Merrill & Alice White Van Horn with Youngest Sister Jane Van Horn

Merrill Van Horn and Alice White were married 27 Dec 1910. They cared for the youngest sister Jane Van Horn Barnes Johnston.





















"Their family of ten unmarried children were left alone to mourn the loss of both parents and to face the problems of life with no wise counseling.

Four members of the family, Earnest, Merrill, Harry, and Bertha were married during the next year and were able to help the younger members of the family. Until this time after Mother's death, my brothers had paid different people to care for the two little girls. Merrill and Harry leased the Van Horn cattle ranch which was at Davis Creek some twelve or so miles from town. Billy lived with the brothers there. After leaving the Black Hills, Beecher spent some time at Berkley California with a Reverend Burdick and his family. He also spent time in Utah were he obtained a homestead from the United States Government in the Uintah Basin. He did not marry until after his term of service in World War I.

My sister Ana and I did domestic work during summer vacation, then found places to work for our room and board during the long winter months of the school years. It was not easy going to school for nine months on the small amount that we could save at three dollars a week for three months. We managed to keep ourselves clothed and fed but there was never the fullness of joy that should be with young adults during the tender years. It seemed to me that our newly acquired church associates had the "salt of the earth" attitude and lacked the spirit of compassion that one would expect in such devout Christians. "

-- Leah Van Horn Barnes