DIARY OF EVAN SAMUEL MORGAN
I, Evan Samuel Morgan, was born November 29, 1833 on a small farm called Ynys-Ymond, Parish of Cadaxton, Glamorganshire, Wales, the nearest village being Alltwen, less than one mile distant to the northward. My birthplace was in the Swansea Valley, seven miles from the seaport town of Swansea.
My parents' names were William and Sarah Morgan; my mother's maiden name was Davies. She was the daughter of William and Sarah Davis. My grandfather was commonly known as William David Samuel. My grandmother was formerly from the vicinity of Swansea. My mother was born at the same place that I was born at. My father was born in the Parish of Llanguick, Glamorganshire. The names of his parents were Evan and Mary Morgan, my grandmother's maiden name being Gibbs, the daughter of John Gibbs.
My grandparents Morgan's children were:
John, born Oct., 1797. Died June, 1811
William (my father) born Feb., 1800. Died Jan. 14, 1891
Catharine, born 1802; married John Jones. Died Mar., 1887.
Roger, born 1804. Married Mary Williams. Died--
Evan, born April, 1807. Married Ann Davies. Died--
My grandfather's father was John Morgan, commonly called John Morgan Shon Beevan.
To my parents were born the following children (all born at the same place mentioned at the beginning):
Evan (1st), born Oct. 29, 1827. Died Nov., 1831.
William, born June 10, 1829. Married Catharine Jarman, who died March 25, 1873; he died (suffocated in a well) at Tooele, Utah, May 5, 1877, a faithful member of the church.
Eliza, born Oct. 3, 1831. Married John Howell Davies. They are both living at present (1898) at Springville, Utah.
Evan (2nd--myself), born as stated at the beginning.
John, born July 2, 1836. Married Ann Davies. Died by drowning along with 23 others in the Bryn-coch coal mine, April, 1860.
Samuel, born 1838. Died a few days old.
David, born Sept 11, 1840. Died (drowning in above mentioned accident) April, 1860.
My mother had but one sister, older than her, who married Roger Howells. She had no brothers.
After a few years at school, I commenced to work in the coal mine, being then about 11 years of age, and kept on for a number of years. When about 14 years of age, being employed as driver in the mine, I fell under the foremost car coming down an incline, and hurt my leg considerably, which laid me up for about five months.
When about 16 years of age, a boy friend of mine presented me with some of the Latter-Day-Saint literature, which I read with great delight and pleasure, believeing the doctrines they contained to be true. Previous to this, my brother, William, had left home to work in a distant colliery and joined the church, and when he came to visit us at home he brought the Book of Mormon, in English, with him and left it for us to read. I read it through, believed in it, and rejoiced exceedingly in it. My father, not believeing in the doctrine, asked me, "What do you want to read such a book as that?" "I want to learn the English language." Said he, "If that is what you want, why don't you read the Welsh and English Testament?" which he had amongst his books. I had no more to say.
There was at this time a small branch of the Church established at Alltwen, in the neighborhood of my home. About this time, Elder Evan A. Williams, a travelling Elder in the Western Glamorgan Conference, was visiting the saints at Alltwen. Being the Sabbath day, he, with some of the saints, were waiting for the Disenters to come from their forenoon meeting. When the congregation came out, Elder Williams mounted a stone wall and commenced preaching the new doctrine. I was among the few that stopped to listen. It was the first gospel sermon, as well as the sweetest thing, that I had listened to in my life. From that time on, I occasionally attended the saints' open-air meetings and enjoyed them very much.
I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints Oct. 18, 1851, by Elder James J. Davies, who was President of the Alltwen Branch, Western Glamorgan Conference. I was confirmed a member of the Church Oct. 23, 1851, by the above Elder Davies. I was ordained a deacon Oct. 27, 1851 by Elder William Lewis. I kept laboring in the branch as a deacon until Jan. 1, 1854, when I was ordained a priest by Elder William Lewis. From this time I commenced to preach the gospel.
This year Dan Jones, President of the Welsh mission, was calling urgently for volunteers to go out through Wales to preach the gospel. Brother John Howell Davies and myself sent out names to him that we were on hand to go wherever he wanted us. He wrote back to us asking us to repair to Carmarthen, the capitol town of Carmarthenshire, to meet there in conference with the saints on Sunday, August 6, 1854.
We went to Mr. John Jordan, the "boss" of the mine that we were working in, to obtain his permission to quit work without giving the usual month notice, which he granted us willingly, telling us at the same time, "Now boys, when you get through with your preaching come to me and I will place you back in the work," for which we thanked him.
August 5th, we left our homes to go to Carmarthen, distance about 40 miles, which we reached late in the evening, traveling most of the way by railroad.
August 6th, we met in Conference, where we received our appointments: Brother Davies to labour in the southern part of the county, and I in the northern part.
On the 7th we parted for our fields of labor. In my field there were but very few scattered saints. I labored in this field, distributing tracts from house to house and bearing my testimony and preaching when opportunity offered, until November. I was obliged to sleep out in sheds twice only.
November 5th, I attended the Quarterly Conference held ar Carmarthen town. On the 6th I attended Council meeting. Here I was ordained an Elder by Thomas E. Jeremy, a missionary from Zion. Brother Daives was ordained an Elder same date by Thomas Jenkins, President of the Conference. From this time on Brother Davies and I were appointed to travel together in the lower parts of the county.
December 3rd. Was at a Council meeting at Carmarthen. Here I was appointed to preside over the Carmarthen Branch of the Carmarthenshire Conference instead of Elder Isaac Jones, resigned, with David Evans and John Evans my Counselors. I endeavored to obtain employment in the regions round about in order to support myself, but failed.
December 13th. I baptized two persons, one Benjamimn Lewis, 16 years old, and a daughter of Brother David Williams, both of Carmarthen.
December 14th. I confirmed the above Benjamin Lewis.
December 23rd. I baptized Mary Richards, 19 years old, in Carmarthen.
December 25th I started for Swansea, distance 30 miles, to attend an Eisteddfod, a Welsh literary gathering. From here I went to my father's home, 7 miles up the valley where I stayed for a few days.
January 7th. I returned to Carmarthen.
January 8th. At a Council meeting when Priest William Jones was cut off the Church for drunkenness and using bad langauge.
January 12th, I went with William Marks and Dinah Edwards, who had been cut off the Church some time before, to be baptized, which was done by Priest William Davies.
January 14th. In meeting I confirmed above William Marks. One, Mary Jones, was cut off the Church.
February 4th. Attending Conference in Carmarthen when Brother John H. Davies and myself were released from our missionary labors in the Carmarthenshire Conference and permitted to return to our homes in Glamorganshire. While occupying the position of President of the Carmarthen Branch, I labored in the town and neighborhood selling tracts and bearing testimony of the gospel.
February 5th. After attending Council meeting in the evening, I baptized two young women; the name of one was Eliza Evans; the name of the other was Ann Rees.
Some time before, I loaned to President Jenkins seven shillings and nine pence, to defray the expenses incurred during Conference, and as he is unable to collect the money, I donate it to the Conference.
February 9th. Brother Davies and I started for our homes, reaching Swansea in the evening.
February 10th. I reached my father's home. As stated heretofore, when Brother Davies and myself went to Mr. John Jordan to ask permission to quit work without giving a month's notice, which he readily granted, he told us that when we got through preaching he would take us back into the mine. So when we returned home, we went to see him and reminded him of his promise. His answer was: "Boys, I can't take you back unless you give up that religion of yours," and although it was difficult to find employment elsewhere at the time, it was very easy matter for us to decide what to do. We could not afford to forsake our religion for an opportunity to work in a coal mine; consequently we spent several days seeking employment. At last I found employment at Ystrad-gynlais, 14 miles from Swansea and 7 miles from my father's house, where there was a branch of the Church.
It was March 27th when I commenced to work on the "Patch". That is surface mining of iron ore. Brother Davies obtained work at the Primrose Colliery near his home. After working a while on the "Patch", I quit and went to work in a coal mine in the neighborhood but I did not work long there but went to work in the iron works at Ystalvera, about 2 miles away. While I stayed at Ystrad-gynlais, I labored in the Branch as an Elder should, preaching, bearing testimony and distributing tracts.
As our employment was not very remunerative, Brother Davies and I concluded that we would quit work and accompany the Saints that were emigrating, to Liverpool and try and get an opportunity to work on the ship to pay for our passage across the Atlantic, but in this we failed. After failing in our endeavor to get an opportunity to cross the Atlantic with the Saints, we received and accepted a call from Capt. Dan Jones, President of the Welsh Mission, who had accompanied the emigrating Saints to Liverpool, to go to Anglesea, North Wales, as missionaries.
April 11th. We started for our field of labor and arrived at Pentre Berw, Anglesea, our destination, in the evening, where we found Elder William J. Lewis, who had been there for some time. We obtained work in a coal mine, preaching and distributing tracts in the evenings, going to Carnarvon occasionally, distance about 8 miles, Elder Lewis being President of the Carnarvon Branch of the Church, of the Anglesea and Dyffryn Conway Conference. The manager of the mine, an old acquaintance named Joseph Jenkins, gave Brother Davies and I six shillings.
April 20th. Priest Rosser Jenkins, who was on his way to Zion, arrived, being sent by Capt. Jones from Liverpool. Elder Lewis died at Provo, 1900, being Bishop of one of the wards.
Owing to the work getting slack at Pentre Berw, we sought and obtained work in a mine at Malltraeth, about two miles from Pentre Berw, nearly to the seashore.
April 23rd. We commenced to work at Malltraeth, but did not work long there as the boss and the workmen got prejudiced against us.
June 4th. Brother Jenkins and I started to Holyhead, distance about 15 miles, to seek employment. I found work; altogether, there were abaout 2000 men working here, tearing the side of the mountain down and hauling it to the sea to build a breakwater to protect the shipping.
June 8th. Having quit work at Holyhead, I started for Pentre Berw, which I reached in the afternoon.
June 9th. Brother Daniel Daniels of the Presidency of the Welsh Mission, and Brother John Parry, Pastor over the Church in North Wales, called at Pentre Berw and took Elder William J. Lewis with them from here to attend Conference.
June 11th. I commenced to work in the mine in place of Elder Lewis.
June 16th. In company with Elder Elias Lewis, I went to Carnarvon, where I learned that Elder William J. Lewis had been made President of the Dyffryn Conway and Anglesea Conference in place of Richard Roberts, removed.
June 17th. Attended meetings in the Branch, President Lewis being present. I was set apart to preside over the Carnarvon Branch in place of Elder Lewis, now President of the Conference, with Elias Lewis and John Thomas as Counselors.
July 1st. I was in Carnarvon attending meetings. President Lewis was present. Sister Ann Lloyd was cut off the church for immoral conduct.
August 12th. A few of the Carnarvon saints, with one Evan Jones, who was to be baptized, came over to Pentre Berw. Also Elder John Ellis from Bethesda and Elder William Davies from Llanrwst, came over. We held a meeting on the bridge that crosses a small river. Elders Davies, Ellis and myself preached to a large congregation. After meeting, I baptized said Evans in the river.
Elder Elias Lewis, Daniel Lewis and William Vaughan, Priests, arrived from South Wales, May 7th.
September 9th. I attended Conference at Carnarvon. A few days before Elder Noah Jones (Cymro-gwyllt) arrived from South Wales as a missionary.
September 12th. Elder Jones and I went to Holyhead, intending to preach there, but was prevented by the rain.
September 13th. We went from Holyhead to Amlwch, distance about 12 miles. We preached there on the 14th. Returned to Pentre Berw on the 15th.
September 16th. Went to Carnarvon; attended meetings and ordained William Davies a teacher.
October 4th. Brother Daniel Lewis and I were discharged at the Pentre Berw mine for want of room in the works. Having obtained work again at Malltraeth, Brother Lewis and I commenced to work there on the 8th.
October 28th. Was in Carnarvon. Attended meetings and Conference Council meeting. I ordained Priest Rosser Jenkins an Elder.
November 25th. In Carnarvon attending meetings and Council. Thomas Davies, Amlwch, and David Roberts, Rhostre-Owen, were cut off the Church for apostasy.
For want of room in the work at Malltraeth, I was discharged and obtained work at Pentre Berw, where I commenced to work November 30th.
December 9th. Brother Daniel Lewis and I went to Eglwysbach, distance about 30 miles, to attend Conference.
December 16th. In Carnarvon attending meetings and Council. Pres. Lewis was present. Priests Daniel Lewis and William Vaughan were ordained Elders. Pres. Lewis ordained Brother Vaughan and I ordained Brother Lewis. The work getting slack again at Pentre Berw, Brother Daniel Lewis and I were discharged.
December 19th. Brother Lewis and I went to Carnarvonshire, through the slate quarries, seeking employment, but found none.
December 24th. We were taken back to the mine at Pentre Berw.
In connection with the other brethren from South Wales, I traveled and preached and distributed tracts very nearly over the whole of the County of Anglesea, beside attending to the business of the Branch in Carnarvon, since I was put to preside over it.
In the month of March, 1856, Elder William J. Lewis was released from the presidency of the Dyffryn Conway and Anglesea Conference to emigrate to Zion and I was appointed President in his place, receiving my appointment from Franklin D. Richards, President of the European Mission. Having left working in the coal mine at Pentre Berw, I proceeded to Llanddoged near Llanrwst, Carnarvonshire, distance about 35 miles, where conference was held on the 16th of March, when I was voted in as President of the Conference to succeed Elder Lewis.
March 26th. At a Council Meeting in the Bethesda Branch when Thomas Bates and John Jones were cut off the Church for running away secretly without paying their debts.
April 14th, 1856: I started for Liverpool with the Saints that were emigrating to Zion, where we arrived in the afternoon. Here I met my brother, William, who was also emigrating.
April 19th. I took steamer for Llandudno, here there was one of the branches of the Conference, and arrived in the afternoon.
May 15th. I went to Holyhead where Elders Daniel Lewis and William Vaugham were working and preaching; also Brother John Roberts from Llandudno, and a sister named Hannah Owen. In the evening we held a meeting on one of the streets, where Brother Lewis, Brother Roberts and myself preached to a fair-sized audience.
May 16th. We held another meeting in the evening on the public square of the town, where a large congregation gathered and listened very attentively while Elders Roberts, Vaughan and I explained unto them the principles of the gospel. After we concluded our meeting a preacher commenced to speak against our doctrines. We arranged to have a public debate there and then. He commenced speaking as long as he wanted; then I would answer him. We kept on until each of us spoke three times, then he gave up, saying that he was not as well prepared as he would have liked to be. The congregation observed good order all through.
May 17th. I returned to Carnarvon and attended meetings there Sunday 18th. I was still presiding over the Branch.
May 20th. I baptized Ann Lloyd and Eliza Thomas. Ann Lloyd was cut off the Church some time previous. Eliza Thomas was a member of the Church but had been negligent in the performance of her duties and desired rebaptism.
May 21st. I confirmed the above sisters members of the Church.
May 31st. Being at Llandudno, I went out in the row noat to meet the steamer that was plying between Liverpool and Menai Bridge to meet John H. Davies, his brother, Benjamin Davies, and my own brother, John Morgan, coming from South Wales as missionaries. Brother John H. Davies, who came from the south along with me, had to return on account of sickness. After leaving the steamer at Menai Bridge, we walked to Carnarvon, distance about 10 miles. (Menai Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing the Menai Strait between Carnarvonshire and Anglesea, which is surrounded by the sea.)
June 1st. Being Sunday, we all attended meeting in the Branch.
June 2nd. My brother, John, and Ben Davies went out to seek employment but found none.
June 3rd. They found employment at Pen-y-groes Slate Quarrie, a few miles distance. Brother J. H. Davies and I started for Holyhead to visit Brothers Lewis and Vaughan. We tarried over night at Pentre Berw.
June 4th. We proceeded on our way to Holyhead, where we arrived in the evening.
June 5th. We preached out-of-doors in the evening.
June 6th. We left Holyhead, taking train for Carnarvon, taking the trunks of Brothers Lewis and Vaughan with us.
June 8th. Brothers Morgan and Davis, having come in the night before from Pen-y-groes, where they had been to work, we all attended the Branch meeting.
June 9th. Brother J. H. Davies and I started for Bethesda, distance about 8 miles, where there is a small branch of the Church here. Brother Davies sought employment here but did not succeed.
June 11th. We started for Llandudno, some over 20 miles distance, where we arrived in the evening. There is a small branch of the Church here. Brother Davies sought employment here but did not succeed.
June 13th. Brother Davies started back for Bethesda. I tarried.
June 15th. Sunday, I attended meetings here.
June 16th. I went to Eglwysbach, distance about 10 miles. There is a small Branch of the Church here.
June 17th. Went to Llanrwst, distance about 6 miles. There are a few saints here, what remains of the Llanddoged Branch; I attended meeting in the evening.
June 18th. Returned to Eglwysbach; attended meeting in the evening.
June 20th. Went to Llandudno.
June 21st. I went to Abergele, distance about 10 miles. There is a Branch of the Church here of the Denbyshire Conference.
June 22nd. The Denbyshire Conference was held here today. There were present Griffith Roberts, President of the Conference, Benjamin Ashby of the Welsh Mission Presidency, Thomas Williams of the Liverpool office, and Thomas Rees of the Flintshire Conference. Had an enjoyable time.
June 23rd. I went to Eglwysbach, distance about 8 miles.
June 24th. Went to Llanrwst; attended meeting at night.
June 25th. Returned to Eglwysbach; attended meeting at night.
June 26th. Went to Llandudno; attended meeting at night.
June 27th. Went to Conway, distance about 5 miles, to meet Elder Ashby. We returned in the evening.
June 28th. Elder Ashby and I went to Conway, expecting to meet a brother from the Liverpool office, but he did not come. We returned.
June 29th, Sunday. Our Quarterly Conference was held at Llandudno. Meetings were held at 10, 2 and 6. Elder Ashby ordained Edward Parry, Jr. an Elder; I ordained John Thomas a Teacher.
June 30th. Elder Ashby and I went to Conway, expecting to meet a brother from the Liverpool office, but he did not come.
July 1st. Elder Ashby and I travelled to Festiniog, Merionethshire, distance about 20 miles, where there used to be a branch of the Church, but now there is but one family; the brother's name is Jason Thomas, where we stayed over night.
July 2nd. Here Elder Ashby and I parted, he going to Machynlleth and I going to Tremadoc, Carnarvonshire, where some brethren are laboring as missionaries, distance about 15 miles. On the road I picked up half a sovereign ($2.50), with which afterwards, I bought a pair of breeches which I was in need of. In the evening I ordained John Morgan, my brother, a Priest. The names of the brethren laboring here are Daniel Lewis, William Vaugham, Benjamin Davies and John Morgan.
July 3rd. I stayed here with the brethren; held an outdoor meeting in the evening.
July 4th. I started for Carnarvon town, distance about 20 miles, where I arrived in the evening.
July 6th, Sunday. I attended prayer meeting here in the morning, Sacrament meeteing at 2, and preaching meeting at 6.
July 7th. Attended prayer meeting that evening.
July 8th. Left Carnarvon and went to Rhostre-Owen, Anglesea, distance about 10 miles, where a family of saints lives. Stayed with them over night. Name of the brother is John Hughes, a stone mason by trade.
July 9th. Left here and went to Bangor, distance about 12 miles. Stayed overnight with a Brother William Jones, who lives here. There used to be a branch of the Church here.
July 10th. Left Bangor and arrived at Bethesda in the afternoon, distance about 6 miles, where there is a small branch of the Church; also large slate quarries where thousands of men and boys are employed.
July 12th. Left Bethesda for Llandudno, where I arrived in the evening; distance about 20 miles.
July 13th, Sunday. Attended meetings in the Branch.
July 14th. Attended prayer meeting in the evening.
July 16th. Went to Eglwysbach; attended meeting in the evening.
July 18th. Went to Llanrwst; distance 6 miles. A small branch here.
July 20th, Sunday. Accompanied some of the brethren to a village called Penmachno, distance 9 miles, where we preached at 1 o'clock. Returned to Llanrwst; preached here at night.
July 21st. Left Llanrwst in the morning; arrived in Carnarvon in the evening; distance here at night.
July 23rd. Left Carnarvon for Penmorva (Tremadoc) to visit the brethren already referred to.
July 24th. Preached here in the evening.
July 26th. Left Penmorva and arrived in Carnarvon in the evening.
July 27th, Sunday. Attended prayer meeting in the morning; Sacrament meeting at 2, at which Mary Ann Evans was disfellowshipped from the Church for neglect of duties. Attended meeting in the evening.
July 28th. Attended prayer meeting in the evening.
July 29th. Left Carnarvon; arrived at Brother Hughes', Rhostre-Owen, Anglesea, in the afternoon.
July 31st. Left here in the morning for Bethtesda, distance about 18 miles. Attended meeting in the evening.
August 1st, 1856. Left Bethesda; reached Llandudno at night.
August 2nd. Stayed here; always at Brother and Sister Parry's.
August 3rd. Attended Sacrament meeting at Peter Hughes'; his wife was a member of the Church. It was at this meeting that I made my first attempt at speaking in the English language in public. It was for the benefit of Sister Hughes, who was an English language public. It was for the benefit of Sister Hughes, who was an English woman and did not understand the Welsh tongue. Attended and spoke in meeting in the evening.
August 4th. Stayed here; attended prayer meeting in the evening. After meeting I baptized Peter Hughes (husband of the above Sister Hughes) in the sea.
August 5th. I went by request to Bryndedwydd, the home of Hugh and Grace Jones, distance about 8 miles, to write a letter for them to their daughter in Zion. I stayed here over night.
August 6th. Left Bryndedwydd and went to Eglysbach, distance about 8 miles. Meeting at night.
August 8th. Went to Llanrwst, distance 6 miles.
August 9th. Left Llanrwst and travelled to Carnarvon; distance 28 miles, where I arrived in the evening.
August 10th, Sunday. Attended prayer meeting in the morning; meetings at 2 and at 6.
August 11th. Stayed here. Prayer meeting in the evening.
August 13th. Went to Bethesda.
August 14th. Went to Llandudno; meeting in the evening.
August 16th. Went to Eglwysbach.
August 17th, Sunday. Attended Conference Council meeting in the morning. Sacrament meeting at 2, and preaching out-of-doors in the evening.
August 19th. I went to Pensarn where Brother and Sister John Roberts lived, distance about 4 miles. Before leaving Bryndedwydd, Grace Jones expressed a desire to join the Church. Accordingly, she came to Pensarn, where I baptized and confirmed her in the evening.
August 20th. Went to Llanrwst. Stayed here the 21st and 22nd, waiting for Brother William Davies to make me a pair of shoes.
August 23rd. It rained from morning until 3 p.m., then I started for Carnarvon, distance 28 miles, which I walked all but about 3 miles, arriving in Carnarvon at 10 p.m., very tired.
August 24th, Sunday. Attended prayer meeting in the morning and Sacrament meeting at 2 and preaching meeting in the evening. Blessed Sydney Ann Jones, daughter of Evan and Sydney Jones.
August 25th. Stayed in town. Attended prayer meeting at evening.
August 26th. Went to Brother John Hughes'; Rhostre-Owen, Anglesea.
August 28th. Went to Bethesda.
August 30th. Stayed here.
August 31st, Sunday. Attended and spoke at meetings at 2 and 6.
September 2. Went to Eglwysbach.
September 3rd. Attended prayer meeting in the evening.
September 4th. Went to Llanrwst; at meeting in the evening.
September 6th. Went back to Eglwysbach.
September 7th, Sunday. We held our Quarterly Conference at Eglwysbach. Israel Evans, Counselor to Pres. Daniels of the Welsh Mission, and John Jones, Pastor over the North Wales Conference, were present. At this Conference, at my own request, I was released from presiding over the Conference and Elder William Ajax was put in my place.
September 9th. Went to Carnarvon.
September 10th. Attended meeting here in the evening.
September 11th. Went to Bethesda.
September 12th. Went to Eglwysbach.
September 13th. Went to Llandudno.
September 14th. Attended meetings and spoke at 2 and 6 p.m.
September 15th. I started from Llandudno for Liverpool by steamer, on my way for South Wales. Arrived in Liverpool, afternoon.
September 16th. Left Liverpool on my way to Cardiff, Wales.
September 17th. On the sea, quite seasick.
September 18th. I landed at a place called Pill, six miles from Bristol, in the morning. Here I took steamer for Cardiff, distance about 18 miles. Here I took train for Curmback, Aberdare, where I arrived in the evening. I got lodging at Morgan Jones', Noah Jones' father (an old companion of mine). Went to meeting in the evening.
September 21st, Sunday. Attended meetings at 11, 2 and 6.
September 22nd. After obtaining employment in a coal mine, I commenced to work. My father's home, where I was born and reared, is about 27 miles from here.
September 28th. Attended the Quarterly Conference at Merthyr-Tydfil, distance about 6 miles.
October 10th. On account of my companion in the work (Morgan Jones) being a very cross one, I left the mine and sought employment elsewhere, but failed to obtain any in the neighborhood.
October 14th. I started for Dowlais, distance about 8 miles, to seek employment, where, through the assistance of Brother Thomas Rees, who had been working with me in Anglesea, North Wales, I obtained work and commenced working the next day, the 15th, in a mine called Rhos Las. There is quite a large Branch of the Church in Dowlais. While I stayed here I labored in the Branch, visiting among the Saints, attending meetings and distributing tracts among the world.
November 16th, Sunday. I went to Merthyr-Tydfil to Conference, where Apostle Ezra T. Benson was present. They had some disagreement among themselves. Apostle Benson chastized them rather sharply.
December 28th, Sunday. Attended Quarterly Conference at Merthyr-Tydfil, where I met my brother, John, who had come to see me.
February 23rd, Monday. In the evening Elder Amos M. Musser, who was returning from a missioin in India, lectured on the characteristics of the Hindoos. Brother Musser was very thin in flesh at this time, bearing signs that he had suffered for the necessaries of life while on his mission.
March 3rd. I left Dowlais for Bryncoch, distance about 28 miles, where my brother, John, was working; also my brother-in-law, John H. Davies, where I obtained work in the coal mine.
March 4th. I went to visit my father at his home, Ynys_Ymond, distance from Bryncoch about three miles, then returned and commenced to work in the mine.
March 8th, Sunday. I went to Alltwen, distance about two miles, where there is a Branch of the Church. Attended meetings at 2 and 6 p.m.
March 17th. I left Bryncock for Swansea, Benjamin Davis accompanying me, where I was to take the steamer for Liverpool on my way to America.
March 18th. Staying in Swansea. Went to the Saints' meeting in the evening, where Apostle Benson and others were preaching.
I had to wait in Swansea for the steamer until Sunday, March 22nd, when she started for Liverpool between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. The weather was fine. At 10 o'clock there was a stiff breeze blowing against us. There was a small vessel loaded with coal, with a crew of six hands on board. I suppose that on account of the wind, the little vessel got unmanageable; at least, it was blown against the steamer and was broken all to fragments. As the wind was rather cold, nearly all, if not all, of the passengers were below deck. As soon as I heard the crash I ran up on deck, thinking that the steamer had struck a rock and was sinking, but looking over the side of the steamer, I beheld a few timbers floating a few rods from the steamer--all that were left of the little ship, with two of the crew clinging to them. Three of the six got drownd. The Captain of the little craft jumped on to the steamer when the two came in contact. The steamer stopped as soon as it could and, after picking up the two that were in the sea, went on. The sea got quite rough in the afternoon and nearly all of the passengers got quite seasick. One young man, quite sick like the rest, made the remark, "After all, this is nothing compared with love-sickness."
March 23rd. The sea was quite rough but I was not quite as sick as yesterday. Arrived in Liverpool at 6 p.m.
March 26th. Took my luggage to the ship, George Washington, a sailing vessel, which was to carry us across the Atlantic to Boston. Slept on board.
March 28th, Saturday. The ship left Liverpool at 6 o'clock a.m. There were about 800 saints on board. James P. Park was the President of the company. The company was divided into 4 or 5 wards and a Bishop appointed to preside over each ward, assisted by teachers.
The sea at times was quite rough and there was considerable sickness in the company. I was able to be up and around most all the time and able to render assistance to those that were sick. The cook house took fire one rough day, through the grease from a frying pan being spilled on the stove and communicated to the sails, but through the great energy of the Negro crew, it was extinguished before scarcely any damage was done, excepting for the burning slightly of one or two of the brethren. There were three deaths on board of ship: one elderly Brother, one Sister in child-birth, and one child. We arrived in Boston Monday, the 20th of April, 1857, about 7 o'clock in the morning. There was a sister that died in being removed from the ship.
Before the ship started from Liverpool, Apostle Benson came on board in the evening to preach to us. Among the many things that he told us, was that we would reach Boston in so many days, and it so happened. Another saying was that there had been a number of ships that had left before we did but that we would reach Boston in so many days, and it so happened. Another saying was that there had been a number of ships that had left before we did but that we would reach Boston before them, which also was fulfilled. Another, that there were some in the audience that had no idea how, nor means to reach Zion that year. This also was fulfilled in me, if no one else, for after I paid for a meal in Boston my money was gone - rather an unpleasant condition to be in, in a strange land among strangers.
The way it happened that I was enabled to proceed on my way to Zion was this: There was a sister in the company, rather sickly she was, who got discrouraged about crossing the plains to Utah with a handcart, which she would have had to do if she had gone on. She had paid for her handcart fare in Liverpool. She stayed in Boston, and as she was not going, she gave me the opportunity of going in her stead. Her name was Ann Roberts. She was from Debinghshire, Wales. What became of her after, I do not know.
I had no means to pay the train fare from Boston to Iowa City, which was the outfitting place for the plains. A Sister Grace Jones loaned me enough money (Five Dollars), which I paid back to her after reaching the Valley.
April 24th. We started with the train from Boston for Iowa City in the afternoon. We passed through the following places: Albany, Schenectady, Utica, Amsterdam, Rochester and Buffalo, New York; Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio; Chicago and Rock Island, Illinois; and Davenport, Iowa.
May 1st, Thursday. We reached Iowa City, our destination with the train, in the morning. In the afternoon we moved out to the campground, 2 1/2 miles west of the city. While camping here, I worked in the neighborhood, wherever I could find employment to make a little means.
May 21st. We made our start from camp on our long overland journey. There were about 150 souls in the company. Israel Evans was captain and Benjamin Ashby, assistant. They were returning missionaries from Great Britain and were very kind and considerate toward the company. We had one wagon with two span of mules to haul our tents, cooking utensils, etc.
This year there was another large company of handcarts, Scandinavians, later in the season. There were also two or three wagon companies.
We were allowed 60 lbs. of flour per capita for the journey, some bacon, some dried fruit and some tea. That was from Florence, the old Winter Quarters of former times, 6 miles up the Missouri River from Omaha, which was our final fitting out place.
June 13th, Saturday. After travelling some 300 miles across the State of Iowa, we reached Florence, Nebraska, on the west side of the Missouri River. Nothing of importance occurred on our journey across the State. We had some bad sloughs to cross and had some very heavy rains. The country was then new and thinly settled.
Friday, June 19th. We left Florence on our 1000 mile journey to Salt Lake. We travelled 6 miles today. We crossed the Elk Horn River, which empties into the Platte River.
June 27th, Saturday. We reached Beaver, a new settlement started by the Saints, 100 miles from Florence, which, however, was shortly afterward abandoned. We tarried here over Sunday. Apostle Erastus Snow was present. We had two good meetings. This was on the South Fork of the Platte River.
July 8th. We had come now into the buffalo country along the Platte River bottoms. Today we killed one, which was distributed among the camp. There were large herds of buffaloes to be seen now mostly daily, coming down from the foothills to the Platte River for drink. As there was scarcely any wood along the Platte River, we had to use what was commonly called "buffalo chips", which was the droppings of the buffalo, for fuel to cook with, which made fair fire when dry, but as it rained very hard, at times, that made the "chips" wet so that they would not burn. Then we were liable to go hungry.
Captain Evans traded the mules that we started with from Iowa for oxen, as they were found to be more suitable for our slow travelling, but on the night of the 11th, they left us, going off with the buffaloes. We never saw them after. We were now left without means to move our wagon outfit, but as Brother William Walker, a returning missionary with an ox train was camping not far away, our captain obtained a yoke of oxen from him.
July 14th. Today the road was through heavy sand, and the day being very warm, a few got so exhausted for want of water that they had to lay down until water was brought to them from a spring not very far distance ahead.
July 15th, Wednesday. Was a very warm day and the road sandy part of the way. A Brother by the name of James Reader, died of consumption in the evening.
July 16th. We buried Brother Reader.
July 25th, Saturday. We camped opposite Chimney Rock.
July 31st, Friday. We crossed the River Platte, from the north to the south side, about 2 miles above Fort Laramie, having travelled nearly 500 miles along the Platte River. We are now half way between Florence and Salt Lake. We are finding out now that the amount of food allowed us at the start was not nearly enough for the journey. We are mixing pig-weeds and berries with the flour to help it out. The meat is about gone.
This year there were several settlements started between Salt Lake City and Florence, under the direction of Prest. Brigham Young for the protection and convenience of the overland mail which was about to be established; but false reports were being circulated about the people of Utah, that they were getting hostile to the general government, burning records, etc., which induced President Buchanan to order an army to be sent to Utah to put down the supposed insurrection. This broke up the new settlements and the brethren were called home. The most eastward of these settlements was on Horseshoe Creek, some 30 miles west of Fort Laramie. Here were 15 brethren from the Valley, building houses, etc.
August 3, Monday. We arrived at Horseshoe Creek and the brethren, having a plentiful supply of flour on hand, which they brought with them from the Valley, we received from them a supply, enough to last us till we should arrive at the next settlement, which was a salvation unto us, as our supply was nearing the end. What would have become of us, if these settlements had not been on the road, of which we knew nothing when we left Florence. It would be difficult to say, but quite likely it would have been similar or worse with us than it was with the handcart imigrants of the year before, when a great number died of hunger and cold. Some distance in advance of us was the noted company of emigrants to California, who were massacred at the Mountain Meadows, southern Utah. It was a large, rich company. Behind us, in the distance, was Buchanan's army.
August 4th. We left Horseshoe Creek, much rejoicing in our fresh supply of flour.
August 8th, Saturday. We arrived at Deer Creek, 80 miles west of Laramie, where there are 60 brethren making a settlement. Nathaniel V. Jones is in charge.
August 9th, Sunday. We rested here. Had two meetings.
August 10th, Monday. Stayed here all day; dance in the evening.
August 11th, Tuesday. Stayed here.
August 12th, Wednesday. After receiving a fresh supply of flour, we left.
August 18th, Tuesday. We arrived at Devil's Gate, distance from Salt Lake 300 miles. Here are about 18 brethren from the Valley making a settlement.
August 19th, Wednesday. We rested here.
August 20th, Thursday. After getting some flour, we left.
August 26th, Wednesday. We crossed over the south pass of the Rocky Mountains and camped at the Pacific Springs. Here the water begins to flow to the west. Here we met and camped with a company of 75 brethren sent out from the Valley, armed, to watch the movements of the army that was coming behind us.
August 31st, Monday. We crossed Green River on a ferry boat.
September 3, Thursday. We arrived at Fort Bridger, distance from Salt Lake City 113 miles. Here we received a supply of flour, potatoes and beef, brought down from the settlement at Fort Supply, a few miles out from "Bridger."
September 7, Monday. We crossed Bear River. After coming down Echo Canyon, we crossed Weber River on the 8th, 40 miles from the City.
September 11, Friday. We arrived in Salt Lake City, about 2 p.m.
It took us 5 months and 15 days to reach Salt Lake City after leaving Liverpool: 22 days on the sea; 7 days on the train from Boston to Iowa City; 23 days from Iowa City to Florence, with handcarts, 300 miles; 85 days from Florence to Salt Lake City with handcarts, 1000 miles.
On the whole, I enjoyed myself very much on this journey. There were from 4 to 6 persons to a handcart. There were 6 at ours: Griffith Roberts and wife; Sister Jones, a widow woman; Phebe Jones, Mary King, both unmarried, and myself. The able-bodied men carried the sisters and children across the streams, and being at this time in the prime of life, I did a good share of it, sometimes haaving a sister on each shoulder.
My brother, William, had emigrated the year before, also with the handcart, and settled in Shambip, or Johnson Settlement, Tooele County, about 50 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. His wife, Catharine, being in the City on my arrival, I went out with her to their home. We left the City September 13th and arrived in Shambip, which is a new small settlement in Rush Valley, where ex-Apostle Luke Johnson presides, on the 14th, where I met my brother William, my cousin Evan G. Morgan, and Griffith Davies.
The people, as a rule, at this time, were in poor circumstances, short of clothing and food, but happy and contented. I commenced to work as soon as I found employment, such as digging potatoes, hauling firewood, etc., receiving for pay wheat or potatoes, as there was scarcely any money in the country. One bushel of wheat, or two of potatoes, was the price of a day's work; wheat considered worth two dollars and potatoes worth one dollar, per bushel. I helped my brother, William, to make adobies to make him a small house, and occasionally worked for Robert Miller, a blacksmith.
I got an opportunity to ride into the City, where I attended the Semi-Annual Conference, October 6th and 7th.
About October 20th, this year, a young man by the name of Joseph Vernon, who was harvesting grain on an isolated farm owned by one, William Coats, some 18 miles south of Shambip, was killed by the Indian Tabi Wepup, also called Judge Brochus. A company of men from Tooele City went after the body and brought it to Shambip, where he was buried. He had no relatives in the country. A town was built, in after years, and named after him, Vernon.
October 25th. I went with a few of the brethren to the farm where Vernon was killed to gather, thresh and clean the wheat that was harvested, and brought back to Shambip.
November 26th, Thursday. A little baby girl was born to Catharine, my brother William's wife, their first child, and named Sarah.
Through the month of December, I did not find much to do.
January 10th, Sunday. I was re-baptized by my brother, William. This was required of emigrants at this time, after their arrival in the Valley. I was confirmed by Brother Francis D. St. Jeor.
Because I had no ink, I discontinued keeping a daily journal. From this time on the record will be from memory.
Some time in the month of January, 1858, Brother Ormus E. Bates was visiting at Luke Johnson's. He wanted to hire a hand, and being told of me by Brother Johnson, he sent for me. I went to see him and engaged to work for him for one year for $12.00 per month. He said that was all that he could afford to pay me, and as I could not find anything to do, I thought that I had better accept of the the offer. He lived in Tooele Valley.
In the month of June, the Army, after being kept back all winter by our people at Fort Bridger and vicinity, were allowed to enter the Valley, after matters were adjusted between the Mormon leaders and Government Commissioners, and were assigned a place for their quarters in Cedar Valley, about 45 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The place afterwards was named Camp Floyd, in honor of Secretary of War, Floyd.
Prior to the coming into the Valley of the army, the Saints in the Northern settlements were counselled to move south to Utah County, so as to be in a body together, so as to be the more able to protect themselves in case the army should be hostile. But I did not go farther than the Point of the Mountain, some 15 miles southwest of the City. I was left there in charge of Bates' stock while the family moved south. A few others were there also. After matters were settled and peace declared, the people returned to their homes.
I continued to work for Brother Bates until the month of August, when, on account of the low wages that I was getting, I left and went to Camp Floyd to work for the soldiers, where a great many of the brethren were now working, such as making adobies to build quarters for the troops, putting up firewood, etc. The brethren were making good wages which they were greatly in need of.
While at Bates, I was very seriously hurt by a large mare striking me on top of the head while being shod. What I earned at Bates amounted to very little besides my board.
After working at making adobies for a few days, I hired to the Government to help haul hay for the Camp, earning $40.00 per month and board. After working here about two months, the work stopped, then I returned to Rush Valley to my brother's home. I now got employment at herding government mules in Rush Valley, then in Tintic Valley south of Rush Valley, getting $40.00 per month. Some time toward Spring, I quit herding and returned to Rush Valley, where I remained until Spring.
This Spring news came of very rich discovery of gold at Pike's Peak near where Denver now is, and like many others, thinking of making a bit "rise", my cousin Evan G. Morgan, William Thomas, Robert Roberts and myself fitted up a team of three yoke of oxen and a wagon loaded with provisions. We started out from Rush Valley for the new Eldorado on the 10th of May, 1860. We reached Fort Bridger on the 23rd May. Here we heard some unfavorable reports from the new gold fields and determined to go no farther.
There was a company of soldiers camping at the Fort at this time and Judge Carter had a contract from the government to furnish them grain and vegetables, so we obtained work from the Judge to plow and put in grain at Fort Supply, an old Mormon settlement about 12 miles south of the Fort, getting $5.00 per acre. We did very well here.
July 3rd. We left Fort Bridger and started out in a northwesterly direction over an old California emigrant road, with the intention of buying and trading cattle from and with the emigrants to California and Oregon. The emigration was very heavy this year. We travelled until we reached Smith's Fork on the Bear River, where later Cokeville was built. Here we remained for some time, my cousin and I trading.
July 21st. We started with our cattle for Green River over the Sublet Cut-off, some quite steep mountains to cross. The Indians were very hostile this year. They massacred a great number of emigrants but we escaped unmolested. We traded with the emigrants as we met them on the road.
July 26th. We reached Green River, where we stayed a few days, trading, then left for Salt Lake City, homeward bound. About the 4th of September we arrived in Salt Lake City, and a few days later, in Shambip, Rush Valley, after being away about 4 months. The balance of this year, 1860, and the beginning of 1861, I engaged in such employment as I could find.
In the Spring of 1861, I was chosen to go to Florence on the Missouri River to bring emigrants across the plains, driving a team of 4 yoke of oxen and a wagon. There were 4 companies or trains this season, 40 teams of 4 yoke of oxen to a team and a Captain over each company. Our Captain was Ira Eldredge of Sugar House Ward. A very good, kind Captain he proved to be.
We started some time in the month of April. Our progress was necessarily slow, the grass yet being very scarce. Nothing very noteworthy happened on our way down to Florence, where we arrived the latter end of June or the beginning of July. After staying here for 4 or 5 weeks, we loaded up with emigrants and their effects and started on our return journey. In coming down we brought flour for the emigrants coming back with us, depositing it in stations at various points along the road. We arrived on our return in Salt Lake City some time in September.
October 3rd, 1861. I married Mary Parry, who was born, I think, in the year 1840 in Denbighshire, Wales and imigrated this year. Elder Robert Miller, who was acting Bishop of the Shambip Branch, performed the ordinance. Mary gave birth to a boy on January 30, 1863. She died February 7th, in childbed, and was buried in the Tooele old graveyard. The child was named John Parry Morgan. He also died February 23rd, 1863 and was buried in the same grave with his mother.
May 1st, 1863. I married Marharet Roberts, Robert Miller performing the ordinance. Margaret was the daughter of Hugh and Mary Roberts. She was born May 17, 1841 in Eglwysbach, Denbighshire. She gave birth to a boy Sept. 12, 1864, whom we named Hugh Evan Morgan, whom I blessed October 23rd. He died Oct. 30, 1896, at Almy, Wyoming.
In April of this year (1864), I left Shambip in company with some others, to go to Bear Lake Valley, which was then in Rich County, Utah, but afterward Bear Lake County, Idaho. This valley was now being settled under the direction of Apostle Charles C. Rich, a very fatherly, kind man. We had to go around by Soda Springs on account of there being too much snow in the mountains to take the common road. I left my wife in Shambip.
I settled on North Creek; the settlement afterwards was named Liberty. I took up about 30 acres of land, put in about 5 acres of grain, helped to make a water ditch and fenced the land. It being a frosty year, the grain did not mature. My provisions being exhausted, I had to subsist on bran and carrots for some ten days, which, however, proved healthy, but not so palatable.
Levi Hammond was appointed by Apostle Rich the first President of the Branch. He chose Robert Miller and myself as his counsellors.
Some time in October, I left Bear Lake for Shambip, to stay over winter, where I found my wife with a baby about one month old. During Fall and Winter, I did some treshing with the flail, getting wheat for pay, as well as other odd jobs as I could find to do.
April 1st, 1865. My wife and I received our endowments in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City. Some time later I started for Bear Lake with the few stock that I had, leaving my wife and child in Rush Valley for the summer. Nothing of any note occurred on the journey. Improved my place through the summer. In the fall I returned to Rush Valley. In May, President Brigham Young and a large party visited the Valley and as the road through the Canyon was very bad we put our oxen to their carriages and pulled them up to the summit.
October, I started with my family and what little household goods we had for Bear Lake, having two yoke of oxen for my team. Before we reached the end of our journey there were about twenty teams of us. We had to help one another by doubling teams to get up the dugway, the last team getting up by moonlight. We camped for the night by a little spring, in a foot of snow. We reached our destination next day, Novebmer 1st, 1865.
1866. This year the Indians throughout the territory were very troublesome, committing many depredations; so much so, that it was deemed wise and necessary for the smaller towns to move into the larger ones for safety. We in Liberty moved to Paris, seven miles south, where we stayed about three weeks, when Apostle Rich informed us that if we would go and build a fort at Liberty for our protection in case the Indians should become troublesome, we could move back to our homes. We built the fort and moved our families back. The Indians, however, did give us no trouble in this valley at all. My wife had a great deal of sickness this summer.
1867. In the forepart of September (the 11th), President Brigham Young, with a party of about 75, visited the valley and held a Conference in Paris.
September 12th, 1967[sic]. My wife gave birth to another boy about 8:30 p.m., whom we named David Roberts Morgan, whom I also blessed the 29th of the same month. Baptized July 2nd, 1876 by Hymas, confirmed same date.
October: I went to Salt Lake City with some barley and butter. I was from home about two weeks. When I got home I found my wife and baby sick. Mother Clark and her daughter, Ann Hale, had been very kind to them.
In the winters about all the men were engaged in getting timber out of the canyon.
1868. This year was very frosty. Most of the potatoes were killed and much of the grain injured by frost and grasshoppers. In October I started for Salt Lake City with some barley and butter. The Union Pacific Railroad being built and approaching Ogden, produce was high and in great demand. I received $1.30 per bushel for barley and 60 cents and 65 cents per lb. for butter.
The winter of 1868-69 was very mild. As I kept no journal from this time on, it is much of a blank -- attending to my avocation of farming and raising a few cattle; getting timber out in the winter time.
1870. This year a number of families from Morgan, Weber County, and Grantsville, Tooele County, moved in.
On July 27th of this year my third son, William Roberts Morgan, was born; blessed by P.C. Merrill. This year, in the fall, I was called to Superintend the first Sunday School in Liberty.
Along through this period, the wheat crop was injured, more or less, and so were the potatoes, besides by a visitation of grasshoppers occasionally. On account of a short crop at this time a number of us went over to Gentile Valley to make railroad ties to obtain means to buy our winter's bread-stuff. We worked until it was time to return home; it was in the fall of the year. We bought our flour at the Weston Mill, Cache Valley, and started for home. All went well with us until we reached the foot of the dugway going up the mountain, where a ludicrous, yet serious, incident happened. I had a very baulky ox, and when we started to climb the hill, he balked; he would not pull, and we could not prevail upon him to change his mind. I thought to myself, as there are more ways than one of doing things, I will make you take this flour up in another way, but I found out before we got through with the experiment that I had been reckoning without my host. I unhitched them from the wagon, gathered a few ropes, and tied two sacks at the two ends of one rope and two sacks at the ends of another rope. I then got some of the brethren to help get them on the oxen, a pair on each ox. The oxen, to their credit may it be said, stood quietly. After a good deal of tugging, we got the sacks in position, then started the caravan. But instead of starting slow and easy, as we thought they would under their heavy load, they started like wild horses the first time ridden, bucking and
a-bucking. Every jump they made the ropes tightened around the sacks, until very soon two of the sacks broke in two, scattering the flour on the ground. I thought then that it was high time to stop the performance, so we stopped the play. We took the other sacks off and gathered up what flour we could and put the sacks in the wagon and left it there and drove the oxen up to the summit to a camping place for the night. By the time all got into camp it was getting dusk. We were now about 12 miles from home. I unyoked the oxen and was starting to eat supper when I noticed that they were making for the road pointing toward home. I got up and went to head them back, but as I tried to go around them, they started on a trot. I kept after them with the hope of passing them, but at every attempt that I made, they increased their speed, until it got too dark to try to pass them; then followed after them, reaching home about 11 p.m. Next morning (Sunday) I borrowed a pair of horses from one of the neighbors and went after my wagon, arriving home in the afternoon in good season.
December 12, 1873. My daughter, Sara Jane, was born; blessed Jan. 25, 1874 by me; baptized April 22nd, 1882, by James Paulsen; confirmed April 23, 1882, by William A. Hymas.
My daughter, Hannah, was born March 11, 1878; blessed May 19, 1878 by me. Baptized May 23, 1886, by William A. Hymas.
John Samuel Morgan, my youngest son, was born February 20, 1882; blessed April 30th, 1882, by Bishop E. N. Austin; baptized May 18, 1890 by John Roberts. With the exception of Hugh Evan, all were born in Liberty, Bear Lake County, Idaho.
September 8th, 1883. I was ordained an High Priest by George Osmond and at the same time set apart as a member of the High Council of the Stake, to fill a vacancy that existed in the Council, which position I held until I was released in April, 1889, to go on a mission to England.
I left Salt Lake City April 10th for my mission, going over the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, in company with about 20 other Elders that were going on missions to different parts. The scenery over the Rocky Mountains by this railroad is grand and awful. We passed through Pueblo, Colorado. We passed through the following towns in the State of Kansas: Larned, Great Bend, Ellsworth, Sterling, Nickeson, Huchingson, Newton, Peabody, Florence, Strong, Emporia, Ossage, Carbondale, Topeka, Lawrence, then Kansas City. From Kansas City we went to Davenport, Iowa, distance from Kansas City, 320 miles. Here we crossed the Mississippi into Rock Island, Illinois. Passed through Joliet, arrived at Chicago, distance from Kansas City, 500 miles. Then travelled through part of Indiana and Ohio and into the State of New York. Arrived in Buffalo, where we took train for Niagara Falls, distance from Buffalo, 22 miles. After staying a few hours around the Falls, we returned to Buffalo. Then started for New York City, distance from Buffalo, 424 miles. Arrived in New York City, distance from Chicago, 1000 miles. I visited the great Brooklyn Bridge, Barnum Museum and other places of interest. Quite a few more missionaries just arrived from Salt Lake, over another route, making in all 56 of us.
April 16th. In the afternoon we all boarded the Steamship Wyoming of the Guion Line, which was to carry us to Liverpool. It was a very slow boat.
April 26th. Arrived at Liverpool at 8 p.m. We had a fair voyage. I was troubled but very little with seasickness, but there were quite a few of the brethren sick.
April 27th. At the Office, 42 Islington, Abel John Evans from Lehi, Robert Harmon from Millcreek, and myself received our appointments to labor in Wales. Apostle George Teasdale was President of the European Mission at this time but he being in Salt Lake on business at the time, Brother Duncan McAlister had charge of the Office in his absence.
April 28th, Sunday. Attended meeting at Liverpool Branch.
April 29th. Left Liverpool in company with Elders Harmon and Evans, they going direct to Merthyr-Tydvil, while I went to Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, to hunt for genealogy for Sister Piggot, Bloomington.
April 30th. Left Welshpool for Merthyr-Tydvil, where I arrived in the afternoon in the Mission Office. Elder Samuel Brough is President of the Mission. I received my appointment to labour in the Swansea Valley, Glamorganshire.
May 1st. Left Merthyr-Tydvil for my field of labor. Reached my father's home, near Pontardive. He is still alive, aged 88 years.
I laboured up and down the Valley from Swansea to Ystradgynlais, distance about 14 miles. Proselyting was at a low ebb in Wales at this time, much owing to one William Jarman, an apostate from Salt Lake lecturing against the Saints, telling all manner of falsehoods. In some places while he was around, it was not safe for the Elders to be known.
While I was on my mission I distributed many thousands of tracts and sold some books, and translated two tracts, Morgan's No.1 and Nicholson's Exclusive Salvation, into the Welsh Langauge. I had for my travelling companions Noah Williams from Cache Valley, and John D. Williams from Kanara, Southern Utah. I gathered all my genealogy that I could get access to.
My father died January 14, 1891, leaving a small state. He was buried in the Alltwen Cemetery, where my mother and two brothers were buried. My father had been blind about 12 years.
July 27th, 1891. Being at Neath, I received a letter from the Liverpool Office that I was released from my mission to return home, after being in the field 27 months.
July 31st. I left Neath for Liverpool. Arrived there in the evening.
August 1st. Took my baggage to the Steamship Wyoming, the same ship that I crossed on to England, on which I was to return. We left the dock at 8 p.m. in the evening. There were four Elders on board besides myself and three Sisters: James Petersen, George Godfrey, John Hafen and John Coles, who also had his wife and child along. There were also two sisters on board, one Mary Alleman (I think), who emigrated from Liverpool to New York last May but was deported and set back to Liverpool because she admitted that she believed in polygamy. The other sister was Mary _________. We had rough weather for 2 or 3 days. The rest was pretty fair.
When we reached New York it was very hot. We arrived at New York Aug. 12th at 8 a.m. Stayed in New York till 4 p.m., same day, when we took passage on the Steamer Wyanook, of the Old Dominion Line. The accommodations on board were miserable. We arrived at Norfolk, Virginia on the 14th, 4 p.m.
August 14th. We left Norfolk on the Norfolk and Western Railroad for Memphis, Tennessee. We travelled through the followint [sic] States: Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. The train crossed the Mississippi River on a ferry boat from Memphis to the State of Arkansas, then through Arkansas, Kansas City and through Denver and Cheyenne and on th [sic] U .P. Railroad. Change train at Granger for Montpelier, where I arrived about midnight, August 19th, where my wife and my two sons were waiting for me. Reached home same night. Found my family well and everything in good condition.
