MARK TWAIN

Have I ever said that it is a small world????  Last week we were at the Lands and Records Office again, double checking the Talbot line with Sister Cornwell when the connection was made.  Elder Talbot had found a listing for Ann Allred that had been written by Mitzie Rogers.  Not quite sure why it was in the Nauvoo files because Ann and her family had never lived in Nauvoo but in discussing it with Sis. Cornwell she said, “Mitzie Rogers, Jeff Rogers’ wife?” (Elder Talbot’s niece).  Elder and Sister Cornwell are site missionaries from St. George, Utah and she was the nurse for Dr. Rogers and also knew Elder Talbot’s brother Brent.  Elder Cornwell is a teamster and an excellent storyteller for the Carriage Ride.

Our other adventures last week included hummingbirds, Ancient Indian Burial Grounds, Navigation Lock & Dam No. 19, Nauvoo’s Grape Stomp Festival, Sarah Granger Kimball Home, and the Heber C. Kimball Home.  Today (Monday) we toured Mark Twain’s Hannibal, Missouri.  We sure pack a lot in on our P-day!!! (and a few mornings and afternoons before or after our shifts in the Temple).

Sister Talbot with Sister Thacker at the Sarah Granger Kimball Home.

Heber C. Kimball Home.  This is the home that Leroy Kimball first bought that was his ancestors home and soon realized the importance of sharing it with others.  He was instrumental in starting the Nauvoo Restoration Project. 

Along the river road we discovered that Wilson and Jennie Coulee had purchased 20 acres of land and got the land designated as a Cemetery (Native American Ancient Burial Mounds).  They just wanted to protect and allow others to visit.  There were 10 large visible ones that are registered by the State of Illinois and there were dozens of smaller ones throughout their property.  They have verified the date from the Mound Building Culture circa 300 BC-500 AD. It was very interesting seeing the mounds and vegetation on the land.  The Mounds gave both of us a lot to ponder about what happened to those who were buried.

Last Sunday, a member of the Canton Branch invited us to take a picnic lunch and visit the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.  All of us assumed it was a public place but we found out it was a friend of hers that has dedicated 40 years to feeding the hummingbirds as they migrate from Central America to Illinois during the summer.  She had so many bird feeders and has planted the right plants to keep them on her property.  It was very informative to listen to her and to watch the hummingbirds.

Coming back from shopping Friday afternoon in Keokuk, we decided we had time to check out the Riverboat Museum.  The best part was the cat sitting inside the big garbage can!  Elder Talbot kept driving and turning corners and found the observation point for the lock where the barges travel and a place where we walked out on the old part of the bridge to get a better view of the lock.  As we have stated before, we are fascinated with the barges.  Now, we have added another item to our slowly diminishing bucket list – to watch a barge go through the lock.  The lock is 1200 feet long and 110 feet wide, with a lift of over 38 feet and large enough to handle a full-length fleet of barges.

View of the Lock #19

End of Lock #19

All the locks placed at the end of the old bridge next to the Lock.  Look close for Elder Talbot's favorite lock!

This past weekend was the annual Nauvoo Grape Stomp Festival which included 5k walk/run.  Early Saturday morning I volunteered to man a check-in station for the race.  Participants ranged from 5-70+ and also included three strollers.  One mother pushed a stroller with three kids.  Elder Talbot also helped.  It was rewarding to help with the community event.  On Sunday, Parley Street had been closed for the Festival on Wheels Car Show, one of the region’s largest open-air car show which was held in the field just across from our apartment.  We had to go the back way to find an open road, so we could leave for Canton for church.  Elder Talbot loved looking at the old cars.

Sister Talbot at the first check point.

Temple Missionaries who walked in the race.  Other ones ran and all of them placed including the young site missionaries and the couple site missionaries.

Today, Monday, we traveled to Hannibal, Missouri to check out the area where Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) used for his classic books of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer.  We took a ride on the Mark Twain Riverboat, took a tour of Hannibal on the Trolley, and visited the Mark Twain Museum.  The Museum also had a display of original paintings used in Twain’s book by Normal Rockwell.  It happened to be the Steam Punk Festival and we saw some pretty “weird” costumes and displays.  We thoroughly enjoyed the day.

As we were cruising the Mississippi River and listening to the tour guide tell us about how Samuel Clemens adopted the pen name of "Mark Twain", I was fascinated with the story.  In 1850s river pilots did not have modern navigational tools.  When they entered shallow water, a man was sent to the front of the boat with a lead weight tied to a rope.  He tossed the weight out in front and let it sink to measure how deep the water was.  A series of knots were tied in the rope at measured distances.  A mark is the same as a fathom on the ocean, six feet.  Twain means two.  The knot at "mark twain" meant twelve feet which means safe water.  I thought about how the scriptures are our safe water.  If we read and study the scriptures and apply the words to our lives, we will always be in "safe water".

We miss all of you,

Elder and Sister Talbot

Sister Talbot can't resist another cloud formation at Keokuk, Iowa last Friday.

                     Break the fast group!  The Burtons (bald head and long blonde hair) are in Glenmore 6th Ward.                                Our son, Kevan, is the Bishop of the Glenmore 5th Ward in South Jordan, Utah.