Minnie Kartchner Stratton

MINNIE KARTCHNER STRATTON, daughter of William Decatur Kartchner and Elizabeth Gale, was born December 26, 1870 in Overton, Nevada. The family moved to Panguitch, Utah and then to Snowflake, Arizona. Minnie often recalled the hardships the family endured. She told of grinding their own wheat, which was often scarce, to make biscuits each morning, sewing, and doing the washing by hand.

Minnie received a limited formal education but worked diligently through life to educate herself. When she was young, she was constantly singing while she was working. One day her father said, "Oh, Minnie, for goodness sake give us a rest." After she married and returned home he said, Minnie, it's been so lonesome. Sing us a song. I'll never get tired of your singing again."

In October 1886, Minnie married the neighbor across the street, William Ellis Stratton. They made the two-week trip by team to the St. George Temple. Their 54-years of married life would hold its challenges. Minnie and Ellis had 13 children but lost 5 of them in infancy. Minnie honored Ellis' two-year mission call by remaining home and caring for six young children.

Irene, Minnie's daughter and the 10th of the 13 children, wrote" "Mother was intelligent. Ordinarily, she was gentle and considerate in every relationship but she could be firm. No one could bring about unity and harmony in a family of varied personalities like she could. She was tender, loving, and had true compassion and charity for all."

There were hard times as the younger children were growing up brought about by scarcity of money, the economic depression, and the loss of life savings when the bank in Snowflake suddenly closed. For nearly fifteen years, the family took in boarders, 68 in all, to supplement the family income.

Irene continued, "Mother's life was that of a true pioneer. Sharing her substance was part of living. Many came to our door. Friend and stranger alike surrounded our table and partook of its goodness. Life was full of farming, cooking, children to get to school, ironing and washing, church work, family home evenings and singing together. Our parents worked together to accomplish the necessary tasks of each day. When sorrow came, hand-in-hand they comforted each other. Were were taught well in the gospel truths. Tithing and family prayer were never forgotten."

Irene described her mother as, "teaching patience because she was patient. She never shouted or lost her temple. She stressed honesty and square dealing."

Minnie served in the ward and stake Primary organization and for several years was the president of the Snowflake Ward Relief Society.

In 1940 when Ellis passed away, she did not realize that she would go on alone for 29 years more. During all those years, she lived with her daughter, Mabel and husband Jesse, in Mesa during the wintertime. She spent the summers in Snowflake moving every two or three weeks from one of her children's homes to another. It was always special for the grandchildren to have Grandma Stratton in their home. Into her advanced age, she would help with the dishes, she would sew, and be part of everything that was happening. She was pleasant, grateful for her blessings and never complained even though, due to macular degeneration, she was legally blind for many years. Her mind was quick and she had the ability to show a special personal interest in each one of her posterity. With her beautiful silver curly hair, her ready smile and a bright twinkle in her eye, we were proud that she was our Grandma.

Minnie kept a daily journal for over 30 years. Even after she couldn't see clearly, she was still writing in her journal. She wrote poetry and honored many with special poems on birthdays, other special occasions or just to give a word of encouragement or advice. One of her friends wrote a poem to Minnie, in return:

"Sweet winsome lady, cultured and elect,
So gentle in the things you say and do.
Of all the epigrams that could be framed,
The title "Ladyship" was coined for you."

Minnie passed away on December 24, 1969 - just two days before her 99th birthday. Her posterity of 366 - including 7 great-great-great grandchildren - at the time of her death called her blessed knowing how through the years they had been privileged to have her as their dear Grandma.

Irene, wrote on Minnie's passing, "She endured with faith and humility to the end. She discovered happiness in toil. She chartered the course for all of us to follow. 

William Ellis Stratton

WILLIAM ELLIS STRATTON was born on January 28, 1862 in Virgin City, Utah (near the entrance to Zion National Park) to Anthony Johnson Stratton and Martha Jane Layne. His school was limited but he became self-educated as he enjoyed reading throughout his life. His parents were of modest means and he worked with his father to sustain a large family. When he was fifteen, they accepted a call from Church leaders to help establish Mormon settlements in northern Arizona.

The Stratton family arrived in Snowflake in early 1879. The Silver Creek Valley had been purchased with an improved breed of cattle from Utah. Ellis helped William J. Flake and others to drive cattle and horses to Arizona. Ellis participated in nine different cattle drives over the next several years. These drives usually originated in Beaver in southern Utah down to the Colorado River where the cattle were pushed on to ferry boats to cross the river then by the Tuba City area and across Navajo Indian lands then crossing the Little Colorado River and on into the Silver Creek Valley.

In 1886, he began to notice a curly haired girl that lived across the street. He was eight years her senior. He would go to see Minnie Kartchner whenever possible. On October 20, 1886, Ellis and Minnie were married in the St. George Temple. They made the trip by wagon over the 300-mile "honeymoon trail," with chaperones. It usually took about ten days each way. Several couples would travel together and be married the same day in the temple. Ellis recorded that he was 5 feet 7 inches weighing 130 pounds on his wedding day. He remained pretty much the same throughout life always being of slight build.

William Ellis and Minnie started housekeeping in a log house in the southern part of Snowflake. He earned a living mostly from farming and freighting. For many years, he had a contract to move freight by team and wagon from the railroad siding in Holbrook to the Bureau of Indian Affairs offices in Ft. Apache. His children said when he would return home, he would open a sack of sugar and give each of them a teaspoon and let them eat as much as they wanted.

Ellis built a beautiful red brick two-story home that stood on a corner lot on Main Street a block south of the Church meetinghouse. He and Minnie made it a special place for their children and grandchildren. Later, many of the single school teachers boarded with the Stratton's.

In 1899, Ellis went to the post office for the mail. Without any prior notice and to his surprise, he received a letter from Box B in Salt Lake City calling him on a mission to the Southern States. He accepted the call and thought it an honor. He served for two years spending most of his time in eastern Kentucky. Minnie faithfully carried on alone at home caring for six children.

The Stratton's had their trials. After one month in the mission field, Ellis received word that one of his eleven-month twin daughters had died. This was hard for him to accept but he was determined to continue in the work. That was not their ony sadness. Prior to the mission, they had lost an infant son then, in 1903 after he returned, two more children died on the same day from dreaded diphtheria that struck many of the families of Snowlake. A fifth child, six years old, passed away in 1910. Their family of 13 children was reduced to 8 that lived to maturity. Four children between Lena (born in 1895) and Irene (born in 1907) passed away. It was as if there was an older family of four - Mabel, Zella, Raymond, and Lena and then, a younger family of four - Irene, Lorum, Leona and Lynn. These eight children were devoted to one another and to their parents.

William Ellis Stratton was mild in nature, tender hearted, and completely converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He did not become bitter from the trials of life but always acknowledged the will of his Father in Heaven. He honored his priesthood. He and Minnie were widely known for the love and devotion to each other. They were united in all they did.

In 1935, they began spending their winters doing temple work in Mesa. They lived with their oldest daughter, Mabel, and husband, Jesse. They would return to Snowflake to spend their summers. In June 1940, Ellis passed away. He has always been remembered by his children and grandchildren as a man of love was was always kind and considerate to all.

Their daughter, Irene, wrote of her parents, "Hardships, joys, tears, laughter, determination, devotion, prayer, and plenty of good hard work are the material from which great lives are fashioned. From these qualities, William Ellis and Minnie Kartchner Stratton fashioned their lives serving as examples to their descendants."