Mighty Cyprus Pirates

I had a conversation with my Dad today.  I called to ask about this picture.  Here is what he told me:

The boys are from left to right, Park Brockbank, Wayne Keys, Reed Jensen and Loren Brockbank.  Reed Jensen (Ronal Reed Jensen, my father) explained the picture for me.  These four charmers were mascots to the Cypress High School Basketball team.  Dad’s grandfather, Taylor Park Brockbank was the principal of the school at the time.  My grandmother Vae Jensen looked over the uniforms of the basketball team and created these outfits to match so that the boys could attend all the games in their very important capacity of mascots to the mighty Cyprus Pirates. 

Park, Wayne, Reed, and Loren are cousins.  Park and Loren were the sons of Bernard Park Brockbank, Wayne was the son of Glennis Brockbank Keys, and Reed Jensen was the son of Vaoma Brockbank Jensen.  Dad shared the tale that these cousins spent happy hours at their grandfather’s house on Highland Avenue in Salt Lake City.  On one occasion they collected rotten apples from the ground in the apple orchard and conceived the game of tossing them at passing cars.  The game ended when they scored a direct hit on a couple in a convertible who then stopped the car and chased the boys off.  He did manage to catch one of them – which one will remain a mystery until further installments.  

Isaac Brockbank Sr.

This is my father's mother's paternal great grandfather.  My sweet father gave me a book published by the Brockbank family containing genealogical information and brief histories.  I don't know how many copies of this book exist but, as promised, I will be sharing some of what I know in this blog for anyone who might be interested. 

Here is the history for Isaac:

    Isaac Brockbank, son of Daniel and Agnes Morris Brockbank, was born in Bowness, Westmoreland County, England.  He followed an agricultural life and won may prizes at County Fairs.  He was very proud of these accomplishments.  He went to Liverpool where he prospered at several enterprises.
    He was always quite religious and early in life he joined the Wesleyan Methodists.  He became acquainted with Elizabeth Mainwaring who was a very zealous member of this sect.  They were married shortly after this.
   In 1843 he heard Parley P. Pratt deliver a lecture on "Mormonism".  He was convinced of the truth of this message and was baptized and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
   In 1852 the family emigrated to America and was the first company under the auspices of the Perpetual Emigration Fund.  They landed in New Orleans being on the water eight weeks and three days.  The family, at that time, consisted of the father, mother and four children: Isaac Jr. (Grandma Va's grandfather), Elizabeth, Joshua and the baby, Agnes.
   The company in which they traveled arrived in Salt Lake City on 4 Sept. 1852, being six and three quarters months from Liverpool.  Isaac having lost his wife (Elizabeth) on the plains, later married Sarah Brown.  He went to Utah County where he built a home in Spanish Fork.  This was made of handmade adobe brick.  He was willing to make any sacrifice for the Church.  He continued to live in Spanish Fork where he played a big part in the growth of that town in spite of trials of pioneer life.
   He died in Spanish Fork 1 April 1878.

Taylor Park Brockbank

 

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