Presumed to be written by Maude Bell Bate.
I was born in Charleston, Utah, Aug 2, 1882. My parents were George E. Simmons & Dora Turner Simmons. I was born in a little log house.
My parents came form England when my oldest sister was just a small baby; being fairly well off when they came, but found living in Utah a hard struggle. And little by little, their cash dwindled; until by the time I was born, they were the poorest knowing nothing about American money. The neighbors got the most of it for milk butter and other living expenses. And, after I was born, Mother had to go out washing for the neighbors for milk and butter for the family. All Mother’s beautiful little baby clothes also went for living during the first year I was born. Then, Father bought a farm in the same town and put up a little house on it. I am told that was very hard on Mother but she was a brave wife, doing work for the neighbors to help while Father broke up land and got, little by little, ready to put crops on it.