ARTHUR BIGGERTON CRITCHFIELD
Arthur Biggerton Critchfield
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Lettie Conrey Critchfield
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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, and 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 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
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 given birth to their first child days earlier.
They settled in Farmington, Utah, and a few days passed before 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 before Arthur's brother-in-law, John Spencer, took them to an area near Cardston called Kimball. They lived in a tent made of two wagon covers. Arthur earned forty acres of land that summer and they moved back 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 away in Magrath in 1961. Arthur lived in Magrath until 1965, when he moved to Cardston. Arthur died in 1981 at 108 years of age.
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 given birth to their first child days earlier.
They settled in Farmington, Utah, and a few days passed before 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 before Arthur's brother-in-law, John Spencer, took them to an area near Cardston called Kimball. They lived in a tent made of two wagon covers. Arthur earned forty acres of land that summer and they moved back 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 away 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.
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 participation 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.
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 can be found in the Arthur Critchfield history book.
