More on Grandpa Pike- Durango Colorado to Salt Lake to Fruita

Sometime in 1906 and 1907 Grandpa's family moved from LaJara to Durango. Great Grandpa worked for the Denver and Rio Grande Southern Railroad. In Durango they vacationed on the Los Pinos River or to the Red Mesa or up the Animas River. They loved fishing and camping and being near the water. On one occassion they visited the Indian Cliff Dwellings at Mesa Verde. It was in Durango that Grandpa met the First Missionaries, Elder Wood and Elder Weber. They organized a Branch and Grandpa started going to Sunday School. In 1909 Grandpa was baptized in the Animas River. They then moved to Salt Lake City, ( not a good experience) Not far from where they lived was a Catholic School or home for the orphans. Grandpa's many friendships were those orphan kids. The Father and Sisters welcomed them to play on the Orphanage Playground with the other kids. This is where Grandpa learned a lot of good sportsmanship. The Old Irishman who was kept at the Orphanage to tend the furnace and operate the machinery for the Orphanage laundry. Grandpa would help him used to help him on wash day which was once a week. This man became Grandpa's Hero. In 1916 they moved to FRUITA, Colo Grandpa enjoyed going with his father to the mountains. From Grandpa's words "How fresh Venison steaks and camp style fried potatoes and dutch oven biscuits tasted. Dad taught us to watch for rattlesnakes and he taught us to use a rifle and revolver. He also taught my mother to be an excellent shot and in those days it was good to use firearms." Hard work and family cooperation were soon established on the farm and Great Grandpa started to accumulate machinery. Grandpa worked at home some, but took whatever job he could to help get the farm going. He ran away to Green River Utah and worked as a Section Hand and Call Boy on the railroad. Then back to Fruita as a farm hand on neighboring farms, Coal Mining and as a mechanic and fireman in the Sugar Mill at Grand Junction. Experps taken from the book " Something New and Endearing" By My Uncle James H. Pike