Coincidences with Family Roots

William Reed Jamison – Mission to Mexico

Getting to know Grandpa while working on his Mink Farm

When I was growing up, I spent a couple of summers working on my Grandpa Jamison’s mink farm in Franklin, Idaho. During that time, I got to know him quite well. One thing that always stood out to me was how comfortably he spoke Spanish with people we met who didn’t speak English. Folks were often surprised that a tall, blonde man could speak such fluent Spanish.

I came to learn that my grandpa had served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 1920s. He was called to serve in the Mexico Mission, but he spent time in El Paso, Texas, and about two years of his three-year mission in Mesa, Arizona. I remember him telling stories of riding horseback across the Phoenix Valley—also known as the “Valley of the Sun.”

The Phoenix Valley is massive, covering around 500 square miles—similar in size to the Los Angeles Basin in California. Riding across it on horseback would have been no small feat, especially when you consider the heat of the valley that spans much of the year. Having lived in Mesa myself for about 20 years, I know just how vast and hot the area is.

How did my Uncle Milo Rey get his name?

I also came to learn about my grandparents’ second son, Milo Rey, who was named after two missionaries my grandfather had met during his mission. My mother would often explain this when she spoke of her older brother, Milo, who tragically passed away at a young age. She was only two years old when he died of diphtheria at the tender age of four.

This story about Milo Rey’s name had always stayed with me, lingering in the back of my mind. But recently, while making copies of some family histories, I discovered the full names of the missionaries he was named after. Milo Bean was one of Grandpa’s companions in Mesa, Arizona. Rey Lucero Pratt, on the other hand, was actually the mission president. Grandpa met him several times, including when he first reported to the mission home in El Paso, Texas.

Uncle Milo Rey’s Namesake is related to my grandchildren

When I saw the name Milo Bean, I was astonished. That surname keeps coming up in my family’s history. I’ve written about George Washington and James Addison Bean elsewhere in my blog (See 1: Introduction and 9: Fear not…for thy prayer is heard).

Could it be that this same Milo Bean belonged to the very Bean family connected to my son-in-law, Clay Penrod—and therefore, to my grandchildren as well? To my amazement, the answer is yes. Milo Bean was a nephew of Clay’s 3rd-great-grandmother, Harriet Ann Bean. Their common ancestor is James Addison Bean.

Just think of that—a missionary companion who made such an impression on my Grandpa that he named his son after him. And generations later, a great-granddaughter of Reed Jamison—my daughter Emily—would be drawn to and marry a descendant of that very same Bean family. It’s a connection that spans nearly a century, woven quietly through faith, friendship, and family.

Grandpa’s Big Hands and Love for his Grandchildren

During my time with grandpa, I also learned of his incredible strength. He was almost seventy when I worked for him. I remember cleaning the mink pens, hauling and then spreading the manure out over some farmland that grandpa owned. I remember for every five scoops I would make with my pitchfork, grandpa would do one pitchfork load and the amount he lifted was equal to mine. I was moving five times as fast but struggled to keep up with him.

Another story I remember about grandpa was when he was raising his family, he had a dairy route, where milk cans from farms were collected and delivered for processing. He could lift heavy milk cans (I think 10 gallon cans, which is about 85 lbs ) with each arm at the same time up onto the diary truck.

I remember at Grandpa’s funeral service that my older brother Gaylen gave a tribute to Grandpa and the theme was about his big hands.

My Favorite Books and Jake’s Too

When I spent summers with my grandparents, I found myself often in my Grandpa’s library, a small room off from the living room. He had some great books to read. My favorite were a couple of archeology books about Central America. After Grandma Jamison’s passing about nine years after Grandpa’s, I was asked if there was anything I would like as a keepsake. I mentioned those two books and Grandpa’s bola tie with an F on it, which stood for Franklin. And, my mom was able to get those for me…pictured here.

A few years after Grandma J’s passing, our son Jacob was called on a mission to Honduras. He too learned to speak Spanish like his great-grandfather. I remember sitting in our living room when Jake read his mission call letter. I immediately jumped up and ran into my office. I said, “Jake, you’ve got to see these books I inherited from my Grandpa!”. I started searching the bookshelves, but my books were nowhere to be found. I came out and asked the family, “Has anyone seen my books about Central America and archeology?”. Jake then said, “hold on” as he went into his room. He brought out my two books and said, “you mean these?” I said, “yes, how did they come to be in your room?” Jake then told us that a few weeks earlier, right about the time he submitted his papers for his mission, he wandered into my office and began looking through my library of books, thinking about where he might go. He was looking for books about the world. And, those two books were of special interest to him. So, he took them to his room and began reading them, thinking maybe that might be someplace he might go…and, of course, he was right.

Family Roots

For more information about the William Reed & Maggie Jamison family please visit our family history tree:

William Reed & Maggie Jamison Family