Remembering Family: Kendrick Harding Harward

Kendrick Harding Harward

My father's father is Kendrick Harding Harward. Kendrick was born 28 December 1912 in Aurora, Sevier, Utah to Thomas Franklin and Sarah Jeanette Harding Harward.

Kendrick noted, "My parents were both born to pioneer parents of English descent. They were either assigned to, or chose to make their home in Sevier Valley in the early days of its settlement."

His family consisted of twelve children, six boys and six girls. The three older are half sisters and brother to him. Kendrick remembered, "Their mother was a full sister to my mother, so our relationship has always been as though we were of the same mother."

Kendrick was a member of a farm family with a hard-working, industrious father who kept himself occupied with the work and chores of a rural farm. Of his father, Kendrick related, "Many times it seemed that my father was providing work objects with the primary objective of keeping us busy. I remember how disappointing it was to finish weeding a field of sugar beets only to go to the other side of the patch to start over again." Grandpa always noted that the work training he got early in his life was very valuable to him later in life.

He attended grade school in Aurora and high school at North Sevier High School in Salina, Utah where he participated in football, basketball, track, plays and assemblies. After graduation in 1931, it was the bottom of the Depression and money was hard to come by. Further education was not available to him. Kendrick remembered, "At this time, fat cattle were selling for about five cents per pound, hogs three cents, wheat three bushels for one dollar." He stayed and worked on his father's farm.

Ken was heavily involved in the Aurora ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When he was seventeen, he was called as a counselor in the Sunday School superintendency. He met his future wife, Edith Thompson, in this ward and in high school. They were married 29 March 1934 in Manti, Sanpete, Utah and made their home in Aurora where he worked at farm jobs to earn a living.

One year later, Ken and Edith's brother Homer began a turkey growing business. He stayed with this business the rest of his life. Ken served as chairman of the board of directors of Norbest, Inc. and was president of the National Turkey Federation.

Many of his grandchildren and some of the great grandchildren still remember visiting the turkey farms. Just in case some never had this experience, here is a reminder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITu_dJLzg7I

In November of 1949 he and his family moved from Aurora, where he had lived all of his life, to Richfield, Utah. Ken purchased a business with his brother Ritch in Richfield but only stayed with the business for three years and then left to spend his time fully managing a turkey dressing plant in Salina, Utah and growing his own turkeys.

Kendrick was a Sevier County Commisioner for 12 years, beginning in 1952, elected to the Utah State Senate for District 28 from 1967 to 1972, and appointed to the Utah State Board of Regents 1974 to 1979. Ken also served two terms as mayor of Richfield city.

Kendrick claimed, "I have always held an office of some responsibility in the Church. Church activities have been very important and rewarding to us through our married life." He served at the age of 29 as the Aurora ward bishop from 1941 to 1949 and again as bishop of the Richfield seventh ward. He accepted various other callings throughout his lifetime. Kendrick and Edith filled a calling as directors of the Los Angeles Temple Visitor's Center and was serving as a stake patriarch when he died.

Even after all of these achievements, Kendrick wrote, "I think the proudest possession I have and the greatest achievement I have made in my life has been with my good wife to produce seven fine children."