(By Maureen Camp Thomas) 

On the 4th of July this year I entered the Malad Parade with a small tribute to my father, L.M. Camp. 

Since then, I have had numerous people thank me for what I did. Shelba D. Dredge suggested I write about him. She said, he was the most colorful man she knew and was important in the history and development of the Malad area. 

Leo Mich Camp (named such because his father was on a mission for the L.D.S. Church at the time of his birth) was born in Vernal, Utah, in either 1881 or 1882, depending on where the information is found. One of nine children, he grew up in a happy, achieving family, completing his basic schooling, then going to Colorado where he finished his formal education to become a teacher. 

He married Eunice Dillie, who also was a teacher. They taught in Montana. Then came to the Malad area where he taught school at Pleasantview. By this time his wife was busy having babies, so wasn’t able to teach anymore. 

Among his students were Charley and Lyman Wight. Charley used to tell me he never would have made it through school without Mr. Camp’s help. He had a hard time with addition, subtraction and multiplication, so Mr. Camp would send him outside for wood and coal and would use the duty to teach the principles of math. 

A willow was also used to teach! L.M. Camp had a reputation for being a stern, but fair, teacher. 

One ironic occurrence – He graduated Annella Jones Price from the 8th Grade in St. John. Then many years later she was my teacher and graduated me from the 8th Grade in St. John. 

He and his wife moved to John Evans Canyon where they homesteaded on a farm. Times were very hard and by then they had one daughter and five little boys. When his wife had another baby boy, they both died during childbirth. 

His boys all went with relatives to live in various sections of the country. Then two years later he married Elvareen Beeton, who also had one daughter. They moved to St. John where he resided the rest of his life. 

Just before the depression, he borrowed money from Heber Hanson to buy the land in St. John. It was the corner lot across from Mitchell Deschamps home and the old St. John school and church building. (Dora Thomas lives there now.) He paid Carl Illum the money, who in turn deposited it in the bank. The bank failed and Carl lost all his money. 

This was a beautiful piece of land and ideal for having rodeos. On the side hill, just south of where the St. John Cemetery is today, there were bleachers built into the side of the hill, just basic long logs, no backs, only the hillside, not too comfortable. The chutes were on the ditch bank across from where Cornelius Jones had his property. There was a race track all around the outside of the arena.  

North of the Thomas home, where there are now two homes, was always where the carnival was held. There were concessions, with games, plus food to eat. 

Before the rodeo, there was a big parade. There would be a cowboy and Indian encounter with his cousin, Alvin Camp (who was bald) always being scalped. They put a wig on him with catsup underneath, and as the wig was torn off the crowd loved it. Everyone that is, except Alvin’s kids, who didn’t want to see them hurt their Dad like that. 

My father would go to the Salt Lake Costume House and rent the old time period outfits. And the men all dressed up and participated in the parade. He was either dressed as an Indian or Jim Bridger. 

These activities were held on the 4th, but more often on the 24th of July. During the rodeo he rode a big white horse, wore a 10-gallon Stetsen hat, spurs, chaps, and used a megaphone to announce. Quite an impressive figure, even though he was short in stature. 

Some of the best rodeo stock in the Intermountain area at that time were used and everyone felt they got their money’s worth. These rodeos and parades were held for many years. Also during these times, and in later years, he and I participated in parades in Roosevelt; Utah and Wyoming. 

Most people thought that we were part Indian, but this is an error. I’ve done my father’s genealogy, so know for a fact. I wished I could have found some. He now has two great grandchildren who are registered Indians, so I guess this kind of makes up for it. He loved the Indian people, and they all knew him, from Washakie to Montana. He could speak their language quite well. The Indians gave him the name of “White Cloud,” due to his stock of beautiful white hair. The name stuck until he died and even after. 

He traded animal heads and deer hides to the Indians for their gloves, moccasins, etc. Then later traded them for hides, pelts, metals, bones or whatever. 

His second wife died and again left him with a young daughter, so she became his helper. 

He loved to entertain by playing the guitar and singing. If someone in St. John was ill or depressed, they didn’t stay that way long. Here came L.M. to tell jokes, make faces and get the laughter going. 

A generous soul also, he picked up every hitchhiker he found, brought them home to my mother for a hot meal and place to sleep, and never saw them again. S.A. Hendricks, manager of the J.C. Penney Store, told me of his bringing whole families into the store just before school started in the fall to outfit the children with enough clothing to start school. He paid the complete bill of course, but not before trying to haggle over the price with Mr. Hendricks. 

In the fall of 1952 he required surgery. It had to be done in two operations, as he had 11 hernias. Not to be kept down though, on July 4, 1953, unbeknownst to his family, he dressed in his Indian regalia. Face painted, he rode a spirited horse in the parade. It was to be his last. As he approached Jones Confectionery, he rolled off the horse. The crowd cheered, thinking he was performing for them. 

The last farewell. He died of a heart attack. What a wonderful way for him to go! Doing what he loved to do! 

Life really seems to go in circles. I hated being in parades, and now here I am years later, participating in my grandchildren’s school parades, or wherever asked, again dressed as an Indian to please my father. 

I hope by writing this, I’ve rekindled some good memories. 

(group photo: caption below photo says; The Graduating Class of 1915. In Pleasantview, Idaho was taught by Leo Camp. (Back row, l-r) Bonita Brown, Kate Thorpe, Teacher Leo Camp, Mary Jones. (Front, l-r) Charles Wight, Jetta Ipsen, Ray Pilgrim, and Melba Hughes.) 

(Another group photo: caption below photo says; Eleven graduates of the St. John School Eighth Grade Class of 1912 posed for this photo owned by Mrs. Monte (Maurine) Thomas of Ontario, California.  

Mrs. Thomas notes that she has been able to identify only two of those pictured–Anella [Annella] Jones Price and Leo M. Camp, standing far right on the front row. 

Those who are able to further identify others pictured are asked to contact Mrs. Thomas at 766-4976.)