to Thirty-third on his 10 fingers. He told of his younger days, playing baseball at the old Church Farm with other pioneers, including Pres. Heber J. Grant.

He was among the first to pioneer the Cottonwood Canyons from where he hauled the winters supply of wood. Each trip by wagon and through the sage country took four days. He explained that bear hunting and fishing were 'tops' in those days.

When he was 73 years old he was still working. He was the custodian and building engineer for what now is Pyke Manufacturing Company. In earlier days they made mostly men's work clothes. Today they make mostly women's sportswear. When their granddaughter, LaRue Kevern, was a little girl, her mother took her up to the old building on 1st South and 1st West to ride on the elevator - that was a big occasion. They rode uptown on the streetcar, which only went as far south as 33rd South and State Street, then came home in her grandfather's old, old car. The make of the car was "Star" and must have been made in the early 1920's.

One day the company person took Grandpa home because he had suffered a stroke which paralyzed one side of his body. They thought he would never survive, but he did and lived almost another 15 or 20 years. It was when he couldn't do anything to help himself and his sweetheart, that his daughter, Verna M. Guest Cowley, and her family moved into the old family home and assisted them.

Rebecca suffered a fatal heart attack at Sunday School, 11 August 1935. She had a bad heart, and had been having some trouble with it. One Sunday she felt like she would go to Sunday School even if she was having trouble. During Sunday School she had problems breathing, so she was taken out on the back steps of the Miller Ward house to see if she could breathe better. She still couldn't get her breath, so they took her home and laid her on the lawn in the shade. She died there [JGBJ]. It was a warm summer day, and because the Junior Sunday School was being held in the gym of the old Blaine School, her granddaughters, LaRue Cowley Kevern and Jean Guest Bryson, did not know she had died until they got home. LaRue remembers seeing her lying on her bed where LaRue's father had carried her. Verna had changed her and washed her and she had a sheet on her up to her shoulders. LaRue was only 8 at the time, but remembers it very clearly.

In those days the viewing prior to the funeral was held in the person's home. Because at that time there was a very narrow hall in the house, the men had to pass her casket through the south front room window. Her funeral was held in the old Miller Ward Chapel on 33rd South between Main Street and State Street. [See her obituary and transcription of funeral program.]

There were articles in the Deseret News to announce the 81st and 90th birthday celebrations for Edward F. Guest. [See clippings.]

When Edward was 90, a rooster was chasing one of his favorite hens. Edward chased the rooster, shaking his cane at it, and at that time, really displayed his temper. He tripped on the stump of a tree and broke his shoulder. He was in the hospital when a blood clot formed and went to his heart and it killed him, with coal black hair, and still very active until his last breath [JGBJ]. Edward F. Guest's death was the result of a fall against the little house in the rear of 3517 South West Temple. He struck his shoulder, which crumbled like chalk, and died 5 days later on 12 July 1949 of pneumonia. He had one massive bruise from his shoulder to his hip. His sister, Rhoda, who lived in Kansas, died just the day before him. Verna received a letter from her family the day of Edward's funeral. I'll bet he was surprised to see her on the other side of the veil. Even though he was the oldest child, he had outlived all but one of his brothers and sisters. (Orson died a year later) Edward is buried in the Elysian Burial Gardens, in Murray, Utah.

See his obituaries and transcription of his funeral.

Information on the children of Edward Francis Guest and Rebecca Butterworth, from Jean's Notes, Church Census records, ward records, etc.

1. Edward Mailon Guest, born 17 September 1882, blessed by Edward White. Baptized 6 November 1890 by B. F. Price, confirmed same day by John Cook. Married Ada Cook 17 June 1908 in the Salt Lake Temple. He had been endowed 7 November 1904. Ordained an elder 7 November 1904 by his father, Edward F. Guest. He served a mission to New Zealand, returning on 1 July 1907. He was ordained a High Priest on 26 July 1904 by Melvin J. Ballard. He served as President of the Miller Ward Elder's Quorum from 1911 to 4 Jan 1914.

He is listed in a pre-1910 Salt Lake City Directory as a teamster for Husler's Flour Mill. In 1910 he is listed as a forman for the packing department of National Biscuit Company, who he worked for for many, many years. His address in 1910 in 4342 South State. He died of a stroke on 16 April 1953 [deceased membership record says 16 March] and was buried 20 April in Twin Falls, Idaho. See his obituary.

They had four children: Edward Mailon Jr. born 10 September 1909; Ruth Norma born 9 October 1912; Evelyn born 4 Feb 1918, and Francis LaMar born 24 May 1922. There is a name E. M. Guest, born 30 August 1914 listed on the membership record for Ada Cook Guest, but it was crossed off. Other family records do not show a child with this birthdate. Her membership record says she died at Riverside, California, the obituary said she died in Orange. [See their pictures in the Photo Gallery.]

2. William James Guest. See his page.

3. Mary Jane Guest, known as May, was born 15 July 1888 and blessed by O. T. Lemmon 6 September 1888. She was baptized 3 September 1896 by George Fairbourn, confirmed 3 September 1896 by Daniel Lund. She is listed in a pre-1910 Salt Lake City Directory as an employee at the Royal Laundry, boarding at West Temple near 14th [33rd] South. She was called as the first secretary of the Miller Sunday School, a branch of the Mill Creek Ward in 1906. She married Austin Porter Miller on 20 September 1911 in the Salt Lake Temple. Mary Jane died 3 January 1931 and was buried 5 January. Her obituary [see copy] was dated 3 January 1931. Her husband died 27 August 1967. They had four children; Austin Jr., Harold, Eldon, and Donna. Harold (Hack) was a sports column writer for the Deseret News for many years.

4. John Earl Guest b. 28 June 1891, blessed 6 August 1891 by Jens Hansen. Baptized by Richard C. Towler 2 July 1899, confirmed same day by Jens Hansen. Married Edna Sharlotte Duncomb 8 July 1912. All family records list her name as Edna Sharlotte or "Birdie" as she was known. But on the marriage license her name is listed as Bertha Duncomb and she signed her name Bertha Duncomb! They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on 12 September 1912. They had four children: Cleo Earl born 10 April 1913; Wayne Duncomb born 1 April 1915, Denslow (Denny) Duncomb born 26 March 1918; and Wesley Duncomb born 24 April 1924. (All four birthdays were within four weeks!)

He was living in Manti, Utah in 1920 and held the priesthood of elder. In 1925 they were living in the Idaho Falls 2nd Ward, at 179 16th Street. In 1930 they were at 529 Redondo, Salt Lake, in the Wells Ward, Grant Stake and in 1935 they were at 457 East 33rd South in the Wandemere Ward, Grant Stake. He was ordained a High Priest 12 December 1954 by Ferdinand Billeter. Aunt "Birdie" died 5 April 1956 of an enlarged heart.

Earl married Sarah Viva Carlisle on 10 March 1959, license from Salt Lake County. She had been married twice previously to a Mr. Giles and a Mr. Sweat. Uncle Earl died in Salt Lake on 7 June 1970. See his obituary.

5. Dessie Rebecca Guest was born 20 June 1895 and blessed 1 August 1895 by James C. Hamilton. She was baptized 1 August 1903 by Edward Steadman and confirmed 2 August by John Morgan. She married Clyde Henry Peck 20 February 1915 and was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple 29 March 1916. They had three daughters and one son. Dessie died 17 April 1960 and Clyde died 30 October 1976.

Around 1950 they moved the house they were living in to a lot at 21 Guest Avenue (near 35th South between State and Main Streets where they lived until their new house on Wander Lane in Holladay was built. both Vaughn Guest and Jean Guest Bryson also lived in that house at 21 Guest Avenue.

6. Verna Mosely Guest was born 29 September 1901 and blessed by James C. Hamilton on 3 November 1901. She was baptized 6 November 1909 by Leroy Shepherd and confirmed 7 November 1909 by Lewis O. Clark. She married Willard Seymour Cowley 17 June 1925 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had one daughter and two sons: LaRue, Don, and Richard. Verna died 18 May 1966 and Uncle Willard died 6 Oct 1973. Verna and Willard and their family moved in with and took care of her father, Edward F. Guest, for the remainder of his life after her mother, Rebecca, died. See Verna's and Willard's obituaries.