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Back

ARTHUR BIGGERTON CRITCHFIELD

Picture
Arthur Biggerton Critchfield
Picture
Lettie Conrey Critchfield
   Arthur Biggerton was born in Glover’s Gap, West Virginia in 1872. Arthur's father died in 1877, and the family soon moved to Kansas, then to Salt Creek, Wyoming, then to Denver, Colorado.  It was in Denver during the year of 1897 that Arthur met and married Lettie Conrey, born in 1881 near Knoxville, Iowa. Shortly after his marriage, in July of 1897, he joined the Mormon Church.
   The couple moved to Bonita Valley with others from their church. Later, they were asked to go to Utah and made plans to leave on the midnight train. The men went on to Utah ahead of the women, as Lettie had just had their first child days earlier.
   They settled in Farmington, Utah, and were there a few days when Arthur’s sister Eleanor and her family arrived. They rented a house in Farmington and lived there together until Spring. Eleanor's family decided to move to Canada, and Arthur and Lettie soon followed after they received a call from their Church to go.
   They arrived in Stirling by train and stayed at Bishop Bradley’s home the first night, then made their way to Magrath and found work. They did not stay long, as Arthur's brother-in-law John Spencer came from Kimball and took them there. They lived in a tent made of two wagon covers. Arthur earned forty acres of land that summer and they moved down to Magrath on the 7th of September. Arthur and John bought slabs and built a dugout, one room each with a window in the south. Lettie passed in Magrath in 1961.
​   Arthur lived in Magrath until 1965, when he moved to Cardston. Arthur died in 1981 at 108 years of age.

FAMILY

Arthur and Lettie had twelve children: Bonita (Jensen), Mary (Nelson), Clara (Heller), Myrtle (Reber), Arthur Conrey (passed at 3), Clark Conrey, Joseph Conrey, Patricia (Edgar), Earl Jasper, James Loren, Eleanor (Hyde), Jared Bernard. 
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Back (L-R): Myrtle, Patricia, Clara, Bonita, Eleanor, Mary, Front: Lettie

OCCUPATION AND SKILLS

Lettie, an active member of the community, belonged to the Women’s Institute and the Helping Hands Club. Arthur worked on the canal, farmed, and learned to be a carpenter. His main occupation was carpentry, in which trade he ranked with the best. He was also a gifted entertainer and is remembered for his comic songs, humorous monologues, and his part in amateur dramatic productions.

INTERESTING

​Arthur baptized 8 year old John Rasmussen on December 25th, 1899, in the pothole creek, and they had to break the ice before they could baptize him.
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Photo of John Rasmussen (Left) and Arthur Critchfield (Right) on Arthur's birthday approximately 1976. John would be 85 and Arthur 104.

DETAILED HISTORY

Detailed history of the Critchfield family is found in the Arthur Critchfield history book. 
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  • Home
  • Collections
    • Magrath Veterans Pages >
      • Magrath Veterans Stories
      • Magrath Veterans WWI Killed in Action
      • Magrath Veterans WWII Killed in Action
    • Early Pioneers >
      • Early Settlers pre 1899 in Magrath area
      • Early Pioneers (1899) of Magrath
      • Early Pioneers (1900) of Magrath
      • Early Pioneers (1901) of Magrath
      • Early Pioneers (1902) of Magrath
      • Early Pioneers (1903) of Magrath
      • Early Pioneers (1904) of Magrath
      • Early Pioneers (1905) of Magrath
      • Early Pioneers (1906) of Magrath
      • Early Pioneers (1907) of Magrath
    • Magrath Current Displays & Activities
    • Social Media Posts
    • Blast from the Past
    • Covered Wagon
    • Cenotaph
    • Gallery
    • Kids
  • Contact Us
  • Films
    • Schools Film
    • Trading Company Film
    • Inclement Weather Film
    • Businesses Film
    • Sports Film
    • Swimming Pool Film
    • The Bell
  • Links
    • Town of Magrath
    • Magrath Pioneer Archive
  • Search
  • Kiosk
  • Trail Markers
    • Stepping into History
    • Gumbo Point
    • Sand / Spill Gate
    • Galt Dan & Head Gates