Melva May Harvey Potts Cundick

  George Wootten and Mary Rachel Baker Harvey welcomed into their home a baby girl and gave her the name of Melva May Harvey on June 6, 1897, in Lehi, Utah. While a small girl, she was kicked in the head by a horse. The scar could still be seen when she was a grown woman.

Melva was the oldest of eleven children.

     When her sister Delemma was born she was ill and had to have fresh cows milk each feeding. Melva would grab the milk pail and stoll, run out, chase the cow in, milk enough for Dee's feeding and run back to the house, the milk still warm.

     Melva was 14 when she graduated fromt he 8th grade. Then she went to work in Salt Lake City in a private home.

     On April 24, 1916, she married Joseph Potts. Their first baby, a boy, was born 6-29-17. He was given the name of Joseph Edward Potts, but they called him Joe.  One year later, 6-28-18, a little girl was born. She was given the name Melva Ellen Potts. It was six years later when a third child joined the family. Her name was Barbara LaVaun, a pretty little girl with black hair.  Melva's sister Delphia was there to help with the new baby and children.Barbara was born 11-24-24.

     While they lived on 9th North, just east of the Bamberger tracks there was a big fire at the Utah Oil Refinery. It was so hot they crossed the highway and went up the hill to watch.

     They moved to another home on 51 North Robert Ave. Then they bought a home at 851 East Strattford Ave.  The ne neighbors, a Dutch family, had some goats and one of them came over and was eating Melva's new pear trees.  Melva told Mrs. Ball and they took the goat home.  After a couple more times Melva called the police. They told her that if the goat was ever to come over again she was to tie up the goat and call them Sure enough the goat came over. Melva caught it and was tying it up when Mrs. Ball showed up.  Melva wouldn't let her have the goat so Mrs. Ball started beating her.  Melva was pregnant so she gave up and later had Mrs. Ball arrested.  at the trial Mrs. Ball said the rope must have made the scratch on Melva's face. the newspaper headline said, "Mrs' Potts get's Mrs. Ball's Goat."  Later the goat came again.  Mr. Ball came over and took the goat home.  Later he brought a hindquarter of the goat.

     Joseph's refreshment stand was across the street on 8th North and Back Street. Melva would take Joe to work and come home, work all day, put the kids to bed and go back around 11:00 to close up the stand and get home around 1 a.m.  It was too much for her so Melva rented a house at 354 W. 8th N., just half a block form Joe's stand. Later, Melva had an eating place just down the street from Joe's stand. Here she made the best chili anyone ever tasted. People came from all around the city for a boel of it.  

     Melva kept the children busy with game, making Valentines, etc.  Jo became ill and couldn't run his business so Melva sold her business to take care of him.  She finally closed up Joes stand.  That summer they had a refreshment stand at the cross roads in City Creek Canyon. That fall Melva wanted to have an eating place near a school. She had to recieve permission from the school board. She took the job and was Matron at East High until 1934.

     Melva always had a garden full of lovely flowers.  She shared them with family and friends. Her home always had all kinds of potted plants.

     During the fruit season Melva put up hundreds of quarts of all kinds of fruit.  Jams, berries, and pickles too were put up for use in the winter months. These were also shared where they were needed.

     Melva was tender, kind and patient to a fault.  However, she did not spare the rod and spoil the child.  She taught her children to love the gospel, to respect the rights of others, to always be honest and speak the truth.

     Joe was baptized in 1929, and in January 1931 they took their three children to the Salt Lake temple to be sealed for Time and all Eternity. Joe became ill 7 months later and passed away August 2, 1931.

A New Chapter

     In the spring of 1932 Melva moved her family to 708 Wall Street. Melva married Alvin Roger Cundick, Aug 6, 1934.  Her children were 17, 16, and 10.  Alvin had 5 children with his wife May who passed away in 1920.  When Alvin married Melva his children were: 

• Helen (32, never married as far as I can tell and died at age 51), 
• Alvin William (30,  married to Verlillian, had a baby the previous year that passed away), 
• Mary (28, had been married to William for 10 years at this point and had one son. She lived 97 years.), 
• Margaret (25, also married that same year to Nyal Gerber, and died one year later, according to family search).
• George (22, married Elma Skinner the previous spring, no known children.)

    Melva worked (for the school?) until Feb. 1935.  From there she worked at the cleaners next door.  On 6-14-35, at the age of 38,  she had a baby boy, F. Steven Cundick. When he was only a few weeks old Melva became ill and was bedridden for several weeks.  When she gained her strength back she went back to work at the cleaners. 

     She had another son, Robert Allen Cundick Nov. 14, 1937 (who appears to be the only child still living as of 2013). Soon after his birth Melva bought a home at 352 Center Street.  Melva, Alvin, and the older children all worked together to fix it up and made a comfortable home. After moving in they fixed up the 2 apartments.

     October 17, 1938 Patricia Rose was born (Alvin's 8th child, Melva's 6th).  

     Melva and Alvin made several trips around the country to visit their children: Ellen in Nevada, Alvin's children in California, and Joe's family in Arizona.

     Alvin was ill for a year,. Melva took care of him day and night. He liked to watch the goldfish and Melva's flowers. She fixed him a bed in the living room. He regained his health. After a couple of years he became ill again.  He passed away Oct. 2, 1952.  Melva was taken to the hospital the day after Alvin's funeral. She was in the hospital for 22 days.

     Melva's grandson Joe Sharp stayed with her for 6 months.  He went to school and enjoyed his grandmother and loved her very much. They formed a close relationship. She became ill again. By February Melva wasn't able to keep Joe with her so he went home.  In April she was back in the hospital for 2 weeks, and she passed away May 4, 1953.

     Melva loved to crochet and made crocheted rigs. She sewed strips of material together then crocheted them into rugs. She made paper flowers of all kinds and colors.  She made doilies, tablecloths, toys, and afghans.

     

**Written by Melva Ellen Potts Sharp, her 2nd child and 1st daughter.

Joseph Potts

     Joesph Potts, a confectioner (someone who made or sold sweets), was born the eleventh of thriteen children on October 27, 1889 in Salt Lake City.  His parents, Samuel Willard Potts and Martha Jane Cleaver, immigrated with the Saints from Macclesfield, Chester, England with two children, Sarah and John. They sailed on the steamship Wyoming leaving Liverpool on May 21, 1881, arriving in New York City on June 1st.
     Not much is known about Josephs childhood, but he was crippled and was thought to have had Polio as a child or man.  Joe's lags were twisted up and he could not stand on his own.  He was a nice looking man. He fixed up a chair with wheels on which to get around. He worked for a while in his father's shop, "S.W. Potts and Son Pioneer Dresser."

     Joseph married Melva May Harvey on April 25, 1916. He was 27 years old and she was 19. On June 29, 1917 they welcomed their first child, a son whom they named Joseph Edward (your great-grandpa). A year later in July a daughter, Melva Ellen joined the family. Six years later a daughter with dark black hair, Barbara LaVon, was born in November.
     The family lived on 9th North, just east of the Bamberger tracks for a while, then moved to 51 North Robert Avenue. Finally they bought a home at 851 East Stratford Ave, Salt Lake City. Joseph had a refreshment stand across the city on 8th North and Beck Street. Melva would take Joseph to work, go home and work all day, put the kids to bed and go back around 11 p.m. to close the stand. It eventually got to be too much for Melva so she rented a house at 354 West 8th street, 1/2 a block from Joseph's stand.
     Later Melva had her own eating place just down the street from Josephs stand. Here she made the best chili ever tasted, and people came from all around the city to have a bowl.  When Joesph became too weak to run his stand Melva sold her business to take care of him. She finally closed Josephs stand.
     Ellen remembers being the helper for her father and little sister Barbara while her mother worked.  She remembers running home from school at lunch to fix food for them. She became very close to her father from these times helping with his care.

     Joseph loved to go to baseball games, Every Wednesday night during the season, Melva lifted Joseph into the Model T Ford and took him to the baseball park.  She would sleep on the seat of the car until the game was over, then lifted Joseph back into the car, stopped at Liberty Park for the kids and then drove home.  When Joe was older he was able to help by lifting his father in and out of the car for his mother.
     About this time a wicker wheelchair was purchased for Joseph and now the family could get around easier.  They had picnics at the park, up the canyons and out to Lagoon and Saltair. They also enjoyed visiting with extended family.

     Joe helped his father as much as he could.  He used to like to push his dad in his wheelchair down the hill to his business in Salt Lake City. His dad told him it was O.K. to run as long as he didn't let go of the chair.
     On November 2, 1929 Joseph was baptized by Klass C. VanDrumen, and the next day he was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder H.H. Pederson and Ordained and Elder. On January 8, 1931, Joesph and Melva took their three children to the Salt Lake temple where they were sealed as a family for time and eternity.

     On March 29, 1931 Joseph and Melva received their Patriarchal Blessings from Patriarch Joseph A Bennet. Joseph was told not to worry his mind even in his condition at the present time for the day would come when he would be able to walk and talk with the redeemed in the Celestial Kingdom where God and Christ dwell.    In late July Joseph became ill and on a Tuesday evening, August 11, 1931, at the age of 42, Joseph Potts passed away at Salt Lake General Hospital. Services were held Sunday Aug. 15th in the 24th ward chapel with Bishop Mark Olsen officiating. Joseph was buried Aug 16th, 1931 in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Joseph (Joe) Edward Potts

More to come. This page is still under construction.....

     Joseph Edward Potts was born June 29, 1917. Joe went on an Eastern Central States Mission, returned and married Thelma Henderson. They have 5 daughters Bonnie, Jolene, Linda, Karen, and Nancy.

Joe and his family went on another mission to Minot, North Dakota to build a chapel. Joe was a very good finishing carpenter. He worked in construction his whole life.

Thelma died in August 1974.  Joe married Lora Magnusson July 15, 1980. They went on a mission together to Perth, Australia. Then they on a second mission in Sydney, Australia to be a sealer in the temple. Joe was set apart by President Gordon B. Hinckley. Later he went on a 5th mission to the Washington, D.C. temple.

Joe died March 1993 and is buried in Mesa, AZ.

While going to school in Salk Lake, Della stayed with Melva. Della just came home from school one day when Melva took the hot ashes out of the chicken coop and Joe followed her and fell in them.  Della picked him out of the ashes and Melva put medication on his hands, but it was getting worse.  Della grabbed him and walked from the home on 17th south to the country hospital on 21st south.  They took care of him and then Della carried him back home. She thought whe'd never make it back!  She would kneel down and rest every once in a while, but finally made it back home.  Melva had stayed home to care for Barbara. Melva was home crying her heart out when they got back, but Joe healed well.

Grandma Mary Baker Harvey had a gooseberry bush.  Joe and his sister Ellen used to race to it and eat the gooseberries, which they thought were very good.  When grandma's cat died she burried it under the bush and they never would eat the berries again.

One time Joe and Ellen were taken to the dentist downtown salt lake.  Joe was first, and then when Ellen was being worked on Joe went outside and wandered off.  A lady found him and took him to her house and fed him cherries. She called the police.  When Melva realized Joe was lost she called the police and they told her where he was. He was waiting happily, eating cherries.

Memories written by daughter, Jolene Potts Williams, Nov. 1996:

     Out father was a special man.  HE was always kind to us, he was always cheerful and happy and desired to teach us to follow the Savior, Jesus Christ.  I always knew he loved us becasue of the way he treated us.  I never remember my father spanking me or hitting me but all he had to do was look like like he was disappointed in me or say so, and that was enough to make me wish to change my behavior.  One time as a teenager I was washing a car with a friend who liked to swear and I used a swear word myself in answer. My father happened to be in the house by an open window and overheard my comment and he called to me out the window letting me know he had heard my words.  I was so ashamed that he had heard me that I have never again used a swear word.

     Dad loved music, it was a special part of his life.  He helped me to learn to love music by providing us with a piano, an accordion  and for one birthday he bought me a ukulele.  He loved to sing and we spent many hours singing at the piano, or when traveling in the car.  He taught us girls so many of the old time songs which we still sing today. Dad learned to play the harmonica and loved to play for anyone who would listen, and we all loved to hear him play!  He was always ready to volunteer "his girls" to sing for a friend or a neighbor at a church function. He was never happier than when listening to us sing alone or before an audience.

     Dad was there for me when I was ill or hurt and with the power of his priesthood he would give me a blessing.  He often sat u through the night, holding be so that I could breathe, when I was a very young child suffering from bronchial asthma.  Once when I had a severe earache he gave me a blessing and the pain went away immediately.  I was 5 or 6 years old.  Another time, as young mother, right after John was born, I had a gall bladder attack (I was living with Dad and Mom while Richard was in Vietnam) and after his priesthood blessing the pain went away.

     Dad liked to see a job well done and would coach us on doing dished and sweeping the floor. That's how I learned to sweep systematically!  In the last few years of his life, Dad and Lore came to Castle Valley to help u build our first home.  Dad was a master builder and wanted every detail as perfect as possible. The county inspector told us that the cement work on our house was the most beautiful he had seen.  Dad, his son-in-laws, and grandsons were responsible for that.

     Joseph Edward Potts was truly one of the best dads and friend a girl could wish fore.

Your Grandma, Linda Potts Williams

This page is under construction.

Your grandma, Linda Potts Williams was born June 4th, 1948 in Mesa, Arizona.  At the time her father Joseph was almost 31 years old, and her mother Thelma was 37.

She has 2 older sisters, Bonnie and Jolene, and two younger sisters, Karen and Nancy. Bonnie was born in West Virginia, where her mother is from, and the other 5 sisters were born in Mesa, AZ.



She married Terry Don Williams on August 21, 1970 in the Mesa Arizona temple.