A Trip To Panaca. . .About James and Lois

The first picture in the following post, shows me
proudly holding the picture collage and tribute
to my parents James Allen and Lois Stewart
Wadsworth.  Rhonda, George, and I, designed
it to be hung in The Panaca Heritage Center in
memory of the lifetime of service and love they
rendered to the beautiful little town of Panaca,
Lincoln County, and the state of Nevada.

We wanted to introduce them to the viewers
who would be looking at the pictures, artifacts,
and other mementos of the Mormon Pioneers
and their progeny, who settled Panaca.  James'
grandfather, George A. Wadsworth was one of
the original pioneers who made Panaca  their
home.

Space did not permit a long and detailed history
of the lives of these wonderful people and so I
wrote a brief synopsis of some of their personality
traits and accomplishments which exemplify a bit
of the essence of who they are.

This is  how the tribute reads:

James was born in Panaca to Nephi John and Eliza
Jane Terry Wadsworth, the 4th child of their 7 sons
and 4 daughters.  He studied Commercial, Piano,
and Voice at BYU - 1907 - 1909.

In 1909, he left to to serve a 34 month LDS Mission
to the Southern States.  He returned home to ranch
farm, work in the store, and haul freight.  After
graduating from college, he taught school in Alamo,
Nevada, 1914 - 15 and 1915 - 16. 

In 1918, during World War I, he served in France as
part of the 91st Artillery Division in the Ammunition
Trains.

A brief synopsis of James' life achievements:  Operated
the Wadsworth Mercantile Store for 20+ years.  Lifetime
rancher and farmer, Panaca Irrigation Board 35 years,
CCC Superintendent.  1936, Lincoln Co. Chairman of
the Democratic Party and elected as a Nevada State
Senator, serving two terms.  Delegate for Nevada
to Washington D.C. to work with President Roosevelt
and Congress.  Served as chairman and member with the
Taylor Grazing Act. for 25+ years.  President of Lincoln
County Farm Bureau, and for 20+ years was President of
The Meadow Valley Soil Conservation District.  Served
 45+ years, off and on, as the Lincoln County Brand
Inspector.  Twice, Justice of the Peace.  A devoted and
loving husband, proud and loving father of  2 sons and
5 daughters.  A loving Granddad.

Lois was born in Fredonia, Az. to David Brinton and Lois
Crosby Stewart, the 2nd of 7 children, 2 daughters and
5 sons.  When she was 4, they moved to Alamo, Nevada
where she lived until she married James and moved to
Panaca after he returned from serving in France during
World War I.
  
Her father died when she was 9 and her mother had to find
work outside of the home to support her family.  In addition
to her school, Lois became a second mother to her siblings,
the youngest an infant, and assumed  the responsibility
of caring for them and their home.  At that tender age, she
became an excellent cook, for which she was well known
throughout her life.  Her donuts cinnamon rolls, pies, and
bread, became a thing of legend in Panaca, Lincoln County,
and beyond.  She was an accomplished seamstress.  Her
quilts won many awards. Her crocheting and embroidery
were exquisite.   She was a storyteller, wrote and recited
poetry.

She was always an active member of the LDS Church.  She
was a caring, helpful neighbor, a friend to everyone.  She
was a loving. supportive wife, the ultimate mother, and a
role she excelled in and loved, was as the perfect "Granny"
to her grandchildren.  They adored her.