My Father by Lillie Edna Malvern Sattley

My Father by Lillie Edna Malvern Sattley

My Father

My father John William Malvern was born 26 July 1860. His father died when he was a very small child. He went to work when just a young boy to help his mother support the family. He had two brothers younger than himself.

He and my mother were married when they were quite young. He was a very strict father and tried to rear his children the way he thought best. We thought he was too strict, and we were all very much afraid of him, but as we grew older we understood him better.

His neighbors and friends loved him and any of them were always welcome at our home. If any of them were sick or out of work he would always do what he could for them. As well as for his family after we were married.

He gave so much away he never got ahead in the world although he reared a large family and never asked anyone for help.

He was a carpenter by trade and taught his boys the trade but he never did want my mother or daughters to work. After I had a family of my own he and I were very close. After mother died when I visited him he would tell me his troubles. He mentioned the different little deeds he had done or things he had said to mother and the children that he thought perhaps were not just right and cry about it. He would say I don’t think mama ever forgave me for (he would mention some little thing he did or said). I always said if anyone ever repented or their wrongs it was he. I felt honored that he would tell me his sorrows. I would always try to console him. I told him no one held anything against him, and I don’t think they did.

He was harder on me than the rest of the faily, perhaps because I was the oldest of eleven children. I knew that I loved him just the same, and mother was a kind, forgiving soul, I know she forgave him for any wrong he did her.

When I was about sixteen years old I remember thanking him for being so firm with me when I saw how some of my schoolmates turned out whose parents were too easy on them.

I did not have the joy of converting my father to the Church of Jesus Christ, he just could not understand it.

But after he died I had his temple work done for him. I hope he will accept the gospel over there and be happy with his family throughout eternity. He died 8 August 1936. I stood by his bedside and held his hand when he died. He was born in Cedarfork, Franklin County, Missouri and died in St. Louis, Missouri. He died in the home that he had built himself with most of his children around him. His father was Thomas Henry Malvern. His mother, Mildred Neely. His two brothers Jacob Neely Malvern, and Joseph Harrison Malvern.