The Nickersons and DeRomes, of Grand Valley

If you read the last post, it included information on Lula Ford and many of her siblings.  She was married to Milo Ford, son of Lewis Ford, and they made a home in "Maple Grove', a part of Grand Valley that was above the "new" high water line made by Palisades Reservoir.  I asked for help in the previous post about the exact location of 'Maple Grove'.  Please email us at svoldtimers.com with any info you have. 

Lula was the daughter of Emery Nickerson and Mary Louise DeRome Nickerson.  Mary was a reoccurring name in the DeRome family, an homage to their French roots.  "Mary Matilda" is the "Tillie" of 'Tillies Hot Springs', a [public pool heated by natural springs near Indian Creek. Anna Mary (Maria) was the mother of Ruth Pein, also known as Mrs. Dorold Jacobson.

 

 

 

There are some other names below that we would love to know more about.  

Was Stillman, husband of Verda, a Nickerson? or was Verda the Nickerson?

Who was Mary, the wife of Frank Anderson and had a son, Johnmo? Were they the ones who had a still across the river from the Fidelity School near Bear Creek?

 

Any info on the life or family lines of Ray, Sam, Eleanore, and Loren are also appreciated. They are the siblings of Emery Nickerson (early 1900's)...

 

all images here are courtesy of Trumpeter's Dell: (Bitton, Afton. Trumpeter's Dell, Idaho Falls, ID, Falls Printing Press, 2011. page 126, 160)

The 14th Annual Swan Valley Old Timers Reunion (1976)

 

The Salisburys of Grand Valley

Carl Salisbury and wife Bea came to the valley in 1923.  He lived near Calamity Point and trapped all sorts of animals.  Of all his children, we know his daughter, Gloria Talcott, married to Nat Talcott stayed in the valley and had a home near Calamity, on the east side of the present Roosevelt Highway, near Little Sheep Creek. Bea worked for the Bureau of Reclamation during the construction of the Palisades Dam. Carl and Bea were relocated to Little Sheep Creek and became neighbors to the Fords.

The Lewis Ford Family, of Grand Valley

Where was Maple Grove?  I'd guess it was up those North side draws where the Western Mountain Maples turn so vibrantly red in fall.  Close to Rosa?  Where the heck is Rosa? The article says the Fords, along with the Salisburys were safe from the drowning of the Grand Valley. It was upstream, or to the East of Palisades Creek, in 'Maple Grove', but there is no mention of Sheep Creek or Little Sheep Creek.  Furthermore, no mention of Big or Little Elk Creeks. 

Many of us remember Milo Ford, his wife Lula and their son, Shane.  They kept their cabin above Grand Valley, a cabin with a porch all the way around. Did his dad, Lewis build the cabin? Was Milo the second generation on his father's land? What was his mother's name? Was he an only child?

As a survivor of the Great Depression, Lula would stuff trinkets and treasures into the framework of the house. Lula was a Nickerson, a family I'll delve into in the next post. It is interesting to note here though, Lula played with Shoshone children when she a child herself, while the adult Shoshone hunted their way through the Grand Valley each fall. 

The 13th Annual Swan Valley Old Timers Reunion (1975)

 

...And Still They Came

 

 

After I read the first page of this section of 'Trumpeter's Dell', I knew the family names would be in the pages to follow.  I'm presenting the entire 5 page section that is pertinent to Grand Valley families. This does not reflect all of the families who were in Grand Valley before the Palisades project began, and that's where you can help.  If you have information about your family from Grand Valley, any pictures, letters, artifacts???  ...We want to see them! svoldtimers@gmail.com

I'm going to make separate posts for each of these families.  Just on page 1, there are 2 families to explore.  I'll start with the Fords and the Nickersons. If you want to help, I'd love a hand.  This is mushrooming into a huge project.