History of
Nettie May Brough (1897-1981)
and Enoch Leander Anderson

Quoted from the 1980 RBFO book:
Samuel Richard Brough, 1857-1947: His History, Ancestors & Descendants

Nettie May Brough was born October 11, 1897, in Lyman, Wyoming. Her father was Samuel Richard Brough, born August 20, 1857 at Bethalto, Illinois. Her mother was Phoebe Adeline Cherry, born September 7, 1860 at Centerville, Utah.

Shortly after the family had moved to Fort Bridger Bench (Lyman) in Wyoming to homestead, Nettie was born. The father and sons had just completed building a granary, the first of their buildings on that site. A bedroom was prepared in the granary and a midwife brought in to assist with the birth. There a sweet, healthy little red-headed baby girl was born October 11, 1897. She was named Nettie May. The rest of the family moved into the granary and remained there until the following spring when they were able to build a log house.

In the years that followed, Nettie grew strong in spirit and body. She loved playing dolls and dressing up in long dresses. Another favorite pasttime was playacting. She would write and direct the plays as she and her sisters entertained themselves and the family in this isolated community. Growing up in a polygamist family was not difficult for Nettie. She dearly loved her "other" brothers and sisters and enjoyed the companionship she had with them. She felt as close to them as to her full brothers and sisters. They attended school in a one-room log school house, where all grades were taught in the same room by the same teacher. They often hung blankets up to separate the classes.

On May 29, 1914, she completed the eight years of school required and graduated. Following her graduation she went to Salt Lake City, Utah. She lived with her mother's brother, Uncle Clair Cherry while attending Comptometer" school. Upon completion of the course in half the scheduled time, the school placed her in a good-paying position with the Union Pacific Railroad Company, as a timekeeper, in Green River, Wyoming.
She had many experiences during the two years she worked there. The one which was especially impressive was when she actually witnessed the lynching of a black man. The man had had an argument in the lunch room with two white men. He left, went home, then returned with a gun and shot both of the white men. One died, the other was seriously injured. The townspeople were so angry about this that they caught this man and dragged him down the street by the neck and hanged him to the light pole in front of the station. This all happened just a few yards from where Nettie was working. Soon after this Nettie became homesick and gave up her job to return home to Lyman. She had not been home long when she was called on a mission to the Western States.

Nettie had leadership qualities and was soon called to be a Relief Society President in the mission field. She loved her work and served the Lord well. While helping some of the Indian families, she was exposed to and contracted small pox. The board of health forced her to leave her rented apartment and sent her to the "Pest House." She received tender, loving care from an old black nurse. The nurse was faithful in applying special ointment on her sores, and when she recovered she did not have a single scar. Her companion, Sister Cox, went with her to the Pest House and remained with her until she was well. During the illness, her mother and father were not allowed to go to her, but the Lord did bless her with special people who cared. Another companion was Fern Tanner who later married one of the elders who served in the same mission. This elder was Harold B. Lee who later became president of the church.

By the time she had completed her mission, her family had moved to Bountiful, Utah where she joined them. She was employed by Myers Cleaners and Dyers, as a complaint adjuster.

Her sister Laura Bradshaw was living in Salt Lake City, Utah. At that time she was renting rooms from Beda White. One day while Nettie was visiting Laura she met Beda White's brother, Lee Anderson, who had recently returned from a mission to the Northern States. A friendship and then a courtship followed. Nettie told of the time Lee took the Bamberger train out to Bountiful to see her. He had spent the evening and was preparing to leave and catch the last train to Salt Lake. He discovered his hat was missing. After a frantic search, Nettie's mother woke up her younger brother and made him get the hat which he had hidden earlier in the evening. They found it just in time for Lee to catch the train.

Nettie and Lee were married in the Salt Lake Temple December 21, 1922. A reception followed at the family home in Bountiful. Nettie's sister Laura had made her a beautiful brown satin suit especially for the occasion. She was most attractive in brown with her lovely auburn hair.

Their first home was an apartment in Beda White's home. Lee worked for Colliers Publishing Co. selling magazines and books. He also sold life insurance. Two children were born while they were living there: Thelma Mae on October 16, 1923 and Robert Brough on December 1, 1924.

The family moved to Ogden, Utah in 1925 and two more children were born there: Shirley Jean on February 18, 1926, and Laura Marie on May 13, 1927.

They returned to Salt Lake City shortly. Soon after moving back, the family came down with typhoid fever and whooping cough. Everyone had it but Lee, since he had been immunized while serving in the army. The sorrow and tragedy of death struck. Robert Brough (Bobby) died September 29, 1927. The rest of the family moved home from the hospital to recover. A few months later, Ruth Adeline was born on July 23, 1928. She provided a great deal of comfort to a mother still mourning and grieving her lost child.

Sorrow struck again when Laura, just a toddler, was run over by a truck loaded with ice. It broke both her legs and took many months of anxious care to bring her back to health.

The family remained at that location about three and a half years. Thelma started school and another baby girl arrived, Donna Rae, August 1, 1930. In 1931 the family moved again to a larger home in Salt Lake City where James Allen, the last child was born, March 30, 1933. All of the children were born at home except Thelma who was born in a hospital. The doctor came to the house and a nurse, Sister Tanner, assisted him with the delivery. She stayed until the baby was ten days old.

Raising a family during the depression years was not easy. Nettie had to call upon her resources many times. Weeks before Christmas she would stay up late at night sewing, making over old clothes, so each of the children could have a new outfit for Christmas. Many of the toys were repainted, and dolls tenderly dressed the week before Christmas. The same sewing sessions went on before Easter. Summers were spent canning fruit and preparing for the coming winter. Doctors were rarely called upon for illnesses, but faith and prayers and the administration by the Priesthood were the healing powers called upon. She was proud of her family and home and always worked hard to make things nice.

The years while the family were growing up were busy years, but Nettie still remained interested and active in community and church affairs. She was P.T.A. President of Edison Elementary School and Jordan Junior High School. Many of her community activities were reported in story and picture in the local newspapers. She was a member of the "Women's Legislative Council" and served as election judge many years.
She taught Mutual and Relief Society and is a member of the Daughters of the Pioneers. She was always artistic and completed a course in floral design, after which she made floral arrangements for several businesses. For many years she took in sewing of slipcovers and drapes. She was famous among her friends and family for her homemade whole wheat bread and dill pickles.

She is a grand, old lady and at this writing is still living in the old family home of 48 years. Lee passed away at their home. He apparently died of a heart attack in the early hours of the morning.

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