Williams, John J - Journal
JOURNAL OF JOHN J
WILLIAMS
Transcribed by
Marilyn L. Thompson ? 1997
Notes:
1. JJW often, in his writing, left the "h"
off the front of a word beginning with the letter "h" and often put
an "h" on the front of a word that began with a vowel. Examples
are "aven't" for "haven't" and "Elda" for "Hilda".
2. Names that I could not recognize were spelled as
JJW spelled them.
3. I added punctuation to the writing in an effort to
clarify it. Much of his narrative reads like one long sentence connected
by the word "and".
4. There no doubt are mistakes in my transcription,
but every effort was made to faithfully and accurately transcribe this journal
to show the character of the man who wrote it and to preserve this bit of
history for the generations that follow.
INTRODUCTION
This is a transcription of a hand written journal
written by John J Williams, who was born in Micheldane, Gloustershire, England,
January 5, 1834. His mother was Eliza Williams, an unmarried daughter of
George and Pressillia Williams.
John J Williams went to work in the coal mines at about age ten. He lived
at home and walked to work for about two years and then went to lodge at a
place closer to the mines, and from that time on he was on his own.
The life sketch that he wrote tells of his early work and travels. He
tells how his conversion to the church came about. His first marriage
ended sadly when his wife deserted him. He was rescued from the depths of
sin and despair into which he had plunged as a result by a compassionate church
member.
John married again, and he tells of the hope and the struggles of he and his
wife to get the means to come to Utah.
Shortly after they finally arrived in Utah and
settled down into their home in the Millcreek
area, his second wife died. Once again John was alone.
After the death of his second wife, John moved to Taylorsville.
There he met a widow lady, Harriet Williams, who had emigrated from Wales. As
they became better acquainted, they decided that they might as well get
married. She had three sons, Joseph, Ezra and Parley. John
commented that they were good boys.
The day to day journal begins when John tells of being called to England on a
mission 17 April 1891. Thus was written a day to day account of the
labors of one of the early day missionaries. He was released from his
missionary labors in Wales
11 January 1893, and sailed for America
25 January 1893.
From his mission he tells of his return home and the day to day living of
people in early day Utah.
He mentions attending the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple, the funeral of Wilford Woodruff,
the division of the Salt Lake Stake, and various other events, including some
temple work that John and Harriet did.
While many things are omitted that might have been mentioned in the journal, it
is a faithful first person account of daily life in early day Utah in a church and family setting.
Through the journal is revealed the strength, goodness, and character of John.
J Williams. He stopped writing when the last pages of his journal were filled.
He died about a year later.
His last words, dated Sunday, January 20, 1901, "The time 'as passed away
very peaceable and are enjoying good health, and as I am at the end of the book
I must quit. It's now Feb. 4th and all's well with us"
JOURNAL OF JOHN J
WILLIAMS
Family record Jan. 12, 1846
George Williams, the grandfather of John J Williams was borned about 1770 at
Weston, Herefordshire. He was a farm laborer and an old settler of that
place. He died about 1835 at Weston, Herefordshire, England.
My grandmother was borned at a place called Frume, Herefordshire, England
about 1772. Her name was Pressila Williams by marriage. I don't
know her maiden name. Their family consisted of Gorge, Sariah, John,
James and Eliaza Williams. And John J Williams was the son of Eliaza
Williams born in a town called Micheldan, Gloustershire,
England Jan. 5,
1834. My father been married before I was born to another woman. So
I took upon myself the name of my mother's maiden name because we did not know
my father's right name.
But I was brought up in the town of Midheldane
and a place by the name of Edgehills near Micheldan until I was about 10 years
of age, about 1844, when I went to work in the mines at a pit called the Winer,
that being the name it was known by. I walked from Edghill, a distance of
four miles, every morning and night and I had to be at the pit at 6 o'clock and
had to work until 6 at night and many times I have been so tired at night that
I would lie down on the side of the road and go to sleep.
I worked that way and walked on and back about 2 years, when I left my mother's
home and got lodging closer to the work and from that time on I had to keep
myself. It was somewheres in the winter of 1846. But by the
blessing of the Almighty I got a good motherly woman, and her husband was very
good to me. I was working for him and and his brother.
I remember one morninng we were not working. I was playing around the
engine house with other boys, that I got down in a hole where the flywheel goes
around, to hide from the other boys, and just as I was there he came along in
time to save me from being crushed to death by the wheel going around.
This was in the same year.
Well, I worked for them about two years (until) 1848, after which I got work at
the Edgehills, an iron mine or iron ore pit. Worked there until I was
about 15 years of age or 16, which should make it about the year 1849 or 1860
when a notion came into my head for to go to Wales. I didn't know which
way Wales
lay but I started out to go there. And instead of going the right way, I
was going away from Wales.
I was about a month going, which if I had known the way I could of went in
about 2 days but I got there all the same.
The first place I came to in Wales
was Blaenavon. It was not long before I got work. I was taken pity
on by a man named Richard Kaire. He was borned in the forest of Dane,
as it was called, and I got work with his son Thomas Kaire in the hill pits
(of) Blaenavon and got lodging with a family named Hale. It was the
daughter of Richard Kire and sister to Thomas his son. Well I worked for
Thomas Kire from that until I got a stall or a place of my own.
To get the coal by the ton I had 2 shillings per ton. When I got to work
on my own hock, as the boys used to call it, I thought I was a man, as when I
was working for myself I got about 1 pound three to four shillings per
week. When I was working on wages I only had 11 shillings per week.
Well I stopped in Blanavon for about two years when a notion took hold of me to
go to the forest
of Dane Gloustershire.
Anyhow I was about 17 years of age at that time. I got work at a place
called Light More or Chrosha,s Works, as it was sometimes called and whilst
there I went and visited mother and my step father. They was suprised to
see me as they had not seen me since I left home about 1846. Of course
they hardly knew me at first sight but they soon came to understand how I was.
I shall remember the year 1853 because it was that year that I took a wife on
the 3 of May. Her name was Harriett Peryen. We was married about 2
years when I was working with a young man by the name of Hyrum S. ... and he
was a Latter-Day Saint. The men we was working for was Methodist
preachers and he was at this young man all the time, nearly, so I had to take
sides with this boy for he was only about 15 years of age and it seemed
something strange for a preacher to always (be) attacking a boy so I tried to
take his part. As the men was a running Joseph Smith the prophet down, of
course I had to defend him, although I knew nothing about him. Yet there
was something that prompted me to defend the lad which I knew very little
about.
But the result was that both of us was turned away and in that time this
confrontation was going on the lad bore his testimony to me many times that he
knew Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and it seems to stick to me and of
course he invited me and wife to their meetings which we did on one Sunday
afternoon and was convinced it was the gospel of Christ, if there was Christ,
for at that time I did not think much of God nor devil but in the Monday
following I came to the knowledge that there was a devil for just before the
elders came my wife was taken in a fit or something of the kind and it
was all I could do to hold her and I remember very well as soon as the elders
came and laid their hands on her that she got up all right, which gave me to
understand that there was some power with those men that I knew nothing
about. But before the meeting was out I had another testimony that there
was such a power as a devil or that Satan's hosts was let loose that night, for
the stones against the door and window, but we finished our meeting and the
next morning we had to leave the house but we soon got another one.
On the next Monday night one week after the meeting afore said we got baptized
by Elder John Philips in a pond called the Dame in the forest
of Cane Gloustershire, England, Cheltenham
conference. It was about the year 1855, and confirmed by John Philips and
Elder Thomas Morgan at the Woodssd Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints, and was called to the office of a teacher about two weeks
after at a conference held at Cheltenham.
Elder Philips walked abvout 24 or 25 miles to go to that conference and the same
to come back and at the next Suunday meeting was ordained by Elders John
Philips and Thomas Morgan and appointed to labor as a teacher in that branch
and I labored there about a year.
But as I was spotted for being a Latter-Day Saint and could not get work and as
I would rather be in Wales I left that branch and went to Wales to a branch of
the church at Abersychan, Monmouthshire about 1856. I soon got work with
a man by the name of John Evans and also lodged with them but when they came to
know I was a Saint there was no work but I continued to lodge with and I soon
got work in the Vartige at the new pits, as it was called.
But as I was young in the gospel and had not much experience John Evans was
making an inroad into my faith and I did not go to the meetings that was held
at Abersychan about two mile, but thanks be to the name of our Heavenly Father,
He sent one of His elders one Sunday morning to the house of this John Evans
and they had it up and down. But I could see that the elder got the best
of the talk. But that put an end to our staying there as he was a
Wesleyan Methodist but myself and wife were tired of being there so we got
place to stay with a family of Latter-Day Saints called Evan Morgan a few doors
away.
This Elder's name was Toamas Wilbeat, an iron inspector at the British Iron
Works, Aberrychan, Monmouthshire. And of course (we) went to meetings
with him after we had dinner. And from that time on I went to meeting and
put one of the teachers of the Talywain and Vartige districts. And I
labored in that capacity for quite awhile.
I was called to the office of a priest in the Aaronic priesthood. At that
time I had an impediment in my speech. I could not talk plain but I
continues to labor in those districts for about a year, visiting the Saints and
going from house to house visiting and leaving tracts and at that time there
was a tract of Orson Pratt's called "Faith, Repentance, and Baptism"
and so myself and wife started out with 8 each.
We tracted the Vartieg and Talywain and Conmavon. I don't think there was
a house in those places but what we called at, but before we was through we had
an armful of tracts each to pack around. We had to take 8 of each kind
and we had to keep a count of those that took them and that refused them and
give account every two weeks. And sometimes we would be out at 7 o'clock
on Sunday morning after a weeks hard work and I can say that it was among the
happiest days of my life. It was about the years 1858 or 9.
And after those things had passed I was called to the office of an elder and
ordained under the hand of David B. Dilley and Elder and Lusier Bowien,
president of the branch. Elder Dilley being mouth and he promised me that my
tongue should be loosed and that I should speak with ease and that the
impediment should go and not return if faithful and sent me out of the council
with Elder Henry Bywater on Talywain to preach. It was a pretty hard task
but I spoke for a long time and was not stopped once in my speech and from that
time on I know there is power in the priesthood for which I thank our Father in
Heaven for His great mercies to his poor, weak mortals here below. I
praise His Holy Name. I was ordained about 1860 and the same year was put
to preside over Blanavan Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, but I was not there long because I was stopped working.
Although I got work with this Thomas Care or Kare it was something strange but
never-the-less true. The first time I worked for him he was as good as a
boss could be but what is the matter now? Why, I am a Latter-Day Saint
now. That's what's the matter! I fancy I can see him now, coming
into my place where I was working, full of the Old Nick and almost foaming at
his mouth and the first words was, "Art thou a Latter-Day Saint?" and
I dropped my pick and asked, Why?" and what he wanted to know for
and if I was, had not I as much right to be a Saint as he had to be a Wesleyan,
and of course we had it up and down on the principles of the gospel until he
got too mad to hardly speak. But the testimony of Jesus Christ (is) hard
but I had to leave the work but that was not the worst of it. He sent around
to all the other bosses to not give me work so I searched for work for a long
time before I found out the cause. Then I had to leave Blanavan as there
was not many Saints there. At that there was one of the elders from
Abersychan Branch on Sundays to meet with Saints.
And there I had my first son born. My wife had a hard time of it and
being so far from the mines I had to move from there as the man I was working for
was a poor man and was working an old mine that had been thrown up and did not get
on very well.
The next place I went to was Rumney Monmouthshire but didn't stay there
long. I had to work on wages that I did not like so my wife wanted to go
to her home at a place called Westburey, Gloustershire, England and I stayed
and worked a little longer after which I went to the Forest of Dane and got
work and so was not long before she joined me there.
There was a nice little branch of the church presided over by Elder Samuly
Morgan but did not stay long in the Forest of Dane after our visit was over,
and another thing, I did not like the work in the forest as well as I did in
Wales so I left the Forest and went to Wales to a place called Ebbenvale
Monmouthshire. Got work in the old forge pit under a boss by the name of
Thomas Edwards.
In a few weeks my wife came to Ebbenvale and joined that branch, Philip Lowes
being president at that time. (I think I made a mistake, it was James F.
Walters as was president and not Philip Lowes.) Well I worked there quite
awhile and was put teacher of that branch and can truly say we had a good
time. The spirit of God was enjoyed very much in that branch. There
was a good deal of preaching at that time which put life into the heart of the
Elders.
I worked hard. I was trying to save enough money to go to Utah. I had one of
Brother Walter's sons, James Janes working for me at that time. About the
year 1863 Elder Walters started for Utah
and then Philip Lowes presided over the Ebbenville branch and I still labored
in that branch as teacher. I fancy that I can see myself and companion
going from house to house to gather tithing and emigration means and Sunday
morning we would be out bright and early to finish what we did not do on
Saturday. Life seemed a pleasure engaged in the work of the Lord.
I was trying to get means to go to Utah
which I put quite a bit in the fund towards our emigration. And it seemed
that Satan knew what we was about for he or some other power turned the boss
and the fireman against me so I had to leave Ebbenvale and went to a place, the
Six Bells, about ten miles from Ebbenvale.
The president of that branch was a timber man at that works and was a little
favored so the elders in that branch had a good showing through him but he soon
came to the Valley. But whilst I had a chance I saved almost enough to
send my wife and two children and borrowed enough to bring them to Salt Lake.
I think it was 9 pounds a head that year. Anyhow it was in the year
1866. They came in the ship "John Bright", the last that
brought the Saints over in a sailing ship and of course I had to stop behind to
try and pay what I had borrowed which took quite a bit but that I would of not
cared about if she had of written to me but she only sent only one letter and
that was from New York and a very short and cold one at that. And so that
was the last time I saw my wife and children was (when they) went from the
Weayn South Wales Monmouthshire. The children's name was John Frederick
Williams and the girl's name was Henrietta (?) Williams. I can't tell the
year they was born to be sure of it. I could not hear anything from
them. I got down hearted and took to rambling about the country from
place. I was not contented anywhere and I took to drinking and finally
got out of the church and while I was out I tramped to Saint Elines and
Lankershire England and from there I came back to Wales and went to Rhondda
Valley, South Wales and worked at a place called William's Pits and got very
good wages. But I could not be contented so I quit working there and
started back to Ebbn Valley Monmouthshire. But I didn't get work as ready
as I did some times but after trying a while I got wages to work nights but I
was spending all I made and pawned all the clothes I had for drink. So I
was gone pretty low and the more I thought about the children and wife the more
I gave way to that wicked one who likes to draw the children of men to
destruction.
I worked nights for that man. His name was William Williams. He
lived in Coalers Row Ebbn Valley, and lodged with him for about
two month, when one pay night an Elder by the name of Thomas Hopkings, he came
and hunted me up. Of course he had to go into the saloon to find me but
he was determined to find me and at last he came across me.
The gentle way he approached me I shall never forget, although I was (fesh?)
with beer he came and sat down by my side and talked like a father to his
son. And after he talked awhile about the Saints he got me interrested in
his talk and as I suppose he could see that he had me where he wanted me so
then he got me to go home with him. I went, and the next day was Sunday.
I went to meeting and the Saints seemed to be pleased to see me at the meeting
so I soon left lodging with those that was not in the Church and went and lived
with those that was in the Church. And I began to pay my tithing and take
the Star and so on.
I went to lodge with Thomas Hopkings and he let me work with him, for all he
had a son working with him. We had to work 3 in one place when one or two
at farthest was working in one stall as the places was cold and I don't think
there is one out of every 20 that would have done as he did. I have often
thanked God our Heavenly Father (for) sending Brother Hopkings after me to get
me back in the fold.
Well, I was not satisfied without a wife so I began to look out for one.
And there was one by the name of Margaret Williams, born at a place called
Rengaren, Breckonshire, South Wales, and was married about 1868 or 9 at
Tredegar, Monmouthshire and was baptized Jan 27, 1870. We both (were)
baptized by Elder George Dallemore at Ebbwvalle, Monmouthshire, South Wales and was confirmed by Thomas Hopkings and
David Jones on the same date and commenced to get ourselves in shape to gather
to the Valley.
I can truthfully say that my wife worked hard to get means to come to the
Valley. Her first thing soon after we was married was to get two
pigs. She paid 3 pound, or 15 dollars for the two pigs. And for to
keep them pigs a growing she would pack swill for them from the botton row or
New Town and was living at the top row. Those rows was built on the side
of the mountains and was 6 or 7, one above the other and the rows would be
about one hundred yards apart. She had a pail or a barrel from 11 to 12
gallons and she had to pay 4 cents for each barrel and she worked that way and
kept them going until they was over 300 pounds each. And we sold them to
a store and got 9 pounds or 65 dollars. Of course I was doing my best to
earn enough to keep us and the pigs without going in debt, and by close
scheming on the part of wife we came out clear of debt when the pigs was fat
and sold so we could put it for the purpose of coming to America.
In 1872 the miners was talking about striking so we had a talk with the
president of the branch and my old friend Thomas Hopkings and they thought it
was better for me to go to America than for me to stop to spend the means we
had got together. So on the 10 of Feb. 1872 I left Ebbn Valle for the United States and got to New York Feb. 22.
But the parting came rather hard after working hard to do something and then be
disappointed but it is as our blessed Savior Jesus Christ said that "all
things work together for good to them that love and serve the Lord".
I left New York on Feb. 24 and had a pleasant
ride to Youngstown, Ohio but when I got (there) I was rather
sick, but I did not give up. I had the address of two men that went from
Ebbw Valle, a number of years ago, but as their address was Youngstown I could not get any news or track
of them. I asked a good many if they knew a man named Charles Morgan or
John Philips, both Welchmen. I tramped about town until I was tired and I
went to a place to get a place to stay that night. I inquired of him if
he knew (them) and my joy, he knew them well. He told me they lived about
4 miles away and as it was getting late and in a strange country he thought it
was better for me to stay over night and I thought (so too).
I had not been there long before the two men came in to the house. But of
course I didn't know them nor they me. Nor (did) the man of the house
(say) anything for quite awhile. But I could see them looking at me and
so after a bit one of them come over to where I was and asked me where I was
from. When I told him I was from Ebbn Valley
thought they would eat up and they proved to be true friends and nothing would
do but I must go with them.
We started, and I, not knowing the way, thought it was a long way, but we got
there all the same all right and they took me to some more old country folk by
the name of Harding. They came from Ebbn Valle and they was very kind to
me and on the next day I went to the mine. Those two men had went into
the working and had a look around and took a place and got tools to work
with. I got a pick or two of one and one or two of another and so on
until I had a pretty good lot of tools. And Charlie Morgan let me have a
shovel.
And so on the morrow I commenced work near Thorne Hill near Youngstown. The bosses' names was Charles
Morgan and John J. Phillips. They behaved well to me all the time I
worked for them which was about twelve months until a strike came on.
We was having one dollar and ten cents per ton and they could not get sale for
the coal at that price but they could get contracts for one year. As the
master of the bosses could afford to have paid the miners one dollar per ton
for that year but the miners would not do that so that most of the men were on
strike for six months ond of course I was one of them.
About the middle of the strike my wife came in but it took less to keep
us both than I should have to pay for my board. So I thought that
"all things worked together (for) good to those that love and serve the
Lord". At least, I thought so.
But before we commenced to strike, at a large meeting of miners that was held
in the woods for the purpose to decide whether we would strike or not, there
was quite a number of young men got up on a stump and began to speak and was
all for striking. I shall never forget that meeting. It was a sight
to behold! There was men representing three large valleys.
After they quieted down a bit I took (the) stump and spoke awhile but
they soon saw I was not for striking and tried in my weak way to show them the
foolishness of striking, but oh my, before I had spoken very long I was hooted
down. But before I got down I gave them to understand that if I was not
for striking yet I would be one of the last to go to work, and that there (was)
one among the crowd that should go in to my place to take it from me, and as I
said so it was, for after we had been out of work or on strike for six months
one of those men as was so much for striking went into my place and took (or
tried to take) my work from me. And what was worse than all, he went in
to work before any one else or anybody but we will see what became of him.
Well, I went to start to work about two weeks after the main body of men
started to work and so when I went to my work place there was someone working
in my place and my tools (were) yet there! He said he thought I was gone
but he knew better. So I asked him to leave but he would not so of course
I was not going to quarrel with him so I went out of the mine and saw the boss.
He did not know this man was there. But he was going to Youngstown. He would see the head
boss. So it was (that) he, the bank boss came back, went into the mines
and ordered this man out of my place.
And so next morning I commenced work after being out six months and two
weeks. What done me up most was that instead of we being dropped 10 cents
we was dopped 20 cents. So I had the chance to come to the understanding
that what I said at that miners meeting on that stump came to pass to the very
letter. I write these things to show that an elder can have the Spirit of
God among a lot of rebellious men.
But the contract was won from that valley and we only had work for two or three
days per week. And we worked that way for 3 months then there came
anmother drop (of) 10 cents and so another strike. We was out for 3
months and got back to work after being out 3 months at 20 cents drop instead
of 10. Well we got ourselves into a hole and we had to get out the best
we could. I mean the miners got themsenlves into a hole.
I got on all right as far as living was concerned as we was only two of
us. And one reason that we got along was because we would go out and help
the farmers make hay or pick peaches or help to pick up potatoes. Of
course the farmers didn't want us to do it for nothing. Our little help
made them the more kind to us and sometimes we would come home with as much as
we could pack, sometimes potatoes in their season and peaches, apples and very
often a pound of butter which all came in very handy whilst on strike. We
would try to get some of our neighbors to go and give the farmers a helping
hand, but oh, no, and the result was they running in debt whilst we was keeping
out of debt, but money was scarce.
But sometimes they would give some of that. Of course we did not make any
charge and when my wife Margrett would go sometimes to do a little washing she
would not make any charge but take what ever the kind lady of the house would
(be) pleased to give. So we got on all right as far as living was
concerned but we could not get money to come to the Valley. Whilst we was
thus struggling to get along, one day in December a brother by the name of
Thomas Briton, he was an elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, he was working about 4 miles away from Thornhill. His family was
a large one. We had a long talk and (he) was a good Latter-Day Saint,
bless his old heart. We was very thankful to see a Saint in America.
So we proposed to go the next Sunday up to see them. So Sunday
came. We was up bright and early. Although it (was) winter, and wet
and cold, we tramped away to find them. We never (went) that way before
but we inquired the road and had not traveled about two or 3 miles when to our
suprise we beheld the same old man, bless his heart, he was coming through mud,
ankle deep, coming to meet us with two daughters and one of his sons to greet
us. After a good shake of the hand we plodded on to Elder Briton's and
(were) received by the rest of family very kindly. Although we never saw
each other before it seems we was brothers and sisters.
We had a long chat about the gospel and when we came to the states and a
hundred and one things in a short time. So after enjoying ourselves
awhile dinner was ready. Thomas Briton ask me to ask a blessing (on) the
food and (we) pitched (in) as we was ready for it. So after we got
through the sisters cleared the tables whilst Elder Briton went out in the
woods and his son Thomas and William Williams his son-in-law to talk about the
wisdom of us holding meetings (in) Ohio as
they had removed from Pennsylvania.
We came to the conclusion to commence holding meetings as Elder Briton was the
president of the branch where he came from. We three sustained him to
preside over us there. So when we went back the sisters had the house
cleaned up nicely. We told them we had come to the conclusion to start up
our meetings, and they was very willing, come what may. So we opened our
meeting by singing the hymn "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is
Burning", and all the family being good singers, I tell you there was a
power there. We was 10 members of the Church at that meeting and before
we was there long we had quite a branch.
I was a priest at the time we first met and the third Sunday we had a council
meeting and a brother was moved up(on) to call me to the office of an
elder. So we considered the matter over awhile and came to the conclusion
that as long as there was a president at New York it would be proper to send in
our report and our tithing and let him know how we are getting along out this
way. So accordingly, Elder Briton sent in our report and asked if it was
right to ordain me an elder. The word came, yes, it was, so the next
Sunday Bro. Briton ordained me to the office of an elder about 187___.
We labored around that part of the country until we had quite a branch
numbering from 25 to 30, all told, good and bad. Myself and Thomas ...
was appointed as teachers for that branch and William Williams as priest.
We labored around among the folks on Sunday morning. We found some that
had belonged to the church when they left the old country but we could
not do much with them. But we got a few families to come to meeting.
About the latter part of 1875 the work got so slack that we could only get from
two to three days per week so we began to think we should never get to the
Valley. We began to talk the matter over and the more we talked the
stronger was our desires to go West. So we talked with our wives about it
and they said go and God bless you. We will get along all right.
Bless their hearts and so they did well. Elder Thomas Briton and Priest
William W. Williams and John J Williams started out West. We went to Youngstown and took the road that went west to Akron. We took two
shirts and two pair of stockings, so we were not troubled much with clothes nor
money. I think all three of us had about 2 (or 20) dollars, but I will
say right here that it was the happiest tramp I ever had. When we
hungered we would call at some farm house, tell them how we was fixed and we
had something to eat, so we did not suffer much by traveling.
Well, I think we was two or three days going from Youngstown to Canton Illinois
(?) but we dropped in lucky by calling at a house where a man lived by the name
of David Williams, which owned two coal mmines in Canton. There was three
mines, one was called the Josephite Shaft and the other one was called the
Brighamite Shaft. (They) was called that way because this David Williams
and family used to be with those Josephites and had just joined the Church and
(they) was so mad with Brother Williams they tried to do him all the harm they
could. And as President Young had such a bad name I suppose they thought
by calling them Brighamites it would do then more harm. But so it was.
We called at his place but Brother Williams was not home. But Sister
Williams, bless her heart, she was a kind woman and a good Latter-Day
Saint. She soon asked us when we had food and we told her and she was not
long before we had food before us. And we done justice to ourselves and food.
And just as we got through Brother Williams came in from the works and she told
him that there was three men in the room below that wanted to see him. He
came down to the room to see what we wanted. So we told (him) that we
wanted work and he soon told us that the mines was too full now, that he didn't
know what to do with the men he had.
He asked us where we came from and where we was going. I told him that I
came from Ebbn Vale to America
in 1872 to Youngstown, Ohio and the work got so slack we had to
leave or we would never go where we started for. And Of course he wanted
to know where we wanted to go and I told that we three started for Salt Lake, Utah.
Then he wanted to know if we was Saints and said yes. Then he wanted to knoow
if we was Brighamites. I answered yes and he jumped up, shook our hands
heartily and said we should have work if he had to send some away. So he
gave Brother Briton and Brother William Williams work at Canton and John J Williams he sent to a mine
at a place called Serifer, to boss that mine and so on.
Well, as our family was back in Ohio, he soon
advanced means to fetch them to Canton,
Illinois. When we all got
together there was a large branch of the church and Elder David Williams was
president of the branch. The three familys that came from Onio increased
the number about 16 souls and we had good times when we met together to sing
the songs of Zion and get the Spirit of God to comfort our hearts and I could
see the hand of the Almighty with me and my brothers and sisters, which made me
feel thankful to God the author of our salvation.
Well, the council to my wife and I from the president of the branch was for my
wife to make her home along with them and not go to the expense of buying goods
to put in a house and for me to go to the boarding house at Sifer so we could
save means to go to the Valley and if we had of kept his counsel we could of
brought means with us instead of coming to Salt Lake without one cent.
But Sister Williams, my wife, thought of helping me to get means by keeping
boarders. Although her intentions were good, it was a foolish move but it
was all right I suppose, to give us experience. But it was a very cold
winter that year and the house we was in was very cold and drafty and my wife
contracted a cold which she never got rid of until the day of her death, which
was about six months after coming to Salt Lake, but I see I have gone before my
story.
Well, I worked at Sifer bossing that shaft about 5 months or so, until the coal
got so cheap that Brother David Williams could not get one dollar and fifty
cents per ton and he couldn't do it, at that price. He was giving the
miners 70 cents per ton and 25 per cent royalty for the coal. So he came
to the (conclusion) to stop the work and gave me orders to get the railes up on
top of the shaft and all the cars so I did accordingly. It took me and 3
men about two days and he let the workings fill up with water.
Well, my wife and I began to talk over the chance of coming to Utah. Well, after
a good many conversations we came to the conclusion that it would be better for
me to go to Utah,
although she had been sick at that time. As we had been very careful the
past month I had somewheres about 52 dollars so when pay day came I received my
pay, and for fear it would get away from us, John J Williams and Thomas Briton
and William Williams took (a) train (from) Canton, Illinois about the first or
the second of March and came to Ogden on the sixth and Salt Lake on the seventh
of March, 1877.
All three of us got to Salt
Lake through the kindness
of Brother George Bywater. He paid our way down from Ogden
to Salt Lake City
and gave us his address to go to his house. We had food and a place to
stay. We was there nearly two days and in that time we went to see the
old Bishop Hunter to see if he could give us work, but it was the wrong time of
the year. Well I thought he was a funny old man, yet I seemed to like him
too, but as for work there was none...and wanted to know if we could not get
along without him.
Well, we three went to Brother Bywater's and inquired of him if he knew where
James F. Waters lived and he directed us along the railway track about six or
seven miles. So after we thanked him and his wife for their kindness we
started along the railroad track and in about two hours came to a little house
just like the one Elder Bywaters pointed out to us. So I went and knocked
at the door and Brother James F. Walters came to the door and received all
three of us very kindly and Sister Walters soon got us something to eat.
After we had a long chat about the old country, and as Brother's Briton and
Williams did not enjoy our talk as it was about Wales and her people, they got a
little uneasy and wanted to go back to Coalville. They went to the city
and from Salt Lake they went to Coalville and got
there about the 15 of March but Brother Walters persuaded me to stop with him,
and as long as they had a home I should have one.
He told me the mines in this country was very hard for a Saint or a man that is
in the church to go to get a living and he said that when the spring comes in
that I could get work with the farmers and for me to try to keep out of the
mines entirely, that I should get on all right after awhile. So I thought
that he knew more about the mines and the country than I, so I stayed with
Brother and Sister Walters in Millcreek Ward, Salt Lake County. They proved to be as good as a
father and mother to me.
Well, I was with them about two weeks when to my surprise one day as I had been
to the smelters to look for work to get means to send for my wife that I left
in the States, behold, I saw her coming up the railroad track to meet me!
She was so anxious to see me that she couldn't wait for me to come home,
although Brother and Sister Walters told her that I should be home right
away. She could not wait. Of course I was glad to see her but
I didn't expect her so soon. And the reason she came so soon was because
she borrowed means and sold some things that she had in the house, she and
Sister Briton and family and Sister William Williams and Sister John J Williams
with this family all the same time.
Well, spring came so I did not trouble to look for work at the smelters.
I commenced to work a day or two with one farmer and one or two or three with
another and I found my brothers and sisters very kind to us. We rented a
house of Brother Parks of Millcreek Ward and we began to get along very
well. I worked for Joseph Righi, Millcreek, for an old stove. I gave 7 dollars for
it. We thought we was way up then and we joined the Millcreek Ward and
was rebaptized by Elder Gest and I was reconfirmed under the hands of Bishop
Miller and my wife by Counselor Lemond in the month of June, 1877. (We)
was beginning to enjoy ourselves in our mountain home.
When my wife took sick I had to wait on her as we was strange and many of our
brothers and sisters, especially our sisters. She was sick about three
weeks or so when she died August 17, 1877, buried at Salt Lake August 18, 1877,
of inflamation of the bowels. So after all her struggles to come to the
Valley she did not live long to enjoy the blessings of the gospel. Well,
it was quite a trial for me to lose her but "the Lord giveth and the Lord
taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Well after she was gone I felt so lonely I thought I would go to the
mines. So I went to Coalville and from there to Grass Creek and got a
place to work and that was about all it was. The coal that I was working
was so soft it was no good for sale so I could not get wages at it. So I
came back to Millcreek to Brother Walters and
they received me very kindly. I came from the mines about the middle of
January.
In February I went over to Taylorsville and called on Samuel R. Bennion and got
work with him on the North
Jordan Canal.
I worked for him until the first of March, 1878, after which I went to work for
the Bishop Samuel Bennion of Taylorsville at
(10 or 30) dollars per month and worked for him all summer.
He was a very good man to work for. I was doing different kinds of farm
work such as cleaning out ditches, fixing up fences and watering and working
with the hay or anything about a farm. I took as part pay a team for one
hundred and twenty dollars but I only took one out of the two at sixty dollars
so I got pay for the other sixty in anything we wanted. It came in very
handy at that time.
While I was working for the bishop I got acquainted with a woman named Harriet
Williams, a widow of Taylorsville Ward. We came to the conclusion that we
may as well get married, and so on the 15 of May, 1878 we got married by Elder
John Sedeker, Mill Creek Ward. She had three sons and they have turned
out to be good boys so far.
Of course I kept on working for the bishop until fall when I came to work on
the farm that belonged to the wife and children. The place did not look
very inviting at that time. There was no plow, wagon, harrows nor
anything much to start to farm with but we got along pretty well, considering I
been an old miner. With the blessing of the Almighty I got to understand
farming a little after a while, so I got on a little better.
As I was living in Taylorsville I got my
recommend from Mill Creek to come to Taylorsville Ward. At a council
meeting of the bishop and teachers in 1879 I was appointed a teacher with Elder
Thomas Cook, Sr. to labor with him in the south district of North Jordan
Ward. I took great pleasure in laboring with him in that district.
The Latter-Day Saints seemed pleased to see the teachers come to visit them.
I was there until about the year 1880. Then I was appointed to labor with
Elder William Harker in th North West District of the ward. It was a very
scattered district. It comprised the district of country where the
Granger and Hunter wards are now. About 1881 the Granger Ward organized
and that took all that part of the country out of North Jordan Ward.
After that the ward was remodeled and I was called to labor in District 2 with
Elder George Spencer. That district comprised the east end of the
ward. The folks was glad to see the teachers coming and I took great
pleasure in going around to the Saints.
About that time I was called to the office of a seventy and ordained on March
23 under the hands of Elder William W. Taylor at Taylorsville,
in the year 1884, at a seventies meeting held in North Jordan Ward. After
we was ordained Elder Taylor gave us some very good instructions on the duties
of a seventy and counseled them to beware of two great evils and that was drink
and women, especially when on missions in the nations of the earth preaching
the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ, and many more good instructions he gave
in that meeting.
I can say that I was very thankful to God our Heavenly Father for his great
goodness to me in giving to a poor weak mortal his Holy Priesthood to give me
authority to act for the Lord Jesus. I feel very thankful for the
privilege to be in the Church
of God and I am willing
to try to live my religion and to overcome my imperfections as fast as I can.
Well, I was appointed to be a teacher in the Sunday School and I attended to
that quite awhile. In the same year I received my endowments in the
Endowment House, Salt Lake City, about 1883 and
was sealed to Harriet Williams, Taylorsville.
(Review of endowment record by editor shows marriage to be for time
only.) In 1885 I was appointed to take charge of Number 7 District at the
north end of the ward. I took delight in my labors in visiting the
Latter-Day Saints
I continued to labor in that district until I was called to go on a mission in
the year 1891. I commenced to get ready, for when I was called we had not
the first dollar but the Lord had blessed us with some stock. We began to
sell the stock to raise the means to go and it seemed the Lord did open up our
way that we could dispose of them. Against the time come for me to be
ready I had means to go with. On the 17 of April I was set apart for a
mission to Great Britian under the hands of H. Cannon and paid my passage to Liverpool, England
the same day. Elder Cannon promised me health and strength and that I
should speak with power and that I should have the spirit of boldness before
the people and a great portion of the Spirit of God, which all came to pass
just as he said, to the very letter. He said that I should be an
instrument in the hand of God in doing much good inasmuch as I would live my
religion and so on and on.
On the 18th of April I left home and wife and friends for Great Britian on the Denver and Rio Grande
Railroad at 5 minutes past 4 in the morning. We parted friends pretty
well as there was quite a few of our brothers and sisters from Taylorsville
came to the depot to see us of and to give us a good shake of the hand.
We had a pleasant trip to Spanish Fork about 12 o'clock and after, we passed
through the Red Narrows, which was a nice ride and a
pleasant sight to see. We past on to clear Creek by the U. Junction and
down through Castle
Valley. When we was going
through Castle Valley it was delightful to behold for some one that never was
that way before, to see the rocks and the peaks almost like monuments standing
up like so many castles at a distance.
Well, we reached Grand Junction
about 8:00 p.m. Then on April the 19th we went down through Grand Canyon
(maybe he means Grand Canyon of the Gunnison
River in Colorado) between two and five
o'clock. It seemed that the train was going very fast being as it was
very dark. Brother Lindsay and myself tried to go to sleep but there was
no sleep for us.
Elder Joseph Lindsay came from Taylorsville Ward the same as myself and we kept
together all the way from Utah to Liverpool. Well, we tried to rest but try was
all. We was very glad when daylight came. We came to a place called
Menturn or something like that. I could hardly catch the name. We
got to that place about daylight and as we could see about us a little it began
to be more pleasant. We had our breakfast and a wash and a comb and so
on. Then we felt much better and before we knew it we was passing Rock
Creek. This place was noted for it's mineral resources. I saw
chutes made of lumber down the side of mountains. Some of them seemed a
long way for ore to slide down but I expect it worked all right. We
passed Rock Creek ten past seven in the morning.
Then we went on to Leadville. It took two engines to climb the mountain
side, but when we got on the top of the mountain, we could see Leadville.
It did not look much of a place from the railroad track, but I could see smoke
from some of the works, but they looked a long way from us. We got there
about 20 minutes past seven or so.
Those two places was not far apart but on the summit the air was very light and
we began to be hungry so we took breakfast whilst we was dashing along through
a rough canyon. Whilst we was going through this canyon we had a few
Mormon songs to pass away the time and try to get some of the spirit of our
holy religion. Well, we arrived at Salida about 10:10 a.m. all right,
only a little tired and mopish owing to losing our sleep and so on.
Well, we traveled through a canyon called Cameron and came to the Royal Gorge. I thought it one of the grandest
sights I ever saw! Well, we began to pass away the time by trying to
study our churach works to try to prepare for our mission. But it seems a
poor place to study on the railway train. After a pleasant ride we came
to Pueblo.
This was a depot. We had to lay over from two o'clock until five.
We took in the sights a little but there wasn't no attraction at Pueblo for me.
On Monday April 20 I awoke in the morning at sunrise and found our selves going
through a beautiful track of country and the conductor informed us two men
owned 11,000 acres of land. It was a fine country. On Thursday,
April 21 we found ourselves across the Mississippi River at daylight and we
reached Chicago
20 minutes past 4 a.m. I was informed that Chicago was 26 miles long and 14 wide.
There is an awful confusion at the station with those cab men and as it was
quite a long way from one depot to the other it makes it worse but we got to
the Union Depot and left Chicago
about 3:20 p.m. On Wednesday, the 22, we reached New York about ten o'clock and was conducted
by one of the officers of the Cosmopolitan Hotel and got there about 11
p.m. There was a sister along with us and a child and she wanted a cup of
tea, so I, with a few more, called for a meal. We got it and it cost us
one dollar each. That experience number one. Of course we had to
cross the Hudson River and being night I was
over the river before I knew it.
On Thursday, April 23, 1891, myself and Elder Joseph Lindsay got up in the
morning and had a good wash and comb and changed some of our clothes, which
made us feel lots better. Then we went to the elevator and went to the
bottom floor and we talked awhile about having breakfast but that dollar the
night before was in our minds so we went out on the streets and soon got
breakfast for 25 cents, just as good as I wanted. Then we went and took
in some of the sights. So Brother Lindsay and I saw the elevated railroad
and went as far as Central Park. After
we was there we walked about until we tired. The park is a pretty
place. The walks are kept so nice and the shrubs and trees are trimmed so
well.
Brother Lindsay said, "Let us go and see the menagerie," so we
visited a large cave under ground, but I think the cave was made purposely, but
it was a nice sight to those that never saw the like. Well, after we got
tired of that we had to walk farther on in the park and saw some pretty deer
and a little farther we saw quite a lot of monkeys, elephants, and dromedaries,
birds, reptiles, and I also saw a fine seal 5 feet long and one
hippopotamus. Take it altogether, it was a beautiful sight. We
spent most of the day there and towards night we took the elevated railroad
back to the hotel.
The road was going close by the corner of the hotel and it being night when we
got back we did not go out much and were glad to go to bed. As luck would
have it our room was away in the back so the noise and racket of the street did
not disturb us so we went to bed and had a good sleep.
Friday, April 2, 1891 - After we got breakfast we went to see Brooklyn Bridge.
We rode over and walked back. We took our time to come back. We had
a good view of Brooklyn from a distance.
It looks nice and when a person is on the bridge a ship doesn't look very
large. It is supposed to be one of the finest bridges in the world.
Well, after we viewed the country around and not being satisfied the day before
at Central Park we took the elevated back to
there again and had a good time. As there was quite a number of us we was not a
scared to stay until late at night and the Utah boys kept together pretty close.
It was a nice sight to see at night when the gas lamps are all lighted.
We got back all right and had a good rest.
Saturday, April 25, 1891 - Went to Brooklyn
Bridge to try and know
how much and how long they was building it. That as far as I could learn
they was 14 years a building it, and cost $13,000,000. I tried to get to
learn how many lives was lost but that was out of the question. I learned
it was not thought nothing of to one or two daily so I could not learn very
much about it. Came back to the hotel and then left for the ship. I
got to the pier and got on the boat, a strong looking steamer called the (Wisconsin?) about 4:00 and left New York at 5 p.m. We sailed 18 knots.
Sunday, April 26 - In the morning I arose feeling well and took breakfast
about 8 o'clock. I spent most of the time on deck but when the time came
to hold meetings we all went down to our bunks as we had organized ourselves in
bunk classes on purpose to hold meetings every day, to pray and speak and
testify of the goodness of God. We had good meetings. Brother
Roberson was president of our bunk and Elder Larkings was presiding over all
the bunks. Distance traveled that day was 257 knots. All well
Monday, April 27 - Got up well and hearty. Had a good wash. Went on
deck. Had a good walk as it was pretty cold that morning. Went down
and had breakfast at 8 o'clock, after which I went on deck and watched the boys
have a good game of leapfrog and post and half and other games, anything to
keep warm. After those games was over we went down to our bunks and our
meetings. Some prayed and others spoke and testified of the goodness of
God to them and so on. 277 knots. Well, the good old ship kept on
her course about the pace from 277 knots in twenty four hours to 250 or 260 and
on.
There was some sickness on board. I can say that the elders enjoyed
ourselves very well. Brother Larking looked after us pretty sharp and
brought us to him every day so the time went on all right. I had no
sickness going over. We got to Liverpool
on May 7 after being on board 12 days. The old (Wisconsin?) was a good old ship and the
officers was very kind. We didn't come in contact with very many about
the gospel because we was instructed not to talk much about Mormonism whilst on
board the boat so we obeyed the council given.
Well, after we landed we were not long going through the custom house, as all
the missionaries got all together. The officers came along and asked a
few questions and passed us on. We went to 142 Isletion (?) and got
lodgings, but as for sleep, that was out of the question, for the noise and
racket of the street cars and the horses tramp tramping all night on the rough
cobblestone streets and Brother Lindsay and I was sleeping in the room rext to
the street. Well, I think that was the longest night spent all the time I
was on my mission and I was glad when daylight came.
So on the 8th of May I got up anmd took a walk along the streets to pass away
the time and saw little boys and girls in groups trying to sell newspapers,
poor little things. My thoughts ran over to our lovely Utah and to the boys and girls in our
settlement. What a contrast there was between them. Lovely Utah, thy blessing is
not appreciated.
Well, after breakfast there was a meeting called and some very good
instructions given by our brethern in the office. The elders were asked
if they had any choice as to where they would like to go and of course they all
one by one answered, "No". I was appointed to labor in Wales.
After the meeting we was at liberty to go and take in the sights, so Elder
Lindsay and myself started to hunt for some of his folks. He found some
which received him very well. On the 9th we took a walk and Elder Lindsay
called at some of his friends and they was not willing for him to go so I went
to 42 and spent the time the best I could. I felt when I lost Brother
Lindsay I lost a friend but I soon got over that.
May 10th - Got up in the morning, had breakfast and settled my accounts.
Packed up, went to the station, paid 12 shillings and three pence. We
came through Crewe and Shrewsbury and Hereford and on to
Abergavenny. We had to change trains for Merthyr. We had to stop at
Abergarvenny about two hours or so and take the cars to go west and had to go
up grade to Bryn Mawr and on through Bufort and over Dowlais to and down
through Dowlais and around to Merthyr. On the end of the town the
railroad had to go a long way around because the grade was too steep to go down
otherwise. Well, we arrived at Merthyr about 5 p.m. all right.
There was myself and Elders Morgan (?) and David Williams from Spanish Fork for
Wales.
We found the conference house all right and was received very kindly by Elder
Rich, president of the Welsh mission, and other elders.
May 11, 1891 - We had Sunday School; commenced at 10 o'clock, President Rich
presiding. There was about 10 (?) of us all told but there was a good
feeling there. At 2 p.m. we had sacrament meeting. The first I have
for 20 years. The meeting was opened for the saints to bear their
testimonies or to exercise the gifts. The Spirit of God was poured out in
that meeting in rich abundance and we young elders was cheered up and
encouraged to go ahead and fear nothing.
Elder Benjamin Healy had the gifts of tongues and the interpretation, and the
Lord said through him that He, the Lord, was well pleased with the sacrifice we
had made and that He would be with us and make us bold in the defence of truth
and that we should be instruments in His hands to warn many people. Oh
and we poor weake mortals did feel thankful to the Lord for this great
consolation to know that we was accepted of Him, but all was on condition that
we be faithful and look to Him the strong for strength, and the wise for
wisdom. I there and then made up my mind to try to look to Him for
strength to do my duty and I bore my testimony to the truth of this great
Latter-day work. We had a good meeting.
After that meeting was through we Utah
elders went with Brother Rich to preach out of doors. We walked about 4
miles. We had a pretty good meeting but they did not want the gospel as
preached by us Mormon Elders. They had plenty of preachers.
Monday, May 12 - I had leave of President Rich to go and visit my
friends. I had one week to get around and left Merthyr and traveled over
the mountains and went through Rumney (?) to Tredager and found out Mary Ann
Thomas and had quite a talk with her and her husband about the Valley and the
Mormons. I had dinner with them. Mary Ann Thomas's Husband's name
is Stephen Thomas. He works in the mines.
From Tredegar I went over to Ebben Valley and from there to Victorea and called on
Thomas Davis at Wayulluyad, Wese
Ebben Valley,
Monmouthshire. His wife received me very kindly, also all the family. Had
plenty to eat and a good bed to sleep in. My sister-in-law gave up her
bed for me to sleep in but when I said anything about the gospel they seemed to
change every bit and was not like the same. Before I left I bore my
testimony to them all that I know Joseph Smith to be a true prophet of God and
why and how I know he was a prophet and my brother-in-law, Thomas Davis, said
it was pretty plain. But for all I was a Mormon they treated me with
respect as one of their relatives. I think they are doing too well as
regards this worlds goods but are of the house of Israel to come in the Church yet
but are good moral people.
Well, after we had supper we all went to bed. There was no talk of having
prayer night nor morning but I had to attend to that myself the best I
could. Had a good night's rest and got up in the morning ok.
May 13, Tuesday - Well and hearty and ready for breakfast, which had in good
time, and after writing a letter to wife I wished my brother and sister-in-law
good bye. I left Wayuluida and traveled over to Sirhony and found out
John White and family. Was received very kindly. I had plenty to
eat and a bed to sleep in. I tried to talk to them about the gospel but
no, anything but that. So to be friendly we talked about anything we
wanted and got on all right.
Wednesday, May 14, 1841 - Got up in the morning well and in good spirits and
after a good bath felt better. John White came home to breakfast.
We all sat around the table and I do justice to the food, and had a talk about Utah. As John
White had been to Utah and lived with us at
Taylorsville, he kindly spoke about Salt
Lake and spoke about one
time that he came to our place sick and I and Elder Cook laid our hands and
gave him some Saints (?) oil and he got better right away. When I asked
him if he believed it was the power of God he did not know. He had to go
to his work so I wished him good day and had a little talk about Utah and her people and
so on. When I left she told me to come again when I came that way.
I left Sirhony and went over to Tredegar and hunted Margaret Ann Tuck. She
was kind enough, apparently. We had a little conversation. I had
dinner with them. Mr. Tuck came to dinner and of course I was
asked. I tried to get into a talk with Mr. Tuck but it would not
work. Being as I understand that God won't force no man to heaven so I
thought I had no right to force a conversation, so we parted friends.
After that I went over to Sirhony side and had a talk with Mary Ann Thomas but
she told me that she did not belong to the church and I tried to reason with
her and tried to get her to be rebaptized and so on. She thought it was
of no good for her to try to be a Saint as her husband was not in the
church. I left her feeling that way.
May 15 - Called on John White again. Ate, drank and slept there and Frances made me
as comfortable as she could. After I had a good time with them I went to Ebben Valley
again and called on Thomas Davis. They was glad to see me. I had
supper and a long talk until it was late at night. They all was very friendly
this time so we had to have another supper before going to bed and so on.
May 16 - Got up in the morning after a good night. Had a wash and a comb
then took a walk and when I come back breakfast was a waiting. We all sat
around the table and as they was going to pitch in without asking a blessing, I
ask my brother-in-law if they did not ask a blessing on the food, as the
Mormons always ask a blessing before eating and that they had prayers night and
morning. Thomas told me to bless the food, which I did. After
breakfast I wished them all good day and God bless them all. There was
Thomas and wife and Thomas Davies Junior, Martha and Mary Jean.
Then went over to
Tredegar. Called on Mary Ann Thomas. Had a little rest. Then
walked over the mountain to Ramery (?) and there was another mountain and got
to Merthyr pretty tired. Found all well.
Sunday 17th - Had school in the morning and Saints meeting in the
afternoon. President Rich was presiding and a good many of the Saints
bore their testimony and I joinned in with them. President gave us new
missionaries some very good instructions at the meetingg. Brother Warner
from Spanish Fork and myself went out for a walk around Merthyr to see what we
could see.
Monday May 18th 1891 - Got up, had breakfast and prepared to go to the
train. We settled our bill with President Rich and we wished the brethern
good bye and left for our field of labors. Left Merthyr about 7
o'clock. We had to go a round about way. We changed cars 4 times to
get to Randmore but we got there all the same about three o'clock all right and
left our baggage at the depot and went to the town to try to get a place to
lodge. Well, we walked about New Randnew until we was tired out and we
came to the conclusion to go to the hotel. They seemed rather slow to
accommodate us but we got a bed. Had supper and went to bed. Had a
good nights rest.
May 19th 1891 - Got up in the morning. I did not feel very well but I
tried to eat a little breakfast but could not take much. Elder Morgan D.
Warner and self, after having prayers, we made up our minds to commence and
tract the town, or part of it. After which we tried to get lodgings but
failed so we had to be out all night or go to the hotel so we chose the
latter. Had supper and after we had studied awhile went to bed.
May 20 - We thought we would go over to Presting and see if that town was
larger than New Randner. If so, we thought to get lodging in that
place. We walked about 8 miles to get there. We tracted part of the
town but was too sick to go back to Randner that night so we went to a hotel to
stay. We sat up awhile them went to bed but oh, my, it was the very same
as though I went into an ice house. I began to shake with the chills and
fever which scared Elder Warner. I asked him to go and get some oil,
which he did and consecrated it and them administered to me and I got six
pennies worth of brandy and water and Brother Warner covered me up good and in
the morning I was much better. Thank God for it.
May 21 - Got up much better. We called for breakfast but I couldn't eat
anything but had to pay my shilling all the same, which vexed me more than
being sick. We left the hotel. We started for New Randner but had
to go very slow and I must say that Elder Morgan Warner was vey kind to
me. We got to Randner and slept at the hotel. As I was a little
better we called for supper and told the servant girl that I was sick and
wanted something good to eat so she brought me some chicken broth which was
just the thing and I enjoyed it much. After we had a talk with the gerat
(?) awhile, Brother being mouth, and a little study, we went to bed and I had a
pretty good night's rest, considering I was so weak.
Now, for the good of those that may look over this record I will relate what
come to my mind whilst in Presttine. The thoughts of Jonah going to
Ninevah as he was trying to go somewhere else instead of the place where he was
sent and to bring him to time he had to be thrown overboard. A great
whale had to swallow him up. Well, those thoughts came in my mind very
forcibly. So I said to Brother Warner that it was no good for us to think
to go to Prestine. We was sent to New Randner and there we must go.
I felt in my heart that we had done wrong by thinking of going to a place we
was not sent direct. After we made up our minds I got well right away,
which was a testimony to us both that missionaries can't do as they like when
in the field. After awhile we got lodging and settled down to work.
May, Sun. 22 - It was raining all day. I was very busy writing letters,
one to wife and one to Ezra T. Williams. When dinner time came we was invited
down to dinner and as we was going to be very satisfied, bread and meat.
When we came to the table there was vegetables as well as bread, as the good
lady of the house had kindly given us, which we thanked her for.
Mon. May 23 - We got up in the morning, got breakfast and got some
tracts. We walked about 3 miles to a village called Walton and the farm
houses around. The people was very cold but we done our duty and tried to get
conversations with them but failed that day.
May 24th - Home most of the day studying the Bible and church works.
After we was tired of that we went out for a walk to advertise ourselves among
the people.
May 25th - Went about 2 and a half miles to a parish called New Radner.
There is one church, one public school and a house for their school teacher
right up on a hill. The farm houses was scattered all around which made
it hard to get at them. Most of the first tracts was taken but I could
get no conversation with them. Came home pretty well tired. We left
about 50 tracts both, of us.
May 26th - Tracted a place called Kennerton, about 5 miles from home, and most
of the country around. There was one Church of England and one Baptist Church. Then we went on going from
house to house until we came to another parish church about 3 miles from
Kennerton and coming back home we came to another place called The Bush.
We walked that day about 18 or 20 miles and left quite a few tracts (60)
around. At home in good time, almost wore out and tired. No
conversations.
May 27th - Home all day and thought it a good time to do some studying.
We was working at that most of the day until tired, then took a walk out and
came back. Had supper and went at it again until late at night. Had
prayer to ask Father to bless our studies and strengthen our members. Got
in bed. Had a good night's rest and pleasant dreams on things studied.
May 28th - Got up in the morning refreshed and blessed of our Father in Heaven
and had our prayers answered and more faith sprang up in our hearts to do our
duty come what may. We got our breakfast after which we got a pretty good
lot of tracts and went and commenced to tract New Randers the second time.
We had not tracted very many hours before we could see why the Lord did bless
so much the night before. There was quite often that the people would not
hold a conversation but act more like bullies.
There was one store keeper that thought he was going to do the Mormons up in
fine shape but the humble elders came out on top and lots of the folks cried
shame. He was so mad because he could not best us in plain talk he was
going to abuse but the Spirit came on me in power and I rebuked with and told
him that I was a citizen of the United States and had as much right to walk the
streets of New Randers as any English man had to walk the streets of New York
and as I was here to distribute tracts and other principles of the gospel
believed by the Latter-Day Saints that the laws of England gave us as much
right as any other religious body of people and as there was a police present
and had been watching our doings that I should give him in charge. He
soon went to his shop and whilst those things was going on Brother Warner had
it pretty warm but thank the Lord we got through all right. After all the
bother the only excuse was we Mormon Elders was come to disturb their quiet
little town. The police sent to our place for a book the same night, which
we gladly let him have.
May 29 - As we had commenced the town of Prestineg
we thought it was right to finish that place. After we had breakfast we
started and got there about noon and commenced to leave tracts. We got
through about 4 or 5 o'clock. As I had walked about 10 miles to that
place besides tracting I was not able to go back. That day left about 50
tracts, got place to sleep at a hotel.
May 30th - After trying to get a conversation with the folks at the hotel and
failed and had breakfast, I started for Randnor about ten miles when my breath
was so bad that I had to rest every few yards and was pretty trying that day
but thanks to our Heavenly Father, He brought me through that day again.
After struggling hard I must (say) again that Elder Warner was very kind and
forbearing and done all he could to comfort and cheer me up. After a hard
struggle we got home all right and left a few tracts.
May 31, Sun. - Not fit to preach out and as Mr. Nikklot and two sons was home
we tried to get in a conversation but we couldn't. For all the old man
and woman was good hearted old folks and very kind to us yet they did not want
the gospel as preached by us, so we bore our testimony to them and told them
that we was not there to force the human mind, that we was sent to call,
persuade, direct aright and that God would bless them with wisdom, love and
light and in numerous ways be good and kind but never force the human
mind. The old folks felt that that was fair enough. The boys and
girls did not say much.
Well, we went up stairs and made good use of our time. As neither of us
was not too well posted on the scriptures, we had to study pretty hard but it
was a pleasure. Well, dinner time came and we was called down
stairs. There was a good dinner for us on our little table by the settle
alound (?) seat with a back to it and all was a waiting for us to ask a
blessing on our food. So done we started in in good shape. After we
took a little walk, (it) was too wet to be out long, so we got our Bible and
commenced work again. That day all went well.
Mon. June 1, 1891 - We walked three miles, then commenced to leave tracts at
the farm houses but few took them. We got in conversations with some of
(the) people but the main cry was that they had gospel enough for them.
Came home after walking over hills and hollows and through farm yards which was
very dirty and full of mud, some of them was. Had supper and a nice
little chat with the family. I had to go to the post office and it being
a store I bought some grub for ourselves. After a little study went to
bed. Had a good night rest.
Tue. June 1 - Got up well and hearty. Had breakfast. Got our tracts
and started out in dead earnest to a place called Kington, about 8 miles.
This place is on the borders of Herefordshire and when we got home we found we
had 3 tracts, a day (with) no conversations.
Wed. June 3 - Had a good wash in a nice little brook or creek that was running
by the house. Had breakfast and started to tract between New Randner and
Old Randner. We walked all day and left 12 tracts. Had no
conversations. Well tired out.
Thur. June 4th - It was raining most of the day so after breakfast and prayers
we commenced to write letters. I wrote one to wife to let her know how I
was getting along and to try to comfort her a little and study a little.
After which we took a walk out into the country a ways and to advertise
ourselves, for when we was out the people by saw us and as we was strangers in
the town was known by all the folks. Came back. Had supper, a good
chat with the lady of the house and went to bed.
Fri. June 5 - Got up in the morning. Had a good bath in the creek or
brook, breakfast and started out for a town called Kingarton. We tracted
part of the town. We saw that we could not finish all so we come to the
conclusion that it better to move into that town as it was larger that we
supposed, so we, being hungry, we bought some bread and cheese and came to a
little spring on the side of the road and (had) a good lunch about 4 0'clock
and started back for New Randner. It was 10 miles from one place to the
other, which made 20 miles besides going from house to house to leave tracts,
which we found out was too much in one day. We got home about dark.
Tired was no name for it. We was stiff as papers, as the old saying goes
but thanks to Father we got home all right.
Sat. June 6 - After the usual exercises we left home for a place called
Evanagolele (?) to tract it the second time. The people would not take
many of our tracts but we got in some very good conversations. One I will
speak about. I called at a house close by a school house and had offered
the man a tract and asked for one I had left him before. We got into a
conversation and as I supposed by the way he acted that he could not hear very
good, as I had to holler very loud or high.
While we was talking the children came out of school and of course hearing a
rather high talk they came running to see what was the matter. The school
teacher came to and I thought by the way he acted that he was going to do up
the Mormon Elder in short time with his baton. I let him go on awhile
till the Spirit of God came upon me. Then I stopped him and asked him if
he was most through and as I had been looking upon passages whilest he was
talking and as he was a running down the authority of the holy priesthood and
the gifts and so on, I asked him if he did believe the Bible, which almost
insulted him. I asked him by what authority he was teaching school and
said by the authority of the school trustees. Then I said, suppose I or
some other man was to come and find you was not there and begin to teach and
then go to the trustees and want the pay and so on. Would not they want
to know who sent him there? Would they pay him? Not very
likely. So I asked if Jesus meant what he said when he told his disciples
to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved and those signs shall follow. Do
they follow the preachers of your church? No, they are all done
away. Now we was talking nearly two hours and as he had to begin school
we had to go, but not before I gave my testimony that I know Joseph Smith was a
true prophet of God and that he should have to give an account for running
God's anointed down as he had done. And I know the Holy Ghost was bestowed
upon his humble servant.
Well, I had other conversations but nor many tracts left that day and some of
the folks was honest enough to aknowledge that the priest had been around to
tell the people not to take the tracts, so after traveling all day and talking,
I came home tired and hungry.
Sun. June 7 - Wet and cold, studying all day long.
Mon. June 8 - I got up well and hearty, thank God for it. We started out
into the country and over the hills and hollows and tracted all day and left 6
tracts but had some very pleasant conversations and was asked to have dinner,
which we did.
Tues. June 9 - We walked over to Prestine, 10 miles, and tracted that place the
second time. The people seemed to treat the gospel with silent
contempt. We could not get no conversations and walked back to Randner 10
miles, making 20 miles the same day. Not very much encouraged but
determined to do our duty by the help of the Almighty. Got home tired.
Wed. June 10 - Got up refreshed after a good night rest and started for
Kinghton to tract that place the second time. The folks seem to be
perfectly satisfied with the religion they have got but we got a few little
conversations and got home after walking 20 miles. Left 15 tracts but
very thankful to our Heavenly Father for that portion of His Holy Spirit which
he gave us this day.
Thur. June 11 - Got up in the morning well and hearty. Had breakfast and
prayers, then commenced to write home to wife and the folks at Pine Creek.
After we got tired of writing we took a walk out a little. We came back
and began to study and after a while went down stairs and had a chat with the
old folk of the house. They was very sociable and kind to us.
Fri. June 12 - Raining all (day) so we continued our studies on the gospel and
discussed a little with each other so as to get the principles more on our
remembrances. Had prayers and went to bed.
Sat. June 13 - A tract called Morgan's Number 1 tract was the first tract we
did give around to the people so this day we was going around to (reaise?)
those that was left and pass them on to other houses. We lost 5 tracts
that day out of 20 or 30 left. The people had lost or burned them.
We left a few tracts but not many as the parson had been around warning them
against those Mormon Elders or those Mormon dissenters, as they called
us. We traveled all among a pretty rough country and a very satisfied
people. They was all saved. Got home tired.
Sun. June 14 - It was the first fine Sunday we had so we up quite smart in the
morning, determined to make a start to preach out in the open air as we could
not get a house to hold a meeting in. We walked about 3 miles to a
village called Walton Randnershire, it being our maiden speech. Then went
home and had dinner and about 2 o'clock commenced our services by singing and
prayer. Elder Warner prayed so I told the people that we was not very
good singers, we would do without, so I commenced to reading our Articles of
our Faith, which I did with fear and trembling. I spoke about an hour in
the town of New Randner and after the meeting got among the people and gave
tracts but could not get no conversations so we went home feeling that we had
done our duty and made a start. Very thankful to our Father in Heaven for
the help he gave us this day.
Mon. June 15 - We got up and had prayers and breakfast and tracts and started
out in the country to hunt out the lost sheep of Isreal and traveled all
day. Left 16 tracts and a few conversations. After a hard day's
travel got home tired.
Tues. June 16 - Left home about 7 o'clock. We went over a hill called
Smacher. There was quite a country over this hill so we thought we would
see what we could do over there. We got among the people by hard
traveling. We went to lots of houses that would not take the tracts but
we left 16 tracts. Had one conversation after a long day's walk, well
satisfied that we had done our part well and leave the result with God.
Wed. June 17 - A very wet day. Wrote a letter to Elder Holder acording to
promise and looking over tract account as we had to pay for all our books and tracts.
Took a walk. All well.
Thur. June 18 - Tracted New Randner the third time. Not many received the
tracts third time. We could not get the people into any
conversations. Their priest told them to treat us with contempt but now and
then one would talk a little with us. We tried to get to speak to those
priests but we could not. I have called at their houses when I knew they
was at home but they would make the servants lie and say they was not in when I
knew they was. Well, let their lies lie on their heads and not the
servants.
Fri. June 19 - We did some studying and reading. All is well.
Sat. June 20 - Got up all well. Had breakfast. Was looking for the
postman to come. Received a letter from Elder Joseph Lindsay,
Balfast. He was well. At that we had a few conversations that day.
Sun. June 21 - Got up well, thanks be to our Heavenly Father, and had prayers
and made our wants known and told Him we was going to preach to the people and
ask Him if we had found favor in His sight if he would please give us His Holy
Spirit to enable us to stand before the people as was desirious to preach the
gospel of His Son Jesus Christ to them. When done we started out very
humble and weak but determined to try and do our duty. We walked about 5
or 6 miles and got in time to commence our meeting. The people was coming
out of their meetings so we started up by singing and Elder Warner by
prayer. Then we sang another hymn and by this time there was quite a few
to listen. So with fear and trembling I took the stump and thanks to our
Heavenly father I wasn't there long before a man fearing spirit left me and I
was as calm as a summer's morning. I had not spoke long before one man
wanted to know how many wives Brigham Young (had). I don't think that the
feeling that came upon me I shall never forget. I stopped a while and
looked at that man straight in the face and with my hand pointed at him I said
that Brigham Yound had enough of his own wives to let other men's wives and
daughters alone.
Well, I spoke about one hour or so, and Elder Warner spoke. After, we
distributed quite a few tracts. We had a good time. Then we
traveled about four miles to a place called Yerdsley and had another meeting
spent with singing and prayer. J. J Williams spoke first. A pretty
good attendance for a small place. A little conversation. We left
some tracts and after we had walked home over the mountain we was getting tired
but after we got supper we felt a little better and looked for a good place to
pour out our prayers and thanks to Him that had been so good and kind to us
through the day in answering our humble prayers which we offered up in the
morning, and came back and went to bed.
Mon. June 22 - Went over the hill east of Randner and tracted that place the
second time. The folk are very careless about the gospel. Came back
home. Had no conversations. Had dinner and studied a little.
Tues. June 23 - Got up, had prayers, breakfast and the mail. Then (we)
started for Nighton. Walked 10 miles. Commenced to tract and raise
number one of the Morgan tract. We had a few conversations . Most
of the people is satisfied with their own preachers and think that they are on
the way to heaven and won't take our tract. Only a few of them
will. Well, after we got through tracting (we were) hungry. We
bought some bread and cheese and on the side of the road as we was going home
there was a nice spring so we sat down and had a good dinner about 5 o'clock
and felt much better to walk 9 or 10 miles. We got home about dark, ready
for bed, after walking 20 miles and traveling from house to house
besides. (We were) pretty tired and weary and ready for a rest.
Wed. June 24 - Wrote a letter to Ezra T. Williams, Pine Creek, Beaver County, Utah,
and studied and at night took a walk.
Thur. June 25 - We fasted and prayed for help to do our duty as Elders and also
writing and holding conversations on the principles of the gospel and in the
evening we took a walk. We had a very good day.
Fri. June 26 - Had breakfast, got our tracts and started for a new town called
Penybout. It was 8 miles away. We left 31 tracts of Morgan's number
1. We got some bread and cheese and ate it on our way home. We got
a few conver-sations. Penybout is south from Randner and (has) one
hotel. It is a kind of pleasuring place in summer time, a clean little
town. We was back in pretty good time after walking 16 miles besides
calling the houses. I was tired out almost.
Sat. June 27 - Home all day preparing ourselves to preach out Sunday.
Sun. June 28 - It was a wet, miserable day, so we was home reading, studying
and conversing on the gospel. When dinner time (came) our landlady called
us downstairs to get dinner at her expence so we had quite a conversation for a
short time with the family. There was father, mother, two daughters and
three sons. We tried to get them to lead out but it would not work good
so after we was through with them we took a walk out in the country and back
again and had another little chat with Mr. Nebblet about Utah and her ways of
getting a living and so on. Elder (Warner) didn't feel very well. He went
and lay on the bed awhile and I studied awhile and when (the) time came, had
supper and went to bed.
Mon. June 29 - We thought we would go to Highton so we got our tracts called
"The Everlasting Gospel" and started out and walked 10 miles.
(We) tracted part of the town. Not many took the tracts today so when it
was getting late we had 10 miles to go back. We started back about 3 or 4
o'clock and got home about dark without any conversations. Went to bed tired.
Tues. June 30 - Left home and tracted a place called Cascob. Left 8
"Everlasting Gospel" tracts but no conversations among them to amount
to much.
Wed. July 1, 1891 - It was raining and blowing like everything. Wrote a
letter to wife and one to (Joseph?) Williams, Salt Lake
City, Utah
Territory.
Thur. July 2 - We had orders to come to Merther from President Rich so we left
Randner about 10 o'clock in the morning and got there at half past 4 after
changing cars 4 times. (We) went to the conference house and had
dinner. Then (we) got ready for meeting and called on to speak. It
was a testimony meeting and we had a good time together. So as President
Rich was going to move the conference to Cardiff
we had to go there. So we went to bed.
Fri. July 3 - Got up in the morning and had breakfast with Sister Evans for 6
pence each and got ready and went to the depot and left Merthyr at 7 o'clock
and after a short ride of 20 miles we got to Cardiff all right. We found the house
after a little search and as Brother Rich was going to move to another house we
pitched in and helped him to move the goods. Number 188 Cathays Tearres,
Cathays, Cardiff.
Sat. July 4 - I and Elder Warner distributed 500 tracts in Cardiff.
Sun. July 5, 1891 - We got ready to go to conference. The meeting was
called to order by Presicent Rich at 10 o'clock. After singing Elder John
J Williams called to open with prayer. Singing. After, President
Rich occupied some of the time. Elders John D. Williams and Hashton
addressed the meeting. After, the services closed by singing and
prayer. A fair attendance.
At half past 2 the meeting was opened by singing and prayer. After a few
remarks by the president, the sacrament was administered by Elders Williams and
Ashton, after which Elder Anderson dwelt on the first principles of the gospel
which was listened to with much pleasure. Closed by singing and
prayer. Went home. Had supper, then left Cathays Tearres and went
to hall where the confer-ence was held at 6 o'clock. Meeting opened by
singing and prayer, after which Elder Anderson took up most of the time on
necessity of baptism and repentance before a man can get the remission of his
sins. Conference (ended) by prayer.
Mon. July 6 - We had breakfast and then walked around Cardiff to take in the sights and then back
to the conference house. I did not see anything in Cardiff to attract my attention so I
commenced to study.
Tue. July 7 - The brethern went to get their photos taken. We was 17 of
us on one card. But I did not want to go but they could not hear that so
I went with them. But it was a poor photo after all. Then I went to
Cardiff
docks. There was a great number of ships from all nations it seems
like. Came home tired walking and as there was other Elders at home we
talked about our dear mountain home, our dear Utah, which gave me more pleasure
than walking the streets of Cardiff. We 6 or 7 of us had a good time.
Wed. July 8 - As we was appointed to go to the same field to labor, Elder
Warner and self left Cardiff 7 o'clock a.m. Went through Merthyr and on
to New Randner by changing cars 4 times. We got there 4 p.m. all
right. Our landlady was suprised to see us as we thought we may be sent
somewhere else but Mrs. Nibblet welcomed us home, and being tired we soon went
to bed.
July 9 - Got up, washed, had breakfast and waiting for the postman. A
wet, cold day for the season of the year so we had to stay home. I wrote
a letter to Parley Williams, Pine Creek, Beaver City, Beaver Co., Utah Territory,
and studied awhile. Then took a walk out as the rains stopped a
little. Came back but not without a wetting as the storm come on
again. So we went to bed.
Fri. July 10 - Received a letter from wife which gave me good news. Then
got our tracts and started for Wensle to tract that place the third time.
They was set against the gospel but we done our duty. We was willing to
travel among the people and give them books and tracts and to hold
conversations with them but they would not receive us so between them and our
Heavenly Father, be it. We called and tracted Kennerton the second time
and got home in pretty good time. No conversations.
Sat. July 11 - Sent a letter to the quorum and after went to Prettein to tract
that place the second time but the people did not want the gospel as taught by
the Latter-Day Saints. They have their preachers and that's enough for
them. They don't want no prophets nor apostles nor revelations and so
on. We had a few small conversations with some of the folks and they
seemed afraid to speak to us. Well we left them and started for New
Randner, which we reached after walking 16 miles, besides going from house to
house to offer them tracts. We was well tired.
Sun. July 12 - Got up in the morning. It was a fair day so we prepared to
preach at New Randner. We began our meeting about 2 o'clock by prayer and
singing. Elder Morgan Warner spoke first and dwelt on the first
principles such as faith, repentance, and baptism. The people listened
very good. Then I took another subject up, the two thieves on the cross
and the salvation for the dead. We are thankful to our Father in Heaven
for the freedom we got to speak. There was from 45 to 50 persons
present. We thought to preach again but it came too wet so we spent the
afternoon studying and chatting with the landlady and husband. They could
not see anything out of the way with the gospel as preached by us but that
(was) as far as they could (see) with exception of being kind to us, which they
was in very deed, so we had supper with them and went to bed.
Mon. July 13 - Went out into the country about 5 miles to a place called
Gladstre and left 37 tracts and just a few conversations with the people.
The farm houses was a long way between so it made lots of walking home.
In good time we had supper, sat in the kitchen awhile, then bed.
Tues. July 14 - Went over a hill which the people called Smachor. The
farm houses are a long ways apart but by tracting hard we made out to call at
lots of places. We got a chance to bear our testimonies to them and let
them know how we are and where we came from. Some of them will laugh to
think that we came so far when they have plenty of preachers right here and
when we tell them their preachers are without authority they say they have
enough of authority for them, which I surely believe. Well, such is the
life of a missionary. Home in good time.
Wed. July 15 - Visited Watton to advertise ourselves and to see if the people
wanted to see us elders, but no. We then went farther out into the
country and left 24 tracts and came home in good time to have supper and go to
bed.
Thur. July 16 - Wet day. Wrote a letter to wife and studied.
Fri. July 17 - Tracted Cascolle and the country places around and left 18
tracts. Had a few conversations. Home in fair time to get our
supper and a little chat and went to bed.
Sat. July 19 - Went to Thomas Davis and John White to let them know how and
where I am and to thank them for their kindness to me whilst I was visiting
them and preached at Kinnerton.
Sun. July 20 - Went to Penneyhout and tracted that place. We had a good
many conversations with the people that day. Walked 16 miles besides
going to the houses. Home tired.
Mon. July 21 - We started out to tract the country between New Randner and a
place called Llanekly. We left a few tracts and (had) one conversation
and a few chats. We could not draw the people into a good conversation.
It was a very hilly country. We walked from 16 to 18 miles and against
(before) we was home. Was quite tired.
Tue. July 22 - Wet day. Wrote a letter to Joseph Williams, Pine Creek,
Beaver City, Beaver Co., Utah Territory and also one to Marstage, South
Wales, Monmouthshire to try and get track of some of our
relations, and reading.
July 23 - Traveled out in the country and Betsde and left a few tracts and we
tried to get to converse with the people but failed. They don't want to
talk with (us) yet. We will try and do out duty by the help of the
Almighty, for without His Holy Spirit we could never stand the scoffs and their
sneers and the insults the elders do put up with. But it's all right as
we are on our Master's work and got home tired and weary.
Fri. July 24 - Went over the hill called Smacher. The place was about 5
or 6 miles away over this hill and was interlaid among other hills and hollows
to get at the people, as there was no roads, only lanes and paths across the
fields, but I did get to them all the same. We had a few
conversations. Home in good time.
Sat. July 25 - Tracted Glastry the second time. No conversations.
Sun. July 26 - Got ourselves ready then walked about 4 or 5 miles to a village
called Kinnerton to hold meeting. We commenced by singing and John J
Williams opened with prayer, singing, and Elder Warner spoke first on the
principles of the gospel for quite awhile and J. J W. occupied the time
after. We both had great freedom of speech. We had a pretty good
crowd and behaved well and after the meeting distributed a dozen ot two of
tracts. Then walked 4 miles to Evenyole and commenced our meeting as the
people was coming out of theirs. We was trying to sing and the people
wanted to know what noise that was in their quiet little town and by the time
we was through singing then Elder Warner opened by prayer. Then he spoke
first and John J Williams second. The folks listened very well. We
had a good time. We distributed 20 tracts and had some friendly talks,
then started for home, ready for dinner at 7 o'clock or so.
Mon. July 27, 1891 - Got up in the morning with fresh courage and got ready to
start out tracting. We went to Old Randner and commenced to leave tracts
when a woman started on Elder Warner and commenced to give him fits, in her
way, but he soon calmed her down and made herself ashamed of what she
said. Then we called at the scattered houses around their quiet little
villages, as they was very much satisfied with their preachers. We,
though, got home in good time.
Tue. July 28 - Went out in the country between New Randner and Peneybount and
was received very kindly that day. Had a few conversations. We left
15 tracts. Home tired.
Wed. July 29 - Received a letter from wife and wrote one to her the same
day. It was wet part of the day. Took a walk.
Thur. July 30 - Visited Cascobe with tracts. Not many of them received.
Fri. July 31, 1891 - Received two letters, one from Joseph and one from Parley
Williams and answered one to Joseph. Wet and cold.
Sat. Aug. 1, 1891 - Went to Kingtion. That is on the borders of Herrefordshire
about 8 or 9 miles from New Randner. Went there to buy a suit of
clothes. I paid two pound 18 shilling.
Sun. Aug 2 - We got up in the morning to find it raining and it kept on all
day. I was reading and studying most all day and when dinner time came we
was called down to dine with the good folks of the house, or in other words,
our landlady. Mr. and Mrs. Nibbelet behaved very well to us. All's
well.
Mon. Aug. 3 - Wet and nasty. Home all day reading and studying.
Tue. Aug. 4 - Traveled between Randner and Peneybant at the farm houses.
They was badly scattered. We traveled about 10 miles. We had a few
conversations. Back in good time, tired.
Wed. Aug. 5 - After we had breakfast we started for the village of Peneybout
and tracted the town. We had some conversations. We left quite a
few tracts. Walked 20 miles besides going from house to house.
Bought some bread and cheese and got under a ledge and ate it. It went
sweet. Got back to the house a little before 9 o'clock. Went to bed
after giving ourselves up to the care of Father in Heaven.
Aug. 6 - Wet day so I wrote home to wife. All's well.
Aug. 7 - We visited a place called Frank's Bridge. The country around it
was a very scattered district but we was sent as fisher and hunters to hunt
them from the dens and caves of the earth, and so I thought, when we was going
over those hills and hollows. We was around that part of the country to
tract it the second time and whilst we was going around the houses or after I
had tracted the village and was going quietly away there came a man after me as
fast as he could walk, so I slackened up so he could catch up with me.
But instead of being friendly he began (?) a lying about Joseph Smith and
Brigham Young, calling them all the bad names he could think of. When he was
through I was ready, so I ask him if he thought he was a gentleman. He
said yes. Well said I, "I think you are a bully and not fit to be
with civil men", and that the Mormon Elders could prove what they preached
from the Bible and that next Sunday if he would get the people together we
would be there and so on, but before I got through, or in other words, before the
Holy Ghost got through with him he was ashamed of himself and he went away with
other feelings. Then we came and went on our way rejoicing. Home
all right.
Aug. 8 - Stormy. Wrote a letter to Elder Charles Howell.
Aug. 9 - It was a rather wet day so we went as far as Kingenerton to try and
get a few conversations with the folks. Two or three was a little
favorable but that seems to (be) all there is of it. They are so
contented and satisfied with their preachers that they are willing to sink or
swim with their preachers, and as long. We did our duty, we feel.
August 10 - As we had gone over quite a lot of the country around New Randner
we thought it would be wisdom for us to take a walk farther out to the
country of Randnershire, so we started for a tramp. We thought by doing
that we could see the best place to go to settle down to work. So we
walked 10 miles to Kington. Had dinner. Then left there and walked
(to) a place called Llangunllo. We visited every house in that village
for to get a place to lodge that night but they would not take us in. We
had walked 10 miles to Kinghton and 5 miles to Llangunllo and from there we had
to travel to Pennyleant, a distance of 10 t0 12 miles and got there about 9
o'clock at night and tried the hotels before we could get a place to sleep and
the reason was because the parsons of the church of England had been around
warning them against us, poor things. Went to bed. Slept well.
Aug. 11 - Got up. Had a good wash and breakfast and started for a town
called Bulth. We passed through a nice farming district, the houses a
long way apart. We still traveled through nice country places until we
came to a place called New Town. On (our) way, we being tired and a storm
coming, on we got lodging and rested awhile. Then we had supper and got
off to bed to rest.
Aug.. 12 - Got up. Had breakfast and then traveled all day taking in the
cut of the country. Got home about 6 o'clock at night, pretty well tired
out. Had supper and a chat with old folks about the country we had
traveled.
Aug. 13 - We being tired, and a little wet (outside), so I wrote to Ezra for a
little help to enable me to prosecute my labors.
Aug. 14 - Got up in the morning refreshed and strengthened with pleasant
dreams. Had breakfast and started for a long walk, part through Gladstre
and on to a place by the name of New
Church and tracted the
village. Had one or two short conversations but most of the people refuse
them so we took a round about road into a part we had not been before. We
left quite a few tracts that day and a few conversations . Some of the
people felt pretty good. We almost lost our road but kept on leaving tracts
as we went, thinking we should come out somewheres and about 5 o'clock we came
into a road we knew about 8 miles from Randner. I should think we
traveled that day from 20 to 25 miles. Got home pretty tired, about sun
down, and after we had supper went to bed.
Aug. 15 - Went to Walton and tracted the village. One
conversation. Then went out into the country, Elder Warner going one way and
me another so we could take in more houses the same day. We got home
about dark.
Aug. 16, Sunday - Went to Glestre and notified the people that we would hold
meeting at 5 o'clock. Then went ont to New Church
thinking to have a meeting there about half past one but when we got there it
was quiet as it could be. We called at the houses to tell them we was
going to hold a meeting but it was not good. We felt free, as we had dome our
duty, and we leave the result with them and God. After sitting on the
grass awhile under a nice large oak tree pondering over our disappointment, the
Spirit came upon me with such power and filled my heart with cheer and said go
back to Glestrey, that the people would be there ready to meet us. So
when we got there we found it true and commenced our meeting at half past 4
o'clock. We opened with prayer. Elder Morgan D. Warner prayed and
as we was not good singers, J. J Williams took the stump and commenced by
telling the people that we was not very good singers but with the help of the
Almighty I could preach the gospel to them and then they could judge for
theirselves. The people behaved very good and was quite a crowd and after
I was through, Elder Warner bore his testimony to the truthfulness of this
great Latter-Day work, after which we got among the people and tried to start a
conversation but failed. Then I asked them if there was anyone had any
questions to ask but it seemed that they had enough. We was satisfied if
they were that we had done our duty. We got home tired.
Mon. Aug. 17 - Got up well and hearty . Had breakfast and was a waiting
the mail and when the postman came he gave us a letter from Elder Ashton from
the Welsh Hay, a town 17 miles away telling us that he was going to hold a
debate on Monday night and I could (tell) by the spirit of the letter that he
wanted us to come. I told Brother Warner my feeling and he felt the
same. We put our tracts by and told our landlady that we was going to
Welsh Hay. We started away and left Randner about 10 o'clock. We
was never that way before but we foumnd the way pretty well and got there about
2 0'clock. Ashton, (and) Evans was very glad to see us. Well, we
had dinner and a good chat. The time came to hold our meeting. We
got by the big clock and commenced our meeting by singing. Elder Ashton
asked me to pray. After singing Elder Ashton commenced and cleared up his
arguments and after he (was) through he gave (the) meeting over to (the)
opposing party. The man that was to come never made his appearance, but one man
got up and began about Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and his many wives and
the people crying, "To the point, to the point, you're not doing with
it". Well, he kept on about three quarters of an hour and against
that time he had the people worked up to the extent almost to mobbing us but we
stood our ground.
Elder Ashton called on me to speak after the man was through and (I) began on
the first principles of the gospel. I spoke awhile but, oh my, they did
not want the gospel but closed our meeting by prayer and the crowd began to
shove about one side and then to the other but we got through them at last, but
the crowd followed us to our boarding house, hollering and whistling like so
many mad men and the police standing and looking on. The little woman at
the boarding house was a tramp. She soon cleared them away from the gate
and we had supper and the little woman got us a place to sleep. Had a
good night rest.
Tue. Aug. 18 - Up early in the morning to make the most of our time.
Elder Ashton and Evans and Warner and self was talking. For the most it
seemed like we was talking mostly about the night before and was very thankful
that we came off as well as we did for I do believe it was nothing but the
power of God that saved us from the power of Satan. Well, we had breakfast
and a good talk with (the) lady and gentleman of the house. They was
disgusted with those men that was at the head of that row last night and gave
us to understand that the man that was talking so hard against Joseph and
President Young last night was a bad, wicked man, after the other men's wives
and so on. (This was) the very thing I told him, or the people, whilst I
was up speaking for I could not see the man in the crowd but if I had he would
of had to of heard the same for I know I had the Spirit of God to guide my
tongue, all fear was gone away.
Well, Elder Warner and myself started for New Randner and whilst we was going
up the streets of Welsh Hay, there was people called Elder Ashton and
congratulated him on the stand he took last night and so on. So I think
good will be (the) result. Our brethern came to send us part of the way
back and when we got out in the country we sang a few songs before we parted
and they started to tract and (we) started home. We got there about 6
o'clock, pretty well tired out.
Wed. Aug. 19 - Wrote to wife, Pine Creek, Beaver Co., and studying.
Aug. 20 - It was a very wet, stormy day, reading and studying and
talking. The folks took a short walk out and went to the store to buy
some groceries and so on.
Fri. Aug. 21 - Received a letter from (the) quorum with 5 dollars. We was
reading and looking over our tracts and in the evening took a walk out to a
lonely place to pray and came back, had our supper and a little fireside chat,
then bed.
Sat. Aug. 22 - Went to Pmaerton and country around. It's a very scattered
district. We also went through Walton to see some folks as we thought was
a little favorable. When we got there the enemy had been and sowed tares
so we come home.
Sun. Aug. 23 - Wet, cold day. Nothing done only studying and a chat with
the old folks.
Mon. Aug. 24 - I traveled about 16 miles around a country called Sunny Side
because it was laying on the east side of some hills. The farms was a
long ways apart but I kept on going until I came on top of the mountain, when I
came to a poor old woman which asked me in and gave me dinner and we had a talk
on the principles of the gospel. But the poor old soul (was too deep
in her?) old religion to see the gospel. She asked me
to pray with her, which I gladlly did and she cried like a child and wanted me
to call again. Then I went on and called at house after house until the
sun was getting low. Then I began to ask the way to New Randner. I
found I was a long way from home so I got put on the right path to lead to the
right turnpike road to lead to Randner so I found it out pretty well. Got
home about dark. Brother Warner was getting uneasy about me but I got
home all right after traveling all day. Had one conversation. Went
to bed tired.
Wed. Aug. 25 - Traveled to a country place called by name Franks Bridge.
We traveled about 20 miles. We got a few conversations. We got home
about sundown, tired and weary and almost thinking our labors was in vain, as
the people seemed so careless and indifferent about the gospel of our Lord and
Master but one thing cheered me up and that is I know this work is true and that
I am on the line of duty and I can afford to leave the result with God our
Heavenly Father. So it's all right.
Thur. Aug. 27 - The day came in very wet and cold. Studying.
Fri. Aug. 28 - Went to a village, called Galsscole. Walked 17 miles and
then commenced to tract and was going very well until I came to a house and a
man came to the door, took a tract and looked at it and gave it back. As
I did not take it quick enough he dropped it on the ground and began his abuse.
I bore my testimony to him, which made (him) as mad as he could be. He
ordered me of his place and as I did not go fast enough he came out of the
house like a madman and took hold of my arm and shoved me out side his
gate. After I was on the street I turned around and asked him how much
better he was now and he went in and slammed the door as hard as he could, it
seems like, and I went on tracting. The people took the tracts very well
in the village but in the country was not so good. Got home at dark,
tired.
Aug. 29 - Visited a family we thought was favorable but when we got there it
was the other way. Got home all right.
Sun. Aug. 30 - Went to Franks
Bridge to preach.
We got there in time to catch the folks coming out of their meeting. When
we saw them coming we sang and that drew their attention and the preacher came
and after the meeting closed he came on and shook hands with us but would not
converse on the gospel so we gave him a "Voice Of Warning" and he
took it very kindly. I asked him to please to read it. We left them
to think of what they heard and we started for Randner well satisfied.
Got home at night.
Mon. Aug. 31 - Walked over to New
Church and tracted that
place. The village is small but the farm houses are scattered and when we
was coming back we came through a big thunder storm. We had to travel
about 11 miles in it, wet through. Was no name for it. When we got
home we changed our clothes. We got home about sundown and (had) dinner
and went to bed.
Tue. Sep. 1, 1891 - We was not in much humor to go out today so we stayed home
and studied and wrote a letter to wife at Beaver, Utah Territory.
Wed. Sep. 2 - Got up well and hearty and after breakfast started to a village
called Whittion. After we tracted it we parted, one making for home one
way and one another so we could take in more of the country places. After
we parted I had a few conversations but not left many tracts. It seems the
people don't want us nor the gospel preached by us, although some will say that
it is scriptural and want to know what has become of their fathers and mothers,
so of course we give them the word of God, for some will acknowledge that they
can see mercy in it but can't understand it. Well, we met at home about
the same time. Walked 16 miles. Letter to John R. Williams, Salt Lake City, Utah
Territory.
Fri. Sep. 3 - Left Randner about 9 o'clock and tracted Glastry and the country
around the third time. No conversations.
Sat. Sep. 5 - We took a walk to old Randner and tracted that part of the
country the third time. The people (are) satisfied with what they have
got, so they tell us, and if they are we are.
Sun. Sep.6 - Went and visited a family which we thought was favorable but when
we got there they was very cold. It was raining all day hard. We
had quite a talk with Mr. and Mrs. Niblet. They seemed interested.
Mon. Sep. 7 - Went to Whitton to tract that place and country.
Tue. Sep. 8 - Walked 9 miles to New
Church. Tracted it
then went into the country around another 10 miles. Left some tracts and
a few conversations and after a long tramp we got home tired.
Wed. Sept. 9 - Got up well and hearty. Done justice to our
breakfast. Then we started for Glasscole, the place where the man put me
out of his yard, but nothing daunted, we went there again and tracted that
village, then went to a little village called Covey, the farm houses between
Glasscole and Covey, and the country on towards home. We left quite a few
tracts and when we was coming home I called at a farm house to leave a tract
and an old lady came to the door and asked me in to the house and ask me if I
would have a glass of milk, and I said yes, and thanked her. When she
brought the milk she brought a piece of cake to which came in very good for it
was now about 5 o'clock and I had walked hard all day. We had a good chat
about Utah
and how we farmed here and if we made butter and cheese and so on and of course
I answered her according to her questions. The old lady seemed very
pleased and told me to call again. Well, this was a help for me to go
home. We traveled 20 miles.
Thur. Sep. 10 - Home. Wrote a letter to wife to Pine Creek, Beaver County, Utah.
After studying and reading church works took a walk and back. Went to
bed.
Fri. Sept. 11 - Went over to Knightem. Got lodging and came back home,
tired after traveling 20 miles. Had supper and bed.
Sat. Sept. 12 - Notified the people of Kinnerton and Enastole that we would
hold meeting on Sunday. Back home in good time. Had a wash and
Brother Warner a shave and chat with the boys. Bed.
Sun. Sep. 13 - Came fine day. We went to fill our appointments. The
folks was there a waiting for us to come so we spent our meeting by singing and
prayer, by Elder Warner singing. If ever I felt my meekness, it was this meeting,
but after I bore my testimony that I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of
God, timid feelings left me altogether and I talked over an hour. Elder Warner
spoke after a little persuasion. One man came to me and ask me to come in
and get a glass of beer, but I could discern what his intentions was so I told
him we had mo use for beer. We did not use it, Then we traveled to
Evangole and commenced our meeting by singing and John. J Williams opened with
prayer, singing, (and) Elder Warner was the first speaker. He dwelt on
faith, repentence and baptism, after which I spoke on salvation for the dead
and brought passages to substantiate what I said. The people was very
quiet and we had a good meeting. We got home ready for our dimnner after
an enjoyable day, which was another testimony that God is with his humble
servants as long as they are on duty.
Mon. Sep. 14 - It was a rainy day. I was home reading.
Tue. Sep. 15 - Visited Kinerton. Had a few conversations, short ones.
Wed. Sept 16 - Walked 17 miles to Welsh Hay Brockonshire to visit our brethren,
Elders Ashton and Evans. They was a laboring in that town. We had a
good time together. We had dinner and a long chat. Then went and
got lodging and quite a conversation with the land lady of the house, about Utah and her
people. But when we began to speak about the gospel it was another thing
so we came to the conclusion to go to bed to rest.
Thur. Sept. 17 - Got up in the morning. Had prayers with the boys and
good conversation. Then breakfast, after which we bid the good people of
the house good-bye and started for Randner. The brethren came to send us
on our way home and after they came 4 or 5 miles they began to tract and we
went on home. We got home about dark, pretty tired.
Fri. Sep. 18 - The time had come for us to leave Randner as we had tracted
around as far as we could travel in one day and I am satisfied that I have done
our duty in trying to warn the people. So we tried go get a man to take
our boxes with horse and cart but we could not get one. So we had to go a
round about way to go to Kinghton. It cost us 5 shillings each to
go. We had to book to Leomaster and change cars there, then go back to
Kinghton. We past 16 stations when we could of went in 10 miles by
team. We got there about 4 o'clock well and hearty and ready for dinner,
and that we had, and bed.
Sat. Sept. 19 - It was a wet cold day. I was home studying all day.
Sun. Sep. 20 - It was a wet day so we could not go nowheres to preach so we
stayed home all day reading and studying.
Mon. Sep. 21 - We got up in the morning. Got our map to see the lay of
the country. So after breakfast we started for a place called Llangunlls
and we tracted the farm houses as we went and when we got to the village it was
only a little one. We called at every house but did not leave many
tracts. We travelled about 15 miles but could not get into conversation
with the people.
Tue. Sep. 22 - I received a letter from Sister Pixton with 5 dollars and one
from Ezra T. Williams and Joseph with 5 dollars each. It was very
thankfully received as I was almost out of means and we had to buy every thing
and had to pay for washing and everything else and it took quite a bit to keep
one going. We went out in high spirits and with thankful heart to God My
Heavenly Father for his great care over me in opening the way for me to get the
means. I tracted part of the town but it was the same with them as with
others. The people seem careless about religion. Got home early.
Wed. Sept. 23 - walked 5 miles and left tracts as we went. Came to a
place called Knucklas Dingle and left 26 tracts.
Thur. Sep. 24 - Home writing letters to Ezra T. Williams and Joseph Williams
and Sister Pixton to acknowledge their kindness in helping me with money, and I
was studying.
Sat. Sept. 26 - Home all day as it was wet and cold. Studying.
Sun. Sept. 27 - It was a cold day but we had made up our minds to preach out on
the streets. We went out and commenced our meeting about half past 1:00
p.m. by singing. J. J Williams opened with prayer. Then we sang
again. Elder Warner spoke first on some of the first principles of the
gospel but it was like preaching to stone walls.
We could see a few with their heads out of the doors but we was determined to
do our duty and warn them of the judgements of the Almighty and bear our humble
testimony to that town before we left. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon we
had another meeting but few people attended. Elder Warner opened by
prayer and J. J Williams spoke for about three quarters of an hour. It
being very cold and Brother Warner not feeling very well we quit after singing
and prayer by John J Williams. We left a few tracts and tried to get some
conversations with the people but we failed. We went to our lodging to
ponder over the good we had done. One thing, we was thankful that our
kind Heavenly Father gave us His Holy Spirit to guide out tongues to speak to
the people and to give us satisfaction that we had done our duty and our labors
were accepted.
Mon. Sept. 28 - Walked over to a small village called Belke Chapel. We
left a few tracts there and we called at the farm houses on our way back
home. We had a pretty good day.
Tue. Sept. 29 - We started out to tract and as the people was much scattered we
concluded for us to part, one to go one way, the one the other. The one
road went on the borders of Shropshire and Randnershire so I took the Shropshire side and I had a hard days walk and left 19
tracts. I got home late. I had two conversationss. Brother
Warner was home a long time before I was.
Thur. Sep. 30 - Visited a place called Honroy. Left 30 tracts.
Fri. Oct 1, 1891 - Received a letter from wife and answered it. It was
all well at home, for which I feel very thankful.
Sat. Oct 2 - Wet and cold for the time of year. I was home all day
reading church works and talking with the landlord and lady about Utah and her people.
Oct. 3 - Walked out around town to advertise ourselves.
Sun. Oct.4 - Went to a village called Hoyeny to try to get a meeting. It
was about 7 miles. We went and notified the people that we would hold a
meeting and we waited a while but no one came so we gave it up and started to a
place called Nucklus, as we had notified them. When we went to the other
place, and we got there in time to hold our meeting, we could not see anyone
but we started by singing as loud as we could. The people came out. J. J
opened by prayer and again we sang. There was quite a crowd around so I
called on Elder Warner to speak. First he spoke on faith, repentance and
baptism and so on. As some of our tracts treated on salvation for the
dead I spoke that principle and the Lord helped, though some of the folks
thought it was very good and scriptural. We had lots of short
conversations. There was one man there that had been a preacher for 30
years and I asked him who called him to preach. He said the Holy
Ghost. Then you believe in revelation? He said (no). I (said) well,
but (you) say the Holy Ghost called you to preach. Is not that
revelation? Well, he said it was no good to argue the point as he knew he
was right and (I) told him that he that knoweth his Master's will and doeth it
not shall be beaten with many stripes. He came on and shook hands and
said good bye and God bless you. We had a good meeting and got home tired
and hungry. Am very thankful we have something to eat.
Mon. Oct. 5 - Visited a village about 8 miles away called
Hangunllo. We left 49 tracts. Walked 16 miles besides walking from
house to house. I had one conversation . Home tired.
Tue. Oct. 6 - It was raining. I was home all day studying. Received
a letter from Elders Ashton and Evans in the Welsh Hay and I answered it the
same day. All well.
Wed. Oct 7 - Walked over to Nucklus and left 14 tracts.
Thur. Oct. 8 - Wrote a letter to President Rich about how we was getting along
in this part of the country.
Fri. Oct. 9 - Took a walk over to Shropshire
side and left 30 tracts. Some of the people seemed to be kind enough to
talk to but did not want the gospel as preached by the Mormon elders.
They was satisfied with thier own preachers.
Sat. Oct 10 - I wrote a letter to Elder David Williams and when the post man
came I had a letter from my sister-in-law at Masstag that (said) she was very
sick and if I wanted to see her alive I would have to come quick. I
talked the matter over with Brother Warner and (we) made up our minds to go, I
to see my sister-in-law and he to Cardiff,
as he did not feel very well. We took (the) train for Merthyr at 10
o'clock. I got to Masstag about 8 o'clock at night, by the kindness of a
man that I did not ask his name, but he hunted until he found them. He
wished us good night and off he went.
Well, I found Rebecca very sick, so much so that her children was crying around
and thinking she was going to die. I quieted them down a little. I
laid my hands on her head and she began to breathe more easily and went to
sleep. She slept a long time and when she awoke whe was much
better. We talked about old times until it was morning. I went to
bed for awhile to rest as I was tired.
Sun. Oct. 11 - I stopped with Mary Jane Walters all day and as it was Sunday I
went to a Baptist meeting with James Walters. It was a class
meeting. They sang and then one would pray, then another, until three or
four had. Then they would sing again, and so on, but there was no women
there. When we came out of meeting it was a raining like
everything. I went with Mr. Walters home and had dinner and then went and
sat with Rebecca to cheer her up a little. She turned for the best about
sun down so I talked about Utah
and what I was here for and bore my testimony to them of the truthfulness of
this great Latter-Day Work. After a long talk I prepared to go to bed to
sleep.
Mon. Oct. 12 - Got up. Had breakfast and had a talk with Rebecca. Then
went over the mountain with Samuel Shepherd to see Seah(?) Jane. The
folks received me very kindly but I was not myself at all. The place was
so dirty but I had to stay there one night but I was up bright and early and
got breakfast and wished them good bye. I bore my testimony to them but
there had been elders there but no good. I got back to Masstag pretty
early on Oct. 13 and had supper with Mary Jane and a chat with Rebecca
Shepherd.
Wed. Oct. 14 - Wished the folks good-bye and God bless you and left Masstag for
Cardiff and found the Saints and Elders at Cardiff. All
well. Was in time to have meeting with Saints at night and bore testimony
to the truth of this work. After meeting we had to go with Brother and
Sister Force to get supper and came back to the conference house to sleep.
Thur. Oct. 15 - Got up. Had prayers with the brethern, breakfast, then wished
them good day and left Cardifff for Micheldane. I left the train at
Newman and walked about 8 miles to Micheldane and got there all right and got a
place to sleep. Had supper, then bed.
Fri. Oct. 16 - Had breakfast. Then took a walk around town. The old
place looked about the same as it did when I was a boy running about the
streets barefooted, only the cement works, and that is a fine piece of
work. As I was walking around I saw some of my playmates. They
seemed very friendly but when I told them how I was and where I came from, why
there was another look. I went to the town clerk and got the account of
my step father's death and Mother's. Then went and found a cousin of mine
and stopped there all night. Had a good night's rest with them.
Sat. Oct. 17 - Went over to Imderford and ran into some of my old friends.
Sun Oct. 18 - I was received with all kindness by my cousin Harriet Ward and
cousin James Ward, her husband.
Mon. Oct. 19 - I left Mitcheldane after breakfast and a chat with the
folks. I walked from Mitcheldane to Rosstown, 6 miles away, as I should
have to wait at a side station. Instead of stopping I walked on through a
drizzling rain and got to the station before the train came along so I took
train and got to Longtom. I arrived all right and Elder Warner came from Cardiff up through
Merthyr and along the Northern Line and was at Kinghton before me. Both
of us enjoyed the trip.
Tue. Oct. 20 - Being a wet day I wrote to wife, giving account of my
travel, and reading and conversing with the folk of the house.
Wed. Oct. 21 - Bethel Chaple, it is a small village called by that name because
the chapel is called by that. It is a Baptist association. We could
get along with them all right as regards baptism, but when we come to laying on
of the hands of the elders, they said it (is) all done away now. Home in
good time.
Thur. Oct. 22 - We left Kingthen for the village called Llangunllo. We
walked 9 miles. We tracted the place the third time. It seemed that
much good have not been done as far as mortal eye can see but we done our duty.
Fri. Oct. 23 - Received a letter from wife. All right home. Then
tracted the east part of Knighten the third time.
Sat. Oct. 24 - Elder Warner and I parted at Knoichsus(?). He tracted that
part and went over on Shropshire side.
The people very easy over their salvation but we try to leave tracts (with)
them.
Sun. Oct. 25 - Wet. We was home most of the day studying.
Mon. Oct. 26 - Wet and cold, raining all day long. I was writing.
Tue. Oct. 27 - We was reading and studying and at night went to fill (an)
appointment to preach in a cottage. We had a good turn out.
The people was deceived.
They was thinking we was Baptist but they found out we was Mormons. But
we preached faith, repentance and baptism and laying on of the hands of the
elders for the Holy Ghost but they said those things was done away with.
I called, "Yes, they are done away now because their preachers have no
authority and they was changing the gospel of Christ into man made
scriptures," and so on. We bore our testimonies to them and after
the meeting we had quite a chat with the people. The good folk of the
house would have us to have supper with them so we stayed, and when we left I
blest them in the name of the Lord Jesus and so left them. A good walk
home.
Wed. Oct. 28 - We left Kinghter to give a visit around the places where we had
been tracting. We went to Old Randner to see two old people by the name
of Jones. Sister Hide of Salt
Lake was her sister so we
got Sister Hide's address. The old lady seemed highly pleased to hear
from her sister. She made us dinner and we tried at comforting the old
folks the best we could and I do believe that if we had a visited the old
people longer that they would of been baptised. Then we traveled over to
New Randner to the old folks there and next Nilelelet. We had walked about
16 miles that day. The misses gave us supper and was pleased to see us
and after we had a long talk with her and daughter about the gospel we was
ready for bed and we rested good.
Thur. Oct. 29 - Got up, washed, had breakfast. Then went out to have a
look at the place. Then went back to wish our land lady good bye and
nothing would not do but we must have dinner and after we had done I asked her
what our bill was and she said nothing. So we left New Randner for
Knighten and got home at night. Walked 10 miles.
Fri. Oct. 30 - Tracted Shropshire side the third time. No good prospects
in Kinghten. Wrote a letter to wife. It was all right.
Sat. Oct. 31 - We had orders to come to Cardiff
to conference so we packed up and left Randnershire for Cardiff. We left Kingten about 1
0'clock and got to Cardiff
in time for council meeting about 8 0'clock and gave in our report, which was
satisfactory. Got (a) place to sleep two blocks away.
Sun. Nov. 1, 1891 - At 188 Tattay Terrace, Cathays, Cardiff
conference began by singing and prayer by Elder John D. Williams from Iron County.
President Evans spoke awhile of the duties of the Saints, after which President
Evans called on some of the elders to speak. Elders L. Ashton, John D.
Williams, Thomas D. Roberts and David Williams and Isgreen, John J
Williams. We all gave our report in and bore our testimonies and at the
night meeting President Young gave very good instructions. There was some
strangers present. After the meeting we elders got around Brother Young
asking questions until at least (an) hour. We elders had a way up time
and before going to bed or going out to our lodging to go to bed, the elders
formed a circle and we had prayers.
Mon. Nov. 2 - Got up in the morning. Had a wash and bid the land lady
good morning. Went up to the conference house and had breakfast, then a meeting
in which President Young gave some fatherly advice. He spoke more like a
good father to his children. It was lovely to be under his voice and
after he was through the elders was appoingted to their fields of labor.
John J Williams and Thomas D. Roberts to labor in North
Wales to start at Bald Meriomnethshire. Brother was a
Welshman from that part of the country but left when a boy. Well, after
congratulating each other on our fields of labors and a few songs we parted
after having prayers.
Tue. Nov. 3 - Took tracts and books and left Cardiff at 7 o'clock in the morning and
reached Ruaban North Wales and had to change cars there for Bald and after a
pleasant ride we got to Bald about 8 o'clock at night. Through getting
acquainted with a man on the train he came and got us a place to stay that
night so we had supper and a little chat, then bed. It cost us 13
shillings and 6 pence each from Cardiff
to Bald.
Wed. Nov. 4 - Had breakfast. Then took a walk around town to see the
place and to get to find out the best way to make a start to tract, after which
we went to see the Lake. It is a fine
body of water and looks nice. It is four miles long and one mile wide, so
they say.
Thur. Nov. 5 - We fasted and wrote a letter to wife to let her know where I am
and at night we saw the boys going through the streets with old grey fox.
It is an English custom to burn old grey fox on the 5th of Nov. They get
a straw man and go through the streets with it and the more noise they can make
the better. They feel there was hundreds of boys going to burn old grey
fox just outside of town and some old men was there too.
Fri. Nov. 6 - We paid 10 shillings board and lodging after we took a walk.
Sat. Nov. 7 - We paid 4 shillings and 6 pence and got a place to lodge.
Moved our goods to our new home, then started our labors. We left 19
Welsh and 3 English "Glad Tidings". We got a room for 2
shilling and 6 pence per week.
Sun. Nov. 8 - Studying and reading. It was wet and cold.
Mon. Nov. 9 - Wrote a letter to President Thomas B. Evans to Cardiff 788
Cattays Terrace, Cathays, Cardiff
and went out to tract part of Bala. We left 6 Welsh tracts and had 6
conversations on the principles of the gospel.
Tue. Nov. 10 - We went out to tract the north side of Bala. We left 39
"Glad Tidings" in Welsh & English tracts.
Wed. Nov. 11 - Wrote a letter to Mary Ann Thomas, Sheroye, near Tredegar,
Monmouthshire and one to Thomas Davis, Nict... and started out and left 31
Morgans no. 7 tracts and 3 English.
Thur. Nov. 12 - We started out in Bala on the north side and left 30 Welsh
tracts. As we had not been out into the country we took a walk out in the
country and we could see that we should have plenty of walking, the farm houses
are so far apart and very hilly. We came home satisfied we should have to
work if we got many tracts before the people. When I came home and called
at the post office there was a letter from Salt Lake
from my wife with 5 dollars, which came very handy as I was almost out. I
was very thankful for it.
Fri. Nov. 13 - Went out to a country village called Llanucil and tracted that
place and the country farms around for a decent distance around and we had
quite a few gospel conversations with the people. Left 20 tracts.
Sat. Nov. 14 - We went out to the west side of Bala and left 30 Welsh and
English tracts and got in conversation with a man on the principles of
salvation for the dead. As the tract I left him before was treating on
that subject so he thought he was going to do me up easily and he brought (up)
the thief on the cross. But I referred him to the 16 chap. of Mark and on
to the 43 verse and also referred him to the words of our Savior to the thief
where he said, "This day shalt thou be with me in paradise". I
was there 3 or 4 hours or so, but he acknowledged that he never understood the
scriptures in that light. I could not get a conversation with him after
but he took the tracts, all the same, but no more talk.
Sun. Nov. 15 - Wet and cold day. We was home all day reading and so on.
Mon. Nov. 16 - We tracted part of Bala. Left 60 tracts the second time
going around. Most of the people are Calvin Methodist and they say they
have plenty of good preachers and I sometimes tell them yes, and they are man
made preachers with (no) divine authority and so forth. I try to get my
testimony in every time I can.
Tue. Nov. 17 - We traveled over a very rough country to a small place called
the Part, being as it is a stock country. We left 16 tracts and had 3
gospel conversations with the people. Home in good time.
Wed. Nov. 18 - We walked to a village by the name of Leranchllan. Left 30
Welsh tracts and 7 English. It was (a) wet and stormy day. Wrote to
President Evans for more tracts and sent 5 dollars to pay for them so as to get
it changed.
Thur. Nov. 19 - Went to a village called Learnchllgre. Left 33 tracts and
sent a letter to Brother Holder, Taylorsville, Salt Lake County, Utah
Ter. as I had promised to do. All well.
Fri. Nov. 20 - A wet, cold day. Wrote a letter to Elder Bennion, Taylorsville, Utah,
and left 33 tracts in Bald. The people very careless about the gospel and
Brother Roberts and I was very down hearted as we could not see any good we was
doing. Well, we went to bed and in the night I dreamed that Brother
Roberts and I was in a nice barn threshing wheat, and we was trying to clean up
the floor but the more we tried to get the wheat from the smut the more smutty
it got and I said to Elder Roberts that it was a great pity as the wheat was
plump and good. The interpretation was to me through the Spirit that the
wheat was the people and the smut was the false religions and as the people had
so much smut about them the (more) we got among them the worse they would get,
so we was comforted.
Sat. Nov. 21 - As we thought there was two or three families that was a little
favorable about ten miles away and we had tracted that place the third time, we
thought we would give them another chance. We started out in a drizzling
rain and (got) there about noon and called at those places but, oh my! The
feeling there was with them I shall not forget. Well, we came back more
wise than we was when we went. But one thing gave us joy and that we know
we was on the line of our duty.
Sun. Nov. 22 - Wet, snowy cold day. Wrote to Elder Morgan Warner who was
laboring in Randnershire at a town of Boulth.
He was well then.
Mon Nov. 23 - Went over to the Park to tract that place the third time.
We had 6 good conversations but did not want tracts.
Tue. Nov. 24 - We distributed 15 tracts and had 5 conversations and received a
letter from Mary Ann Thomas from Shirwey near Tredegar, Monmouthshire and
answered it the same day. They was well.
Wed. Nov. 25 - We went out around the town of Bala
and left 19 Welsh and English tracts and had 5 gospel conversations and we
received a letter from President Evans at Cardiff.
The boys all well.
Thur. Nov. 26 - Went out around Bala in the country places and left 26 tracts
and had 6 lively gospel conversations.
Fri. Nov. 27 - We went out in the country about 10 miles. It was quite a
stormy day but we left 13 tracts and (had) six conversations. One of
conversations was with a Baptist preacher. He was very reasonable.
We talked a long time but before we got through he wanted to know what he would
do for a living if he was to become a Mormon or Latter-Day Saint. We told
him that he would have to work for it as we and others did and as we was out
without purse or script that he would have the privilege but he could not see
the point so we parted in good friends.
Sat. Nov. 28 - It was raining hard all day. I studied a little and then
looked over my journal to see how much money I had received since I have been
out. I found I had received one hundred and 5 dollars from home and 15
from quorum and friends, which I was very thankful, for my many friends.
Sun. Nov. 29 - Wrote a long letter to wife and asked for Parley's address so
that I could write to him. All well.
Mon. Nov. 30 - Went to the Park the fourth time, 3 conversations.
Tue. Dec. 1, 1891 - We went out and left 8 tracts and two conversations, then
came home and made up our accounts for November month, 1881. We left 496
tracts and 61 gospel conversationns. It was a wet, cold day. We
felt well, though.
Wed. Dec. 2 - Walked to Llandderfel to leave tracts and called at a village by
the name or Llanfor. Left 23 tracts. Traveled 10 miles. The
people are very careless about the gospel as preached by us.
Thur. Dec. 3 - Wrote a lettr to Ezra T. Williams, Beaver County, Utah
Ter. and sent in our report for Nov. month of our labors in and around
Bald. It was rainy cold day.
Fri. Dec. 4 - We traveled around the country places and left 20 Welsh tracts
and had one conversation. Walked about 8 miles.
Sat. Dec. 5 - Left 11 tracts and three pretty good conversations.
Sun. Dec. 6 - Wrote one letter to Elder Joseph Lindsay, Ireland, and
one to Elders Ashton and Evans and we had 1 conversation.
Mon. Dec. 7 - It was a very wet, cold day. Wrote to Elder Morgan Warner,
Randnershire. He was sick, not able to work.
Tue. Dec. 8 - Traveled around Bald
Lake and left 18 Welsh
tracts.
Wed. Dec. 9 - Walked about 10 miles to the village of Llandderfel
and left 46 tracts and two conversations but some refuse our tracts.
Thur. Dec. 10 - It was a raining all day and as my shoes wanted mending so I
sent them to be soled and I received a letter from my dear old wife from
Utah. She was well and the family all(so).
Fri. Dec. 11 - We took a long walk to the village of Llandrillo
about 18 miles on and back. We left 40 tracts but the people tell me that
they have got a Bible and that they don't want no more Bible and when we can
get a talk with them we can very soon see that they don't believe the Bible as
much as they say they do.
Sat. Dec. 12 - We walked out into the country south of Bald and left 15 Welsh
tracts. It was snowing and raining. It was a bad day to work.
Received a letter from President Evans that he could (not) lend me any
means as he had none in the office so I thought it hard just then.
Sun. Dec. 13 - I wrote a letter stating the fix I was in. My heart was
pretty full but not for long. The Lord soon comforted my heart.
Mon. Dec. 14 - Left 11 Welsh tracts and had one conversation.
Tue. Dec. 15 - Received a letter from wife and one from Era T. Williams with 5
dollars which was very thankfully received for I was right out and was
borrowing of Elder Roberts. I answered those letters the same day as it
was a wet day.
Wed. Dec. 16 - We went outside of Bala on the East side of the lake. We
traveled over hills and hollows. The houses (were) a far way apart but
the people took the tracts pretty good and some of them was inclined to
converse on the principles of the gospel. We left 17 tracts and held 5
conversations. Came home tired.
Thur. Dec. 17 - Visited the village
of Llandderfel.
Left 40 tracts and held three good conversations and came of men best.
Fri. Dec. 18 - The country between Llandderfil and Bala and left 30 tracts and
had 4 good conversations. We walked 8 miles out and of course it was 8
miles back, besides going to the houses. The folk in the country are not
so bad as in the town.
Sat. Dec. 19 - We was home. A wet day. Settled up accounts with
Brother Roberts as I had to borrow of him to pay board. Wrote a letter to
President Evans at Cardiff with one shilling
worth of stamps as a Christmas (box?) for the postman at Cardiff to encourage them to bring mail
promptly.
Sun. Dec. 20 - Wrote a letter to Elder J. H. Davis. Fine day. Home
all day.
Mon. Dec. 21 - We visited the Park the fifth time. We do want to leave
the people without excuse. Had three conversations.
Tue. Dec. 22 - Visited Llandivur the fourth time. Left 7 tracts.
Wed. Dec. 23 - Visited Rlosyaliu. Left three tracts. The people
don't want no more religion. They are perfectly satisfied and we elders
are satisfied that we have done our duty and we can afford to leave the result
with our Father in Heaven.
Thur. Dec. 24 - I took a walk out into country as I was alone as Brother
Roberts had gone to Liverpool to see his
friends there.
Fri. Dec. 25 - Had my Christmas dinner gave me by our landlady, Missus Mathus,
beef and plum pudding. It went good.
Sat. Dec. 26 - Sent a letter to wife to let her know how I am.
Sun. Dec. 27 - Home all day. It was wet and cold and snow.
Mon. Dec. 28 - Received a letter from Joseph S. Lindsay and I wrote one back
the same day. He was well and was laboring in Belfast, Ireland.
He was enjoying his labors much.
Tue. Dec. 29 - Received a letter from wife with ten dollars which was very
thankfully received as I was out of means and I wrote an answer to acknowledge
her kindness to me.
Wed. Dec. 30 - Sent a letter to Henry Harker and recieved one from Elder Hyrum
Bennion, and reading and studying.
Thur. Dec. 31, 1891 - Good by to 1891. I took a walk out at night to see
the stores decorated with holly branches and so on.
Fri. Jan 1, 1892 - Made up our month account. From December ending 31
Sept. we had left 2709 tracts and 35 conversation. Wrote to President
Evans and paid him 4 shilling and 3 pence for the stores, as I was a little
behind.
Sat. Jan. 2, 1892 - Wrote to Brother Warner, Randnershire, and to President
Evans about our labors in Merionethshire around Bala.
Mon. Jan. 3 - We both fasted and I sent a letter to Joseph Williams, Beaver City,
Beaver, Utah.
I was well and hearty at that time.
Tue. Jan. 4 - We walked to Taly, about 8 miles and tracted that place and
called at a little village called Lldriardare and left 77 tracts at both places.
Wed. Jan. 5 - I looked over the accounts of the letters received and wrote
since I have been on mission. It was between 40 and 50. Today is a
wet, cold day. We are confined to our rooms all day.
Thur. Jan. 6 - We traveled out in the country and tracted three small villages,
namely Brongoch and Tynybout and Caplegelyn. It is a very scattered
district. We left 23 tracts. The people don't care to talk because
I can't talk Welsh, so they say.
Fri. Jan. 7 - We fasted today and walked out among the people and called on a
few we thought was favorable to the gospel principles but was deceived.
They did not want us nor the gospel as preached by the Latter-Day Saints, so we
wished them goodbye, after bearing our testimony to them that we know Joseph
Smith was a true prophet of God and that the (day) would come that they would
know it too, to their sorrow and disappointment, and left them in the hands of
God.
Sat. Jan. 8 - Snowed one foot deep. We was home all day.
Sun. Jan. 9 Wrote a letter to Elder Charles Howell and one to Arche
Frame. It was a very cold, snowy, wet day.
Mon. Jan 10 - Home reading and studying and writing.
Tue. Jan. 11 - Went out and tracted Bala. We left 56 tracts and had 2
conversations with two Methodists. As they had good English there was no excuse
so we had it upon divine authority and I soon showed him, or tried to that he
had no authority and that he was preaching for hire and divining for money and
it is through you and your like that the people ae led astray and that the
signs do follow the Mormons. I told them that if the signs promised by
our Savior Jesus Christ don't follow us nor they, that none of us right because
Jesus said thay shall follow those that do believe. Now, says I, which is
right, you preachers or our Lord and Master. Well, we could not agree so
we parted.
Wed. Jan. 12 - We went out in the town of Bald
as the snow was so deep we could not go out to the country. We left today
44 tracts and a few small talks. The people are led by their ministers.
Thur. Jan. 13 - Went out again the deep (snow), left 36 tracts and we had two
long conversations on gospel principles but the people won't see the gospel as
it is laid down in the Bible. No, that won't do.
Sat. Jan.15 - We started out and visisted LLandrillo. we left 17 tracts
and had six conversations and walked 18 miles, besides calling at the
houses. We came home tired and hungry.
Sun. Jan. 16 It was a wet cold day, in, reading and studying.
Mon. Jan. 17 - Wrote to wife and one to Parley and fasted 24 hours for Elder
Warner as he was very sick and low and not able to work.
Tue. Jan. 18 - We went over Bala the second time. Had two conversations.
Wed. Jan. 19 - Went out and tracted Arenig
street. Left 35 tracts. It was snowing
which made it bad for tracting and walking.
Thur. Jan. 20 - We was out again today. Left 8 tracts and two
conversations.
Fri. Jan. 21 - We left one tract and 1 conversation and walked 8 miles to do
that.
Sat. 22 - Left two tracts and one conversation. It was snowing and
blowing.
Sun. 24 - Wrote to Ezra T. Williams and home studying.
Mon. 25 - Visited Capilgelyn and Brongock. Left 8 tracts and we walked 8
miles on and back which made it 16 miles. Got home alright.
Tue. 26 - Visited Llandiardau and left 15 tracts and we had 6
conversations. some of the people was a little talkative. When I
went to the post office there was a letter from Ezra T. Williams with 5
dollars, thankfully received by me.
Wed. Jan. 27 - Was home and wrote a letter to Joseph Williams, Beaver Co., and
one to Morgan D. Warner. He was quite sick and expected that he would
have to go home to Utah
but he hates the thoughts of leaving before filling his mission.
Thur. Jan. 20 - Took a walk out into the country west of Bala and 20 Welsh
tracts and one conversation. Not very well received.
Fri. 29 - We went out and tracted Bald the third time. We left 40 tracts
today and had the pleasure of 3 conversationss. Received a letter from
wife and wrote one back same day.
Sat. 30 - A wet, cold day today, so we stayed in reading and studying.
Sun. Jan. 31 - We made our accounts up until January 31, 1892. We
distributed 390 tracts and 39 conversations and 5 "Voice of Warnings".
Mon. Feb. 1, 1892 - We thought it time to move our lodging, as we had tracted
that (part) of the country around Bald as far as we could reach in one day so
we took train and rode 17 miles to a town called Corwen and got lodging and looked
around a little, then started to walk the 17 miles back home. We walked
17 miles back home. Left 3 tracts, 2 on our way and 5 conversations.
Tue. Feb. 2 - We visited Tenybout and Frongooch. Left 9 tracts and one
conversation. It was a wet, cold day to be out tracting but as we are on
our Master's business, He will take care of us.
Wed. Feb. 3 - We traveled 10 miles today and left 3 tracts and 3
conversations. We are clear of their blood as we are satisfied we have
done our duty. We have tried our best to get the gospel before the
people, yet after all we have done they have told us enough gospel and enough
of the Mormons too, so we leave then in the hands of the Almighty for Him to do
as He pleases.
Thur. Feb. 4 - As we feel our weakness, we fasted today, and went out to see if
we could get to talk to anybody about the gospel. We tried several times
but failed. We left 12 tracts.
Fri. 5 - Visited Llannylilly. Left 6 tracts. They have enough.
Sat. Feb. 6 - Received the news of Elder Warner going home, having ill health,
and I wrote a letter to President Evans and one to Elder Morgan D. Warner to
try to comfort him a little.
Sun. 7 - Wrote a letter to wife to tell her about Brother Warner's sickness.
Mon. Feb. 8 - We left Bala at half past 7 o'clock by train. It cost us
one shilling and six pence each, Elder Roberts and self are perfectly
satisfied that we done out duty in the district of Bala and we will leave the
result with God. We got to Carwen all well. Went to our lodgings
and got our rooms. Put our traps by and had dinner, then went around
town. Carwen is a junction town. The branch road goes to
Denby and the main line goes to Raaban Junction, North
Wales.
Tue. Feb. 9 - We went to a village by the name of Glyndfrdny and left 75 tracts
and had 7 conversations. Walked 16 miles. Some of the people thought
we was pedlars but we soon showed them different and bore our testimony to them
as far as we could.
Wed. Feb. 10 - We left Corwen about 8 o'clock and traveled 17 miles besides
calling at the houses and sometimes the houses was a long ways apart. The
village was Garrog, and as there was a few houses in Denbeshire we thought best
to tact that too. We left 33 tracts. It was a wet drizzle rain all
day, most.
Thur. Feb. 11 - We went out, although it was cold and wet and left 27
tracts. The people had no desire to hold any conversations.
Fri. 12 - Received a letter from wife and one from Joseph Williams and answered
one to J Williams the same day. It was wet and cold.
Sat. 13 - Visited Glyndfrdury and left 38 tracts and had 4 conversations with
the people but the most of them are careless. We tracted that place over
the second time. Walked 16 miles.
Sun. Feb. 14 - Home all day reading and studying. Not much comfort at
home. The landlady is a woman that hates us and Mormonism.
Mon. Feb. 15 - Visited the village
of Garrog. Left 16
tracts. Stormy all day.
Tue. Feb. 16 - We traveled to the village
of Llandrillo, 8 miles
and had two conversations. The most of the people are Calvinistic
Methodists. (They) are a hard people to get along with as regards
religion as they say that they are predestined to be saved and foreordained to
preach the gospel, as they call it.
Wed. 17 - Went out south of Corwen. Left 7 tracts all day and held two
conversations but the people seemed very indifferent about the gospel and the
tracts. They say there is too much work about it.
Thur. Feb. 18 - Went to the village of Cynwyd 10 miles. Left 52 tracts
and had 7 good loud conversations but after all, they think the Latter-Day
Saints are on the wrong track. They think they get to heaven with out
baptism or the laying on of the hands and so on.
Fri. 19 - We left Corwen about 9 o'clock. It was pretty stormy all day
but we went over to the village called Druid. We left 16 tracts between
there and Carwen. The people generaly cool.
Sat. Feb. 20 - We was home writing and studying. Wet and Cold.
Sun. 21 - I wrote a letter to President Evans, 188 Cathays, Cardiff, and also I was trying to study and
write in journal.
Mon. 22 - We left Carwen, although it was very bad walking, and traveled 12
miles, and we left 26 tracts and some small talks.
Tue. 23 - We started out and visited the village of Garrog,
I think it was about 8 miles, and we left 22 tracts.
Wed. 24 - We went out into the country west of Corwen and left 3 tracts and a
few conversations. Traveled all day, but one thing gave us courage and
that was we are on duty.
Thur. Feb. 25 - Went to Cywnyd and left 24 tracts. Walked 10 miles.
Fri. Feb. 26 - we traveled today to between Corwin and a place called
Bethwessyock and left 24 tracts and walked 11 miles and had a few
conversations, Brother Roberts being mouth, as all was Welsh.
Sat. Feb. 27 - Visited Four Crosses. Left 28 tracts and a few
conversations and today received a letter from quorum with 5 dollars and a
letter from Elder Charles Howell, England.
Sun. 28 - Answered letter to quorum and one to wife at Beaver.
Mon. Feb. 29 - Tracted Carwen the third time and left 105 tracts and had 3
gospel conversations. It was a wet, cold day to be out in.
Tue. Mar. 1, 1892 - Carwen, Merionethshire, North Wales.
We went to the village
of Glyndrdn and tracted
that place the third time. We left 1 tract and two conversations and on
the road coming back we had two more but it seems the people have enough
religion. Those men that we held conversations, they would not take our
tracts. They only talked just for the fun of it, but when we get such men
as that we give them our testimonies as strong as we can.
Wed. Mar. 2 - We got out of our lodging about 7 o'clock and glad to get out as
the woman was a selfish disagreeable woman and one that hated the Mormons, so
we was glad to go out into the country to get a little fresh air and where we
could offer up our prayers. Well, we visited the village of Bethsws
and left 21 tracts and three conversations. It was a pretty rough
road. Walked 10 or 12 miles.
Thur. Mar. 3 - Went out into the country around to visit the people and past Cynwyd
and tracted it, and after all our labors that day we only left 12 tracts and
two conversations, but thankful that we have done our duty to the people as far
as we can.
Fri. Mar. 4 - Visited Garrog the third time. We had two conversations.
Sat. Mar. 5 - Visited Glansafren. Left 28 tracts, Went out 8 miles
and back.
Sun. Mar. 6 - Home all day. I wrote a letter to wife in answer to one I
received with ten dollars, thankfully received, and wrote a letter to George
Spencer, Taylorsville, Salt Lake Co., Utah.
Mon. Mar. 7 - We tracted Corwen the third time and left 10 tracts and 4
conversations with people that would not take the tract, which gave us a chance
to bear our testimony to them.
Tue. Mar. 8 - We left 16 tracts around the country places.
Wed, 9 - Left 14 tracts around Llidiarrygwina. Not received very well.
Thur. 10 - Wrote to President Evans about preaching out on Mar. 27. It
was a wet, cold damp time now, which make(s) it bad to tract.
Fri. Mar. 11 - Visited Cynnyd the third time and left 2 tracts and lent one
Book of Mormon. The man seemed very favorable.
Sat. 12 - We visited Glanafan and Four Crosses. Left 13 tracts. So
this concludes our labors in Carwen and the country around. The number of
tracts altogether was 1708 and one Book of Mormon and 3 Voices of Warning and
38 conversations all in Corwen.
Sun. Mar. 13 - Wrote to wife to Beaver City, Beaver Co., Utah. Walked about 4 miles to visit a
friend who bought a Book of Mormon and they was really kind to me. I had
to stay and have dinner with them and we had quite a talk on the principles of
the gospel. We parted good friends and I have never seen them
since. It was a wet day. It was dark when I got home.
Mon. March 14, 1892 - We left Corwen for Bormouth at ten o'clock. Wet
day. Arrived about 4 o'clock and was not long before we got lodging at a
place called Ballymacora. It was regular boarding house. The people
was very kind to us. We let them have their Book of Mormon and another
boarder got one too, on a loan.
Tue. Mar. 15 - We took a walk over Barmouth bridge. We had to pay one
penney to go over. It was across a wide river and when the boats go up
there is a place they can open.
Wed. 16 - We took a walk out around Barmouth to see the best way to tract the
place and when we came back we had received one thousand tracts. We had
to pay one shilling and ten pence for the postage. We commenced to write
on the back of the tracts called for again. We got through quite a few.
Thur. Mar. 17 - The president did not send the right tracts so we wrote for
some Everlasting Gospels in Welsh.
Fri. 18 - We commenced to tract Barmouth. We left 181 tracts and had 9
conversations and as some of the people thought that the Mormons did not
believe the Bible they was going to do us right away but they found out the
Mormon Elders had too much Bible for them so we had it pretty warm for awhile.
Sat. Mar. 19 - We traveled to a village called Llandnddmyn and the farms around
on the west of Marmouth. Left 57 tracts and 2 conversations.
Sun. 20 - Wrote letters to Joseph Williams, Beaver, Utah and one to President Evans to tell how
we are getting along.
Mon. Mar. 21 - We tracted the south of Barmouth, 81 tracts and had 4
conversations but the people think that they have the gospel and that their
preachers are all right and so on.
Tue. Mar. 22 - We went out on the west side of Bormouth and delivered 110
tracts and had 4 conversations. We tried hard to get to talk with the
people but they seemed afraid of us.
Wed. 23 - We traveled to the village
of LLanddnywe. Left
35 tracts and we got 4 conversations. The people was cool.
Thur. Mar. 24 - Visited Porentddw. Left 24 tracts and one conversation.
Fri. 25 - Elders Isegreen and David Williams came to Barmouth and I put them to
work and they tracted the south side of Barmouth. They came from
Fargaraon, Cardiganshire, to assist Elder Roberts and self to preach out where
we had tracted.
Sat. Mar. 26 - We was home addressing tracts to distribute among the people
when we preached out as we had to start on Mar. 27.
Sun. Mar. 27 - Well, we got up in the morning with fear and trembling as we had
to commence to preach out, but after we had prayers we felt better. The
weather looked very bad to preach out, but I was determined to make a start, if
it was possible, according to the wish of President Evans, as he had
proposed. To carry out his plans we had to keep our top coats on as the
wind was blowing hard and as we was on the beach the wind came off the waters
so cold, but we commenced. Elder D. Williams opened by singing, and
prayer was offered by Elder Isegreen, singing, after which Elders Roberts
addressed the meeting (in) Welsh after which John. J williams spoke in
English. We left among the people 57 tracts. It was very
cold. So we went home with light hearts as we had done our duty.
Mon. Mar. 28 - All four of us left in Barmouth 116 tracts. Then we walked
out about 5 miles. We got there about 6 o'clock. Went around to the
people and notified them that we would hold a meeting (at) the bridge. we
went and stood there awhile looking (in) our hymn books, and soon the folks
came so we sang. John J Williams opened by prayer. We sang again
and I called on Elder D. Williams to preach in the Welsh language. It was
the first time he ever spoke in Welsh, but thank the Lord, he was assisted by
the Holy Ghost. He spoke on the first principles of the gospel for about
a half hour, after which Elder Roberts occupied the time in Welsh and J. J
Williams bore his testimony in English. We had some opposition but
we came off best. It was mostly in the Welsh language. The spirit
of God was poured out on the elders and of course I and Brother Isegreen was
praying. As I could understand what they was talking about I would be
hunting passages out of the testament for them, so we came out all right by the
blessing of the Almighty. We got home about 9 o'clock, pretty well tired
out. Fine day.
Tue. Mar. 29 - In the morning wrote a letter to President Evans to let him know
of our plans and in the afternoon we went down to the beach to try and get
another meeting. The people would not come, so after we waited a long
time those that was standing away off began to laugh at us, and when we came by
them I told them that the time would come that they would laugh the other side
of their mouth.
Wed. Mar. 30 - We left Barmouth for Dala. Elder Roberts took (the) train
at Barmouth for Bald and J. J Williams and David(?) Wile and Lesgreen took
tracts and worked our way tracting as we went until we came to Bout-ddw, and
walked to Dalgelly and then took (the) train for Bald and arrived all
right. Brother Roberts had got lodging for us all at the same place.
Thur. Mar. 31 - We took tracts and visited Llanunwchuyrs. We preached out
at that place. We opened by singing and prayer was offered by Elder Iesgreen
and after singing I called on Elder Roberts to address the congregation in
Welsh, after which Elder D. Wiles spoke in Welsh and J. J Williams spoke in
English. We had some appreciation. We got back home tired after
walking 10 miles. Got supper, then bed.
Fri. Apr. 1, 1892, Bald, Merionethshire - We held a meeting in the town of Bald. Elder
Isegreen opened with prayer after we had sang, after which called on Elder
Isegreen to address the congregation (in) English, and after, Elder T. Roberts
in Welsh and David Williams in Welsh. We closed by singing and prayer by
J. J Williams. There was quite a lot at the meeting and after the meeting
was through we got among the people and distributed 25 tracts. The folks
had taken those tracts before we tried to get conversations with the people but
it seems to me that the preachers tell the people not to talk or hold any
conversations with the Mormon Elders, I have been told.
Sat. Apr. 2 - We traveled 5 miles to a village and commenced at 7
o'clock. We opened our meeting by singing, then prayer by Elder Isegreen
(and) singing. I called on Elder T. D. Roberts in Welsh, then Elder D.
Williams, Welsh, and J. J williams in English. We had a little operation
which made it go off a little better. The name of the village was
Llanendderfel. We left 28 tracts after the meeting. We got home
late, about 11 o'clock.
Sun. Apr. 3 - We walked over to the park, a distance of 5 miles. We
commenced our meeting about one o'clock. We sang and Elder T. D. R.
opened with prayer in Welsh and after, we sang again. Elder D. Williams
spoke in Welsh and T. D. R. in Welsh. After we sang, J. J Williams closed
by prayer. A very small attendance, 15 or 20 persons present. Then
came back to Bald, thinking to hold meeting but some of the college boys or
students got the ground first which made it too late for us to hold meeting
that night so we went to our lodgings and had supper and a good chat with the
folks of the house.
Mon. Apr. 4 - We went to the village
of Rousyywalan, about 4
miles to hold a meeting. Elder Esegreen opened with prayer after D.
Williams gave out (the) hymn and we sang. Then called on Elder David
Williams to preach in the Welsh language and (also) Elder T. D. Roberts.
John J W. closed with prayer. There was not many at meeting but we did
our duty as we had faithfully tracted that place and went to preach to them,
but we left our testimonies with them.
Tue. Apr. 5 - Went to Talybout. We had our meeting. We opened
singing and (had) prayer by Elder Isegreen, then singing and Elders T. D. R.
and D. Williams in the Welsh language and John J Williams closed with
prayer. A very poor attendance.
Wed. Apr. 6 - I wrote a letter to Joseph Williams, Beaver City, Utah,
and after that we all settled up for our board and lodging and at night we held
a meeting at Bald. We commenced our meeting (in) the streets about 7
o'clock by singing and prayer by Elder Isegeen. Elder Roberts spoke in
the Welsh language and Elders D. Williams and John J Williams bore their
testimony to the truth of the Latter-Day work, and as we had labored in and
around Bala for three or four months trying to lay the gospel before them as we
believe as Latter-Day Saints, as we was not preaching for hire and divining for
money, and that all of us had bore testimony that we know that Joseph Smith was
a prophet of God, and that we was sent by proper authority and that our words
would not fall to the ground unnoticed by the God of Heaven. We left 27
tracts and bid them goodbye as we was going to leave them.
Thur. Apr. 7 - Left Bala for Carwen. Elder Roberts took (the)
train. Left Bald depot with our luggage. Elders Isegreen and D. Williams
and J. J Williams walked to Carwen 17 miles and Brother Roberts got lodging
again, we went (to the) same (place). Had dinner and a rest, then we went
out and notified the people that we would have meeting at 7 o'clock. We
got there at the time appointed. We opened our meeting (by) singing,
after which Elder D. Williams spoke in the Welsh language and John J Williams
in the English language and whilst I was speaking we had quite a lot of
opposition but thank God, we was able to hold our own, after which Elder
Roberts spoke in the Welsh language. We closed our meeting by singing and
by prayer by J. J Williams.
Fri. Apr. 8 - Walked 5 miles to Llandrillo then notified the people of a
meeting and at 7 o'clock we was there. Elder D. Williams gave out a
hymn. We sang and Elder W. C. Isegreen opened with prayer. (We)
sang and D. Williams and T. D. Roberts (spoke) in the Welsh language and J. J
W. closed by prayer. We left a few tracts. Walked about 16 miles but
the people don't seem to care for us nor the gospel. Got home about 10
o'clock.
Sat. Apr. 9 - Went out to see some state works at Penarth and back home.
Had dinner. Then went to the village
of Cynwyd and notified
the people and commenced out meeting a half past 6 o'clock. D. Williams
gave out a hymn and prayer by Elder Isegreen and David Williams and T. D.
Roberts spoke in the Welsh language. We had a little opposition but we
closed by prayer by J. J Williams. Left 26 tracts.
Apr. 10 - We walked to Bettws-goch, 5 miles. After we notified the people
we commenced our meeting by singing and Brother Isegreen opened with prayer and
Elder Roberts and D. Williams spoke with Welsh language. We closed by
prayer about 2 o'clock, by J. J Williams. Had a little argument after
meeting but take it altogether the people behaved very well. After we got
away from there we walked 4 miles to the village of Four
Crosses and when we began to sing we could only see one or two people and
after, we opened with prayer by Brother Isegreen after which T. D. R. and D.
Williams (spoke) in the Welsh language and John. J Williams, English. We
closed our meeting about half past 8 o'clock. Elder Roberts closed by
prayer and after the meeting was closed there was a few that thought they was
going (to) have it their own way but I told the boys to get their Bible and
make them stick to it, which they did (?). Those men found out that the
Mormon preachers believed and preached the Bible more than they did. We
was talking both English and Welsh and we soon had the best of them and I
offered them the chance that if they thought the Mormons did not believe the
Bible that we would meet any one present in a friendly debate and that both
sides should prove their doctrine from the Bible and as we was going away soon,
that we would like to know as soon as possible. One spoke up and said that if
we stick to the Bible like we have now that it was no use to debate us, and so
on.
Mon. Apr. 11 - We got up in the morning with cheerful hearts and traveled about
10 miles on and back to the village of Glyndyrrwy and traveled around (among)
the people to tell them that the Mormons was going to have a meeting at half
past 6 o'clock. At that time we started (the) meeting by singing, and
prayer was offered by W. Isegreen and singing, then Elder T. D. Roberts was
called to address the meeting in the Welsh language. He spoke quite a
while and Elder D. Williams occupied some (time) on the first principles of the
gospel, in Welsh. He has improved a great deal in speaking in the Welsh
language. Well, I spoke in (the) English language. We had a good
attendance and good order. Got home tired.
Tue. Apr. 12 - We visited the village Llansamffraid and when we got there we
went among the people to tell them as we was going to hold a meeting. We
started about 7 o'clock. C. W. opened with prayer. T. D. R. spoke
first and D. W. spoke next in the Welsh language and J. J closed by prayer.
Wed., Thur., Fri., Apr. 13, 14, 15 - Wet and cold days so much so that we could
not preach out and we had not the means to hire a hall. I received a
letter from George M. Spencer.
Sat. Apr. 16 - Wrote a letter to Brother Howell to try to cheer him up a little
as he was put about howing to his land been so bad and sang a few songs and
studied a little.
Sun. Apr. 17 - We visited the village
of Garrog. Went
around and notified the people that we would hold a meeting at one
o'clock. At that time we commenced by singing and prayer by W. C. Ise.
and D. Williams and T. D. Roberts in the Welsh language and John J Williams
spoke in English. We closed with prayer by Elder Isegreen. We left
a few tracts. Then we walked to Glyndyfrdny, about 10 miles on and
back. We commenced our meeting about 6 o'clock by singing and prayer was
offered up by W. C. Ise. and D. Williams and T. D. R. in the Welsh language,
Elder J. J Williams in English language, closed by prayer, W. C. Is. The people
seemed to be dumb as they would not say anything good nor bad but treated us
with silent contempt, but we would get among the people after the meeting and
offer them tracts and try our best to get some conversations with them but it
did not amount to very much as we could see but one thing we know and that was
that our consciences are clear, that we was trying to do our duty to the best
of our ability and leave the result with them and Heavenly Father.
Mon. Apr. 18 - It was wet, cold and stormy. We was home all day, talking,
singing, studying, eating and drinking.
Tue. Apr. 19 - Being as it was a fair at Corwen, we took a walk out to see the
stock. There was some very poor ones and some very good looking
stock. There was lots of people and plenty of sport of the kind, but not
the kind we was after, so we soon went back to our lodgings and spent the day
the best we could.
Wed. Apr. 20 - We packed up and went to another field of labor. We was
satisfied that we have done out duty as far as we went in the villages and
county of Merionethshire, so goodbye and the Lord have mercy on them.
We preached out 18 times from the 27 of March until the 20 of April. The
names of the elders are John J Williams, Taylorsville;
Thomas D. Roberts, Logan; David Williams, Spanish Fork and W. C. Isegreen,
Tooele? We traveled 90 miles form Corwen to the town of Tregaron, Cardigaushire. We got there
about 6 o'clock. It cost us 7 shillings each and 9 pence so after supper
we took a walk to see the town but it came on the rain so we came back to our
lodgings.
Thur. Apr. 21 - Went to a village called Pontrlythfen and left 25 tracts.
Came back and had a little rest. Then went out in the streets of Tregaron
and started our meeting by singing. Prayer was offered by W. C. Isegreen
and John J Williams spoke in English and Elder T. D. Roberts Welsh and Elder
Isegreen bore his testimony to the truth of this great latter-day work and
Elder T. D. Roberts closed by prayer. There was a fair attendance, no
opposition that night.
Fri. Mar. 22 - Wrote a letter to Ezra T. Williams, Beaver City,
in answer to one received from him with 5 dollars, which came in very
useful. Then studied and then we walked to Llanddewifrepi and notified
the people, after which we commenced our meeting about 7 o'clock. J. J
Williams spoke in English and Elders David D. Williams and J. D. R. in Welsh,
and William Isegreen closed with prayer. Got home tired.
Sat. Mar. 23 - Visited the village
of Pontrlyundigaid and
went around and told the people that the Latter-Day Saints was going to hold a
meeting on the square. The people came out good to hear what the elders
had to say. We commenced our meeting about 6 o'clock by singing, and
prayer was offered up by W. C. Isegreen. Then we sang again and Elder D.
Williams spoke first and T. J. Roberts second, in Welsh, and J. J Williams
closed with prayer. We walked 12 miles to get that meeting. The
people seem to care not for the gospel as preached by the elders, but we can't
help that.
Sun. Apr. 24 - We left Tregaron about 9 o'clock and walked to Llampeter, 11
miles, and was fasting too. We got there half past 12. We was
received very kindly by Brother Thomas (and) Margaret Thomas. They lived
at Llandpeter, Cardinganshire. After dinner we held a meeting and partook
of the sacrament. We spoke and bore our testimony and the Spirit of God
was with us and we enjoyed a good time. The folk seemed that they could
not make enough of us, it seems like. We got a place to sleep and Brother
Thomas paid for our lodging and we went to his house and had breakfast and a
long talk about the gospel.
Mon. Apr. 25 - We left Llandpeter about 9 o'clock, and when we left Brother
Thomas gave us three shillings each. It was the first money I had gave me
in the old country. We got back to Tregaron at 12 o'clock. We
traveled through a nice country and after we had a rest we went to see a lady
friend and had quite a talk with her. Her name was Margaret Morgan.
She was very favorable towards us.
Mon. Apr. 26 - We visited Pontrhydigaid. Left 24 tracts and walked 12
miles and got back home in good time, tired and ready for supper, which we
enjoyed.
Apr. 27 - We packed up in time to leave Tregaron for Cardiff with the 9 o'clock train. It
cost us 9 shillings and six pence. We traveled through a fine country and
got to Cardiff at 3 o'clock and took a (room at a place) called Cathays
Tearres, Cathayes, Cardiff, 188, as most of the brethren was come in from their
field of labors. After we had supper we had a few songs and a social
chat. We commenced our meeting. President Evans called the meeting
to order by singing, and prayer by Elder John D. Williams. There was
quite a few of the elders spoke and bore testimony to the truth of this
latter-day work and among the others, John J Williams bore his testimony.
We had a good time together.
Apr. 28 - John J Williams, Morgan D. Warner and Richard Williams was appointed
to distribute notices that the Mormons was going to have a conference. We
left 200 tracts and at night we held council for the elders to report their
labors. We had a good time.
Apr. 29 - Got up well and hearty, thank our Heavenly Father for it, and had
breakfast at the conference house, which we did every day we was in Cardiff. We eat all
our meals at the conference house. Then took a walk around Cardiff docks to have a
look at the shipping and at night we had singing practice. There was 12
missionaries present. We had a few of the saints of the branch with
us. We had a good time.
Apr. 30 - Took in the sights around Cardiff
and at night we gave our reports for the month of April, 1892. We
distributed 2890 tracts, and (had) 255 conversations, one Book of Mormon sold
and one Voice of Warning sold and 7 lent. This ended our six months
labors in North Wales, myself and Elder Thomas
D. Roberts of Logan, Cache Co. labored together and enjoyed our labors very
well.
Sun. May 1, 1892 - The conference was presided over by Thomas B. Evans of Ogden. We commenced
our meeting by singing and prayer by John D. Williams from Iron County.
The speakers was Elders S. Ashton and a few of the brethren (who) bore their
testimonies. President Young came to the Welsh conference to see the
Elders and to give some good counsel to us Elders and encouragement to go on in
the good work. We had a good meeting. (There were) a few strangers
present. Went to have dinner. At 2 o'clock we commenced our evening
meeting by singing, and prayer was offered by Elder Thomas D. Roberts, after
which a few of the brethren bore their testimonies, after which President Young
spoke on the first principles of the gospel in a very intelligent way.
The Saints and the Utah Elders enjoyed themselves first class, a good flow of
the Spirit of God was with us in those two meetings.
After supper, or tea, as it is called in Wales, we commenced our night
services at 6 o'clock by singing and prayer by Elder Isegreen. After
singing again, John J Williams was called upon to speak. He spoke a short
time on the gospel. Others of the elders spoke, after which president
Evans spoke and expressed himself as well pleased with the labors of the Elders
the last six months. We closed our conference by singing and President
Young closed our conference with prayer and blessed the elders. We had a
very good time together in our conference.
Mon. May 2 - We had council meeting at 9 o'clock and fasted. Our beloved
President Young gave the elders some very good instructions at that
meeting. After our meeting I went around Cardiff to see what I could see around.
Cardiff had no
charms for me so I came home.
Tue. May 5 - (We) got up and went to the conference house to breakfast and had
quite a conversation with the brethren about their fields of labors and found
that all our experiences was about the same as regards the people receiving the
gospel. The folks seem to be very careless and indifferent about the
gospel. Then went to see a procession of the working men of Cardiff. It was a
fine sight to see. There was supposed to be about 20 thousand people on
the street of Cardiff.
There was some of all nations. At night we had a nice little concert
gotten up by our brethren and sisters of Cardiff
branch and it went off well. Those taking part performed their parts
well.
Wed. May 6 - President Evans called a council to appoint the elders to their
different fields of labor. I was appointed to labor in Newport,
Monmouthshire with elder Richard Williams from Ogden, Utah
and also had leave to go and visit friends and visit some that owed money for
the Star and books that was owing to the conference.
Thur. May 5 - Got up early in the morning and walked 12 miles to Newport. Had
breakfast then walked on to Basslleg, about 6 miles, and took train for Victoria. Then
went and hunted up Thomas Davis but there was no one home so I went down to the
Works and found Thomas Davis at his work. He was surprised to see me when
he understood who I was, but we soon made acquaintance and was very kindly
received by all the family. In the evening when Mrs. Davis came home she
recognized me right away and so did Lammina(?) and came on and gave a good
hearty shake of the hand. At night the family gathered together and had a
long talk about Utah
and the people and Aunty Harriet and so on. Then Thomas took me to see the
steel works. After I saw the works and had a few conversations with old
acquaintances, then came home, had supper and a little chat, then bed.
Fri. May 6 - Took leave of the folks after breakfast and walked over to
Tredegar and called on Mary and Thomas. She was well and her
husband. He seems to care nothing of the gospel but would oppose it
before me. I had a long talk with Mary Ann Thomas and tried to get her to
see the necessity of being baptized and making a fresh start in her
religion and try to be a good woman. Mary Ann was a living in Shirowsid,
near Tredegar. Then went over to see John White and was received by them
very kindly. I had supper with them and a long talk of Utah, then bed.
Sat. May 7 - After we had breakfast and a little chat about the gospel, which
was not received very well, then I started for Aberrychan. I went through
Bufort to get some Star account but failed. Then went on to Thewaynn and
over the mountain and through Blanavon and Vartige and found Elder Benjamin
Jones and took a walk around with (?) Jones around the Saints. I went on
the Vartige and saw an old lady over 80 years of age and had to eat with as I
use to be her teacher and she could remember me well, although so old. I
blessed the good old soul with all the power I had. Then went to see
Brother Bigs. I had a conversation with the family. They have a
fine looking family but will not join the Church. Then went to see old
Sister Stavenes, an old blind lady and has been for years and always feeds the
elders when they come along, so I had supper and bed and a good night
rest. There is their children, two sons and one daughter and all of them
are favorable to the Elders and give them place.
Sun. May 8 - Got up and left Sister and family after praying and went to
Brother Jones at the bottom of the garn and was fasting and I (?) with Brother
Isaiah Jones to visit more of the Saints to try to encourage them in this great
Latter-Day work. We came back to Elder Benjamin Jones's and broke fast.
After doing justice to the good things of earth we commenced our meeting at
half past 2 by singing, and prayer was offered by John J Williams.
Richard Williams spoke awhile, then I opened the meeting for the Saints to bear
their testimonies. They occupied the time well and sang and spoke as they
was led and all felt well. We had tea, or supper, then took a walk whilst
Sister Jones cleared the table. We came back and commenced our meeting at
6 o'clock and opened with prayer and singing. Elder Benjamin Jones
expressed his feeling and Chas. Jones spoke and others of the brethren
expressed their feeling and J. J Williams spoke awhile and after singing prayer
was offered by President Isaiah Jones. After we had quite a chat.
Isaiah Jones came up to Sister Stevens to sleep.
Mon. May 9 - Got up in the morning after a good night's rest, and after I had a
good bath I had to have breakfast, which I did. After thanking Sister Stevens
and daughter for their kindness I left and went to Benjamin Jones's and had a
conversation with him, he being rather fault finding. Was all right
according to his account, but I spoke to him plain on his duty in the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He took it all well. We parted
all right. After, I went to visit Evan Griffith to sleep and had supper
and a good chat about the gospel and our experiences in the Church and about
the work.
May. 10 - Got up. Had a good wash, prayers, and breakfast and wished them
good day and God bless you and so on, and started to Tredegar. I left
Aberoychan and traveled through the Vartged and the Blanavan and over the
mountain and on through Bufort and to Sirwroy to John White's. Was
received very kindly and Frances
soon made me dinner, which I enjoyed very much. After thanking them for
their kindness I left to visit Martha Jane Richards. They would have me
to have supper. When we was at supper doing justice to the food, a young
man came in and had supper, too, and of course. I was introduced as a man
from Utah.
Our conversation commenced about Utah
and Mormons. We talked a long time about the land and stock and so on but
soon drifted on our religion. When he commenced on that I told him that I
was here in the defense of Mormonism and if he wanted to get information and he
was willing to abide by the Bible we would hold a conversation. So we
commenced. We got the Bible and we was talking on the gospel as preached
by the Latter-Day- Saints. We was at it until 12 or 1 o'clock at
night. He found out that the elders had the scriptures on their side, but
before he left I bore my testimony to him that I know Joseph Smith to be a
humble prophet of God and that he was sent to introduce the gospel of the Lord
Jesus. He acknowledged that we had the Bible on our side. We parted
good friends. Then Richards came with me to Thomas Davis's. They
was all in bed so John called them up. They came and opened the door, and
after a little chat, John went home. That ended one of the hardest days
worked since I was on my mission, but whether I done any good I will leave that
with our kind Heavenly Father to be the judge.
May 11 - Got up in the morning. Had a good wash and felt much
refreshed. Had breakfast and a long talk with part of the family about
the gospel and Utah
and her people. As duty called me away, I had to wish them good day and
thanked them for their kindness to me. I went to the Cwme to see
Carelsing Jones about Star money but she could not be seen so I walked on to
Aberbuge and took train for Bassalleg and walked to Cardiff. I arrived about 7 o'clock, in
time to hold meeting and a social chat. Went to bed pretty tired.
May 12 - Got up in the morning. Had breakfast at the conference
house. There was quite a number of our brethren there and after we
enjoyed ourselves awhile we went out to see the docks(?) at Cardiff and the town. I saw some very
poor people in some of the streets of Cardiff
and back slums and came back to the conference house tired out.
May 13 - Left Cardiff for Newport. I was appointed to take the
lead in that district so we got lodging and walked around town a little to see
the best way to commence our labors in that district, and so on.
May 14 - After breakfast I left Newport
for the Cwm to see Caroline Jones to get some Star money but she could not pay
anything and she stopped the Star with excuse of poor times. Then walked
to Aberluge and over the mountain to go to Abarrychanang. Got there a
little late but visited some of the Saints. Called on George Jones.
Had a talk with them. Had supper with them. Then went to Evan
Griffith to sleep. The Saints received me with the greatest of
kindness. Had a good night's rest.
May 15 - After a good night's rest got up in the morning well and hearty.
Had breakfast, then went to the depot to meet President Evans and Elder
Williams, but I was too late. The train had come in so I went to
Garndiffeth to Brother Benjamin Jones and found then there, so we had a talk
together about the condition of the branch, and dinner being ready, we
partook. After the table was cleared and the house got ready we commenced
our meeting, John J Williams presiding, as President Evans wanted me to do so.
We sang, "We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet". Prayer was
offered by J. J W. We sang again (and) then I opened the meeting for the
Saints to speak their feelings and bear their testimonies, which they
did. As there was bad feeling in the branch, I opened the meeting for
them to make things right, which they did and felt well, according as we could
judge after. We administered the sacrament, and after the Saints occupied
a good portion of the time, President Evans spoke on the first principles of
the gospel. After a good meeting and a good hand shaking we went to Evan
Griffith's to supper. After we done justice to the food and a little
conversation we went back to Brother Jones' to hold another meeting.
We commenced by singing, and prayer was by Elder R. Williams, then John J
Williams spoke awhile and Elder R. Williams. Then President Evans spoke
very many encouraging words to the Saints, after which we closed Sunday
services. Then we valley elders and some of the local brethren came to
Pentpool road station, then I came back to Evan Griffith to supper and
bed. Isaiah Jones was ordained a priest by Elders Thomas Evans and
Richard Williams, John J Williams being mouth, May 15, at Abersychan.
May 16 - I had breakfast with Evan Griffith and after wishing them good day and
thanking them for their kindness, myself and Elder Ashton went to the train and
went to Newport.
Brother Ashton and I and Brother Williams walked about Newport
for awhile, then Elder Ashton took the cars for Cardiff. I came home and wrote in my
journal awhile and them went to bed pretty well tired of my travels around the
Saints.
May 17 - Wrote a letter to wife and one to Joseph Williams.
May 18 - Went out to the west side of Newport
called Stow Hill. We left 187 tracts, then came home and studied.
May 19 - Got up well in morning and (with) a strong desire to do our
duty. We left 200 tracts on Stow Hill. Some of the people received
the tracts well and some would treat us with silent contempt. When we did
go to gather our tracts we found a good many that was not opened and never read
and some would not take the second tract nor the third. We had a few
conversations with some but the majority would say that they had enough gospel
and enough preachers that was preaching the gospel and so on.
May 20 - Went out and left 100 tracts, a few conversations.
May 21 - Answered to Morgan D. Warner and wrote in journal and took a walk out
around town. It was a wet, cold day.
May 22 - Took train for Abersychan. Arrived at half past eleven
o'clock. Called at Benjamin Jones's, then visited some of the Saints,
after which I came back to Benjamin Jones's. Commenced our sacrament meeting by
singing "We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet". After prayer J. J
Williams spoke awhile, then opened the meeting for the Saints to bear their
testimonies, after which the sacrament was administered by John J
Williams. Elder Richard Williams spoke on the duties of the Latter-Day
Saints and Elder Ashton and President Evans addressed the Saints with timely
remarks and tried to impress upon the minds of the Saints of the importance of
them being one in all things as regards all this great latter day work, after
which I went to Brother George Jones' to dinner.
Then came back and had another meeting at 2 o'clock. Opened with prayer
by John J Williams, then singing, after which President Thomas B. Evans and
Elders Ashton and Richard R. Williams occupied the time. After the close
of our meeting we went about a mile to Aberrychan to hold an outdoor
meeting. We got there all right and commenced our services by singing,
and prayer was offered by John J Williams. The speakers was T. B. Evans
and E. T. Ashton. Richard Williams closed by prayer. After having a
good sociable chat with the Saints, the elders left for home and I went up on
Garndiffilh to Sister Stevens to sleep and had supper and a long talk on the
principles of the gospel and Utah
and her people. She had two sons and one daughter. Neither of them
was in the church but was very kind to the elders. Slept well.
May 23 - Elder Williams and self got up well and hearty, thank God, our kind
Heavenly Father for His goodness to us. We had breakfast and another
conversation and wished them good day and God bless them and the peace of the
Holy Spirit to abide with them. Then left Garndiffith for Abersychan and
walked on to Poutnewyuydd and took the train for Newport. Arrived all right. Got
dinner before going to our lodgings and after I was home I wrote in my journal
and also wrote a letter to Elder George Shern about helping his wife's daughter
out to Utah.
He was living in West Jordan Ward. I received a letter from wife all the
same day. A fine day.
May 24 - Went out in the streets of Newport
to leave tracts. We left 100 tracts that day. The people would not
hold no conversations with the Mormon Elders as they had plenty of preachers
and so on. I wrote a letter to Parley Williams and sent one to wife to
let her know how I am getting along by this time.
May 25 - Got up bright and early. Had prayers and breakfast, then went
out in a street called Edwards and left 120 tracts and got one
conversation. We mostly (try) hard (to) get conversations with people but
they seem to try to avoid the elders all they can. One consolation is
that we know we are on the Lord's business and all will be well when we give in
our report.
May 26 - Went and left 120 tracts and after, came home. Wrote a letter to
wife to Beaver City, Utah and copied out of my journal for
awhile. Then took a walk around Newport.
Then came back home, had supper (and) then studied awhile.
May 27 - Went out tracting. Walked over a good deal of ground and called
at lots of houses to try and get the gospel before the people but it seems that
all our excursions do not amount to very much, but we keep on trying.
After we traveled quite awhile we left 200 tracts and after, came home.
Got dinner and then went to see a friend and had a quite a long conversation on
the gospel principles. We spent a comfortable afternoon with them.
Then (we) took a short walk and back home. Had prayer, then went to bed
tired and had a good night's rest.
May 28 - Got up early and left Newport
for Aberrychan. I had to walk. It was 12 miles. I got there
all right. Called at Evan Griffith's. Had a rest and then went to
Garndiffith to see Benjamin Jones. Had supper with them. I took
another walk to see Brother George Jones. As she was sick we administered
to her and comforted them the best we could. Then left to go to Brother
Griffith to sleep and after having a talk went to bed.
May 29 - We got up Sunday morning, had prayers. Then went around some of
the saints, fasting, and at 2 o'clock we had meeting. It was appointed for
a fast meeting and the proceeds of the fast to go to the temple. The
Saints turned out and some of the little children fasted on that day. In
our fast meeting all the saints spoke their feelings and felt well and there
was a large portion of the Spirit of God. They all paid something towards
the temple and (I?) headed the amount by giving 5 shillings to encourage the
saints to donate to a good cause. We was singing, praying, and bearing
testimonies for about three hours and after we partook of the sacrament we
closed by singing and prayer by Isaiah Jones. Then Brother Jones and
family had dinner, and we was ready to pitch in with them, which we did.
After we all was through we took a walk whilst Sister Jones cleared the
table. When we came back the house was in order and we had a nice
afternoon. After spending a good time I went with Evan Griffith to rest
and had a good night's rest.
May 30 - Got up in the morning refreshed and had breakfast. After we had
prayers I left Evan Griffith and walked from Abergigehan to Poutpool, and
walked about a little to take (in) the sights and to try to get some
conversations with the people but it seems a hard thing, a Mormon elder to get
at the people, but we keep on trying, knowing in whose cause we are
laboring. Well, after I tried awhile I started for Newport, twelve miles, on foot and found
Elder Richard Williams all right. We had supper. Then took a walk
around town as that was a good way to advertise the Mormon Elders. The
folks would look after us like people that was different from other folk but we
found out that it was a good way to let them know that there was elders in
town. Well, after marching around awhile we went back to our lodging and
studied a little. We had prayers as we found prayer was a very consoling
and comforting thing to be engaged in when an elder felt a little down.
Well, we balanced up our account for the fast offering for the temple and
tithing. It came to the amount of one pound, 8 shillings for both
purposes.
June 1, 1892 - Elder Williams and self got up in the morning with a good desire
to do good and to rely the (?) of our Lord and Master. Went out among the
people and left 784 tracts.
June 2 - Went out and left 140 tracts in Newport (?) and we had a few
conversations with the people. After we came home and had dinner we
commenced to make up our accounts for May month. We held 30 conversations
and tracts 10-027. We had 9 indoor and one outdoor meeting.
Subscriptions for the temple was one pound six shilling and 11 pence and for
tithing 2 shillings and 72 pence and immigration 6 pence. Total 7.10.(?).
June 3 - Got up in the morning refreshed and blessed of Father and prepared to
start work. Elder R. Williams and self had prayers and breakfast and a
little conversation with the folks of the house. Then (we) went on the
part of Newport
called Stow Hill and commenced our labors by visiting from house to house to
leave tracts. Some of the people would not take the tracts and others
would, but very cool. We got a few conversations and left 140
tracts. After (we) came home and had dinner, wrote a letter to Elder Ezra
T. Williams, Beaver City Utah, thanking him for his kindness in helping me with
means to try to fill an honorable mission. After, we went to visit a
fiend we thought was favorable to the gospel, by the name of Edwards, living in
Hosking Stree Marshes, Newport on Usk
Monmouthshire, Wales,
but they did not join the church.
June 13 - Paid up our lodging (and) then went out to take a walk and to try to
get conversations with the people. We left 124 tracts. A cloudy
day.
June 5 - Was taking a walk when a woman accosted (me) and wanted means for
immoral purposes but I felt very thankful to Father that he gave me power to
overcome the temptation and I soon got back to my lodgings, had prayers, then
wrote in my journal. A dark, cloudy day and wet.
June 6 - Got up good and early to catch the train. Got to Aberganeney
about 4 o'clock and walked a mile or two to Elder Barington's. We had
breakfast, after which we took a walk but could not get no conversation with
the people. We came back and after having dinner and cleared the table we
commenced our meeting, Elder Barington presiding. After singing, (we) had
prayers by John J Williams, and J. J and Elder Barington administered the
sacrament, after which he opened the meeting for the Saints to bear their
testimonies. Then he gave the meeting into our hands. Elder R.
Williams spoke first, then J. J followed. We addressed the saints on
their duties. We had a good meeting for the number present. We was
10, all told, and at 6 o'clock we had another meeting. We opened with
singing and prayer by Elder J. J Williams and after singing again the president
gave the meeting over to us. Elder R. Williams dwelt on the first
principles, then Elder J Williams bore his testimony. We had a good
little meeting. There was three strangers present. We took (the)
train at 9 o'clock at Abergaveney for Newport.
We arrived all right about 11 o'clock.
June 7 - Got up well and hearty. We had prayer and breakfast and looked
over tracts and books to see how we stood. Then we went out on the
streets, as there was a big day with the school children. It was a fine
sight to see so many children marching together and so many bands playing, but
it seemed to me that there was not the same feeling there was with children at
home in Utah, but I suppose that the teachers are doing as well as they can
under the circumstances and as far as they see. There was thousands of
people in the procession and among the crowd I saw President Evans and Elder
Ashton. They came to our lodgings and we all had dinner together.
Then after we had a nice talk and a little council about our labors in Newport. We took a
walk around town and then to the station, as they had to go to Cardiff to attend to business.
June 8 - We was home all day. That is, I did not go out tracting.
After doing a little business, we took a walk around the Bute Dock. There
was a lot of shipping, which looked grand. After we had a good walk we
went back home and commenced to study and after I was tired of that I looked
over my journal. I found that my folks had sent me 105 dollars, the quorum 10,
and Sister Pixton 5, since I left home, making in all one hundred and twenty
dollars up to June 8, 1982 which was (a) very good thing.
June 9 - Wet. Home writing my journal and studying. received a
letter from President Evans about gathering some Star money as was outstanding.
June 10 - Learned that Brother and Sister Rosser was living at Raglon so I went
to see them, as they was old acquaintances. I left Newport about half past 4 o'clock to go to
see them but got on the wrong road, which I had to pay for before the day was
through, but after going through farm yards and across fields, I got into a
road that led me to the right place and was very well received by them
both. Sister Rosser was very kind and got me the best they (had) for me
to eat and after we had talked about old times she went to a neighbor's house
and got me a place to sleep. As I was tired, I slept well, and they fed
and lodged me free of charge.
June 11 - Had a good night's rest. Got up well and hearty. Went to
Sister Rosser's to have breakfast. We had a long talk about old times, as
it was about 30 years since we saw each other. She was very kind to me
but I had not much time to stay, so after we had dinner I felt to leave my
blessing, so we had prayers and wished her and husband good day. Them
started for Newport,
16 miles, and got there about 7 o'clock all right. I tried to get some of
their genealogy but could not get at it very well.
June 12 - Got up well and had prayers and a good breakfast (and) then
started for Abersychan to walk and got there all right. Went around to
visit some of the Saints. Called on Caroline Jones and Benjamin Jones.
The boys felt well and after having a long talk I went to Evan Griffeth's and
had supper and bed, after a hard day's work.
June 12 - Had breakfast with Brother Evan Griffith. Then went to meet
President Evans but was too late, so I went to Brother Benjamin Jones's and
they was there so we had quite a talk about the affairs of the branch, as the
Saints was at loggerheads with each other. After awhile we had dinner,
then took a walk whilst the table was being cleared. Then we commenced
our meeting, Elder John J Williams presiding. We opened by singing and
prayer. After singing, J. J spoke awhile on the duties of the saints,
opened the meeting for the saints to bear their testimonies and partake of the
sacrament, after which President Evans spoke on the first principles of the
gospel and tried hard to comfort the Saints the best he could, the Holy Ghost
backing his words by filling the Saints with love towards each other. We
had a very good meeting, so we closed by singing "We Thank Thee Oh God For
A Prophet". Prayer was offered by President Evans.
Elder J. Williams went with Brother and Sister Griffith and got tea, as it is
called in Wales,
and had another meeting at 6 o'clock, Elder J. J Williams presiding. (The
meeting) opened by prayer and singing. I was the first speaker, after
which President Evans occupied the time with the exception of Elder Richard
Williams bore his testimony. After that Isaiah Jones was ordained to the
office of a priest by Thomas B. Evans and John J Williams being mouth. As
far as my self and Elder Williams could see, the president done lots of good by
coming down from Cardiff to Abercyhan to visit the Saints and how the Saints
are more united than they have been since we have been in that district and
Elder R. and J. J williams are very thankful for the visit as it gave us more
strength.
This account goes until the 16th of May instead of June.
May 17 - Slept at Brother Evan Griffith's and had breakfast, then walked to the
train to a place called Pontnewyndd. Then took the cars and got to Newport at 12
o'clock. Had dinner and studied awhile, after which we took a walk, then
back home and wrote awhile in my journal, then went to bed tired.
And on the 17th I wrote a letter to wife, one to Joseph to thank them for
their kindness in trying to help me with means to fill my mission.
May 18 - Went out and left 187 (tracts) in Newport on Stow Hill. The people was
very cold as regards the gospel. We got a few small conversations.
May 19 - Left 200 tracts after an hard day's work. We could not get many
conversations with them as most of the people was Irish Catholics and a pretty
hard lot of criticism and very zealous in their course.
May 20 - Got up well and hearty, thank Father for it. Had prayers and
breakfast and it being wet, I answered a letter received from Elder M. D.
Warner and wrote in my journal and left 100 tracts on Stowhill Newport.
We had a few conversations.
May 22 - We took train at Newport
for Abersychan and arrived there half past 11 o'clock. Then went to visit
some of the Saints, after which me and Elder R. Williams went to Benjamin
Jones's to hold our meeting and commenced at half past 2 o'clock, Elder J. J
Williams presiding. After singing and prayer, Elders Ashton and Richard
Williams and President T. B. Evans spoke to the Saints.
I opened the meeting for the Saints to bear their testimonies. We all
expressed our feelings, had a good time, and closed by singing and
prayer. Then went to Brother George Jones's to dinner and broke my
fast. After doing justice to the inner man I returned to hold another
meeting. We had a good meeting. John J Williams and J. B. and Elder
Ashton occupied the time and after we all went down to Abersychan and had an
outdoors meeting.
Elder J. J opened with prayer and the speakers was Elders T. B. Evans and
Ashton. Richard Williams closed by prayer. There was a fair
attendance but the folks did not pay much attention to us, but was peaceable
and quiet. After, we elders took (the) train for Cardiff and I went up on
Garnediffeth and was entertained for the night with old Sister Gavens, an old
blind sister which was very kind to the elders. We had supper and
bed. Slept well.
May 23 - Got up refreshed. Had prayers with the sister and
daughter. Had breakfast with them. Then we blessed them for their
kindness and left for Aberrychan and walked on to Pontuewymydd for Newport and got there all
right. Went and had dinner then went to our lodgings and wrote in my
journal and wrote a letter to George Shern, West Jordan and received a letter from wife
from Beaver, giving a good account of things there. They all sends their
best respects.
May 24 - At Newport
got up well and had prayer and breakfast. Got our tracts and went on the
west side of town to labor. Went from house to house to invite the people
to take our tracts. Some of them would treat us with disdain and tell us
to be gone and some would take them but never read them and a very few would
read them, but we know who we was laboring for and was not daunted but kept on
trying to do our duty the best we could. We left 110 tracts but no
conversations. After (I) came home I wrote a letter to Parley.
May 25 - Went out and tracted a street called Edwards Street and left 120
tracts, one conversation.
Maya 26 - Left 120 (tracts) and wrote a letter to wife and copied in my journal
awhile and studied and visited a friend and we had a long conversation with
them on the principles of the gospel and leave the result with Father.
May 28 - I left Newport
for Aberracyhan. I had to walk 12 miles and got there alright and called
at Brother Evan Griffith's. Took a small rest, then to Benjamin Jones's,
had supper. After, me and Isaiah Jones went and called on George Jones,
Sister Jones being very sick, I administered to her. She got much
better. Then I went to E. Griffith's.
After we had a long talk we went to bed.
May 29 - Got up well. Had prayers and a conversation on the principles of
the gospel. As it was a day set apart for a fast day, I with my fellow
laborers, went to meeting. There was a good turnout of the Saints of
Abersychan Branch. Some of the children fasted all day and paid their pence as
offering for the temple.
I commenced our meeting by singing, "The Temple Completed", and after
prayer and singing again I spoke a short time, then opened the meeting for the
saints to testify of the goodness of God to them. They bore their
testimonies to the truth of this great latter-day work and at the close of our
meeting we paid in our donations. John J Williams headed the list by
putting down 5 shillings and the saints paid what they could afford. We
had a lovely time together in speaking good of the name of the Lord and
partaking of the sacrament.
We closed our meeting after being together about three hours. I had
dinner with Benjamin Jones and after, I, with some of our brothers and sisters,
we took a walk and visited some of the Saints, which was very glad to see the
elders come to their homes. Then went to Brother Evan Griffith's to bed,
tired out but rejoiced in the gospel of our Master.
May 30 - Had breakfast with Brother and Sister Griffith, Abersychan, and after
bidding then (good) day and God bless you and so on, we left Aberyschan.
Went to Pontypool and walked down the
canal bank. I counted 22 locks or gates for to let the boats up and down,
as it is a hilly country from Abersychan to Newport. It is a walk of about 12
miles. We got home all right and after dinner and a rest we balanced up
our accounts of the fast offering and tithing. It all came to the amount
of one pound, 8 shillings. It was pretty good for a small branch and poor
times.
June 1, 1892, Newport
- We got up well and very thankful for the privilege of being engaged in the
work of the Lord. After we had prayers and gave ourselves into the hands
of he Lord we took our tracts and got among the people. Some received us
very well and some not, but we kept on working. We left 187 tracts, 1
conversation.
June 2 - We left 110 tracts on a street called Usk Road and came home. Made up our
account for the month ending May 30. We distributed 1027 tracts and 9
indoor meetings and one outdoor meeting. Subscription for the temple was
one pound, six shillings and 11 pence, tithing 1 and 11 pence. Sent it on to Cardiff to President
Evans. Had a little study, then went to bed.
June 3 - Got up well and hearty. Had prayers as we felt that we could not
get along without having help from Father to help us to do our duty. We
went out among the people and left 140 tracts and wrote a letter (to) Elder
Ezra T. Williams, Beaver City, Utah,
after which Elder R. Williams and myself went and visited Mister Edwards in Hosking Street, Marshes,
Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, to have
a talk with them on the principles of the gospel. We thought they was
coming to the church but we was deceived. One thing we feel well about
and that is we done our duty to them whether they join the church or not.
June 4 - We paid our lodgings as we mostly paid up every week. Then we
gathered up our tracts and went out among the people to try to get some
conversations with them and to leave some tracts. We left 124 tracts.
June 5 - Took a walk, as we did sometimes to try to get conversations with the
people. The Lord brought me through a great temptation. Was very
thankful when I got back to our lodging and got on our knees to thank Him for his
goodness to us. Wrote in journal. Cold, and for June, wet, and is
quite a chore to get among people with the umbrella overhead, but we had to do
it very often or stay at home.
June 6 - We left Newport
for Abergavenny. Took train at Newport
depot at 8 o'clock and got to Abergavenny a little after 9 o'clock. We
went to Elder Barrington's, as he was president of the branch. We had
breakfast with them. After, we took a walk to see the place but could not
see very many people on the streets on Sunday. We came back, had dinner,
and as soon as the tables was cleared we commenced our meeting, Elder
Barrington presiding.
Meeting was opened by singing and Elder John J Williams was called upon to open
by prayer. Singing, and sacrament was administered by Elders J. J W. and
Elder Barrington, after which the president opened the meeting for the Saints
to bear their testimonies. As there was but few Saints they was not long,
so the meeting was given into our hands. Elder Richard Williams was the
fist to speak and spoke to encourage the Saints, after which J. J W. spoke
awhile on the necessity of the Saints doing something to help the work of the
Lord along, a little, and so on. Closed by singing and prayer by Elder R.
Williams.
At half past 6 we had another meeting. Three strangers (were)
present. Elder B. W. spoke on the first principles of the gospel
and the true mission of Joseph Smith, and I followed. We had a good
meeting and took train at 9 o'clock and had a pleasant ride and a conversation
on the train which seemed to make the trip more short. We got to Newport a little after 10
o'clock.
June 7 - We got up very thankful to Father for His kindness to us, two weak
mortals trying to work for the salvation of some of His children, and for His
Holy Spirit, which He so kindly gave unto us.
As there was a great turnout with the school children we thought it no good to
go out tracting so we went to view the procession. It was a grand sight
to see so many of Father's children walking the streets (at) the same time, but
when we thought that they had not obeyed the gospel we felt to ask God to give
us His humble servants power to preach the gospel to them. Whilst we was
looking at the people and those thoughts was running through our minds, we saw
President Evans and Elder Ashton of Salt Lake among the crowd. We soon
had each other by their hands and a little chat, then went to our room and had
dinner and a chat and President Evans gave us a few councils about our labors.
After a good rest they went to the cars, or station, for Cardiff. We spent a pleasant day
together, thank Father.
June 8 - I was home studying. It was wet. After I was tired of that I
commenced to look over my journal and found that the folks had sent me from
Utah 105 dollars and quorum 10 dollars and Sister Pixton 5, making in all up to
June the 8th 120 dollars, 1892.
June 9 - Home writing and studying. Received a letter from President Evans
asking try and get some Star money and to visit some among Saints.
June 10 - Left Newport for Raglon at half past 6 o'clock to see Brother and
Sister Rosser. I got on the wrong road so I had to pay for my foolishness
by going through farm yards and across fences. After a long walk I got to
Raglan, tired out. Was received very kindly by Brother and Sister
Rosser. I had to walk about twenty eight instead of 17 miles. After we
had a long talk about old times she went and got me a place to sleep. I
was very glad for I was very tired, but gained a little experience, and they
paid for the same. I returned home the next day.
June 11 - Got home from Raglon after spending a few hours chat in the morning
with Brother and Sister Rosser and went to Abersychan the next morning.
Had breakfast with Brother Evan Griffith. Then went to the train to meet
President Evans but was too late so I went to Benjamin Jones's and found
him. There we had a little talk about the affairs of the branch and
dinner being ready, we partook of the same, after which we had meeting, J. J
Williams presiding.
Meeting was opened by singing and prayer and singing, the sacrament
administered by J. J Williams, I think, after which I opened the meeting for
the Saints to bear their testimonies and speak their feelings, which they
did. After that President Evans spoke of the principles of the
gospel. We had a good (get) together. The Holy Ghost was there to
bless and comfort the Saints. After singing and prayer we closed our
little meeting. I went with Brother Evan Griffith to eat and came back in
time to have meeting at 6 o'clock, John J Williams presiding.
(We) commenced by singing and prayer. J. J W. was the first speaker, then
President T. B. Evans and Richard D. Williams occupied he time for a short
time. After, Isaiah Jones was ordained to the office of a priest by
Thomas B. Evans and John J Williams being mouth. We spent a good time
together. Went to Brother Griffith's to sleep and after quite a chat we
went to bed.
Jun 11-16 - I was tracting and visiting around and on the 16th I had breakfast
with E. Griffith and after thanking them for (their) kindness, I left for Newport. We walked
to Pontnerwywydd and took train. Arrived all right at about 12 or
so. Had dinner. Took a walk around town, then back home and wrote
in journal, then prayers and bed.
June 17 - Wrote a letter to wife, Beaver city, Beaver Co., Utah and one to Joseph
Williams, thanking them for their kindness and to tell them how I am getting
along in my missionary labors in Wales.
June 18 - Tracted part of Newport
on Stow Hill. Left 187.
June 19 - Left 200 tracts. The people very cold as regards the gospel as
preached by the elders, but we know who we was sent by and whose servants we
are and that the gospel we are preaching is the gospel of our Lord and Master.
So we go from house to house, trying to get some conversations with them, if we
can, but it seems that we don't get much encouragement as yet.
June 20 - Answered a letter to Morgan D. Warner and wrote in journal and left
100 tracts ...
June 21 - Home reading and sight seeing.
June 22 - Got up well and hearty, thank Father for His goodness to us.
After breakfast we took train for Abersychan. Arrived half past 11 and
visited some of the saints. Then went to Benjamin Jones's to hold
meeting. We commenced at half past two o'clock, J. J W. presiding.
E. T. Ashton first and R. Williams second and T. B. Evans next and John J
Williams bore his testimony, then opened the meeting for the Saints to express
their feelings.
After closing our meeting I went (to) Brother George Jones's to dinner and
broke my fast and after we had dinner we went back and had another
meeting. Elder R Williams and T. B. Evans and Ashton spoke. We had
a good meeting and after we closed we all went down to Abersychan and held an
outdoor meeting. We commenced by singing and prayer by J. J W.,
singing. The speakers was Elder Ashton and Thomas B. Evans and R.
Williams bore his testimony. We had a pretty good crowd of people but
(they) didn't take much interest in what was said but was very orderly.
After the close of the meeting President Evans asked the people if they wanted
to ask questions but none came forward. Elder T. B. Evans and
Ashton took train out Poutpool station, after walking about 3 miles, for Cardiff. Me and
Elder R. Williams walked to the Garndiff to Sister Stavins. She was an
old blind sister. She always took the elders in to sleep so Isaiah Jones
took us to sleep. We had a good night rest.
June 23 - Had dinner or breakfast with Sister Stavens of Garndiffith,
Monmouthshire, South Wales. After, we
gave them our blessing. We left for Abersychan and then walked on to
Pontnewymedd and took (the) train for Newport.
Arrived all right about 1 o'clock. Then went to a restaurant (and) had
dinner.
Went to our lodgings and wrote a little in my journal. Received a letter
from wife, Beaver City, Utah State. She gave me some good
advice and comforting words to encourage me in my labors as a missionary.
After reading and studying the contents of wife's letter, I wrote a letter to
Elder George Shern at West Jordan, Utah, Salt
Lake County.
After we had a little talk on the principles of the gospel we gave ourselves
into the hands of our Heavenly father. Went in peace to bed.
June 24 - We went out among the people to try and get the gospel before
them. We left 110 tracts and very few conversations but we tried hard to
do our duty to the people and feel free ourselves, as we knew we was sent by
the servants of our Lord and Master and are willing to do the best we can to
get the gospel before the people. Wrote a letter to Parley at sheep camp.
June 25 - We went and tracted Saint Edwards Street, Newport and left 120 tracts, one conversation
on the authority to preach the gospel. I brought forth the scriptures
which he could not turn unless he denied the Bible. Came out on top.
June 26 - Left 200 tracts and wrote to wife.
June 27 - Left 200 tracts and studied awhile.
June 28 - Left Newport
for Abersychan. I had to walk to Seave Weanes. Arrived all
right. Went to Brother Evan Griffith's. Had a little rest, then
went to Elder George Jones's. They was feeling bad about something.
I talked with them awhile and they felt better after awhile. I
administered to Sister Jones as she was very sick. I went to Brother
Griffith's to sleep as him and wife was very good to the elders.
June 29 - It was fast day. We commenced our meeting at 10 o'clock.
Had three hours meeting. All the Saints bore their testimonies and most
of the Saints gave something as a temple offering. Even the children gave
in their pennies and fasted all day. J. J Williams paid 5
shillings. We partook of the sacrament, administered by J. W. The
meeting was closed after having time together. I had a talk with some of
the Saints. Slept at E. G.
June 30 - Partook of the hospitality of Brother and Sister Griffiths. Bid
them good day and we left Aberyschan and walked down the canal bank and counted
48 locks, or places for the boats, to be let up and down, as that part of the
country is very hilly from Pontypool to Newport, about 12 miles. Got home
in good time, 12 o'clock. Got dinner and made up our accounts of our fast
offering. June 30 was one pound, 8 shilling. Wrote in my
journal. Got pretty tired. Went to bed, had a good night's rest in
visions and dreams.
July 1, 1892, Newport, Wales - Left
187 tracts.
July 2 - We went out and distributed 140 tracts and when we came back made up
our accounts. We had left 1027 tracts. Meetings indoors 9 and out
one and temple offerings, one pound 6 shillings and 11 pence and a few
conversations.
July 3 - Went out on Stow Hill and left 10(?) tracts and wrote a letter to Ezra
T. Williams, Beaver City, Utah. Visited Mr. Edwards and family,
as we thought they were almost ready for baptism, but it seemed they were
farther away. We talked a long time with them and bore our testimonies to
them. We know that they (are) of Israel, whether they are baptized
or not.
July 4 - We had to pay for our lodging 5 shillings. Went out and left 124
tracts. I was studying and reading, as when I did get into conversation I
saw the necessity of study.
July 5 - I am very thankful to Father for His great goodness to me this day in
enabling me to endure a great temptation. Thank and praise His holy
name. Writing and reading.
July 6 - Left Newport at 8 o'clock and got to Abergavaney about 9
o'clock. went to Elder Barrington's and had breakfast. Then we took
a walk to advertise ourselves among the people. Came back, had dinner and
after the tables was cleared we commenced our meeting at half past two o'clock,
Elder Barrington presiding. He opened the meeting by singing and
prayer by Elder R. Williams. After singing, the sacrament was
administered by Elders Williams and Barrington.
The meeting was opened to bear testimonies. The few Saints spoke well of
the name of the Lord and their determination to hold to the old ship Zion. After, Elder
J. J and Richard Williams spoke to the Saints. We had a good time and
after the meeting Sister Barrington got us food. We blessed and ate.
At 6 the president called the meeting to order by singing, and prayer by Elder
J. J Williams. After Elder gave the meeting over to us Elders, Elder R. W. was
the first speaker. He spoke on the first principles of the gospel.
J. J spoke next. There was three strangers present. We had a good
time together that day and as we (had) to catch the 9 o'clock train and about
two miles to go we had to wish them all good night and God bless you and so on
and to go. We got there just in time for the train. We left
Abergavenney for Newport
at 9 o'clock. Got there about 11 o'clock. Got home tired.
July 7, 1892 - There was 7 schools of children walking. There was
thousands of lookers on. Those 7 schools walked in one procession.They
looked very nice indeed, and whilst I (was) with my brother and fellow laborer
we saw Elders Evans and Ashton. They came to our lodging and we all had
dinner together, after which we took a walk out around town. Came back
and had tea, as it is called in Wales.
They went to the depot and took (the) train for Cardiff. We had a good time together
that day.
July 8 - A stormy day. I was reading and studying. After it got a
little fine we took a walk around the docks to see how they looked. It
was a grand sight to see the ships from all nations and all languages. We
walked about until tired, then came back and looked over my journal to see how
much money I had received since I was in Wales. Found that I had
received one hundred and five dollars from the boys and ten from the quorum and
five from Sister Pixton, which amounted all together to one hundred and twenty
dollars up to date, which I thought was pretty good. I felt to thank my
Heavenly Father for His great care over His humble servant out on (a) mission.
July 9 - Home studying. Received a letter from President Evans telling me
to go around to gather Star money, as there was a good deal of Star account
out.
July 10 - Got up early to start for Raglan, Monmouthshire to try to find out
Brother and Sister Rosser. (I) walked a long way and then found out that
I was on the wrong road so the first man I saw I ask him if I was on the right
road for Raglan but he told me that the farther I went on that road the farther
I was from Raglan, so I ask him if he would be so good as to put me on the
right. He pointed across the meadows and I went through farm yards and
across fields, and at last I came into the road that leads to Raglon and had
farther to walk than when I left Newport.
I walked on, as tired as I was and inquired for them and soon found them
out. They soon recognized me as we was old acquaintances when I was
living in Abersychan and we had a good time talking about old times and Utah. As the house
was small she went out to a neighbor and got me lodgings so I went well tired
to bed.
July 11 - Got up in the morning refreshed and went to Brother and Sister
Charles and Sophia Rosser's. Had breakfast. We had a long talk again
about old times until dinner time and I took some of their genealogy of some of
their folks, had prayers with them, wished (them) good day and walked 17 miles
and got to Newport
before sundown.
July 12 - Left Newport
for Abersychan. Walked 17 miles. Went among the Saints, then went
to Evan Griffith's. Had supper and a little talk, then went to bed.
July 13, Sunday - Had breakfast and them went to look for a place to baptize an
old lady named Caroline Stevens. Came back in time to have dinner with
Benjamin Jones. After the tables was cleared we commenced our
meeting. We opened with singing and prayer and singing. John J
Williams spoke awhile to the Saints on their duties to God and each other, after
which the sacrament was administered by Isaiah Jones, a priest, and Benjamin
Jones. J. J W. opened the meeting for the Saints to bear their
testimonies and they all expressed their feelings and felt a desire to live
their religion. We had a good time together. At 6 we had another
meeting and after singing and prayers Elder Richard Williams from Ogden was the first
speaker. He dwelt on the first principles of the gospel. Then John
J Williams followed. After we had a good time with a few strangers
present. We closed and as we was going to attend to an ordinance we all
knelt down and had prayers. I went out about one hundred yards and
baptized Caroling Stavenes and Elder Richard Williams confirmed her a member of
the Church, July 13, in the Abersychan Branch, Monmouthshire, England.
July 14 - Got up well and hearty, thank Father for it. Had breakfast with
Brother Evan Griffith and a little chat. Then left Abersuchan and traveled
through Blanovon and over the mountain to the Wayen, about 10 miles.
Then I called at Beufort and called on a brother that owed some Star
account. Had some talk with the folks of the house. They felt very
bitter against Mormonism and as for Star account, I got none.
I traveled to Ebbnvale and called on my brother-in-law, Thomas Davis, but they
was not home, about five miles from the Wayen. So as they was not home I
walked two miles to the Cwm to see Sister Caroline Jones. She gave me
dinner but had no Star money to give and wanted the Stars stopped. After
talking to her about her position in the church and the consequences of going
back and so on I left her not feeling very well, as I talked to her pretty
plain because she has told the elders so many times, and now that her Star
account is got quite large she wants to give them up like all others that lose
the Spirit of this great Latter-Day work.
So I walked 4 miles to Croumlin and through Abercarn and Rischa and on to Newport. Got there
about ten o'clock at night, well tired out. I walked somewhere about 40
miles that day, but I don't want to do that again if I can help it and do my
duty and if I had means then I would not have done it then.
June 15 - ("July" has been crossed out of previous entries and He
wrote "June" for the following entries.) Got up early, had
prayers, breakfast, got our tracts and started out in good earnest to do our
duty. We went on that side of Newport
called Stow Hill and commenced calling at the houses. We was received
very coldly but worked anyway and left 177 tracts, but could not get no
conversations.
June 16 - Continued our labors. Left 114 tracts.
June 17 - All well, Received a letter from Ezra T. Williams, Beaver,
Beaver Co. Utah
with ten dollars and answered the same day. Elder Ashton brought 1500
tracts for us and went to Abersychan to administer to Sister Stavens. She
fell down and hurt herself pretty bad and sent for the elders.
June 18 - Had prayers. Went our and left 100 tracts.
June 19 - Got up well, thanks to our Heavenly Father. Had prayers,
breakfast and started for Abersychan. Walked 12 miles. Called on
Brother George Jones. Had a little talk with them. We had supper with
them. Went to Evan Griffith to sleep and supper.
June 20 - Got up early and left for Abergaviney in company with Brother S.
George and Isaiah Jones. We got there about 11 o'clock. Had dinner
with Elder Barrington. We had a little talk with John Barrington.
He has been on the background for a long time. He felt a little better
when we left.
We went back to President Barrington and commenced our meeting, Elder
Barrington presiding. John Barri(ngton?) and wife came to meeting.
He opened (the) meeting by prayer by John J Williams. Then he called on
me to assist him to administer the sacrament. Then he opened for the
Saints to bear their testimonies. After awhile he gave the meeting over
to us. Elder Richard Williams of Ogden
spoke first on the necessity of prayer and exhorted the Saints to go before the
(Lord) with due reverence and ask him with all their hearts for the blessing
they need and so on. He spoke well. We closed by singing and prayer
by J. J W.
Went to Brother and Sister Prices's to tea. Then went and preached out of
doors. We had to holler pretty loud to make the people hear as they
(seemed) to be afraid to come too close. There was one good lady that
came close enough to offer us a penny but Brother R. Williams gave her to
understand that we was not preaching for pennies, but the gospel of Jesus
Christ, and invited (her) to stay to hear what we had to say. She walked
on after we got through. We came back and bid the Saints good night.
Started for home over the mountains to Abersychan. Got there late, well,
tired. Walked 20 miles or more that day.
We had supper at Brother B. Jones and although late, we went to Evan
Griffith. They was gone to bed and when we went there they got up and
gave their bed for us, which I think was a good act.
June 21 - Had prayers, a good wash, breakfast and a little talk. Then went
to Brother Edwin Jones to settle up our branch account. The total amount
of cash was 13.1.8 pence. After we got through we came to Brother George
Jones's, and as Sister Jones's baby was sick she asked us to administer to her,
which we did, and Sister Steavens.
Then left and took train for Newport.
We was in all, Elders Ashton, John D. Williams, John J Williams and Richard
Williams. As it was dinner time and we all being hungry, we went to an
eating house and had dinner, after which Elders Ashton and John D. Williams
took train for Cardiff.
Soon after they was gone President Evans came with sad news for Richard
Williams. His family was sick at Ogden, Utah and Elder Williams was released to return home as
one of his little children was dead already, after which we had tea together
before they left for Cardiff.
I went to the train to see them off. It was hard to part after laboring
together a few months.
June 22 - Went out alone and left 110 tracts. Then went to the depot to
meet Elder Charles Evans of Spanish Fork, Utah,
as he came to labor with me at Newport.
I took him to our lodging and after we had something to eat we took a walk out
to see the town. Came back. Studied awhile, then went to bed.
June 23 - Elder Evans and self got up well and hearty. Had a good bath,
prayers and breakfast. Then got our tracts and started to work. We
left 204 tracts. Did not get any conversations worth calling such and
after I came home I wrote to my wife to give her to understand how I am and
what I am doing in South Wales now.
June 24 - Left 200 tracts west part of Newport,
a few small talks. After we was through came home, had dinner, then went
to see a family named Edwards whom we thought was favorable to the
gospel. We had a long talk with them on the gospel principles. Then
we went home, had prayers, then went to bed.
June 25 - We commenced our day's work by going from house to house but did not
get very much encouragement by the people. Knowing how we are working, we
take courage and do our best to get among the people. We left 18 tracts
and at night we thought if they would not take the tracts we would preach to
them on the streets, so we tried to quiet a lot of boys that was playing.
We commenced our meeting by singing and prayer by John J Williams. Then
we sang a long hymn but not many came so I ask Elder Evans to occupy the
time. He spoke a short time, as he did not feel like talking to the stone
walls. So I spoke awhile at the top of my voice but it soon gave out.
As it was hard to speak we closed by singing and prayer by Elder Charles
Evans. We went home brooding over the scene at that meeting.
June 26 - We got up early, had prayers, a good bath and breakfast.
Prepared to leave Newport
for Abersaychan. We walked 12 miles and got there in good time. We
called on some of the Saints and had a talk with them. Had supper at
Brother Edward Jones's and a talk with them on the principles of the gospel and
their duties. Then went to Brother Evan Griffith's. Had a talk with
them. Then we had prayers and went to bed.
June 27 - Had prayers and breakfast with E. G. Then went to visit the
Saints on the Vartige, about 3 miles from Abersychan. Found one old lady
that I knew when I lived in that place in the year 1857 and she expressed as
feeling well in the work of the Lord. We had quite a talk with her and
she seemed to enjoy our visit.
Then we went down to the Gandiffith in time to hold our meeting and opened with
singing and then Elder Charles Evans spoke on the principles of the
gospel. Then I spoke a short time on the duties of the Saints and the
necessity of the Saints attending to their prayers, after which I administered
the sacrament and opened the meeting for testimonies, which they did well.
Then closed with singing, "We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet",
and prayer.
Then went to Brother Evan Griffith's to tea, as they called it, and after a
little chat we went back to hold meeting at 6 o'clock and started by singing
and prayers. After, I called on the local elders and the priest. We
had a good time together and after we closed, me and Elders Charles Evans and
priest Isaiah Jones and George Jones (went) to the Cwm to hold a meeting.
We commenced by singing and prayer and after we sang again, John J Williams
(spoke) on the first principles of the gospel. There was not very many
when we started but they kept coming and after I was through I called on Elder
Evans. He spoke a short time and I saw that a large crowd had gathered so
I commenced to speak the second time and kept on until it was dark. The
people listened very attentively. We had a good time and I know that the
Holy Ghost was with me all that day.
We came back and called on Elder G. Jones. Had a little chat, then went
down to Abersychan one mile to see some of the doings of the folks on a Sunday
night. It was bad to see the drunken men on the streets, so after we
stayed awhile I went to Evan Griffith's and Isaiah Jones went home to the
bottom of the garn, as it was called, and I went to bed, well tired out and
satisfied of doing our duty this day.
June 28 - Got up refreshed. Had a good wash and prayers and
breakfast. Then wished them good day and left Abersychan and walked 12
miles and got to Newport.
Then sent a letter to President Evans to let him know how we are getting along
in our labors among the people.
June 29, Newport
- Went out and left 206 tracts and 2 conversations. Lots would refuse to
take the tracts and treat us with contempt.
June 30 - Got up very thankful to our kind Heavenly Father for His goodness to
us. Had a bath, prayers (and) breakfast. Then got our tracts and
went to face the people. We left 200 tracts and came across two women
that was already saved. We asked them if they believed in Christ.
They of course said yes. We asked if they had been baptized. They
didn't believe it necessary. We had quite a long conversation but to no
purpose as they was already saved. We bore our testimony to them and left
them to themselves.
June 31 (!) - Went out and delivered 200 tracts. Came back and put our
address on some tracts. Then went to a place called Careleoin and there left
100 tracts and had a meeting out on the street. We could see but very few
people and had to holler to the top of our voice and as far as we could see we
did not do very much good but it is in the hands of God. After we came
home we made up our accounts for June, ending 31. We left 20.476 tracts
and held 4 outdoors meetings and 9 indoors, conversations 8, baptisms 1.
July 1, 1892 - We went out on the west side of Newport and delivered 104 tracts. Came
home, had dinner and paid our lodging and settled our washing bill and removed
to a man named Mr. Edwards, number 49
Hoskins Street, Marshes, Newport, near Uskmon. Wrote a letter to
wife to Pine Creek, Beaver.
July 2 - Home studying. Paid lodgings, 6 and 4 pence. Had my shoes
tapt and after I got them back we went to see Elder Llaid (Loyd?) and had a
talk with him. He was one of the oldest Saints in Wales. He
will talk or preach for hours at a time and that's about all he does anyhow.
July 3 - Got up in the morning well and hearty and am very thankful to our kind
Heavenly Father for His kind care over me in my missionary labors. Me and
my companion had prayers and breakfast then went to the depot. Took train
for Pontypool station. Then walked 4 miles
to Elder Charles Jones's. Got there all right. Had a talk with
them, then dinner with the family. They are a fine family.
After the table was cleared we commenced our meeting. After singing and
prayers I opened the meeting for the few Saints to speak their feelings, after
which Elder Ashton and Elder Evans (spoke). We had a good little meeting,
very fine. The saying of our Lord and Master, that where two or three are
gathered together in My name that there He should be also.
At 2:o'clock we had another meeting. In that meeting Brother Charles
Jones was ordained an elder under the hands of Elder Edward Ashton and John J
Williams of Salt Lake, Utah.
After the close of the meeting we went about 1 mile and had another
meeting. It was very poorly attended but we done our duty and leave the
results with the Lord. We came back to Brother Jones's and blessed a baby
for them, after which we started to go over the mountain to Aberyschan. We
got there about ten o'clock. We went to Benjamin Jones's and nothing
would but we must have supper. Then went to Brother Evan Giffith's to
sleep and they being in bed we called then up and they got up and gave us 3
elders their bed, which I thought was pretty good. We was Edward Ashton,
Charles Evans and John J Williams of the Utah
elders and six of the Abersychan Saints. We had a very good time.
We rode and walked at least 40 miles that day and held 3 meetings, ordained one
elder and blessed one child.
July 4 - We three elders had breakfast with Brother and Sister Griffith. We
wished them good bye and thanked them for kindness received. We went to
Elder Edward Jones to get some money to take to Cardiff
to President Evans and after we did our business we went to the train for Newport. Arrived
all right and in the (morning?) President Evans and Elder Wilde paid a visit.
We had a little talk and council of the president about our duties. Then
they took train for Cardiff
and we two elders went to the depot with them. Came back home and studied
until tired, then had prayers and went to bed.
July 5 - Home all day reading and studying. It was a very wet and cold
day. Went our for a walk in the evening. We saw some rough things.
Came back and had a talk about home but we soon saw that we had to stop
so we prayed and went to bed.
July 6 - Got up well and a desire to do our duty. We had prayers,
breakfast and got some tracts and Elder Charles Evans and self started for
Raglon, a distance of 17 miles. Before we got very far it commenced to
rain but we kept on walking and got to Brother and Sister Rosser. After
we had dinner and a long chat about old times, as J. J Williams was acquainted with
each other in Abersychan Branch in the year 1857. We enjoyed ourselves
awhile, and as it was a small house we had to walk about a mile to Raglon to
get lodgings. It was raining hard all the way. We slept in a
hotel. We had a good bed and nice and clean but there was something that
was not congenial to the feeling of an Elder of Israel, but it was the best we
could that time.
July 7 - As soon as daylight was come we got up and walked back to Bro. &
Sister Rosser's and had breakfast. Sister Sophia Rosser was very kind to
us. We prayed and talked with them and took the genealogy of their
baptisms and confirmations. After we had dinner we gave them our blessing
and left for home. We had to walk 17 miles to get to Newport. It was after 2 o'clock, so we
started out in good earnest and got home late at night, pretty well tired out.
July 8 - Got up in the morning refreshed. Had prayers, breakfast,
and so on. Then went out to see the results of the election. It was
a great day in Newport
and there was lots of drunken men and women. It was a real Babel but it was a great
sight for us to see such things. After we had enough of the sights of the
election and its effects, we went home and I wrote a letter to Joseph Williams,
Beaver, Utah.
July 9 - Wrote a letter to Elder Thomas D. Roberts of Logan City.
Then started to Abersychan. Walked 12 miles. Got there all right.
July 10 - Got up well. We felt like doing our duty. We fasted until
5 o'clock. We went on the Garndiffith, myself, Elder Charles Evans and
George and Isaiah Jones. We opened by singing and prayer and singing.
Elder Evans was the first to speak. He dwelt on the first principles of
the gospel. Not many came and he being young, he soon gave out so John J
Williams followed on the same strain and as the people stood a long way off I
had to holler to the top of my voice. The folks did not take much
interest in what we said so we closed by singing, prayer by priest Isaiah
Jones. We left a few tracts with them.
We went down to the bottom of the garndiffeith to Benjamin Jones's and had
another meeting with the Saints. We commenced at 2 o'clock by the usual
way. I spent the meeting for the Saints to bear their testimonies or sing
or speak as they was led. The Spirit was given to us in rich
abundance. We closed about 4 o'clock. Had tea with Elder
Jones. Then at 6 o'clock we had another meeting. Elder C. E. spoke
and J. J Williams, and after a nice little meeting we closed our meeting.
After a little chat with the Saints I went to Bro. Griffith. Had supper,
a chat, and bed, tired.
July 11 - Got up in the morning greatly refreshed. Washed, had breakfast
with Bro. and (Sister) Griffith.
Then went to see a sick sister. We administered to her and talked awhile
to try to comfort them a little. Then started to Newport. We walked 12 miles. Got
home all right. Had a little rest, then went to the store and got some
food. Had dinner, after which I wrote awhile and laid our plans for the
morrow. Had prayers, then bed.
July 12 - It being a wet day, I was reading and studying and writing in my
journal till late.
July 13 - We got up early to carry out our plans. After prayers and
breakfast we took our tracts and commenced our house to (house) canvas on the
west side of Newport.
We left 105 tracts and one conversation. The people was very cool as
regards the gospel as it was preached by the Mormon elders, but thanks to our
kind Heavenly Father, He always gave strength as our day to bear all the scoffs
of those that don't know better.
July 14 - Went out among the people. Left 204 tracts.
July 15 - We distributed 216 tracts among the people of the west side of
Newport, but very few seemed to care much for the tracts or us and when we go
to gather the first tracts, we find lots that have not been opened and some
they can't find, so we have to make the best of it. After we came home
and had dinner I answered a letter I got from Ezra T. Williams, Beaver, with 5
dollars in it. Went out and posted it and took a little walk around
town. Came back, had prayers, then bed.
July 16 - We was home all day reading and studying.
July 17 - We got up early. Had prayers, breakfast. Then went to the
depot. Took the train for Abergavenney. The fare was one shilling
and sixpence. We got there early and went to Elder Barrington and had to
have another breakfast. Then went over to see Brother and Sister
Price. We had quite a long talk with them about the gospel and their
duty. They had been to Salt
Lake and left there again
and came back to the old country and now they are here they say that can see
where they have lost it now and would like to go back, and so on.
Then went back to Bro. Barrington's. Had dinner. As soon as the tables
was cleared we had meeting, Elder Barrington presiding. The meeting was
opened by singing, and prayer by Elder John Williams. After a few timely
remarks the sacrament was administered by President Barrington and John J
Williams. After, he opened the meeting for the Saints to bear their
testimonies, after which the meeting was given over to the missionaries.
Elder Charles Evans spoke on the duties of the Saints, then we closed.
Nothing would not do but we must stop and take tea with them before we went
away. After we got through we started for home.
We walked to Charles Jones's, 4 or 5 miles, and called there. We had a
little chat with them. Then we started to walk to Pontypool
road station. Brother Jones and part of family came to send us away and
when they left us we had to go like sixty to catch the train, and before we was
there we could hear the train coming. We had run as hard as we could and
got there just in time. We left Pontypool road station about half past 8
and got to Newport
about 10 o'clock at night, pretty tired out, and went to bed satisfied of our
day's labor.
July 18 - Home studying and reading and copied from my journal. It was
wet and cold and so on.
July 19 - Out tracting. Left 208 tracts and 2 conversations and a little
opposition but we came out all right by the blessing of Father.
July 20 - Went out and left 218 tracts. Then we started to Cardiff. We walked
12 miles. Had supper, then meeting, spent by singing and prayer,
after President Evans called on Elder Charles Evans to speak first and John
second. We enjoyed ourselves well and after the close of the meeting we
had a talk with the elders and the Saints. We slept in the conference
house, well tired.
July 21 - We got up well and hearty. Had prayers with the brethren, then
breakfast. Went out and around Cardiff
awhile but there was no attraction for me so Elder Charles Evans and myself
went back to the conference house. Had a talk with President Evans about
our duties. Had dinner, wished them good day. We started and walked
12 miles to Newport.
It was a very warm day, roads very hard and dusty but we got there all right
and after we got supper we had prayers, went to bed.
July 22 - Went out on the west side of Newport
and left 143 tracts and got a few conversations with some of the people and
when we came back had dinner. After, we paid our lodgings and settled our
accounts.
July 23 - Left Newport
for Abersychan. Walked 12 miles. We had tea with George Jones and
after (that) we had quite a talk with them on the duties of Saints. We
left and went to Brother Evan Griffith's and had supper and bed.
July 24 - Arose refreshed and a desire to do our duty. Had breakfast with
E. Griffith and then went to Brother B.
Jones. Myself and Charles Evans and Isaiah Jones went up on the
Garndiffith and preached out of doors. Not very many came. We
opened by singing and prayer by John J Williams. (We) sang, after which
Elder C. Evans spoke first on the first principles of the gospel. I followed
and Isaiah Jones bore his testimony. Then we closed and went to Benjamin
Jones's (and) had dinner. We commenced our meeting (by a) prayer by Bro.
Brigs, and after singing the sacrament was administered. (The meeting)
opened for the Saints to bear their testimonies and then Elder Charles Evans
spoke a little while, then closed by prayer by Priest Isaiah Jones.
At 6 o'clock we had another meeting spent with singing, and prayer by Elder
Charles Jones (and) singing. C. E. was the first speaker and Isaiah Jones
and Charles Jones and Bro. Brigs. They all felt well in the gospel and
after a little chat with the Saints we all parted with the best of
wishes. We went to Brother Evan Griffith's to sleep.
July 25 - Had prayers and breakfast, then left our blessing with them.
Then started on our day's journey. We went through Cowmavion, about two
miles and Blanvaion, 3 miles. (We) traveled over the mountain to a place
called the Wayen, about 6 miles, then on to Bouwfort, about 2 miles and called
on a bro. who owed some Star money but I didn't get any for wife was opposed to
this Latter-Day work but I bore my testimony to her. It only made her
feel worse, so we left them.
(We) went to Shrowy, 13 miles and called on John Wight and found him and wife
at home. They both was very kind and made us welcome and after we had
dinner we left there and went to Tredager. William Williams, he was once
in the church but had fell back but he takes the Stars and is good to pay for
them after he gets them. After having a talk with them we left and found
out Mary Ann Thomas. We had a talk with her but she has lost the spirit
of the gospel. After we talked awhile we left and traveled 3 more miles
to Vidtoray and called on Mary Jane Richards. She was nice to my
wife. She was very kind to me and gave me supper and bed after a long
talk about Utah,
and her Aunty and the people and how they lived and so on and then went to bed.
July 26 - Got up in the morning. Had prayers and breakfast with Martha
Jane Richards, a daughter of my brother-in-law. Both her and husband was
very kind to us and told us to come again. Then we walked over to my
brother-in-law's, Thomas Davis and had a talk with them. Then started
from Wayulledd for Newport
and called at the Cwm on Caroline Jones, an old Saint of long standing, so long
that she was almost dried up, but could not see her. I heard her but the
girl said that she was not in the house. We wanted to collect some Star
money but I had to go without.
We traveled on to Aberbuge, about 4 miles and on to Croumlin, Abercarn, Risca,
Crosskeer, and Bassllig, then home to Newport.
July 27 - Started out to tract. We left 142 and could not get any
conversations but done our best. Came home. Wrote in journal.
July 28 - We left 200 tracts and two conversations and received a letter from
President T. B. Evans telling us how to act on Sunday, me to go to Abergaveney
and Elder Charles Evans to Cardiff.
Took a walk out after studying.
July 29 - We got up well and hearty and determined to try to do our duty.
After prayers and breakfast we started out on the west side of Newport called Stow Hill and commenced our
labors. We left 202 tracts. Wrote to wife.
July 30 - We left Newport
for Abersychan, fasting until 4 o'clock. Visited some of the Saints,
after which went to Evan Griffith's to supper, and after a talk we went to bed.
July 31 - We had breakfast with Brother Evan Griffith. Then (we) went to
the station to meet President Evans but he had come and went to Brother
Jones's, so I started out after him. He was there, and after a
conversation with family we went to Edward Jones's on a little business, had
dinner. Then came back to Brother Benjamin Jones's in time to hold
meeting at half past two o'clock.
We opened by singing, and prayer by John J Williams. Singing, after which
Elder Charles Evans and Isaiah Jones administered the sacrament. After,
the meeting was opened for the Saints to bear their testimonies. Then
President Evans spoke and gave us very good instructions. Closed with
singing and prayer, T. B. Evans.
We went to Brother and Sister Griffith to tea, then back in time to hold
meeting at six o'clock. After singing, and prayer by Pres. T. B. Evans,
J. J Williams spoke awhile and gave the Saints to understand what was wanted to
be done. It was moved and seconded that Charles Jones be ordained an
Elder and set apart to preside over the Aberyschan Branch and Isaiah Jones
first and Llwelling Jones second councilors and Isaiah Jones a priest and
George Jones a deacon. T. B. Evans ordained Llwelling C. Jones to a deacon.
Thomas B. Evans set Charles Jones apart to preside over the Abersychan Branch
and Isaiah and Alvrice Jones to be superintendent of the Sunday School.
We closed early. T. B. prayed.
Took the train for Newport.
We got there all right and Elder T. B. Evans went on to Cardiff to the conference house.
Aug. 1, 1892 - Got up well and hearty. Had prayers, breakfast, then
settled our lodging bill. Then removed to another pat of town to a man by
the name of William Johnston, No.
11 Harking Street, Marshes, Newport,
Monmouthshire, Wales.
After I was settled a little I answered a letter from wife which I received
with 10 dollars. She was well and happy.
Aug. 2 - I was home reading and studying for awhile. Then went to get my
10 dollars changed. I had a hard Job but I got it changed at last by
discounting quite a bit. Came home and wrote in my journal.
Aug. 3 - Got up well and hearty. Had prayers then breakfast. Got
our tracts then went to the west end or the west side of Newport and commenced our labors. The
people are pretty careless about taking the tracts but we left 180
tracts. It is almost laughable to see the folks so afraid to take our
tracts. Their priest has got them pretty tight in his grasp, but myself
and partner does our best and leave the result with our kind Heavenly Father to
settle with them.
Aug. 6 - We paid 4 shillings for lodgings and 22 pence for bread and left for
Abersychan. We traveled 12 miles and went along the canal all the
way. We went through Pontypool and on to
Agersychan. We called on Bro. and Sister Griffith. Had dinner, then
went to Benjamin Jones's. We had a talk with him about his duties as a
Latter-Day Saint but he was very self willed. Came back to Brother and
Sister Griffith's. Had supper and a good conversation about the gospel
and their duty to it.
Aug. 7 - We had prayers, then breakfast with Evan Griffith. Then went to
the Sunday School. Not many there but was a good spirit there and I
enjoyed the school well. After we had dinner at Benjamin Jones's, at two
o'clock we had meeting. President Charles Jones called the meeting to
order, singing and prayer, after which the sacrament was administered by J. W.
and Isaiah Jones. The Saints bore their testimonies. They all felt
well. President Jones occupied the remainder of the time. Closed by
singing and prayer. After we had tea we had another meeting commenced by
prayer and singing. Pres. called on Elder Charles Evans. He spoke
on the first principles of the gospel and John J Williams followed on the
necessity of the Saints being one. Then we closed our meeting and after
we had a good chat and hand shake we parted and a few went to Brother George
Jones's. Had a few songs and chatted awhile. We went to Brother
Griffith's to sleep. Had a good time.
Aug. 8 - Had breakfast with Evan Griffith and started for Newport. Traveled 12 miles. Got
home well.
Aug. 9 - Got up soon to write in my journal, breakfast. Then got our
tracts and started out in good earnest to get at the people and give them a
chance to hear the gospel. We left 100 tracts and came across two old
folks that (were) named Gibbs. We had a long talk with them about Utah. They had a
son. They like to talk about Utah.
Aug. 10 - Left 120 tracts and wrote a letter (to) Parley Williams, Beaver City,
Beaver Co. Utah.
They was well.
Aug. 11 - We left 70 tracts and had two conversations.
Aug. 12 - We went about 4 miles to a place called Carelion. We left 220
tracts. It was the first time we went there. The people took the
tracts pretty well, but we could not get any conversations with them.
Came home. Had dinner. Then went to see Mr. and Mrs.
Gibbs. They are pretty favorable to the gospel and like to talk about Utah. Their
(son's?) name is John G. Gibbs, boot and shoe maker. He lives at Lehi.
Aug. 13 - Got up early. Had prayers, breakfast, and started for
Raglon. It was 16 miles from Newport.
It was a wet day. We got there pretty tired. Sister Rosser got us
dinner and was very kind to us. After we had a long conversation she gave
us one shilling to help pay for a bed, as their house was too small and was not
prepared, and two shillings for Stars and tithing. After we had prayers
with them we wished them good night and walked two miles to Raglon. We
got lodging in an inn. We had a good bed and a good night's sleep.
We walked 18 miles.
Aug. 14 - We had breakfast at the public house where we slept. Then
walked 12 miles to Abergaveny. We called on Brother and Sister Price.
They put (out?) food. Then went over to Elder Barreton's and had meeting, Elder
Barreton presiding. After singing, and prayer by John J Williams, the
sacrament was administered by President Barreton and John J Williams.
Then he opened the meeting for the Saints to bear their testimonies, which they
did. Then the president gave the meeting over to us to speak. Elder
Charles Evans spoke first and John J Williams spoke next, of the duties of the
Saints, and the first principles of the gospel. After singing we closed
by prayer by Elder Charles Evans. There was three strangers present.
Then we had tea and then started for Newport.
As Charles Jones lived on the side of the road we called on his family.
Had quite a conversation with them, then Brother Jones came to send us
away. As we had to walk 4 miles to Pontypool
road station, we had to run quite a ways. We just got in time to get the
train. We got to Newport
about 10 o'clock, pretty well tired out and ready for bed. We walked 18
miles, besides 18 miles with the train.
Aug. 15 - We was home all day reading and studying. My feet was very sore
so we took a rest. It was wet.
Aug. 16 - We went out to tract but it was too wet and cold so we came home and
was reading and studying.
Aug. 17 - Went to Carelion and left 220 tracts.
Aug. 18 - Home writing and studying. Then went to Carelion.
Aug. 19 - Went out. Left 190 tracts on the west side Newport.
Aug. 20 - Left 111 tracts on Stow Hill, Newport.
Came home and settled up our accounts and paid our lodging and so on.
Aug. 21 - Wet. I was home most of the day and after I tired (of) reading
and studying I took a walk around the docks. It was a grand sight to see
the ships in the docks. It was wet.
Aug. 22 - Got up with a desire to do our duty. We had prayer, breakfast, and
went to the depot. Took train at 8 o'clock. Rode to Pontypool road station. Then walked 4 miles to
Charles Jones where we was to hold meeting.
We commenced at 11 o'clock by prayer and singing, by John J
Williams. Elder Charles Evans was the first speaker and Elder John
J Williams next. We both spoke on the first principles of the gospel,
after which we closed by singing and prayer by Charles Evans. We had a
good meeting and after we had dinner and the tables cleared we commenced our
evening services at half past 2 o'clock by singing and prayer by Elder Charles
Evans. We sang again and Brother Evan spoke first and John J Williams
next. There was 2 strangers present. We had a good flow of the Holy
Spirit. The people seemed satisfied. We was enabled to speak on the
principles of the (gospel with) much plainness and had a good effect on those
present. After we had a little chat and tea, we walked back to Pontypool road station, 4 miles. Got back to Newport about half past
10 at night, well paid for our day's labor.
Aug. 23 - We was home all day reading and studying and writing.
Aug. 24 - After breakfast and prayers went out on the southeast side of Newport and left 100
tracts. The people very careless as regards the gospel . We had 3
conversations.
Aug. 25 - We distributed two hundred tracts, 2 conversations.
Aug. 26 - Finished tracting Newport
by leaving 176 tracts and two conversations. We was laboring in the town
of Newport
about 4 months. I am well satisfied that we done our duty to the best of
our ability.
Aug. 27 - We was taking in the sights of Newport
before leaving the town and reading and writing and conversing on the gospel.
Aug. 28 - We paid our lodging then started for Abersychan. We walked 12
miles. We got there all right. Called on Evan Griffith. Had a
talk with them, then went to the Garndiffth to Benjamin Jones's. Had some
food. We talked to them about their duties and the gospel. After we
spent a comfortable time together Elder Evans and self went to Evan Griffith's
to sleep. Had a good bed.
Aug. 29, Sunday - We had breakfast with Brother and Sister Griffith.
After we had prayers, (we) went up on the Garndiffith to hold meeting out
doors, myself and Elder Evans and Isaiah Jones. We commenced with singing
and prayer by J. J W. Elder Evans was the speaker and whilst he was
speaking a man came and contradicted him but we brought chapter and verse so he
did not stay long as it was made too hot for him, but it was poorly
attended. Closed.
Then went to Benjamin Jones's. Had dinner and commenced our meeting at
half past 2 o'clock, Elder Charles Jones presiding. After the usual
exercises Elder John J Williams bore his testimony. The Saints felt well
and at night had another meeting. Elder John J Williams spoke on the
first principles of the gospel and other brethren spoke. Closed after
having a good meeting. Went to Evan's to sleep.
Aug. Mon. 30 - After a good night's rest arose in the morning well and very
thankful to our Heavenly Father for His goodness towards us. We had
prayers and breakfast with Brother and Sister Griffith. After we wished
them good day we went to Elder Edwin Jones's to attend to a little
business. After we was through we had dinner and quite a long
conversation. Then we went from there to Benjamin Jones's. Had a
talk and ate again. Then Elder Charles Evans and Isaiah Jones and John J
Williams went about two miles to the Varteg to hold meeting with an old sister
that had been in the church over 40 years. We had a good little meeting
but no strangers. Although the people knew there was Mormons in the rowe,
they treated us with silent contempt, but we was well paid for going up
there. We came to Garndiffith and called at an old lady whose name was
Stevens. She has been blind for a number of years but is very good to the
elders when they call. We slept there. We had breakfast with them,
then went to Jones's and from there went to Carline Jones and had a talk
with them.
After wishing them good bye we started for Newport. We walked 13 miles that
day. It was storming all the way down. Got home all right.
Aug. 31 - David Williams and Elders McAllister and Charles Evans and John J Williams
was all together and I made up our accounts for August ending the 31. We
distributed 1760 tracts, 28 conversations and 13 meetings.
Sept 1, 1892 - I was home all day until night. Then we 4 elders, J. J
Williams, Evans, David Williams and McAllister went on the west side of Newport to hold meeting
but it was too late and wet. It was a stormy night. We came back
home and had a debate until late.
Sept. 2 - We all enjoyed ourselves until night. Then went out on a street
called Stowhill, Newport,
to preach. It was rather a wet night but we had meeting. Elder
McAllister and John J Williams spoke and Elder D. Williams closed by prayer,
and Elder Evans opened with prayer. Poor attendance.
Sept. 3 - We all left Newport for Cardiff. We walked
12 miles and got in in good time. Had supper, then meeting. Gave in
our report, 1760 tracts, 28 conversations, 13 meetings and so on.
Sept. 4, Sun. - Commenced conference at 11 o'clock by singing and prayer.
There present on the stand (were) Elders James H. Anderson of the Liverpool
office and G. W. Godfrey, James Sabine, traveling elders of the Cheltenham
conference and Thomas B. Evans, president of the Welsh conference, J. H. Wilde,
W. C. Esgreen, & John J Williams, L. W. B Wride, David Williams, John H.
Davis, Taliesen Evans, T. D. Roberts, Levi John, W. G. McAllester, Alonzo
Lewis, Charles A. Evans, traveling elders of the Welsh conference.
Elder Ashton was the first speaker. He spoke on the first principles of
the gospel and Talusen Evans and Elder James Anderson and Thomas B. Evans all
spoke at the first meeting. At 2 o'clock the meeting was commenced by
singing and prayer and after the authorities was sustained of the European
Mission. The reports of the elders was 33778 tracts distributed, villages
41 tracted, (meetings held) outdoors 81, indoors 162.
Sept 5 - After breakfast we all went and had our photos taken in a group.
We was___ of us, after which I came back to the conference house, had dinner,
then took a walk around Cardiff
with Bro. and Sister Richards and family. Then came home. Had a
good time with the elders. Had a week to visit friends and after, thanked
kind President Evans for a furlough. We had prayers, then went to bed.
Sept. 6 - Left Cardiff and walked to Barraleg. Then took train for Victoria station.
Went from there to Thomas Davis and family. They was all well and I was
received very kindly by them and made as comfortable as they could but they did
not want the gospel as preached by the elders. After I bore my testimony
to them they did not seem the same, but still they tried to be kind. I
wrote a letter to wife. Had quite a conversation before going to bed.
Sept. 7 - I wrote to wife, and wished them good bye. Then walked over to
Tredegar and saw Margaret Ann Touch and a short conversation about Utah and her
people. Had dinner, then went to see Mary Ann Thomas. She was glad
to see me. She had been in the church but she don't pretend to be a Saint
now. She is pretty low in circumstances and she had been confined with a
fine boy (Sept. 5), so we could not see her but was glad we was here.
That one makes her 3 children. She was coming on very well when I
left. I went from there to John White's. Was received kindly.
Had supper and bed.
Sept. 8 - Had breakfast, wished them good day and started to go to Ebbewvale
and went and bought a new suit of clothes and walked on to Abergaveney.
Called at Bro. Barrington's and Brother Price's. They got me a place to
sleep. I went 16 miles and was well tired by night.
Sept. 9 - Had breakfast with Barrington's.
Then started for Raglan to go to Bro. Charles Rosser. I walked 12
miles. Was received all right. We had quite a long chat about old
times as we used to be in Abersychan Branch a way back in 58 and sixty.
We was up until late, then they fixed me a bed.
Sept. 10 - After a good night's rest had breakfast. Wrote a little in my
journal, then answered a letter received from Ezra T. Williams with 5 dollars.
At night I baptized Charles Rosser at Raglon September 10, 1892. Pretty
cold.
Sept. 11, 1892 - We had a little meeting. I administered the sacrament
and they expressed themselves as feeling well. I spoke on the duty of
Latter-Day Saints and I confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints Sept 11, 1892.
Brother and sister Rosser was as kind as they could be and as I was a little
sick, I stayed with them three days. They gave me 3 shillings to pay (for
the) train to Cardiff or Newport. Then we all went to bed.
Sept. 12 - Left Charles Rosser's and walked 1 mile. Took train for Cardiff and got there all
right.
Sept. 13 - President Evans called a council and appointed J. J W. and Thomas D.
Roberts to be my companion to labor in North Wales
to a place called Fertiniog, Merionethshire.
Sept. 14 - Wrote a letter to Elder Hyrum Bennion in answer to one I received
with five dollars. At night we had a Saints meeting and I with the others
bore my testimony. We had a good time and quite a talk with the Saints of
Cardiff Branch. Then prayers and bed.
Sept. 15 - Walked into the country to try to learn the whereabouts of William
Waleer. Hunted all day but could not find him. Came back tired.
Sept. 16 - Wrote to James Walters, Salt
Lake, Utah to get
William's address. Had a walk around Cardiff.
Sept. 17 - Took a walk. Came back and was reading and studying.
Sept. 18 - Took another day's pleasures around Cardiff. At night had a meeting with
Saints of Cardiff. Had a long conversation with the Saints. A good
time.
Sept. 19 - Got up in the morning well and hearty. Had a good bath, then
prayers and breakfast. Then paid for two thousand tracts and left Cardiff for North Wales with Elder Thomas Roberts of
Logan, Cache Co., Utah.
We arrived in Blling Festimog about 5 o'clock and got a place to sleep and
supper and a small conversation with the landlady. She thought there was
plenty of preaching. We tried to show her the first principles of the
gospel but she thought faith was enough to save her in the celestial
glory. We saw that it was no use to talk to her so we quit and went to
bed, pretty well tired out.
Sept. 20 - Got up in the morning and had breakfast. As we had to go to
Blling Festiniog, we thought to get more in the center as it was about four
miles from Festiniog to Blling Festiniog and there was villages all the (way)
up. We came to a little village called Manod. We called at several
places but was refused until we came to Mr. William Freeman, butcher, Manod,
Bll Festiniog.
I went into the store and asked the daughter if we could lodge with them as we
was preachers and was come to tract the place. She sent for her
father. He came. We told him our business. That we was Mormon
elders stood in the way until after he saw that we believed in the Bible.
We had to stay by paying 4 shilling per week. They was very kind to
us. They are Methodist. We went back to Festiniog and come up by
train with our box and tracts. Got to Manod at 5 o'clock. Went to
our new lodging. Had supper and then a long conversation on the
scriptures but they come to find out that we had too much Bible for them so we
quit as it was late and we went to bed.
Sept. 21 - Home most of the day reading and writing. Wrote letter to
wife.
Sept. 22 - Got up in the morning with a good desire to do our duty. We
had prayers in our room and told our kind Heavenly Father what we was going to
do and asked Him to please give us help to do our duty. Then had
breakfast. Got our tracts. Went back to Festiniog and went from
house to house until left 206 tracts. The people seemed to receive us and
the tracts the first time. We came home and had dinner and commenced to
study. A little chat with Mr. Freeman and daughter. They did not oppose
but could not see the gospel as preached by us and so on. We bore our
testimony to them and then went to bed.
Sept. 23 - We went to Fustiniog the second time and finished the
village. We left 79 tracts. We could not get many conversations and
tried our best. They seemed to be afraid of the Mormon elders. We
was very thankful to our Lord and Master for His Holy Spirit which He gave us
to make us bold to face the people. We got to our lodging all
right. Had a few conversations at home.
Sept. 24 - We took a walk as far as Manetwrog to see the country around.
After (we) came home had dinner, then we studied awhile and wrote a letter to
Charles Rosser at Raglon, Monmouthshire on Chepston Road, Raglon.
Sun. Sept. 25 - As it was wet and cold we took a walk out to the country to see
where the roads and lanes was that lead to different farm houses so we could
make better time when we went tracting. When we came back we had tea and
a little talk with the folks. As they was going to chapel, I went with
them. The preacher had something to say about the two Mormon elders that
was tracting around, telling the people that the gospel and they had plenty of
preachers and only believe on the Lord Jesus and would be saved and so on.
Mon. 26 - Too wet to go out in the morning so we commenced on the south end of
a village called Manod. We left 160 tracts but could (get no) conversations.
Tue. 27 - We was home all day as it was wet and cold. We was reading,
writing and studying. I wrote to Charles Howell, Salt Lake, Utah,
and had a little talk with the folks.
Wed. 28 - We continued our labors and tracted Bll Fustiniog but could not hold
any conversations to amount to anything. They told us they did not want
to talk on religion and we soon found out that they meant what they said, but
Brother Roberts and myself labored away the best we could and are satisfied
that we are clear of their blood. It was wet most of the time we was there.
Thurs. 29 - It was a wet cold day so we was home reading and studying.
Wrote a letter to Elders Isgreen and Evans at Plogelly, as they was laboring
that town in Merionethshire and we was laboring in Fustiniog, Merionethshire
about 24 miles apart. It was a regular Welsh town.
Sept. 30 - We went to Festinniog and tracted it the second time. We left
237 tracts from there to Manod. We came home, had dinner, then we went
back to leave more tracts, although it (was) storming. We had left in
Festiniog from September 22 to Nov. 30, 83.70.
Oct 1, 1892, Festiniog, Manog - It being a stormy day, we took a walk out into the
country as far as Dolwyddelen to see the place. It is a very rough,
narrow valley and a regular Welsh speaking people. As Brother Roberts
could speak a little Welsh we got along pretty well leaving tracts.
Sun. Oct 2 - We was home part of the day as it was rather wet. Then in
the evening we walked out into the country to see the farming districts.
It looks very poor land and crops and it is so wet and stormy that the oats
that are out in the field are growing and will be spoilt unless the weather
comes dry before long. Came back tired. Had a conversation with the
family on the gospel.
Mon. Oct 3 - We started out to tract, although it was wet and stormy and
distributed 22 tracts. No conversations.
Tue. Oct. 4 - Went up to Bll Festiniog and left 20 6th tracts and wrote a
letter to Ezra T. Williams of Beaver, Utah
in answer to one I received with 5 dollars.
Wed. Oct. 5 - We left in Festiniog 207 tracts and we got a few gospel
conversations this day. I received a letter from Brother and Sister
Rosser. They was both well and hearty and loved the gospel.
Thurs. Oct. 6 - After prayers and breakfast we went as far as Bll Festiniog and
took a walk around the place to see and to advertise ourselves as the Mormon
Elders. Was men of note and was very close watched.
Fri. Oct 8 - Wet and cold for October month. We was home all day studying
and talking about home and Utah.
Sat. Oct. 8 - Took a walk to see the place. As there was a young man
drowned, we went to see the place. It was a large hole between the rocks
30 to 40 feet deep. He was going home from Festiniog to Bll Festiniog,
about 4 miles, and to cut the way more short he went to cross the fields and
had to cross a creek. As he was leaping across he fell back into a large
hole between the rocks and was drowned.
Came back home and wrote a letter to President Evans, as he was released to go
home on October 14, 1892.
Sun. Oct. 9 - Wet, and to spend the time I went to chapel at night. It
seemed a pretty empty sermon to me. When we came home we began to talk
religion and was at it for a long time and showed them from the scriptures that
faith alone would save no man or woman, and so on.
Mon. Oct. 10 - We left 156 tracts around Bll Festiniog.
Tue. Oct. 11 - Distributed 141 tracts in Bll Festiniog.
Wed. Oct. 12 - Left 124 tracts and tried to get a conversation with the people
but they listened to their preachers before us. We was very thankful to
our Heavenly Father that He gave us a portion of His Spirit to help us to do
our duty and we will leave the result with Him.
Thurs. 13 and Fri. 14 - We left 128 tracts in Bll Festiniog and wrote a letter
to wife to Beaver, Utah.
Sat. Oct 15 - Got up early. Had our prayers in our room, then went down
to breakfast and started to walk to Penbyrn to see the country. Traveled
about 12 miles.
Sun. Oct. 16 - Being as it was wet and cold we stayed home reading and studying
the scriptures and prayers.
Mon. Oct. 17 - It was Thanksgiving Day with the people of Festiniog. As
we was walking around we could see that the different religions was punctual at
their meeting.
As Mr. Freeman was going to Maenitwrog he ask me to go with him. As I
thought it would be a good chance to get the gospel before him I went. We
went through Festiniog and across the fields, a more near way. Then we
came to the village
of Maemttwrog. He
was going to buy a pig and on our way I preached the gospel to him and he
acknowledged that he believed we had the right gospel but he had not get up
enough in him to obey it. We got back about dark, pretty tired but paid
for my trouble of going in bearing my testimony to Mrs. Freeman.
Tue. Oct. 18 - We went to Bll. Festiniog. Left 118 tracts. As the
time was due for us to pay our lodgings, had to borrow 12 shillings of Elder T.
Roberts to pay my part, as we paid every week and my money was gone.
Wed. Oct 19 - We left 124 tracts in Bll Festiniog. After coming home and
having dinner got the mail. Had a letter from President Ashton giving us
advice how to proceed in our labors and to encourage us on in the good work.
Thurs. Oct. 20 - We took a walk out on the Dolwyddelen road and I came back
with wet feet as my shoes are so bad that I can't go outside the doors without getting
my feet wet when the roads are wet and sloppy. Left 15 tracts.
Fri. Oct. 21 - Took a walk on the Dolwyddelen
Road and came back. Had dinner and then
commenced to study. (Oct. 22)
Sun. Oct. 23 - We was home praying, reading and studying.
Mon. Oct. 24 - Home all day. Too stormy to go out.
Tue. Oct. 25 - Traveled to Maentwrogand distributed 104 tracts and came back
tired and hungry. Settled our board bill. Had to borrow 10
shillings & ten pence of Elder T. Roberts to pay my share. I felt
gloomy.
Wed. Oct. 26 - We left around Festiniog 84 tracts. A fine day.
Thurs. Oct. 27 - Been in the house all day as my shoes was too bad to go
out. Got feet wet. Brother Roberts left (?) tracts.
Fri. Oct. 28 - Wrote a letter to wife without date.
Sat. Oct 29 - Raining so we spent the day the best we could.
Sun. Oct. 30 - Went to a village called Tanygrrare to see an old man that had
been in the church 30 years ago and we had a long talk with the old
folks. They was glad to see us.
Mon. Oct. 31 - Went to Maintwiog and left 74 tracts.
November 1, 1892, Festiniog, Merienethshire - We had left altogether around Bll
Festiniog 408 tracts.
Nov. 2 - We went to Manetwrog, about 5 miles away and we commenced to leave
tracts around. It is a small village but quite a few farms around.
We worked hard and left 90 tracts (and had) a few small talks. We got
home late.
Nov. 3 - We got up early, had breakfast and went to Tanyigrisian. It was
a little village joining Bll Festiniog. It was built on the side of the
mountain and steps go to some of the houses, but climbed away and left 102
tracts. On our road back we called on a family. They had been in
the church about 30 years. They was very glad to see us. Elder
Roberts had to be spokesman as the family was Welsh. We promised to hold
meeting as the family was favorable. We got home after doing a good day's
work.
Nov. 4 - Home most of the day until night. Then we went to Tanygrisau to
have a meeting. We commenced about half past seven o'clock, the house was
crowded. It was all Welsh. We opened by prayer by John J
Williams. Elder Roberts spoke first in the Welsh language and John J
Williams in English. We had great freedom in speaking but people seemed
very indifferent as regards the gospel. We done the best we could and
after we had supper we went home.
Sat. Nov. 5 - Home in the morning and at about 4 o'clock we went to the depot
to meet Elders Isgreen and Evans as they came to pay us a visit from
Dolgys. We spent a very comfortable evening. Mr. Freeman and wife
and daughter was very kind and done all they could to make us comfortable.
We had a little music and so on. We stayed at the same place and had a
good night's rest.
Sun. Nov. 6 - We was home until evening. Them we went to John Jones's to
hold meeting but they was not prepared so we had a long talk with the
folks. Then Elders W. C. Isgreen and Talisien Evans, John J Williams and
Thomas Roberts went to our lodging to Mr. Williams Freeman, Manod. Went
to bed. Had a rest.
Nov. 7 - As the brethren wanted to see the salt quarries we had prayers and
breakfast and then started out. We got to the quarries about noon and the
boys wanted to go into the mines but Brother Roberts did not want to go.
They went to see the quarries and came back home. It was a fine
day. The boys came home about 5 o'clock, pleased with the sights.
Tue. Nov. 8 - We went around part of Bll Festiniog and we left 40 tracts and
got a few conversations on the gospel.
Wed. Nov. 9 - We went to Bll Fistiniog the third time and finished that part
from Festiniog to Bll Festiniog and the small places between those
places. Left 75 tracts.
Thurs. Nov. 10 - It was (a) wet, cold day. Home studying the scriptures.
Fri. Nov. 11 - We went around Tanygrreshu the third time. Left 71
tracts. The people did not want the Mormon trash, as some of the most
religious people called our tracts and so we had three different kinds of
tracts. We went to visit the people three times. It seemed hard sometimes.
Sat. Nov. 12 - As we had promised Brother Isgreen and Evans that we would give
them a call, we made up our minds to go. We left Manod with the 8 o'clock
train to Tawsvynyth and walked from there to Dolgelly, 17 miles. It was a
wet sloppy day, so much so that we had to keep our umbrellas up most of the way
and being as we had their address, we soon found them out and after we had
dinner we had a long talk, after which Brother Isgreen went out across the
street and got us lodging. We had quite a conversation about Utah and her
people. They was struck with amazement when we told them that there are 4
railroads running to Salt
Lake. They thought
we was cooped up and that we could not get away unless we was allowed to by
those in authority. After we got through they could see a little
better. We went to bed pretty tired out. The boys address was Waterloo Street.
No. 2. Dodgelly, Meriomouthshire.
We got up on the morning of the 13th of November but it was a wet Sunday but we
held a little meeting, we four elders, and administered the sacrament and bore
testimony. We had a good time although we was only four elders. In
the evening the rain slacked of a little. We went for a walk to see the
place. It was old fashioned and the streets very narrow but clean.
We thought to preach out doors but was too wet so we spent the night the best
we could, talking over the principles of the gospel until it was late. We
parted and went to bed.
Mon, Nov. 14 - We left Dollgylly. Walked 17 miles to Transvynydd.
Took train and arrived at Manod about 7 o'clock. We had dinner and a good
rest. Commenced to read and study a little and had a little talk with the
folks.
Tue. Nov. 15 - We went out into the country about 5 miles south east of
Tanygrasiau and left 30 tracts around places.
From the 15th to the 17th we left 151 tracts and Brother Roberts went to
Penywrn to see the country and some old friends. I should liked to have
went too, but I had no money, not one cent at that time, but I kept on working
away, leaving tracts and visiting the people. I found pleasure in doing
my duty among the people.
Thurs. 18 - I was home reading and trying to study and wrote a letter to wife
stating my circumstances. As I was alone I did not feel any too good in
the fix I was in just at that time but the Lord brought me through all right.
Sat. Nov. 19 - I took a walk out on the Balla Road. It is a regular
mountainous country and not many houses. At night we went to Tanygraisan
to baptize John Jones. Elder Roberts officiated. It was very
dark. We got through all right. Got home late at night.
Sun. Nov. 20 - Walked to Tanygraixen about 3 miles to have a meeting in the
house of John Jones. We commenced by singing and prayer by John J
Williams. Then Elder Roberts spoke on the duties of the Saints, in the
Welsh language. Then we administered the sacrament and spent the meeting
to testify of the goodness of God towards us, and confirmed him a member in the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and ordained him an elder the same
time, John J Williams being mouth. We had a good time and at night Elder
Roberts baptized Margaret Jones and John J Williams confirmed her a member of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After a long talk we
parted, wished them good night, and walked back to Manod to Merster Freemays.
Mon. Nov. 21 - As it was wet, I was home studying.
Tues. Nov. 22 - We walked to Tanygrasdoan to tract that place. The last
time we left 80 tracts and on Nov. 23 we left 87 tracts. We could not
get. many conversations. In Tanygraishan the people are too religious to
listen to the Mormon Elders, but Elder Roberts and myself worked hard to get
the gospel before the inhabitants of that place and are satisfied that we done
our duty.
Thurs. Nov. 24 - We traveled along Balla
Road. It was very foggy and damp
today. It was a very narrow valley and not many farms. We left 4
tracts and when we come home we had dinner. Then prepared to go and hold
a cottage meeting at Elder John Jones's at Tanygarshan. We commenced by
singing and prayer by John J Williams. Being as it was all Welsh folks, I
tried to get them to sing a Welsh song but failed so I called Elder Thomas
Roberts to speak in the Welsh language. He spoke on the first principles
and the gathering of Israel.
After, I spoke a short time in the English language. There was good order
but (no) questions asked at the close of the meeting as we expected, so after
having a little chat with the old folks, we went home.
Nov. 25 - Received a letter from wife with 5 dollars and I answered the same
day. It was cold and wet.
Nov. 26 - Received a letter from William H. Haigh with 5 dollars and wrote one
back same day.
Sun. Nov. 27 - It was a wet, stormy day but went to Brother Jones's at
Tanygrashan. We opened with prayer and singing by John. J Williams and
Thomas Roberts administered the sacrament. We bore our testimonies and
had a good time together. We had tea, as they called it, and had a long
talk about old times, until 8 o'clock. Then we went home through a hard
storm of rain. Got pretty wet. Went to bed, as we thought it the
best place.
Nov. 28 - It was a very wet day. Home reading and studying.
Nov. 29 - As we had got through in that part of the country, we removed our
lodging. We paid 4 shilling and 4 pence and at half past 2 o'clock we
left Manod and Festiniog for Trawsfynydd, Merioneth. We got a good place
to lodge at. The address was Mr. David Davies, Pengarrag, Trawspynydd,
Vea Bll Festinniog. They could speak good English.
Nov. 30 - We went out on the south side of Trawsfynydd and left 56 tracts and
made up our account for Nov. 30 ending.
Transfynydd, Dec. 1, 1892 - It was raining so I wrote a letter to President
Ashton with November account. We had left in Bll Festiniog and the
country around 3626 (tracts) and baptized 2, ordained one elder and held one
indoors meeting. We are satisfied that we have done our duty and will
leave the result with our Heavenly Father.
Dec. 2 - We commenced with a good determination to do our duty in
Trawsfynydd. We visited the houses but lots of the people refused to take
the tract, but we left 10.20 tracts. It was a nice, fine day. No
one opposed us nor seemed to want anything to do with the Mormon elders.
Dec. 3 - We left Trawsfynydd for Bll Festiniog. We walked all the way and
went to our old lodgings and they received us very kindly and fed us with the
best they had. We had a good talk about Utah and her people. They gave us a
place free of charge. We had a good night rest.
Dec. 4, Sun. - We got up in the morning well and hearty and after breakfast we
was reading and conversing on the gospel. After we had dinner we went to
Tanygresta and held meeting with Elder John Jones at three o'clock. We
opened by prayer by John J Williams and after singing, Elder Thomas Roberts
spoke on the duties of the Saints in the (Welsh) language, after which we
administered the sacrament. Then I opened the meeting for the Saints to
bear their testimonies and then closed after having a good time. After
the meeting had a long chat until 8 o'clock. Then went to our old
lodging, had supper, then went to bed.
Dec. 5 - We left Manod Festiniog with the 8 o'clock train and arrived at
Transfynydd all right. It was snowing and cold.
Dec. 6 - It was not fit to go out tracting so we stayed in our lodging studying
and wrote a letter to wife, Beaver, Utah.
Dec. 7 - We traveled 5 miles south of Trawsfynydd and left 53 tracts. The
roads was very wet and sloppy. After walking about all day I came back
with wet feet and was pretty tired. Had supper and a talk with the
landlord on the principles of the gospel. He could not see as it was
essential to get baptized and have hands laid on them for the Holy Ghost and so
on. Brother Roberts tried to convince him but it was an hard thing to do
but he bore his testimony to them and as it was gotten late we left and went to
bed.
Dec. 8 - We left in Trawsfynydd 56 tracts. It was (hard) to get any
conversations. Came back and wrote a letter to Elders Isgreen and Evans
at Dolgelby.
Dec. 9 - We retracted Transfynydd. Left 91 tracts.
Dec. 10 - After we had breakfast and prayers we gathered our tracts and wished
the folks good day and left for Festiniog. (We) left tracts on the way as
we went and walked all the way. We left 41 tracts. Had a few short
conversations on the way. Was received with kindness at our old lodging.
Dec. 11 - A very wet morning. We stayed home until 2 o'clock. Then
went through a large storm to hold a meeting at Tanygrashan at Elder John
Jones's. We commenced by singing and prayer by J. J W. Elder T. D.
Roberts spoke first on the duties of the Saints then T. D. and J. J W.
administered the sacrament. Then spent the meeting to testify of the
goodness of God to us. After we had a good time we closed singing and
prayer by J. J W. The old folk seemed to rejoice, they are in the church
once more. After a long talk went home.
Dec. 12 - We bid Mr. and Mrs. Freeman and daughter good bye and heaven bless
them for their kindness to us. We left Festiniog for Transfynydd about 2
o'clock and got home all right and found a letter from Elders Isgreen and Evans
and one from T. B. Evans, Ogden,
Utah.
Dec. 13 - We left 55 tracts around the farm houses. They was a long way
apart and very rough to walk to them. The country lay on the south side
of Trawsfynndd.
Dec. 14 - Wet day. Home and to be doing I was mending my old stockings as
I got my feet wet so often that it wore out my stockings very quick.
Dec. 15 - Too wet to go out. Reading
and studying.
Dec. 16 - We was home most of the day. It was raining. I wrote a
letter to wife to Pine Creek, Beaver Co., Utah.
Dec. 17 - We left Tfawsfynydd for Festiniog. Walked. Went to our
old lodging place, had dinner, then went to Fanyigrishau and had a talk with
Elder Jones and family. Wet and cold. Went back to our old lodging
place. Was made welcome with the best they had. We had to pay for
all we got and those trips from Transfynydd to Festiniog was a little more
expense for us but it was our duty.
Dec. 18 - Wet day but we went to Brother Jones's and held meeting. Opened
by prayer (by) T. B. Roberts, after (which) he spoke to the Saints about their
duty. Brother Jones bore his testimony and felt well and J. J W. spoke a
short time, then closed by prayer. After we had tea and a long talk, went
home.
Dec. 19 - We got up in the morning well, thank our Heavenly Father, for we know
that He is good towards us. After we had a nice conversation with Mister
and Mrs. Freeman and daughter and bore our testimony to them, we went to the
station and took the train for Trawsfynydd and when we got home there was
President Ashton and Elders Isgreen and Evans from Harleth. It was a
great surprise to see them so we had a good talk and breakfast and after,
Brother Ashton took train for Liverpool.
Elders Isgreen and Evans (took the train) to Harleth, after we had
dinner. Harleth is in Merionethshire, North Wales.
Brother Ashton was going to meet his wife from Salt Lake
City and other business to Liverpool.
It was a very sloppy day, cold.
Dec. 20 - Although it was a wet, cold day we went out into the country and left
34 tracts and traveled all day long. Came home tired and wet feet.
My shoes was so bad that I could not go outside without getting my feet as wet
as they could be but thank God our Father, He blessed me with health and
strength to perform my labors day by day.
Dec. 21 - We traveled in a very mountainous country south of Trawsfynydd and
the soil on the rocks was so light and so much wet thet the land was full of
water but we stuck to it for we know that we are on the Lord's work and He will
bear us through, for which we are very
thankful . We left 47 tracts
among the farmers but (no) talk.
Dec. 22 - We went out around the mountains and hill sides among the small farm
houses and left 34 tracts but no such a thing as to get any conversations with
the people as they was most all Welsh and I could not speak the language very
well. After I was home I was pretty tired and after we had dinner we was
reading and writing and had a conversation with the folk of the house on gospel
principles.
Dec. 23 - Received a letter from Brother Ashton giving me to understand that I
should be soon released to go home, which was good news. Answered the
same and wrote one letter to wife of Pine Creek, Beaver Co.
Dec. 24 - Elder Roberts and self was invited to see Elder Isgreen and Evans at
Harloch, Merionethshire, but as Brother Roberts (was) going to spend Christmas
with his folks, we left Trawsfynydd, he going to Festiniog to his folks and I
to Harlock to Elders Isgreen and Evans. Got there about 4:00 o'clock
after walking 13 miles. It was a lovely day. The boys received me
very kindly and we had supper and a little walk out in the town. Came
back. Went to bed.
Dec. 25 - Got up well and hearty and after prayers had breakfast, then quite a
chat. Then went out on the beach, or the sea side and gathered some
shells. I found it a healthy move for me as I felt the sea air doing me
good, and after a good long walk came back (and had) supper. After,
Brother Isgreen had a conversation with the landlord of the house. Went
to bed after singing my Christmas with the boys. Very much, it was a nice
fine day and pleasant.
Dec. 26, 1892 - We got up in the morning well and hearty, thank our kind
Heavenly Father for His goodness to us. After we had breakfast and
prayers I left Harlock, Merionethshire for Transfynydd.
Then the boys came to send me part of the way home and to tract their way back
and I left tracts on the road side as I traveled along. They came about
half way and we parted after a good hand shake and God bless you and on the way
left a few tracts and after walking 13 miles got to Trawsfynydd, well.
Dec. 27 - Elder Thomas D. Roberts went to Festiniog and I stayed home to write
a letter to wife in answer to one received with ten dollars and I wrote one to
Charless Rossor at Raglan. Then I went to get a pair of shoes. They
cost 14 shillings. Then took a walk to try them.
Dec. 28 - I was home all day and wrote a letter to Thomas Davis, Ebbwvall. As
Mr. Freeman came to see me, I took a walk and we had quite a talk on the
gospel, which he believed but had not courage to obey. He was an honest
man and his wife was a good old lady. We was a lodging with them about 4
months at Manod, Bll, Testiniog. I got back all right.
Dec. 29 - We had made an end of our labors in and around Trawsfynydd and took
our departure for Cardiff
on the 8 o'clock train. We changed cars at Ruabon and on through Hereford and Pontypool road station, Newport,
and on to Cardiff.
We arived about half past 3 o'clock. I paid from Trawsfynydd to Cardiff, 13 shillings and six pence, and the cab to take
us and our boxes, 2 and six pence to the conference house at No. 288 Cathays
Terrice, Cathays, Cardiff.
(We) found the brethren all well. Spent a few hours together telling
about each other's experiences in the mission field and at a late hour had
prayers and then every one to their quarters, and I, being one of the oldest, I
slept there.
Dec. 30 - 31 - Was trying to take in the sights around Cardiff by paying a visit around the market
house. It was a fine two story building and was well filled with
everything. Then Elder Roberts of Logan and (I) went around part of the
docks. There was ships of all nations and all sizes and all shapes, it
seems to me. It was a grand sight.
At night the few Cardiff Saints and the elders met together to watch the old
year out and the new one in. We had songs and recitations. I
recited a piece called by name, "Kind Words Will Never Die," and so
on. It went off well. As we all was kindly disposed tonight we
closed about one o'clock after having a good time. Went to bed.
Jan 1, 1883, at Cathays Cardiff, Cathays Terrace 188. Got up. Had a
good bath, prayers and breakfast. Had quite a chat with on our
experiences in the missionary fields and found out that all the elders had the
same tale to tell and that was, they (had) plenty of religion and a lot of nice
preachers and so on. Well, it being Sunday, President Ashton asked me to
take charge. We commenced by singing and prayer, then the Bible class and
Book of Mormon class, Elder Ashton the Bible and Isgreen the Book of Mormon
class and two sisters the other classes. We had a good school.
It was a regular fast day. We had a good dinner of boiled rabbit and plum
pudding and other nice things. At 3 o'clock we had our sacrament
meeting. Elder Ashton spoke first and then opened the meeting to testify
of the goodness of God, so myself and all the elders spoke and bore testimonies
and Saints with their songs and testimonies made it an enjoyable time.
New Years Day went off well. I spoke awhile and the meeting was brought
to a close and at night we had another meeting. There was 6 strangers
present. The elders spoke well.
Mon. Jan. 2 - Went to see a young lady by the name of Matthews. She was
wanting to come over with me to Utah.
Came back and wrote awhile in journal. At night we had a concert and I
recited a piece called, "Better Thought for Quiet Moments, Kind Words Will
Never Die". We all had something to do and all took their parts well
and parted well paid.
Jan. 3 - I went and had photo taken with Elder Roberts of Logan, after which we
walked about Cardiff
to see what we could learn. Then went back to conference house. Had
dinner, then a chat with the brethren and President Ashton gave me a week to
visit friends.
Jan. 4 - Got up early and left Cardiff
40 minutes past 8 o'clock morning and got to Tredegar about 12:00 and went and
called on Margreth Ann Tuck. She was very kind and would have me to stay
and have dinner. I had quite a conversation with Mr. Tuck about Utah and
the gospel but he thought that the other sects was right and when I asked where
they got their authority he said from the Bible, but when I corrected him on
that, he wanted to go to work. I bore My testimony that Joseph Smith was
a true prophet of God and that the Mormon elders had the authority to preach
the gospel and that signs would follow those that believe their words, and so
on, but he did not believe it. I told him that he could please himself so
we parted good friends.
Then I went to wish Mary Ann Bancroft good bye. They received me kindly
enough, but when I spoke about the gospel they didn't seem to enjoy the
conversation so I bid them good day, after bearing testimony to them.
(I) came over to Ebbn Vale about two miles to my wife's brother. They was
very kind to me and gave me the best they had to eat and drink. We soon
got on the gospel but it did not work. As it was getting late we went to
bed.
Jan. 5 - Had a bath and breakfast as I had to have prayers in my room before
coming down. I wrote a letter to wife to Beaver, Utah
and one to President Ashton, Cardiff and one to
Brother and Sister Rosser at Raglon, Monmouthshire,
England.
Jan. 6 - I was at Thomas Davis's most of the day. It was wet and in the
evening I went over to Victoria
to see Mary Jane and John Richards. I had supper and a long
conversation. Then John came over about a mile to Thomas Davis's and we
had a family chat on the gospel and I bore testimony to them all. Then we
parted and went to bed.
Jan. 7 - Left Thomas Davis's and went two miles to Tredegar to see William
Williams and came back to Ebbn Vale and called at Thomas Davis Hauller.
He was glad to hear from Utah
as his father and mother was there and after we had a long talk we had
supper. His daughter was very kind to and ask me to come over on Sunday
and I promised to go. It's wet. Left Ebben Vale for Waymllywodd and
went to Bro. Thomas Davis and nothing would do but I must sup again, so we went
to bed.
Sun. 8 - I could not fill my promise as it (was) snowing so I stayed in the
house reading and talking to the family but to no good as far as I can see.
Mon. Jan. 9, 1893 - I wished them all goodbye. Mother Davis and her
daughter Mim and Frances gave me presents to wife. I left Waynllwedd and
went to Ebben Vale and on to Buport and took at the awayn(?) to Abergavenet and
then walked 10 miles to Raglon. I traveled about 30 miles today. I
found Brother and Sister Rosser well and received me very kindly. Had
supper then a good talk. They made me a bed and I went to rest and was
very thankful.
Jan 10 - Got up refreshed. Had prayers and breakfast and a letter with
word that I was released. Sister Rosser presented (me) with a nice cravat
to keep my neck warm as I had a cold and cough and she gave me something to try
to stop it. The weather is very cold and damp now.
Jan. 11 - I received a letter from Liverpool with the order of my honorable
release to take ship Jan. 25, Liverpool in the
ship Teutonic of the White Star Line. I spent a few days with Brother and
Sister Rosser. Very comfortable and they did all they could. Whilst
I was there we had long conversations about Utah and the temple and how they would like
to be there and so on. Closed by going to bed.
Jan. 12 - I took a walk out a little. Came back and studied and wrote in
my journal. Chatted awhile, then bed.
Jan. 13 - After prayers and breakfast took a walk to get a little fresh air as
I was pretty sick.
Jan.14 - I wrote to E. T. Ashton. It is snowing hard. I was indoors
all day reading and talking.
Jan. 15 - As it was Sunday we had meeting with Brother & Sister. I
administered the sacrament and we spoke our feelings to each other. A
good time. I was with them one week and had the best they had and I had a
good time long to be remembered.
Jan 16 - We got up, had prayers and breakfast. As the time had come for
me to go to Cardiff
I left Raglon. Brother and Sister Rosser and (I) wished each other goodby
with tears in our eyes and I walked to Abergaveny, 10 miles. Had dinner
(with) Elder Barrington, then went to a family by the name of Price. They
had (been) to Salt
Lake and came back to the
old country, yet they thought they was good Latter-Day Saints. I wished
then goodbye and went over to Brother and Sister Barrington's and wished them
goodbye.
Then walked one mile to train and got to Cardiff
about 10 o'clock. Went to conference house and found the brethren all
well. Went to bed.
Jan. 17 - Home most of the day. In the evening went our for a pleasure
walk around Cardiff.
Jan. 18 - Wrote in journal. As there was a lady going with me to Utah I went to see her
about getting ready. She was not in the church but had relations in Salt
Lake Co. and she was willing to go. After having a chat with the family,
the man of the house wanted me to take a little whiskey out of friendship but I
told him that the Mormon Elders did not use that kind of stuff. I left,
took a walk around Cardiff
docks, then back to the conference house.
Jan. 19 - After prayers and breakfast myself and some of the brethren went to a
place called Canton.
There was a large paper works there, then back around other parts of Cardiff, taking in the
sights.
Jan. 20 - Wrote a letter to Mr. Freeman, Festiniog, Merionethshire, North Wales. He was very kind to us.
Jan. 21 - Went with Elders Ashton , Roberts, Isgreen, Evans and some others to
Canton Paper Mills. It was a grand sight to see the paper rolls all going
and the pulp going in at one end of the rolls and coming out paper at the other
end. The paper was made out of wood cut up fine. The mill hands was
very kind to show us around.
Jan. 22 - President Ashton and self took the 9:30 train for Abersychan.
Got there all right and called on some of the Saints. Then went to
Benjamin Jones's. Commenced our meeting by singing, prayer, and the
sacrament was administered. The saints bore testimony of the truth of
this great latter-day work. Then President Ashton called on me to
speak. As it was the last Sunday I should be there, I tried with the help
of the Holy Spirit to encourage the saints to stop the old ship sin. We
had a good time.
Then I went with Brother Griffith to tea, as it was called. Then came
back. Had another meeting at 6 o'clock and after the usual exercises I
was called to speak. I occupied the time one hour. Then Brother
Ashton spoke. We kept the meeting late and as we had to go to Cardiff we had to walk
like sixty to catch the train. We got to Cardiff late, pretty well tired out.
Went to bed.
Jan. 23 - Went out to see Miss Mathews and also bought a new hat and cord to
cord my box with.
Jan. 24 - Left Cardiff for Liverpool.
Arrived safely and 142 Esllton, Liverpool and
got my pass to go on the Teutonic. Then went out to view the streets and
shops. They look nice by gas light. Came back, went to bed.
Jan. 25 - Got up early, as I could not sleep for the noise of the horse cars
going, so I got up, took a walk and saw some of the sights of a city and the
effects of beer or whiskey. Came back. Had breakfast of cooked
fish. Then went down to the dock to see the ship. She was a fine boat.
I came to the office and bid the brethren goodbye and as we was quite a few
elders we got a cart to take our luggage to the docks.
About 11 o'clock we had to go on board and our boxes was put on in a very
little and I saw that Miss Mathews was on board all right and at 12 o'clock the
gangway was lifted and away went those on board of returned missionaries, E. W.
Robertson, Aaron Gay, Lake Shore Utah Co.; Seymore B. Young, George Young,
Uinta Co. Ashley Fork and some others.
We all ate our suppers pretty well and went to bed but I don't think there was
much sleep.
Jan. 26 - Found ourselves leaning over the channel and some very sick but I had
good appetite for breakfast. We got to Queenstown some time at night.
Jan. 27 - Left Queenstown after taking on more passengers and freight. It
was cold and rough. Some of the elders sick.
Jan. 28 - She traveled 408 knots with a heavy sea.
Jan. 29 - It was very rough and after traveling all day until after supper our
president advised us to go to our bunks as the ship was working hard against
the storm. One of our brethren thought that he could take care of himself
so he stayed on deck, but was not there long before the ship gave such a big
roll that he lost his balance and went headlong against the side of the ship
and broke the bridge of his nose. It was a horrid sight to see.
After the doctor left, we administered to him. He felt better. We
had a bad night, heavy sea. 382 knots
Jan. 30 - We had a rough sea all day. Administered to Bro. Gay. He
felt much better today but very sore and bruised.
Jan. 31 - A little more calm. Brother Young had a conversation with some
preachers that was coming to America.
They was preaching to the people that all they had to do was to believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ and they would be saved. It was a little more (than)
Elder Young could stand, so he got his Bible and showed the people where those
preachers was wrong. But being as we was told not to converse on gospel
principles going over, Brother Larking, he being our president going over, he
came to Elder Young and told him to quit. The folks could see that we had
the scriptures on our side. It was calm and the good old ship Teutonic
was ploughing along fine.
Feb. 1, 1893 - As I lost some of my records I shall have to go according to
remembrance. We landed. It was very cold. The ship had to go
through lots of ice. We left the boat a little before noon and after we
got past the custom house we booked out luggage for Salt Lake.
We went to the station and there was plenty of refreshments almost as cheap as
out in town. We stopped at depot until 7 o'clock at night.
Then we started for Utah the same day as we
landed, as New York
had not transportation for us and our money short too. We had a very
pleasant trip across the States, no accidents, and arrived at Salt Lake
about 7 o'clock. Went out and got some refreshments.Then went to the
depot. Got box and Brother and Sister Mathews came to meet a niece that
came in with me from Cardiff, Wales.
On the morrow, after having a good night rest and a good wash I went to hunt up
Brother Ashton's folks as he sent some things with me for them. I found
them and left the things. Then came back to John R. Williams's. Had
dinner then went to Taylorsville. Took
the street car to Frankling. Started to walk. I was over taken by
David Barker. Rode to Taylorsville.
Called on Brother and Sister Cook. Stayed there all night. Had
breakfast and a good chat, then went to Brother Howell. Had dinner and a
long talk. Came down to see the old plantation. It looked a God
forsaken place. I went back to Brother Howell and was made
comfortable. Had a good rest. Got up in morning, had breakfast,
then walked to Franklin Depot. Took cars to West Jordan to find where
George Shen(?) lived to try to get him to help Brother Griffith and family to
come to Utah, but they could not see the point so I came back to
Taylorsville. Slept at Howell's. As my wife was at Beaver City
I borrowed ten dollars of Elder Charles Howell and after staying a few days I
took train for Milford.
Got there at night and left for Beaver about 9 o'clock. It was a bitter
cold night and only a buckboard and when we came to Minersville changed horses
and I being so cold I went to get warm.
When I came the driver was ready to start and I did (not) notice my satchel
until I was at Beaver. There I found out it was lost. The big clock
was striking six. I stayed at the post office a while, then started to
find where Andrew Olson lived. A brother showed me where he lived and so
early on the morning of Feb. 15 I went and called them up and was received with
joy by all the Olson family. After breakfast we took a walk around
Beaver. Came back and had a good chat with Andrew about our
mission. He'd been to Sweden
on a mission. We found out that we both had about the same experience
among the people. It was late. Went to bed.
Feb. 16 - Got up much better and thankful I am home, or that I am with a loving
wife and friends again. We took a walk about Beaver and called on a few
friends and was received very kindly and talked old times for a time.
Then went back to Brother Olson's and enjoyed our evening very (much).
After we bowed the knees to our kind Heavenly Father we all retired to rest.
Feb. 17 - We got up refreshed and after prayers and breakfast and a little chat
we went to see Martin Anderson. They was well and Sister Williams took me
to a few of the folks in Beaver and when we got back to Bro. Olson's they had
gotten up a surprise for me. There was 9 or 10 of us and we partook of a
nice supper. There was everything good to eat and drink, but no beer nor
whiskey. We had a nice time talking about the gospel and a few songs and
recitations. About 11 o'clock we parted, the folks home and to bed.
Feb. 18 - Joseph came with team from Pine Creek to take Mother and self
home. We walked about Beaver awhile, then went to Andrew Olson's.
They was very kind to us and after we enjoyed ourselves we had prayers and bed.
Feb. 19 - Very thankful to Father that we are well and hearty and have so many
kind friends and may God our Father bless and prosper them all. We had
breakfast and Joe came with team, and wife and self started for Pine
Creek. It was a rough ride, about 19 miles. We got there all right
and found Ezra and family well. They was glad to see me so we had quite a
long talk about my mission and the people. After doing chores we had
another chat, then bed.
Feb. 20 - My wife and self was glad when morning came as the lounge was pretty
hard. As I was sick I did not work much for a week or two. After I
was able I chored around and chopped wood and as there was a good many
travelers wanting hay, I attended to that and sold them hay, and as I have lost
my daily account I will not give every day's account. But I kept on
fixing up the sheds and the pig pen and doing general farm work until April,
when the weather came a little fine but fine enough to plough. As
conference was coming close, Ezra prepared to go to Salt Lake and meet Parley
there and for them to take in the conference and the first day of the
dedication of the Salt Lake Temple and then for them to come back and I meet
them at Black Rock, which they did April (?).
I took the train on the 8th. Parley came with him as he had been to Provo school all
winter. Ezra gave me 10 dollars to give Elder Howell to pay him what I
borrowed of him when I went down to Beaver and for my expense he gave me 13
dollars. Left Black Rock at 7 o'clock and got to Franklin Station at 6
o'clock. Saw Brother Thomas Cook and wife. Rode over to Taylorsville with them and had supper with them.
Then I went to Bro. & Sister Howell's and paid them the 10 dollar
check. Had a little chat, then went to Brother Cook's after we
administered to Sister Howell, as she was very sick and before we was gone she
was better.
April 9 - Had breakfast with Brother Thomas Cook, then to Brother Howell's and
from there to the seventies meeting. Had a good meeting. Came back
to Brother H. Bennion and had dinner with him and after a conversation about my
mission and the ways of the people of North Wales
I went over to Brother Howell's to sleep. Had a chat with them, then to
rest.
April 10 - Got up after a good night rest. Had prayer and breakfast with
Charles Howell. After went to see the old place. It looked
bad. The land was full of salarates. Then went to see Lot
Mackey. He was out with the sheep. Had dinner with Brother Painter,
then went to see Elder William H. Haight to get my certificate signed to go the
temple.
From there I went to see the Matthews family. Miss Mathews that came in
with me from Cardiff feels pretty bad and wants
to go back to Wales.
I went to Salt Lake. Called on John R.
Williams. Had a good view at the temple. At night we all went to
the theater. Came back about 12 o'clock. Slept at J. R. William's.
Got up refreshed. Had breakfast. Then went to see J. R. Holton at
No. 633 West 4th North 5th West. Had a chat with them.
April 13 - After had breakfast I went to the tabernacle to get my ticket to go
through the temple, after which we had to pass on to the west door of the
temple, then pass on until we came to the upper rooms. There we was all
seated as close as we could get. Meeting commenced with a song called,
"Oh Saints, Have You Seen" by the choir. Then President
Woodruff spoke a short time and promised the Saints that if they would live
their religion that persecution would begin to cease. After Joseph F.
Smith spoke awhile then President Woodruff called on Apostle Snow to conduct
the "Hosannah to the Lamb" three times. All the people waved
white handkerchiefs and there was a large flow of the Spirit of God when all
the Saints shouted "Hosannah to the Lamb" three times. It
seemed that it filled the house. After President George Q. Cannon spoke,
President Woodruff spoke a short time to encourage the Saints. Then
Joseph F. Smith put it to a vote whether the Latter Day Saints present would
accept the temple. It was a solid vote. It was a grand day for me
and long to be remembered.
After I came out of the temple I went to Taylorsville on the street car to Murray, then walked to Taylorsville.
Went to Brother Charles Howell's. Had supper and a chat and all retired
to rest.
April 14 - I received a letter from Thomas D. Roberts, Cardiff, with photos, and I answered the same
day and acknowledged his kindness in sending the photos and so on. Then
went over to Hunterville to see Elder John Evans and wife. Found them
well, glad to see me. We had a good talk about old Wales and after wishing them good bye I came
back to Taylorsville to Brother Howells and
was kindly treated and had supper and a comfortable night. Talked about
the gospel and how good we felt in temple.
April 15 - Went to Salt
Lake and spent the day in
seeing what I could see. Came back to Taylorsville.
Lodged at T. Cook's.
April 16 - Brother and Sister Cook made me very welcome. Had breakfast
with them. Then I came down to our old home. It looked bad.
From there I went to John W. Mantle's. Had dinner then went to
meeting. I was called up to speak. I gave a little account of my
mission in North Wales. After a good
meeting I went to Brother Robert Pixton to administer to a sick baby.
Then back to Brother Cook's to sleep.
April 17 - Called at Millcreek to see brothers but was cool so I walked along
the railroad track to West Jordan to see Brother
George Sherne, as I promised his wife's daughter that I would try and see them
to see if they could help them to Utah.
I stayed with them at night and wrote a letter to Evan Griffith, Aberrcyhan, South Wales, and a good night's rest.
April 18 - After the usual exercises of the family I left West
Jordan and took the cars for Frankling, then walked over to Taylorsville. Went to the old place and put some
collars and cultivators and harrows and put them in the bin, after which I went
to Salt Lake. Stopped at John R.
Williams. They was poor but kind to me.
April 19 - I left Salt
Lake for Black Rock at 7
o'clock. Arrived about 6 o'clock. I camped out (at) night. I
started to walk to Pine Creek, as Ezra didn't (come). I thought I could
get there all right. I got about 3 miles when I met him coming so went
back to Black Rock. It was a fine night.
April 20 - We got up. Was very glad to see morning. We made a camp
fire. Had breakfast. Left Black Rock about 7 o'clock and drove
about 12 miles and came to the sheep camp. Ezra moved camp. Then we
left for Pine Creek. We got there late at night as it (was) late when
(we) left camp. My good old wife was glad to see her old man once more
and the children too, was glad to see grandpa.
April 21 - I was choring around fixing the (sheds?) and looking after the hogs
and selling hay to travelers. As there (was) two big snow storms it made
the land too wet to get on it to work and I continued to chore around until the
1st of May. I commenced to plow for to sow oats. I sowed a few
acres and sowed lucerne seeds with the oats and on the 15th of May I had
finished plowing for grain and started (to) haul manure to plant potatoes and
had the potatoes in about the 20th May.
I was ditching and working around at anything that was to be done up until June
the 1st. I was busy watering lucerne and oats and the hay land.
There was a large stream this year which flooded the meadow in some places with
sand and gravel. Continued with the same work until the 1st of July or
so, when we began to cut the first crop of lucerne.
Before we got it up I was taken sick with the rheumatic fever which kept me in
bed nearly one month as I could not help to get up the hay. Oh my, what a
bad thing is this rheumatics is but thank our kind Heavenly Father, He brought
me through once more but am very weak yet. The boys have done all that
they could for my comfort and my dear wife watched over me day and night until
I got around again. As I got around the best I could and helped a little
with meadow hay until the 17 August.
We left Pine Creek for home. We left with the best of feeling.
There was Ezra, Joseph, Freda and Parley, Hilda and children all wishing us
good bye and God bless and prosper you on your way, and away we went with the
old mules and covered buggy and all went on well. We called on Brother
Black at Cove Creek, a fort that was built by the advice of President Brigham
Young in a time when the Indians was so bad in that part of the country.
After wishing them goodbye we traveled on from Cove Creek 6 miles from Pine
Creek until we came to Kanosh and camped with Brother James Abrans to
night. We knew them in the old country. We had a long talk about
old times until late. Then Sister Abrams made us go to their bed.
We slept well and boarded us free of charge and our time all they could eat.
Aug. 18 - We got up in the morning very thankful to Father for his overruling
providence and Sister Abrams got us breakfast. Whilst we was busy doing
justice to the inner man we was talking about Wales and when we got through and
could break loose from them we started on our journey and traveled through
meadows and on to Fillmore, 7 miles, and nooned with Elder Haromond.
The family was very kind. Brother Haromond had fell off a horse and broke
his collar bone. There was a conference (there in was Holden not
Fillmore), and when we ask them what we was in their debt they said nothing so
I thank them and wished them goodbye.
We started to go to Scipio about 14 miles. Got there about 8
o'clock. Got place to camp. Wife was very sick with the
headache. Charged 25 cents.
Aug. 19, Sunday - We had breakfast. Started on our journey. wife a
little better. We drove to Sevier
Bridge, 10 miles.
We nooned there. We had around noon by Sunday. We got to Juab about
6 o'clock and got a place to camp and feed the team. We camped in
buggy. It was wet night.
Aug. 20 - We got breakfast. Started from Juab. Paid 29 cents and
arrived at Nephi about 1 o'clock. Got place to noon free of charge and after
a pleasant talk about the gospel we drove on through Mona to a good place to
camp. We camped for the night. Fed our mules, lit our fire and had
supper. Then fixed our bunk in buggy, then went to rest.
Aug. 21 - After we had breakfast and paid 25 cents for hay, started on the
road. We jogged along slowly until we come to Santaquin.
It is a nice little settlement it seems to me, that is right on a hill.
We went right on through and past Pantown and on to Payson and Spanish Fork and
camped with Bro. David Williams. They was kind and as he was on a mission
the same time as I was we had quite a conversation about North
Wales and spent a few hours well. Then went out and bunked
in the buggy. Some time in the night came a very hard wind. Could
not sleep well.
Aug. 22 - We had refreshments with Brother and Sister David Williams.
After, we went and saw the father and mother of Bro. D. Williams. They
seemed to be kind hearted folks. We had quite a chat with them awhile,
then wished them good bye. We left Spanish Fork and traveled on to Provo and camped in
tithing yard. After we had a long noon we drove on through Pleasant Grove
and American Fork and Lehi and called at Bro. and Sister Brients and we camped
for the night and had a good night rest. When we asked them what we was
in debt, said nothing.
Aug. 23 - We called on Brother Joel Maiers (Myers?) and nothing would do but we
must stop as Brother Maiers was at his work, so I unhitched the mules, put them
in stable and we had good talking about old times and about 7 o'clock Bro.
Maires came home. We spent the evening well, as we was acquainted in the
old country and in the same branch. It was good to meet and the hours passed
by so quick it was past midnight when we retired.
Aug. 24 - After a good night rest we arose, had prayers, breakfast, and a long
chat and after we could break ourselves loose we started for home. On our
way we called on Brother and Sister Dan Jones. We had dinner. They
sent for Clarice to come over with the children. We spent a while very
comfortably. Then we started for home and arrived in Taylorsville
with all well, after being on the road 8 days coming from Pine Creek, Beaver County
and nothing would do but we must stop with Brother and Sister Thomas
Cook. We had good rest.
Aug. 25 - After the usual family exercises we started for the old
homestead. It was a God forsaken looking place. The weeds was so
high that I had to cut a path to go to the house but we got there. Tried
to fix it up a little so we could sleep that night.
Aug. 26 - I had to commence to work to try and make things look a little more
comfortable but I found that I soon got tired out as I was weak from the
effects of my sickness but am very thankful to Father that I am as well as I
am.
Aug. 27 - Went to Salt
Lake. Got lime to
fix up, as one side or corner was almost down. Wife was working away
trying to clean the old place to make it look homely.
Aug. 28 - After family duties and a few chores we went to meeting and that was
very refreshing to me as I we could not get meeting at Pine Creek very
often. We called at Charles Howell's, had dinner and a good chat on the
principles of the gospel and our experiences on our mission.
Wife and I came home and from that time on we both labored to make the old
place look like home. We had to get lumber to fix the flume, as the old
one was not safe. So I pulled the old one down and got some cement piping
and made a pretty good job of that.
Then I had to pull down the one corner of the house and build it new.
Then it had to be plastered and as there was quite a bit of the plaster fell
off the wall owing to the house being idle so long, I had to get lime and
plaster it. As it was work I never done before I was rather awkward at it
but it stayed all right.
After I had fixed up a little I had to look out for something to get along with
through the winter as we was the same two beginning life over again. As
we was not so proud but what we could take something, the brethren and sisters
knew how we was fixed and proved their selves very kind. Brother and
Sister Sown(?) gave us 3 chickens and flour and Robert pigs, 2 and Joseph 2 and
2 from the offering so it made us a fair start in that line. I got one
load of hay of Joseph Pixton for 3 dollars and one load of Robert for a little
work and I borrowed 10 bushels wheat of Brother R. Pixton and so I got along
pretty well.
About the middle of October a nice storm of rain came so I began to plow but it
was hard to plow. It was not wet enough, but I kept at it until the last
of Oct. when I sowed some fall grain. It was very rough and cloddy but I
put it in and after that I commenced to dig a drain ditch to drain the water
off the fort. I worked 22 days on it. In November month and Dec.
month it was a very nasty job to do. Drained lots of water but in the spring
when the thaw came lots of it caved in and I chored around and attended our
meetings and trying to live as Latter-Day Saints. On the 7th of January
Bishop Bennion called me to act as teacher in district no. 7. It was the
same district I was laboring in before I was called on mission to Wales. I
left April 18, 1891.
We got along pretty well through the winter with the kindness of our brethren
and sisters and that too by the poor class fulfilling the sayings of our Savior
where He says that "Blessed is the poor for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven". Of a general thing
we can find that the poor are the most ready to help those that are poor.
Those that have plenty don't seem to think about those that are down in
circumstances so much as they may, and please our Heavenly Father.
Well, winter passed by very nicely, no accidents or mishaps to speak of.
Spring came and brought it's seasonal work with it. When I wanted to do a
little work the mare that Ezra brought in the fall, she would not work.
She was a balky thing and I could not do a thing with her. Joseph Pixton
came and offered to trade so I let him have her for a gentle mare. She
was lame but good to work and with colt. I got on with her and old Jen
pretty good.
I cut our lucerne and hauling and our spring work before it. As Jen had a
colt she got very poor and short of breath and before summer was out I had to
borrow a horse to do our work with. I wrote to the boys about it but got
no answer so I paddled my own canoe the best I could. I saw that our fall
grain looked well but I also see that if I could not get water to it that it
would not mature so I ask Brother Joseph Hill, the superintendent of the North Jordan canal, to let me put a box in so I could
water it. I am thankful to say he let me put a box in and the result I
had a pretty good crop of wheat.
It made me lots of work as I had to box under the South
Jordan ditch and make a new ditch all across the back but I got
through with it all right and watered the grain three times. (I) had 48
bushels when I threshed and I (had) to pay 9 dollars for cutting and 10 bushels
for Robert Pixton that I borrowed and 6 to Brother George Spencer besides
tithing, which we done very thankfully and count it a privilege to pay our
honest tithing and our honest debts.
When we cleared up with out brethren I got some red chaff wheat of Sam Mackey
and sowed wheat on the fort as I summer fallow it in June and it was in good
trim. Then got water from the canal to water the stubbles so I could
plough. I got over quite a bit and put more fall grain in but it took me
too long. I could not get up my potatoes, as the storm came on to quick
for me. I got what we could. The remainder was in the ground all
winter.
Well, I chored around through winter and done general farm work until spring
and trying to attend our meetings and other duties as we consider the kingdom of God first and all other things will be
added.
Well, spring is here and our brethren is talking about making a west ditch to
come along the east end of this place so Parley and myself worked along all we
could after he came from camp. I was choring around until May the 17
doing general farm work and wrote a letter to Freda at Pine Creek, Beaver Co.
May 18, 1865 - Went over to the smelters after a load of slag for the South Jordan canal to make a dam in ditch. Came
back, had dinner, done chores and felt thankful for it.
May 19, Sunday - Went to meeting. There was two good missionaries.
One was Elder Margrets giving account of his labors in the Southern
States. Good time. We had to come home in a blinding wind storm but
we was well paid for going to meeting.
Mon. 20- Got up well and thankful to Father for His care over us. After
had breakfast and prayers went after water, after which we and self commenced
to plough a ditch alongside the canal to take the South
Jordan water. At night took Sister Howell home after she had been
visiting Sister Williams. Went to a meeting of the West Ditch to decide
whether to finish the ditch or not. It would cost 80 cents? per
share. It was agreed on to finish it complete.
Tue. 21 - Parley and self worked on private ditch.
Wed. 22 - Worked on the ditch south of grave yard to bring water through to
water lucerne on the fort.
May 23 Thurs. - Parley working the west ditch and I was choring around the
place. Fine day.
Fri. May 24 - Worked for Joseph Pixton planting potatoes and paid him for corn
that he let me have on time 75 cents. Parley received a letter from camp,
20 dollars.
Sat. May 25 - Went to Salt
Lake. Done a little
business.
Sun. May 26 - we got up well and very thankful to our kind Heavenly Father for
sparing us through another week and prepared to go to meeting. Good time
but very few attended. It was a lovely day. Meeting opened with prayer,
Charles Howell, and sacrament was administered Elders George Spencer, A. Frame
and Brother Painter. We had a good time together. Home in good
time.
Mon. May 27 - Hauling manure and doing other chores.
MAY 28, 29, & 30 - Was choring around and went out for a ride up on the
prairie and drove around as far as Hunterville. Called on Brother &
Sister Evans. We had quite a chat about North Wales.
Had dinner and it was almost dark before we left and it was late before we got
home but spent a good day. It was teachers meeting but I forgot it so did
not go.
May 31 - Home choring around and watering a little.
Sat. June 1, 1895 - Went to Salt
Lake on business and went
to priesthood meeting. The presiding officer was G. Q. Cannon. The
reports was favorable. The sisters gave a good report of the Relief
Society and the young folks was represented very well, after which Abram H.
Cannon spoke on the signs of the times and said that if he had means to spare
that he would as lief put it out in wheat or something. We know as it was
not going to always be like it is now and advised the Saints to take care of
their grain as it was bound to raise and it may become scarce & so on.
Sun. June 2, 3 - Working in garden and hauling corn and went to Joseph Pixton
and got 14 pounds more corn to plant south of graveyard and other chores.
I got the account of work done on west ditch. I worked to the amount of
36 dollars and 60 cents. My assessment was on 24 shares was 24 and 7
cents which made me overpaid my shares according to 80 cents a share 12 dollars
and 55 cents in work and cash according to accounts. Parley went to Salt Lake
after barbed wire.
Tue. June 4, 5 - Hoeing and replanting corn. After, I went and helped
Parley dig post holes. Put them all up about 6 o'clock. On June 6
was fast day. Went to meeting. Had good meeting. Bore
testimony. Came home. Had dinner, then went to help Parley stretch
the wire along the Redwood Road.
We got on pretty well with it.
June 7 - Working on fence and Sat. 8th went to town and took in one dozen
chickens. We got 2 dollars & 55 cents. Done a little
trading. Came back the State road. Called at H. Atwoods for one
dollar and 15 cents worth of coal and got home in good time all right before
dark.
Sun. June 9 - We got up early on purpose to be at conference on time.
Drove to John R. Williams's. Put the teams by and got there in good time.
The meeting was opened with singing by choir and prayer, after which Brother
Moses Thatcher occupied most of the time speaking on the duties of the
Latter-Day Saints, and especially the young folks. In the afternoon,
President Woodruff spoke to the young to prepare to go on missions and do it
intelligently and so on and told us that we need not think to keep him with us
much longer as he was getting old. We got home good time.
Mon. June 10 - Watering and Parley hoeing corn and on the 11th sick. 12th
a little better. Wife awaiting on me very faithfully and Parley cutting
lucerne. On the 13th Parley was raking and I tried to pile it up, hard
work.
Fri. June 14 - It was a very windy day. Went up to Calder's Park, as the
children was going to recite pieces. Parley gave me a dollar to enjoy
ourselves with. We had a good day. Our Taylorsville children done
well and there was (the) Taylorsville band,
(which) played well. I think, put it together, we had a splendid day.
We was home about 8 o'clock and was pretty tired out and very glad to go to
bed.
Sat. June 15 - Watering on the fort. Raining at night.
Sun. June 16 - Got up well and hearty, thank Father for it. Had family
duty. Got ready to go to meeting and was called to assist to administer
the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper with Elder William Bennion, Parley Bennion,
George Spencer. The two young missionaries spoke well. Good time.
June 17 - Parley cutting lucerne, I hoeing the potatoes and corn.
Tue. June 18 - Cutting, piling up and hauling lucerne.
Wed. June 19 - Cocking lucerne and cutting weeds and on the 20 and 21 hauling
hay. We finally(?) had the first crop in. It was very poor.
Was choring around. On the 22 of June went to town. Sold one dozen
chickens for 2 dollars. We came back in good time. Parley was
working for Joseph Pixton for 3 dollars. We owed him for hay, I think,
and on June 23 we went to meeting. Called to assist to administer the
sacrament. After, Elder Ward spoke on the customs of the traditions of
the Germans(?). It was very interesting.
June 24 - Watering on fort. Parley working (for) Joseph Pixton and finished
paying him what we owed him for hay and corn.
June 25 - I was working at potatoes. Parley at Bro. High's.
June 27, 28, 29 & 30 - We was cultivating corn and potatoes and watering
and hoeing and cutting weeds and choring. On Sunday went to sacrament
meeting. Good time. It has been pretty warm all through June month
but are very thankful to God our Father for his great care over us.
Monday, July 1, 1845 - Went to see Jobe Harker about taking the North Jordan water. I took it at noon and kept it
until the 2nd and went after water. We put it on the lucerne below the
house.
July 3 - Went around teaching. Found the Saints well.
July 4 - It's fast day. Went to meeting. Had a good time.
Came home. Had dinner. Went to South
Taylorsville to a party. We enjoyed ourselves very
well. Then went to Brother and Sister Riches to supper and after having a
chat started home. It was late and when we came home the cow was
gone. We found her.
July 5 - Digging a ditch along side our road so as to drain it so we could get
to the Redwood Road
and on around.
July 6 - Parley worked on drain ditch and I choring around.
Sunday 7 - Fine day. Went to meeting. Helped to administer the
sacrament. Had a good time together.
July 8 & 9 - Working on corn and potatoes and other chores.
July 10 - Watering and Fri. 12 had water from North Jordan
canal and changed with the folks below so I could water the lucerne on the
fort. It was very dry.
July 13 - Watering lucerne on the east. It was very warm.
July 14 - Went to meeting and as Brother Andrew Olson and
wife was here on a visit they came to meeting too. After meeting was out
we drove up on the prairie and back by the Bishop's and home ready for
supper. We spent a very pleasant evening in conversation about the gospel
and the traditions of the people in the world and the experience whilst on
missions. Prayers, bed.
July 15 - Went all to West Jordan
to visit Elder John Olson and family. We spent a good time for a few
hours. After we had supper we came home, well paid for our visit, as our
conversation was on the gospel and not running people down. Bro. and
Sister Olson came back with us and after doing chores, we had quite a
chat. Bro. Anderson and wife was with us too. We all had
prayers. Bed.
July 16 - Took brother and wife over to Millcreek
to see their aunty. Came back and shocked grain, as Wilford Barker had
cut 5 acres. On July 17, hoeing corn.
July 18, watering corn and potatoes with South Jordan.
July 19 - Do. and on 20th Parley and Mother went to the lake. I stayed
home. They came home well. I had to take the North
Jordan 8 o'clock until 5:00 Sunday morning. Had a good stream but
I was pretty tired.
July 21 - We all got ready and went to meeting. Elder Olson spoke awhile
and an aged elder spoke good things for the Saints and Albert Spencer gave out
a program for the 24th. Came home and enjoyed ourselves. Then bed.
July 22 - Cutting brush and wrote to Ezra T. Williams, Beaver
City, Beaver County, Utah.
Turned very fine weather.
July 23 - Choring, and on July 24 got up, done chores and got ready to go to
the reunion at Taylorsville. There was a
good program rendered, which consisted of songs and recitations and speech
making for morning and for the evening a dance for children and other
amusements, which all went off very well, I thought.
July 25 - White washing the house and cleaning up.
July 26, 27, 28 - Cleaning, and after finished that went to shock lucern and
choring. Went to meeting. Two good missionaries. On the 29
Parley cut lucern in the morning and evening it rained hard, which stopped us.
July 30 - Myself and Walter Mackey went out to teach among the people.
Wilford Barker came to cut our grain but it was too green, so he left it
awhile. On the 31st Parley cutting lucern, I choring.
August 1, 1895 - Wilford Barker came to cut grain. It was 10 dollars for
cutting and I was shocking lucern and other chores.
Aug. 2 - Went to Salt
Lake with chickens.
We sold them for 2 dollars. Went to John William's. Had our
dinner. Went up town and done our business and started home.
Aug. 3 - Hauling hay. Sunday, 4th went to meeting. Our local elders
spoke very well on the gospel. We had a good meeting. Came home,
had dinner, spent the evening reading.
Aug. 5 & 6 - Hauling hay. It was two hot days and on the 7th Parley
took a load of hay to Salt
Lake. Was two days
selling it and I was cleaning a place for grain.
Aug. 8 - Was watering the corn and potatoes. Kept it all night out of South Jordan canal. Parley sold his hay. Came
home late.
Aug. 9 & 10 - Watering squash and lucern. Good stream.
Aug. 11, 12, 13, - I was home with my back bad, and Aug. 14 do 15 do and on the
16 and 17 was working a little better slowly.
Aug. 18, 19 - Trying to work, coming a little better slowly.
Aug. 20 - Watering with waste water out of South Jordan.
Aug. 21 - Hauling seed lucern. Parley was working for John W. Mantle 3
days and one half and have worked for Joe Harker one day and one half day.
He worked hard.
Aug. 22, 23 - Watering until about 8 o'clock. Put some on the garden.
Aug. 24 - Went to city. Sold chickens for two dollars. Back home 2
o'clock.
Sun. Aug. 25 - Went to meeting. Partook of the sacrament. Came
home. Spent a comfortable evening chatting and reading.
Aug. 26 - I was threshing for R. Pixton. He had 800 bushels.
Aug. 27, 28 - Threshing for John Cook and ourselves. We 750 of wheat and
after we done ours I worked for Joseph Lindsay.
Aug. 29 - Watering on fort corn and potatoes and was threshing and settled with
Joseph Lindsay for two pigs in spring.
Aug. 30, 31 - I was choring and cutting weeds. Not very well.
Sept. 1, 1895 - Hoeing corn and afterward went after water. Parley was
threshing, back work.
Sept. 2 - Working on corn and potatoes and wife and Parley went to Salt Lake
but could not do any business, was Labor Day, so they had to come back the same
as they went.
Sept. 3 - Parley went to Salt
Lake to change a check
and I went to teaching in company with John W. Mantle. The people felt
about the same, was well paid for going.
Sept. 4 - I was cutting weeds on fort. Parley went to Salt Lake,
got 75 posts. Was back in good (time), all right.
Sept. 5 - Fasted. Went to Sister Spencer's funeral. President
Cannon and Joseph E. Taylor, they both spoke well. There was a good such
feeling that it was not like a funeral. The Spirit of God was there in
power and made us happy. In the evening there was another funeral.
It was George Butterfield's little boy. A pretty good turn out. He
was buried at Cottonwood cemetery. I was
to take the lead which I did and things went all right. I dedicated the
grave. The grandpa and ma was there. Elder Painter took the lead of
the meeting. It was opened by singing, "Oh My Father, Thou that
Dwellest". After, I was called to pray and after singing was called
to speak.
Sept. 6, 7 - Was watering one day and went to the Salt Lake
conference. Had a good time. Came home in good time. Today,
8, I was home reading church works and so on.
Sept. 9 - Went to the mill with a grist and over to the butcher's for meat,
then helped dig post holes.
Sept 10 - Helping Parley to dig post holes and got two little pigs of William Mackey
and on the 11th was fixing pig pen.
Aug. 12 - Helping Parley to stretch wire on fence.
Aug. 13, 14 15 - Helping Parley to fence along the Redwood Road.
Aug. 16 - We went to meeting, Elder Haight presiding. I was called to
administer the sacrament with Elder William Parker. After, the bishop
called on Elder Ire Bennion, a returned missionary. He spoke very well
and showed some of the good it does a man to go on a mission. He gave
some of his experiences whilst on mission but was very thankful to be among the
saints at home once more. After, Brother Lambert spoke very interesting
on the principles of the gospel and advised the young men to study the Bible so
that they could give a reason for the hope within them. He said that
there was a good many people coming to Utah
and would ask questions and if the young folks was not posted, would make them
look very small, and so on. Singing. I was called to close by prayer.
Mon. Sep. 17 - I was cutting corn and Parley lucern and in evening Parley went
after a load of coal, paid for it out of his own money. On the 18 &
19 cutting corn and threshing for Joseph Pixton. He had over 1 hundred
bushels. Worked for Brother Haight husking corn and choring.
Sept. 20 & 21 - Hauling hay. We hauled all from the fort and had some
below the house which got wet as a storm came at night, about 2 or 3 inches of
snow. Was fixing up the stable and Parley received letter with 10 dollars
with a request to go to (the) herd right away.
Sep. 22 Sun. - All well. Went to meeting. Good time together.
At night went to the Mutual Improvement and joined.
Sep. 23 to 28 - We was cutting and hauling corn and lucern, squash, and hauled
one load for tithing, 2,360 pounds. Parley and mother went to Salt Lake
and I (was) cutting corn.
Sun. 24 - We went to meeting to meet our brothers and sisters and administer
the sacrament with Elder Rich and at night went to the young folks
meeting. It was very good, I thought. Was called to open by
prayer. The young rendered parts well but was a small attendance. I
made a few remarks at close.
Sept. 30 - Took Parley to cars at Murray
to go to herd. Came back. Began to water the stubble to get to
plow.
Tue. Oct 1, 1895 - I was watering on the fort and to my surprise Joseph and
wife was there. Came to conference and to see us old folks. Was
very glad to see them and children.
Oct. 2 - I finished watering potatoes and cut a little corn and put a little
water on it and etc.
Oct. 3 - Went to Eisteddfod? at Salt
Lake. It was very
good according to my judgement.
Oct. 4 - Went to conference and after I went to the bank and cashed a check for
5 dollars for Joseph Williams. Came back. Went to evening
meeting. We had good time and on the 5th was at conference at Salt Lake.
Got to house well.
Oct. 6 - I was home, Joseph and wife at conference.
Oct. 7 - Went after water. Joseph cutting corn and Freda and children
well. We are very thankful for visit. From the 8 of Oct to the 15 I
was working away at general farm work and on this day I took Joseph and family
to the depot to go back to home to Beaver. I came back and fixed the gate
and unloaded a load and choring around.
Wed. Oct 16 - I took 13 bushels of wheat as tithing to mill and called on
Brother R. Pixton for 7 bushels of wheat and when I came back cleaned out
potato pit and had a little South Jordan
water. Wife and self very thankful as we are well.
Oct. 17 - Commenced to plow until the threshing machine came to Brother
Painter's, then worked for him. Went home. Cleaned the stable out
and other chores and was well tired out.
Oct. 18 & 19 - Plowing on the fort south of graveyard.
Sun. Oct 20 - There was a ward conference. President Cannon was
there. We had a good time. When the vote was took to support the
ward authorities it was unanimous to support all of them. He was speaking
about the time there was such a bad feeling against the Prophet Joseph, showing
that was the same spirit in and around Salt Lake as was in his day and
time. Brother Cannon spoke very plain on those points. We (had a)
good meeting.
Oct. 21 to the 24 - Was a plowing and on that day I commenced to sow grain and
on the 25 harrowed twice over.
Sat. 26 - Went after water and in the evening I blue vitrioled wheat to sow on
fort and on Sun. Oct. 27th went to meeting. Was called on to help
administer the sacrament. After, Elder Thomas Cook gave some of his
experiences whilst on his mission in the Southern States. He said that
people of the South was very poor and that some of them had to pull their shoes
and stocking off after coming out of meeting and go home barefooted to save
their shoes for Sunday and so on. President Gould said the people of Utah
ought to be ashamed to talk of hard times.
Mon. Oct. 28 - Was sowing grain and harrowing and marking. I borrowed the
marker of Brother Robert Pixton and after I was through I took it back. I
was doing this work Oct 28, 29, and 30. Got up in the morning well and
hearty and very thankful to our kind Heavenly Father for His goodness to
us. After breakfast had prayers. Then went around as teachers with
Elder John Mantle. We found the Saints about as usual. Was well
paid for going, and at night went to the teachers meeting and gave a report,
but a slim attendance but those as was there was well paid for duties
performed. The bishop spoke very encouraging to the elders and wanted the
teachers to do their duty.
November 1, 1895 - As I had a cow to sell I sent over to Murray to try to
dispose of it but could not so I brought two barrels of water and other chores.
Sat. Nov. 2 - Took six bushels of wheat to the mill and all I could get for it
was 40 cents per bushel so I came to the conclusion that no more would not go
at that price.
Went on to Salt Lake and done a little business and went to priesthood
meeting. Had some spiritual food and home after paying for the Deseret
News, in good time for choring.
Sun. Nov. 3 - Went to meeting. The missionaries gave some very good
instructions on the necessity of feeding the poor and after meeting came
home. Had dinner and chores. Went to the Improvement
Association. Had a good time all day. The young folks doing very
well.
Mon. Nov. 4 - I was home doing chores and fixing the chicken coop. It
came on to snow. We had a nice storm.
Nov. 5 - Got up in the morning well and hearty to see quite a depth of snow and
great cold and wrote a letter to Ezra T. Williams, Beaver Co. Utah.
Nov. 6 - Killed a hog, after which I took a fat cow to the butcher's. Got
25 dollars for it. Brother John helped to kill the pigs and take the cow
over to Murray. The price of beef was very low now.
Nov. 7 - After doing chores got ready to go to fast meeting. Was called
on to open the meeting by prayer. After singing, the bishop spoke awhile
on politic and warning the people against getting hard feeling and said that
whatever may arise in the campaign that the best way to do was to let it go for
what it is worth and it was not worth bothering about. After he was
through the Saints bore their testimonies, and among the rest I spoke my
feelings. There was a good time and much of the Spirit of God was there.
Came home, had dinner, then went over to John Theckston and paid him 15 dollars
towards a cow we bought of him on Nov. 8 and Sat., the 9th, was fixing up the
shed and cleaning it out a little.
Sun. Nov. 10 - Was at meeting. After singing and prayer Elder Harding
dwelt on the difference between the people of the Southern States and those of
the Maoris. The bishop and Brother Haight gave good advice to the
young. At night I went to the Young Men's Improvement Association and was
called on to open with prayer.
Mon. Nov. 12 - Choring and the 13th was raising potatoes. The land was
very wet. 14th went after water and went over to Murray to the butcher's
and got 5 dollars as pay for the cow. Fixing up the stable and puttering
around home.
Fri. Nov. 15 - I was digging post holes to make a fence from corral to ditch
for stock to drink.
Nov. 16 - Stretching wire and doing other chores (at) home.
Sun. Nov. 17 - Got up well in health and spirits. Had prayers, done
chores, went to the sacrament meeting. Had a good time. At night
went to the young folks meeting. Had a part assigned me for next meeting.
Nov. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 - Was plowing potatoes. Very wet. Hauling
water and doing other odd jobs. Banking up the shed. Very hard
storm and cold wind.
Sat. Nov. 23 - Very wet and slushy and cold. Wrote in journal.
Sun. Nov. 24 - Went to the seventy at Granger. President Gould
presided. The elders expressed themselves as willing to do their
duty. A very slight meeting. I paid 50 cents. At night went
to the Mutual Improvement Association and spoke on the 5 chapters of Nephi, giving
the account of the ball or compass the Nephites had to lead them through the
wilderness and of their building ships to cross the sea to the promised
land. Good meeting. Albert Spencer presiding. A very cold
night.
Nov. 25 to Nov. 30 - I was choring around and husking corn. Very stormy
day. The water running down the fort a fair irrigating stream and are
very thankful that we can say we spent one more year in our health and
strength. Very cold.
Dec. 1, 1895, Sunday - Got up well and hearty, thank our merciful Father for
His great care over me the last year. Had prayer. Studied the
scriptures. Got ready. Went to meeting, it (was) muddy and cold,
but had a good time.
Dec. 2 - Elder John W. Mantle and self went around teaching. We found the
Saints about the same as usual. We visited Charles Barker. Had a
talk with him and wife, but they don't care much about religion but are honest
and peaceable neighbors. Wilford Barker and wife felt very friendly and
so did Charles Morris and wife, but they don't come to meeting nor pay tithing
nor help the work any, yet they like the teachers to visit them so we do.
We felt very well paid for our labors.
Tue. Dec. 23 - Got a letter from Joseph and the photos of the children.
Was very pleased with them. They looked very nice and pretty.
Between those dates I had sold hay to John W. Mantle and got paid and sold ten
bushels of wheat for 5 dollars to Jot Mackey and other little things that I
don't (think) worthwhile putting down at present.
Mon. Dec. 22 - I was trying to fix up the sheds a little as it is very
cold. On the 24th John W. Mantle had one load of hay, 4 dollars.
Mon. Dec. 25 & 26 up to Dec. 27 - At Christmas we was home all day enjoying
ourselves the best we could and J. W. Mantle paid for a load of hay 4 dollars
and 25 cents and I went to Brother Palmer's and paid our blacksmith bill and
done other chores. On the 27th went to a show gotten up by our young
folks. It was very good. Wife and I walked home. Was there
about 12 o'clock. Very good walking.
Dec. 28 & 29 - Choring and went to meeting alone. A missionary out in
the interest of the Improvement Association. Came home and done chores
then went to the night meeting and answered the questions, who was the three
men that went up to the mountain with Christ at His transfiguration. It
was done well.
Mon. 30 & Tue. 31 - Went after water, other chores. Went around
teaching. President Walter Mackey accompanied me. We made a Thur.
visit. Some felt well and others expressed themselves as feeling all
right, but never came to meeting nor paid to the cause, but we felt well paid
for our labors going around.
Wed. Jan. 1, 1896 - Went to a meeting gotten up for the children of the Sunday
School. The program was performed very well. Came home and spent
the remainder of the day at home reading, singing, and so on, and trying to
make ourselves happy.
Thurs. Jan 2 - Went to fast meeting. Bore my testimony to the work of the
Lord and His goodness to us. A good time, and at the close of the meeting
I received of J. W. Mantle 5 dollars.
Jan. 3 - Choring and fixing the sleigh, and on the 4th went to Salt Lake with
tithing corn and chickens. Whilst we was there the whistles and bells was
keeping awful racket as it was the day that Utah become a state, a big todo.
Sun. Jan 5 - I am 60 today. Went to meeting and partook of the
sacrament. Quite a lot of the elders spoke, and at night, to
Mutual. Paid the bishop one dollar for ward house.
Mon. Jan. 6 - Got up with thankful hearts to God our Father in Heaven for the
privilege of living in the day and time when Utah has become a state. Was
a great day in Salt Lake in keeping the statehood day and many gave vent to
their feelings with joy to think that we are more free now.
Jan 7 - Went over to Hunter Ward to see our friends, Brother Jones and
wife. They was well. We had dinner and quite a chat. Then
went to Elder John Evan's and got him to translate some names that was wrote in
Welsh. Had a little talk with them. Then we must stay and have supper
and of course we had a long conversation about North Wales. We enjoyed
out visit very well. It was very cold.
Jan. 8, 9, 10, 11 - Doing chores and hunting up genealogy and hauling water and
husking corn. On Sunday went to meeting. Two good elders spoke on
the necessity of the young preparing (for) coming events as their labors will
be wanted, and so on.
Jan 12, 13 - Husking corn and received a letter from Freda and wrote one back
same day asking Ezra to write a few lines in answer to one sent by Brother
Deverall's letter about some land.
Jan 14, 15 - Choring and husking corn both days. Wrote a letter to Ezra
T. Williams, Beaver City.
Jan. 16-19 - Choring around and husking corn and was at meeting on
Sunday. A very good time.
Jan. 20, 1896 - Well and hearty. Went to visit Brother and Sister
Theckston. We had a good time. Heard a letter from Thomas M.
Fieldman, on a mission in the Southern States. Came home and fixed up the
chicken coop. Then went to Jot Mackey and had quite a talk with him and
wife and found that Sister Mary Mackey was better.
January 22 & 23 - Choring and went to the ward house to settle
tithing. Twenty three (dollars) and 40 cents was my year's tithing.
We would of liked if we could (have) paid more, but am very glad it was a full
tithing.
Jan. 24 - Wrote to Elder Thomas Britton, Heneferville, Summit County,
Utah. Wrote in my journal, and Jan. 25, choring.
Jan. 26 - Missionary Sunday. Good turnout. Done chores. Went
to the night meeting. The young done well.
Jan 30 - Done chores and on the 31st went to a picnic party gotten up in
commemoration of Sister Zina Young's birthday. After meeting, plenty to
eat.
Sat. Feb.1, 1896 - Went to priesthood meeting. It was well
attended. Lots of young men called to be elders. The roads was very
bad.
Sun. Feb. 2 - Went to meeting and assisted to administer the sacrament.
Quite a lot at meeting.
Mon. Feb. 3 - Went after water. Called at Sister Eliza Mantle to get our
temple clothes. Not done. Called at Elder Charles Howell's.
Had dinner and a long talk. Got home half past twelve.
Thur. Feb. 4 - Very thankful to Father we are both well and wish to do
right. Doing chores when Brother and Sister Baker came to see us from
Malad. We had a long talk and heard about our folks at Malad but not very
good news, quite careless about the gospel but doing well other ways.
Feb. 5 - Joseph Olson came and paid us a visit. He was well. I
wrote in my journal.
Feb. 6 - Went to fast meeting. Took fast offering. There was not
very many there but good time.
Feb. 7 - Went to the ward house to the funeral of Frank Brown's
child. Quite a lot there. The elders spoke well. I was called
to open the meeting by prayer. The elders was Parker W. Bennion and Bro.
Harker, and President Taylor addressed the meeting. A good time.
About 30 ... .
Sat. & Sun. Feb. 8 & 9 - Choring and meeting. Good time.
President Cannon was there. He spoke well. Wife was very
sick. Had a bad cold on lungs.
Mon. Feb. 10 - Wife a little better but am very thankful it is no worse than it
is.
Feb. 11, 12 - Received a letter from Joseph stating that he was coming up about
March and wrote and posted a letter to Joseph to Pine Creek. Also our cow
had a dead calf.
Feb. 13, 14, 15 - I was sick but done my chores.
Sun. Feb. 16 - Rather weak, a little sick, but I went to meeting. Was
called on to help Ben Newbold administer the sacrament. After meeting
went home, and wife to Elder Charles Howell. Done chores, had
dinner. Went back to meeting to hear a lecture by Doctor Gibson.
There was a good turn out.
Mon. Feb. 17 - Choring around and on the 18, 19, & 20, sick.
Feb. 21 - Attended Brother Clever's funeral. Not well.
Sat. 22 - Went to Salt Lake to get my recommend signed to go through the
temple. Was quite sick.
Sun. Feb. 23 - Not very well but went to meeting. Elder's Irey Bennion
and Newbold gave their experience whilst on their mission and on the 24 Feb.
25, 26, 27, 28, 29, was sick most of the time but done my chores. Was a
reunion at Taylorsville but could not go. Was too sick but wrote two
letters, one to Ezra T. and Parley Williams.
Sun. March 1, 1896 - Went to meeting and came home in a snow storm. On
March the second, choring around. On the 3rd received a letter from E. T.
Williams from Antelope Springs at sheep camp with a certificate to do work in
the temple and 5 dollars, but the letter was opened and water was in the
letter. I went to post office but no good. I wrote Ezra about it
the same day.
From March 4th until the 15th I was doing chores and writing in journal and fetching
water. Went to meeting, the seventies' meeting. Quite a lot of
elders present and spoke very well on the gospel. Joseph came up to
farm. I was helping him to plow on the Redwood Road and other places
until the 19th of March. Joseph and me was plowing and harrowing and
sowing wheat and oats and scraping and fixing up until April 4.
Went to Salt Lake to conference. Got in time to get a good seat to hear.
We had a good time. Was home in good time and when we came home Joseph
had done the chores. Was very glad of it.
April 5 - Joseph and wife went to conference and Grandma took care of the
children. They say that they had a good good time and that they never saw
so many people at one time.
Mon. Apr. 6 - Went to the cars with wife for her to go to conference and
brought water back with (me). Then turned the water down Bingham and had
to work quite a bit to stop the water. Then went to William Mackey to
borrow a wheel for the plow.
April 7 - Plowing, and as Parley Nelson and Nettie Anderson was up Joseph was
entertaining, and fetched them over and took them back, and April the 8th and
9th I was plowing on fort.
April 10, 11 - Was plowing and burning brush and sowing lucern seed and Joseph
hauling manure.
April 12 - Was Sunday. Went to meeting. The bishop called on me to
open the meeting by prayer. We had quite an interesting meeting and a
good time.
Mon. Apr. 13 - Me and Joseph went down to the pasture to fix fence and took the
horses down. After we came back, Joseph went after lumber but his team
ran away and he got hurt pretty bad and I think it's a great blessing that he
was not killed. He brought the team home and had his wounds
dressed, then went after the wagon and took it to the blacksmith to be
fixed. I being sick, I spent most of the afternoon in bed.
Apr. 14-19 - We was choring around and wrote a letter to Ezra Williams, Pine
Creek. I was fixing the bin. It was snowing, cold. Joseph
went over after lumber to make a box to cross the Redwood Road to bring the
water over to the east side and fetched gravel to go over the box that was
crossing the road. Joseph and self went to meeting. It was wet and
cold.
Mon. 20 - Hauling dirt to make a ditch across the Redwood Road and watering the
trees on side of road.
Apr. 21, 22,23 - Was plowing on the south end of the land and Joe was
scraping. All's going well.
Fri. Apr. 24 - Got water for trees. Went to mill.
Sat. Apr. 25 - Took Kate to Benson's stud horse and planted seeds in the
garden. Land rough.
Apr. 26 - Got up well, thank our kind Heavenly Father for it. Done
chores, had prayers, breakfast and a little rest. Got ready. Went
to meeting. Was two very young missionaries but they done very well.
Mon. Apr. 27 - Joseph took myself and wife to Salt Lake to give in our
genealogy in order to do work for the dead. We took bedding with us a
food so that we could stay with John R. Williams for the week.
Apr. 28 - Got up well and felt to rejoice of having the great privilege to work
in the temple. Got there in good time . Gave in our genealogy for
the day and I was baptized for my grandfather George Williams and Mark Barrett,
who is dead, my wife for Percilla Williams and Margaret Davis, her sister.
Wed. Apr. 29 - I was ordained an elder under the hands of Elder Donbar for and
in behalf of George Williams who is dead, and had endowment, and Harriet
Williams for Margaret Williams who is dead.
Thurs. Apr. 30 - Had endowments for Mark Barrett and wife, Harriet Williams,
for Percilla Williams. Margaret Williams was sealed to me, John J
Williams and Harriet D. W. Williams done the work for Margaret Davis, her
sister, and my grandmother Percilla Williams and I had my endowments for and in
behalf of Robert Seabrock who is dead, and I acted proxy for Mark Barrett in
the sealing process.
Sat. May 2 - I was plowing out a ditch and wrote in journal.
Sun. May 3 - We all of the family went to meeting. Called at Bro. &
Sister Howell's. Had supper and a nice conversation. Then came home
in good time for chores.
Mon. May 4 - Went up to fix a box across Redwood Road. After dinner went
to work on the west ditch and Joseph was hauling gravel for new house.
May 5 - I was rather sick today. Went to the post office and store.
Got rope and nails and meat for Joseph and a present from one we don't know who
it came from. It was a nice bead basket.
May 6 - We received a letter from Sister Gilles from Provo concerning the
mother of my wife, Harriet W. D. W. about getting her sealed to her first
husband. Joe was hauling slag and I took our two mares to L. E. Bennion's
stud.
Thurs. May 7 - Went to fast meeting and after came back and had dinner.
Went after water. When I came back Brother and Sister Rich was
here. We spent a few hours together very nicely talking about the gospel
and so on.
Fri. May 8 - I was harrowing and cutting potatoes and Joseph was hauling
slag. We was busy.
Sat. 4 - Commenced our day's work when a storm came on very heavy and
cold. We stopped work.
Sun., May 10 - Home all day. It was stormy.
Mon. May 11 - Ditching. Joe hauling slag and gravel.
Tue. May 12 - I was digging cellar and Joseph brought our buggy home. It
cost $2.25 to fix it.
Wed. May 13 - We was planting potatoes and corn and squash. Joseph was
working on his cellar.
May 14, 15 - Working on ditch. Took mares to the stud but they did not
want him. Came back and helped to dig the foundation of the house.
May 16 - I was choring around. Joseph went to Salt Lake after lime to
make concrete for cellar.
Sun. 17 - Went to meeting. Helped administer the sacrament. Was two
very good missionaries. One of them spoke of the necessity of being kind
to our brothers and sisters that had not obeyed the gospel and said that there
was thousands of good honest souls in the old country bound by false religion
& so on.
May 18, 19, 20 - Joseph was hauling lumber and gravel and sand and putting up
the frame work of the cellar so we could put the concrete in.
May 21 - Joe hauling sand (and) I digging the foundation. Joe borrowed a
wheelbarrow.
May 22, 23 - I was putting concrete in the foundation. Took the water and
Joe went after water. Hauling sand and plowing out a ditch on Webster
line.
Sun. May 25 - Got up bright and early. Went up to weir and stopped the
water off. Then came back and prepared to go to Salt Lake to work in
temple.
We got in town about 8 o'clock in time to give in our records for baptism, then
walked around the city. We stayed with John and Martha Williams for a week.
Tue. May 26 - Was baptized for 10 and wife for 8. After we was through I
came home and wrote letter to Parley Williams, Beaver City and took it to post
office. Then walked around town to see what I could see. I must say
that I saw things that I did not want to see in the city of the Saints.
Came home tired.
Wed. 27 - Went to temple. I had my endowment for Evan Davis and Harriet
Williams for Hannah Williams. Hannah was sealed to J. J Williams and
Harriet was proxy for her mother sealed to her father. A lovely time.
Thurs. May 28 - I was endowed for James Williams, my Uncle, and Harriet
Williams was endowed for Mary Hayward and acted proxy for her to be sealed to
me, J. J Williams. We had a good time and thought it a great blessing to
do work for those that are dead and ourselves.
May 29 - Had my endowments for Uncle John Williams. Harriet Williams was
endowed for Mary Jane Wooley and was proxy for Mary Jane Wooley to be sealed to
John J Williams. Came to John R. Williams, had dinner. Wrote in my
journal. Then took the street cars for Murray. It was raining in
torrents. I rode to Taylorsville. Hyrum Bennion lent me his umbrella
to come home.
Sat. May 30 - Very hard thunder and lightning, hail. It came down in
torrents. I was doing chores. A very wet day.
Sun. May 31 - Done chores. Wrote in journal. Got ready. Went
to meeting. Two good missionaries and was speaking about the evils of
speaking against the Lord's anointed. It was a good talk.
June 1, 1986 - All well here. Commenced to put in concrete but it was too
wet so we cleaned out a ditch on west side of wheat patch and other chores.
June 2 - We put some concrete in then done ditching on fort.
June 3 - John W. Mantle and John J Williams went around teaching. The
saints expressed themselves as feeling all right. I was well paid for
going among the Latter-Day Saints.
June 4 - Sowing corn and took butter and eggs to the store.
June 5 - Putting concrete and doing other chores. Fine day. I was
choring a little and wrote in journal and Joseph and Freda went to Salt Lake to
conference and Grandma was minding the children. They was late coming
home.
Sat. June 6 - We got up early. Started to town. Got a good place to
hear the elders speak. Went to John Williams. Had dinner, a little
rest, then back to the conference. Got a good place. The elders
spoke very encouraging to the Latter-Day-Saints. President Woodruff spoke
awhile about the persecutions and said that the judgements of God would over
take the wicked as sure as they had shed the blood of the people of God and
that those troublesome times (were) only the beginning of the judgements (that)
awaits the wicked and ungodly. We had a good conference. Had supper
with J. Williams, then home.
June 8, 9, 10 - Watering wheat from South Jordan and cleaning out ditches and
Joseph hauling rock from Cottonwood.
June 11 - Done chores. Had breakfast. Took cow to be served with
bull after I fixed to take water by putting a gate in to stop water going the
wrong way and at 4 o'clock took North Jordan (water) and helped to plow a dike
to water wheat on Redwood Roadside besides tending the water on lucern &
wheat.
June 12 - Watering with west water. Joseph after rock.
June 13 - Went after the mail and when I came back I went on the fort to clean
out ditch and I had dinner and a rest. Wrote in journal, then done
chores.
Sun. June 14 - Went to meeting. Two good missionaries, after which we
called at Elder's Charles Howell's. Had dinner and a long talk on gospel
principles until late. Then wife and I bid them good night and walked
home, had supper, prayers, then went to bed tired.
Mon. June 15, 16 - Watering south of land, wheat and oats and cleaning the
house and Brother and Sister Anderson came to pay us a visit for a few
days. Then Ernest Anderson went to Idaho to make a home.
June 17, 18, 19 - Ditching, watering, and Joseph hauling rock from
Cottonwood. It was very warm.
Sat. June 20 - Got up before 4 o'clock. Fixed water on grain. Came
down and caught one dozen chickens. Took them (to) Salt Lake. Got
$2.25 and eggs a bit (half of 25 cents) a dozen and six pound butter for
tithing. Went to J. R. Williams. Put the team to feed. Done
our business in good time. Done chores, then went to water the
oats. Joseph had South Jordan (water) until 2 o'clock Sunday morning.
Sun. June 21 - Rather late getting up. Done chores. Had a rest,
then wrote in journal. Got ready. Went to meeting. Very few
present but had a pretty good time.
Mon. June 22 - From now till June 27 watering and cutting lucern and raking and
hauling. It was a very hot week.
Sun. June 28 - It's warm and sultry. A rest, wrote in journal awhile,
which is becoming a pleasure to do and to look over my labors in the
past. (On the) 29th went to mill and watering.
June 30 - We was hauling hay. It was very warm.
July 1, 1896 - Joseph hauling rock and I hauled the last of our first crop.
July 2, 3, 4 - Watering corn and the garden. Parley came home and him and
Joseph (and) Freda went to Salt Lake to see the grand sights and Grandma was
taking care of the children. Joe and wife went to Salt Lake to spend the
4th of July and I (did) chores.
July 5 - In company with Elders William Harker and J. W. Mantle to settle a
difference that was between them but did not do much good. Came home, got
ready, went to meeting. Heard Henry Spencer give some of his experiences
in the Southern States. He bore a faithful testimony of this great
latter-day work. Was a teacher's meeting.
July 6-9 - Cultivating potatoes and watering them and Joe was hauling lumber
and I fixing around.
Fri. July 10 - Doing chores & hauling rock, and the 11th got up early, got
ready, went to town with chickens & eggs and got $2.80 cents. We put
the team at J. R. W. Went to priesthood meeting. President A. M.
Cannon presided. Roill B. Young spoke first. In his remarks said
that there was two great principles that the Latter-Day Saints should
obey. One was patience and the other was forbearance with each other.
When he saw prominent men in the church cheat and swear and drink it made him
lose confidence in them and if they did not repent that they would apostatize
sooner or later. Elders Gibbs(?) and Grant followed in the strain and
that those holding the holy priesthood ought to be honest and true to each
other. We had good meeting.
July 12 - Nice morning. Had a rest. Wrote in journal. Wife
and self walked to meeting and at Elder T. Cook's had supper and quite a long
conversation and at dark went home.
July 13-18 - Commenced to harrow but it came on to rain. It was the
hardest storm I have seen. Before I got down to the shed I was wet
through. Was choring around. It's very bad for haying. Lots
spoilt. We went to Salt Lake with chickens. We had to sell them
very cheap. We went to Martha Williams, had dinner and a long chat.
Then got the team ready. Went up town. Got Sister Annie Painter and
we got home in good time all right.
Sun. July 19 - We went to meeting. Came home.
Jul. 20 - Went after coal and brought meat & potatoes. Joseph was
watering with South Jordan water.
July 21 - Finished cutting grain and Joseph paid to Willford Barker 10 dollars
on the cutting of the grain. We was shocking grain.
July 22, 23 - Finished shocking grain. Helped unload brick and tried to
plow but it came on to storm like sam-hill. I quit.
Jul. 24 - Went to ward house to enjoy a program. The children done
well. There was open sports for the children and a dance in the
evening. We spent our day very well.
Sat. Jul. 25 - Plowing. Went after water. Unloaded brick. It
was hot.
Sun. July 26 - Brother Cannon was buried. We thought there was no meeting
so we was home all day. Wrote in journal. He died very sudden and
unexpected. He was a faithful elder.
Mon. Jul. 27-30 - Plowing and Joe hauling brick. Joseph had the machine
fixed. He paid 10 dollars for it.
July 31 - Choring and helping Joseph unload brick.
Sat. Aug. 1, 1896 - Choring and on the 2nd got up well and hearty and very
thankful to our kind Heavenly Father for His kindness to us. We done chores.
Went to the seventies meeting. President Young was out from Salt Lake and
as there was a vacancy in the quorum Brother William Newbold was called to fill
the same. Elder Young gave us some very good instructions and after the
meeting went to see Brother and Sister Rich. We had a few hours together
in social chat and on the gospel and enjoyed ourselves well.
After wishing them good night and God bless you, went home or to the South
Taylors school house to hear a lecture given by the Mutual Improvement
Association by Elder Morris, Salt Lake. It was one of the best I ever
heard, to the young.
Mon. Aug. 3 - Wilford Barker came to cut grain. It came on to rain but
from then until August the 8th was shocking grain and hauling water and went to
Salt Lake and sold 14 chickens for 3 dollars and 40 cents. We had dinner
with Martha Williams. Got home about 6 o'clock, well tired, but thankful
for the overreaching providence in our behalf and the blessing of health.
Called at the bakers shop. Paid 60 cents we had on trust.
Sun. Aug. 4 - Was not feeling very well in health but after I got looking over
my journal I began to feel much better. Got ready. Went to
meeting. Two good missionaries, they spoke well, and after meeting I felt
better.
Aug. 10 - Got up by daylight. Raked the hay when the dew was on it before
breakfast. Brother Condick came to Joseph for pay for brick. Joseph
paid him, then went to Salt Lake with his family on business.
Aug. 11, 12 - Hauling lucern. We hauled all we had cut and Joseph cut
more on the fort. It was very hot. J. J Williams went for water and
Freda and the children went for a ride and a little outing.
Aug 13-15 - Hauling hay and took one load tithing. Finished hauling our
second crop of lucern and packed poles on top of stack to keep it from blowing
away.
Sun. Aug. 16 - There was a Sunday School reunion. Children done
well. The three schools met together and performed their parts well.
Aug. 18-21 - We was trying to haul grain. It was wet weather but we got
it up. John Howell was helping us.
Aug. 22 - I was choring around. Joseph went after lime. My wife was
sick with a bad cough and cold on lungs.
Sun. Aug. 23 - Went to meeting. Wife felt a little better after partaking
of the sacrament and hearing the missionaries and Louise Bringhurst and Brother
Haight. We went home and spent our evening there reading and so on.
Aug. 24-26 - We was hauling grain. Got it all up. John Howell
helped two and half days. We had a light crop.
Aug. 27 - Went to Salt Lake after door frames and window frames and got back in
good time after a good deal of bother as it was a large load of stuff.
Aug. 28-30 - Went after water and doing other chores and reading the news and
by reading we could see that we are living in a critical time. We as a
family went to the seventies meeting. Was called on to speak and Lewis
Bringhurst and Elder Webster. A few others spoke and we had a good
meeting together.
Aug. 31 - Went around a teaching alone because I could not get anyone to go
with me. I visited most of the families. They all expressed
themselves as feeling well and after I came back I took wife over to Murray and
was back in time to help Jot Mackay thresh. Got home about 9 o'clock but
got through all right, tired.
Tue. Sept. 1, 1896 - Got up early to get ready for threshers. They came
about half past seven morning. We got through about three o'clock.
Got 453 bushels of wheat and oats.
Sept. 2 - Got up well and hearty. Done chores. Had prayers (and)
breakfast. Went and strewed straw about the corral, and other
chores. Joseph (was) hauling sand, Grandma washing temple clothes to
commence work.
Sept. 3-4 - I was choring around fixing up.
Sept. 5 - Went to Salt Lake to the stake conference. Had our dinner with
Martha Williams. Got home in good time.
Sun. Sept. 6 - All's well and as there's no meeting I took a rest and wrote in
my journal awhile.
Sept. 7 - Watering on the fort with a small stream of water until the 12th,
then I was cutting corn.
Sun. 13 - Received a letter from Ezra T. Williams, Beaver and wrote a letter to
E. T. Williams, Beaver City.
Sept. 14-20 - Joseph went to Coalville after coal and bought one ton 16 hundred
and I was choring around and took one load of lucern to John Mantles to be
threshed a week from now. Fine now.
Sept. 21 - I was plowing on the fort to try to sow grain. It came on to
storm but on the 24 of Sept. I finished it and done other chores around the
plantation.
Sept. 25 - Went to Salt Lake City with chickens. Got 20 cents apiece for
them and sold 350 pound at 75 per 100 and wife got a pair of shoes. Had
dinner at John Williams's home. Late.
Sat. Sept. 26 - Hauling squash and cut a little lucern and so on. pt. 27
- Got up well and hearty, thank Father for it. Done chores, got
ready to go to seventies meeting at Brighten. Got there late but
had a good meeting. Got home all right.
Mon. Sept. 28 - Went after water. When I came back I commenced to rake
lucern until noon, when Samuel E. Bennion came for his pay for the stud.
Got seven dollars and 50 cents in oats. Then went to rake hay until dark.
Sept. 29, 30 - Hauling hay and fixing up stacks.
Oct. 1, 1896 - Joseph and wife went to Salt Lake and I cutting lucern. We
was hauling hay to Joseph's place. On Sunday, conference at Salt
Lake. Joseph, Freda and children and Parley Nelson and Nettie Anderson
went to conference. Me and wife at home.
Mon. Oct. 5 - Got up hearty. Started to Salt Lake. Got there in
good time to get a good place to hear the speakers. After singing,
prayers, President Woodruff spoke. Dwelt on the number of fallen spirits
that was abroad in the earth and after awhile he brought up the case of Moses
Thatcher. He said that Brother Thatcher had not been in union with his
brethren for a long time and that he had not met with his quorum. We got
a good place to hear in the afternoon meeting. The elders dwelt on the
same subjects. There was a lovely feeling all through the day. Got
home alright.
Tue. Oct. 6 - From today until Sat. the 12th I was vitrioling wheat and sowing
on the fort and getting our potatoes and pitting them and other chores around
place.
Sun. Oct 13, 1896 - Got up in good health. Done chores. Had
prayers, breakfast, then wrote in journal. Got ready. Went to
meeting and had a good time. We had a good lecture on the principle of
salvation for the dead. It was handled very well. It was grand.
Oct. 14, 15 - Choring and took 20 bushels and 50 pound of grain to Taylorsville
mill. Got 20 dollars and 20 cents. After, we went to West Jordan to
Brother Bateman's little girl's funeral. Joseph and wife started to clean
up their new house and took some things up.
Oct. 16 - Went to Salt Lake tithing oats and squash and potatoes. Also
paid our taxes, sixteen dollars and 2 cents, which we paid with means we got
from grain sold. Paid 2 dollars for the Contributor and some stove piping
and a piece of hardwood to fix the scraper. Home about 8 o'clock.
Oct. 17 - We got up well and thankful to our kind Father for his great mercy to
us in giving us a desire to go to our meetings. There was two good
missionaries. Elder Christensen spoke on the necessity of doing work for
our dead folks, or our friends as we can remember. We was very glad that
we had started our work in the temple.
Mon. Oct. 19 - Went after a carpet. Paid 1 dollar and 50 cents. Came
back, had dinner, then filled six sacks of wheat to go mill as a grist.
Tue. Oct. 20 - The colts got away. Hunting after them a long time and
found them west of John Cook's. Joseph came back from canyon. He
had bad luck and so on.
Wed. Oct. 21 - Paid Wilford Barker for cutting grain 18 bushels of wheat and (the)
22nd I copied in journal.
Oct. 23, 24 - Choring and took eight chickens for tithing and 6 dozen eggs, and
we sold 8 chickens for 25 cents each and had dinner with Martha Williams.
Joseph and wife was in town with us. He went in to buy wire to fence one
side of our place. Home good time.
Oct. 25 - We are all well this bright and lovely morning. Done
chores. Wrote awhile in journal. Went to meeting. Elder
Mackay was the first speaker. He gave an account of his labors in the
States and some of the manners of the people, and William H. Haight. They
spoke very well. Short meeting.
Oct. 28 - Choring and at night Parley came home to go on his mission. We
had good talk together.
Tue. Oct 27-30 - Digging post holes and killed a pig and started to stretch the
wire on north end of the field and plowing and looking after colts.
Nov. 1, 1896 - Went to meeting. Two good missionaries. A
stormy day.
Nov. 2 - Done chores, had prayers and breakfast. Then went to Brother
John Mantles for him to go around with me as a teacher but he was gone to Salt
Lake so I got Brother John Thackston to come with me. We visited most of
the Saints in that district and they expressed themselves as feeling
well. It is a stormy day.
Nov. 3 - Went and voted a democrat ticket. On the 4th Parley left to go
on his mission to the Northern States. Joseph was plowing on the
fort. On 5th storming all day.
Fri. Nov. 6 - Got up well and hearty. Choring and fixing up.
Sat. Nov. 7 - Went to Salt Lake with 15 chickens. Got 3 dollars and 75
cents for them, got home in good time.
Nov. 8 - Got up well and hearty, thank our kind Heavenly father for his great
mercy to us, and had prayers and breakfast. Then wrote awhile in my
journal, after which we went to meeting. There was quite a few
speakers. Elders John Bringhurst, Daniel Mackay, Robert Pixton and
others. It was a real testimony meeting. We had a good time.
Came home in a storm.
Nov. 9-18 - Hauling water and took six sacks of wheat to the mill as a
grist. I was doing chores. We lent to Brother Rollins six bushels
of wheat on interest until fall. Was mending sacks and plowing. Jot
Mackey brought team and helped me plow two furrows all down the north fence
from Bingham ditch and I joined the Mutual Improvement Association. I
wanted to drain the land so I worked away at it myself, as Jot nor Ted Mackey
nor Thomas Fields came to help as they promised, so I kept digging away myself
until I was through to the currant bushes east of the house.
Nov. Thur. - Wife went to John Mantles on a visit and I went after water.
When we came home we brought two pigs worth 4 dollars.
Nov. 20,21 - Worked on the ditch a little. Then went to Joseph after lime
and fixed up the house a little.
Sun. Nov. 22 - Done chores. Had prayers and breakfast and wrote in
journal awhile. Then went to meeting. Called on to administer the
sacrament. There was quite a lot of speakers. Wife and self came
home, had dinner, done chores, then started the Mutual Improvement
Association. After it was out we called at T. Cook and Brother and Sister
Howell and had quite a chat. After a good shake of the hand and God bless
you, we started home and walked all (the) way but was paid well for our visit a
few hours.
Mon. Nov. 23 - All well, thank God for it. Had prayer and so on.
Then went to help Brother Painter kill a hog. After we was through had
dinner. We heard of Brother Harkers death. Came home and worked a
little on ditch. Brother and Sister Howell came to pay ys a visit.
Wife and Sister Howell working on the carpet a little, but we enjoyed
ourselves.
Nov. 24, 25 - Working on ditch and choring around and went to Joseph Harker's
funeral. It was large, one of the largest in Taylorsville. There
was present Angus M. Cannon (and) Joseph E. Taylor. They both spoke very well
on the principles of the resurrection and the life and labors of Elder Harker,
and other brethren did the same. There was 62 teams followed. It
came on to storm when the people left the graveyard and snowed nearly a
foot. We had to do chores in the storm.
Nov. 26 - I was fixing the sheds a little to keep the stock warm. After
we went to visit Bro. and Sister Mantle. We enjoyed ourselves very
well. They had called a few of the neighbors to have a good time.
There was everything to eat as could be desired. It was Thanksgiving
Day. We left well paid for our visit. Went home. Done
chores. It was very cold.
Nov. 27 - Wrote a letter to Ezra Williams, Beaver, and took it to the post
office. Came and done chores and was comfortable. Sat in a warm
house when I heard a voice call out for Brother Williams, so I went out to see
what was wanted. I was wanted to go to administer (to) Sister Jane
Mackey. She was very sick. I used the oil and Elder John C. Mackey
was mouth to seal the anointing. I sat with them awhile to try and
conmfort a little, then started home. Very cold. I had
supper. Wrote a letter, then went to bed, tired.
Nov. 28 - Called to administer to Sister Jane Mackey. Elders John C.
Mackey and Elder Murphy. I used the oil. John C. was mouth.
She was a very sick girl. Cold.
Nov. 29 - I went to meeting. Two good missionaries. Called at
Freda's, had dinner and a short chat, then home.
Nov. 30 - Choring around until after dinner. Then I turned the water down
the north ditch. I had to clear the snow for the water to run down.
At night I and John Cook, we administered to her. She was very sick.
Tues. Dec. 1, 1896 - I went around a teaching with Elder John Mantle.
Found the people about the same. We called Barker's folks. We had
quite a conversation with them. Wilford Bar and Charles Morris and wives
felt pretty well but could not come to meeting. We talked about the
gospel and its blessings and whilst we was talking they felt to do
better. I was well paid.
Dec. 2-6 - Tried to sell a hog at Murray but could not so I sold six sacks of
oats for lumber and was called to administer to Jane Mackey and worked on the
ditch, killed hog, salted it down and other chores.
Sun. Dec. 7 - The fast meeting was held on Sunday. It was the largest I
was ever at. There was a good spirit prevailing all through the
meeting. I bore my testimony of the goodness of God to me and came home,
had dinner, done chores, then went to administer to Sister Jane Mackey.
She was a very sick girl. We stayed with her quite awhile but could see
she was going to the great beyond.
Mon. Dec. 8 - Took two sacks of wheat to store. It came to 4
dollars. I got one pair of gum shoes and one pair of gloves. Came
back. Had dinner. Put on my gum boots and went to work on the
ditch. Done chores, then went to administer to Jane Mackey. It was
late coming home. (Pages 270 and 271 are blank.)
Dec. 9 - Sold 17 bushels of wheat to Taylorsville at 70 cents per bushel.
got the check. Came home, had dinner, worked on ditch.
Dec. 10, 11 - Worked on drain ditch and was called on to administer to Jane, as
she was dying. I got Joseph Lindsay to come with me. She was ready
to go to the great beyond so we asked the folks if they was willing to give her
up, and said, so we laid our hands on her and gave her up to die and about sun
down she passed quietly away in the prime of life.
Fri. & Sat. Worked on drain ditch and went to Salt Lake. Called
at Taylorsville with oats worth 4 dollars. Got check and called at the
office at Salt Lake and was paid for 16 bushels of wheat and the oats.
Then I went to the 16th Ward to see Elder Ashton but he was not home so we went
to John R. Williams. Put the team to feed, had dinner, went to
conference. Had good meeting. Then went and hitched up and off for
home. Called on Edward Ashton but was not home so I paid his wife 12
dollars on account of money borrowed in Cardiff, South Wales whilst I was on a
mission. It was very late home.
Sun. Dec. 13 - Got ready to go to Sister Jane Mackey's funeral. We went
to the house. There was a large number present when went. We
followed to the ward house. It was crowded. Lots had to
stand. Bishop Heber Bennion took charge. The speakers was Bishop
Maccray, John J Williams, Elder Dankar, Salt Lake, Elder William Newbold and
Brother Harmon and our bishop. They all spoke well of the deceased.
We followed to graveyard. It was a well conducted funeral. Was 50
teams followed. She was a good girl.
Dec. 14-19 - Working on the drain ditch. I had to get the ax to cut the
frozen ground. It's quite a job to do.
Sun. Dec. 20 - Went to meeting. A good time. Called at Brother
Howell's. Had supper. Then we all went to the Mutual Improvement
Association. Had a good time. We walked home.
Mon. Dec. 21-25 - Was working on ditch, choring and on Christmas went to
Freda's. We had a good time for a while, after which we came home, done
chores and a chat about old times.
Dec. 26, 27 - Working on drain ditch. Sun. went to meeting. Was
called to assist W. O. Newbold to administer the sacrament. Had a good
time. Went to young folks meeting.
Dec. 28-31 - Doing general farm work. Ditching. Went around a
teaching with J. Mantle. Found the people about the same. Went to a
district school meeting. It was a disgrace to Saints. One party
wanted to force the other party to help build a school house but owing to hard
times we could not see the point, hence the haggle, and so on.
January 1, 1897 - Wife went to the school children reunion as the three
districts met to perform their parts. The children done well. We
enjoyed ourselves. Went to Brother & Sister Howell's and ate out New
Year's dinner and we spent a few hours very pleasantly together. It was
later getting home. On the second I was choring and on the 3rd went to fast
meeting, bore testimony. Good time. President Cannon was there and
gave us some very (good) instructions.
Mon. 4 - I went to Granger to see Joseph Hill about our bridge. It was so
bad that it was not safe to cross. He was not home so I came home.
Done chores, wrote in journal.
Jan. 5 - Fixing the chicken coop and other chores.
Jan. 6 - Went to see Brother Hill and he had hitched up his horse and cart and
was coming over so I rode with (him) back. He looked at the bridge and
gave me an order for 17 planks 12 inches by 12 feet and 10 pounds of
spikes. I fetched the lumber and after dinner I fixed bridge all right.
Jan. 7 - Went to mill with 4 sacks of wheat for grist.
Jan. 8, 9 - Working on drain ditch and secured some pork and sawed through some
lumber to put in drain ditch.
Sun. Jan. 10 - Done chores. Had a little rest. Then went to Sister
Wilson's funeral. The meeting commenced at 12 o'clock and was a large one
and at 2 o'clock we had our sacrament meeting. We had two good
missionaries. Had dinner with T. Cook and had quite a conversation.
Then went home, done chores, and back to young folk's meeting and wife and self
walked home. Got there half past 10, tired.
Jan. 11 - In forenoon worked on ditch. Went after mail. Got a
letter from Ezra T. Williams with a 5 dollar post office order in it and one
letter from Parley.
Jan. 12 - Wrote to Ezra in answer to his received with the order and worked
ditch.
Jan 13, 14 - Took the buggy to the blacksmith and worked on ditch and fetched
the buggy. Took Freda and children for a ride and a ham of pork to
be weighed. It was 26 and one half pounds.
Jan. 15 - Went to Deseret News office and sold ham of bacon in part pay for the
Deseret News. Paid one year in advance, all but 40 cents. The ham
was 31 pounds. Then I went to the 16th ward with a ham for Edward Ashton,
weight 24 and one half pounds, 2 dollars and 49 cents, and I paid on account of
what I borrowed on my mission. Then went to John R. Williams, had dinner,
then went up town and wife went to bank and ... 5 dollars that our son Ezra
sent us for a New Year's gift. Then wife went and bought a pair of shoes
with part of the money, then, and Nettie Anderson went in and out with
us. She went to try to get a place of service. It was very cold.
Jan. 16, 17 - Snowing. I wrote to Parley. Got the sleigh
ready. Went to Granger. Got there about half (past) one
o'clock. We had dinner with Brother Wilkins. Then went to the
quorum meeting and after the sacrament was administered the meeting given over
to the quorum by the bishop and the roll called. Quite a number of elders
was called to speak. After meeting we took a sleigh ride home.
Mon. Jan. 18 - Gave the folks a sleigh ride. The little folks felt
well. Back, had dinner at Freda's.
Jan. 19-23 - Sick with a bad cold. We let William Deverall have one ham
of bacon for work done. It was 28 pounds, 2 dollars and 80 cents.
Jan. 24 - After one week of sickness I am very thankful to Father that we can
say I am a little better. My wife took great care and watched every move
and was very kind to me. Now about February 1, 1897, I am very thankful
to our kind Father that I am well as I am but it is now Feb. 10 and are yet
very weak. My wife got a very bad cold and cough and Feb. the 20 found us
not very much better. My breath was so short I tried to go after coal but
had to give it up. I kept getting a little better slowly until Feb
21. Then wife and self got up in good earnest to do lots of work because
I was able to haul a few loads of manure but I soon saw that the strength
wasn't there. On Feb. 28 we went to meeting. Was called on to
assist to administer the sacrament with Elder Newbold. It a very stern
meeting good. We came home, had dinner, after, reading and chatting
awhile.
March 1, 1897 - I was choring around until the 4th. Then I went and
called on John W. Mantle to come with me around teaching but he could not go so
I went to try and get Elder John Thackston. He could not go so I started
out alone and called at all the families in the district but two. They
all felt all right but their works and words don't agree but there's some good Latter-Day
Saints in this district. I felt well paid for my labors. Went at
night to give in my report.
When I came home found Joseph had come home from sheep camp and from then until
Sunday the 4th and from then until March the 19th the land was so wet we
couldn't get on it to work it and on some of those days we hauled a few loads
of manure. The wagon would sink down too deep. Bright and early
Grandma was called up as Freda was sick. She brought Joseph a fine boy
and both doing well. On the 20th snowing and blowing and Joseph fetched a
wagon box of hay to take home. Wife and self choring around. Wet
& cold.
Sun. Mar. 23 - Went to meeting. Elder's Charles Howell and Brother Rick
administered the sacrament. We had a good time. Two good
missionaries came home and Brother Deverall and wife came and spent the evening
with us. We enjoyed ourselves talking about the old country and other
things until late, when we parted good night. From then on until the 28th
of March I was working when I could, trying to get the land ready to sow
grain. It's been a stormy spring. We could not get along very
well. It made spring work late.
Mar. 29 - Storming, but on the 30 and 31 we sowed the grain north of the
graveyard. Very ... weather.
April 1, 1897 - I was harrowing and marking until April 3 and 4.
Storming. Could not do much farm work but whilst we was at supper Ezra T.
Williams came. It was quite a surprise to see him and after quite a talk
and prayer went to bed.
April 5 - Got up, did chores, had prayers and breakfast and as E. T. was going
to conference I made up my mind to go with him. We started across the
fields to walk over to the cars at Murray but was gave a ride to Salt Lake with
John Frame, from Jordan Bridge. We was there about half past 10 but got a
good place to hear on the east steps. We could hear well. After
meeting was out Ezra and me walked down town. He went to get a shave and
gave me 50 cents so I went and got dinner. Went back to the
tabernacle. Got a good seat. After close of meeting went down to
see Martha Williams. Had supper with them then went to the Sunday School
meeting at night. The program done well. Came home with E. T. and
Brother Garard. We got home about one o'clock well paid for taking
trouble.
April 6 - Stormy day and Ezra left home for Salt Lake to go to camp but before
he left he gave his mother 5 dollars as a birthday present and left us very
cheerful. We enjoyed his company very much.
April 7, 8 - I was scattering straw and Joseph was plowing on the fort.
John Rupp came to get seven dollars worth of wheat on time and paid for it.
April 16 - Was choring around until April the 19th and was trying to do our
duties the best we could. Helped Joseph to plow his lot and William
Mackay came to trade a cow for a horse. We made the trade on Apr. 20 and
on the 20 of April he took the colt and I fetched the cow and Joseph working at
other work.
Apr. 22 - Cutting potatoes in the morning and evening took Dicks horse to be
altered S. R. Bennion. He charged 75 cents and performed the operation.
Apr. 23 - Took flour for offering and cutting potatoes to plant.
Apr. 24 - Cutting potatoes and other chores. A fine day.
Apr. 25 - Sure a fine day. Got ready. Went to meeting. Was
called on to administer the sacrament with Elder Bringherst. From now on until
the fourth was ditching and plowing and all kind of farm work and put a box in
North Jordan canal. We had rented 14 shares of Brother Horn, the
secretary of the canal. Wife gone to meeting. I am alone to
day. From now on until 26 we are busy doing general farm work such as
cleaning out water ditches and putting in boxes. We put one across
Bingham to water oats and lucern on east side of the house.
May 27 - Watering garden, trees and lucern.
May 29-31 - Joseph and wife and Grandma gone to Salt Lake and on Sunday went to
meeting and choring around. Joseph went to Salt Lake and I wrote a letter
to Ezra Williams, Beaver City.
June 1, 1897 - Cutting potatoes to plant the 2nd and watering the 3rd, 4th, out
of North and South Jordan canal, 5th, setting posts for the pasture.
Sun. June 6 - Done chores. Went with Elder Painter to administer to
Edward Mackay's baby. It was very sick. After went to fast
meeting. We had a good time together.
Came home. Done chores, then wife and self went up to see and to stay
with the sick baby. It was very low and spent a few hours with
them. Came home about 11 o'clock. Baby a little (___) but very
low.
Mon. June 7 - Joe commenced to cut lucern after grinding two sickles and I was
cutting around the ditch banks and as I was not feeling very well a little work
would do me but as Joseph had bought a powel hay rake to work it with. It
made it better for us. So we worked away. We hired John Howell to
help haul and Joe and me would cut and rake and pile it up.
After, I wrote in my journal and helped haul hay and was called on from time to
time to administer to Sister Mackay's baby.
It suffered a few days and passed to the great beyond and was buried in
Taylorsville cemetery. Elder Painter presided at the funeral. He
called on Elder Ball to open with prayer and Archie Frame Jun. led the choir,
after singing and prayer, John J Williams was the first speaker and Elder
Painter closed with very comforting remarks. The Spirit of God was there
and both had very good freedom to speak. It was laid away June 19,
1897. I was called to dedicate the grave. It was a large funeral.
Until the 23 of June we was working away hauling hay, watering, and we received
a letter from Parley, Hamiliton Cr. Webster City, Iowa, and one from Ezra T.
Williams, Beaver City. He sent us ten dollars for a present, which gave
(us) to feel very thankful to our Father that He do raise up friends to cheer
and comfort us in our old days. It makes us love Ezra for his kindness to
us. Wrote to him. Thanked him for the gift.
25, 26 - Wrote a letter to Parley who is on mission in the States and City of
Hampton, Franklin Co. Iowa and one to E. T. Williams, Beaver City and raking
and piling hay. Very hot.
June 27 - Wrote in journal. Had a rest, then got ready. Went to
meeting. Called on (to) open by prayer. We had a good meeting.
Mon. Jun. 28 - Hauling hay. Lot Mackay was helping.
Jun. 29 Took one load of hay for tithing on Joseph's name, one ton ten hundred,
and on June 30 was putting up fencing.
July 1, 1897 - Fixing fencing and gates. We turned the horses out in the
pasture for the first time. They done well.
July 2 - Fast day. Went to meeting. Called to open with
prayer. After sacrament was administered the meeting was opened to
testify of the goodness of our kind Father in Heaven. Bore my testimony
and felt well. We called on Sister Howells to go with us and Freda, to
give Brother and Sister Rich a visit. We spent a (few) hours quite nicely
and got home at dark.
July 5 - Went after water. Was invited to spend a few hours with Brother
Deveral and wife as Brother Ashton and wife was coming on from Salt Lake.
We had a good dinner and good chat and after we was together awhile we parted
the best of friends.
July 6 - Helping Joseph nailing boards on corral fence.
July 7, 8 - Watering with south on fort and Joe went to town after lime as the
plasterer was come to work.
July 9 - Went to Salt Lake with chickens. We took two and one half
dozen. Got 5 dollars and 50 cents. Went up town. Wife done
her business. We started home in good time.
July 10 - Watering corn and potatoes and fixing lock on door.
Sun. July 11 - Done chores. Had a good bath, then went to meeting.
Was called on to administer the sacrament. We had two good
missionaries. Called at Joseph's. Had dinner and a long
talk. Andrew Olson's home. Done chores. Joe brought me
home.
July 12, 13 - Watering corn and potatoes and wrote in journal. Went after
water and went after John W. Mantle to go with me a teaching ... cut our
wheat. Came back, helped Joseph to stretch ... fence around his lot.
The 15th John W. Mantle cut wheat and 16 and 17 was shocking the grain and
wrote to Parley and to Ezra T. Williams, Beaver City and other chores.
July 18-20 - Cutting sweet clover. Was not at meeting on Sunday.
Home all day. Nice day. Helped Joseph build pig pen. 21st
fixing cellar.
July 22 - Wife went to Salt Lake to see the children's jubilee.
July 23, 24 - Choring and went to Salt Lake to see the parade. It was
grand. More people (were) there than I ever saw before and Parley Davis
and wife was with me and Joseph and wife came in with Bro. Deveral. After
we had spent most of the day together I had to go home to do chores.
Wished them goodbye, and as Parley Davis and wife came from Snake Valley they
(had) to leave for home July 25, so I wished good night and God bless
you. Was glad to see each other.
July 25 - Went to meeting and was called on to open by prayer. We had two
very good missionaries. One spoke on the necessity of overcoming
ourselves. The (other) spoke on the jubilee and what it was for, so
on. Had dinner with Joe. Andrew Olson was at Freda's
sister's. Came down to see us before going to Beaver. Went up to
Freda's, to bank.
July 26, 27 - Choring and cutting sweet clover around the house and garden and
was doing general farm work up until August the 4th, cutting and raking and
piling and hauling hay with doing other chores. It's hot.
Aug. 10 - Cutting lucern. Raking, piling, hauling. Took one load
for tithing on Joe's name. Threshed for Thomas Fields. Had a letter
from E. T. Williams. He has been through quite a lot of trouble of
late. Wrote to him to try to comfort him a little and to Parley.
He's doing well in his missionary labors. Finished our second crop and
choring around until August the 20th, when we commenced on oats.
Aug. 21 - Commenced to haul the oats. Too damp to haul, so after dinner
went to plow the ditch so we could get water.
Sun. Aug. 22 - From now until Aug. 29th I was watering and we had a visit from
Brother and Sister Deveral and spent quite a nice time together and we had the
threshers. We had 320 and 10 bushels of grain and received of Brother
Rollings 7 bushels of wheat that I lent him last fall. He paid like a
gentleman.
Aug. 30 - Nice, fine day and Aug. 31 choring and resting.
Sept. 1, 1897 - Was working around and doing odd jobs around the farm and
Joseph hauling sand, gravel, and other chores until ---
Sept. 11 - Home all day. Not at conference. Writing in
journal. Had a nice storm last night. I was so busy cutting lucern,
raking, piling and hauling and had George Butterfield to help us haul and we
finished our last crop Sept. 30. Had a light crop. We paid 3 loads
of hay tithing and paid hire.
October 1, 1897 - I was helping Joseph put some fence around the house and took
75 pounds of flour for fast offering and 3 hundred and 50 pounds of oats to
store. Got a pair of shoes, then came back and helped to put some fence
between the east and west land along Bingham Ditch. Joseph went after
brick. I helped unload, and choring.
Sun. Oct. 3 - We got up well and hearty, thank our kind Father for His mercies
towards us. We done chores, wrote in journal. Then got ready to go
to fast meeting. Had a good time. Came home, done chores, went up
to spend the evening with Joseph and family. Came home very late.
Oct. 4 - Went to conference. We got there in good time. Got a good
place to hear the speakers. They all spoke the practicable duties of the
Latter-Day Saints. Went to John R. Williams to dinner. We had two
good meetings. Home in good time.
Oct. 5 - Joseph and family went to conference. Was home doing chores and
wife was home all day.
Oct. 6 - Me and wife went to conference. Was at John R. Williams dinner
when Phoebe Jones and grand daughter and niece Rachel Jones and Blanch Davis
came to Matthew's. Phoebe saw her Aunty Harriet. There was a joyful
meeting as they had not seen each other 28 years. They promised to come
to our place but got lost by taking the wrong street so we had to come home
without them.
Oct. 7&8 - Getting up potatoes and on the 9th they came from Salt Lake to
Taylorsville to see us. Again was working potatoes but a storm came on so
we quit and Joseph went after brick. We was chatting about old times and
how they had to suffer coming across the plains, and so on until it was late,
or early in the morning. Went to bed tired.
Mon. Oct 10 - Got up well and thankful for the privilege of being together for
the first time in 28 years. I done chores, had prayers, breakfast.
Had dinner got ready. Went to meeting. I was called on to open with
prayer. we had a good meeting, after which I took Phoebe to see Sister
Lois Bringhurst, then came back to Joe's.
Had dinner. Then I went home, done chores, then went back to Joseph's and
Aunt Phoebe gave us some of her experiences crossing the plains, which was very
interesting to us until it (was) late. We wished all good night, went
home, had prayers, then went to bed.
Tue. Oct 11 - Done chores, prayers, and breakfast. Then went to Salt Lake
with the folks as they was going home to Malad. We came back along the
State road to Murray. There was waiting Martin Anderson and Joseph
Lillywhite and wife and children. I took them to Freda William's for the
night. We went home and the boys came down and got some bedding and we
went to bed tired.
Wed. Oct. 12 - We was up early thinking to catch the folks before they started
but they was off before we got there so we did not see them. They left
with the 8 o'clock train south. All felt well only those that was left
behind. We returned home.
Oct. 13-18 - Doing chores and received a letter from Parley from Council
Bluffs, Iowa and wrote to Ezra T. Williams, Beaver City, Utah. On Oct 19
doing general farm work, going after water,and plowing, sowing, harrowing in
grain and took one tithing potatoes and squash and grain on Oct the 22nd and
choring around and doing odd jobs about the place.
Oct. 23, 24 - Went to meeting and Ezra came with us as he came up with Andrew
Olson to Salt Lake from Beaver. Andrew was very sick so E. T. came up to
take care of him. He was going up north. Ezra went back to Pine
Creek on Oct. 25. We went over to the train and saw him off. Came
back and began to plow and kept it (up) until Oct. 28. Then sowed and
harrowed what was plowed. It was dry but more storms on the 29th, so I
kept on until I planted all the land that was fit to plant and by doing other
chores I was kept pretty busy until November 5 when a storm (came) on. I
had to quit and I went to meeting. It was fast Sunday. I bore my
testimony and felt well at night. Went to the young mens' meeting.
Elder Clawson was out from Salt Lake. He spoke well.
Nov. 8 - Wrote to Parley.
Nov. 9-12 - Plowing, harrowing and put the last of our grain in on the
13th but could not mark it all. The storm came in and was very late
harrowing of it in the land just right.
Sun. 14 - We got up well and hearty, thank our kind Heavenly Father for His
mercies to us. Had prayers, done chores, got ready, went to meeting,
after studying the Testament awhile. Two very good missionaries spoke
very well to young folks.
Am plowing Joseph's lot and fetching water and choring until Nov. 16, and on
the 17 went to Samuel Barker's funeral. There was a large turnout.
It was Nov. 18. The elders spoke well. President Cannon and Taylor
was there and spoke well of the young man.
Nov. 19 - Killing and cleaning chickens and on the 20th took them to Salt Lake
and got 30 cents apiece for them and after wife done business we started home.
Nov. 21 - Went after water for Freda Williams and brought two pigs and was
fixing up a little the pen out of repair.
Sun. Nov. 22 Done chores. Went to the seventy meeting and paid a few
cents to the seventies fund and one dollar towards the ward house. The
elders spoke very well.
Mon. Nov. 23 - Fixed Freda's shed and cleaned it out.
Tue. Nov. 24 - Went to the mill with a grist for Freda Williams and heard of
the death of Sister Elizabeth Harker and on the 25th of November went to Sister
Harker's funeral. It was a very nice feeling there. Went over to
Cottonwood Cemetery, or burying ground. It was pretty cold. Was
called on by our bishop to open with prayer. The speakers was Elders
Thomas Cook, Sr., Job Harker, and Griffith, George M. Spencer and Bishop
Bennion. They all spoke in praise of Sister Harker and the good by her
among the sick and the poor of the ward. Brother Painter called on me to
dedicate the grave and the remains of one we dearly beloved and so on.
Nov. 24 - Went to the high priest meeting. Was ordained an high priest by
Joseph E. Taylor and paid two chickens as tithing. Done our business and
was home in good time.
Sun. Nov. 28 - Got up well and hearty, thank God for it. Had prayers,
breakfast, and done chores. Went to meeting. Two very good
missionaries. Good time. Wife called at Brother Howell's and I went home
with him, done chores, then went to Freda's (and) had supper, then went to
night meeting. Called at Elder Howell's for wife, had a chat, then started
to walk home. It's a nice night.
Mon. Nov. 29 - Took 5 hundred pounds of oats to J. P. Cahoon's and got coal.
Went home, cleaned stable.
Nov. 30, 31 - Choring around and killing pigs. It was very wet, cold
day. Bro. Painter was princa... .
Dec. 1, 1897 - We took a hog to Salt Lake. We had a hard job to sell
it. We got 9 dollars. We got 5 and one half cent per pound.
Home in good time.
Dec. 2, 3 - Choring and took wife to store.
Sun. Dec. 4 - Went to fast meeting. Was called to administer the
sacrament. Was a full house there. Was two children blessed and
quite a few bore their testimonies of the goodness of God to them, and so on.
Dec. 5, 6 - Working around and sent a letter to Parley to Des. Moines, Iowa,
one dollar sent with it and brought a load of coal worth 4 dollars and sat down
to read at night (and) who should come but Ezra T. Williams with a load of
furniture. It (was) dark. Put the team by. Had a long talk,
then bed.
I was puttering around until the 13, 14, and 15, doing chores and on the 15th a
large snow storm came, 9 or 10 inches. Dec. 16 Ezra went to Salt Lake and
bought one set of furniture and on the 17th was in town after goods. 18th
Ezra being sick, I took the load of goods up to Freda's place and unloaded it
and fixed the stove and after wife and self done all we could, we came home
(to) do chores, Wife attending Ezra. He came better.
Sun. Dec. 19 - Home all day. E. T. Williams a little better, but John J
Williams a little sick and on the 20, 21 helped Ezra to fix his stove and
windows and other chores and at night went to a party gotten up by our own boys
and girls of Taylorsville Ward. It was very good and I was choring around
until Dec. 25th.
Dec. 25 - Wife and Freda Williams gotten up a good Christmas dinner. We
had a good (Yule?) time. We thought that Ezra and wife would come and
join us but Hilda would not come. She was too sick, but we enjoyed
ourselves very well and the children was very pleased of what Santy Clause
brought them, and Grandpa and Grandma was a little surprised to find that Santy
Clause had put a dollar each in the toes of our stockings, but was very
acceptable. The high priests had a good time in their meeting.
Sun. Dec. 26 - Went to meeting after writing in journal. Had good meeting.
Came home and spent the evening reading and talking about old times. On
the 27, 28, 29 was hauling brick from Charles Condick's and at night we went to
Elder Charles Howell's to give them a surprise.
We had a good supper and songs and recitations and a chat about old
times. We was present, Bro. and Sister Cook, Robert Preston and wife,
John J Williams and wife and John Howells and William Pixton and two daughters
of Sister Cook. After Brother Howell sang a song or two and J. J
Williams, we parted with the best of feelings long to be remembered.
Sister Howell was 64 years of age Dec. 29. We was paid trying to comfort one of
Father's daughters.
Dec. 30 - Went over to Murray and got a post office order of 20 dollars and
sent to Parley Williams who is laboring as a missionary in the town of Des
Moines, Iowa. Called at mill. Bought two hundred bran and shorts
and water.
Dec. 31 - We are very thankful to our kind Heavenly father for His great care
over us through the year. We can leave on record that our Father have
been very kind in blessing us with as good health as He does and comforts of
life.
Jan 1, 1898 - I done chores then went to the ward house and heard a nice
program by the children of the Sunday School. We went to Freda's.
Had dinner, then went to the children's dance, after which came home, done
chores. We think the children and teachers done very well.
Sun. Jan 2 - Done chores, then wrote awhile in my journal. Then prepared
for meeting. Wife did not go. A good meeting.
Jan. 3 - Ezra and self went to Salt Lake with one side of a pig. Got 5
dollars with Elder Ashton on account of what I owed him and Ezra paid 16
dollars cash and the 5 dollars worth of pork made up what I owed for tracts and
Stars and cash I borrowed in Cardiff, South Wales in 1892 and 3, and are very
thankful that it (is) paid. It was quite a load on my mind and after wife
done some trading we started home. It was (___) getting home.
Tue. Jan. 4 - Went after two load of brick and unloaded them.
Jan. 5 - I was doing chores all morning and at noon Grandma and self went up to
Freda's to spend a few hours as it was Grandpa's Day, 64 years of age. We
had a good time in singing, dancing and recitations. After we got tired
we all parted with the best of feeling. Ezra played the violin for us and
Annie Painter recited a piece very nicely. After we came home and got to
bed and just got to sleep I heard a knock at the door. Got up, opened the
door to see who was there. It was Heber Mackey. (He) came on
pretence that his mother wanted me to administer to her, so I dressed and we
both started up together and went as far as Ted's. Then Hebe turned up to
go there and I went on down to his mothers and when I got there they was all in
bed quiet and snug so I did not disturb them and when I was coming back I met
Heber coming down the road. When he left me he came right back and called
up Sister Williams out of bed and tried to come in but she slammed the door in
his face, and for what purpose he came back we don't know. When I came
home wife was very loath to let me in the house. It was piercing cold and
I caught cold.
At our party there was Elders Painter, Cook, T. Howell and E. T. Williams, J. J
Williams and wives and old Sister Wiscoe & others.
Jan. 6 - Went after brick. We brought two loads and unloaded them the
same day. 7th went after coal and lumber. The roads was very
slick. The mares had all they could do to stand. Had 22 hundred
pounds and the 48 feet of lumber. On Sat. the 8th, two load of brick.
Sun. Jan. 9 - Went to meeting. It was storming. Had dinner, done
chores, and received 3 dollars of J. W. Mantle for hay. Wrote in my
journal.
Jan. 10, 11 - Cleaning out shed and after two load of brick.
Jan. 12 - Went up to Joseph's place. Helped Brother Painter kill a
hog. It was very cold and E. T. went after a load of brick and I helped
unload them. On the 13th went after 2 loads of brick, unloaded one and
the 14th the other and other chores but on Sat. the 15th until the 18th was
very sick. Ezra was very kind to me and he fetched me brandy and alcohol
to b... my body with and on Jan 19 and 20 was a little better and wrote in
journal.
Jan 21-24 - I was up and down sick and up sometimes in bed. E. T. hauled
rock. I received a letter from Parley, Des Moines, Iowa and trying to
chore around a little.
Jan. 30, 31 - Got ready. Went to meeting. It was seventies
meeting. Elders Young and Reynolds was out. They came to organize
the one hundred and fiftieth quorum out of the 14 quorum and this quorum to be
in the Taylorsville district. The presidents of the 14th are Hyrum
Bennion, George M. Spencer, William Newbold, and two new ones are Louis
Bringhurst and Henry Harker. There's only 5 for the present, (more) will
be had as the quorum gets larger. There was a good time.
Monday was cleaning and white washing the house and other chores.
Feb. 1, 1898 - Was choring around until Sat. the 5th. Went to the high
priest meeting. We had some very good instructions. Back in good
time.
Feb. 6 - Went to fast meeting. A good time for those that took part,
Bishop Bennion presiding. Quite a number of children blessed. Came
in storm and from Mon on until Feb. the 15th I was choring around and went to
visit the high priests. Called on Elders Samuel Bringhurst, William
Parker, Rich Harker, Frame, Bennion, and Painter and they all felt well as
regards the gospel. I was well paid for going around. Had dinner
with Freda'a and on the 13th went up to John Olson's with Freda and wife.
Spent a pleasant day.
From Feb. 16th I was choring around until the 25th and as E. T. went to Salt
Lake, went with Ezra as he was going to the sheep camp. He gave us two
dollars to help to buy a top coat, and working around. Went over to the
cars at Murray after Joseph as he was coming from camp, and I was hauling
manure and so forth. We went to see the children perform their parts on
George Washington's birthday and we had dinner with Sister T. Cook. Then
went to see the children's dance but wife not well. Went home and on the
morrow our bishop and Brother Painter came as judges about the road through the
land, so I called on them to administer to her, and thank the Lord, she got
much better after.
Feb. 26th - Lent to William Makatey (Mackay?) ten bushels of wheat until
fall on interest and plowed Ezra's lot and other work until the last of the
month. We are all well now and we do thank our kind Heavenly Father for
His mercy.
Tue. Mar. 1, 1898 - I was working around at odd jobs until the 3rd, when I hitched
up the cart and went to Salt Lake to the temple. Done work for James
Gibbs and wife felt well and was back home in good time to do chores.
Mar. 4 - Went to temple. Done had our endowments for James Gibbs and wife
and sealings. Was home in good time but tired. The cart was not a
good conveyance to ride in but glad that much work done.
Sat. Mar. 5 - Planted garden seeds and burned brush and helped unload lumber.
Sun. Mar. 6 - Done chores. Came in, washed, combed, had breakfast and
prayers. Wrote in journal and looked over my temple record awhile.
Then got ready, went to fast meeting and bore my testimony. Came
home. Done chores, then went to the night meeting. It was conjoint
meeting. The young folks done well, I thought. Hilda had a good
time. Had a baby girl Saturday, March the 5th.
Mon. March 7 - Working on Ezra's house and on the 8th of Mar. I received 7
dollars for two loads of hay by J. J. Mantle.
Mar. 9 - Helping put concrete in the foundation of Ezra's house and Joseph
hauling slag and water as the water had to be hauled to mix the concrete.
On the 10 of March worked one half day, then went to Charles Morris's baby's
funeral. Was called on to speak. There was a full house. The
bishop spoke very nice and after meeting I went after coal, done chores.
The coal came to 4 dollars. It was late when I came back.
Fri. Mar. 11 - Unloaded the coal, then went to Salt Lake to Jones's lime
kiln. Got a load of lime for one dollar. It was this fine stuff but
good for concrete. On the 12th I worked one half day, came home had
dinner, went back to work but I was too sick so I came home. Went to
bed. After I had a rest got up and done chores. A little
better. The wind was blowing like fury sending things before it.
Mar. 13 - Snowing and drifting like everything. Done chores then wrote a
letter to Rachel Jones, Malad, Idaho, and wrote in journal. There was no
meeting in the ward. It was conference in Salt Lake.
Mar. 14 - Sent a letter to Sister Olson, Beaver City. It's wet &
cold.
Mar. 15 - Fixing up the fence and helped to haul 3 loads manure.
Mar. 16 - I was choring. Wife went to Freda's to take care of the baby
whilst they go to Salt Lake and myself been working away, writing in journal to
catch up, as I have been rewriting my scraps of other books and put it on this
one so as to have it more complete and if it will ever do any body any good I
shall be well paid for my trouble so may God bless my feeble efforts.
Mar. 17, 1898 - Me and Joseph hauled 4 loads of manure. It was snowing a
little and on Mar. 18 it was 8 or 9 inches deep.
Sat. Mar. 19 - Was not very well. Wrote a letter to Thomas Davis
Waunllyd, South Wales. We had not heard from them for a long time.
Sun. Mar. 20 - Will be the time that Brother Elias Moriss's funeral. His
funeral will take place today. He received injuries on Monday night,
March 14th. Terminated fatally. He was at a meeting in the interest
of the ... when the curse of death was by falling down a elevator at the Co-op
Furniture Store. He was (a) Welshman and a good Latter-Day Saint and one
that have done very much good. Went to meeting. Bishop Bennion
presiding. Opened by prayer by Elder Lindsay. Singing. Was
called to help to administer the sacrament with Elder John Bringhurst.
The bishop gave the meeting for the missionaries. There was Brothers
Young and Peity. They spoke well on the reasons we (are) here and for
what purpose the Lord sent us down here and so on. Then, after meeting,
came to Joseph's. Had dinner and a chat, then came home, done chores,
then looked over my record of those that we have done work for.
Mon. Mar. 21 - After done chores I commenced a letter to Mr. William Freeman,
Manod Festiniog, Merionethshire, North Wales. He and family took us in
and lodged us.
Tue. Mar. 22 - Took the letter to post. Got one from Parley. He was
well. He has been laboring in the city of Des Moines, Iowa. Has
baptized a few there.
Wed. Mar. 23 - Went after water and other chores. It is wet and sloppy.
John W. Mantle fetched one load of hay.
Mar. 24 - Was helping wife do her washing and cleaning stables.
Fri. Mar. 25 - Went after water and pig feed. Had dinner, then went and
helped Joseph put cement in the foundation of Ezra's house. It was very
windy and the ground very wet.
Sat. 26 - Done chores in a snow storm and after breakfast I started to clean
the shed out. It was 14 or 15 inches of manure as it had been frozen, but
thawing now. Wet and very soft.
Sun. Mar. 27 - Very muddy. Went to meeting in the cart. When we got
to Joseph's all the children was ready to go to meeting so we all got in the
cart and off to go. We was six of us got to meeting and we had a good
time. Brother & Sister Richards was here and gave us some very good
instructions. Came to Joe's, had dinner with them. Wife went to see
Sister Deverall. I went home, done chores, then went to the young
folks. We had Elder Grant out. He gave some of his experience
whilst out of the church. He spoke more to the young and wanted them to
reform as there was a great work for them to do as the old folks was passing
away and so forth. Bishop Bennion presided.
Mon. Mar. 28 - Snowing in the morning. After it quit, went out to work on
the foundation of Ezra's house and in the afternoon there was Charles Morris,
Thomas Fields and myself. Joseph went after slag. After he came
back he pitched in and we laid all the concrete in.
Mar. 27 - Choring around. Helped to unload a load of lumber which Joe
fetched from Cahoons and at night wrote in journal.
Mar. 30 - Choring and on the 31st I was searching out potatoes and filled three
sacks of oats to take to town and doing other chores.
Apr. 1, 1898 - All well, thank God. Got up early for us old folks.
Started to Salt Lake with oats to pay the Deseret News. I paid it up
until January 27, 1899, and potatoes to sell to get a few small things that
wife wanted. Went up to see Martha Williams, Then went to D. L.
Davis. We sold our produce there and done our trading with him and left
our team in his yard, back.
Apr. 2 - Helped Joseph unload a load of sills for doors and windows. Then
had dinner and hauled 3 loads of manure and helped John W. Mantle load 2 of
hay, last crop.
Apr. 3 - Snowing. Done chores in lots of snow and mud. Got
ready. About half past one went to Brother Andrew Olson's funeral to West
Jordan Ward house as he died when he was coming up from Beaver to go to Brigham
City as they had bought land to build on. (He) was going to live there
but he died in the train at Juab Station and was brought to John Olson's and
was laid away respectable. Quite a few spoke, Bishop Bennion and an elder
that was on a mission when he was and spoke well of Brother Olson as a worker
in the mission field. President Taylor (said) a few words, Bishop Egbert
and others. Was a pretty good turn out. Peace to his ashes, rest,
Brother, rest.
Apr. 4 - Cleaned out the shed and went to Joseph's, then to the blacksmith
shop. Saw Brother Cundick. We had a good talk about the gospel and
some parts of Wales and her people. Fine day.
Apr. 5 - Cleaning out the stack yard and lent to John W. Mantle 8 bushels of
oats at one peck on the bushel until fall and John paid for two loads of hay, 8
dollars, one load owing yet.
Apr. 6 - Got up early, had breakfast and prayers, then off to Salt Lake to
conference. Got there in good time. The elder spoke on the
necessity of the Saints doing their duty in paying tithing and offerings and
being honest with the Lord and with each other. And to love God
more fully than we have in the past, and also to love each other so that the
Spirit of God may be with us in our dealings. Those principles was the
main thing dwelt upon. Was a very good feeling all through the day.
Got home all right.
Apr. 7 - Stayed home. Joseph and part (of the) family went to conference
and wife took care of the children and I was doing chores.
Fri. Apr. 8 - Went to conference. The elders spoke well. Put our
team in tithing yard. It was 15 cents a team for room to stand. It
was a good conference. We was well paid for going. Saw some of old
acquaintances. Home in good time.
Sat. Apr. 9 - Took wife and Freda and two children over to Murray to go with
the car to Salt Lake to a woman's meeting and in the afternoon went over after
them and brought Sisters Emma Olson and Mary Leamond with us home to Joseph's
place. It was very warm day for the season.
Sun. Apr. 10 - Home. Wrote up my journal and had a rest a little, then
went to visit the sick with wife and wrote a letter to Parley Williams, now
laboring as a missionary in Des Moines, Iowa, and read the news and other
chores. A fine day.
Mon. Apr. 11, 1898 - I have been hauling manure and water for Ezra's building
and took Joseph over to the cars on Tue. 14. He was going to sheep camp
and I am busy at other things. Choring around until Sunday the
17th. Wrote up in my journal and had a rest, then got ready to go to
meeting and so on. Two good missionaries, they was speaking on celestial
marriage. Come home. Done chores, then wife and me went up to South
Taylorsville to hear a lecture by Elder Tanner. He is 83 years of
age. He was giving some of his early experiences in the church.
He's the oldest baptized member in the church now living.
Mon. Apr. 18 - Cutting potatoes all day. Sacked the good ones.
Tue. Apr. 19 - Got up early. Took potatoes to Lindsay's store. Got
40 cents a bushel, 5 dollars and 40 cents. Went after water for the house
use, then went for ..., had dinner, then went after lime to Jones's kiln.
Brought 30 bushels. It was very warm. Called at Warm Springs.
Got one glass of beer. Got back just at dark, tired out.
Apr. 20 - Hauling water. Unloaded one load of lime, then had
dinner. Went after a load of sand. Unloaded it and then filled the
barrels with water, and other chores.
Apr. 21 - We had a very nice storm. Done chores, cleaned the stable
out. Came in, wrote a letter (to) Phebe Jones to Malad City and posted
it. Had Cap shod on the two fore feet and other chores.
Fri. Apr. 22 - Got up early. Done chores, then went to Brother Frame's
for some door frames. Came back, had breakfast. Then went to help J.
Mantle load of hay and William Painter one load of hay. Then went over to
Murray to the depot for Ezra's luggage and fetched a barrel of water back, had
dinner and a little rest, then went and drove the cows out of the lucern.
Then went to Joseph's place after the plow and harrow. Then went to
Brother Frame's and got his rack and brought all the frames, door and
window. Came home, done chores and am pretty tired. Wrote up
journal.
Sat. Apr. 23 - Went after water for the masons and unloaded the frames and took
the rack back that I borrowed of Brother Frame. Helped Ezra load some
rocks that he had to take back to Salt Lake to change, as they wasn't the right
kind, then had dinner and a little rest, after which I went up to the house and
unloaded the water to get the wagon to haul some hay up to Frieda's as they was
right (out). Came back, done chores and Casey Butterfield had one load of
hay, 4 dollars.
Sun. Apr. 24 - Done chores, had prayers, breakfast. Then I wrote in my
journal awhile, then prepared for meeting. We had a good meeting.
The speaker was Elder Perce. He spoke on the prophecies of our Savior
Jesus Christ and the signs of the times. After meeting, John W. Mantle
paid 8 dollars for two load of hay.
Called at Freda's. She got us dinner and after we had a chat I went and
done chores and wife went to pay Sister Panter a visit and Mrs. Deveral.
I went up after her and so on.
Apr. 25 - Cutting potatoes and choring around. J. W. Mantle one load of
hay.
Tue. Apr. 26 - Spreading manure. Went after water and loaded a load of
hay for Brother Painter and other chores.
Wed. Apr. 27 - Planted potatoes and hauling water and choring.
Thurs. Apr. 28 - Went after water then harrowed the potatoes.
Fri. Apr. 29 - Cutting potatoes and got through with them. Ezra took the
Dick colt after water. He done well.
Sat. Apr. 20 - Went to the high priest meeting. There (were) 6 high
priests ordained and Elder Donbar was set apart as first counselor and N. V.
Jones as second counselor to Brother Wallace. The elders was warned
against speaking against the Lord's anointed. We had a good meeting.
May 1, 1898 - A stormy day. Home all day reading and enjoying ourselves
the best we could.
Mon. May 2 - Took Ezra T. Williams to Murray to the street car as he was going
up to Brigham City in the behalf of Sister Emma Olson as her father-in-law
wanted to get her husbands property. E. T. is to defend her.
May 3 - Choring around. It was a wet, stormy day. Went after the
mail and read it the main of day. The American fleet have been in an
engagement with a Spanish fleet and sunk and burned or disabled them all and
brought all the American ships out safely but knocked about pretty badly.
The American was between the fire of the Spanish fleet and the batterys or
forts on the Philippines at a city called Manila but beat the Spanish.
May 4 - Wrote in journal and wrote a letter to Parley as we received one from
him yesterday. He was well. It was storming but very warm on
spells. Crops look well.
May 5 - Hauled a jag of hay to Joseph's place and hauled water for the building
and other chores. Very muddy.
May 6 - Started to plant potatoes but land too wet. Then plowed ditches
and fetched water with Dick colt.
Sat. May 7 - Cleaning out the sheds and fixing chicken fence.
Sun. May 8 - Done chores, had breakfast with toasted cheese and coffee, then
wrote in my journal awhile, then read a little, then went to
meeting. Quite a few elders bore testimony to the truth of the
Latter-Day work. We had a good meeting. Called at Joseph's
place. Had dinner. Went home. Done chores. Spent a little
time reading, then bed.
Mon. May 9 - From now until May the 15th I was doing general farm work such as
ditching, watering and puttering around at one thing and another but I am very
thankful that me and wife are so well and able to work as well as we do in our
old age. And now as I have wrote in my journal and had a little rest we
will prepare to go to meeting. All been well. Received for hay of
E. Butterfield 4 dollars and sold another load for 4 dollars.
Mon. May 16 - Watering and choring around until May 17, then went to Murray
after finishing lumber and Joseph came on the train to Murray sick. Came
home with me. He was very lame with the rheumatism. He could hardly
walk to the wagon but we got home safe and I took the lumber to Ezra's
house. Late getting home.
May 18 - As I could not get the right kind of lumber Brother Frame came over to
Murray with me to try to get it but could not get it. Came back.
Went after water and took up a jag of hay for Freda's cows.
Sat. 19 - Went over to Murray and got the lumber that we could not get
before. Brought it to the house, unloaded it and brought the barrels down
that we used to haul water for the building and a little lumber to fix the
bridge with.
Sun. May 20 - Got up well and hearty, thanks be to our kind Heavenly Father for
His great goodness to us. We are willing to acknowledge His great
goodness to us to after generations that may happen to read this journal.
Wrote up my journal and prepared to go to meeting. My dear wife, Harriet
D. Williams is willing to acknowledge the same and that this great Latter-Day
Work that she has obeyed and that was introduced by our beloved prophet Joseph
Smith and would advise all to cling to the old ship Zion. She will carry
you safely through all storms that will come by Satan. It's beautiful to
dwell upon. Got ready to go to meeting. A Lovely day. Was
called to administer the sacrament with Elder Palmer. We had some very
good instructions. Went to Joe's. Had dinner. Came home.
Dome chores. Went back. Had a good chat with wife and we walked
home. Went to bed tired.
Mon. May 21 - Done chores. Then went and fixed the fence between William
H. Haight and us. Put one wire on his fence and put lots of staples in
the old fence. Brother Howell helped to string the wire and John W.
Mantle helped to spike it on. It came on to rain hard. It kept on
most all day and after it quit. I done chore in the rain.
Tue. May 24 - It was storming all day. It rained 30 hours of and
on. It made the crops look well, especially the wheat.
May 25 - Lent John W. Mantle 4 sacks of wheat. Done chores and took Ezra
to the cars for sheep camp.
May 26 - Wrote a letter to Parley at Bancroft, Kossietho Co. Iowa, and let Thomas
Field half bushel wheat. J. W. Mantle took mare and colts to
pasture. Went after finishing lumber to Cahoons at Murray.
Fri. May 27 - Choring around. On May 28 went to town and took a watch to
be fixed. Went to high priest meeting. Got my high priest
certificate. Took it to R. S. Savage to be framed.
Sun. May 27 - Got up well and hearty, thank Father for it. Done chores.
Read a little, then got ready. Went to meeting. Came home, done
chores, had dinner, then went to visit Brother and Sister Howell. Brother
and Sister T. Cook was there. We spent a few hours very comfortably
talking about the gospel and our experiences. Came home refreshed.
Mon. May 30 - Took Dick after water. He worked well. Then had
dinner, after which I worked in the garden.
May 31 - Went after water and helped Joseph to plow out some ditches. My
back (has) been very weak.
June 1, 1898 - Cleaning out ditch south of graveyard. Charles Morris had
one dollar's worth of hay.
June 2 - Worked in ditch forenoon. It came a storm in the afternoon and
my back being not very well, started home.
Fri. June 3 - Stormy most of the day. My back still weak.
June 4 - Went to Salt Lake. Wife went to the ladies relief
conference. She says that they had a good time. Got my watch
cleaned.
Sun. June 5 - Went to meeting. Hilda Williams had her child
blessed. She had it called Pearl. There was a large turn out and
Elder Robertson just returned from a mission to England. He spoke very
well and gave us to understand a little about the unbelief of the people as
regards Mormonism, so called. A few bore testimony of the Latter-Day Work.
Had a good time. It was fast day. We called at Joseph's. Had
dinner and a social chat, then went home, done chores, which closed the first
Sunday in June. Thankful we are well in health.
June 6 - Went after sand with Dick colt and Queen mare. The colt done
well. He did not attempt to balk. Worked well.
June 7 - Choring around until noon. Took wife to the relief
meeting. Called at store. Got mail. Came home and read the
news about the war with Spain. No good news.
June 8 - Went after sand with Dick and Queen. Other chores.
June 9 - Hauling sand and water for the plasterers.
June 10 - Went after coal and hauled water. Joseph commenced to cut
lucern on fort.
Sat. June 11 - Got up early. Done chores, prayers and breakfast in good
time. Went to conference at Salt Lake. Was there in good
time. Conference commenced by the choir and congregation singing
"Redeemer of Israel" 212 page, prayer by President Wallis.
Elder W. Taylor was first speaker. He dwelt on the sin of Sabbath
breaking and working on Sunday, that no Latter-Day Saint ought not to do those
things. If they did they would apostatize. An Elder Penrose
showed the great blessing the Saints may get by keeping the commandments of God
and keeping the Sabbath holy and paying a faithful tithing. There was two
returned missionaries from New Zealand. They spoke well and after one of
them spoke, Brother Cannon wanted to hear Brother Lambert speak in the Maori
language and the other acted as interpreter for him. The language seemed
very funny but a good spirit with it and altogether we had a good
meeting. Put the team at John R. Williams. Had tea with Martha,
after which we started home. Was caught in a storm.
Sun. June 12 - We was home. Wrote in journal awhile. We thought if
we carried out what we got yesterday we should be doing pretty well, and was
tired, too.
Mon. June 13 - From day to day until June 26 I was cutting lucern, raking,
hauling, watering and went after a load of coal and doing general farm work.
Received a letter from Parley Williams on a mission in the states. He was
well at the time but the people did not want the gospel. Preparing to go
to meeting. It's a nice, fine day. I am watering the trees
today. He had good meeting. I helped to administer the sacrament.
June 27 - Working with the lucern and cultivation and plowing potatoes until
June 30. John Rupp borrowed 6 bushels of wheat on interest.
June 30 - Very windy day.
July, Fri. 1, 1898 - We have been very busily engaged in working on the lucern
and choring around, watering, cultivating potatoes and attending to our church
duties until July 11, when I wrote up my journal and wrote a letter to Parley
Williams, who is on mission in the states. I helped Joseph to put the
wagon box on and fix up a little. Was very thankful that it is all well
with us and that the Lord is so good to us and that he does give His spirit to
us to give us to see the signs of the times, when wars and destructions as
there is today when the wicked will slay the wicked and when hundreds of our
Utah boys on the field of battle defending their country and the oppressed of
Cuba and the Philippines and to bring about liberty and freedom. May
Heaven bless and protect them in battle.
Tue. July 12 - I was cleaning ditches, hauling water, shocking grain. J.
W. Mantle commenced to cut Friday July 15. I was weeding potatoes and
choring around until July 17. Got up well and hearty, thank the Lord for
His mercy to us. Done chores, then wrote a letter to Charles Rosser to
Raglon, Monmouthshire, Wales, and wrote in journal. Had a rest and then
to meeting. Came back home. Wife (did) not go to meeting.
July 12-24 - Was doing general farm (work). We cut grain on July 15 and
16, by J. Mantle, and hauled it July 21 & 22. We went to
meeting. Gave in our little offering for the victims of the many that was
blown up in Spanish ports in times of peace.
Mon. July 25 - From today until August 3 was cutting lucern, hauling, raking,
watering and other chores about the farm. Had a visit from Martin
Anderson and wife. He was traveling north to try and make a home.
John Howell was helping to get up some of our hay. It's very hot
weather. I am not very well to day with a swelled face but am very
thankful that I am as well as I am. Ezra's very good to me. He
don't want me to work so hard but when the work is staring one in the face he
can't hardly help it if he can get around. Now we have got up the hay on
this side the graveyard all in good shape. Left some for seed on fort.
Aug. 4 - Not very well. Swelled face and not able to do any work and as
it has been stormy there has not been any hay gotten up and so I have been
nursing myself a few days and it is Sunday, August 7. Not went to meeting
to hear the work of God but I hope Father take(s) the will for the deed, but I
thank my Heavenly Father that I am as well as I am today and am able to be
around.
Mon. Aug. 8 - Sold a cow to the butcher. Received two dollars to hold the
bargain and took her over to Murray to the stock yard. Mr. Rowland
received her but could not pay the 27 dollars then, but promised it later on.
Wed. Aug. 9 - Hauling hay up at Joseph's and cutting, raking and finished it on
Saturday, the 13th. Went over to Murray to try to get the pay for the
cow. Could not see Mr. Rowland. Came home, done chores, had a rest.
Sun. Aug. 14 - Got up, done chores, had prayers to thank Father for His
goodness to us through the past time, then read a little. Had a bath, got
ready, went to meeting. I was called on to speak awhile. I bore my
testimony to the truth of this Latter-Day Work. I felt well and am
thankful that I can speak well of the Lord and His goodness, that He do (does)
give me to see the signs of the times.
Mon. Aug. 15 - Wrote a letter to Parley at Laverne Kossuth Co., Iowa and one to
Mr. Charles Rosser, Chepstow Road, Raglon, Monmouthshire, England.
Tue. Aug. 16 - Went over to try to get the pay for the cow but could not see
Mr. Rowland. Did not get it. The amount was 27 dollars. Came
back, done chores.
Aug. 17, 18 - Watering lucern.
Fri. Aug. 19 - Wrote a letter to Joseph Williams at Salina, Sevier Co., Utah
and wrote in journal. William Parks was here canvasing a book or the
account of the Cuban War with Spain and the American victory over Spain and so
on. Then went over to Murray to see Mr. Rowland, who was to pay me for
the cow. I stopped until I saw him. He paid the 27 dollars like a
man without any bother. Came home. Lit the lamp and done
chores. It was late, 9 o'clock.
Sat. Aug. 20 - Went to Salt Lake. Took 7 dozen eggs, 20 cents per dozen
and paid 2 dollars in cash as butter tithing and wife put 20 dollars in the
bank. Came home in good time, very thankful to our kind Heavenly Father
for His overruling providence in our behalf. We do acknowledge his
goodness to us.
Sun. Aug. 21 - Done chores. Had prayers, breakfast, wrote in journal, had
a little rest, then got ready to go to meeting. Two good
missionaries. One spoke on the overruling providence of God in the late
war with Spain and showed that it will open up the way for the gospel of Christ
to be preached to those prest(?) bound people on the isles of the sea and so
on. He done well on the subject. Wife called on Brother and Sister
Howell. I came home, done chores, then went to fetch wife home. Had
a nice little chat with Bro. & Sister. Came home well paid.
Aug. 22 - After doing chores and prayers, breakfast, then we commenced to clean
out the wheat out of the bin. We had 28 bushels. I took it to
Taylorsville mill. Had 14 bushels for a grist and left 14 there to be had
some other time. I had a bill to show for it.
Tue. Aug. 23 - Commenced to pull down the old bin and was working all the week
hauling it up to the other side of canal and fixing it up again only not so
large, until Fri the 26th and on Aug. 27th I went to priesthood meeting.
Elder Talmage gave some of his experiences in the old country and among the
elders. Said that for elders to debate with men after meeting was not
good.
Called at the express office and got two boxes of freight sent by Sister Olson
of Brigham City for Ezra T. Williams. I paid 35 cents and bought 125 feet
of wire to brace the bin. It was a very warm day. We was home in
good time. We found Joseph's two cows in the lucern. They was not
bloated.
Sun. Aug. 28 - Wrote in journal. Went to fix the fence where Joseph's
cows got out. Got ready for meeting. We had a good meeting. I
bore my testimony and felt well. Paid 50 cents fast offering. Came
home well paid for going to meeting.
Aug. 29 - Working on the bin all the week and watering and doing other chores
and on Friday the 2nd of September we finished shingling the bin. Ezra
bought a sulkey plow. On Sept. 3 took Ezra and Freda and family over to
Murray to catch the 6 o'clock car for Salt Lake. Ezra going north up to
Idaho to see the country and Freda going to visit Sister Olson. Came
back. Done chores and so on.
Sun. Sept. 4 - Went to meeting. Had a good time and so on.
Sept. 5, 6, 7 - Choring around. Wrote letters, one to Parley Williams,
Algoung, Kossuth Co. Iowa and one to Joseph Williams, Salina Servier Co., one
to Malad to Eliha Jones, Idaho, and took them to the post office. Lent
the big wagon to Brother Howell to haul material for his house as he was going
to build.
Sept. 8 - Choring around. It was a fine day. President Woodruff's
funeral took place today. He died in San Francisco the 2nd of
September. There (were) thousands at the funeral. It was a grand
sight to see (him) sleep in peace.
Sept. 9 - Went to the post office. Got the mail. Came back and got
12 bushels of wheat of William Mackay, which I lent to him in the spring.
Went to Jots Mackey's s. Beki's(?) funeral. Went to the house and
followed it (procession) to the ward house. Was asked to speak.
Felt well. Went over to Cottonwood and dedicated the grave and thanked
the people for their kindness in attending the funeral. Came home, done
chores.
Sat. Sept. 10 - Went after water for ourselves and Hilda and had one shoe put
on Bill horse and got 55 cents of Freda to pay the store for nails that Joseph
had.
Sun. Sept. 11 - Wrote in journal and done chores. Went to visit Elder Charles
Howell and wife. Had a very pleasant time talking over old times and the
principles of the gospel. We parted with God bless you till we meet
again.
Until Sept. 18 I was helping my neighbors thrash. I helped Charles
Morris, T. Cook and Elder Panter and they helped me. We had one hundred
and 72 bushels of grain and J. Mantle and Ted Mackey, Thomas Fields, Thomas
Cook Jr. and Thomas Cook Sr. helped us. Ted Mackey and T. Fields worked
for pay, the others we will or have work back. We had David Barker and
Jobe Harker's outfit. They done very good work. I am well satisfied
with it.
As Ezra had been up to Idaho, he came back on the 16th of September, says it's
a nice country. He saw Parley Davis, his cousin. Was treated well
by him.
Started to cut lucern but broke the pitman rod, had to quit. Took it to
the blacksmith shop. He could not fix it so what I have cut is not hauled
yet. It's dry.
And so this Sabbath morning I thought I would write up my journal so that I
could have some of my labors to be looked at after I am called home and
finished my work below. And my dear little wife does all she can to get
along in this old world of trouble and is glad threshing is over for this year.
Had a letter from Parley. He is well and doing all he can to fill his
mission. He says the people don't want the Mormon Elders, that they look
with disdain on them in that part of the country where he is laboring now in
the state of Iowa, Algong, Kossuth Co. But it's their own loss. He
know's the gospel is true, let them say what they may.
Well, we'll prepare to go to meeting. Now we had a good meeting.
Two good speakers. They dwelled on the necessity of the Saints doing
their duty and praying to Father for help to do our duty and so on.
We called at Ezra's. Had dinner. Came down and done chores.
Went back. Spent the evening.
Mon. Sept. 18 - Cutting lucern and hauling. Ezra and Brother Price
done the hauling and I was cutting after the machine was fixed. Went to
Cahoon's for a load of lumber for sheds and on Fri. and Sat. was cutting lucern
on the fort and at Joseph's place. When coming home broke the pitman rod.
Took it to blacksmith shop too late to fix. Had dinner and supped at
Freda's. Rode home with E. T. He had been to Salt Lake to see about
a mistake about some cash and a letter to Parley. Made it right.
Sun. 25 - Wrote up my journal. Felt well and thank our kind Heavenly
Father for His kind care over me the past week and for my health and strength
to enable to do my daily labor and also my wife. Now we will prepare to
go to meeting to be refreshed by the word of God.
Had a good meeting. Came to Elder Charles Howell. Had a good chat
and dinner, then Bro. Howell and his wife and self and wife went to look at
their new house, then came home, done chores and so on.
Mon. Sept. 26 - Done chores, then went and cut lucern. Ezra and Brother
Price was hauling hay.
Tue. Sept. 27 - E. T. and Bro. Price was hauling hay and I was hauling posts
and some lumber and Elder Price was raking hay. In the evening digging
post holes and putting posts in their place.
Sept. 29 - John W. Mantle and B. P. and E. T. and self was hauling hay the
forenoon and I got the pitman rod fixed. Brother Price was working the coal
shed and at night I raked the lucern. It came on to storm.
Sept. 30 - Pulled down the wagon shed and got the logs and took them up and
commenced to put up a new shed on the top of the fort. We put in all the
posts and fixed some scantling locks. Looked like a storm.
Sat. Oct. 1, 1898 - Hauling hay forenoon, cutting afternoon and Ezra and
Brother Price was working Ezra's coal bin.
Oct. 2 - I finished cutting lucern. E. T. and P. working shingling.
Oct. 3 - It was storming Sat. Oct. 1. Sunday went to meeting, came home,
all well.
Oct. 2-7 - Working some on the hay and helped Brother Howell thrash and went to
Albert Spencer's funeral. It was the largest I ever saw. He was a
good young man, as good as man could be. He was beloved by all who knew
him. As I have made a
little mistake I will try again. E. T. and Joe's gone to conference and
wife, Grandma,is minding children.
Sat. Oct. 8 - Sent a letter to Parley, Algona, Iowa, Kassuth.
Sun. Oct. 9 - Home all day. The folks went to conference.
Oct. 10 - Went after water and going the team got scared and ran away. My
wife was in the buggy and was scared too, but I am thankful we was not
hurt. I came back with the water. Went over to Joe's place.
Got the mower and cut the seed lucern and commenced to pile up the
lucern. Team was wanted to take the conference folks out awhile.
Oct. 11 - Ezra came down to talk over things and Grandma talked too much.
It made things worse and everybody felt bad but herself. She thought she
was doing it fine. But E. T. took it well considering but I was grieved
to see as good a man as Ezra abused in such a manner, but we must make the best
of it by the help of our Father.
Oct. 12 - Got up early to send some conference folks away. Ezra was going
to camp and Andersons to temple. Ezra gave me twenty dollars for me to
change and for me to give Hilda 15 dollars and 5 for myself to keep. I
went to the store and changed twenty dollars and on the 13th went up and gave
Hilda 15 dollars. Went after for her then went to Joseph's place.
Got the mower and cut the seed lucern and commenced to plow on the fort until
dark.
Fri. Oct. 14 - Was plowing most all day and Joe was working on the shed until 4
o'clock. Then came and plowed and I went to help wife clean up part of
Ezra's house to live in this winter as our house was gone too bad for the
winter.
Sat. 15 - Saw a letter from Parley Williams, who is laboring as a missionary at
a place called Fairfield, Jefferson Co., Iowa. He was well at that
time. He will stay until spring.
Sun. Oct. 16 - Went to meeting. Three missionaries, one of them spoke on
the origin of man the beauty of the creation and the destiny of man. He
spoke well. The other two bore their testimonies to the gospel. we
enjoyed the meeting very well and was refreshed.
Mon. Oct. 17 - Commenced to get up the potatoes at Joseph's place. We got
them all up and harrowed and plowed. Plowed the land and came home and
done chores.
Oct. 18 - Started on Ezra's potatoes. Joseph went to Salt Lake with
Brother Smith who had been laboring with Parley Williams in the state of
Iowa. He was well. Joe helped until noon and Grandma and I picked
them up and put then in a pit and secured then from frost.
Oct. 19 - Finished Ezra's potatoes and plowed the land.
Oct. 20 - Commenced to get up ours and finished on the 21st. We all had a
poor crop but are thankful for what we got.
Oct. 22 - We moved up to Ezra's new house in the two front rooms. It's
two nice rooms. It's quite a chore to move.
Sun. Oct. 23 - Went to meeting alone. Wife not very well.
Mon. Oct. 24 - Got ready to go to Salt Lake with 7 sacks of wheat and 7 sacks
of potatoes for tithing. We was late going home.
Oct. 25 - Went after water in the forenoon and plowing on the fort in the
afternoon. The plowing went well.
Oct. 26 - Helped Joseph load some lumber to go to his place for sheeting on his
wagon shed and put up two panels of fence to keep the stock out of the
stacks. Then went to plow on (the) fort and finished it and in the
afternoon commenced to break up lucern land below the house.
Oct. 27 - Went after water in the foremoon and plowing in afternoon.
Oct. 29, 30 - Plowing and 30 was at meeting. Two good missionaries spoke
very well on the gospel plan.
Oct. 31 - Plowing all day and done pretty good work with sulkey plow.
Tue. Nov. 1 - Plowing forenoon. Joseph went to Salt Lake in the afternoon
after piping for a drive well on E. T.'s place.
Nov. 2 - Working around the place fixing the shed and put up a line for Hilda
to hang her clothes and packed some of the posts from the old place and done
other chores.
Nov. 3-5 - Was plowing and Joe was shingling shed.
Nov. 6 - Done chores and wrote Parley's address for Ezra and wrote up my
journal as I got behind in my accounting. Went to meeting. Had a
good time.
Mon. Nov. 7 - Was a plowing the lucern patch and continued to work away until I
got through Sat. the 12th and between this time I was had to haul water and do
other chores and Joseph was working on the shed and looking after the men that
was driving a well for Ezra. They got good water at the depth of 25 feet
and Monday, the 14th, came and pumped the sand out until the water was clear
and the sand out.
Nov. 15 - We thrashed our lucern seed. We (had) three b. and a half.
Nov. 16 - I got through all our plowing. We plowed all the land we had to
plow and David Barker and Jote Harker took the well driver away and Joseph paid
them for the well. He had to dig away the dirt around the drive pipe so
we could put the hand pump on. He had to dig about a yard deep and two
across the center those ends. I was work on the shed today, too.
Nov. 16-20 - I was working on the shed and fixing the well. Joseph and J.
hauled a load of brick from the old place and walled up the well as we had to
dig about three feet deep to put the pump in. We have good water in the
well, which we're very thankful for and are glad it's done and the stable and
stack yard are secure and our fall plowing all done. Last night the
blowing of the wind brought on a storm of snow today. It was a big wind.
The horses got out of the field last night. Joseph brought them back this
morning. This has been a busy year, as when Ezra's house was being built
we had to haul water for the masons and plasterers and so forth. I was
talking to Joe yesterday. He told me that there had been over two
thousand dollars laid out this year for improvements, and after all is said and
done, I think the Lord has blessed us wonderfully and I feel in my heart to
thank and praise His holy name for his great goodness to us all. It's
still snowing.
Nov. 21, 1898 - Went to the mill after bran and shorts and took a barrel down
to the old place to scald a hog, and cleaning the hog pen out and packing straw
to bed them with and also the sheds. It was a cold day.
Mon. Nov. 22 - Was making a place to scald the pig and to hang him up and went
to the store after salt. It was very cold to go down to the old place to
feed the stock but it has to be done and am thankful that I am able to do it.
Nov. 23 - Got up early. Done chores. Went down to the house.
Made a fire and fixed the barrel and got the water hot and got Charles Morris
to help Joseph kill the pig and Jot Mackey came to help, too. Was through
in good time. They judged the pig at about two hundred and fifty
pounds. Charles Morris came and helped Joseph in the house with it with a
little of my help.
Thurs. Nov. 24 - We cut the pig in half and Hilda had one half and we the other
half. I took Hilda up the small meat and she felt glad to get it and so
on.
Made a fire. Got the water hot and the salt dissolved. Put the meat
in barrel and pickled it down and covered it up well so it would not freeze,
and other chores.
Sat. Nov. 26 - Got up early and got ready to go Salt Lake to the high priest
meeting. It was very cold and rough to travel but I got there in
time. Was a fair attendance but not from North Jordan ward. There
was only two from there but it was a good meeting. A good deal said about
the wayward young folks and about sending missionaries to the different wards
to hunt them up and a little said about the elders going without purse or
script but those that was speaking was old men and filled a mission when there
was lots of Saints back in those countries. Lots has they said about the
power of God being with those elders that follow those that has faith to go
without purse or script was true and I knew it alright, only do it. Wife
was at Bro. Painters. His wife has got a fine son.
Sun. Nov. 27 - Done chores. Wrote in my journal. I prepared to go
to meeting, hitched up old Kate to the cart. Went to meeting. Two
good speakers. Went to Brother and Sister T. Cook's to spend the
evening. Had dinner, then I came home, done chores and wife stayed (at)
Cook's. I went back and went to the Mutual Improvement Association.
There was two of the apostles, Elder's Lyman and Coley and the president of the
Mutual Improvement and other brethren. They was out in the interest of
the Era and to encourage the young men of Taylorsville Ward. We had a
good time. Quite a lot present. Got home quite late.
Mon. Nov. 28 - Put a pig in as James Thackston brought for the use of the hog
and helped Joseph kill a hog and other chores.
Nov. 29 - Finished the pig pen and got another hog from James Thackeston for
one dollar and 75 cents. We had quite a storm. Joseph went after
some coal. I got the mare and cart ready to go after the children.
It was storming.
Nov. 30 - Wet and cold and very muddy. I cleaned out the stable and pig
pen and choring around, as it's too wet to work.
Thurs. Dec. 1, 1898 - Joseph bought a car of coal and we was hauling it
home. I hauled 3 loads to Ezra's place and Joe had two and Joseph let
Charles Howell get two loads, Brother Painter one, William Mackey one, William Deverall
one, Charles Morris one load each. He hardly kept enough for our selves
to last over winter but he will learn a lesson by it. It is all right to
love our neighbors as ourselves but not better than ourselves.
Dec. 2, 3 - Not very well but was puttering around at one thing and then
another and Joseph was making gates for the corral. I was helping a
little bit.
Sun. Dec. 4 - I was home all day. I did not feel very well but it was a
long day as I love to go to fast meetings to speak good of the name of the
Lord, for He is good to us in many many ways, Praised be His Holy Name.
Mon. Dec. 5 - Not well, don't feel any ambition to do anything, but wrote up my
journal and choring around. Wife gone to see Sister Painter and baby boy
and to see if she could do any good.
Tue. Dec. 6 - We hauled 5 load of brick from today up to Dec. 10 and done other
chores and administering to the sick. Joseph's children was very sick but
a little (better) now.
Sun. Dec. 11 - Not feeling very (well), I did not go to conference at Salt
Lake. Was home all day reading, doing chores.
Mon. Dec. 12 - Hauling brick on the 13, 14th. On the 15 I took the big
team and Joseph the small team and brought two loads. We had 2 thousand
and 50 bricks, which makes 10 loads altogether, hard and soft.
Dec. 15 - Hilda's baby and Victor being sick, I administered to them.
Dec. 6 - We hauled two load of bricks. A cold day.
Sat. Dec. 17 - Hauled two load of brick and unloaded them and got some potatoes
out of the pit for Hilda and Grandma. We will want two more loads of
brick. Then we will get some gravel from somewhere. I administered
to Hilda's baby. She is very sick and Grandma was up all last night doing
all the good she could. Annie Painter will stay with them tonight.
Sun. Dec. 18, 1898 - Done chores. Went to meeting. There was two
missionaries in the interest of the Mutual Improvement Association. They
all spoke and bore their testimonies of the work. There was quite a large
crowd of young men and girls present. There was quite a lot spoken by the
bishop about the rough boys stealing lap robes and turning horses loose on the
street and spoke pretty plain.
After meeting we called at Joseph's. Had supper. The children was
much better. Came home. Done chores. Grandma stayed up with
Hilda as the children was very sick and restless, so she sat up all night.
Mon. Dec. 19 - Done chores. Had prayers and breakfast. Then went
and hauled 3 loads of manure and covered the potatoes. After dinner went
and helped Joseph kill a pig. Came home. Done chores, then wrote in
my journal awhile.
Dec. 20 - Hauled 3 loads of manure and covered the potato pits and done other
chores. It was very cold.
Dec. 21 - We had a little storm and a small thaw and I took the advantage of it
and cleaned the stable and shed out and packed straw to bed the stock and
stopped the holes on the top of the shed and made the animals as comfortable as
I could.
Dec. 22 - Done chores, had prayers and breakfast, then fixed the trough for the
little pigs and fixed the pen a little and Grandma's gone to mind the children
whilst Joseph's gone to Salt Lake with Freda on business. It's
pretty cold to day and inclined to be stormy but it is very seasonable weather.
Joseph fetched us some of his pig meat and some for Hilda. At night we
went to the Sunday School gathering for to get means to give prizes to the
Sunday School children. It was a good turnout and the program was carried
out well. Myself and wife walked to and back. Was home about twelve
o'clock, well pleased with the performance of the boys and girls.
Dec. 23 - Choring around and packing straw to bed the stock.
Sat. Dec. 24 - Was called on to administer to Thomas Cook Jr.'s baby but Elder
Cook and Painter done it before I was there. I came back and attended to
other chores and wrote in journal. As Christmas is here and another year
has passed, I can't but thank our kind Heavenly Father for His goodness to us
through the past year.
Sun. Dec. 25 - Done chores and then went over to Joseph's to spend our
Christmas. There was Brother Olson and family, Grandma and self. We
had a pleasant day together. After dinner I went to do chores, then went
back. We had songs and recitations and talking about old times and the
blessings we enjoy in our mountain home over the people in the old countries,
which brought many recollections to mind when I was back on mission and saw the
poverty that was among the people and made me feel thankful of a home in Utah
and away from the tyranny that exists. Ezra came home from camp on Dec.
24. His head ached very bad on Christmas Day so he could not be with us
in our enjoyment.
Mon. Dec. 26 - Choring around, home all day, not very well. This morning
the young folks of Taylorsville came and drove their sleigh under our window
about 5 o'clock and gave us a Christmas song. It sounded beautiful,
heaven bless them.
Tue. Dec. 27 - Went to post office. Got mail and an invitation to go to
the old folks party at eleven o'clock Dec. 29.Wed.
Dec. 28 - I was choring around. It came a thaw today.
Dec. 29 - We got ready and Joseph brought the buggy and fetched us to the ward
house and when we got there the house was decorated with nice mottos and
photos. There was our old bishop and John Bennion, Brother Pixton,
Harker, Fields, Macey, Young.
Over the stand and the mottos was the words, "Welcome" and
"There is no excellence without labor", and over the entrance was the
picture of the beehive and the words, "Let us do our work well", and
quite a lot of others, all done by Harry Matthews. There was the photo of
Brother Carter who plowed the land in Utah and a little plow hung over
it. All the sights looked lovely.
We was called to order by Brother A. Frame and prayer by S. Bringhurst and the
choir led by A. Frame Jr. and the program went off well. After, the
tables was set and loaded with the good things of earth by the young folks of
the ward, a purpose to cheer up the old folks, and I think they accomplished
their desires. I can say that I was cheered and my heart made glad to see
the good feeling of the youth towards the old folks. We all that was over
60 had a red ribbon and those over 70 a blue one and over 80 a white one.
We closed by singing the old doxology and prayer by our bishop and Joseph
brought us home in the buggy and thus ended the first old folks party in
Taylorsville.
Dec. 30, 31 - I was choring around. A very windy day.
Jan. 1, 1899 came in very cold and windy. I am very thankful to our kind
Heavenly Father for His kind care taken over us through the past year and for
health and strength and a portion of His Holy Spirit and as I know that the
gospel is true I do desire to stick to the old ship Zion and try to live my
religion the best I can and be as faithful as I can in my old age and as it's
fast day I want to go to meeting.
We had a good meeting. Wife was too sick to go today but would like to have
went. It's a cold day.
Mon. Jan. 2 - There was a meeting for the school children to distribute their
prizes for good attendance. The program was done well and the children
behaved good and there was a good spirit prevailing all through the
meeting. It was a great credit to the superintendents and teachers.
In the evening there was a dance for the children and was opened with prayer by
John J Williams. A full house.
Jan. 3-5 - It was my 65th birthday. I am well and hearty and wife the
same, thank our kind Heavenly Father for his kindness to us. Was choring
around the other days, got Hilda some pork out of barrel and Ezra fetched some
lumber to make a rack and shelves for the pantry. Wife busy making me
some drawers. (drars)
Jan. 6 - Ezra working at his pantry and I was choring around.
Jan. 7 - Cleaning out the shed and packing straw to the shed. Opened the
potato pit and (got) some out for Hilda and my wife.
Sun. Jan. 8 - A dull day. Done chores, wrote in journal. All well
today, thank God for His great goodness to us. Went to meeting in the
cart. Had a good time. A cold day.
Mon. Jan. 9 - Ezra T. W. went to Salt Lake to the bank and I was fixing up the
stable and choring.
Tue. Jan 10 - Very windy and looks like a storm. We had a letter from
Parley. He has removed to Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa to labor for the
winter. He was well when he wrote but the people did not want the gospel
as taught by the Mormon Elders and so on.
Jan. 11 - Very windy last night and this morning it's trying to snow but it
seems hard for it to come as it is so long since we had a storm. The land
is quite dry. Wrote in my journal and dug holes in ice for the stock to
drink from. A little sickness among the children with cough and colds.
Jan. 12 - Ezra gave us two dollars. I was fixing a place for the cows to
stand on in the shed and packing straw for bedding.
Fri. Jan. 13 - Finished a platform for cows to stand. Ezra was making a
"barging" (bargain?) for some trees to plant out in the spring.
A cold day. The wind is blowing very cold but it's fine overhead.
Was choring.
Sat. Jan 14 - I was choring. Ezra went to the mill and went to Murray and
sent Parley some means and a letter. I wrote to him to Bourlington,
Iowa.
Sun. Jan. 15 - Done chores. Wife went over to Freda's. She was
sick. I wrote in my journal and read awhile and then prepared to go to
meeting. Had a good time.
Jan. 16, 17 - Choring around. It's thawing and very muddy.
Jan. 18 - Helping Ezra make a rack. It will be a good one. When
finished it will have bolts in all the cross pieces right through the side
planks. It's sawed lumber.
Jan. 19 - Done chores. Had prayers as we always do every morning and as
often as we can, knowing that our kind Father does hear our prayers. Then
went and settled tithing. We had paid in hay and produce $34.74.
That was all that was paid of the place this year.
Fri. Jan 20, 1899 - Choring and on Sat. 21, wet and cold.
Sun. Jan 22 - Went to meeting. Had a good time.
Jan. 23,24 - Was choring and fixing shed. E. T. started to haul gravel.
Jan. 25 - Ezra's gone to Cottonwood after rock and Thomas Fields came to work on
the ditch today. Ezra had a narrow escape today coming down with a load
of rock. The road was covered with ice. The lock chain broke and if
he had not pulled to the bank he and team would (have been) crippled or
killed. He was late home. I was choring around and fixing a little.
Jan. 26 - T. Fields working drain ditch. I choring.
Fri. Jan. 27 - Hauled two load of gravel and other chores.
Sat. Jan. 28 - I was pulling down the shed and other chores and T. Fields
working on drain ditch.
Sun. Jan 29 - Done chores. Went to Sunday School. It was a good
school. I visited the theology class. The boys and girls done well,
I thought. Came home, had dinner, then rode in the buggy to
meeting. Had a good time.
Mon. Jan 30 - T. Fields working on ditch and Ezra and self hauled 3 load of
gravel and done chores. Lent John Thackston the Kate mare.
Tue. Jan 31 - Hauling gravel and sent two garments to Parley back east to
Burlington, Des Moines, Iowa.
Wed. Feb. 1 - Done chores. Then went to the seventies reunion. Was
a good program carried out. It was very cold.
Thurs. Feb. 2 - it was very windy and cold and at night a storm of snow came
which made it hard to do chores.
Fri. Feb. 3 - Snowing. There's about one foot deep and still looked like
more coming. Very warm, considering.
Feb. 6 - After breakfast and prayers I was choring all day. It was cold.
Sun. Feb. 5 - Got up with our health and strength and feel thankful to our kind
Heavenly Father for His mercies to us in being so kind to us in our old days
and in blessing us with a desire to cling to the old ship Zion and in allowing
us to feel that it is good to be a Saint of Latter-Days. We went to
meeting and had our spiritual strength renewed. There was a large turnout
of young folks. It was fast meeting and some of the brethren bore their
testimonies of the goodness of God to them. There was a good spirit
there. The bishop and councilors (were) presiding. It was a very
cold day.
Mon. Feb. 6 - I was choring and hauling straw from the old place up to the new
corral. Ezra was helping haul.
Tue. Feb. 7 - A very windy day and very cold and all we could do was to chore
and write in journal and read the best books we could get to improve our minds
and gain knowledge of things.
Wed. Feb. 8 - A very cold day. Snowed last night and then turned warm and
to thaw today.
Feb. 9 - Ezra's gone to Salt Lake with the folks, and Grandma taking care of
Freda's children. I have been packing straw to bed the stock. Hilda
made some meat dumplings and gave me two, which made me a good dinner.
It's still thawing and warm.
Feb. 10 - Doing chores and on Sat. 11, packing straw and helping Ezra to hang
the corral doors.
Sun. Feb. 12 - Ezra and children went to Sunday School and I done chores and
wrote in journal and read a little in the History of Cuba.
Then went to meeting, Bishop Bennion presiding. The speakers was W. H.
Hugh and Elder George Crane from south. He spoke very good on the
necessity the Saints living so as they could have the Holy Ghost to be with
them so as they can discern the signs of the times. The bishop spoke on
prophets. We had a good meeting. Came home, had dinner. Freda
Williams is 25 years old today.
Feb. 13 - Cleaning jobs and doing chores. Received 3 dollars from E. T.
Williams.
Feb. 14 - Done chores, then helped wife wash. Ezra went to Salt Lake.
Feb. 15 - Got up in the morning and found it snowing. Done chores, had
breakfast and prayers, then wrote a little. The children was making
valentines last night, which was very good for children so young. Still
snowing but calm and warm. Received 2 dollars and 25 cents. I was
choring around until Feb. 18.
Sun. Feb. 19 - Went to meeting. Two good missionaries came home with Ezra
in buggy. Done chores, then read awhile in Elder John history. He
wrote very bold and plain.
Feb. 20, 21 - Just doing chores around. Attended a funeral of Elder Hyrum
Bennion and was called to open the meeting by prayer. There was very good
instructions by Elders W. H. Haight, Wallice Macken and Bateman. Brother
Painter presided. It was a large funeral. There was over 50
vehicles. E. T. took team.
Feb. 22 - We was at a ward reunion. The house was crowded. We had a
good time. The program was rendered well by all that took part.
After, there was 3 tables the length of the ward house filled three times with
the good things of earth. The tables being moved, the bishop made a
gathering to pay the debt of the ward house. I think they done pretty
well. I paid one dollar and 5 cents and would paid more if I had got
more. I felt well over it anyhow.
Feb. 23 -I was pulling down the old shanty and Ezra and Thomas Fields was
digging a drain and boxing it in with lumber. Got into gravel about 10
inches.
Feb. 24 - Choring. Not very much doing, so wet and muddy.
Feb. 25 - Done chores, got ready, went to Salt Lake to priesthood
meeting. It was very muddy. Was a little late but was glad to get
there. There was lots of names called out that had not had their
certificates of their ordination and a good deal said about keeping genealogy
of the family and all passing events. I had to walk from the sixth ward
bridge and it was very bad walking. I came with the street car to Murray
and walked over home.
Feb. 26 - Done chores. Ezra got the team ready and took the children to
school. It was quite a storm last night of snow. Went to
meeting. Was called to assist to administer the sacrament with Elder E.
Harker. Bishop called on Elder Wallice to speak. He dwelt on the
first principles of the gospel and how he found the people back east.
Then Ezra T. Williams was called. He spoke a short time and Moroni
Spencer encouraged the young men to store their mind with useful
knowledge. The bishop closed by advising the young men to learn a little
about evolution and to be prepared to meet those that say that there's no God,
and so on. We had a good meeting. Wife could not go.
Mon. Feb. 27 - Choring. E. T. and Thomas Fields was working on drain
ditch and putting in boxing about 4 1/2 feet. Storming today, very muddy
and sloppy to get around.
Feb. 28 - Was choring around. Wet and stormy. Can't do much.
Wed. Mar. 1,2, 1899 - Doing chores and so on.
Mar. 3 - Stormy. Ezra's gone to a funeral with the team to a man that
lives on McAlister's place, south end of the ward.
Mar. 4 - It has been very wet and muddy. Wind and snow storms. It
dried out enough for us to sow grain on the fort so I sowed and Ezra harrowed
but the storm came on before he marked it off. I was plowing one day
breaking up lucern with the two mares. As I had a runaway with Dick and
one of the mares and cut up Dick pretty bad, so I had to work the sulkey with
two horses in stead of three and those things was done between March the 4th
and the 11th.
Mar. 12 - Got up early and done chores and started to Salt Lake with the
team. Ezra got it ready and Grandma and self and Ezra left home about 8
o'clock and got to conference in good time, although the roads was very
bad. There was a very good spirit there. The roll was called, which
showed a good attendance. President ... Cannon presided and spoke
on the duties of the Latter-Day Saints and Elder S. Spencer spoke a little of
his experience in the ho.tes? The singing (was) lovely. I enjoyed
myself very well.
In the afternoon had a splendid meeting. Joseph F. Smith spoke quite
awhile and gave us a little of his experiences in the Sandwich Islands and
spoke very strong about the backbiting each other and speaking evil of the
Lord's anointed and so on. We got home about 6 o'clock. Done
chores, had supper, then wrote in journal awhile, then bed.
Mar. 13 - I got up early, done chores, cleaned the horses and harnessed them
and gave them water. Went and had breakfast, then went and hitched up and
brought the team to the door and it was storming like fury and it snowed all
the way to Salt Lake but we got a good place to hear. Angus M. Cannon
presided. The services was opened by singing the hymn of page 46,
"Our God We Raise To Thee, Thanks for they Blessings Free, We here
Enjoy", by the choir and congregation. Prayer was offered by B.
Preston and the hymn on page 113, "On The Mountaintop Appearing".
There was present of the first presidency George Q. Cannon, and of the counsel
of the apostles, Anton H. Lund and a good turnout of all the priesthood and a
splendid meeting. The afternoon session was presided by Augus W.
Cannon. The priesthood was voted to be sustained. It was
unanimous. After the voting was through with, the business of the
Latter-Day Saints college (was addressed.) It was in debt so it was
proposed to pay it off and Joseph E. Taylor was to take it in hand and call
others to assist him to gather the means and so on. We got home about
6:00. Very cold.
Mar. 14 - (I did) Not do much. It wet and sloppy. Got the mail and
read the news and done the chores. It very bad to get around.
Mar. 15 - Wrote a letter to Joseph to F..., Beaver Co. and after dinner I
worked on the foundation of the house, as the boys think to build the old folks
a place to live in.
Mar. 16 - Storming and on Friday, 17th, not very well, but I was choring
around.
Sat. Mar. 18 - Ezra and myself was working on chicken coop.
Mar. 20 - Sick in bed all day and Sunday and part of Monday, but thanks to our
kind Heavenly Father, He has blessed me so that I feel much better now and my
wife has been very kind to me in taking great care of me.
Mar. 21 - We have (been) sowing grain on the fort. I sowed it and John
Howell harrowed it and Ezra marked it out. E. T. commenced to plow on the
fort and H. Howell have been hauling manure at Joseph's place. I have
been choring around and fixing the chicken coop as there is quite a lot of odd
jobs to be done about a place and as I have been sick a little work suited me
best. It has been storming almost every day, which makes it very muddy,
and as it is snowing today, Sunday, March 26, I don't know whether I will (go)
to meeting or not. Ezra and children is gone to Sunday School in the cart
and Grandma's reading about the young missionaries and I (am) reading the Pearl
of Great Price and wrote in journal.
Went to meeting. Bishop Bennion presided. There was a brother
explaining the map of Palestine and he spoke very well on some principles of
the gospel. After he was through Apostle Cowley occupied the time very
good and our two visiting brothers sang two songs. The one was, "My
Father, Thou That Dwellest IN The High And Holy Place". It was done
well. Meeting closed by prayer by Elder Newbold, Sr. We had a
splendid time but it was very muddy. Went in the cart.
Mar. 27 - Was working on the chicken coop and sold two load of hay. Got
10 dollars and 5 cents for it and paid the store bill $1.85. E. T.
fetched lime.
Mar. 28 - I was putting in concrete in the foundation in the forenoon and in
the afternoon John Howell helped to put it in and Ezra was hauling gravel.
Mar. 29 - Ezra and I worked on the chicken coop in the forenoon and John Howell
was hauling gravel all day in the afternoon. Ezra was plowing and I was
doing chores and finished the coop and at night Ezra and self brought up the
chickens, 36 so far. Grandma was washing alone, a big wash. The
roan had a calf today.
Mar. 30 - I was harrowing, Ezra was plowing.
Sat. Mar. 31 - Harrowing and choring. E. T. plowing.
Sun. Apr. 2 - I was home all day not feeling very well. Freda and family
came for a visit, had dinner, spent the evening, and before going home Ezra and
family and Freda and family, we all had supper together and enjoyed ourselves
very well. It came a snow storm.
Mon. Apr. 3 - Done chores, then worked on the concrete of the foundation of our
new house and Ezra went to Salt Lake and brought a load of coal. I sold
two load of hay four tons 8 hundred, $9.60.
Tue. Apr. 4 - Put the oats in on the fort and harrowed it over 4 or 5 times and
then it was very rough and cloddy.
Apr. 5 - Helping to mark the rows for the trees and finished to harrow the land
and doing other chores.
Apr. 6 - Hauling water to go on the trees. John Howell and Charles Morris
was helping today. A nice fine day.
Fri. Apr. 7 - Got up early and started for Salt Lake to conference. Was
in good time. Apostle Taylor was the first speaker. He gave us an
account of his labors in Colorado. He spoke well and after, Elder
Teasdale spoke very nicely on the first principles of the gospel. The
temple choir sang a very nice piece and (in) the afternoon the elders all spoke
very well all though we was home in good time. Joseph came home well.
Sat. Apr. 8 - Went to conference. There was some very good talks by the
elders, got a good place to hear. A very fine day. We was home in
good time.
Sun. Apr. 9 - I was home all day and Grandma was minding Freda's children
whilst they went to conference and Parley came home after two years and a half
on mission. He felt very well. Joseph came home in good time from
conference all right.
Apr. 10 - Started to haul manure and Joseph and Parley went to Salt Lake after
nails. They was back in good time. Parley helped me haul manure.
Apr. 11, 12 - Parley and self hauling manure. We hauled 26 loads and
Joseph was plowing and planting oats and harrowing to plant more oats.
Nice fine day.
Tue. Apr. 13 - We sowed all our oats and from that time until April 22 we have
been hauling manure on the trees and watering them and hauling water for the
masons to build our house which Brother Frame began Tue, April 18th on the
foundation and have the floor joists all on. Parley and self have been
planting potatoes yesterday and one half day today and sold to the store 19
dollars and 19 cents worth of potatoes. Parley went and helped Joseph to
scrape off the old ditch bank and take it down to fill up a ravine to make a
ditch across to water the east side of the grave yard as we have sowed lucern
and wheat on it. It has been windy today. The North Jordan water
was turned in April the 21st. Good stream. Joseph told me that he
had sold all the hay for 6 dollars per ton all through, which is a good price,
I think.
Sun. Apr. 23 - I went to meeting. Bishop Bennion presided. He
called on quite a few to speak. Had a good meeting.
Mon. Apr. 24 - Commenced to sow lucern seed but the wind got too strong.
Parley and self fetched the frames from Brother Frame, as they needed
them. Then we went after a load of sand from James Taylor's. We
fetched two loads today and Joseph went to Salt Lake after lime. It was a
very windy day and dusty.
Tue. Apr. 25 - Hauling sand and water for the masons.
Wed. Apr. 26 - Me and Parley hauled sand. We got all the sand as Joseph
paid for in the fall. Joseph fetched a load of lumber and other chores.
Apr. 27 - Was choring around and hauling water.
Apr. 28 - Hauling manure and in the evening. Parley gave me 2 dollars
when he went to camp. Took Parley to the train to go to sheep camp.
Sat. Apr. 29 - Hauled four loads of manure and went after two loads of water
and other chores.
Sun. Apr. 30 - Got up late. Done chores, had prayers and breakfast, then
went down to the old place to fix the fence as the horses broked it down.
Then came back and read awhile, then wrote in journal.
It's very windy day and dry. Went to meeting. It was missionary
Sunday. They spoke very well on the duties of Saints and some of the
first principles of the gospel and at the close of the meeting I got the church
chronology. Paid one dollar and 25 cents for Parley.
May 1, 1899 - All's well today. Done chores and whilst at breakfast a
storm came on which lasted all day, of and on, which gave time to read the
church chronology. Good.
May 2 - Wet and nasty. Just choring around about.
May 3 - Hauled water and done chores but it's cold after the storm. The
masons didn't work today.
May 4 - I was ditching on the levy just below the old house and watered
Joseph's trees. Came home, had dinner then went to ditch again.
Then chores.
May 5 - Fetched water and nails, then went off to Cahoon's after a load of
lumber. Had dinner, unloaded lumber, then cut potatoes to plant.
We received pay for the calf today. Wife washed today herself.
Joseph and Charles Morris plowing ditches, cleaning them with the go
devil. It will not work well.
May 6 - Went to Murray after lumber, then helped Joseph to water and whilst the
wind was blowing it blew a board down on Brother Frame's head and cut a large
cut on his face. He had to go home to get it sewed up. We watered
the trees and lucern pretty good.
May 7 - Grandma and myself went to Salt Lake. Paid for the Juvenile and
paid 3 and a half dozen eggs and two pound of butter tithing and 8 dollars in
the bank. When we came home the first thing we heard was of John R.
Bennion's death. He died very sudden. He was in the house
alone, the family being away from home.
Sun. May 8 - Not feeling very gay. Done chores, had breakfast, then went
and lay down to rest awhile. Then got the mare and cart ready. Went
to meeting. It's fast day. I paid 75 cents fast offering.
Bore my testimony of the goodness of Father to me. The bishop gave out
that John R. Bennion would be buried on Wednesday the 10th at 11 o'clock.
Also a dance in the evening for the benefit of Brother Person, as he is going
on a mission this week. When we was coming it was storming hard.
Mon. May 9 - From today until May 16 I was hauling lumber and plowing,
harrowing, ditching. Today we sold the two heifers to Joseph Williams for
forty two and a half dollars and I took the colts to the pasture today and
bought rope and staked the cow out for the first time. We have been busy
at farm work. We took the South Jordan water on Monday, May 15 at 4
o'clock p.m. A good stream. Gave Hilda 5 dollars out of 10 Joseph
gave to buy coal. We watered the trees well, all of them. It quit
about 6 o'clock p.m.
May 17 - Have been hauling manure in the dead furrows and choring around.
Went over to Murray for some medicine for Grandma's cough, so I have (been)
busy all the time doing farm work until May 20. We had a lovely storm on
May the 19. The crops look fresh. Went down to the pasture to see
the colts. They are alright. Called on Brother and (Sister)
Thackston. Had a chat. Came home and took the two mares to
pasture. Joseph had his new cooking shanty put up this week and our place
is ready for the plasters. Hope they will not be long. Well, I
don't know many more scraps to put down, only that we are very thankful to our
kind Heavenly Father that He does bless us with His Holy Spirit and health and
strength and plenty to eat and drink and a desire to be saved in His kingdom and
so on.
Sun. May 21 - Went to meeting, Bishop Bennion presiding. There was a very
good elder from Salt Lake. He spoke well on the first principles of the
gospel. Called at Joseph's. When we came home had dinner and done
chores.
Mon. May 22 - Took North Jordan water and fixed the place where we take it
out. We had it until 9 o'clock morning.
May 23 - Went over to Murray after lumber to make a box to cross North Jordan
Canal, and other chores.
May 24 - Fixing ditches and took the South Jordan water at 10 at night and
ought to have kept it until 9 o'clock next morning but David Barker took it before
his time, 4 hours, so he had it at 5 o'clock morning with the understanding that
we would get it back next time.
May 25 - I was helping Joseph fix a box across North Jordan and plowing furrows
to plant corn and squash and helping to make a ditch and planted the corn.
May 26 - Went to Salt Lake to the high priest meeting. It started to
storm when I left home and kept on all the way to town, but we had a good
meeting. Not many there as it was a stormy day. Elder Wallace
presided and after the roll call spoke a short time. Then president
Cannon occupied the remainder of the time. He showed the difference
between celestial and plural marriage very plain. It was time to come
home and got there in good time.
Sun. May 27 - Went to meeting. Bishop Bennion presiding, and after
singing and prayer he called some of the brethren to speak. I was one of
those. The Holy Ghost helped me to bear testimony to some of the goodness
of our kind Heavenly Father. Came home. Had dinner. Done
chores, then went and visited Brother Painter and Elder Charles Howell and then
went to see how Joe and Freda was. They all seemed glad of our visit and
we felt better by going to see them.
Mon. May 28 - Done chores, then went to get Lorenzo Rich to come to plaster the
house. Called at Brother Rich's, and wife and Sister Rich had a good
chat. We had to stop and have dinner. We enjoyed a few hours
pleasantly, came home, started to fix the ditch and boxes. It came a good
storm.
May 29 - Cleaning out a ditch to water the grain south of stack yard.
May 30 - Ditching and wife went to Salt Lake with Joseph to see the great
circus. Joseph and all the family went to see the show. They say it
was grand to see.
June 1 - (Where is May 31?) Choring. At two o'clock morning we took
the South Jordan water. We watered the trees and most of the wheat.
It quit at 9 o'clock night on Friday 2nd. It was a large stream. We
done good work. Lorenzo Rich came to plaster the house. It's wet
and stormy.
June 3 - Went over to Murray. Got 1,000 lath and nails, 25 cents.
The weather is very unsettled. It's very stormy.
June 4 - Went to fast meeting, Bishop Bennion presiding. Had a good
meeting. Bore my testimony and spoke of the goodness of Father to
us. Quite a few testified of the goodness of God to them. Grandma
was too sick to go to meeting and Joe and family went visiting instead of going
to meeting to be blessed. I enjoyed myself very well. Paid 50 cents as
offering. Glad I went.
June 5 - Choring. Joseph went after lime to plaster the house. He
got 20 bushels of lime and hare? and two pieces of plow piping.
June 6, 1899 - I have staked the cow the last week on the canal bank to keep it
down. She does well. Doing other chores.
From the 6th until the 18th of June we have been doing farm work and hauling water
for the plasterers. Lorenzo Rich did the work. Joseph Williams paid
him 19 dollars for the job. He done it well, I think. We have
watered the grain on the low land below the old house. The
"salareates" (?) is pretty bad in some places but the wheat looks
well. Joseph fetched lumber to fix the house. Brother Frame came
Sat. the 17th to put the windows and doors in and Joseph Williams paid to me 42
dollars for two heifers he bought from us.
Mother and self went to Salt Lake in a buggy borrowed of Brother Deverall, wife
being too sick to go in the cart. We went up to 12 hundred and 28 number
to see a cow that we heard was for sale. It was a fine looking cow.
They wanted 40 dollars for it. We promised to go after her next Tuesday
to see if the man will let her go. Came back to tithing yard. Got
hay for mare, then went and had dinner, then to bank. Got 42 dollars and
deposited a check for Williams Brothers, got the receipt for it, and when I
came home, gave it to Joseph Williams. It was a very warm day.
Grandma put 5 dollars in bank.
June 17 - I got fixing for the machine. It cost 3 dollars and 30
cents. Went to the State Bank and got 3 dollars and 90 cents on Scot
account for milk June 17.
Wrote up my journal. I am very thankful to our kind Heavenly Father for
His goodness to us in giving us health and strength to do our daily work.
We took 8 dozen eggs tithing and now this is all I can remember so I will quit
now.
Mon. June 19 - Been very busy. I have neglected to write in my journal so
I will try to catch up. Wife has been pretty sick through this week but
thanks to our kind Heavenly Father she is a little better today. I have
been busy cutting lucern and raking and cocking a good part of the week.
John Howell helped to pile lucern on Friday and I finished on Saturday and
Joseph got a long pole and got it fixed on Saturday ready to put up. We
commenced to send our milk to the Taylorsville creamery Saturday the 24th and
quit sending to Sandy to Mr. Scot's creamery. It's very warm today.
June 25 - Wrote in journal and done chores. Went to meeting. There
was two missionaries and two visitors. They all spoke. Wife pretty
sick. The weather very warm and dry.
June 26 - Working on the lucern. T. Fields and J. Howell worked two days,
one here and one over at Joseph's. Harry Matthews was painting our
house. He got through the inside and we got a cow from Salt Lake.
We paid 40 dollars for her. We got home pretty well, it was very hot to
come home. She is a good kind. Had the South Jordan and North
Jordan on June 29th and quit 29th at 7 o'clock. We increased our milk to
the creamery on the 29th. Well, this is all I can think of now, and it is
Sunday, July 2.
Mon. Jul. 3 - Hauling lucern at Joseph's. Thomas Fields and John Howell
was helping. We hauled 9 loads and done chores. Ezra and Parley
came home and Ernest and wife and Jacob Anderson was going north to settle down
if they can get a good show. We are all well.
Tue. Jul. 4 - Home all day. Took a good rest after doing chores.
Wed. Jul. 5 - I was helping haul hay at Joseph's place. There were Joe,
Parley, Ezra Williams and Thomas Fields and Ernest and Jacob Anderson. We
hauled all the hay up.
Thurs. Jul. 6 - Working among the potatoes. It's warm.
Fri. Jul. 7 - I have been kept busy working on the farm and moving into our new
house. Went to Salt Lake. Got some furniture. We got one
bedroom set and Grandma rose 20 dollars out of the bank. All the
furniture came to 18 dollars and 50 cents. We got home all right and put
it in our new house and have been fixing up ever since and not done yet.
Wife working hard to get things to her notion and I have been helping a little
but have had too much to do to help very much. I had to water and ditch
or clean out ditches so the water would run and plow out Ezra's trees and so
forth. There's lots of work about a farm, day in and week out that's
about the same that's hardly worth naming so I don't keep a strictly daily
account. We got the pay for milk sent to the creamery at Taylorsville for
June month on July 17, and so today, the 18th, I am fixing up to keep the
muskrats out if we can, and wrote in journal and so on.
Jul. 19 - I was hoeing corn and doing chores until the 22nd. Joseph came
back from the North and Parley stayed there to see if he could buy a place to
settle down. Ezra and family went to Salt Lake and gave us 16 dollars and
Grandma rose it. Doing farm work and choring around until the 24th of
July.
Jul. 23 - Joseph came to see us. He didn't succeed in getting land up
north. He says it's a fine country, filling up fast. Went to
priesthood meeting of the high priests. Had a good time together.
Some of the old elders related some of their experiences when keeping the
council of the prophet of God when going back on missions and so on.
Called at the depot and got two boxes of fruit from Sister Olson from Brigham
City for Ezra T. and Joseph Williams. Home in good time, well paid.
Sun. Jul. 30 - Went to meeting. Poor turnout but had a good
meeting. The elders dwelt on tithing. Got home. Had dinner,
then done chores. Had a short visit from the folks. It was nice and
cool after the storm of Saturday.
Jul. 31 - I hauled 4 loads of lucern hay for tithing and John Mantle and Ese.
Butterfield was cutting grain and Ezra cutting lucern and raking. Thomas
Fields was helping. Ezra took the North Jordan water at 10 o'clock at
night.
Aug. 1, 1899 - Got up early. Cocked lucern. Milked. Had
breakfast, then went and raked more and will pile up all I can today. It
is very windy. E. T. has a very bad headache. Not able to work
much.
Aug. 2 - Hauling lucern in the forenoon and cutting (in the) afternoon.
Aug. 4 - It was storming and heavy thunder and wind. I took the South
Jordan water 5 hours of Brother Bennion's time. Quit at 3 o'clock in the
morning. Stream good. Ezra went to Salt Lake with the deeds to
probate them but could not see the right man. He brought post home with
him.
Aug. 5 - Fixing up around the house and commenced to dig a cellar. Ezra
gave me 4 dollars today.
Aug. 6 - Went to meeting. Was called to open by prayer by counselor
Panter and after the meeting was opened for the Saints to bear their
testimonies I got up and spoke my feelings concerning the principle of
tithing. It was a slim gathering but a good spirit.
Aug. 7 - Commenced to dig a cellar and other chores.
Aug. 8 - Done chores, had prayers, then went over to Joseph's place to work on
the hay. I piled all below the ditch.
Aug. 9 - Went to Saltaire. It was the Welsh reunion. We had a good
time. There was songs, step dancing and other amusements. We was so
much taken up in our enjoyments that we missed the 7 o'clock train so we came
back with the 9 o'clock train. It was so dark that we did not like to
drive home, so we got a bed and stayed in the city and got up early, came home
and done chores. We had a good time. Saw lots of old acquaintances.
Aug. 10 - Hauling lucern hay. There was T. M. Fields, Charles Davis, Ezra
and myself. He hauled all the patch.
Aug. 11 - Cutting lucern. On Sat. the 12th was cutting lucern.
Aug. 13 - Wrote up my journal. Done chores, had prayers, then a rest.
Then went to meeting. Very few attended but a good spirit was there.
Aug. 14 - Raking lucern and E. T. and T. F. Fields cocking and on Tue. and Wed,
was hauling on Joe's place and on Thursday took one load for tithing and Fri.
18, watering and Ezra and T. F. Fields was putting in posts for a fence on the
south of the land and on the east end of the same.
Aug. 19 - All the family went to Salt Lake to see the soldiers come in.
It was a grand sight to see and a wonder where all the people came from on the
streets. The soldiers felt well, so it seems. There was some
laughing and some shed tears of joy and so on.
Sun. Aug. 20 - Got up, done chores, had prayers, wrote in journal and prepared
to go to meeting. It was the ward conference. President A. Cannon
was there and after singing and prayer, occupied most of the time. All
the ward officers was sustained. We had a good meeting.
Aug. 21 - I was hauling rock from the old place to build a cellar.
Aug. 22 - I was helping to stretch wire along the south side and east end of
the land below the old place. Got through Aug. 23.
Aug. 24, 25 - Hauling grain, Thomas Fields helping.
Sat. Aug. 26 - Went to Salt Lake to high priest meeting. We had a very
good time. Elder Talmage spoke and showed that our Heavenly Father had a
plan to work by for His children to work out their salvation and that plan must
be kept before we can get back to him again and so on. It was good.
Sun. Aug. 27 - Got my chores done, had prayers, breakfast, then a little rest,
then went to meeting, very few there.
Aug. 28 - Done chores, went over to Joe's place with the team and brought home
lumber. Hauled one load of rough oats and weeds that was not fit to go on
the stack. Then went to Brother Hyrum Mackey's wife's funeral.
After singing and prayer, Bro. T. M. Spencer and Joseph Lindsay and L. R.
Bennion spoke very encouraging words of the departed sister, after which
President Cannon spoke very good and showed the beauty of the resurrection and
showed that if the Saints will live righteous lives---the house was crowded to
overflow and the Spirit of God was there and all felt to rejoice. E. T.
Williams commenced a sheep wagon today.
Aug. 29 - I have not very much to write about as I have been doing chores and
fixing up a little and hauling rock from the old place to build a cellar and
Ezra has been working on a sheep wagon. Last Sat., Sept. 2, the Howells
went to Salt Lake to be a bondsman for Ezra about the land, as he is going to
get it fixed up and divided up and so on. He brought lots of trout home,
was home in good time, changed, done chores in pretty good time.
On Sunday the 3rd was fast meeting and our little Emma Williams was baptized by
Brother Mantle and confirmed by Brother ___.
Today I was fixing the bin and choring around and now it is September 4.
Sept. 5 - I have been working around the farm and thrashing. We thrashed
2 hundred and 70 bushels wheat and oats and we took ten bushels as
tithing. Parley came home from the north. He bought a place up
there before coming back. He's going to sheep camp tomorrow, September
18, as Ezra have finished the wagon for camp. He done a good job of it.
I am very thankful to our kind Heavenly (Father) for His great blessings to me
in giving me health and strength and a desire to do the best I can. We
was at the Salt Lake conference. The brethren spoke on tithing and so
on. A good time.
Sept. 17 - We are all well.
Sept. 18 - Went to Jones's lime kiln after lime. Parley started to camp
and took Dick horse down with him to sheep camp.
Sept. 19 - Commenced to wall up the cellar and do other chores.
Sept. 19,20 - Dot's wife rather sick today.
Sept. 21-23 - Ezra cut lucern today. Went to meeting on the 21st.
Mon. Sept. 25 - I have been working on the hay all the week on this place and
Joseph's and am very thankful to our kind Father in Heaven for His great
goodness to us in giving us so good health and strength to perform our daily
labors and giving us of His Spirit to enable us to see the signs of the times
in which we live. And now this is October the 1st, 1899, and all is well
as far as I know. Will try to go to meeting.
Oct. 2 - Hauled hay at Joe's place with T. Fields.
Oct. 3 - Working on the cellar. Ezra gone to Salt Lake.
Oct. 4 - Unloaded two loads of lucern and hauled one and topped off our stack
with it. We got it in good shape. In the afternoon I worked on our
cellar. On the 5th, Friday, Oct. 6, (was) working on the cellar.
Wife went to Salt Lake to the fair with Ezra and Freda and children.
Oct. 7 - Went to conference. The subject dwelt upon was tithing. A
full house and a nice fine day.
Sun. Oct. 8 - Home all day reading and resting.
Oct. 9 - Digging potatoes and E. T. went to sheep camp.
Oct. 10 - Finished the cellar so as it can dry. I have to put the doors
on yet, then we will (have) a good little cellar.
Oct. 11 - Commenced to storm. Was choring around.
Oct. 12 - I was shingling the chicken coop between the storms.
Oct. 13 - It was storming on and off all day. Finished shingling the
coop.
Oct. 14 - Was packing straw into the coral and other chores.
Sun. Oct. 15 - From today until the 22nd I was choring around. Commenced
to raise potatoes but the land was too wet to plow. It has been storming
a few days but it is a great blessing for the farmers and sheepmen as the feed
was getting scarce and some of the sheep getting poor. Joseph took his
wife and Hilda to Salt Lake today, Oct. 21.
It do seem that our kind Heavenly Father is very good to His people and that He
does hear the cries and prayers of His holy priesthood and Saints. I can
leave my testimony on record that our Heavenly Father does hear our prayers
daily, for which I humbly thank Him for all His goodness to us. Now it's
Sunday and a nice fine day so I will go to church to hear the word of God,
praise to His holy name. We had a very good time in meeting. I was
called to open the meeting by prayer. The brethren spoke very well.
Oct. 16 - I got a load of coal, one ton, from Cahoons and in the afternoon I
commenced to plow in the bottom land and was plowing all the week. The
land plowed very nicely. It made me very tired following the hand plow
and doing my chores besides, night and morning. Myself and wife quite
well, thank God for it.
Oct. 28 - Joseph W. got some lime to build Ezra's cellar. All the folks
is all well.
Sun. Oct. 29 - It was fast day. I took Hilda and Freda Williams to
meeting. The meeting was opened for the Saints to bear their
testimonies. There was quite a number spoke of the goodness of God to
them. We had a good time together.
When we came home I done chores early, then went over and had a visit with
Brother and Sister Deverall. After having a long talk about the old
country, nothing would not do but we must have supper old country fashion, so
we had a good fill of roast chicken and other good things. After we was
(finished) we thanked them for their kindness and left with the best of
feelings. Got home about 10 o'clock. I made a mistake. It was
not Oct. the 29th as was fast day, but November the 5th when we made our visit.
Mon. Nov. 6 - I was plowing and Joe commenced on Ezra's cellar and Thomas
Fields worked on the ditch cleaning the weeds out and made it deeper as John
Mackay turned the water on us, the seepege water.
Tue. Nov. 7 - I see that I have not put down all the dates but the main that
transpired is down as it's all farm work and is the same thing over and over
again.
Nov. 8 - Plowing and got through on the 9th.
Nov. 10 - I was home all day sick. I overdone muself as work in plowing
the land before the storm came. On Sat. the 11th I was a little better
and tried to fix up the back house and other chores.
Nov. 12 - Still better, am thankful for it. Done chores, had prayer and
breakfast, then wrote in journal. We are having lovely fall weather, nice
and mild. Me old Grandma is busy making pies for visitors.
We went to meeting. Helped to administer the (sacrament) with Elder
Parker, then the bishop turned the meeting over to the missionaries.
Professor Paul spoke well on the time the church should be organized according
to prophecy. We had a grand treat.
Came home and Brother and Sister Deveral came over and spent the
afternoon. We had a pleasant time together talking about the gospel and
some of our experiences in the old country until about ten o'clock, then
parted, feeling well and thankful for their visit.
Nov. 13 - Choring around and fixed a barrel to scald a hog and packing straw
into the corral.
Nov. 14 - Killed a hog, Joe being butcher. Jacob helped.
Nov. 15 - Cut up the hog and took one half to Hilda's and helped Joe to put
some concrete in the cellar. It came on a storm, a very gentle one.
Nov. 16 - Raining in spells all day. I was packing straw.
Nov. 17 - I was choring around and putting more straw in the corral and put up
the clock shelf.
Nov. 18 - Trying to make a new pig pen.
Sun. Nov. 19 - Done my morning chores. Read awhile, then went after the
mare. Got ready. Then went to meeting in a buggy that Brother
Deverall brought to make a trade with us.
The meeting was presided over by Bishop Bennion. After singing and prayer
and the sacrament administerd, Elder George Spencer and W. Bennion, the bishop
and counselors took up the time in speaking to the young folks about morality
and other things. They spoke very pointedly but a good spirit
prevailed. I was very glad to be there to be refreshed with the good
spirit that was there in abundance.
Nov. 20 - I have been hauling the old lumber from the old place and helping Joe
to kill a pig and putting in concrete in E. T.'s cellar and fixing a pig pen
and other chores up to Nov. 23, and helped Ma to wash today.
Nov, 24 - Working on the pig pen and choring.
Nov. 25 - Me and wife went to Salt Lake and I went to high priest
meeting. We had a good (meeting). Brother Wallace presided and
after meeting I had dinner and then went to the co-op and bought a pair of
overshoes. Home in good time. From now unto the end of the month I
have been working on the chicken coop, lining it with dobies and other chores.
As this is the last of Nov., it leaves us well and trying to be as happy as we
can be, plenty to eat and wear, all of which I feel very thankful to our kind
Heavenly Father for His great kindness to us and for the gospel of
Christ. Now this is Nov. the 30th. All's well.
Dec. 1, 1899 - I have been working to finish the cap of the work before the
winter sets in in earnest and just got through when a large snow storm come on
the night of Dec. the 5th and on Dec 6th went to the mill grist and Joseph gave
me five dollars and I paid Brother Deverall for the buggy we traded for.
Dec. 7 - I was choring around trying to make the animals comfortable and Joe
had two bags of straw and I endorsed a check of five dollars on a trade and
after I done chores I went to administer to Thomas Field's baby. I have been
there three times and tonight it's lots better. Am very (thankful) to our
kind Father in Heaven for answering our humble prayer and healing the sick,
glory to His holy name. The wind is blowing hard.
Dec. 8 - Cold and stormy. I was choring around Sat. and Sunday, 9 and
10th. Cold and stormy. I done chores and on Sunday I was reading
and studying the scriptures.
Dec. 11 - Done chores. Got Hilda some potatoes out of pit. Went to
store. Got the pay from creamery, 8 dollars and 80 cents for the month of
November and bought "felts", $2.60 and wrote and posted a letter to
Parley at Frisco.
Dec. 12 - It has been storming and is pretty cold now. All I can do is to
do chores as I have a bad cold and a cough and affects my breath very bad but I
am very thankful I am no worse, as I am getting old and feeble and as I am
alone I wrote up my journal on it's Dec. 14, 1899.
Dec. 15 - Doing chores and went after the mail and read some of the news and
saw how the congressmen are violating the laws of the constitution of our
country in the Roberts case, but the work of God will go on in spite of
opposition.
Dec. 16 - Doing chores and packing straw to make animals (comfortable).
Sun. Dec. 17 - Got ready. Took the children to the Sunday School
Jubilee. We had a very nice time and at the close I was called to close
by prayer. I came and Grandma stayed with Sister Melvin Cook. I had
dinner with Hilda Williams, and after doing a few chores went back to
meeting. There was a full (house) and the program was done well and there
was a good spirit all through the meeting.
Taylorsville Sunday School was organized with 28 members. After meeting
went with Brother Painter to administer to a brother at Butterfields place,
then back to Brother Thomas Cook's. Had supper and chat, then back home
and done chores, thus ended a very enjoyable day.
Mon. Dec. 18 - I helped wife to wash and other chores.
Dec. 19 - I have been choring around and enjoying ourselves the best we
can. On Christmas day Grandma got up a good dinner and Ezra and family
came and we had a good time in eating roast and boiled chicken with other nice
things and in the evening Joseph and family came and had supper and after the
tables was cleared the children sang some very pretty songs which cheered up
the old folks quite a bit. Freda sang the song called "The Old Folks
At Home" and about 9 o'clock they all went home.
Dec. 26 - Joseph and Ezra went to Salt Lake and back early and at night Joseph
started for camp. E. T. came home on Sunday the 24th and now at the close
(of the) year we are all well and are very thankful to our kind Heavenly Father
for His goodness to us all and that He permitted us to meet under such
favorable circumstances and that we are all in the fold of our Lord and Master
and trying to so live that we may be with Him and those of our brethren that
are gone before when He comes to take the kingdom, and so on.
Dec. 27 - Doing chores and on Fri. Dec. 28 filled 8 sacks of oats and on
Sat. Dec. 29th I took them to the store. They weighed six hundred and
fifty pounds and hauled 3 loads of manure.
Sun. Dec. 30 - Done chores, then got ready and went to meeting. There was
two of the apostles, Brothers Smith and Lonn. They gave us
some very good council on everyday duties. We had a very good
meeting. It's very foggy today.
Mon. Jan. 1, 1900 - Went to the Sunday School entertainment. The children
done very well. After the meeting came home and Hilda got us a good
dinner. Then we got ready and we all went to the children's dance.
We enjoyed in seeing the children dance, after which we came to Joseph's place
and Freda got supper, roast chicken and lots of other things. We had a
good time there. After a good chat we walked home. It was a nice
night.
Jan 2, 3 - I was choring around a little.
Jan. 4 - Got ready. Went to the elder's quorum reunion and took our
picnic and had a good time. Harry Matthews presided there. Lots of
our brethren on the stand and Apostle Cowley occupied all the morning
meeting. He spoke very well on the duties of the elders. After the
close of the meeting the tables was set with the good things of mother
earth. The committee done their duty well and we had a real sociable
day. About 4 o'clock we came home very well paid for going through the
mud. I took Freda, too, and from the party she said she enjoyed herself
very well. Putting all together we had a splendid time long to be
remembered.
Jan. 5 - I helped Charles Morris and Ezra to kill a hog. It's very
muddy. The weather broke up and is very mild just now and this is my
birthday. I am 66 years of age and am very thankful that I am as well as
I am and Grandma will be 66 next April on the 6th.
Jan. 6 - Took a porker over to Murray and sold it to Sanders and Co. It weighed
one hundred and 50 pounds. Had $8.60. Done chores around.
It's very muddy, the weather very mild and warm.
Sun. Jan. 7 - Done chores, had prayers and breakfast. Went to
meeting. There was a large turnout and a very good spirit. The
bishop spoke awhile on the duties of the Saints and so on, then blessed some
children, then opened the meeting for the Saints to testify of the goodness of
God to them the past year. I bore testimony and felt well. Came
home, had dinner, done chores, then spent the evening reading and talking over
old times very pleasantly.
Jan. 8 - Choring around, snowing. Ezra's gone after coal.
Jan 9 - Helped unload a load of coal and choring around.
Jan. 10 - Helped Ezra to haul straw and put the rack on.
Jan. 11 - Done chores and helped to haul two loads straw and got the account
from the creamery, $5.20.
Jan 12 - Doing chores and as I sprained my back I could not do any work for
several days and Ezra done my chores. I was not able to go to meeting on
Sunday, Jan. 14, and as my back was getting better we commenced to pull down
the old house and worked at it at odd times most of the week and got all the
lumber out and all the dobes piled up and now it is Jan 20th and all is well.
Sun. Jan. 21 - Done chores and then went to meeting. Had a very good
meeting. It's very cold and foggy weather.
Jan. 22 - Took the stove pipe down, cleaned it, then went and administered to
Ezra as he was very sick. Then done chores, had breakfast, then went and
fixed the fence between Charley Davis. Then came and administered to Ezra
again with Thomas M. Fields. Then cleaned the stable and packed straw to
bed the stock with. Went over to Joseph's place and done chores.
Came back, done my own.
Jan. 23 - Done chores. Then went, done and cleaned out drain ditch.
Jan 24 - Helped wife to wash, then went to settle tithing. We paid
$42.90. The bishop thought it very good for two old folks, Choring
around. A nice day.
Jan 25 - Ezra took two sacks of wheat to mill for pig feed for Joseph, then
went and settled tithing. He paid altogether over five hundred dollars
tithing. I went down to the west ditch and cleaned it out as Ted Mackey's
sheep had trampled it down, and done other chores. All's well.
Jan. 26, 27 - Got up early. Done chores. Then went over to Mill
Creek to a priesthood meeting. There was Amassa Lyman and Apostle
Lund. They came to organize a new stake called the Granite Stake.
The officers was called and sustained without a dissenting vote. There
was a good spirit. Elder Lyman named Frank Y. Taylor as president of the
Granite Stake. The vote being taken, a committee of elders being chosen,
the meeting adjourned until 1 o'clock.
At the afternoon meeting the appointments were completed. Counselors to
the stake president are Elders James R. Miller, first, and Edwin Bennion of
Granger Ward, second counselor. For high councilors: George Crisman,
Sugar; H. C. Carlisle, Mill Creek; Jesse Wheeler, Charles Holme, South
Cottonwood; F. F, Kintze, Big Cottonwood; Horace Cumming, East Millcreek and
George M. Spencer, Taylorsville; Toby Tilkin, Granger; Jas. Bertock, Hunter;
Wm. Bradford and Martin Christopherson, Farmers; John M. Cannon, Forest Dale.
For alternates: H. S. Sanders, South Cottonwood; Joseph A. Cornwall and
Butterworth, Millcreek; Arthur Cumming of Sugar; Henry Matthews and Henry
Harker of Taylorsville. For stake clerk and historian and clerk of high
council, Thomas M. Ashton of Sugar, and other elders was chosen to fill the
different offices and all went off very nicely and good prevailing feeling.
Feb. 1, 1900 - Got some potatoes for Hilda out of pit and other chores.
Feb. 2 - Hauling manure and other chores. Got cold.
Feb. 3 - Done chores, had prayers and breakfast. Then went to Salt
Lake. Went to Deseret News office to pay for the paper but I had paid for
it until January 7, 1900. Then went to the Juvenile office and paid 2
dollars on Vol. 35 Juvenile Instructor. Then had dinner and do our
business, then started for home. Got there in good time.
Sun. Feb. 4 - Went to fast meeting. Bore my testimony and felt well paid
for going. A very comforting spirit prevailing. Came home, had
dinner, done chores, then wrote up my journal and find it a very pleasant task.
Feb. 5 - Ezra gave 15 dollar check and I paid it to Coon Brothers and I got one
ton 4 hundred of coal and gave the rest to Ezra. Came home, had dinner,
unloaded the coal. Then hauled some straw into the corral. Then
done my chores and at night was reading. It's very fine weather.
Feb. 6, 7 - I was doing chores around.
Feb. 8 - Myself and wife went to Sister Pixton's birthday party. She was
80 years of age today and looks well for her age. There was a good
program rendered and all that took parts done well. Brother Frame was
master of ceremonies and performed his part very well. After the morning
meeting there was 3 tables set with plenty of the good things of mother
earth. The tables was well filled twice and plenty left.
Brother Heagh gave a little of Sister Pixton's sacrifice and trials after
obeying the gospel and in Nauvoo and coming across the plains with ox
team. She had two yoke of cattle, two cows and two oxen and had to drive
them herself as Brother Pixton had gone to the Mexican War. She had to do
the best she could and got to Salt Lake alright, well and hearty and very
thankful. And so we spent one of the happiest days for a long time.
Feb. 9 - I was hauling straw to the corral.
Feb. 10 - Hauling manure on Ezra's trees and choring.
Feb. 11 - Went to meeting. We had three missionaries. They all
spoke well for young elders. It was a very cold day. Wife did
not go to meeting.
Feb. 12 - Doing chores. Ezra being sick, I administered to him and
consecrated a bottle of oil. Went down to the old place and burned some
brush along the ditch bank. It was rather damp to burn good.
Feb. 13 - Hauling manure and doing other chores. Ezra gave me five
dollars. He is not feeling well.
Feb. 14 - Went to the store and paid 5 dollars 75 cents and received $3.84 as
cash after expenses paid from the creamery. We had a big snow storm for
this part of country.
Feb. 15, 16 - Choring around. Stormy, cold.
Feb. 17 - Ezra took a notion to screen the wheat and oats. Got about half
bushel of seed. We had to screen the wheat to run outside the bin, then
we screened the oats in the same bin the wheat was in, then put them back in
the same bin, then the wheat in the same bin as it was in before. It was
lots of work for little pay. Charley Morris helped to put the wheat back.
Feb. 18 - Went to meeting, Bishop Bennion presiding. There was a good
spirit prevailing. The bishop called a lot of the young elders to
speak. They done well, I think.
Feb. 19 - Wet and cold. Fell pretty well and also my wife.
Feb. 20, 21 - Choring around. Yet stormy.
Feb. 22 - We had a good time together as a ward. Young and old came
together and the community done their parts well. To make us all happy
our new stake president and others came to enjoy theirselves with the Saints of
Taylorsville and according to their talk they was not deceived. There was
plenty of the good things of earth to eat. The roads are very
muddy. Home in good time. Ezra done chores.
Feb. 23 - Ezra Williams and Jacob Anderson was working the colt, and on
Saturday, Feb. 24th, and I was choring around.
Feb. 25 - Done chores, read a little, then prepared to go to meeting. It
was presided over by Bishop Bennion. After singing I was called to open
with prayer. We had two missionaries, Elders Smith and Cummings.
They done well and we had a good time. Bishop spoke very well. We
came home, had dinner, done chores. Spent the evening reading.
Feb. 26 - After doing our morning duties we went to Brother and Sister Rich for
a visit and after we was there awhile the storm came on but we had a good time
talking about the war and the work of the Lord and how He will open up the way
for the gospel to be preached to the islands of the sea and so on. We had
to come home in the storm but felt well paid.
Feb. 27, 28 - Doing chores. Not feeling very well.
Mar. 1, 1900 - The land very wet after the storm on Monday last, and it seems
unsettled.
Mar. 2 - Choring around and on Sat. Ezra and Grandma went to Salt Lake and
Grandma went to the Relief Society meeting. Had a good time. On the
way home the buggy wheel come off and Grandma stayed in town at Martha
William's and came out Sunday, Mar. 4. I went after her to Murray.
I had to wait over an hour and the wind was blowing hard and the dust was
flying very bad. She came out with the one o'clock car. We did not
go to meeting as Grandma not feeling very well. Came home.
Mar. 5 - Had a big snow storm and wind. It blew as if it was going to
tear things up on Sunday night and this morning it looks like winter but not
cold.
Mar. 6 - I have been sick. Was taken on Wednesday.
Mar. 7 - I was out doing chores and was taken so sick that I could not hardly
come to the house. Wife sent for the elders and after they laid their
hands on me I got much better and am getting along pretty well today, Friday,
and Sat., Mar 10th and my wife has been very good to me in my sickness and so
has Ezra. He has done all the chores since I have been sick.
Mar. 11 - Went to meeting but I was not very well and was under the weather for
quite a while but through the blessings of our kind Heavenly Father I got along
pretty well and got able to do a little work and as the summer came on I got
pretty strong for my age and was able to do quite a bit of work. But I
haven't kept my record going so I thought I would try to do a little today.
I have been trying to do my duty, attend to my prayers and meetings and
administer to the sick when called on and found great pleasure in doing my
duty. As I have been appointed to be a teacher of the high priests in the
Granite Stake I have tried to do my duty in that calling and have tried to live
my religion the best I can.
The boys have settled the land business and have left us eight acres for our
share and promised us six dollars per month so we think they are doing very
well, only do as they prosper. As there's so many things that have past
that I may have forgot so I will quit and start again on the 21 of Oct.
Oct. 22, 1900 - We sold our two hogs to Ted Mackey for 21 dollars and went to
the high priest meeting. We had a good time and after meeting went to
Salt Lake to do a little business. Came back in good time. All
well.
Oct. 28 - Got my chores done. Had prayers and so on. Then had a
rest, then got ready (and) went to meeting. Paid 3 dollars tithing and we
had a good meeting.
Oct. 29 - Got up in the morning and found it storming. It snowed off and
on all day. Ezra T. W. went to West Jordan to a canal meeting of the
South Jordan to settle whether they will go in with Salt Lake to dredge the
lake outlet or not and other business.
Oct. 30 - Went and got three little pigs from Freda and helped Ezra with two
boxes, and other chores.
Oct. 31 - As usual, done chores, had prayers and breakfast and then put dirt
over the potatoes and went over to Joseph's place and done the same.
Nov. 1, 1900 - Very cold day.
Nov. 2 - Done chores. Had prayers, then I was working around tending
water to flood the land as Ezra was trying to wash the salt off the land.
Nov. 3 - Wife and self went to Salt Lake.
Sun. Nov. 4 - Went to meeting, bishop presiding. Had two good
missionaries. Had a good talk on our duties.
Nov. 5 - Attending to the water and helping wife wash.
Nov. 6 - Went after a load of coal and voted. It was very quiet and the
voting went off nicely. All the priesthood in the ward met to organize
our night's meetings to meet quiet together.
Nov. 7 - All's well together, thank our kind Heavenly Father for it.
Through winter wife and myself spend our nights in reading and take great pleasure
in it. Very fine weather we have had of late. I was watering below
the old place.
Nov. 8 - I was choring around and the same on Fri. 9.
Nov. 10 - Took wife to the Relief Society conference held at Taylorsville and I
attended the same.
Today I am very thankful to our Father in Heaven for His great kindness to me
in my sickness. Ezra has been sowing lucern seed and Jacob has harrowed
it.
Mar. 11 - We had a very good meeting, two home missionaries, bishop presided,
quite a turn out and a fine day. Brother and Sister Howell came and paid
us a visit and we enjoyed a social chat. Ezra came over and the two
children sang a few songs which went off well.
Mar. 12 - We planted wheat. Ezra and I sowed it and Jacob harrowed and
marked it out. Some salty land.
Mar. 13 - Jacob is harrowing on the fort and I tried to burn brush but it would
not go, and I, not well, I left. I gave it up and came home and wrote in
journal.
Mar. 14 - I was choring around and helped to fill up a drain ditch and at night
went to the elders quorum. They was organizing the 9th quorum of elders
in the Granite Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
William Bennion president and John Bringhurst and James Garrard counselors.
I got a recommend to go to the House of the Lord. I was home in good
time, well paid.
Mar. 15 - I was choring and J. Fields was digging a place for a box to take out
water from North Jordan canal.
Mar. 16 - I was choring around. My breath is very bad. At night I
and wife and E. T.'s two children all went to the school children's
party. They performed their parts splendid. There (was) a full
house and good order. We walked on and back. The roads was
good. We was home in good time, well paid.
Mar. 17 - Not able to do very much work. My breath's too bad, but I fixed
the bridge across the canal and other chores. Took wife to meeting and
went to the old Folk Mantle after her as it (is) Eliza Mantle's birthday.
She is 90 years today. The two old folks are very feeble. We left
them feeling much better. Got home to do chores.
Sun. Mar. 18 - Went to meeting. The meeting was presided by Bishop
Bennion. Two returned missionaries. They spoke well.
Mar. 19 - Not doing very much. Rather sick. I do what I can.
Mar. 21 - We got up early. Got to Salt Lake in good time to go to the
temple and me and wife had our endowments for my step father and my
mother. We felt well paid.
Mar. 22 - Me and wife went to the temple and was endowed for James and Mrs.
Gibbs the grandfather of my step father. He was pretty old. Elder
Writer ordained James Gibbs an elder and Brother Teasdale sealed them husband
and wife. J. J and Harriet Williams was proxy. We had a good time
and a fine day.
Mar. 23 - Went to temple. Had endowments for my Uncle James Williams and
wife took a temple name for endowments. The name was Mary Shepherd.
A nice day.
Mar. 24 - Went to high priest meeting in the Farmers Ward meeting house.
Gave my genealogy of the ordination to the office of high priest. Good
attendance. After I was home I planted some trees.
Mar. 25 - Went to meeting. We had a jolly good time. As the
authorities of the new stake was out in power it was not a preaching force but
a really sociable gathering and there was a nice spirit all through the meeting
and after meeting went to Brother and Sister (no name). Had dinner, then
went to night meeting. It was the Men's Mutual Improvement meeting and
leaders. Was a good time. Grandma and self walked home and was well
paid for our trouble.
Mar. 26 - Felt pety?. Got the team and commenced to scrape the sand and
grasses from around the house and to plow the lot but I was beat at that.
I had to get Ezra to help as my breath was so bad, but we got over it all
right. I made a path from the house to the well and so on.
Mar. 27 - Got up at 5 o'clock to go to the temple but was taken sick. Had
to come in. Went to bed. Was there all day, but my wife took great
care of me so I got a little better against night. I am very thankful to
Father I am as well as I am.
Mar. 28 - Just a little better. Wrote a letter to Elder Thomas Biton,
Henefer, Summit Co., Utah to try to cheer him up a little bit and wrote in my
journal so I feel much better today, thanks to our Father in Heaven.
Mar. 29 - Not able to do very much work but try to putter and do odd
jobs. Grandma do have good health.
Mar. 30 - I was watering the lawn below canal.
Mar. 31 - Ezra started to sheep camp and two young men with him. They
went to Salt Lake. Jacob took them to the cars and brought trees back.
Sun. Apr. 1, 1900 - Doing chores and wrote in journal. Am a little better
today but far from being well. The two families are well. We are
thinking of going to fast meeting today. We had a very good meeting,
Bishop Bennion presiding.
I have been choring around all the week putting up fences and going to
vote. Sunday the 7th went to conference. Started in good
time. Got a good seat to hear the speakers. The talk was very good
all through, only for us to carry them out. After the meeting it came on
to rain and lasted all the way home. Done chores in good (time) to save
me getting a good wetting as it came on hard at night. It was needed as
the land was very dry. The crops could not come up good.
Sun. Apr. 8 - We had a nice storm of snow and continued most of the day on the
9th of April I was cleaning out the stables and packing straw.
Tue. Apr. 10 - Took oats to store, 550 pounds.
Apr. 11 - Choring around. It's very muddy. J. W. Mantle have one load of
hay.
Apr. 12 - Done chores and went after trees, 6 dollars, paid one dollar, to
Brother Fox's place and when I came back I put in 10 trees around the house and
have 10 more to put in.
At night we went to Brother S. E. Bennion's daughter's wedding. There was
a large crowd of people and everything top rate to eat that could be desired
and a good sociable time. The bishop married them about half past 6.
Then the folks was invited to supper. There was lots of good things. The
bishop asked a blessing on the food. There was several tables full and
then plenty left. After having a good time we broke up our party, got
home about one o'clock. A nice, fine night.
Apr. 13 - Thomas Fields had one dollar's worth of hay and was choring around
and fixing up a little. Rather cold.
Apr. 14 - Put a few trees in and Gord Butterfield had three dollars and 25
cents worth of oats to sow.
Apr. 15 - Went to meeting and called at Brother and Sister Howell's. Had
dinner and a chat, then came home after going to Thomas Field's to administer
to his wife, she being sick.
Apr. 26 - Went over to Murray after coal for Brother Howell, as he had no
time. Got back in good time. Came home, done chores around, got tired.
Apr. 17-19 - Cleaning and plowing ditches up at Joe's and down here. Put
a box in the lucern patch and doing other chores.
Apr. 20 - Making a ditch down alongside the old road and doing other
chores. It's a nice day.
Apr. 21 - Went to Salt Lake. Took some tithing eggs and one dollar cash.
Back in good time.
Apr. 22 - Home all day. Neither myself nor wife feeling very well
today. Cloudy.
Apr. 23 - Cutting potatoes and on Tuesday the 24th. On the 25th of April
Joseph and Jacob Anderson was plowing and I cutting. We finished the
patch and I watered the trees a little. It came a storm. Joseph
came home April 23.
Apr. 26 - It came a storm. It lasted all day.
Apr. 27 - It was very wet and muddy.
Apr. 28 - Went to high priest meeting and then to Salt Lake as wife wanted to
do a little business. Put the mare in tithing yard. Went and had a
little dinner and so on, then got ready to go home. Went and got a few
goods that wife bought. Went back home along the state road. It was
very muddy.
Apr. 29 - Went to meeting, Bishop Bennion presiding. One missionary, he
spoke very well on the gospel. Then Elder Richards spoke on the duties of
the Saints and related some of the sayings of the Prophet Joseph to prove the
safest way to keep from going out of the church to always pray to mind.
Apr. 30 - I was choring around. Joe went to town.
May 1, 1900 - After doing chores, having prayers and breakfast, I went to haul
straw into the corral. Got pretty tired. John W. Mantle had 75
cents worth of hay on time.
May 2 - Hauling straw and other chores. Bro. Ll. Mantle had one load of
hay on time.
May 3 - Fixing boxes and gathering rock.
May 4 - I was watering a little and choring.
May. 5 - Helping Joseph to plant potatoes and watering to try the ditch.
They work well.
May 6 - Went to fast meeting. Bore my testimony. The bishop was
presiding. Was a good meeting. Myself and Jot Harker was requested
to go around the high priests as teachers and so on.
May 7 - Nothing has transpired since this date only doing general farm work
such as ditching, watering and choring around. Our health is good,
considering our age. We thank our Father for his great goodness to us and
for the glorious gospel of Christ. And now it is the 13th. It looks
dark & cloudy.
May 14 - I have been helping to water the lucern and grain. The wheat and
oats look bad. I made a dam across Bingham so the water could run down
the old ditch. The water washes the ditch pretty badly down the fort and
so on.
Myself and wife went to the funeral of the son of John Rupp on May the
17th. There was a good turn out. Elder Painter presided and Brother
Frame, Jr. and choir. They gave us very nice singing. Brother Smith
spoke and J. J Williams and Elder Painter. We had a good time. Went
to the graveyard and then to the store. Elder Lambert opened by prayer
and Elder Ball closed. I have been doing chores and looking after things.
May 19 - I have been putting a bridge across the ditch to the house.
Joseph went to Salt Lake. Wife gone to stay with Hilda, and so this
closes my account until May 19.
May 20, 1900 - Myself and wife went to South Cottonwood to the stake
conference. The house was crowded. Quite a number spoke on tithing
and general principles and on temple work. One said that since the temple
opened that 56,000 have had work done for them. Wife took sick. We
had to come home. It was a lovely day, only dusty.
May 21 - Watering and choring around.
May 22 - Fixing a clothes line and a gate for the garden, or a path to the
house. It's very warm.
May 23 - Fixing a gate and Brother and Sister Rich came and paid us a
visit. Had a good chat.
May 24 - Went to the temple to do work for Brother Rich's friends, (whose)
names were William Munson and Jessee Vich. We enjoyed ourselves very
well. got through in good (time). Went and had dinner, then came
home.
May 25 - I have (been) a little sick for the last few days but I went around some
of the high priests to get their genealogy. On Sat, May 26, I went to the
high priest meeting. Bro. Hinze spoke on the manners and customs of the
Arabs and the people around Jerusalem. Then I went to town with tithing
butter for Sister Howell. Back in good time. Not feeling very
well. Went and lay down. I have not done much work as I don't feel
able to. Ezra came home May 29th. He was well and all at camp.
June 1, 1900 - The first until the 14th I was working around with the haying
business and other chores. Joseph and wife and family started to go north
to Idaho Tue. the 12th of June. Ezra and Thomas Fields, John Cook and
David Cook worked today on the hay. E. T. brought Joe's hogs over here
and today Ezra's cutting. He gave us one dollar and 30 cents today, very
thankfully received. And now we are very thankful to God our Father in
Heaven that we can say all is well at present. The gospel is as sweet as
ever and no fault to find with it nor anybody else and now I quit for this
time.
June 13 - Working on the hay and other chores until June 16. The weather
has been very dry for a long time.
June 17 - Got up, done chores, had prayer, then a little rest. Got ready,
went to meeting, Bishop Bennion presiding. He spoke awhile on the
principles of self control and two of the elders spoke well on the progress of
the Saints.
June 18 - Hauling hay and other chores. Very hot today.
June 19 - Working on the hay. We finished the hay today.
June 20 - Ezra took the North Jordan water at six today and I took the South
Jordan at one o'clock and watered Ezra's lot and lucern below the house.
It's very hot. It's 90 degrees below(?) zero, too hot to work.
June 21 - Done chores and as it's very hot and I am tired, I took a little rest
but all is well. Old Sister Mantle came to see us today.
June 22 - Helping Ezra with his cellar and bringing logs from the old place and
assisting about the place and doing general farm work until Saturday the
30. Then I went to priesthood meeting. Brother Lyman was there and
spoke on tithing and offerings and other things, then went to Salt Lake.
Done our business and back in good time. Done chores, and there endeth
another month. Very glad I am as well as I am although I feel old age
creeping on, yet I am very thankful to Father in Heaven for His goodness to us
both.
Sun. Jul. 1 - Went to fast meeting. Victor Williams baptized by Elder
Gerard, confirmed by Elder Painter. Not very many there but had a good
time. I paid 50 cents to the Latter-Day Saint college and would gladly
paid more it I had it. Paid 50 cents fast offering.
Mon. Jul. 2 - Watering with North Jordan water. Quit at 3 o'clock.
Jul. 3 - I have been choring around the place at one thing and another.
Ezra gave me five dollars and I paid one dollar to the bishop on Sunday, the
8th, towards the college. Went to meeting. Very warm day.
E. T. fetched a load of coal and paid Cahoon and the doctor and other small
bills and today I am choring and E. T. is working on his cellar. I
commenced to hoe potatoes but it's too hot.
Now this is July the 10th and we are all well, for which we thank our kind
Heavenly Father for it.
July 11 - I have been doing general farm work since I wrote last and have not
much to write about but am very thankful that I am well and able to be around
and as this the 21st of July we think to go to a party at the ward house to
comemorate the glorious day the pioneers came to this valley, but it is very
hot.
Parley came home to settle up a little business and to spend the 24th with the
folks. We had a good time.
Hauling hay on Joseph's place on the 25th and 26th and cutting weeds.
On Fri., 27th, I went around the high priests to have a talk with them and let
them know about the high priest meeting and then went to Salt Lake. The
heirs of the estated went to the court house to settle up the estate, as all
three of the boys was home. As they had their own way, I hope all are
satisfied and I quit. I am quite well.
Sun. Jul. 29 - I wrote up my journal today. Parley (has) gone to Sunday
School with Ezra and children. Hot day.
Mon, Jul. 30 - Choring around on the farm. Very hot. Parley went to
camp today, July 31, and I went to the courthouse to "prize" the land
and took Hilda to Salt Lake as well. Came home all right and in good
time.
Aug. 1, 1900 - Ezra marked out the foundation of the back rooms, or shanty, and
started it.
Aug. 2 - Wrote in journal and worked on shanty, putting some concerte and doing
other work. I have been working around, first at one job and then
another, helping to haul hay and putting up wind mills, one at Joe's place and
one at Ezra's. We put the two up in two days. They work pretty well.
We put them up Aug. 13 and 14. It was lots of work. We had to dig 5
feet down in the ground so as to have a good foundation. As Ezra is gone
to sheep camp I have to do all the chores. It keeps me busy and as the
farm work is mostly the same I do not think it worth while to write every day
as we do try to do as near right as we can. And so it is Aug. 15th today.
On the 16th of Aug. the young folks of Granite Stake gave the old folks an
outing to Saltair. We had a good time. The community treated us
well and was very kind to the old folks. May God bless them all. I
think that is the feelings of all the old folks that took part. Now, as I
have wrote some things I quit for this time.
Aug. 18 - Very windy and dry.
Aug. 19 - Went to conference of the Granite Stake at Farmers Ward meeting
house. Bro. F. Taylor presided. The Bro. spoke on the training of
children. There was a good meeting.
Mon. Aug. 20 - Commenced to get the rock out of the old cellar and Joseph oiled
the buggy wheels. I have been choring around until Friday, August
24th. Got up in the morning and found it raining a nice gentle rain which
was a great blessing, as we haven't had any rain all summer. The crops
are light. Grandma's well and hearty and self. Thank our kind
Heavenly Father for His goodness to us.
Sat. Aug. 25 - Went to conference at Farmers Ward. Had a good time.
From now on I have been choring around and helping the masons, as Brother Frame
started to build our shanty.
Joseph got lumber and brick and I, sand, and had to pack water to mix the
mortar with. As August is gone out all right I will begin another month.
Sept. 1 - I was watering with North Jordan. Quit at 3 o'clock Sat. and
packing water for the masons.
Sun. Sept. 2 - Wrote up my journal and prepared for meeting. We had a
good meeting. The young men of the Granite Stake was there to organize
the Improvement work in Taylorsville. At night we had a good lecture from
a young missionary. We walked there and back and was well paid.
Sep. 3 - Brothers Frame and sons working on house. I took the South
Jordan water and other chores around.
Sep. 4 - I still have the water on the lucern east. Lottey Mackey was
buried today.
Nov. 11 - Done chores. Had prayers as we always does, then wrote in my
journal and found I had wrote in the wrong page but it will be correct as I
have wrote it. We are going to meeting if all's well. Had a good
time, Bishop Bennion presiding, and two good missionaries and so on.
Nov. 12 - From today until Nov. 18 I have been choring around, flooding the land
to wash the salt of if we can, helping to heard the bucks. We received
the creamery bill today, 7 dollars pay and 70 cents in cash.
This is conference today at Farmers Ward, but it's too wet and cold for us to
go so we stayed home. Wife went to visit Freda's and Sister Howell and I
are waiting in Jordan. The plowing's all done by Ezra. He hired
Thomas Fields to do it, and help pull the old shed down.
Nov. 19 - I have been doing chores and went to night meeting. The
seventies and high priests will meet with the elders and lesser priesthood for
the winter.
Nov. 20 - Helped Ezra kill a hog. It was pretty cold.
Nov. 21 - Killed one for Joseph. Brother Painter killed it.
Nov. 22 - Helped Ezra with the hog into the wagon and other chores. Had
dinner, then went over to Joseph's place to clear some hay that had fallen
down. It covered 4 bucks. Two of them was dead, the others was
almost gone. Ezra went to Salt Lake & Freda. It seems that
today was a bad one for Ezra as he lost his coat and the bucks dying and one
thing and the other. Makes one think that the old fellow had a hand in
those matters to try ones' faith.
Fri. 23 - I was doing chores and trying to put things right.
Nov. 24 - After choring around I went to priesthood meeting. We had a
good time, Bishop Bennion lectured on the twelve sons of Jacob and the way
Joseph was sold into Egypt, and so on. Then went to Salt Lake and done
our business in good time.
Sun. Nov. 25 - Went to meeting, Bishop Bennion presiding. We (had) two
very good missionaries. They spoke very well.
Nov. 26 - Herding bucks and other chores.
Nov. 27 - Choring around and E. T. is trying to ship bucks.
Nov. 28 - Ezra was gone after his trying to get a car to send the bucks.
I was working around. Fine day.
Nov. 30 - Choring. All well in health, thank God for it.
Dec. 1, 1900 - Herding bucks a little.
Sun. Dec. 2 - All well. Done chores, went to meeting, Bishop Bennion
presiding. We had a good meeting.
Dec. 3 - Minding bucks and other chores.
Dec. 4 - Working around and helped Ezra mark bucks, a fine lot of sheep, good
and fat.
Dec. 5 - We sent the bucks away. Drove them up to Riverton to ship with
Brother Dansey's.
Dec. 6 - Ezra started to build a porch over our door and with chores we
finished it on Fri. 7. It looks well, and on Sat. 8 to town or Salt Lake
with his wife. Back in good time.
Dec. 9 - Went to fast meeting. Was called on to assist to administer the
sacrament with Elder Louis Bringhurst. Two elders spoke on their
experience in the Southern States, showing how they used the tobacco and spit
about the stove.
Dec. 10 - Helped wife wash and wrote in journal. Fixed up a new stove in
the sitting room.
Dec. 11 - All well, thank Father for His mercy to us. We are having very
fine weather. I am still working around, can't hardly see what I am
doing. Ezra's been hauling gravel on the road before the house to make
the road better.
As I have not much to write I quit but I must say that we are trying to live
our religion as well as we can and do attend our meeting and prayers pretty
well.
Dec. 17 - Getting ready to go to the temple tomorrow if all is well.
Dec. 18 - Wife and myself went to temple. Was baptized for 6, Leah D.
Thomas, Enock Thomas, Thomas Williams, Susannah Williams, Even Davis and Mrs.
Margaret Davis. We had a nice day.
Dec. 19 - Today and Thursday and Friday myself and wife had our endowments for
the above named persons. We are very glad we have done the work for them.
Dec. 22 - Wrote in journal and choring around. Fine day.
Sun. Dec. 23 - Went to meeting. Called at Freda's. Had dinner and a
little chat. Came home, done chores.
Dec. 24 - I was just choring around. All's well. I was at the
funeral of Willard Pixton. Was killed in a gravel pit. A sad
affair.
Dec. 25 - Wife was busy preparing for Christmas. Freda Williams and
family was here and Ezra and wife and the children. We all felt well and
plenty to eat, thank our kind Father in Heaven for His great goodness to us,
His children.
Dec. 26 - Went around with Elder Jobe Harker as teachers to the high
priests. They felt well.
Dec. 27 - Done chores and are going to the funeral of Charles Morris's baby,
the bishop presiding. He wished me to dedicate the grave. There was
a good turnout. It was very cold day.
Dec. 28-30 - Ezra went to camp today. Went to meeting. We had a
good talk from 3 returned missionaries.
Dec. 31 - Doing chores. Took Freda some chicken feed and this ends
another year. Am very thankful to Father in Heaven for His great
blessings to us the past year.
Tue., Jan. 1 - Went to the Sunday School doings. It was a very cold
day. Had a good time.
Jan 2,3 - Choring around. The wind is blowing hard.
Jan 4 - Wrote in journal and choring around. Wife making a shirt.
Jan. 5 - I am very well in health and very thankful to our kind Father in
Heaven for sparing my life to see my 67th birthday and in the faith. We
have had a pretty quiet time through the new year and Christmas. Wife has
been sick but is better now a little. Have been choring around up until
today, 15. Had a good time in meeting Sunday. Two good
missionaries. Me and Brother W. Harker administered the sacrament.
There was a very good spirit prevailing. I went after 11 hundred of coal,
2 dollars and 50 cents.
Tue. Jan 16 - Have been choring around at one thing or another.
Jan. 17 - Joseph came from camp. He was 7 days coming home. On
Friday a funeral of Sister Matthews. A large turnout of people.
Jan. 19 - Wrote in journal and other chores. Joe's gone to town.
Jan. 20, (1901) - The time has past away very peaceable and are enjoying good
health and as I am at the end of the book I must quit. It's now the Feb.
4, and all's well with us.
None
Immigrants:
Williams, John J
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