Family History

My family history starts in 1604 in Edmund, England at the birth of Morris Somes (his father, Thomas Somes, was buried the same year). Morris immigrated to New England between 1635 and 1640. His eldest son was Timothy. Then we have a list of four Timothy Somes then Nehemiah, Benjamin, and Samuel Miller Somes.

Born Samuel Miller Somes 29 Dec 1824. In 1846, at the age of 21, Samuel Miller Somes petitioned the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to have his name legally changed to Alvin Moroni Montierth and that action was approved on April 16, 1846. Why? Alvin's own words:

"Mother was speaking of the man that I was named for. She said he cheater her out of the home fater had left her. I told her I would not carry the name any longer. The legislature being in session, I petitioned them to change my name from Samuel Miller Somes to Alvin Moroni Montierth. I saw the name Montieth. I said that by putting an r in it, it was a name that no man had disgraced that I would make honorable."

Alvin's third son, Eugene Ernest, produced my father Arch Montierth in 1901. Arch became a farmer in the Gila Valley and I was born in 1940 (11th generation American, 4th generation Mormon).

I grew up on the farm attending public schools in Safford Arizona. There were 97 in our Graduating class of 1958. I went on to University of Arizona the college of engineering. Married my wife in 1963 instead of attending graduation ceremonies. We went to California to live and work. My daughter was born in 1966 followed by our twin sons in 1970. In 1976, we moved to Daytona Beach Florida. Then in 1984 we moved to Mesa Arizona to be closer to family. In 1987, we adopted our fourth child, he was nine when the adoption was finalized. All of the children have graduated, are married and living on their own now. All very near. The three oldest have bought houses with in a mile of us. The youngest is still in an apartment. I have 6 grand children so far.