UNKNOWN YEAR ~ UNKNOWN TEACHER ~ UNKNOWN STUDENTS ~~~ FROM THE BETTE MILLAR COLLECTIONS

 

Unknown Year ~ Unknown Teacher ~ Unknown Students

Bette Millar is on the middle row ~ second from the left.

Hamilton Class
Unknown Year ~ Marsden Allred, Teacher ~ Unknown Students
Bette Millar is on back row ~ 3rd from the left 

Hamilton Photos ~~~ Names Provided by Les Seely

Kathy:   I could I.D. some of these people, they were a class younger than me. The teacher Fawn Madsen lived close to Peter.

LES SEELY 

1. Mary Allred, 2. Irene Wimpy, 3...........4, Joan Burnside
5. Marie Ericksen, 6...........7.......... 8. Donna Bailey, 9. Dorothy Madsen, 10.  Jayne Hughes, 11.......... 12. Bryce  Syndergaard, 13.........
14. Patsy Tuttle, 15........., 16. Connie Johansen, 17.  Jerry Burton,
18. Earl Madsen, 19........, 20.........., 21.Betty Lou Gardner, 22.  Lou Ann Hafen, 23.  Morris Lund, 24. Loren Rowe, 25 Duane Zabriskie, 26. Jessie Millar, 27..........

Bill Millar ~~~ Scottish Shepherd

Bill Millar with horse and buggy on the Seely Ranch east of Mt. Pleasant

The following tells how Bill Millar  from the village of Eagle in Renfrewshire  Scotland came to America.

NEBCA News - Volume 28, Issue 4.  December, 2010

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NORTHEAST BORDER COLLIE ASSOCIATION, INC

Pioneering Scottish shepherd in New England by Joe Evans   

At the turn of the last century, The New England Farm Stock Company established itself in Greenfield, Mass -  seemingly a cooperative of investors and farmers. 

  

Organized by the Greenfield Board of Trade, the company owned 7,000 sheep, mostly Rambouillets.  The ewes were  shipped from the West as were some of the rams that were crossed with others imported from Scotland.  These sheep “were placed on shares with farmers in western Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire.”  The company made the initial capital investment, the farmers received “their share of the wool and increase for caring for the flocks.” The American sheep industry watched this experiment with interest.  One of the principle challenges was to prevent losses to packs of uncontrolled dogs that terrorized the sheep-farming communities in New England at the time. Massachussetts law determined that farmers should be compensated by the counties for sheep killed by roving dogs out of funds generated from the dog license fees.  The problem lay in the farmers’ lack of success in collecting their compensation as claims were subject to investigation that were mostly inconclusive. 

The New England Farm Stock company believed they could solve this problem by importing a professional shepherd and his highly trained sheepdogs.  (It was a commonly held misconception that Border collies could act as guard dogs as well as herders.) 

The man they chose was William Millar from the village of Eagle in Renfrewshire just south of Glasgow in Scotland.  In 1906, Bill Millar with two of his Border collies and a beardie emigrated to the Leyden hills of Western Massachusetts between Bernardston and Greenfield. 

Like his father and grand-father before him, Mr. Millar was born a shepherd.  Whistling and commanding collie dogs was integral to the Millars work.  Millar’s brother, Alexander was the International Supreme Champion in 1925 as well as the Scottish National a number of times. 

Millar’s arrival was keenly anticipated.  His expertise was to support the effort to bring prosperity to the blighted hill town sections of the region. Whether he succeeded in that is not clear.  However, Bill Millar became something of a local  celebrity in the agricultural community.  His leading sheepdog was Pate (renamed Pete over 

here), a talented two year old dog worth $60.  His bitch Fleet was valued at $50.  He also worked with his bearded collie, Bruce. Millar was dismissive of local sheepdogs.  He felt they were “practically good for nothing for caring for sheep.”  In his opinion, some were only good “as pets. You have to have the right breed and the right training in order get the right kind of shepherd dog.” His ability to work with his dogs, Pete in particular, attracted much attention. He was featured in a lengthy article in The Boston Globe in 1906. It didn’t take Millar long to establish himself on the nascent sheepdog trialing circuit either.  At the 1907 Vermont State Fair he beat Walter Burns, a stockyard worker who had dominated trials and exhibitions in both eastern Canada and New England.  Millar’s arrival heralded a greater concentration on breeding and training Border collies for the tasks of shepherding and trialing. 

Millar stayed in New England for seven years before moving to Idaho as a shepherd and a “fitter.”  In those days, fitters were the superstars of the sheep world, their primary task being to prepare rams for shows and auctions.  Their activities often set high prices for  their charges -  a Rambouillet ram fitted by Millar fetched a record $6,200 at a Salt Lake City auction in 1918. 

Millar lived a long life training, working and selling sheepdogs right up to the 1950s.  No doubt his legacy can still be felt here in the northeast. 

Acknowledgments: Penny Tose, Mr. & 

Mrs. Bert William “Bill”  Sorensen family 

papers, The Boston Daily Globe, July 8, 

1906  

Home of David Christian Madsen and wife Matilda Adalena Mickelsen ~~~ Researched and Compiled by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

MT. PLEASANT PIONEER DAY, MARCH 25, 2017

Crowd at the Celebration



Theme:  The Sheep Industry 

Approximately 275 people attended this year's celebration.  Everyone enjoyed the festivities.  The weather was a little damp, but the atmosphere inside was warm and welcoming.  Fried chicken strips with rolls, jelly, potato salad, chips, oreos and ice cream were served.  Our president, Dale Peel had been pushing for fried mutton, but our beloved Diane Lund, who has prepared the lunch for many years, won the debate.  

Wanda Stewart

Wanda Stewart took the honors for being the oldest woman in attendance.  I arrived late and did not hear how old she is.  

Mac Wilkey (oldest man) with President Dale Peel

We were honored to have Mac sit at our table and as he stood when asked if there were anyone over 86, Mac said "Surely I am not the oldest man here".  Sure enough, he did get the prize.  We think there were other men older than Mac who wouldn't stand up.  Then when he sat down, he said "Boy am I gonna get teased by my kids."  Peter said, "Yes, now we can call you Methusalah".  

Kevin Anderson, Gary Arnoldsen and Larry Seely furnished the musical program with songs about Sanpete, Fairview Canyon, and Sheep Herding.  Some were written by themselves.  They did a wonderful job.  (I took a poor picture)

Judith Daniels Jackson has headed up the quilt committee for several years and tickets were sold for this quilt.  It turned out beautiful.  The winning ticket was someone from Fairview.

The photos on the quilt all had to do with the sheep industry.  Sheep, sheep dogs, and sheep camps. A real treasure.  

Dale took around the microphone and encouraged everyone who had special memories to share them.  There were several fun stories told.

Gloria Daniels read a poem written by one of her relatives.

Paul Sorensen told of his great grandfather Millar the Sheep Dog trainer from Scotland.  His story has been posted here a few weeks ago.

Minutes were read.

Then Dale had asked Deann Peterson Lubbers, Steve Monsen and Charlie McKay to each share some of their memories on stage.  

The festivities ran long and many were ready to go home. 

Both the south wall and west wall of the recreation hall were lined up with artifacts, albums, pictures and more for everyone to see.  

The Relic Home and Blackshop were open for visitors as well.  

There were a few sheep camps on display in the parking lot.

SUCCESSFUL DAY

One to Remember for many years to come. 

WILLIAM (BILL) MILLAR’S PART IN UTAH HISTORY (wriitten by Paul Sorensen circa 1990)

Bert Olof Sorensen Funeral Program

Bert Olof Sorensen

07/18/1922 – 01/03/2013

On Friday, January 3, 2014, Dad quietly passed from this world to the next, where his wife and those who preceded him were waiting. Dad was born July 18, 1922 in Mt. Pleasant, Utah to Olof Jerril and Dena Marion Ney Anderson Sorensen. He grew up in Mt. Pleasant, graduating from North Sanpete High School, the only one in his family to do so. He spent his life as a farmer and dairyman northwest of Mt. Pleasant. Dad was also known for raising and training Border Collie dogs. Dad married mom, Betty Millar, on June 8, 1954. Together they raised three children, Bert W. “Bill” Sorensen (Mt. Pleasant), Edith Greenan (Huntington), and Jeannie Sorensen (Mt. Pleasant). He was preceded in death by his parents, Olaf and Dena Sorensen, brother Lorenzo Anderson, and sister Ruth Nay.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday January 7, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. in the North Mt. Pleasant Stake Center with a visitation from 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. prior to services. Interment in the Mt. Pleasant City Cemetery. Online condolences at rasmussenmortuary.com

Bette Millar Sorensen Graduating Class ~ Wasatch Academy ~

Lee R. Christensen commented:  KATHY:  If todays posting is class of 1947 both Betty and Stanly Gill of Mt Pleasant should be there>??   lee

Bette Millar Sorensen Collection

Unknown Year ~ Unknown Teacher (could possibly be Marsden Allred) ~ Unknown Students

Bette Millar is on the middle row ~ second from the left.

Hamilton Class
Unknown Year ~ Marsden Allred, Teacher ~ Unknown Students
Bette Millar is on back row ~ 3rd from the right

Hamilton School ~ Unknown Year ~ from the Jesse Millar Sorensen Collection

Read names Right to Left

Hamilton School Class (approximately 1945)

Just guessing 1945.  Jesse Millar is on the back row ~ second from the right

Hamilton School ~Unknown year~ unknown teacher~ unknown students
Help us identify

Remembering Bill Millar

The following article is found in "2010 National Finals Program Guide"

United States Border Collie Handlers' Association p.17.

And now Neita and Bill Sorensen will share with us contents from that old trunk during the next several months.  So stay tuned in.  To those who remember Bill Millar and his dogs, he was "the master dog trainer".

Cemetery Photos ~ August 2, 2011

Peter and I took our four wheeler out to the cemetery and took a few pictures in the north east quadrant of the old cemetery.  The photo above is Annie Somebody.  She was only a baby when she died.  Her headstone is badly deteriorating.  Many of the headstones are deteriorating.  Some have so much calcium buildup that they are hard to read.  Hopefully, someone will find one of their ancestors here.

Alma and Ruth Allred

~~~~~~~

Jos. Con Brotherson and Vay A. Brotherson

~~~~~~

Emma H. Burr

~~~~~~

P. Eugene Rolph and Vienna B. Rolph

~~~~~~

Elizabeth Graham Millar and William Millar

~~~~~~

Etta A. Rolph Nielsen and  George Albert Petersen

~~~~~~

Amy Burr and  Joseph Ursenbach

~~~~~~

Frank E. Roberts

~~~~~~

Cecelia A.E.H. and George M. Olsen

~~~~~~

Elizabeth Sorensen "Betty" Funeral Program ~ She died August 19, 2003

Jessie Miller Sorensen Funeral Program ~ She died July 11, 2003