Jim also taught himself to play the banjo, organ, piano and zither. He had a fine singing voice and sang the old songs of the day, much to the de¬light of his children. In his mid teens Jim had spent one summer working on the Hallack Ranch in Nevada, along with his Uncle Niven Rob¬inson, foster brother, Steve Winchester and William Parker, a friend from Hoop¬er. It was hard work and an unforgetable experience and he was very glad to return home. Jim, a handsome black-haired six footer, was popular with the local belles, escorted his sisters to socials and dances around the area. He had taken a shine to Mary Watts, who lived in South Weber. The romance blossomed. Mary was born in Riverdale, 31 July 1882, a daughter of Robert Nelson and Ag¬nes Ellen Thorpe Watts. When she was about two her parents were called by the Ch¬urch to help colonize St. Johns, Arizona. The family loaded all their worldly goods into two wagons and set out with several other families. It was a hot, ted¬ious trip of about 600 miles. Robert bought a small piece of property on the outskirts of St. Johns with a small house on it. He became a partner in a sawmill which was destroyed by fire. He also freighted goods between St. Johns and Flagstaff. St. Johns was still a frontier town, infested with outlaw cowboys and renegade Mexicans, who resented the Mormons and vowed to 'exterminate' them. The outlaws terrorized the citizens and destroyed much property. Their depredations came to a sudden end when 'Father' Tenny, a beloved Church member and community leader, was gunned down in the street of St. Johns. Agnes Ellen, an English convert, was terrified by the desperados and hid, with her little brood, under the bed while Robert was taking in all the excitement. Sometime after 1888 the Wats family returned to Utah and settled on the farm of Robert's father in South Weber. Mary became involved in Church activities and attended school in the little school house in the Old Fort. Mary's father was also a fiddler and it was only natural that the Watts and Robinson families would enjoy each other's company. Jim was 22 and Mary 21, when they were married at the Watts home in 1903 by Bishop George Kendell. The newly- 238 THE OLD HOUSE 'UP ON THE HILL'