During the city of Wellington's 100 year Pioneer Days celebration two
life long residents looked back in pride at a city that they have
called their home for the better part of a century. They were born in
Wellington, have never really left and have watched the small
municipality grow and change as if they were caring parents.
Azella Thayn Bradley was born June 3, 1918 in Wellington on the
family farm and according to her family she was nine years old before
her father was even able to set eyes on her. He served a distinguished
term and was in France at the time of her birth, fighting in World War
I. Azella was the oldest of 12 children which meant that she had a ton
of responsibility around the farm.
Milking cows, feeding chickens and making bread were all done without running water, electricity or indoor plumbing.
Although her family was poor and life on the farm was hard,
Azella never knew it. Bradley attended the Wellington school house on
the hill by walking to and from the campus everyday. According to family
historians, sometimes the Bradley's would move into town during the
late fall for the winter and then return to the family farm in the
spring.
The cycle of life for the Bradley's involved planting, tending,
harvesting and bottling all of their own fruits and vegetables.
Additionally soap was made by saving the fat from farm animals putting
lye in it and then letting it harden. This soap kept the family clean
and was used for the Saturday night bath which took place in a number
three tub with the smallest children bathing first.
All transportation in Azella's days as a child took place via
horseback and on foot until her grandfather W.A. Thayn purchased one the
the first motorcars in Carbon County.
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| Azella Thayn Bradley is one of Wellington's oldest living residents. |
"I really did grow up poor," said Azella. "But you never knew it because everyone else around you was poor too."
According to Bradley, she would get a new dress every July 4 and new pajamas for Christmas.
"I was happy, loved and we always had enough to eat," commented Bradley. "And that was all I really needed."
When she was a teen she met the love of her life when a young man
rode up to an LDS function on his black horse and just kept riding up
to here on it until they married.
Azella married Archie Bradley in September 1935 and they moved in
to a two room home in Miller Creek. Archie worked a full time job that
allowed Azella to tend to the farm and house work. They had four
children; Arlene, Dean, Dale and Derk. Once they were school age, Azella
worked at the Wellington post office for 31 years.
The only time in her 89 years that Azella ever left the town of
Wellington was to serve an 18-month LDS mission. She served faithfully
and then returned to her red brick home, a dwelling she has lived in for
57 years.
"There's no place like home in Wellington," concluded Bradley.
This morning we lost an angel of a lady. I can't even imagine life without her. She was an amazing lady and our lives will never be the same. I'm so grateful for the beautiful memories we have with her and look forward to the day when I will see her again.
