PIONEERS

In the year 1856 Richard Collings

and his wife, Emma, traveled with their children from England to Iowa City, Iowa.  There they put possessions and supplies in a wooden handcart and joined a party of pioneers to walk across a thousand miles of unsettled territory and on through the Rocky Mountains.


As they reached the middle of what is now Wyoming, an early winter storm stopped their progress.  The storm became a blizzard and the group--already suffering starvation--had to deal with unimaginable conditions.  Their plight was reported to settlers in Utah.  A rescue party immediately set out.  Included in this group was man named Isaac Cooper.


Although many of those stranded perished, Richard and his family were among the survivors--thanks in large part to the heroic efforts of the rescuers.


Now go forward in time to the 1940's.

Lin Cooper, the great grandson of Isaac Cooper (because of a military deferment) was among the few young bachelors not yet called to serve for the United States in World War II.  Thus there were plenty of young ladies competing for his attention at the dances in Jerome, Idaho.

Lin took a shine to Blanche Collings, the great granddaughter of Richard and Emma.  Lin and Blanche became each other's favorite dance partner.

In 1943 they were married.

As one of their four children, I'll be forever grateful that Isaac Cooper volunteered to ride through the snow to help rescue Richard Collings and his family.