Howard Ricks

History of Howard Ricks
20th January 1896 to 22nd April 1971

Son of:
Joseph Alexandar Ricks
Alice Nutt

Married to:
Tressa Elvera Hansen
19th of September 1923
Manti Temple

Prologue
written by Jaena Ricks-Gibson

It was a nice spring day in April.  I was in the back yard of my next door neighbor’s house. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, it was a beautiful day.  Karen and I were having fun on the swings when my mom suddenly appeared at the gate.  She let herself in and made her way over to Karen’s mother and then they approached me.  I could sense that something was terribly wrong by the distraught look on my mom’s face and the tone of her voice.  She explained to me that Grandpa Ricks had died.  I was nine years old at the time and death was all new to me.  I didn’t even know what that meant except that it was bad.  My mom ineptly tried to explain how I wouldn’t ever see him again. I really didn’t understand and that concerned me. 

My mother took me home, although I don’t really know why.  I was told that I was too young to attend the funeral and I was sent to my room.  I can see now that my mom was just trying to protect me from the hurt that accompanied losing a loved one.  Unfortunately, I just felt angry and bitter inside.  I wanted to be there, I wanted to know what was happening and perhaps to say goodbye to grandpa, but it wasn’t allowed.  I didn’t know too much about that man at the time, I did know he was a man of great import, highly esteemed by many.  He even had a grand portrait of himself painted which hung above his fireplace.  I learned much more about him from grandma after he passed away and throughout the years.  I have tried to capture his history here; most of it gleaned from his own writings and some from newspapers articles where he appeared quite frequently for a time.  He was an avid genealogist and even compiled and published the “Ricks Family History” book.

Howard Ricks History

Howard Ricks was born on the 20th of January, 1896 in Paris, Bear Lake, Idaho. He was born at nine o’clock on a chilly, Monday morning.  There was two feet of snow on the ground and it was still snowing.  He was born with the assistance of a midwife, Mrs. Grunder.  He weighed eight pounds and had brown hair, green eyes and a fair complexion.  His family belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and according to their customs; he was blessed on the 16^th of June, 1896, in the Paris First Ward by John A. Sutton.

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After living in Bear Lake for a short time, Howard’s family moved to Benson, Utah where they built a nice home.  It was a modest home, large for that day and age but still small as it had to accommodate a family of fourteen. Howard shared a room, which he said was no big deal since most of his time was spent outdoors.  Howard attended Benson Grade School in Cache County, Utah. 

On July 3^rd of 1908, Howard was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was twelve years old. The baptism was performed by Hyrum M. Cardon, at the Spillway by Bear River in Benson. He was later confirmed by W. W. Roundy on July 5th, 1908.  Howard remained a stalwart, faithful member of the Church for his entire life.

Howard was twelve years old when the picture below was taken. It was most likely his baptism picture commemorating the day.  As I look at this picture I see a serious, determined young man.

The state of Utah has a long standing tradition of celebrating Pioneer Day on July 24^th.  It is believed this is the day the Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley.  Parades, rodeos, pie eating contests, fireworks are all part of the celebration.  On this day in 1907, Ringling Brothers Circus paraded north on Logan Main Street.  I imagine Howard and his family were part of this crowd.

Howard was raised in a family of seven boys and later one sister came along. Can you imagine what that must have been like? The shenigans and then the one sister having to deal with all those boys!

Howard grew up in a desert area and having water on their land was a big deal.  When he was a teenager, he helped his father drill a well.  There are several different types of wells, but they drilled an artesian well which gets water from a much deeper level (typically 60 feet deep) than a hand dug out well.  The machinery shown below was likely a cable tool that was designed to raise and lower a bit bore into the hole which then twisted in a drilling like action.  Once the well was drilled, it had to be sealed or lined to prevent contamination.  It was quite a process. Artesian wells tap into an aquifer that has positive pressure and are drilled in such a way that allows the water to flow.  Howard’s father, Alex, was also blacksmith by trade.  You can find ads for his business in the “Logan Republican” newspaper.  He, of course, taught Howard the blacksmith trade; however, he didn’t use this skill much in his later life.

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As a young adult, Howard worked for Union Pacific Railroad on the Oregon Short Line in Pocatello, Idaho.  He was a “car toad” or in other words, a car mechanic. Eventually he became a Union Representative for the railroad.  He managed to keep ties to the railroad for a long time.  Even as an adult, he helped organize the railroad purchasing events to bring money into the community.  His work and association with the railroad brought a nice monetary pension that sustained my grandma long after he was gone.  This picture is of Howard greasing up one of the cars before it’s attached to the train.

World War 1 also known as the “Great War” originated in Europe and lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918.  More than seventy million military personnel were deployed and more than nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a result of this grueling trench war.  The Logan Republican newspaper column dated December 22^nd, 1917 tells that Howard ‘volunteered’ to serve his country.  He was twenty-one years old at that time. 

And, as you can see from the Ogden Standard below dated April 30^th, 1918, there were some rigorous standards to be accepted into the military at the time and not everyone made it.  On May 1^st, 1918 the Ogden Standard reports Howard was sent for his assignment.  Then on May 7^th, 1918, the Logan Republican reports that Howard left Utah for the Aviation Corp. in South Carolina. This last article is the one that he clipped for his own collection. 

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Howard served in the U.S. Navy for one year, from the 30th of April, 1918 to 8th of May, 1919.  Here are the various locations where he was stationed throughout that time: 

• Naval Training Camp in Charleston, South Carolina (Office Supervisor of Construction)
• An aircraft in Buffalo, New York
• A receiving ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Naval Air station in Pauillac, France
• Naval Aviation Repair Base in Eastleigh, England
• Naval Base #6 Air Station, Pelham Bay Park, New York
• Rockaway Beach, L.I., New York

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While in France, Howard became very sick with the flu.  He wrote at this time about how his life was saved through the power of prayer.

The group pictured below is Howard’s company.  There were two hundred men in his unit.  His commander is the short man in the middle on the front line.  Note that he also pointed out his “chum” third from the right on the front row.  Howard was the “fifth man in the second rank with a coat on”…not sure where that is.  He sent this picture home to his mother and asked her to take special care of it which she did for many years.

During the time Howard was in the Navy, the United States issued “war insurance” to all soldiers.  This was in the amount of $5,000 and its intent was to cover burial costs, should he die during the war.  It also included a monthly installment of $28.75 in case he was rendered disabled.  This is a picture of the unused certificate.

This program came from the Farewell Dinner he attended in Eastleigh, England before coming stateside to New York and then home. 

In the early 1900’s, having a young man at home to help run the farm or to harvest sugar beet crops as this article to the left explains, was critical.  This newspaper clipping came from the Logan Republican on August 24^th, 1918. 

Coming home from war was a big deal. There were celebrations featuring main street parades and social parties.  But it was often hard for a soldier to transition back to civilian life.  The U.S. Government offered the nearly five million returning military personnel financial, medical and social aid.  Finding a job was top priority and posters like this one below were seen all over.  A lot of people utilized vocational rehabilitation services and the American Legion, which was developed during wartime in France.

This sentiment was published in 1919, “Discharge in Sight? Oh boy! You’ve had a rough time of it. You’ve fought hard and well. You’ve suffered and toiled. But now that’s over, or soon will be, and you’ll be back in the Good, Old U.S.A.” (Excerpt from The Red Circle Guide for Soldiers, Sailor and Marines, published by the War Camp Community Service). Propaganda posters, like the one below, were every where, encouraging soldiers to return to work after the war.

The letter below was Howard’s instructions for attending and marching in a parade in his honor.  I’ve read many articles and newspaper clippings from that time period, and I’ve come to realize the people back then displayed a deep sense of patriotism and loyalty to our country.  They openly shared overwhelming gratitude for the service of those who gave up their time, and sometimes their lives to fight for freedoms that we all enjoy today.  It has been said that a “nation without patriots cannot long endure” (Manual of Patriotism) and I whole heartedly believe that.  I was raised to love the flag and what it respresents, to love our our country and our soldiers for the sacrifices they made.  When I was young in the 1960’s-1970’s, we recited the pledge of allegiance every day at school and on many other occasions throughout the year.  My heart still swells with pride and a tear or two escapes my eyes when I see the flag and listen to our National Anthem or some other patriotic song. 

The very first patriotic song I learned to sing was “It’s a Grand Old Flag”.  My grandparents, Howard and Tressa proudly taught me that song and we spent many hours marching around the house, waving a small flag and singing it loud and proud, a tradition I’ve tried to hand down to my children and grandchildren. Howard not only served in the war but he spent many hours later in life helping to establish a functioning chapter of the Disabled American Veterans in Salt Lake.  After Howard passed away, Tressa took it upon herself to rally and comfort those who American Veterans who gave their all for our country.

Howard was honorably discharged from the United States Navy and received the “Aviation” Clasp metal which wasn’t actually awarded to him until February 10th, 1925, six years after he returned home, at the Navy Recruiting Station in Salt Lake City, Utah. I don’t know what happened to his actual metal but I did find a this one pictured below from the 1918 World War I era, I imagine his must have been just like this one.

I would love to learn more about this picture below! I believe this is Howard, it was found with Tressa’s things that were passed down to her daughter Cleo. I’m not sure how old he was in this classic picture, there was no writing on the back, but I’m guessing this was taken sometime after he returned home from war.  Judging by his youthful stance and smiling expression though, I’d say he was good with animals and he must have enjoyed them.

After the war, Howard had the privilege of obtaining a higher education. He first attended Brigham Young Academy in Logan before it closed in 1926.  This picture is not his, but I imagine it very well could have been him posing in that crowd of students and faculty.

After that, Howard attended Utah Agricultural College in Logan, now known as Utah State University.  The students are known as the “Aggies” which is a diminutive form of the word Agricultural. The school mascot is an Aggies Bulldog.  Again the picture below is not his but another student on the college campus (circa 1919).

Pictured above is the University of Utah where Howard attended next. And below is a postcard picture of the LaSalle Law School in Chicago, Illinois.  I believe he studied Business during his years in college and this education served him well throughout his life. 

Again, there is no date on this picture of Howard but judging from the way he was dressed and the availability of pictures at the time, I imagine it may have been a high school or college graduation picture.

I’m sure as Howard advanced in school, his wages also increased.  Below is a newspaper clipping from the Logan Republican on July 30^th, 1921.  It shows his wages but doesn’t say what type of work he was doing or how often it was paid.

Howard met the love of his life, Tressa Hansen, sometime between 1919 when he got back from the war and 1923 when they were married.  They were both quite musically talented. Tressa played the violin and the piano and Howard played the saxophone. I’m guessing they performed together on occassion.

They applied for a marriage license in Manti, Utah and were married and sealed together for time and all eternity in the Manti Temple by Sealer Lewis Anderson on September 19^th, 1923.  The clip below is from the Manti Messenger Newspaper where the record of issuance of their marriage license showed up.

Howard and Tressa made their home in Lehi, Utah.  They had many wonderful, happy years there.  They were very active in the church and community.  I will talk more of their home life and children in Tressa’s history.

Howard was very active in the community and was a valued member of many clubs. The Elks Club was the first one he got involved with. This clip from the Salt Lake Telegram newspaper on November 2^nd, 1924, states that he was initiated into the club with several other members of the “antlered herd”. 

This social club is a fraternal order that was founded in 1868 in New York City and it is still going strong today.  The purpose of the Elks club is “to promote and practice the four cardinal virtues of: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its members; to quicken the spirit of American Patriotism and cultivate good fellowship.” (www.elks.org).

Another great organization that Howard participated whole heartedly in was the Boy Scouts of America.  Not only did he advanced in his own rank and later became a leader and helped many young men realize the goal of becoming an Eagle Scout. 

Boy Scouts was started in Britain by Baden Powel in 1908 and was founded in the United States in 1910 so it was a fairly new thing in the states and Howard embraced it whole heartedly, not only earning his own awards but serving as a scout master and helping many other boys earn awards as well. The clip below was published in the Salt Lake Telegram on November 4^th, 1929, shows him being awarded the Tenderfoot award. 

Below is pictured a cover from a 1929 Boy Scouts of America manual.  This would have been the manual Howard used to work and teach out of.

Howard and Tressa had always been very sociable people. They had dozens and dozens of dear friends whom they loved to spend time with.

I was amazed to find that just by typing Howard’s name into a Google search, over two hundred and sixty newspaper clippings came up.  This is partly due to the fact that they lived in the small town of Lehi and partly because of their ever present activity in the church and community.  I also realized that back in the day, you could learn a lot about a person from reading the newspaper! They may have even been a little desperate for noteworthy news to print because every little thing that happened was published, right down to a visit from a relative.  This was actually kind of a fun way to get to know my grandpa a little better through the eyes of the community.

Here is an example, published in the Lehi Sun on October 22^nd, 1931, I found this tidbit about Howard having his tonsils removed when he was thirty-one years old.  I can’t help but wonder how he felt about the whole community know this. Maybe it was a good thing, giving people the opportunity to rally around and buoy up his spirits but if you were accustomed to a more private life, it could have raised some issues!

Here is another article from the Lehi Sun that shares the news of some “spicy entertainment” cooked up by Howard Ricks, leader of the Vanguards.  In 1928, when the Church named Scouting as the activity program for the twelve year old deacons, they also created a program called Vanguard Scouting for the older boys.  Five years later the Boy Scouts of America asked if they could fill in the program for their older youth and permission was granted.  The Church later did away with Vanguards and adopted the Explorer Program in 1935.

This clip talks about “Vaudeville numbers”.  This type of entertainment was very popular in the United States in the early 20^th century.  It featured a succession of short acts which included comedy, song, dance, juggling, trained animal acts, magicians and so forth. Sometimes these programs were also called “Burlesque Shows” – by today’s standards we would think that some sort of nudity would be involved.  However, in the early 1900’s this word meant something entirely different.  Back then, a Burlesque Show meant you could count on an absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something.  Other words used to describe a burlesque could be a parody, caricature, satire, lampoon, farce or skit – no nudity involved. 

This program also featured “The Battle of Rollin’ Bones” minstrel. A minstrel is a medieval singer or musician who sang or recited lyrics or heroic poetry while being accompanied by music. Minstrels were generally performed for nobility but they were quite popular in the United States during this time period as well. I’m sure the boys and their leaders had a grand old time cooking these up and performing them.

Howard seemed to really enjoy drama and theater and apparenlty he was quite good at it. He was often either the director or actor and could put an entire program together with a short week or two notice.

The church in the early 1900’s wasn’t nearly as financially stable as it is today.  Stakes and Wards had to raise funds continually for building maintenance and activities.  On January 14^th, 1932 the Lehi Sun reported a dance party, a fundraiser of sorts, to help with the maintainance of the chapel.  Howard often chaired these events which meant that he was the “presiding officer in charge”.

Another clip in the Lehi Sun tells of a Wednesday evening birthday party for Howard and another person. Nine couples gathered and played games, spent time chatting and had tasty refreshments. Doesn’t that just sound like a rather pleasant evening? I have many fond memories of doing just that very thing with my grandparents.

Here are the details of another birthday party that Howard and Tressa had at their home, this on a Tuesday evening. This one didn’t surprise me too much, Tressa loved to play cards, after Howard passed she organized bridge clubs and had weekly luncheons with many of her card playing friends.

Another new thing I learned about was a “Stag Party”. In Britian, this type of party would refer to a bachelor party to be held before a wedding and this is what I was thinking so I was a bit confused by its use here. But apparently this term can also used to describe any kind party where only men attend. By L.D.S. standards, this was simply what we’d call a Young Men’s activity.

On June 11, 1932, Howard was travelling south on the highway and was in an accident. He said he was blinded by the oncoming traffics headlights. Fortunately no one was seriously hurt. I find it interesting that in the 1930’s, traffic incidents, including traffic tickets were all detailed out in the newspaper, including the names, offenders and ticket amounts.

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Just a few days after his accident, Howard was able to play the role of Elijah in a sacred pageant. Just goes to show you can’t keep a good man down! I enjoyed this particular newspaper clipping because of the fun “Grocery Specials” advertised here. What is malted milk bread and certo? And when was the last time you bought 2 lbs of graham crackers for $0.25? And how about that hamburger for $0.10 a pound!

Again, I’m uncertain what year this picture was taken but it’s a picture of grandpa and all his brothers and sister.   Honestly, I don’t remember having ever met any of grandpa’s brothers or sister.  I believe he was one of the older kids in the family.  He talked about them from time to time and I do have some of their histories.

Howard was a shoe in for politics. He had a lot of experience with his background in leadership positions within the L.D.S. Church, the Scouting program and the Lion’s Club, being nominated and winning the election for councilman of Lehi just seemed natural. So when he was 44 years old, (1940-1941), he was councilman to Mayor Dean in Lehi, Utah which included being in charge of claims and finances, waterworks, fires, police and prison.

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Howard also had a head for business!  In his younger days, he was a Union Representative for the railroad and a Local Board Member in the county of Bannock, Idaho. He also started and owned his own business, Ricks Furnace and Appliance. It was located on 2319 South State Street in Salt Lake City, UT.  The phone number was listed at the top of the building: 6-3986.  The business slogan was “We Make Warm Friends”.  I found several ads in the Salt Lake Tribune for this business starting in November of 1949.

Eventually, this business was handed off to my father (pictured above) who expanded it to include air conditioning and plumbing.  He moved this business to a larger shop on Fireclay Avenue in Murray. 

Again, Howard, even with all his other responsibilities, was still big into scouting. He participated as a leader and helped many boys reach their rank advancements as evidenced by the numerous articles in the newspaper. The picture below shows 18 scouts receiving their Eagle Scout award, including Howard who is the one on the farthest right side.

On January 13^th, 1950, grandpa was elected President of the South Salt Lake Businessmen’s League which was later made into the South Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.  This page includes the newspaper clippings of the announcement.

Some time in 1956, and maybe even before that, Howard was involved with the Ricks Family Organization. He was big into genealogy and was instrumental in gathering information to be published in book called History and Genealogy of the Ricks Family of America. This book was compiled by Guy Scoby Rix and sold by Joel Ricks. Below is a letter that Howard sent out to our family members to collect the information necessary for us to be accounted for and show up in the book. The book is still in print today and can be found and ordered by typing the name into a Google search. Our family shows up on page 167.

Howard and Tressa liked to travel. When I was little, we’d visit them often and sometimes I would beg and beg for them to get out the old 8 mm film projector they had so we could watch the movies from their trips. If I was lucky, after dinner dishes were done, they’d set the projector up on their dining room table and shine it up on the wall. I was simply fascinated in learning about their trips around the world, what I wouldn’t give to see some of those old films again. Some of the trips I remember specifically are Hawaii and Spain but I’m sure there were many more. Below are a few pictures from their travels.