Life History of David Elmer Astle August 12, 1902 - June 6, 1974

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David Elmer Astle - 1937

David Elmer Astle was born in a log home in Grover, Wyoming to John Francis and Lauretta Hepworth Astle on August 12, 1902.

David was the seventh of thirteen children born to John and Lauretta. There were three brothers and nine sisters: John Francis Jr., Klea, Vernon, Arstanie, Pearl, David, Evelyn, Doretta, Agnes, Elva, Grace, Jane, and Isaac. Most of the children lived to become adults except for Evelyn who lived for seven years, Jane lived four months, and Isaac who died shortly after receiving a name and a blessing from his father on the day he was born.

At the age of seven, David began working on the farm with his father and brothers. Some of David's responsibilities included milking the cows, driving them to pasture and bringing them in from the fields at night.

On August 12, 1910, David was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in an open spring among the willows about a mile from the family home by his uncle Geo W. Hepworth.

David attended school in a two room building across the street from the family home. His first teacher was Edna Rogers from Nebraska. Schooling was not a high priority and David attended during the time when he wasn't needed on the farm and during the winter. When David was in the seventh grade he was almost kicked out of school for throwing a snow ball towards the school. By the time he reached the eighth grade, the school had grown sufficiently to justify three teachers. David finished the eighth grade. He was now needed to get on with his life and become a full time worker on the Astle family ranch. Even though he had a limited education in the classroom he always tried to further his knowledge throughout his life by reading and exploring his surroundings. He was considered an educated man. He spent many hours learning about his world and its wonders.

David's high school nick name was "Steamer". He received his nickname because whenever he would play ball with the guys or otherwise exert efforts, he would breathe heavy. This may have been a result of poor lungs as in later years his lungs would prove to be his real weak link in his health. He ultimately developed emphysema and died from the disease.

David was an active teenager and liked to participate in normal activities with his friends. He enjoyed ridding horse and did this frequently. On one occasion as he was riding he was knocked off his horse. David fell under the horse and was stepped on as the horse passed over him, stepping on his chest. This was a serious accident and left a hoof print in the middle of his chest. This impression on his chest stayed with him throughout his life.

"The 1918 influenza epidemic started in the Valley. All schools were closed and no church meetings or other gathering were held. The doctors really didn't know what to do and many people died. Vernon, my twenty-year-old brother, was put in the hospital where he died December 23, 1918. He was buried on the 24th. None of us got to see him. We were all sick at home. Mother and Dad were in separate beds in the same room when Dad saw Vernon come for Mother soon after he was buried. Dad cried out, "No, you cannot take her!" but he couldn't touch them. This was Dec. 24 about 10:00 p.m. Mother died. The rest of us were in other rooms. It was almost more than Father could bear." (Life History of Arstanie Astle Nye, pg.11)

The seriousness of the flu epidemic meant the dead were not given funerals nor taken to the undertakers. Lauretta was placed in her casket in her bedroom and prepared for burial. When they tried to move the casket downstairs it was soon evident that the stairway was too small and narrow to navigate with Lauretta in the casket. A solution was soon found and the casket and body were moved out of the second floor bedroom window and lowered to the ground.

The fear of the spreading epidemic meant that funerals were not held. The frozen ground also meant that those who died were buried in shallow graves. Thus David's father buried his wife and son within two days of each other. This was a tragedy that he never really recovered from and ultimately resulted in moving the family out of the Valley to a new home in Providence Utah.

The Bishop of the ward asked two sisters to come and help nurse the family back to health following Vernon's and Lauretta's death. They were promised that if they would come and help the family they would not suffer from the influenza. The sisters did come and nurse the family back to health and did not suffer from the influenza.

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