This is a transcribed copy of excerpts from the Edward H. Anderson manuscript of a short history written by Richard Ballantyne. The Anderson manuscript, which consists of the 3rd Account and this appended 2nd Account, is available on microfilm at the following address:

Church Archives, Family and Church History Department 15 East North Temple Street ,

P/O Manuscript MS 2082

Some minor editing for punctuation and spelling has been done. This account, written in 1861, was attached to the end of the 3rd Account, which was apparently written in 1887.

Autobiography of Richard Ballantyne Written on the Oregon Short Line Railroad – 1861 Edward H. Anderson Manuscript [2nd Account]

I was born in Scotland, in a small village named Whitrige Bog, County of Berwick, on the 26th of August, 1817. My father’s name was David Ballantyne and my mother’s name, before marrying, was Ann Bannerman. My father’s occupation was that of a farmer, in which he seems to have excelled, as he became quite wealthy but when he was about seventy years of age, he, with a young and increasing family, were suddenly reduced to poverty. In consequence of having become security for others his property was taken and sold to pay their obligations and in his old age he was reduced to the necessity of earning his bread at common labor. But as age increased upon him he became unable to do much of that and the support of the family gradually came to devolve upon my mother who was forty years the youngest; and the elder children, each and every one of whom willingly devoted their labors to this end. As my father died when I was twelve years of age he being at that time in his 86th year1, as we were deprived of his advice and parental care, but in this, perhaps, our loss was not so great as it might have been as God seems to have taken us under His protection. Though young when he died, as I advanced in years his sayings and devout prayers and example, would occasionally make a deep impression on my mind. Some of his last words peculiarly affected me and have often been the subject of interesting and solicitous consideration. Among the last words were the following: My mouth the praises of the Lord To publish cease shall never; Let all flesh bless His Holy name Forever and forever.

O let Thy work and power appear Thy servant’s face before; And show unto His children dear Thy glory evermore.

These beautiful sentiments have often excited the inquiry in my mind as to whether he had had any intimations from God of the coming forth of the glorious latter-day work. He had at times diving communication and to my mind was evidently of the lineage concerning which the Lord hath said, that their lives have been hid with Christ in God. Be this as it may, a part of the prayer at least, seems to have been heard, and answered. While he had not the pleasure in this state of beholding the work of God, all of us children have seen and embraced it, and I trust, through it, will see His “glory evermore”. My mother was a devoted lamb, a faithful wife, and a loving mother. Her earnest and unceasing toil enabled her to provide a meager education for her children and to respectably clothe them so they could go to meeting and Sunday school. I cannot remember an instance while under her direct care, unless sickness prevented, when I was not taken, or sent, to both, and it never seems to have occurred to my mind that I had a right to stay away from either. Both Father and Mother had a sacred regard for the Sabbath and its religious duties. 2

Having had these advantages of pious parental care, the habit of attending meetings and Sabbath School became, in after year, more of a pleasure than a duty. In fact, in maturer years I have felt that attention to these things have been indispensable to my happiness. A habit had been formed and desires and tastes gradually created which could only have their fullest gratification in these pleasing and profitable associations.

When fourteen years old I was led to take a step which resulted in my acquiring means sufficient to bring my father’s family to the land of Zion; Though religiously educated, I did not receive any manifestations of the Spirit, which I recognized as such, till I was about eighteen. At twenty the Lord appeared to me in vision. It was on thiswise: I had been up sometime before day and was walking and pondering in a retired place upon some unpleasant relations which I then had with other parties. Suddenly I was in an open vision. The personage which I saw was so inexpressibly beautiful and glorious and the diving influence accompanying the manifestation was so sacred and happfying that I dreaded association with the world again, and even my own intimate friends I avoided, fearing for three days thereafter that [the] heavenly influence might depart from me. During this time, my mind was spiritually illuminated to see and understand the condition of the world at large. It seemed as though every man was pursuing after gain and the diverse ways adopted to secure it seemed as various as the multitudes were one. The passion for gain seemed to have such ascendancy over the minds of all that I did not notice the minor influences operating on the minds of mankind.

Gradually this divine influence withdrew and gradually I began again to mingle in the associations of my friends. Time passed on and nothing further of an extraordinary character occurred till the year 1841 when I first heard that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored in America and was being preach in my native land. During the interval between the manifestation and my hearing of the gospel I had enlisted in a Sabbath School enterprise. At that time I was “Ruling Elder” in the Presbyterian Church. And during my visits with the pastor of the Church among the people I was led to see the deplorably neglected condition of the children of a small farm village, the families of which numbered about fifty. Notwithstanding that I felt utterly incapable I resolved through the help of God to establish a Sabbath School among them And what greatly added to my embarrassment was that two of the farmers’ daughters, very highly educated and pious ladies, volunteered to help me. Although much perplexed on account of my own meager ability, I accepted the kind offer, believing their services would be of great benefit to the children. This of course had the effect of stimulating me to unusual efforts that I might be qualified to take the lead and acquire myself with propriety. As Sabbath after Sabbath came round I was at my post having during the week closely applied myself to prayer and the study of the scriptures. God abundantly helped me in my labors, so that I was enabled to both profitably and pleasantly perform my duties. It was while engaged in this labor that I heard of the gospel.

My mind had been partially prepared to receive it through the study of the scriptures, reading dissertations of the conditions of the different churches. And especially through conversations which I had with my own minister who frankly admitted the we needed a “new” church organization. This expression he very emphatically made of to me after an evening’s lengthy and animated discussion respecting our own church organization, ordinances, and discipline, and that of others. It was not long till our faith in the “new organization” was put to the test.

I had a sister residing in Edinburgh, the capitol of Scotland, who in the year 1841 wrote to me that an apostle of Jesus Christ, whose name was Orson Pratt, had visited that city and related to her strange things. She said he told her, and publicly testified, that a new dispensation had been opened up; that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ had appeared in a glorious vision to a young lad named Joseph Smith – that the heavens had been opened to him and the marvelous [message] of God concerning this generation had been revealed and that angels had ministered unto him from time to time, informing him more fully of the glorious work which he was chosen to introduce, that an ancient record had been found in the hill ‘Cumorah” containing the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that in this divine record was found an account of the ancient inhabitants of America, and how that Jesus Christ had appeared to them after His resurrection and had delivered to them His gospel, that God had commanded this prophet to preach the gospel to all nations as a witness, before the “end come”, and that this generation should not all pass away before the end of the world. These, and many other startling announcements, convinced me of the necessity 3 of investigating the work that I might know whether it was of God and true, or of man, and a delusion. If this work be of God, I said no sacrifices can be too great, and if of man, or of the devil, nothing should be so much dreaded. I accordingly gave it that candid, careful, diligent and prayerful consideration which such a grave and momentous subject demanded. For a year my mind was intensely interested in its investigation. I though if such a work was to come forth the ancient prophets and apostles must have left some record of their knowledge concerning it, and accordingly set myself to work to find if they had said anything in relation to it. Over a year’s most earnest study of the Bible, I found that all that my sister had written to me in regard to the work in America had been foretold by the Holy apostles and prophets. The next thing for me to learn was whether Joseph Smith was the man to bring it forth and how could I be satisfied to this? I found that the Saviour had said, and if any man shall do my will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself, and that He also said to Peter, flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee but my Father who is in Heaven.

And shall I then inquire of the Lord? To be sure I should. No man knows the things of God but by the Spirit of God. But, I enquired, is there no other way than by direct revelation from God whereby I might know the truth of his mission? By their fruits ye shall know them, said the Saviour. And, A tree is known by it’s fruits. If therefore the fruit be good the tree also must be good. If the fruit be evil, then the tree also must be evil. And if Joseph Smith were a true prophet, his fruits would show it. What then were his fruits? He said the gospel had been restored. Was it the gospel of Christ? Were the fruits of it the same in the believer, and did they receive the same testimonies as the ancient saints? And did their lives correspond with their profession? On careful inquiry, I found most satisfactory evidences to all my enquiries. What more could I do? Go forth and be baptized for the remission of my sins that I might receive the testimony of the Holy Ghost.

This I did on the [blank] December 18422. After the laying on of the hands of the elders I received the Holy Ghost as had been promised and by it I learned that all my former education had been tinctured with error and that I must be as a little child that I might learn the things of God.

The distance between the village of Earlstown, where was my home, and where I was engaged in business, and Edinburgh, the capitol of Scotland, was about thirty miles. Thither I had gone to be baptized by[blank] and there, in the waters of Leith, by moonlight, I was baptized by Elder Henry McEwan. On the Sabbath following, I was confirmed, in public meeting, by Elder Charles Miller and ordained a Priest. On my return home the people of the village had their curiosity excited and they looked upon me with [a] strange feeling of superstitious fear lest I might in any way [be] contaminated, and they generally kept aloof from me. My business suffered in consequence, but I had many real friends who did not feel to entirely cast me off because of my religion, and to them I was indebted for that patronage and kindness which enabled me about a year after my baptism to sell out and leave for Nauvoo. Soon after my baptism my pastor turned to me a cold shoulder for, after reading the Book of Mormon which I handed to him, he prepared himself to fight against the work of God. His name was William Durie. He had two sisters who also read the Book and partially believed it, but his influence poisoned their minds so that they would not receive and obey. Their names were [blank] and Jennet.

Shortly after my baptism I had Elder James D. Ross come and stay with us for a few weeks that the people of the village, who numbered about twelve hundred, might have an opportunity of hearing the gospel. He preached and testified a number of times to large congregations but they soon turned away from his preaching and only a few continued to investigate, but none were baptized The opposition became very active and bitter, chiefly through the efforts of Mr. Durie, who, aided by the Secession minister, preached publicly against the work.

My situation at this time was far from being desirable. I had held a respectable position in society and now my name was “cast out as evil” and my society shunned. The few friends who were enquiring after the truth would come, like Nicodemus, by night, but after Brother Ross left, there was no champion to publicly defend the right, and, though I had immediately after confirmation been ordained a Priest, I had no special 4 mission given me, and I was too timid to step forward as a public preacher. I did, however, teach and bear my testimony to all who either invited me to their homes or came to mine.

As the time fixed for my departure to the “Land of Zion” drew near, almost all the people began to manifest a sympathy for us. Before this time my mother and my sister Jane, who kept house for me, together with sister Annie, who resided in Edinburgh, had also been baptized. (My elder brothers, William and Henry, by my father’s first wife, together with their sister Margaret, had also become member of the church and died in Scotland.) Some of the neighbors there used much persuasion to get us to renounce our religion and remain with them. They thought we were deluded and would gladly have seen us renounce the faith But our purpose was fixed, and when they found that they could not change our determination, they promised us aid to return if we should find out that we had been deceived when we should arrive at Nauvoo, then the gathering place of the Saints and the home of their prophet.

We left the home that had been endeared to us by many pleasing associations on the last of August, 1843, amid the tears of the people and many expressions of regard for our future welfare. We also were deeply affected and wept as we took a last look at the people and the place.

I arrived in Nauvoo with my mother, my brother Peter and my two sisters, on the 11th of November, 1843, having come by way of Liverpool and New Orleans. The day after our arrival, I met a stranger on Main Street whose divine influence I felt as he passed, and the Spirit said, “that is a man of God.” I afterwards learned that this was Brigham Young, the President of the Twelve Apostles.

The city of Nauvoo at that time contained about ten thousand inhabitants and was built in a lovely bend of the Mississippi River. Along the river there was a plain but the eastern part and the temple was on a beautiful eminence or table land This city had been built and settled by the Saints only about three years, yet it contained many excellent houses, the chief of which was the residence of the prophet. It was named “the Nauvoo Mansion.” A house called the “the Nauvoo House” was being built, by revelation, for the accommodation of the weary traveler where he might rest and contemplate the glories of Zion and the work of God. This, when completed, was designed to be a large and magnificent brick house. See Book of Covenants, page [blank].

The city was a sacred place. Here many a weary saint had come for rest and peace. Here was the seat of the First Presidency of the Church and the home of the Twelve Apostles. Here many a revelation had been given, the chief of which was the revelation on “Celestial Marriage.” Here, the Prophet and Patriarch of the Church were arrested to be taken to Carthage, where they were slain by a ruthless mob. Here the last speech of the prophet was delivered to his afflicted people and here were uttered those ominous and prophetic words which he spake as he gave them the parting look. “I go as a lamb to the slaughter and it shall yet be said of me, he was slain in cold blood.” After their martyrdom in Carthage, all the twelve Apostles, who were nearly all absent from Nauvoo, convened together in council and it was determined in general and special conference that the twelve Apostles should be sustained as the First Presidency of the Church. Under their direction the temple was finished and dedicated in the fall of 1845 and during the winter, endowments, baptisms and sealings were administered in it. But the wrath of the mob was again aroused and early in the spring of 1846 the Saints were compelled to leave Nauvoo and wend their way to the Rocky Mountains. The first company crossed the Mississippi River into town on the ice. This was about the middle of February.

I remained in Nauvoo during the summer attending to business for Apostle . Sometime in July I had occasion to go to[blank] Hill in company with Phineas and Brigham Young [Jr.], and James [Standing]. On our way home we were pursued by an armed mob which had congregated in Pontusic, about ten miles above Nauvoo. While watering our horses in the Mississippi River about two miles below the town just mentioned, we were overtaken by these [blank] and ordered to return with our wagon to the town. As we questioned their right and asked for their authority for thus interfering with us on the public highway, a red haired ruffian presented a cocked revolver at my face and said, “God damn your God damned soul; that is my authority.” Finding it useless and even dangerous to attempt reasoning with them, we quietly submitted and returned to the town and blasphemous oaths. As we entered the public square we were ordered by a large backwoodsman whose name was “Old Wimp,” to unhitch our horses. They had but little to say to us, 5 evidently not having matured their plans as to our final disposition They squatted around in groups on the square, a portion of them occasionally retiring to mature their future purposes in relation to us. About two in the afternoon we were taken to a large storage room at the steam boat landing and there kept till dusk in the evening. Then an armed body of men on horseback, some [blank], arrived and ordered us to hitch up our team and go with them. When we were ready, they escorted us up the river on the public road about a mile and then turned into the woods, traveling an obscure and narrow path about a mile further where we came to an open place in the woods about fifty feet in diameter. Here we were ordered to halt and again unhitch our teams after which [we] were ordered into the wagon. It was now dark and quite a cold night for July and, having no bedding [and] only thin summer clothes, we suffered some from the cold. It could not, of course, be expected that we would sleep under the circumstances we were then in – not only shivering with cold but being intensely anxious as to our future fate.

To better understand our situation and that of the saints at this time, I may state that the most of them had left Nauvoo and the surrounding country for the Rocky Mountains and but a few of the poorer class still remained in the city and on their farms. The Twelve Apostles, the High Council, and the General Authorities of the Church, with a host of the members, were passing through Iowa on their way to the Rocky Mountains. Being thus weak and defenseless on account of their scattered condition, some were occasionally subjected to [the] most brutal treatment. While harvesting their [crops] they were fallen upon by their enemies and unmercifully beaten because, in their necessity, they were obliged to harvest their crops in order to aid them to an outfit that they might be able to leave the state and follow in the wake of their exiled brethren and sisters For these violent outrages upon the helpless, a few of the mob had been arrested by legal authority and taken to Nauvoo for trial. The arrest of these ferocious scoundrels caused great excitement in Hancock and neighboring counties and the mob, by which we were thus outrageously taken, had convened in Pontusic to deliberate on the situation and devise measures of intolerant persecution that the then remaining saints might either be exterminated or forcibly driven from the state.

Such being, in brief the situation, we had very unpleasant forebodings in relation to what they might do with us. As day began to dawn upon us, we and our guard were suddenly startled by a distant noise from the rushing of horses and wagons coming from the direction of Nauvoo and apparently nearing the town of Pontusic, which we had left the night before. Then a report from the firing of one or two guns and as the sound of the horses and wagons drew nearer, an uproar was heard in the little village, which for time being seemed to be the headquarters of the mob in Hancock County. At the first sound of the alarm our guard ordered us out of our wagon into a hollow circle around which were stationed these excited and murderous fiends. Surmising that the noise and tumult were occasioned by a rescuing party of our brethren from Nauvoo, they stood armed and ready to execute any order that might be given for our destruction. “Old Wimp” who had command, said, “Hold on, boys, till I see what’s the matter.” And [he] immediately rushed towards the scene of confusion. Great consternation had evidently by this time seized the mob and people of the village, for we could now hear their excited, clamorous voices distinctly. In less than an hour “Old Wimp” rushed back to the camp and in a fearfully excited condition announced to the guard that the had taken the town. Expecting an immediate order for our execution, Phineas H. Young sprang to “Old Wimp”, and clenching him by the arm, plead for mercy. Hesitating a moment, he uttered a fearful oath and said, “If you will follow me, I will save you.” Then, looking to the guard, [he] gave marching orders and commanded us all to follow. In a moment he struck out to the eastward up a heavily timbered ravine and halted on an eminence in the timber after we had traveled about two miles. From hence runners were sent out to reconnoiter. In about half an hour they returned and talked secretly of what they had learned.

Note: What is written in this book was written on the railroad in 1861. I mean the Oregon Short Line, but poor health stopped me from writing more at that time. My purpose was to publish an account of my life.

I make this note this 9th day of July 1894. s/ Richard Ballantyne

1Richard thought his father was born in 1743, so by his reckoning this would be 1829.

2Edinburgh Branch records show the date as 30 October, 1842.