He was only 18 months old to the day...

Newspaper Article: PARENTS UNDERESTIMATED TODDLER'S RANGE 24 July 1957

There was an extra desk sergeant at the Idaho Falls Police Station Wednesday morning, but grizzled veterans of the department admitted he wasn't much help.

He was Devon Jamison 1 1/2-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Delmar Jamison.  The blond, blue-eyed youngster was nonchalantly pulling his toy wagon down the middle of Memorial Drive Wednesday about 7:30 am by Tracey Dawson, police officer and director of the PAL Club. He was clad only in night shirt which didn't quite come down to his waist.

Sergeant Dawson took him to the station to await an expected call from excited parents, which came about an hour later.

The early morning stroller had just learned to crawl from his crib and open doors by himself, and apparently decided to do a little exploring on his own when he was found.

His mother explained that he is very independent and prefer the front of the house to a fenced back yard in the rear.

And did he cry while at the station? Not, Devon. He "helped" Stan Ward and Bud Hathaway by punching buttons on the busy telephone.

------------------

Note from the mother: This article appeared in the front page of the Post Register on the day after Devon had learned to climb out of his crib by himself, and also to open the door without help. 

Early that morning, I was busy getting breakfast. The night before, Devon was so excited that he could climb out of his crib. Three times he climbed out of bed and giggled as he ran through the house. I placed him back in bed the last time and said, "Now you stay there!"

The next morning about 8 o'clock, I wondered whey had wasn't awake yet and went in to check on him and discovered he was gone!

Frantically I called Delmar and told him. He ran outside fast as the neighbor threw a diaper into our lawn, but he hadn't seen Devon. A lady in the apartment next door told Delmar she had looked out her window about 6 am and heard a child singing. She saw him but didn't where he was.

Delmar ran around the block and couldn't see him. We then called the Police for help. It was scary since we lived so close to the river.