I was born in Malad City, Idaho, December 8, 1908 of goodly parents, George and Mary May Bolingbroke Daniels. George was the son of Thomas and Jeanette and Mary May, the daughter of Charles and Margaret Elizabeth Roberts.
I was raised in Malad on my father’s homestead and ranches. I became familiar with milk cows, hogs, horses, chickens, haying, harvesting, etc.
My schooling was in Malad. I graduated from High School in 1927. The fall of 1927, I attended the University of Idaho, at Moscow, Idaho. I spent the first two years there and was called on a mission to England in 1929. Myrthus W. Evans and Ronald Jones were called at the same time to England also.
My mission took me to the Newcastle Conference and to a new Conference in Portsmouth. After two years I returned to America.
In 1931-1933, I again attended the same University, graduating in the spring of 1933. My major was in accounting, my minor in religion.
Jobs were scarce in Malad and the pay was even worse, ($1.00 a day, not more than $1.50).
Myrthus Evans and I went to Long Beach to seek employment. I found a job in a clothing store. I became credit manager and after five years I left and went to work for Barnett’s Bootery. While employed at the clothing store, I met Mary Leona Hortnagl, a returned missionary, in 1933. She was the daughter of Loreng and Prudie Bailey. Her mother passed away previous to her mission, and when she returned, her father had re-married.
Mary and I had a short romance, and then went with her father and stepmother (Lilly Scott) to Mesa, Arizona Temple and were married January 30, 1934.
We returned to Long Beach, where I continued working at Midough-Meier Clothing store. While there I became credit manager, and left after five years, to go to work for Barnett’s Bootery as credit manager for one year merely to set up a system for his five stores.
Our six children, all born in Long Beach are:
| Lorin B. Jr. | 3 March 1935 |
| Diana Mae | 12 November 1936 |
| Bruce H. | 12 September 1939 |
| Mary Janice | 2 September 1942 |
| Elaine | 3 September 1947 |
| David George | 29 November 1949 |
During our married years I was President of M.I.A., Bishop of Virginia Ward, Bishop of Lakewood I, and after five years as Bishop of Lakewood, I was called as Second Counselor in the East Long Beach Stake.
In 1938, we built a home in Lakewood, but before home building, I spent a few months in Lubbock Texas, with a friend installing home furnaces. Also in 1940 I went to work for General Telephone with offices in Long Beach. I worked there most of seven years and left to go to Santa Barbara for Brown and Bigelow in 1947.
While with General Telephone in 1941, they called me to Spokane to replace their manager, who was very ill. We were there when the war with Japan broke out and while there I was counselor to the District Leader. We returned to Long Beach in 1942.
I worked for Brown and Bigelow for a year and left as my brother-in-law had planned to go into business in Lakewood. Our business was known as Daniels-Jones Shoe Store for ten years, opening in 1948 and in 1952, Walter Jones, my brother-in-law, died of a heart attack, walking back from his lunch. His home was in Lakewood.
After ten years General Telephone Co. re-hired me to work in their Los Angeles Division. From there I was called to be the manager of a Division in Manila, Philippines. From there to manager of the Hong Kong Division. During these five years overseas, my job took me into Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, in addition to the above.
I retired in 1972, and returned to Long Beach. Our daughter, Elaine, had been living in our home.
From 1972 to 1981 we worked in the Los Angeles Temple. Our summers were spent in Malad.
In 1981 we moved to St. George, Utah, where we now reside.
It has been an interesting life and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ has been the directing force, of which I testify is the only true Church on the earth.
Events in the Life of Lorin B. Daniels
April 2, 1934
The snow was falling rapidly in the little village in Malad, Idaho, when on the 8th day of December, 1908, a stork presented to the home of George Daniels and Mary Mae Bolingbroke Daniels, a son destined to be known among his associates and the church records as Lorin Bolingbroke Daniels.
Writing at the age of 25, I naturally would assume that I was a loving, peaceful child, one who gave his parents no trouble. History and assumption, however, are two different matters. In my early years I had several nurse maids, because I was the sixth child in my father’s family. There were Stella, Leon (dead), George, Ethel and Merle, and later there was seventh, who became one of my best trainers in my early youth of fighting, my little sister, Arlene.
Like the rest of the small town boys, I had several bosom friends, Milbourne Mills, Eph Hawkins and Griff Hawkins. We, like all small lads, imitated our elders in such childhood games as riding bottle horses, lighting unnecessary fires, playing house with the girls, amusing ourselves in playing Indians, and our work hours were spent on the farm. Among my earliest recollections of misdeeds, was the shooting of my sister, oh, not only with a flipper, but striking her in the temple and knocking her cold, and hours later sneaking home and to bed. Then there was the time when my family and my bosom companion’s family searched for hours in the blackness of night – only to find the refugees parading the town long after bedtime.
School days. Fat and chubby and plenty noisy. Recollections of building houses in the sand after lesson hours, was one of my fond recollections. Also at this age I learned the marble game, which carried me through my entire grade school. I also learned to wrestle and fight, because of my arousing temper at times. I did not lead my class in scholarship. I figured that was a game for girls. Truly I believe I was very much of a boy.
As I grew older, I spent my vacations on our ranch in Daniels, Idaho. Sundays we preyed upon the fish in the clear mountain streams, and the grey squirrel was a target for flippers and twenty-twos. Occasionally our diversion led us by horseback through mountain ranges of pines, sage-brush, and sometimes to the north side of high mountains into the drifted snow areas. Many times we caught the calves in the cattlemen’s corrals, and attempted to be real cowboys and riders.
High School days commenced in 1923, and by this time my circle of friends had taken in others and retained the whole of my earlier chums. We were numbered now: Ernest Palmer, Frank Atkinson, Joseph Jones, John Jones, Charlie Smith, Leon Smith, Milbourne Mills, Eph Hawkins and Griff Hawkins. Our deeds of deviltry were common to nearly all boys – Halloween time found us tearing gates from their hinges, displacing back houses, and awakening neighbors by unusual noises on the window and doorsteps.
As years advanced, pals dropped from school rank, Joe, Charle, Leon and Ern and I graduated. These years had been years of first dating with the girls and the learning of dancing, etc. My first sweetheart of duration was Dell Peck. A lovely charming girl. Then there came into my life another, Arthel Williams, whose memories and enriching beauty of character have left an impression which will live through my life. To her I owe more than anything or anyone else, the trend of thought which I have taken.
When but thirteen years of age, my mother died on August 22nd, 1921. At that time there went out of my life a jewel of great price. I believe my mother was loved as well as any woman who ever lived in my hometown, Malad. Her teachings of religion fastened themselves deep in my soul, and to this day I have treasured the faith of my parents – Mormonism.
After graduating from high school with a fair record I choose college as the next logical step. My first year was financed by my parents, and too much money did me little good in scholarship. The second year times became a little harder and I worked my way part way through in the Moscow Hotel, as a busboy. At this time I had another small romance with Roberta Keith, a non-Mormon. At the close of my second year this romance ended, because of my determination to proceed to college, only after a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The summer of 1929 found me in the Mission Home in Salt Lake City preparing myself for my mission experience. I was endowed in the Logan Temple, Logan, Utah, and set apart by B. H. Roberts in Salt Lake City, Utah. My mission call was to England, and after two weeks’ instructions I left Salt Lake City, July 26th, 1929, in company with 25 missionaries going to foreign missions. Among them were Myrthus W. Evans, E. Ronald Jones. The former being an old neighbor pal, whom I began to get acquainted with for the first time while rooming with him in the Moscow Hotel, Moscow, Idaho.
After a glorious voyage without sickness, I arrived in Liverpool, August 3, 1929. From Liverpool, I was sent to Sunderland in the Newcastle District. The following two years were an education in experience among a new people. We lived with them, we compared with them, we learned their customs and traditions, and attempted to teach them the values of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. As long as life lasts the fond memories of this beautiful land will remain in Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Vam-on-Tees, Carlisle, Guildford, Aldershot, Portsmouth and London and vicinity were my principal cities of work! Here I gained a testimony of the Gospel, which I believe will lead me into the real [realm] of higher and more endearing spiritual values.
At the close of my mission I journeyed by airplane from Croydon, near London to Amsterdam, Holland. From there to the Hague, Brussels and Ant Belgium and into Paris, France, and finally sailing from Cherburg, France. Again we had interesting experiences of learning new words in new languages and all the other problems of a two week tour on the continent, and seeing everything of interest that we could in such a short time. From the drawing of picture to getting glimpses of the Great Art Gallery, the Louvre in Paris – we had fun.
My mission companions were Eldon P. Darley, Mac Doel, California; Weston R. Clark, Salt Lake City; Lowell R. Rich, Brigham City; Ultra Sheppick, Sandy, Utah; Wayne R. Neilson, Mesa, Arizona; Steven D. Howells, Salt Lake City; Andrew Reed Cluff, Hunting Park, California; Louis J. Hoggow, Ogden, Utah; and Curtis, Salt Lake City, Utah. Our journey home was wonderful! Ten missionaries were turned loose for the first time in two years. The dancing, movies, evenings on deck aboard the George Washington, were thrilling, new and different. Across an ocean peaceful and calm plowed a great Atlantic steamer bearing me into a city of my younger dreams, New York City.
New York, Philadelphia, Washington, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver and finally Salt Lake City. Once again back amongst the mountains of Zion by August 29, 1931. Ten days after my return, I again departed for college in Moscow, Idaho, and for six months I had quite a time settling down to the new duties of trying to gather the many problems of my major course, accounting. After two years of study, play, etc., I graduated with a B. S. degree in Business, June 1933.
I returned to Malad in my brother-in-law’s car after having enjoyed a trip through the Coeur D’ Alenes and Spokane, Washington. On being home, I found my school days had taught me to look beyond farming as an occupation, so on July 27, 1933, I left Malad for Long Beach, California.
Long Beach proved to be a tying [trying] post for me. I located a job at the Middough-Meiser Clothing store, and in the course of my romancing, I met one, Mary Leona Mortnagl, who consented to share my lowly wages, only after having spent many long evenings watching the moon from her back porch. Oh! Yes, I proposed on the way home from Huntington Park after having nestled ourselves smuggly in each other’s arms, near Huntington Park. The marriage finally being consummate at the Mesa, Temple in Mesa, Arizona in company with her father and step-mother, January 30, 1934.
Life began in a little bungalow at 1216 Orange Park Place, Long Beach. Now there is a new tenor in the air, the birds sing more sweetly, the fishes in our pond seem to sense their new masters and swim adroitly – even the flowers are blooming for it is Springtime in California – and spring is the mating season.
The following is an appreciation of the work Lorin and his wife, Mary did for the Family History Center in Malad City, Idaho.
Lorin didn’t mention in his brief life history, about the days and days he spent copying information from the headstones in the cemeteries of the Oneida County and Portage, Utah, and typed the information on Family Group Sheets, then brought them to the Family History Center and asked the staff to finish filling in the information.
At that time, as a special project, we were doing obituaries of people who had any connection with Malad Valley in any way. We had extracted obituaries from our films of The Idaho Enterprise from 1909 to 1969, and we cut obituaries from old Idaho Enterprises, and pasted them in 3 ring loose-leaf binders.
We made three files. The ones we pasted in books we labeled “Miscellaneous File,” the ones we extracted from the films are labeled I-E, and the third file is the cemetery file. These are filed in individual files, one for each of the cemeteries – Malad City, Cherry Creek, Holbrook, Pleasantview, Samaria, St. John, Stone-Snowville and Portage, and a few not named.
We did research from our LDS Ward films to fill in as best we could. Many telephone calls were made to people who we knew were related, for more information.
As staff members, we are very grateful to Lorin (and his wife, Mary) for their many hours in the sun to get the information from the headstones. It helped as a guide and index. It is amazing how it brought into focus who belonged to which family, with our community of Joneses, Evanses, Williamses, Thomases, Morrises, Hugheses and Prices. It was an education of “The Who Belonged Where” on the Family Group Sheet.
Thank you, Lorin and Mary.
(Group photo of Lorin & Mary Hortnagle Daniels Family 1963. Handwritten caption:
- Denise Daniels dau of 17 & 18
- Mary Hortnagl (Mom)
- Deana Daniels dau of 15 & 16
- Nancy Daniels dau of 17 & 18
- Lorin Daniels (Dad)
- David Daniels son of 2 & 5
- Mark Wade son of 11 & 12
- Marly Daniels son of 17 & 18
- Gary Daniels son of 15 & 16
- Kevin Daniels son of 15 & 16
- Alton Wade
- Deana Daniels Wade
- Janise Daniels
- Elaine Daniels
- Retha Porter Daniels
- Bruce Daniels son of 2 & 5
- Boydine James Daniels
- Lorin Danils Jr. (Larry)
(Two snapshots, on the left, is the front of their home. On the right a close up photo of a couple standing in front of their home. Handwritten caption says: Lorin and Mary at their home at Long Beach. 3502 Tulane Ave, Long Beach California.)
(Headshot of two females. Handwritten caption says: Mary and Prudie Bailey Hortnagl.)
(Photo of a family of three. Handwritten caption says: Mary Leona Hortnagl born 9 July 1911 at Reddingville (McCammon), Bannock, Idaho. Mother was Prudie Bailey and her father Loreng Hortnagl. Mary was an only child. This picture was probably taken after they moved to California.)
(Two snapshots of people at a wedding. Handwritten captions says: on the left, David’s wedding Sept 1972, Mom (Mary) Dad (Lorin). On the right, Lorin (Dad), Lorin Jr. (Larry), and Bruce at David’s Wedding, Sept. 1972.)
(Snapshot of an older couple standing in front of a home.)
(Headshot Portrait of a gentleman. Handwritten Lorin Daniels upper righthand corner.)
Malad, Idaho, Thursday, September 26, 1929.
Lorin Daniels Likes England: Lasses Attractively Interesting
I am writing in regard to the town paper and to tell you of the wonderful trip I enjoyed coming over.
Immediately after we had our training in the Mission Home we were on our way.
We left Salt Lake on the Twentieth day of July, and rode all that day and night traveling through Utah and Wyoming. We found that Wyoming is indeed, nearly desert country. However, we enjoyed our trip immensely seeing the sights. Along this railway there are many peculiar shaped rocks, which are indeed beautiful. The wind had been blowing at various angles against these sandy rocks, and had caused them to be shaped in the most peculiar way.
Upon arrival in Omaha, Nebraska the next morning we were interested in the sights there, because it was our first view of the Missouri River, and the city of Omaha. Upon inquiring we learned that Omaha was about three hundred and fifty thousand in population.
The Missouri River wasn’t as wide nor as large as I had expected, but it is a really muddy stream with all the treacherous whirlpools very visible.
From Omaha we traveled to Chicago. Chicago is nearing its four million mark in population, as nearly as we could find out. My first impression wasn’t too pleasant. I thought what a dingy and dirty looking city it was. There are, however, some beautiful [beauty] to a person who hasn’t seen Chicago. The buildings impressed me most. They are really very high, and their majestic grandeur seems to reach the clouds. While in Chicago we visited the world’s largest museum, and there we spent a very enjoyable day. The things to see there are wonderful. We saw everything from mounted elephants to the smallest species of bugs that are visible to the naked eye.
During the afternoon the Elders journeyed out to Swiss and Armor’s packing plants. Here we saw a wonderful example of specialized labor. It works wonderfully well in those shops to have each man doing his little bit.
From Chicago to Buffalo, New York, and from there to Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls would be an ideal place for anyone to see. The grandeur of the falls is almost inconceivable. I was greatly impressed with the wonderful view. To see two great bodies of water flowing over the falls with only a small growth of trees separating them is worth anyone’s time to see.
Before passing, however, I wish to state about the beautiful plains of Nebraska and Iowa. Their hobby seems to be in raising corn, and by all indications they do it abundantly. It is a great sight to see miles of corn in its green stage. There are also many grapes grown in Ohio and Illinois. The plains may seem good sights, but a westerner grows to love the mountain views. They are great places, the plains, but the mountain ranges will always be home to me.
Again on from Niagara we journeyed to Montreal where we witnessed a picturesque old city of Canada. The Canadian towns are all beautiful and clean, and the people seem to be an industrious lot.
When we boarded the boat we bade good-bye to North America, but we didn’t lose sight of land until the third day out. We enjoyed our trip up the St. Lawrence River, and we had the privilege of seeing the ancient city of Quebec, and the high walls where James Wolf made his historical climb up the steep cliff to surprise the French and beat them in battle.
Everything went fine aboard the vessel (S.S. Duchess of Atholl) until about the fourth day out then the sea began to get rough and one by one the boys started losing interest in their meals. None were really sick however, and as a general fac [fact] one enjoyed the trip. We had a chance to see Ice-bergs and also a whale. Both were at some distance, but very beautiful and interesting sights.
Our last view of Ireland and Scotland came the same. The first impression of the British Isles was wonderful and remained so. It is a beautiful old country, and is well cultivated. The people as a general rule are poor, and haven’t any too much to live on. We seen some of the old castles of England, and they are very beautiful homes. The green shrubs and flowers around the homes give it a marvelous grandeur.
I am now in England preaching the Gospel as we understand it. I am new at the work, but I am enjoying it. It isn’t what we are, or where we are that makes our life worthwhile, but it’s the spirit we take in doing those things. I find a very wonderful group among the missionaries here and it is my endeavor and hope to become as some of these fine fellows are.
Very sincerely yours,
Elder Lorin Daniels
Lorin Daniels Enjoys Missionary Work
English Customs Perplex Young Men: An Interesting Letter.
7 November 1929
I wish to thank you very kindly for the Enterprise. It is indeed good of you to send it to me, and I really enjoy the hometown news. You never know how much you miss it until you are away from home.
We are enjoying our work immensely, and day by day I am growing to realize that I am in the greatest work in the world.
It might be of interest to you to know how they carry on their funerals here in England. My companion and I had the privilege of being pallbearers. They have a custom here of kissing the dead on the fore-head. That is what all of the near relatives do. Where the custom comes from or what it represents I am not prepared to say. Another peculiar thing about the funeral is the fact that the pall-bearers walk down the street at the side of the casket. The services are extremely short. They last only about ten minutes. The casket is then carried to the grave, and deposited in the clay ground with nothing to assist in preserving the wood. They (English people) are respecters of funerals, and as the hearse passes by they all tip their hats in reverence.
The Police system in England is wonderful. They have a system that is very efficient and the policemen are always on their duty. On each busy crossroad in town a Bobbie is stationed. (They are called bobbies over here). Any foreigners within the country are kept track of at all times. We must report every time we move camp for a period of longer than two months.
The climatic conditions of England are very favorable where I am located. With the exception of a little more rain I can see very little difference than at home. The winds, however, have a more cutting effect than in the west, on account of the sea being so close. A slightly damper atmosphere tends to make the cold go right thru one.
Great Britain has an area of 89,000 thousand square miles. Slightly larger than the state of Idaho. There are 42,000,000 living in the British Isles, so you can see England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are thickly populated.
This is a great country for mining coal. There are also hundreds of blast furnaces where they make their steel rails, and other materials. England is a highly industrialized nation, but that is easily explained, because of so many people for the various jobs.
I am enjoying my work as a missionary and thankful for the privilege I have of being able to preach the Gospel. I am proud to say that I was called to represent God’s work among every nation, kindred, tongue and people. May the blessings of the Lord guide each and every missionary in the field to bigger and better heights and aspirations, is my humble wish.
Thanking you again, I remain,
Yours, truly,
Elder Lorin Daniels
29 Thornhill Gardens
Sunderland, England