Huntington Family History Ancestors of Ray & Jacklyn King

Coat of Arms of Samuel Huntington

Compiled by Howard Wood, 7 Dec 2017

Table of Contents

William Huntington (17841846) Page 3 Son of William Huntington & Presendia Lathrop Wife, Zina Baker (m. 1805) Obituary notice written by his son, Page 63 Oliver B. Huntington

Oliver Boardman Huntington (1823-1907) Page 67 Son of William Huntington & Zina Baker Wife, Mary Melissa Neal (m. 1845) Compilation of short sketches and journals, Page 102 commenced December 10th 1845.

George William Huntington (1848-1926) Page 129 Son of Oliver Huntington & Mary Neal Wife, Sarah Elizabeth Sprouse (m. 1870)

Sarah Elizabeth Sprouse Page 131 Daughter of John Sprouse & Catherine Ann Wooldridge Hundley Wife to George William Huntington

Huntington Family in England and America Page 134

Samuel Huntington (1731-1796) Page 139 Son of Nathaniel Huntington & Mehetabel Thurston Wife, Martha Devotion (m. 1761)

Journal of William Huntington (17841846) Son of William Huntington & Presendia Lathrop Wife, Zina Baker (m. 1805)

William Huntington is the Great grandfather of Rosetta Huntington, who is the grandmother of Ray & Jacklyn King

Typescript, HBLL. This version edited for standard grammar.

[p.1] (On flyleaf) October 11, 1845, [I] received my appointment as a captain to lead a company of 100 families up into the wilderness.

My parents were born in Tolland, Tolland County, state of Connecticut. [They] moved into New Grantham, Cheshire County, state of New Hampshire soon after the close of the war with Great Britain [the Revolution]. I was born March 28, 1784, in New Grantham, Cheshire County, state of New Hampshire. [I] lived there with my parents until February 1804. My father then moved with his family to Watertown, Jefferson County, state of New York, in the fall of 1806.

I returned to my native land and was married to Zina Baker who was born May 2, 1786, in the town [?] of Plainfield County and state aforesaid [New Hampshire]. I was married December 28, 1806 [and] moved to Watertown, [Jefferson] County and state aforesaid [New York]. [I] was prospered in the things of this world until 1811. I sold my farm, had possession of it for one year [when] war was declared in 1812, which was unfavorable to me. Sickness and death came into my family. One scene of misfortune after another rolled upon me until I was reduced low as to property. In 1816, Providence smiled on me again. I continued to be prospered until 1835.

In 1816, I experienced religion, as was called in those days, united with the Presbyterians [and] walked with them some fourteen years in good standing. In said time, the spirit of the Lord called my mind into action in various respects. First: to abstain from all intoxicating liquors, hot drinks and tobacco. When I had accomplished this great object, my mind was then in a situation to look into the situation of the churches which were extant upon the face of the earth. I found the Prophet is or had seen what should come in the last days. That darkness should cover the Earth and gross darkness, the minds of the people.

About 1832, I was moved upon by the spirit of God to look into the situation of the churches. I found the ordinances changed [and] the covenants broken. The fear of [p.2] God was taught by [the] precepts of men. They had a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof. From such things, I felt my duty to turn away. I withdrew from the church [Presbyterians][and] stood alone. I searched the scriptures daily. [I] found the faith once delivered to the saints was not among men. The power of the priesthood was lost. In searching the scriptures and history, I found where it [the priesthood] was gone or, in other words, John the Revelator said it had gone into the wilderness. I found in searching the scriptures, that the Church should return, bringing with her the gifts and graces as it formerly had in the Apostle's day. I boldly advocated the gospel as our Savior taught it in his days or as the Apostles taught.

I told the people I believed I should see a church in my day based on the gospel plan as was in the Apostle's days. In this frame of mind I stood for some two or three years anxiously contending for the faith once delivered to the saints.

In 1833, I found the Book of Mormon. I read the book, believed in the book [and felt] that it was what it was represented to be. My mind thus being prepared to receive the gospel accordingly, in the month of April 1835, myself and my wife both united with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.

Here I will note something relative to my temporal concerns. I owned a good farm of nearly two hundred acres of land; one hundred and thirty acres under good improvement, in high state of cultivation; one good stone house; two good barns and other buildings; a large stock of cattle, horses, carriages [and] farming utensils.

Nearly out of debt, in comfortable situation as I could ask for, to make us comfortable in life. In short, I never saw the time that I was in as great prosperity as I was when I united with the Saints.

In August 1836, I sold my farm for $3,500, which was one thousand less than value. In two months time, I disposed of my stock, produce, farming utensils, closed all my business and on the first of October 1836, I left my home [and] arrived at [p.3] Sackets Harbor [the] same day. The next day a severe storm took place which detained us in the harbour until the 7th of October. We then went on board a steamer, sailed to Genesee River [and] went to Rochester [New York].

[We] took a canal boat to Buffalo [New York]. There we took another steamer for Fairport [Ohio], from thence by land to Kirtland, which place we arrived 11th of October 1836. 3

We arrived in Kirtland at the time of great prosperity with the Church, as it was called.

[I] witnessed the rise of the bank [Kirtland Safety Society]. At the same time I purchased 40 acres of land with a good two story house nearly finished, one mile south of the [Kirtland] Temple. [I] witnessed the fall of the bank [Kirtland Safety Society] [and] the downfall of Kirtland in every sense of [the] word. The spirit of dissension took place with many of the first elders in the Church. A spirit of persecution took place which broke up the Church. All the heads of the Church were driven from the place by the dissenters to the state of Missouri.

While I remained in Kirtland, I endeavored to sustain the Presidency, the bank and all the ordinances of the Lord's house. In the fall of 1837, I received an appointment in the High Council. [I] served as a councilor until the Church was broken up in September 1837. Myself and wife returned to Watertown, [New York], to visit our friends together for the last time. [We] found them generally much opposed [to] the Gospel. [We] returned to Kirtland finally, [During] the breaking down of Kirtland. In consequence of a mortgage which was on the farm, I bought of Jacob Bump, who failed in property or in consequence of his [Bump's] becoming a dissipated, dishonest dissenter, I lost my land which cost me three thousand dollars. In this situation I was suddenly reduced to a state of poverty. In this situation it became necessary for me to remove with the rest of the Church to the state of Missouri.

I had neither team, nor money. Consequently, Brother Oliver Snow loaned me the use of a pair of oxen to put onto my wagon, as I had a double and single wagon left with a poor old mare 20 years old.

In the single wagon, [p.4] after having sold most of our household furniture, bedding and clothing exempted, I boxed up most of our bedding and clothing with my iron tools [and] sent them by water and [I] never have seen or heard of them since. Sister Ives loaned me $32 and in this situation I left Kirtland on the 21st of May 1838.

We were eight weeks and three days on our journey to Far West. [We] arrived there the 18th of July 1838. During our journey, I drove an ox team and traveled on foot the whole distance, except when we forded streams of water. We were blessed with good health and no misfortune on our journey which was nearly one thousand miles. To my great joy, I found my son, Dimick [Huntington], and family in Far West who went from Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, in the season of 1836. When we arrived in Far West, I had not one cent to help myself with, but went to work by days to get something to subsist on. I labored in Far West about one month, procured some provision for my family and as there was a settlement commenced by the Brethren in AdamondiAhman, Daviess County, [Missouri], it was thought advisable for me to settle there.

I went myself to Diahman [AdamondiAhman] to build me a house. Soon after I commenced laboring the place, the difficulty took place with the mob which caused us much trouble. I was nearly one month trying to build me a house for my family who were at Far West. I slept in my clothes with my rifle in my arms nearly one month. Day times we labored what we could with our arms and ammunition by our sides, while others were on scouts ranging timber and prairies, watching the movements of the mob who were expected on us every hour.

Thus we labored day and night.

On the 1st of October 1838, I removed my family to AdamondiAhman. The war became more severe. We were under the necessity of calling on the brethren at Far West for help until they were under the necessity of calling on us at Diahman for all the forces to be sent to Far West. So the state [Missouri] called all the

7 militia out and concentrated [p.5] their forces against Far West. Their forces consisted of about seven thousand strong.

The Church was under the necessity of laying down their arms and of giving up the First Presidency and others as may be seen in the history of the persecution which took place about the first of November. About the time I removed my family from Far West [October 1838], the Church purchased a grist mill of Judge Morin of Daviess County. We removed the mill to Diahman, repaired the mill, got it in operation and did first rate business. About the time the war became severe, the mill was just in operation. I was appointed to take charge of the mill. [I] also was appointed commissary of the army [and] had the charge of distributing all the provision to the Church. Such as meal and meat tallow and c [etc?] during the stay of the Church in Diahman.

After the surrender of the Church in Far West, troops were sent from Far West to Diahman for the purpose of completing the destruction of Diahman. Accordingly on the 8th of November 1838, we were ordered, as our flourishing little town had the day before been filled with [Missouri] troops, to march out and leave our wives and children behind and go down into the bottom prairie. [We] were ordered to form a hollow square. There we stood until the army had formed all around us. Some behaved decently, others scoffed, made derision [and] some were painted making a horrid and frightful appearance.

I had with me in the ranks, three of my sons; William, Oliver and John. After this military display, we were ordered to lay down our arms, swords and pistols not exempt, and marched off from the ground leaving all our arms behind. We were escorted back to our village, were ordered to form a line by [the] side of a fence and there in a defenseless state, stand and receive their abuse by cocking their pieces and threatening our lives with instant death for the term of two hours. We were then dismissed with orders to appear at eight o'clock the next morning before General [Robert] Wilson's tent for further orders. 8

We appeared in the morning before [p.6] the General's quarters. We there received our orders to leave our homes and lands in ten days, go to Caldwell County or Far West. This was on the ninth of November. Cold weather there. We were permitted to stay and leave the state of Missouri in the spring before [the] time to put in crops.

We accordingly set about this work which was very difficult, as many of our brethren were prisoners at Far West or were at Richmond, [Missouri] for sham trials. We accomplished the work in the time, with the exception of three or four families, one blind man, some widows and c [etc?].

I left Diahman the 18th of November 1838, arrived in Far West [on the] 26th of November. Before we left Diahman, General Wilson appointed a committee of twentyfour men, 12 Mormons and 12 citizens of Daviess County, to sell all our business ware, to have three winter months to collect our stock and grain and get out of the county. No other Mormon was to come into the county upon penalty of death, myself one of the committee.

After my arrival in Far West with my family, I was notified there was diligent inquiry and search for me to take me to Richmond. I accordingly left my family immediately and went to King Follett's [to] stay three days. [I] had not left my family but a few minutes, when three men arrived at the door, inquired for me under arms [and] searched the house for me. [I] was not found by them.

After my absence from my family three days, I received my permit to go to Daviess County. I will insert my individual pass out of the county and state.

I permit Wm. [William] Huntington to remove from Daviess to Caldwell County, there to remain during the winter or to pass out of the state. November 9, 1838 R. Wilson Brg. Gen. By F.G. Cockner, Aide

I will now insert [another] permit.

I permit the following persons as a committee on the part of the Mormons to pass and repass in and through the county of Daviess during the winter to wit Wm. Huntington, John Reed, Benjamin S. Wilbur, Mayhew Hillman, Z. Wilson, Elijah B. Gaylord, Henry Herriman, [p.7] Daniel Stanton, Oliver Snow, Wm. Earl, Wm. Hayle and Henry Humphrey upon all careful business. November 18, 1838 R. Wilson Brg. Gen. Commanding By F.G. Cockner, Aide

We immediately organized, myself acting as foreman. We labored in the county four weeks, collected many of our cattle, horses, sheep, wagons and other property. Ascertained where the fields of corn were belonging to the brethren, the number of acres and the amount of bushels of corn, as near as we could calculate, which amounted to 29,465 bushels, we lost. We hauled some out in the four weeks we were permitted to do business in the county. Though we were by our permit allowed the privilege of doing business during the winter, at the expiration of one month, we were ordered out of the county as our lives would not be safe. Accordingly, we close[d] up all business and left at the expiration of the time. I saw the last Mormon out of Diahman the morning I left the county.

It became necessary [that] Brother Hale and myself should go from Diahman to Horns [Haun's] Mill. [We] called out Esq. Folle to see a man who it was said was there. It was, as is termed, their Law day. His office was crowded with mob characters. Here I met with a man who threatened my life on inquiring the way to Horns [Haun's Mill]. [I] was told it was three miles beyond hell and if I would go on, I should get into hell before night. [I] was threatened to be tied to a tree on Chaw Bank, as the mob were in the habit of tying the brethren up to trees and whip[ping] them even to death.

We were advised by a female to leave the county immediately, as she knew their [the mob's] intentions were to kill all Mormons who were not out of the county that day. Accordingly, we gave up the idea of going to Horns [Haun's] Mill and turned for Far West. Sun two hours up at night. As cold a day as there was that winter. This was the 10 night before Christmas. We were 18 miles from Far West [and] we were in Far West a little after dark. The same evening we suffered severely with the cold. [p.8] This closed all business in Daviess County. What was not got from there was lost.

I remained in Far West, had the care of the provision[s] we got from Daviess [County] and dealt it out to the brethren. The mob in the meanwhile, were taking every opportunity of availing themselves of the brethren's property by telling [that on] such a day, that the mob would be in to kill and burn, which induced many to sell property at its value to get means to remove out of the state.

About this time, the Legislature of the state made a small appropriation of provisions and clothing for the relief of [the] distressed, which was an imposition on the people. This distribution took place on the 25th [of] January [1839].

Our case now became alarming. It appeared the inhabitants were determined to strip us of all means of getting out of the state. The Church then took into consideration the situation of the brethren. A committee was then appointed on the 2nd day of February 1839, for the purpose of adopting such measures as was best calculated to affect this great object. Accordingly, I was appointed on said committee and acted as foreman. We organized, drew a covenant or article of agreement in which most of the people of the Church signed, binding ourselves to the extent of all our available property over and above what was necessary for the removal of our families to be put into the hands of the committee for the purpose of the removal of [the] poor.

The Church therefore put into the hands of the committee, all their best furniture [and] farming utensils. Many sold their farms, put in the avails in part; others put in money and in consequence of the sale of lands in Jackson County, we were enable to remove all the poor who had a desire to leave the state of Missouri into the state of Illinois.

I continued in business in Far West until the thirteenth day of April 1839, when in council it was thought advisable for me to leave. Accordingly, on the thirteenth day of April 1839, I left Far West with my family. We had a prosperous journey. We crossed the Mississippi River into [p.9] the state of Illinois on the 25th of April 1839. [We] went four miles east of the city of Quincy to my son Dimick's [Dimick Huntington], who at that time was living with his family in a house belonging to Judge [Rufus] Cleveland.

Here I will say something relative to my son Dimick's case. In consequence of his having been in what was called the Crooked River Battle, where a number of the mob were killed, which infuriated the mob against our brethren, it was thought advisable for all who were in the battle at the time the mob came into Far West, that they should flee accordingly. At the time the mob were coming into one side of the city, Dimick [Huntington] and four other of the brethren were passing out of the other side [of the city] in sight of the mob. Dimick took command of the company. He led them [on] a northeast course through timber and prairie. The cold ground covered part of the time with snow. [They] forded streams, also the Des Moines River. Said company were on horseback [and] crossed the Mississippi [River] near Fort Madison, [Iowa], into Illinois. [Dimick Huntington] went down to Quincy, [Illinois], hired Judge Clevlin [Rufas Cleveland]. [Dimick] gave him his horse to come to Far West after his family and bring them to him at the Judge's place of residence in Quincy, where I now am with my son, Dimick. [I] stayed with him [Dimick Huntington] and family at the house of Judge Cleveland] until the 10th of May 1839.

Sidney Rigdon and others, by the direction and council of Joseph [Smith], had made a small purchase of [land from] Doctor Isaac Gamland [Galland] at Commerce, [Illinois], sixty miles up the river, as a place for the Saints to gather again. Accordingly on the 10th of May [1839], I commenced journeying up the river for Commerce as was then called, since called Nauvoo.

I arrived in Nauvoo, [Illinois] on the 14th of May, 1839. Here I will say Brother Joseph's [Joseph Smith] family were taken from Missouri to Judge Cleveland's house, into his family. [They] remained there until Brother Joseph made his escape from the enemy [and] came to his family in Quincy, or at Judge Clevelin [Cleveland's].

I left Quincy at the same time Joseph and family left for Commerce. After our arrival in Nauvoo, my family were blessed with good health and prosperity until the 24th [p.10] of June 1839. My wife was taken sick with the chills and fever. She lived until the 8th of July [1839] and expired age 53. My daughter Zina was taken sick the 25th of June [1839], myself was taken sick on the 27th of June [1839] [and] Oliver was taken sick the 1st of July [1839]. John then, was the only one in the family, excepting William D. who then lived with Brother Joseph [Smith], who were able or who followed their mother to the grave [they were able to attend to her burial]. Thus on the 8th of July [1839], myself, Zina and Oliver [are] all confined to the bed, my companion taken from me and consigned to the grave in a strange land and in the depth of poverty. We continued in this situation until the 16th of July, 1839 when John was taken sick, thus the whole of my family living with me were now sick and confined to our beds.

My case became alarming, my life despaired of, our means exhausted; but [because of?] the fear of the brethren in the place, [who] were all poor and at this time becoming sick; my case was taken into consideration. It was thought advisable to break up my family as the house we lived in was an unhealthy place and would most certainly result in the death of us all. Thus on the 28th of July, 1839, we were taken from our house and were distributed in three families.

Myself and Zina were taken to Brother Joseph's [Joseph Smith's house], Oliver to Brother Hyrum Clark's and John to Brother Gad Yale's and in the time we were thus situated, William D, as he was living at Brother Joseph's, was Joseph Smith moved to the Homestead at Nauvoo, a log house taken sick and his life despaired of, yet on the eastern bank of the the Lord in mercy appeared in our Mississippi River, after escaping behalf. We all began to mend. So much from Missouri in April 1839. [so], that on the 20th of August, 1839, we all were removed to Hyrum Clark's who, in the time we were in his family, went to England on a mission.

Sister Clark's family were all taken sick and nine of us would have ague and fever in a day. Still the Lord was merciful to us all. We continued to recover. On the 28th of September 1839, we then removed into a house which Dimick B. and William D. [Huntington] built on Dimick’s lot for my family. Said house had neither door, floor, chimney, nor window.

Most all sick around us. In this situation I was placed and not one of us could cut a stick [p.11] or bring a pail of water from the river when our ague and fever was on us. My sons were kind. As soon as was convenient, our cabin, which was 12 feet square, was made comfortable. Here I found, in drawing contrast, I had passed from a state of affluence worth thousands, down to the lowest state of poverty; even to be in debt and nothing to pay my debts. My companion [was] gone, who had passed with me through all our trials and scenes of afflictions by water, by land, in war in Missouri, in moving to this place, in her sickness, to her death and never murmured, nor complained. We felt to bear all our afflictions for Christ's sake, looking forward for the recompense of reward as did Paul through the goodness of God.

I now had the remainder of my family with me and no means, no provision, to live on; only as my sons and brethren helped us from

14 meal to meal, until the Lord opened the way that I got trusted for some provision by a citizen whose name was Davison Hibbard.

At a conference in Nauvoo [the] 1st Tuesday in October 1839, I was appointed as one of the High Council. I will note that from the 27th of June [1839] to the 27th [of] January, 1840, I was not able to do a days work. On the 27th of January I was able to go with my sons on the ice, up the river to the islands and drive a team for two weeks. Thus my health continued to improve.

In the spring [1840] I went to work at stone masoning. I continued to live in Dimick's [Huntington] house with my children, my daughter Zina keeping house for me until [the] 29th of September, 1840. I was then married to the widow Lydia Partridge. She was the widow of Edward Partridge, who was appointed first Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints and remained Bishop until his death [on] the 30th of September [1839]. I moved with my family which consisted of three, Zina, Oliver B. and John D. Huntington, into the house, or family, with her [Lydia Partridge's] family which consisted of five; Eliza, Emily, Caroline, Lydia and Edward in the last of the month of September 1840.

The ordinance of baptizing for the dead was instituted in the Church on the 11th of October, [1840]. I was baptized [p.12] for my mother Precienda [Prescindia] Huntington. October 12th, [1840] the Church commenced the work of tithing by quarrying stone and drawing them for the purpose of building a house to the Lord. March 7, 1841 my daughter Zina was married to Henry Jacobs.

March 8th, 1841 The Saints commenced laying the foundation stone of the Lord's house in the city of Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois. Said house on the ground is 128 feet in length and 88 feet in width. The city was divided into ten wards. Each ward works once in ten days. Consequently, there are laborers every working day of the week.

The 5th of April, [1841] The wall [of the Nauvoo Temple] was raised five feet, was in readiness to receive the cornerstone for hewed stone of the basement story.

The 6th of April, 1841 The four cornerstones were laid down with military display. The [Nauvoo] Legion were under arms. An able address [was] delivered by Sidney Rigdon. It was calculated there were ten thousand people present at the celebration. I will here state [that] I was one who assisted in laying the first stone that was laid in the bottom of the foundation of the [Nauvoo] Temple and also was one selected with others in laying the four cornerstones at, or on the 6th of April, 1841.

April 11th, 1841 Joseph [Smith] and Sidney [Rigdon] baptized each other for the remission of their sins as this order was then instituted in the Church. Accordingly, on the 27th of April [1841], I was baptized for the remission of my sins. Also, on the same day, was baptized for my brother Hyrum Huntington.

May 23rd [1841] Was baptized for my mother's father John Lathrop and her grandfather Gray. May 27th, 1841 Was elected Captain of a company of silver grays in the Nauvoo Legion.

May 29th, 1841 Was baptized for my mother's mother and also for my mother's grandmother Gray.

June 13th [1841] Was baptized for my grandfather Huntington and his wife and also [p.13] for Samuel Huntington, who signed the Declaration of Independence of the United States. All affairs of the Church move on in harmony and prosperity through this summer and fall. The work on the house of the Lord is prospering. The basement story almost up. Sickness and deaths much less than it was last year. The Twelve [members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles] return[ed] from England in prosperity. [We've] a great 16 flood of emigration from the states, Canada and Europe. My family blessed with health, with the comforts of life and peace through this year 1841. [I] will state also [that] the institution of tithing has been carried into effect in the course of the year 1841 to great amount by paying a tenth of labor [on the Nauvoo Temple] and also a tenth of all we possess, means to a great amount [that] has been handed over to the TrusteeinTrust for the purpose of building the house of the Lord. This is up to the 15th of January, 1842.

January 5th, 1842 I commenced carting stone for the [Nauvoo] Temple and continued so to do through the year. No great event transpired with me or my family. [We] have been blessed with health and the comforts of life.

My children all have been blessed for the year. The Church has been prospered [and Nauvoo] has had great immigration. Joseph [Smith] has been acquitted from Missouri writs [and] thus ends the year 1842.

The Church, myself and family all in prosperity up to April 16th, 1843. This day, April 16th, 1843, came to hand some resolutions which I passed some time with myself on account of accumulating habits I had for a long time, been slave to. In common with others in July 1827, [I] resolved that I would not drink any more strong drink. In July 1831, [I] resolved that I would not drink any more hot drinks. In January 1832, [I] resolved that I would not use cider, strong beer, wines or anything of an intoxicating nature. In February 1832, [I] resolved that I would not use any more tobacco. This day I can of a truth say all those resolutions have been strictly adhered to by myself up to this date, April 16th, 1843.

Through this year, I have labored cutting stone [p.14] constantly. No important event with my family has occurred. [I] have bought a lot of the committee [and] am to give 400 dollars and in 18 months [have] supported my family and paid for my lot. Myself, family and the Church have been blessed through the year 1843.

January 1st, 1844 The affairs of the Church have (been) very prosperous through the winter with the exception of a scarcity of provision at the [Nauvoo] Temple. The committee recommended to the stone cutters to go out into the branches and preach to the people the necessity of pay[ing] in their tenth. I went over the [Mississippi] River into Iowa and preached one week in the different branches and the people brought wagon loads of provision for the [Nauvoo] Temple.

All who went out [to preach] were blessed and much provision was brought into the [Nauvoo] Temple. The work went on well until the 17th of June, 1844.

In the winter of 1844, a great revival took place in Nauvoo. The spirit of Elijah was in some measure poured out on the people. The hearts of many fathers were turned to their children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Great union prevailed in the Church until the spring of 1844, when a party descended from the Church with William and Wilson Law, Doctor Foster, Francis M. Higbee, Chauncey Higbee, Austin Cowles, James Blakesley and Doctor Green of Iowa, the principal men who led away others. William Law came out at their [the] prophet exclaiming Joseph [Smith] to have fallen and cut off all the Church and organized, as they called, the true church.

[They] purchased a press [and] commenced publishing a paper entitled the Nauvoo Expositor, one of the most libelous, blasphemous [and] slanderous paper[s] ever published by man. The city council took the subject of the press in hand, passed an ordinance, considered it a nuisance and ordered it demolished forthwith. Accordingly, the marshal ordered the police to destroy the press, which was done at his order.

[This] enraged the before named apostates. They ran through the country, circulating lies of the blackest ire in order to get up excitement and accomplish the desired [p.15] object. So far, as to fix

18 on a time to come into Nauvoo and burn down our city and exterminate the inhabitants.

Said press [on which the Nauvoo Expositor was printed], agreeable to an ordinance passed 10th of June 1844, was destroyed. Which was the cause of those dissenters [the Law brothers, Higbees, Dr. Green and others] going through the country lying to get up the excitement which had the desired effect expressed from both sides. [News?] was sent to the governor [Thomas Ford]. The governor accordingly arrived in Carthage. Writs were issued for Joseph [and] Hyrum [Smith], the city council and others amounting in all to 15 in number. On the

24th of June [1844], the Brethren [Joseph and Hyrum and the others] left Nauvoo accompanied by lawyers and constables to Carthage, [Illinois] for trial.

[With]in 4 miles of Carthage, they were met by a company of men, 60 in number, commanded by Captain Dunn who was ordered by the governor to call for the state arms [of the Nauvoo Legion]. Joseph [Smith] endorsed the order [and] returned with Dunn to Nauvoo, delivered the arms [and] returned the same night to Carthage. [They] arrived in Carthage on the morning of the 25th [June 1844], the same time Joseph and Hyrum were arrested for treason against the state of Illinois. All the brethren, [who] in the first place were arrested for a riot in destroying the press were permitted to enter into a recognizance to answer at the next term of the circuit court. [Of] those brethren, most of them returned to Nauvoo. Joseph [Smith], Hyrum [Smith], [Willard] Richards [and John] Taylor remained in prison.

The excitement was so great in Warsaw, Carthage and other points, the governor detached a company of 60 men from McDonough County, [Illinois] under the command of Capt. Singleton to take the command and protect the city [of Nauvoo] and remained in Nauvoo until the evening of the 27th [of June 1844]. At 5 o'clock of the same day, Governor Ford arrived in Nauvoo escorted by a company of

19 horsemen under [the] command of Capt. Dunn, delivered a short address [and] returned the same evening to Carthage.

Awful to relate that while the governor was in Nauvoo, a band of assassins attacked the prison [Carthage Jail], murdered Brothers Joseph and Hyrum [Smith] and wounded John Taylor. On the 28th [of June 1844], the dead were brought to Nauvoo. The 29th [June 1844] was a day of as great mourning as was ever seen on Earth. I was one of 16 who were appointed [p.16] [to] bury their bodies, which was done on the 29th of June 1844.

On the 25th of June [1844], the [Nauvoo] Legion was called out by the order of General Joseph Smith [and] the city put under marshal law to defend ourselves from the attack of the mob. On the 25th, I received the appointment of Commissary General pro tem for the Nauvoo Legion through that campaign which continued until the 6th of July 1844 when the Legion was discharged. All the people retired in quiet to their occupations.

The work commenced again on the Lord's house on the 8th of July. The inhabitants of the city are in great want of provision. Many of them have and are going into the country to labor in the harvest fields, as the wheat harvests [are] great in this country which is in favor of the Saints at this time of distress. Through this week past, the Saints have remained quite and composed under our heavy trial. As could be expected, deep mourning pervades our city for the loss of [our] beloved Joseph and Hyrum. The people are waiting with anxiety for the return of the Twelve. As soon as they return, a special conference will be called for the purpose of appointing a TrusteeinTrust or one who shall preside over the Church. 20

Parley Pratt returned [on the] 11th of July [1844]. [On] this day, that is the 11th of July, I commenced work on the [Nauvoo] Temple again, cutting stone. The mob in the course of this week have been, in some measure, stilled. In consequence of a message or a reply from the governor to them, having made requisitions of him [the governor] for help to drive out the Mormons from the county; which request was refused them by the governor, a committee in the course of the week has been sent from the mob to the Morley settlement. [The mob demands that they] leave their homes, though not as yet complied with by the Saints.

We are now waiting the order of the governor in the arrest of those assassins who murdered our prophets, as he says the law shall be put in force [to] arrest them.

Lord's Day, July 14th, [1844] Assembled at the stand a great congregation consisting of thousands. [We] were addressed by Parley Pratt on the subject of the death of the prophets. Though dead, yet they live. [p.17] Spoke comforting to the Saints, encouraging people to faithfulness in all things both spiritual and temporal. [Pratt] urged the gathering to Nauvoo [to] build up the city and above all, build up the Lord's house, that when done, we might meet our beloved prophets at the time of the inducement of the faithful. This day, [I] have been called with others to administer to a female who was possessed with the Devil.

July 14th 1844 My family, my sons and daughters, my companion and hers [are] all in good health as far as I know. Amen. Praise God.

From July 14th up to August 4th [1844] All things have passed on quietly in the city. All things our eyes behold appears to be in mourning for the loss of our beloved prophets. There are some among us who seem to be inclined to lead of [off?] some, who appear to be unstable in their minds, into the wilderness. George Miller is the most prominent man in this principle, but more (?) are waiting for the return of the Twelve when a special conference will be held

21 and things pertaining to the welfare of the Church will be taken into consideration and acted upon in wisdom.

In the same time, the work has progressed rapidly on the [Nauvoo] Temple. The brethren are liberal in paying their tenth. A good feeling exists in general. In the same time, the governor has issued a proclamation to the people of Warsaw in Hancock County, which is in favor of the Mormons. [The governor] acknowledge[d] us as law abiding people and [that] they are not, that is, those who are our persecutors, the mob, appear to be in trouble. The Saints are quiet still. All at our work, minding our business. They cannot understand us, therefore fear has taken hold (of) them. At present, all is quiet in the county.

Sidney Rigdon arrived in Nauvoo August 3rd 1844 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, delivered a message or a revelation to the Saints on the 4th of August to a congregation of thousands informing us he had received a vision like unto the one which Joseph and himself had, which is in the Book of Covenants. He saw the prophet in the [p.18] heavens. He has the keys of this dispensation [and] will hold them in time and to all eternity. [Rigdon] says we shall have no more Joseph, but must choose us a guardian through whom Joseph will speak to the people and will stand as a god to this dispensation. [This guardian] will be to us as Moses was to the children of Israel. Myself and family, my sons and daughters [are] all alive and in good health August 4th 1844.

August 8th [1844] A special conference was called by the Twelve who had returned from their mission. We learnt from them that it was their prerogative to preside instead of Sidney [Rigdon], as Sidney's, in consequence of unfaithfulness, ordination as prophet, seer and revelator had been taken from him and conferred on Amasa Lyman.

Therefore, the Twelve have been ordained, sealed and anointed, in fine, have received all the power necessary to preside in Nauvoo and to bear of the [truth of the Gospel?] in all the world. [The Twelve]

22 have been received and acknowledged by all the Church or a majority of the Church in Nauvoo at said conference as the head.

Every way qualified to lead the Church and as Brigham Young is President of the Twelve, of course he is the man through whom God speaks to the Church.

An organization of the Church has been made. Bishops Whitney and Miller [have been] appointed Trustees and Trust. All things move on in perfect order. The [Nauvoo] Temple is advancing on with great speed. All things are moving on in good order in the city, with the exception of some little uneasiness with Sidney, Marks and some others with respect to Sidney's right to the presidency. Sidney, it is supposed, is wishing to lead off a party. Lyman Wight has gone up the river 500 miles to the river Leiross [La Crosse, Wisconsin?] or up the said river where I expect he will calculate to establish a stake and build up a kingdom to himself. Lyman left the 29th of August 1844.

September 1st 1844 Sidney [Rigdon] was called on to stand and deliver a singular discourse. I will say it, in my opinion, was an enthusiastic [p.19] discourse. The last he has or probably ever will deliver in Nauvoo. On the 8th or the Sunday following, his case was acted upon and he was cut off from the Church and since many others who are his followers [they too were excommunicated from the Church]. Leonard Saby, one of the High Council, also was cut off from the Church.

About the 10th [September 1844], Sidney left Nauvoo for Pittsburgh and many are following him. All things are moving prosperously in Nauvoo up to this time. There is however, now a call for 200 men to stand in readiness for some expedition.

Saturday evening 21st September [1844] My family [are] all in good health. All thing[s] move on in a healthy channel. The work on the [Nauvoo] Temple prospers. [The] Rigdonites are moving off a few in number for Pittsburgh. September 24th [1844] Two companies of independent militia arrived in town from Quincy by the order of

Governor Ford to protect the Mormons from the pretended wolf hunt by the mob.

September 27th [1844] Governor Ford in person arrived in Nauvoo.

September 28th [1844] Legion on parade. Reviewed by the Governor. Same evening, shot one of their men in a sham fight.

September 30th [1844] Governor [Ford] and troops, to the amount of 400, left Nauvoo for Warsaw to arrest the murderers of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Williams and Sharp were taken at Warsaw, from thence to Quincy. There [they] passed an examination bled(?) to court troops. All disbanded. Another wolf hunt advertised on the 27th of October [1844]. All things remain quiet in Nauvoo.

October 6th [1844] Conference commenced. Passed off in good order, great instruction. A more full organization gone into than ever before with the Quorums of the Saints. High Priest and Seventies are to be sent into all parts of America, or more particular, North America, they are to go through. High Priests and Seventies [will] locate themselves in stipulated districts and if possible, [p.20] build up churches unto the Lord. All things remain quiet at present.

Sunday, October 6th [1844] My family all in good health. All things move on in good order in the city [of Nauvoo]. For two weeks preparations have been made for the sitting of the circuit court at Carthage. As a number of our brethren were under bonds for appearance to court the 21st of October [1844] for destroying the press [of the Expositor]. Two hundred men out with arms suited (?) for the protection of the brethren. Some were cited. Others were put over till next term. All returned safe to Nauvoo. [?] of and to indictment so as found before the grand jury against 9 of the murderers of Joseph and Hyrum [Smith].

October 27th [1844] Court yet in session. My family [are] all in good health. Court rise(?) for good about the 31st of October. The month of November has passed off and no event of great has not(e) [?] transpired. All things remain quiet in Nauvoo to the 24th [November

1844]. [On this day] the 13th Quorum of Seventies was organized. All the quorums have been under a strict drill of improvement. [They] are receiving teachings from the Twelve and the presidents of the different quorums every week. The Church has never been in so good a situation as at the present.

The greatest union prevails in the Church that ever has [existed]. Purging out the Lawites, Lymanites, the Emitites and the Rigdonites, relieves the Church of a great burden. It appears to be the mind of the great body to carry out the Principals of Joseph. To establish the kingdom in these last days and to support the Twelve in carrying out the same principals and assist them in [the] bearing of the gospel to the nations of the Earth for the last time.

Since the death of Joseph and Hyrum [Smith], a mighty effort has been made by the Church to rush the [Nauvoo] Temple ahead, which has excelled the expectations of all. The people have done well in bringing in their tithing. In consequence of the faithfulness of the Saints, our enemies are at present confounded and thwarted in all their wicked purposes. All is well in Zion up to this last day of November [1844].

December 1st [1844] My family all well. Snow [is] 4 inches deep.

This 6th of December [1844] the work on the [Nauvoo] Temple is moving on with great rapidity in all its various branches. The store house is full and provision and money [are] coming in. There has been a new organization. The business which has been conducted by Brothers Cutter and Cahoon is now in the hands of the Trustees and Trust, Bishops [Newell] Whitney and George Miller, who receive all proffered and pay off all the hands. I will here notice the first corner stone was set Monday September 23rd [1844].

Last Friday, December 6 [1844] 21 minutes before 1 o'clock p.m., I am as yet cutting stone for the [Nauvoo] Temple [and] provide for my family with [through the?] avails of my labor on the temple. My family [are] all in good health this 8th day of December [1844].

Business is moving on in good order in all respects, both temporally and spiritually, in Nauvoo.

The Legislature are in session this month. The Nauvoo Charters were the first on the table for an unconditional repeal. Almon Babbitt and Joseph Davis were chosen to represent Hancock County. Davis has been arrested in Springfield for the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Babbitt has maintained the cause of the Saints in the Legislature in wisdom, as yet has returned to Nauvoo for instruction. [He] was to never consent to yield one item of our charters. The subject of the charters was, before he left, laid (?) over till after the 10th of January [1845]. [Babbitt] returned from Springfield about the 20th of December.

[December] 22nd [1844], Sunday All is well in Nauvoo. The Quorums of the Seventies are still going on under a state of organization. A celebration of the Seventies Hall [was] commenced by the Quorums which continued seven days. [Attending were] the members of two quorums with their wives. In a day, the 15th Quorum is now organized.

I went with my wife and my sons and daughter and their wives and husband to Lima to hold Christmas with my daughter Presenda Buell. [We] had a good visit. All returned in safety. All affairs in Nauvoo are prosperous up to the end of the year 1844. My family all well.

[p.22] January 13th 1845 came in warm. No water froze the morning of the first [January 1845]. [It] remains warm and pleasant. All the businesses of the Saints prospering in Nauvoo up to the January 5th. My family all well. This week passed off and all things have moved on in harmony and in good order up to the 12th [January 1845].

January 19th25th [1845] also have moved on in like manner. The organization [of] the quorums of the Church are going on in order and great rapidity. The 20th Quorum of the Seventies is now organized. The High Priest Quorum is increasing rapidly and have covenanted to finish off the upper story of the [Nauvoo] Temple this 26 season. Coming for their own convenience for meeting and for the furthering of the work of receiving the Endowment, as there are ordinances which cannot be given, only in an upper story, [the brethren made a covenant], which covenant was made on the 26th of January [1845]. The [Nauvoo] Temple is progressing rapidly, as also the arsenal.

My family and my children all well and prospered up to this 26th of January [1845]. All the affairs of the Church move on in good order. The greatest union prevails in the Church that ever had done [existed] up to the close of this month. My family and friends [are] all well.

February 2nd [1845] here. I will note our city election took place on the first Monday in February, in which all our city officers were elected without opposition. Our affairs in the Legislature are still the topic of discussion. Our charters stand as yet repealed propositions. [Plans?] have been made to give us a new charter. All the affairs of the Church are still moving on in perfect order up to the 9th of February [1845]. This day the Saints met for worship at the stand in the open air weather, warm and dry. My family [are] all in good health.

February 9th [1845] This week has passed off and all the affairs of the Church have moved on prosperously. In the course of the weeks, a man by the name [John] Elliott, who some two years since, kidnaped one Daniel Avery, a brother in the Church. Elliott, with a band of mobbers, took Avery, bound him, took him across the Mississippi into Missouri [and] put him in jail in the pretense of having [p.23] stolen a horse. [Elliott and others] kept him there [in jail] some months and for 70 dollars, liberated him. The said Elliott was one of the assassins of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Elliott came this week into Nauvoo in disguise as a spy, was recognized, arrested, examined before a court inquiry [and] committed to prison. On his way from Nauvoo to Carthage, the county seat; while in the hands of the Sheriff Deming, [he] was suffered to make his escape. Myself and family all in good health February 16th [1845]. 27

Monday, February 17, [1845], the Saints in Nauvoo were all called together. [The] weather [was] pleasant. The object of the meeting was made known by W.W. Phelps. It was to organize the temporal affairs of the Church. Twelve men were chosen [and] called the living constitution. These twelve chose three of the Twelve Apostles; John Taylor, George A. Smith and Amasa Lyman to preside over the temporal affairs of all the Church. Those men were appointed by the Church without a dissenting voice. Able addresses were delivered by the Twelve on the temporal affairs of the Church. [They] urged the necessity of becoming one in feeling and in action in temporal things as well as spiritual.

All the affairs of the Church have moved on this week in good order. And in union. The works pertaining to the [Nauvoo] Temple are moving on rapidly these weeks. My family and children all well except Dimick [Huntington] who is troubled with a fever sore on his leg. Weather cloudy, no frost, ground thawed out [and] peace prevails in our midst.

This 23rd of February 1845, Monday A large meeting of the agrutal [Agricultural and Manufacturing Society?] part of community met together for the purpose of organizing an agrutal [Agricultural] association. Tuesday, 25th [of February] a large meeting convened on the banks of the Mississippi for the purpose of commencing the dam and organized into different companies in order to build a dam and commenced quarrying stone for the dam.

Here I will remark [that] I finished cutting stones for the body of the [Nauvoo] Temple. I finished one of the stars for which I had credited to me one hundred and fifty dollars.

[There have been] meetings through the week for the purpose of organizing [p.24] different associations of trades. I have spent my time cutting stone at the [Nauvoo] Temple. All the affairs of the

Church have moved on in good order and in peace. My family in good health this 2nd of March 1845.

The affairs of the Church all move on in perfect harmony. The different quorums are improving daily in their state of organization. President Brigham Young has been sick this week. Amasa Lyman set out on Monday morning with Brother Daniel Spencer to visit a party who broke off from the Church called the Emmettites, a party led off by one [James] Emmett. Said delegates [Lyman and Spencer] it is said, are instructed to organize said party [Emetites] and have them stay where they are, as they have located themselves on [the] Iowa River, west of white inhabitants.

My son John left on Tuesday morning to his sister living in Lima, Adams County, [Illinois]. Dimick [Huntington] is still confined with his fever sore on his leg. I have labored this week as usual at cutting stone at the [Nauvoo] Temple. The work is moving on rapidly at the temple. The stone are mostly cut for the temple. The weather [is] pleasant. Many are plowing gardens and some are commencing to garden. Our enemies or the mob are still at the present, as we have not as yet heard anything decisive from the Legislature respecting the repeal of our [Nauvoo] Charter. As the Legislature have adjourned Monday of this week, [we'll] probably hear this day by mail, which is Sabbath day. My family all well in [and?] comfortable up to this date.

March 9th 1845 Monday there came four men into Nauvoo from Augusta in Hancock County and attempted to arrest Benjamin Brackenbury with the pretense of perjury, but failed in arresting him. This was on the 10th of March. All things move on in harmony up to the 12th. Pleasant weather, warm and dry. This day [I] commenced setting stone on the [Nauvoo] Temple which is the 12th of March 1845. In relation to Brackenbury, he was counseled to give himself up for trial. Accordingly, ten brethren went to Augusta for trial. The case was adjourned to the 10th of March.

My son John returned on the 13th [March 1845] from [?] [p.25] Left my soninlaw Norman Buell very sick. It is feared he has the quick consumption. Brother Amasa Lyman returned from the wilderness, from the Emmett party. [He] reported on the stand Sabbath day that the brethren with Emmett were in a suffering condition. [Lyman] counseled them to locate in the region where they were. For if they come back to Nauvoo, their inheritances were disposed of by themselves before they left [and] of course they have nothing here [in Nauvoo].

The Saints met for worship at the stand Sabbath day. [They] were addressed by Brother Lyman and Brother Brigham. Much said by Brother [Brigham] Young on temporal affairs. The Nauvoo Charter is no more. We are left to take care of ourselves the best way we can as to protection from marauders, black legs and whore mongers. All things move on in harmony in Nauvoo. My family all well. Oliver B. Huntington is to set out this morning for Lima [Illinois] with Brother Morley. Dimick's fever sore is improving. All is well in Nauvoo this 17th of March 1845.

Sunday morning 23rd of March [1845] I have nothing very particular to mention of events in the week past. The weather has been cool [and] have not sat many stone on the [Nauvoo] temple. The weather has been too cool to work on the wall but little. Much counseling the week past on the great western expedition or company. It is expected [we] will set out soon after conference for to explore the West. To find a place for the Church. An organization is now going into [?] for the safety of the citizens of Nauvoo by way of guarding the city [by] night; as the Legislature of Illinois have taken our city charters from us and left us without protection by law.

All the affairs of the Church are moving in good order this week past in Nauvoo. My soninlaw at Lima is recovering from his sickness its [?] We hear Dimick's fever sore is improving. My family [are] all in good health up to this 23rd of March 1845.

Monday morning, March 31, [1845] The week past has passed off in peace. In the city, [p.26] good order has prevailed with the Saints. Business round the [Nauvoo] Temple has progressed rapidly. Much property by was [?] to tithing has been given. I have not labored on the temple now for two weeks. [I] have been attending to my gardens. [I] shall commence on the temple this morning. My birthday was on the 28th of this month [March]. [I] am 61 years of age. My family all well this 31st of March.

Weather warm with some rain. Tuesday morning and on through the week weather cool and fine for business. The work progresses rapidly on and about the temple. A number of agents have returned in the course of this week, bringing with them money and property in abundance as tithing from the churches in different states.

The brethren are coming fast to attend conference. All the affairs of the Church are in a prosperous situation the week past. News from Carthage, the mob have warned Mr. Backenstos, our senator to the Legislature, to leave on Saturday or they would kill him. Brother Moore was accidentally shot in the breast with [a] pistol, not thought mortal. Norman Buell and wife came here to attend conference. My children are all here in Nauvoo except Chauncey, who is in [New] York state and not a member of the Church.

My family and friends all in good health. The weather this 6th of April [1845], cool and pleasant. [I] have spent my time the week past cutting stone for the [Nauvoo] Temple from the 6th to the 13th. All the affairs of the Church have moved on harmoniously. The work on the temple progresses rapidly. The enemy around in the country are at present still as to publish opposition. [They, the enemies] are holding private meetings [and] have sworn to have no dealings with Mormons. The Church took a vote at conference. We would have as little to deal with them as possible. [We] voted not to help them in harvest, nor let our families work with them.

As the nation have rejected the Church, the Kingdom is now rent from them. The Elders will not preach anymore to this nation until

31 they have wiped up the blood of the prophets they have spilt. The Church voted at conference to go on and build the Nauvoo House this summer. My family and children all well, except Zina [p.27] is affected with the ague in the face. Weather warm and dry this 13th of April [1845].

Monday morning business commences with animation and energy through the city and continues through the week. The work on the temple progresses rapidly. Peace and harmony prevails. [I] would notice [that] two gentlemen arrived in the city on Saturday. The one, the United States Marshall with 20 summons for the brethren [on] an old concern which had been settled in Kirtland [Ohio]. Five of the brethren named had been murdered by the mob, however, it was counseled to let them serve their summons for the Church would not pay any attention to them. Thus ends the week, my family all well.

Sunday 20th [April 1845] Brother [John] Taylor preached and come out bold and plain against the measures of government as respect the unjust treatment to [the people] and the Church in murdering our brethren. [Taylor] defied and damned them. This week has passed away, all things moving in harmony. The work on the [Nauvoo] Temple still is moving rapidly. [We] have commenced setting the stairs and have also commenced building a wall around the block on which the temple stands. My family all well this 27th of April. This week has passed off, all the affairs of the Church, both spiritually and temporally, have moved on in perfect harmony.

The work on the temple has progressed rapidly. The stone, if the weather is good, will soon be set. The Church are owned (?) and blessed of the Lord. My family, my children's families all in good health this 4th of May 1845.

Monday morning All the business of the inhabitants of the city in Nauvoo, commence their usual steady courses of business. All peace and good order prevails with the Saints in Nauvoo. The business pertaining to the [Nauvoo] Temple in all its various branches, move on in good order and with mighty power.

I will mention a horrid murder was committed in Iowa about 20 miles west of us on the night of the 10th of this month [May]. Three men entered the house of a Pennsylvania Dutchman in the dead of night. Their object: to take from the [p.28] man of [the] house, 25 hundred dollars the old man had in his possession. A battle ensued. The robbers were defeated in their attempt to get the money. The old man was stabbed to the heart [and] died instantly. A young man was badly wounded. [It] is hoped [he] will recover. The murderers, it is supposed fled to Nauvoo Saturday night. The same night as the murder. [The] next day [the murderers] were arrested by the brethren. [They] have since been delivered into the hands of the Sheriff of Iowa, Lee County where court was in session. My family all well.

Sabbath Day 11th [of May 1845] Meeting at the stand. Thousands of Saints assembled for [the] meeting. Brother Brigham Young delivered an appropriate discourse.

Monday morning all well in Nauvoo. Business resumes its healthy state of things. All things roll on with mighty power in and about the [Nauvoo] Temple. The wall is almost completed. Sabbath morning the steamer "Saryann" touched at the mouth of Mains rect (?) land. A good number of brethren with three small cannon, it is said we have 2412 pounders in Nauvoo. We have ammunition and arms sufficient to defend ourselves from mob violence. My family all well except Henry Jacobs is not dangerous. Thus ends [the] time up to the 18th [May 1845].

[May] 19th Monday morning Weather fair, all well in the city. The great business of city commences its operation with some energy that it has [had] in times past. The work at and about the temple moves on with power. Perfect harmony prevails in all its various parts pertaining to the great work which yet requires some two hundred men in all the work pertaining to the house.

This week on Monday, the circuit court commenced its session in Carthage, Hancock County [Illinois], which causes some considerable

33 excitement in all the region round about as the murderers of Joseph [Smith] and Hyrum [Smith] are to have their trials. Judge Young of Quincy [Illinois], presides and Mr. [Josiah] Lamborn, State’s Attorney, for the people sent here by the Governor, Thomas Ford, were here all the week until Saturday impaneling a jury.

Saturday commenced the examination of two witnesses and adjourned until on Monday the 26th of May [1845]. This has brought to the Saints an event [p.29] of great interest. To the Saints in all the world, that is on Saturday, the 24th of May 1845, the last cornerstone of the temple was completed or laid at precisely 6 o'clock in the morning. The authorities of the Church, the Twelve, High Council and others, as also the band, were on the wall. When the last cornerstone was sat, the band played several tunes and all the congregation shouted, "Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb. Amen, Amen, and Amen". The congregation shouted three times, dismissed and retired and rested that day from their labors.

My family all well up to this day, May 26th. The time has now arrived, according to order of courts for the circuit court to sit in Carthage, which is the time for the trial of the murderers of our brothers Joseph and Hyrum [Smith]. A time which many thought a great excitement would exist, but to the joy of many, has terminated in peace. The court has turned out to be a perfect mob court. Judge Young of Quincy presided. Lawyer Lamborn, the States Attorney, was for the people and after adducing all the testimony necessary to convict [the] men, the jury brought in a bill of verdict of not guilty. The Saints are all pleased.

The third Monday in June [1845] A special court is to be held for the purpose of trying the murderer of Hyrum [Smith]. All is peace and tranquility in Nauvoo. The house [Nauvoo Temple] is in rapid progress. The season is favorable for crops. Everything looks favorable the incoming season. My family all well up to this date.

June 1st [1845] The Saints met at the stand this morning [and] were addressed by Brothers Heber Kimball, John Taylor and Brigham

Young. [They] spoke comforting words to the Saints. Thousands were present. I am still cutting stone, shall soon finish my work on the [Nauvoo] Temple. The timbers are going up fast into the tower and roof. The roof will soon be on. Brother Brigham said this day [that] he believed, before [the] snow flies, the roof will be on and the Saints will hold meetings in the house this winter.

[p.30] June 4th [1845] I seat myself again after having an opportunity of assembling myself with the Saints this morning. [We] heard a discourse from Elder Serine on the death of two little boys who were in a sand pit at play. The bank caved in, covered them and [they] were killed. The week past has passed away pleasantly with the Saints. All has been peace in Nauvoo. The [Nauvoo] Temple is progressing rapidly. The arsenal is in rapid progress. The stone will, I think, all be laid this week coming. Everything is in a rapid state of improvement to guard against the enemy. That is, that we may be in perfect readiness to defend ourselves with all kinds of weapons of war. Especially such as were taken from us by the authorities of the state, or by the order of the Governor.

Theodore Turley has established the manufacturing [of] 15 shooters. We have more cannon than they took from us. Never was a greater union with the Saints, than at the present. Truly the Lord is favoring Zion. The weather is fine, though somewhat dry. Crops look fine. All the wastelands in and about Nauvoo have been plowed and are in crops and have not been injured with the frost. My family and all my children in good health this 4th of June 1845.

Monday morning All is well in Zion. All the affairs in the city have moved on in good order, in peace and quietness, through the week. The [Nauvoo] Temple has progressed with great rapidity. I have cut stone for the week past. William D. Huntington and wife went to Lima to visit his sister. Found them all well. My family all well up to this date.

June 16th [1845] Monday morning All well in Zion. Prosperity attends the Saints temporally and spiritually. The work on the

35 temple progresses rapidly. The roof will soon be covered. In fact, the [Nauvoo] Temple soon will be enclosed. Calculation now is to build a tabernacle on the west end of the temple, twice as large as the temple, for the purpose of holding meetings, as the temple [p.31] will no more than convene the priesthood. Weather fine, frequent showers, a growing time [and] a great prospect of a plentiful harvest this fall. My family all well up to this date.

June 22nd 1845 Monday morning All is well with the Saints. All business moves on with power, even the power of God, which is manifest in all things pertaining to the great work of the building up of Zion, the gathering of the Saints in these last days. The week has passed off pleasantly. The work on the temple and all pertaining to it has moved on rapidly.

Through the week, we'll say on Monday evening, a man by the name of Arvine Hodge who belonged at Mechaivesville(?) some twenty miles from Nauvoo, was murdered here in Nauvoo by the hand of some ruffians as Hodge was supposed to be of the same gang. On the next day which was Tuesday, the big(?) sheriff by the name of Deming, got into a dispute with a Doctor Marshal and shot him dead on the spot. Deming was the sheriff of Hancock County. The deed was done at Carthage, the county seat. Demming has been arrested, a bill of indictment was found by the grand jury. Deming is bailed to October term as the circuit court was, at the time of the murder of Deming, for trial of the murder of Hyrum Smith and as there was no prosecuting attorney appeared against the murderers of course the murderers were discharged. Nolan for the K(?) Mormons. My family all well up to this date June 29th 1845.

July 1st [1845] All the affairs in Nauvoo move on through this week in perfect harmony. There was many visitors here from Saint Louis on the fourth [of July]. No event of note transpired with the Church through the week. I will say that on the 5th day of July, I cut the last stone I have to cut on the [Nauvoo] Temple. The last work I done was to finish the west chimney top on the south side of the temple. I have cut stone three years and a half and worked one summer before 36

I went cutting stone at stone masoning. I helped to lay [p.32] the first stone in the house and cut one of the last stones. [I] have enjoyed good health most of the time I have worked on the temple. My family all well excepting [my] companion whose health is not good.

July 6th [1845] Monday morning All well in Zion. Everything has moved on in harmony and in good order in Zion through this week. The weather [is] very hot. Fine growing time, wheat harvest is coming good in Hancock [County] this season. All the crops on the ground look fine. The prospect is the Saints will (have) an abundance for their support this season. The work on the temple is going on with great rapidity, as also the Nauvoo House. My family all in good health. Exception [is my] companion, whose health is not good yet. Saturday evening, July 12th 1845.

July 20th [1845] Sunday evening after meeting The past (week) has passed off in peace in Nauvoo. All the affairs of the Church, both spiritually and temporally have passed off in good order. The [Nauvoo] Temple is progressing fast. [We] have commenced shingling the roof. The font [is] in a state of finishing. The oxen [are] to be made of stone, will soon be commenced. Our enemies in Hancock County and vicinity are at the present still. The prayers of the Saints is that they may, [the enemy be still] until we have finished the temple.

[I] will notice the Hodge boys, as they were called, were executed on the 15th of July. The bodies of the Hodges were, by request of their sister, brought to Nauvoo for burial. Weather fine. Wheat harvest has come in fine. All the crops on the ground look fine. My family all in good health Sunday evening, July 20th 1845.

Monday opens to the Church pleasant and beautiful. All affairs of the Church move on through the week in good order and prosperous.

Tuesday morning I left for Lima to visit my daughter and family. Found all in good health. [I] returned on Friday, traveled home 32 miles on foot in my 62 year of age.

July 26th [1845] My son Oliver set out for the state of New York in company with [p.33] Brother Neal and his son who live near Lockport. My family all in good health.

July 27th 1845 Again the Church commences another week under favorable circumstances in all respects both spiritual as well as temporal. The [Nauvoo] Temple as well as the Nauvoo House are progressing. [It] is a healthy time in the city. I commenced work on the Nauvoo House the 29th of July. [I] am calculating to work 40 dollars to make my second share in the house.

August 1st [1845] Prosperity still attends the Saints up to the 3rd, which is Sunday. [It is] pleasant and fair. A large congregation of Saints assemble this day at the stand for worship. President Brigham Young spoke on the subject of the resurrection and warned the Saints not to forget the voice of the Lord whenever he speaks by way of commandment. [Young] touched on many subjects of great importance. Temporal as well as spiritual. My family all in good health, as also my soninlaw Norman Buell and wife and youngest son [who] arrived in town this morning from Lima. Their family all well.

August 3rd 1845 This week has passed off in good order. All the public works have moved on in good order. The Nauvoo House is beginning to show the energy of the Church in carrying out the revelations of God. There is, I suppose now, a hundred men in employ on and about the house. The week coming I expect there will be more done as it is expected they will commence laying the walls of the house above the basement story.

Agreeable to a request made on the 3rd [of August 1845] by President [Brigham] Young of the Church to make a bee and haul wood to the Nauvoo brickyard, there was more than one hundred teams on the road hauling wood.

An election for county officers was held on the same day in which there was more than 19 hundred votes taken at the poles. The health of the people in the city good for the time of the year, for it is the 38 sickly time of the year. My family all in good health. My connections all well except two of my grandchildren [p.34] who are sick, not dangerous as I suppose. The congregation of Israel met at the stand. Weather fine. [We] were addressed by W.W. Phelps. All is in peace in Nauvoo up to this date.

August 10th 1845 Monday morning comes in fair. All business commences in life and animation. The [Nauvoo] Temple and Nauvoo House are in progression. All the affairs of the Church both spiritually and temporally are in a flourishing condition. Good order prevails in the Church through this week. Sunday morning pleasant. The Saints meet at the stand, were addressed by Brother William Smith. It was on the spiritual wife subject. Not interesting to the Saints. Some sickness and deaths in the city. My family all in good health.

August 17th 1845, Monday morning All business commences in the city with usual liveliness. The temple is in a rapid state of improvements. [It's] sturdy. The last of the tower or the top of the tower was raised, which was the 23rd of August. The shingling of the roof, which was completed some time before this, put a veto on one of Sidney Rigdon's false prophecies that was that the last shingle never would be put onto the house in consequence of our enemies. But thanks be to God, no arm is as yet suffered to hinder the work of the Lord.

On Monday morning, which was the 18th of August [1845], the Twelve and the committee of the Nauvoo House, with a large company of brick layers and laborers appeared on the basement story of the Nauvoo House at which time the first brick was laid on the southeast corner of the house. [I] will say before the work was commenced, Elder Heber C. Kimball made one of the most appropriate prayers on the occasion. After which, the first brick was laid by Brother Rowley, an American from Boston.

I will mention a circumstance which occurred on the job. Lucien Woodworth has been the former architect on the house and

39 commenced superintending the business on recommencing [p.35] business the second time. But in consequence of his commencing his former course of habits, that is in abusing the men by cursing, swearing and damning the men in an abusive manner; a council was called of the Twelve and Woodworth was discharged from the work and William Weeks, the architect on the [Nauvoo] Temple, put in his place.

The work moves on pleasantly. A fine beginning has been made this week. Fine weather, though somewhat sickly in the city. My family and all my connections are in good health up to this date.

24th of August 1845 Monday morning come in pleasant. All the business of the city, that is building [of] buildings, is suspended agreeable to a resolution taken at the stand by the congregation of the Saints, that they would lay by all buildings and all the brick masons and carpenters should go to the Nauvoo House and work until the walls of the house are up. Accordingly, something like two hundred men labored on the house this week. The first story was half put up which is to be 14 ft. I labored in the big field cutting hay through this week. I cut my hay on a piece of land which I have bought in the big field which is 14 acres. Peace prevails in the city this week. Some [are] sickly. My family all in good health up to this date.

August 31st 1845 All business recommences this Monday morning, which is Sept 1st, with life and energy. Two or three hundred men are engaged about the Nauvoo House through this week. The first story is about completed 14 ft. in height. The [Nauvoo] Temple in rapid state of finish will soon be in a situation to commence giving the endowment to the elders, that they may this season(?) commence going to the nations of the earth prepared to preach with more power than ever have been.

On the 3rd day of this month [Sept 1845] a severe hailstorm passed over Nauvoo which broke some glass.

On the 5th of this month [Sept 1845] a great feast was held at the big field by the [p.36] proprietors of the same. Seven of the Twelve were there. Six hundred persons dined on the occasion. Some sickness yet in the city. All the Saints blessed as yet with peace. The common enemy, that is the mob, yet still. My family all well up to this date.

Sept 7th 1845 Monday morning comes in pleasant. All business commences with life and animation through the city. The [Nauvoo] Temple is in rapid progress as to finishing. The Nauvoo House is progressing rapidly. There is in the neighborhood of two hundred men at work on the house. All business moving on in the city pleasantly up to the 10th of September when an express arrived in Nauvoo from Lima or the Morley branch, stating the mob had commenced burning buildings, turning women and children out of doors and burning their houses, barns, stacks of grain. [They're also] driving off cattle and other creatures. The mob continued to burn through this week in different branches. The sheriff of the county called on the brethren to assist him in dispersing the mob. Accordingly, fifty men turned out to his assistance. A great excitement broke out in the county. Thus ends this week. My family all well.

Sabbath day September 14th [1845] The congregation assembled for worship. Weather fine, congregation large. President [Brigham] Young addressed the congregation in the forenoon. Dismissed the congregation for meeting in the afternoon. [He] requested the males only, as there was business to be attended to of a temporal nature. [We] met in the afternoon [and] took into consideration those who were suffering in consequence of having been burned out by the mob. Voted to go with all the teams to Lima Branch and haul grain to Nauvoo. Accordingly, some 100 teams turned out to haul grain on Monday. The mob [is] still burning and [there] is no one to hinder them until tome[?]

[Thomas C.] Sharp, [the] editor of a paper printed at Warsaw [Illinois], said publicly [that] they were burning and meant to continue so to do until they, the mob, had burnt out all the Mormons 41 in Hancock County. They had been burning more than a week. The news had reached far and wide. The mob were burning [p.37] the Mormons property and no resistance on the part of the Mormons. Public opinion had become in favor of the Church's taking measures to stop or disperse the mob. Sheriff Backenstos, with two or three hundred men, set out in different directions. [They] caught some in the act of burning buildings. Dispersed them, shot four, wounded others and drove some out of the state. Some [of the mob] were put in prison.

This week all business was stopped in the city, except the temple. The Legion [was] called out and put to camp duty [and] stood in readiness to go at a minutes warning. Saturday night the troops all returned under command of Sheriff Backenstos and man wounded or hurt by the mob. In all the difficulty, one young man by the name of Phippin, was shot by accident and died in a short time. The Saints are in good spirits though many in consequence of being burned out of their houses are left in an unpleasant situation, though they have raised food to eat for man and beast this winter.

The congregation met this morning at the grove [and] were addressed by President [Brigham] Young in an appropriate manner. All in good spirits. President [Young] said Sheriff Backenstos would (need) a company of men in service for the purpose of keeping the peace in the county and to arrest those who have been engaged in burning buildings and cause men who are disposed not to keep the law, to keep the peace in Hancock County. In the same time, exertions have been made in Adams County by the Sheriff and the court to suppress the mob, as the inhabitants of that county, adjoining Hancock, were engaged in the mob. Many of them have been arrested and is expected will be dealt with according [to the] merits of their crime. My family in good health up to this date.

Sept 21st 1845 Monday morning The whole city in arms. Sheriff Backenstos has command of a posse sufficient to command or control the mob in the county. [The sheriff] has a guard in Carthage stationed in the court house. The mob are, most of them, in Missouri 42 and in Iowa with their families. The Saints through this week are engaged doing military duty. [A] report is now in circulation that [p.38] the Governor has troops now in Carthage under command of General Harding to assist our sheriff on suppressing the mob. Thus this week closes up. The Saints in good spirits. My family all well except my wife, who is sick with chills and fever.

September 28th 1845 Monday morning All things as usual, though I will say the sheriff sent Saturday for 30 men to come to Carthage and relieve the guard which has been at Carthage the week past. Accordingly, 30 men set out Sabbath morning and on Monday were all discharged and arrived in Nauvoo Monday evening. Tuesday morning, General Harding, with about three hundred men, arrived in the city about 12 o'clock. [They] searched the [Nauvoo] Temple, the Masonic Hall and the Nauvoo Stable as they say, for dead men charged to have been killed by the Mormons. [The troop] stayed two miles down the river. Wednesday morning, [they] returned into the city, visited or viewed the temple, behaved civil [and] had an interview with the Twelve. [The troops] have returned this afternoon down the river to their campground. All is quiet in the city [this] October 1st Thursday.

October 2nd [1845] An express came from Carthage. The mob were gathering there. General Harding accordingly left Nauvoo for Carthage with his troops, reserving with him one hundred men.

Saturday [General Harding ?] left Carthage for Warsaw. All is peace and quiet in the city. My family all in good health up to this date.

October 5th Sunday morning The Saints met for worship in the [Nauvoo] Temple which is enclosed from top to bottom. Fitted up for General Conference. There was in the temple this day nearly 5,000 people. [We] were addressed in the morning by President Brigham Young, an interesting discourse. Others spoke in the afternoon. The subject of removing from Nauvoo was much spoken of. [We were then] adjourned for Monday 10 o'clock AM. Congregation met, conference organized for business. The authorities [p.39] of the

43 church were presented before [the] Conference and were all accepted and approved except William Smith, who was cut off from the Church as one of the Twelve and as Patriarch for the Church.

Five companies were organized viz a company called the Twelve's Company, which company I belong to, myself and family. The other four are led by Samuel Bent, Alpheus Cutler, Reynolds Cahoon and Brother [Isaac] Morley. Many other companies have been formed and will continue to be formed until all of the Church who wish to go, may have an opportunity of uniting themselves to a company. This day the Church voted unanimously to go in mass from this place to one hereafter designated. [The Saints] voted, also unanimously, to use all of their ability, property and influence to help all who have a desire to go from this place to the West where white men do not live and where the whites do not have jurisdiction.

[The Saints] received an appropriate address from Parley Pratt, setting forth the reasons why we [should] leave this place and the advantages to be derived in leaving. Much good instruction given by the Twelve. [We] adjourned till Tuesday 10 o'clock AM. Met, according to adjournment. Conference went into business. An able address [was] delivered by Heber C. Kimball and also and able address [was] delivered by Elder Amasa Lyman. Conference adjourned for afternoon or at 2 o'clock PM. At intermission, a party of General Harding's troops as suppose to be were in town. Their business not known. Neither would they give any account of their business on being interrogated. The city [has been] thrown into excitement. Conference adjourned until Wednesday 10 o'clock AM if all is quiet.

Tuesday, [October] 7th [1845] Wednesday Conference met, opened, provided to business [and] closed all business. Adjourned until April 6th 1846. The governor's troops are still maneuvering in the county. [They] came in on Thursday, took one man for stealing as they say. [They] tried to take another, but failed to get him. The same day, General Harding left with Sheriff Backenstos for Quincy [Illinois] to be tried for killing Worrell at the rail roads. [They] took with them 44

George Miller, John Parker [p.40], William and Edwin Cutler. All, it is said, are at Quincy and will be difficult for them to get away. It is said the troops shot at Sheriff Backenstos on his way to Quincy for trial. The mob are much excited. It is said they (are) gathering at Carthage. It is expected they will soon be in Nauvoo with a posse in pursuit of some of the brethren. All business now dull in the city. The people are in suspense, looking for a day of trials. I can see men on the top of the Lord's house looking out for the enemy. This is now Saturday noon or 12 o'clock AM. My family all in good health, though very many sick in the city October 11th [1845].

Sunday morning 12th October [1845] Congregation met in the temple for worship. [We were] addressed by Heber C. Kimball and others on the subject of removing to the West. Other leaders were appointed, making in all 25. Myself received an appointment to lead a company amounting to 100 families whose names I have got in the course of this week and all the 25 companies I expect, are full. All things pertaining to the Saints appears to moving on favorable. The mob or the common enemy are at the present still. Troops are still kept in the county to keep peace.

Saturday the 18th My son Oliver B. Huntington, left Nauvoo to go to his wife's father near Lockport, New York State to get his wife and her father's family to this place in order to be in readiness to leave with the church in the spring. My family all well this 19th of October, Sunday morning.

Monday morning [Oct. 20, 1845] This day the court is to sit, which will be attended to with great interest as the mob are determined to annoy the Saints with writs and drag the brethren to prison and to death, the case of Sheriff Backenstos who ordered Worrell shot as he is charged with by the mob. [It] is of great interest with the mob. As they have that [the death of Worrell] as a pretext to murder Backenstos for having fulfilled his office in calling out the militia on dispersing the mob when burning the houses of the Saints. Worrell was shot while, with others, [p.41] [he] was pursuing the sheriff with great speed for the express purpose to shoot him, Backenstos. 45

The court has been in session through the week. The old case of the riot as is termed, that is the destruction of the press in Joseph's day, has been in court until this week and the brethren all discharged. The grand jury found a bill of willful murder against Backenstos. The court adjourned Saturday until Monday next, when Backenstos is to have his trial. The Church have been under the necessity of keeping a strong guard through the county through the week past to keep the mob from coming in and taking the brethren with their vexatious writs. Rapid operations are now making to prepare for the move West. My family all well this morning. Norman and Presinda have this morning arrived from Lima. [I] am now about to go to meeting.

Sunday morning, 10 o'clock AM, October 26th [1845] went to the [Nauvoo] Temple [and] met with the thousands assembled. [We] were addressed by Elders Hyde and Pratt on the great subject [of] removing to the West. I commenced to organize my company.

Monday morning the brethren returned to Carthage with Backenstos. Much figuring and shuffling about his case at length. Backenstos took a change in venue, is to have his trial at Peoria [Illinois] in five weeks. It was thought it was the calculation to have assassinated Backenstos, but were prevented in consequence of the close attention of the Saints who accompanied him at the court. The court adjourned. All the brethren are now clear of vexatious suits.

This 27th October Tuesday morning Major Warren, with his troops, have arrived in Nauvoo. Have put up at the Mansion. It is said Warren has a bundle of writs for the heads of the Church. It is feared by myself, the High Council maybe included, but I hope not. All is still at present in Nauvoo. Tuesday 2 o'clock PM.

Wednesday All peaceable in Nauvoo. The emigrating companies are making rapid [p.42] progress in procuring timber for their wagons.

Thursday I had a meeting of my company and organized my company which was in the 29th of October [1845]. The mob are still as for what (I) know. My family all well.

October 28th, Sunday morning All is well. All the affairs in the city are going well.

Sunday morning, November 2nd [1845] The Church met in the temple [and] were addressed by Elders Hyde and Kimball.

Monday morning All business is commenced with energy and in union. The Saints are much engaged in the great work of preparing to emigrate in the spring. All affairs of the Church, both spiritually and temporally moved on through the week past in good order and with great speed. My family all well Monday morning November 10th.

Tuesday morning All the different branches of business such as the temple, all companies for emigration are moving on rapidly through this week up to Saturday night. I went into the woods this week on Thursday morning and in three days, with five men of us and two or three boys, we cut the timber for seven wagons.

Saturday night The mob set fire to a stack of straw in the Lima Branch at the Hancock neighborhood. A number of the brethren came out of the house to put out the fire and were fired on by the mob and killed Edmond Durfee, whose corpse was brought up to Nauvoo on Sunday to be buried. My family all well up to this date, November 17th [1845].

Tuesday morning opens to the Church pleasant. All business moves on in peace and harmony. In the city through this week, all the people appear to be engaged in emigration operations. My company have got their timber for their wagons mostly in the city. The captains of the emigration companies met this evening of the 23rd at the Music Hall by request of [p.43] President Brigham Young to receive instructions in the preparation of ourselves for the journey. The health of the people is improving with the Saints. My family all in good health up to this date, November 23rd [1845].

Tuesday morning All is well in Nauvoo. The Saints are now at rest as to our enemies troubling of us at present. The Saints are making

47 rapid progress in wagon making. I have this week got a room in the Nauvoo House enclosed for a shop to make wagons for my company. The [Nauvoo] Temple or theater story in the temple is now in readiness for to go to giving the Saints their endowment. That part of the house which is in readiness will be dedicated tomorrow or on the first day of December. My family all in good health up to this date, November 30th.

Monday morning Peace and harmony prevails in the city. A great exertion is now made in the city in making wagons for the removal to the West. My company is making good progress in the wagon business and in making a mill to be propelled by horse power. I think we shall have our mill in operation in one or two weeks. A fair prospect of selling the city or a portion of it [to] the Catholics. My family all well December 7th 1845. This week has passed off, nothing has taken place to harm the peace of the Saints. The work of endowment is going on in power. My family all well up to this December 14th.

Monday morning opens to the Saints pleasant. All things move on pleasant through this week. The work of giving endowment is great. It['s] stated in the temple this day, that 560 had received their endowment up to this date, December 21st. My family all in good health.

Monday morning Business commences as usual through the city. The labors at the temple is moving on with great power. Many receiving their endowment.

Tuesday he or a deputy United States Marshall made his appearance in [p.44] this place with some of the Carthage troops, with a writ for Brigham Young. [They] took their station at the door of the temple, watching for Brigham. William Miller was sent out with Brigham's cloak on. Upon making his [the Marshall's] enquiry for Young, Miller was represented(?) to be the man accordingly said, [the Marshall] stepped up and made a prisoner of Miller, took him off to Carthage before he found out his mistake. Miller accordingly was discharged.

Since that time, the Marshall has been lurking around in the city, watching for the brethren. Writs have been served on seven of the brethren on the old press concern this week.

This day I have met with [the] First Quorum in the [Nauvoo] Temple. The High Council meet steadily (?) every evening at 6 o'clock. My family all well up to this date, December 28, 1845.

All business of the Church has moved on in good order through the week past. The labor of giving endowment in the temple has been prospered. The enemy have not troubled the Church the week past. The brethren have been constantly on the move on horseback through the city in every direction which has prevented [the] mob from strolling over our city. I have met with the High Council most of the evenings the week past in the temple of the Lord for prayer. This day, a number of the brethren met at Brother Peter Haws' upper room for prayer.

Myself and wife present. My family all well up to this date, January 4th 1846.

Monday morning This week has passed off in harmony. Good order has prevailed through the week. The work of endowment has gone on in power through this week. My family all well up to this date, January 12th.

Tuesday morning This week has passed off pleasantly through the week. A great number have received their endowment. My family all in good health up to January 19th.

20th [January 1846] This week has passed off in peace. The work of endowment has rolled on with all mighty power. I have continued to work in the House of the Lord through the week. My family all well, January 26th.

[p.45] Monday morning All is moving on well with the Church. Monday, 12 o'clock, a council was called. The captains of companies were ordered to warn all those who had volunteered to stand as minute men to be ready and on hand. 49

Wednesday morning All the work stopped in the [Nauvoo] Temple. I labored in the house until Wednesday night. Thursday morning All in suspense, expecting every minute to have to put out, that is, the authorities of the Church. My family all well. Presinda and her children here from Lima.

29th [January 1846] All is peace in Nauvoo. The brethren are preparing to leave February 1st [1846]. Orders has been given for the twelve High Council trustees and trust, the old police and the presiding of the Seventies and c[?] to be in readiness together with many others immediately.

February 5th [1846] some wagons with families have gone over the [Mississippi] River.

7th [February 1846] My family in Nauvoo. All well Sunday morning. The Saints met at the Grove in front of the [Nauvoo] Temple for the last time to be addressed by the Twelve. Much instruction was given by President Brigham Young in relation to our leaving Nauvoo and of emigrating to the wilderness. A large congregation of Saints were present and [it] was a solemn time. A time when there is a great number breaking off and following a false prophet by the name of [J.J.] Strang and many are following him rather than the Twelve. My tithing and all my business all settled up in Nauvoo and [I] am ready to leave. Expect to leave Monday, [February] 9th 1846. [p.46]

August 13th 1845 Nauvoo Committee Cm $ Cents 15th buy beef shank 06, buy beef shank 10, 24th buy 5 1Ú2 lbs beef 4 cents per lb

22 September 10th buy 5 12 lbs of beef 4 cents per lb 27 buy 1 qt. molasses 13, 11 buy a pail [of] Barley 38 buy an earthen plate 13, buy 2 lbs of beef 08, buy 6 1/4 lbs of beef 4 cents per lb 25 15 buy Shank

06, 18 buy 6 lbs of beef 3 cents 18, 22 buy 8 lbs of salt 2 cents 10 lbs 31, buy bottle Indian tonic 1 00, buy 5 1/4 lbs of beef 4 cents 21

October 21 buy 14 lbs of salt 1 1/2 cents per lb 21

February 9th 1846 A brief sketch of the travel of William Huntington and his family in company with the Saints who left Nauvoo in the winter of 1846. February 9th I left my house in the City of Joseph at 12 o' clock P.M. with my family. I crossed the Mississippi 9 o'clock at night, stayed on the bank of the river myself that night. My family went in company the same night to Father Tanner's. I followed them the next day in company with my son John. We remained there one week. In the same time the Church have continued to cross the river day and night and encamped 6 miles from the river on Sugar Creek. On Tuesday, 2 o'clock P.M., a [?] event transpired. One of the flat boats that was employed in carrying the brethren across the river, sprang a leak with some 30 persons consisting of men, women and children with one wagon, two yoke of oxen, two cows [and] one calf. The boat sunk, rested on a sand bar in 5 feet [of] water. The loading all floated in the [Mississippi] River. One yoke of oxen was drowned with the calf. All the people were saved with the remainder of the cattle. Much of the goods were lost. Thomas Grover, one of the High Council, was the principal sufferer.

At the same time, the alarm of fire was given at the [Nauvoo] Temple. The roof of the temple was discovered to be on fire. A mighty exertion was made, the fire was soon extinguished. [It] burned a hole through the roof 10 feet square.

All things remain calm and peaceable in Nauvoo through the present week. I have been over [p.47] to Nauvoo twice in the week. My son, Dimick B. Huntington, with his family crossed the river, went into the Tanner neighborhood. It was thought best for him to return back and come on in the spring in company with my son, William D. Huntington, and my daughter, Presenda [Prescindia] Buell of Lima.

February 14th Saturday night [1846] [I] stayed with my son, William D. Huntington. My family all well Sunday. My family yet at Father Tanner's.

Monday 16th Went to the camp in company with Amasa Lyman. Was counseled to move our families to the camp.

Tuesday 17th We all moved to the camp on Sugar Creek which was the main camp.

Wednesday [February 18th 1846] A more full organization was entered into with the camp. Myself and my family were organized into Amasa Lyman's company. This day the artillery arrived in camp. All is pleasant [and in] good order in camp. No opposition from the inhabitants. The camp are waiting here for some brethren to come from Nauvoo. Brother Whitney and Clayton not over. My family all in good health.

18th This day President Brigham Young went back to Nauvoo on business. 19th A severe snow storm commenced and snowed for 24 hours.

20th Very cold. Snow 6 inches deep. More pleasant the brethren in good health and in good spirits. Brother Brigham still in Nauvoo.

Saturday 21st [February 1846] All well in camp.

22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th Weather cold with some snow. The health of the people in camp remains good through the week.

February 28th My family all in good health. This day I went to Nauvoo. Visited my children. They were all in good health. Left Nauvoo for the last time for the present.

March 1st [1846] This day an order was given to leave the present encampment. Accordingly, the Twelve with the most of the camp, struck their tents and rolled out. [We] went 6 miles and encamped for the night. Weather pleasant. Amasa Lyman's company remain on the ground through the night in consequence of two teams [p.48] not being in camp. 52

Monday morning [March] 2nd Weather good. Our company left the camp 15 minutes before 10 [o'clock], traveled 15 miles [and] camped on a small creek on the Farmington Road. Found people friendly. Gave us straw for our cattle.

3rd [March] Tuesday Morning Weather good. Our teams bocked hindered [?] Left camp half past 10. Overtook the main body of the camp which left Sugar Creek Sabbath evening and took a more southern route. We fell in with them at Farmington half past 2 o'clock. Arrived on the camping ground with President Young half past 5. We camped on a piece of land [and] the brethren took to chop the timber and fence the same

Wednesday [March] 4th [1846] Weather good. Orders is to remain here this day, [the] 5th and rest our teams...

Friday 6th Orders again for the first company to move on. Left camp 15 minutes past 10 [o'clock], crossed the Des Moines at Bonaparte 5 minutes past one. Had an extreme bad road on the bottom and up the bluff. President John Smith turned over his wagon. Damage, but trifling injured Sister Smith slightly. Camped on the prairie.

Had no fire ate a cold supper, pitched our tent [and] had some straw from a citizen. Traveled 6 miles.

Saturday morning 7th [March 1846] Moved on. Arrived at Indian Creek 15 minutes before 11. Stayed all night.

Sunday [/] Saturday morning 8th Left camp 20 minutes before 9, traveled 8 miles. Arrived at Doctor Elbert's plantation 30 minutes past one. [We] pitched our tents in his timber. Spent a night pleasantly. A. Lyman, A. Bybee and H. Rollins went in company with Doctor Elbert to the camp where the band had stopped. The doctor and the other gentlemen were well pleased with the performance of the band.

Sunday morning. Weather pleasant. A. Lyman and H. Rollins left, went to visit the camp on ahead where President Young was to get intelligence as to further operations. [We] were counseled to move on 53 the same day. [p.49] Left Elbert's 30 minutes past one, passed Bishop Whitney camp at a creek where Joseph Kingsbury's wife was confined on the 8th with a fine son. Arrived in camp at Richardson's Point, Van Buren County, Iowa Territory, 15 minutes past 5. Captain Alfred Bybee’s company or the ten which he had the charge or the 2nd ten of A. Lyman's company, arrived in camp with us 30 minutes past 8. I will note here that I have the charge of the first ten and A. Bybee the 2nd in A. Lyman's company. I note here also that the camp have taken jobs of different kinds of work, such as building houses, chopping timber, slitting rails, husking corn, and etc, for which we have received such things as was necessary for sustenance of man and our teams.

Monday 8th [correct date is the 9th] Weather good. An order given for all men who were able to chop and split rails to go to work at the above mention.

Tuesday 10th. Orders came for George A. Smith and Amasa Lyman's companies to move on 15 miles. Accordingly we sent off A. Bybee's ten as they were principally ox teams. Soon after they set out, it began to rain. The remainder of the companies remained. It continued to rain Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Thursday our camping ground was overflowed with water and mud. We removed our camp to drier ground [on the] 12th.

Friday morning Wind north more cool. Windy through the day. Mud dried fast. Our boys this day are husking corn by the job, have 12 bushels of corn and dinner for husking a certain pile of corn, 13th [March 1846]. I will mention our boys husked yesterday which was Thursday, though it rained. Some 40 (?) stalks of corn for the fodder and 4 bushels of corn.

Saturday 14th Weather good. The camp still remain here.

Monday 16th Myself and Nathan Tanner left with 5 horses to trade them for oxen. Traveled from Van Buren Co., north. Crossed De Moines north into Jefferson Co. I returned on Thursday evening. I

54 made no trade for oxen. On my return at Chequest Creek with two men, proposals were made for a trade on the day following. [p.50] Accordingly, my son John and Nathan Tanner took my horses and went to affect a trade.

Friday 20th I will mention here that on Thursday 19th the camp, most of it, left this point for the flats on the Chariton River. Amasa Lyman's company, most of it, remain on the ground and expect to until Saturday. I will mention that on Tuesday morning, the 17th of March, a son of Sidney Tanner of about 18 months of age expired. This is the first death in A. Lyman's company. There has been two other deaths. Brother Edwin Little, a nephew of Brother Brigham Young's and Sister Spencer, the wife of Orson Spencer all have died while the camp has been here at Richardson's Point. My family all in good health. My daughter Zina left Thursday with the camp that left this place. Weather cool, roads are improving fast March 20th.

Fifteen minutes past eleven, A. Lyman's company left the camping place and set out for the Chariton bottoms. I will mention my son and Nathan Tanner returned from exchanging my horses. They affected a trade, returned with two yoke of oxen which enables me to go on with my loading. We traveled Saturday 9 miles. Stopped at Mr. Locks plantation on the south fork of Chequest River. We had a slight rain in the night.

Sunday morning March 22nd [1846] Left camp 15 minutes past 8. Weather cool and cloudy. 12 o' clock Sunday we are now in Davis County. Traveled this day 18 miles. Weather cloudy through the day. Sunday night encamped at Mr. Easley’s grove on Fox River. [It] commenced to rain in the evening. Rained moderately through the night.

Monday 23rd Showery through the day. Could not go on our journey. Took a job to make 500 rails for 15 bushels of corn. We are to make the rails for Mr. Easley. Rained and blowed through the night.

Tuesday 24th Continues to rain and snow through the day up to 30 minutes past one [o'clock]. 55

Wednesday 25th Snowed and rained through the day. Wind shifts to west. At sunset [p.51] roads impassable.

Thursday 26th Wind west, sunrises clear, snow melts. Put our men at making rails to finish the job of Mr Easley's. This day [I] was visited by Brother Richard Thorn who is camped 2 miles up the river with a small camp of brethren. Heard from Brother Thorn from the main camp, who are on the Chariton River or they are across the river on the bluff browsing their cattle. My family all in good health who are with me. Zina is on ahead with the main camp I expectÑ

Friday 27th [March 1846] Weather cold. Ground froze spits snow thaws out through the day. Our hands commence a job to make 3,000 rails. [We] are to receive pork and corn. Myself and Sidney Tanner made one hundred rails this day which finishes the job for Mr. Easley. Thus ends this day. All is well in our camp.

Saturday 28th Wind west. Cool and windy. Pleasant for March. This day I am 63 years of age, am in good health. [I] made a pair of oxbows [and I] have the care of a company of ten in Amasa Lyman's company. Our camp are yet at Mr. Easley's timber in township of Bloomfield, Davis County, Iowa Territory on Fox River about eighty miles from Nauvoo.

Sunday morning 29th Weather more pleasant this morning. We sent two of our teams in company with Brother Edward Duset on to the main camp. Our two teams took a part of our loads so as to light our loads. Expect our teams will return before we leave to join main camp. My wife Caroline and Lydia spend their time at this place making palm leaf hats. All well except John, who is troubled with the bowel complaint.

Monday morning 30th Weather pleasant. Our hands gone to their job. A. Lyman and John a hunting ducks and squirrels. [It's] now 11 o'clock A.M.

Tuesday 31st Weather good. All hands at work. Myself and Nathan Tanner made a yoke a piece for our oxen. Our hands finished the rail

56 job this day. We had a birthday dinner at A. Lyman's tent made of ducks [the dinner] [p.52] in commemoration of himself. Our teams returned from the camp. Request sent from Brother Brigham for

A. Lyman to hasten on. Accordingly his camp left Easley's Wednesday April 1st 30 minutes past 9 o'clock. Crossed the Fox River at twelve o'clock, traveled 15 miles, camped on Little Indian Creek on 17 mile parore [?] at a pleasant place. Good water. All well in camp.

Thursday morning [April 2nd] High [W]est wind, looks like rain. 12 o'clock, crosses Shoal Creek. Thunder shower rains arrived on the ground. The main camp left the day before. 30 minutes past 1, rains hard. Encamped with Parley P. Pratt and George A. Smith. Rains hard the afternoon, wind east. At 12 o'clock at night, wind west, rains hard through the night. Wind blowed down Brother Tanner's tent. Very muddy, unpleasant time. Streams high. All well.

Saturday morning 4th Cloudy, light rain or mist. 3 o'clock P.M., John [has] gone a hunting. We are now as we suppose in Missouri, on the bluff of Shoal Creek, or in other words, we are now on the disputed tract under the jurisdiction of Missouri. John has returned with Brother Rice. Helped Brother Rice to bring a venison. Had one quarter of the same. Rains this evening.

Sunday 5th Clear and pleasant. John went out before breakfast, shot a fat turkey. Brother Turley's family arrived in camp this day, who have been behind from Sugar Creek, 3 o'clock PM.

Monday 6th [April 1846] Commenced to rain at 6 o'clock AM. Rained all day, wind south. Wind shifted into the west at ten in the evening. Thundered and rained in torrents. Wind blew a gale. It was with difficulty the brethren could hold their tents up. Brother Rices' tent blew down. Doctor Braley's (?) horse mired by his wagon, chilled and died. Had a disagreeable night.

[p.53] Tuesday morning 7th Wind. High ground froze. Our teams much chilled. [We] held a meeting of the company at P.P. Pratt's tent.

Received instruction relative to the organization of the camp or that of a fifty alluding more particular the organization of the 3rd fifty consisting of the families or companies of P. Pratt, George A. Smith, Amasa Lyman and the Spencers, Daniels and Orisonwhich is calculated will make 50 wagons in all. No corn for our teams. [We] have fed all to them this morning. Our commissaries have gone out this morning in pursuit of more. Now 3 o'clock P.M. Clear and cool, high wind.

Wednesday 8th Commissaries returned yesterday. No corn for the camp this morning. Have orders to roll out. Weather pleasant. I left the camp 10 minutes before 9. This camp is on the north fork of Shoal Creek. Roads bad, traveled 8 miles, encamped on the south fork of Shoal. Found my daughter Zina with a fine son born in a tent on the bank of the Chariton River. Encamped the night.

Thursday 9th Orders to roll out this morning 10 minutes before 8. Looks like rain. Road extreme bad. Heber Kimball's company first, the other companies consisting of House, Harvey and Miller’s rolled out rather in confusion. That is, those first ready rolled out first. Accordingly, my team was ahead of the three last companies. From the north fork, the two days of bad roads, I had no help from any team, while scarcely a team but what had help. At 12 o'clock P.M., it commenced to rain with some 200 teams then scattered over the wet flat prairies for three miles.

The rain increased, the roads soon became impassable. Teams were stalled in every direction. Men doubling and tripling teams, but to no effect with many wagons [that] were left stalled in the mud in every direction. Many families remained on the prairie overnight without fire, with their clothing wet and cold. High wind all night.

Heber Kimball's company traveled 8 miles, encamped 12 mile from timber in the cold wet prairie. The three remaining companies, those of them that were not stalled on the prairies, [p.54] turned off from the road 12 a mile. (Note: Part of the proceeding sentence was covered by an ink blot) [They] encamped on Elmpoint [and] spent

58 one of the most uncomfortable nights that so many of the Church ever suffered in one night.

[It] rained steady all night. Very cold and a high wind. The ground filled with water. The mud knee deep around our tents and little or no feed for our teams. One cow, through fatigue, laid down by the wagon on the prairie, chilled and died. A general scene of suffering for man and beast.

Friday 10th The scene of suffering still continues. Frequent showers through the day, gales of wind throwing down tents. Upset Brother Theodore Turley's buggy. Injured the top teams. [We] were sent out to bring in families who stayed overnight. My team went out twice after wagons. A gale of snow at 4 o'clock P.M. Friday night. Froze hard.

Saturday 11th Cool, cloudy day. Sent out teams to help in all the families. Sent after corn. We are browsing our cattle by cutting down elms tress. Have no grain to feed our teams.

Sunday morning 12th [April 1846] Weather pleasant. A request sent from President [Brigham] Young for A. Lyman and myself to attend a council consisting of the Twelve, the High Council and others. (Note: Part of the proceeding sentence was covered by an ink blot) Leading men such as bishops and etc. met at Heber C. Kimball's camp at 10 A.M. Council decided that a company of men should leave this week consisting of the Twelve, pioneers and others to the amount of 50, should go up to the timber on Grand River, some 230 miles, and make farm of some one hundred acres, fence, plow and put in a crop and build some cabins. Another company to go to Grand River to Judge Miller's mills, to labor for corn and provision, other [than] to exchange in horses and other property for oxen and provision, etc.

Decided also that the camp should not go through the Missouri settlement, but that we would go from the farm on Grand River, which is in contemplation to be made, direct to [p.55] Council Bluff [Iowa]. Council adjourned. I took dinner with Brother Yearsley [and] returned home. 59

Monday morning 13th Weather good. Struck our tents [and] rolled out from Elm Point, which is in Missouri, Putnam County on Blackbird Creek. Left 12 past 11 A.M., arrived at the camp of Heber C. Kimball's 12 past 2 P.M. We are on the north fork of Louis Creek in Putnam County on the disputed tract.

Tuesday 14th Weather pleasant. Orders from Brigham [Young] for all the camp to cross the bottoms of the Louis Creek this day. Accordingly, all the [?] are put in requisition by doubling the teams to cross the bottoms. My team has come this morning from Elm Point with Albert Tanner's wagons, as he helped me yesterday up to this place and are [Tanner's wagons] now gone to the camp of Brigham's an[d we are] expecting them back every minute. [It's] now 3 o'clock P.M. Left camp at 4 P.M. Rolled across the bottom of Louis Creek. One of the worst pieces of road that could be found in a wet time, but having had 3 or 4 dry days, the road improved much. We arrived on the bluff about sunset, where we joined the main camp. As beautiful a sight as ever was seen in this region of country. A city of tents and wagons inhabited by the Saints of the last days.

Wednesday 15th Weather pleasant. Orders given for most of the camp to roll out. Accordingly, at about 11 o'clock A.M., the line of march was taken up here. One of the most splendid sights I ever witnessed. So great a number of wagons spread out on one of the most splendid wide prairies that ever was seen. We took a western course on the divide between the Louis and Medicine River, intending to cut the timber on the Grand River, where it is intended to make a farm. [We] Traveled 7 miles, encamped on a small fork of Louis Creek where there was wood and water. John Taylor's company encamped near us. It looks like rain. It is now about sundown. John is out hunting John returns.

Thursday 16th [April 1846] Weather pleasant. Our company, most of them, roll out a company of three or four go on a trading expedition to exchange horses for [p.56] oxen. George A. Smith and A. Lyman remained on the ground until teams could be sent back for them, as their teams were sent off for trade. We arrived at our camping 60 ground 12 past four, after rolling over the most beautiful prairie grass in the ravens. [The grass] is up so as to give our cattle something to eat. Weather warm, a growing time. We encamped on one of the north forks of Medicine River. A beautiful situation.

Friday morning 17th Weather good. Teams were sent back for the brethren behind. The day is spent in taking care of our teams and arranging our camp.

Saturday morning 18th Weather good. A council called. Met at Brigham's camp. All of the companies are encamped near each other. A council is called to commence fitting a company for the mountains. All the teams put into the camp by individuals to help off. The Church were called for. Orders was given by President Young for all wagons loaded with families drawn by public teams, to be unloaded and brought to him on Monday morning next, to be loaded with public property and the families to be helped up to the contemplated farm and there be left until such times as they can fit themselves for the mountains.

Here I have one of the most trying scenes I ever have had. As I have no team, nor wagon of my own, I expect on Monday morning to unload the wagon I have been using, put my goods on the ground and be helped up to the stopping place. Having agreeable council previous to leaving Nauvoo [Illinois], given a deed to my lot to the trustees in order to fulfill my covenant made at October conference, as also all the Church to do all we could to help the Church; therefore I am now, according to the President's order, to be left on the camp ground and my affects to be carried up to Grand River settlement and fit out myself. John [his son] has killed 6 turkeys this week.

Sunday morning 19th Weather good. The brethren are agreeable to appointment this morning, a[re] going to meeting met at Brigham's camp. This is the first meeting held since we left Nauvoo. [We] were addressed by Brigham and others on the [p.57] propriety of emigrating on correct principals. Our meeting was I think, held

61 without a person but what was on the journey. We are now on the disputed tract near the north line on a wide prairie where there is no road but that made by the Church. It was recommended by President Young that we hold meetings every week as we journey. A pleasant or an interesting meeting. A good spirit prevailed in the camp. Brothers Lee Bybee and Mark Hall arrived here from Nauvoo. Came here for the express purpose to take back two of our wagons, mine and Henry's. An arrangement was made to leave them.

Monday 20th A council called this morning at 9 o'clock A.M. A report of all the members of the tens as to their means to go on their journey to the mountains in order to select a company of such as could fit themselves. This day in council, President [Brigham] Young said to me that I might have the team and wagon to go to the mountains if I could fit myself with provisions. It was recommended for all the fifties to send out men with wagon loads of such property as could be spared, such as beds, chests and all unnecessary property for the journey and exchange it for oxen cows and provision.

Accordingly, sent my portion of property to exchange it for cows and my son John went with the teams. This day I received a letter from Brother Ari Brower announcing to me the death of his wife's mother whose name was Mary Brower. She died the 27th of March and was buried on my lot with my first wife.

Tuesday morning 21st Weather cloudy. Looks like rain. The great part of the camp rolled out this morning for Grand River. Some of our men have gone to look for work to procure provisions while the wagons and my son, which I spoke of yesterday, set out this morning to make an exchange of property. It is now 1 o'clock P.M. My family all well.

(Taken from his Obituary: “…on the 9th of August, 1846, he was taken sick with chills and fever of which he died at ten minutes before eleven a.m. on the 19th of August, 1846. He died without a struggle or a groan.”)

William Huntington

Obituary notice written by his son Oliver B. Huntington

President. Wm. Huntington died at his residence at Mt. Pisgah. The annexed biographical sketch is from the pen of his son, Oliver B. :

Biographical sketch and obituary notice of William Huntington whose parents were born in Tollard township and county, Connecticut.

His father’s name was William Huntington; his mother’s before marriage was Presendia Lathrop.

Soon after the close of the Revolutionary War they moved to New Grantham, Chesire county, New Hampshire where William Huntington was born March 28, 1784. In 1804 they moved to the state of New York, (Watertown, Jefferson country) and were among the first settlers in the county.

In 1806, he returned to New Hampshire and married Zina Baker, daughter of Dr. Oliver Baker December 28, 1806. Soon after he married he moved to Watertown, New York, where he lived and prospered in temporal blessings until 1811 when he sold out and the following year war was declared with Great Britain, which proved fatal to his prospects, and coupled with much sickness in the family reduced them very low in pecuniary circumstances. His service in the army was done with the fife, he was in one battleÐthat of Sacketts Harbor. In 1816 Providence smiled on him again, and about the same time he experienced religion, having an honest heart before God and earnestly enquiring of the Lord as to the truth and reality of the history and doctrines of the Bible; and from that time the spirit of the Lord began to show him the right way to live and what was coming on the earth. First he was shown that intoxicating drinks were not pleasing to God and were conducive of evil temporally and spiritually. He left them off and joined the Presbyterian church. God next shewed him that tobacco was not good for him and he left off its use. Then his mind began to be clear and his view of the world was

63 changed by faithful and sincere prayer to know who and what was right. He received an answer that none were right, but that he should live to see the true church of Christ, having the gifts and graces as did the church in Christ’s day.

He left the Presbyterians and proclaimed boldly what God had sown himÐthat all had gone astrayÐdarkness covered the people, and that the church of Christ came it would be adorned with the gifts of healing, prophecy, etc. From that time he became an outcast in society in all these prayers principles and faith his wife was one with him.

In the winter of 1832/33 he first heard of "Mormonism" read the Book of Mormon and believed it with all his heart and preached it almost every day, to his neighbors, and everybody he could see, or had the privilege to chat with until 1836 when he and his wife with two of their children were baptized by Elder Dutcher.

His house was a meeting house and a home for all the Saints. On the 8th of May, 1836, he sent two of his children and their families, Dimick B. Huntington and Presendia to Kirtland, Ohio, waiting himself only to sell out.

October 1, 1836, he started and moved to Kirtland with quite a number of saints under the direction of Orson Pratt and Luke L. Johnson; he was ordained an Elder previous to starting. He arrived in Kirtland on he eleventh, bought a farm of Jacob Bump and paid him three thousand dollars and was defrauded out of it, so that in little over one year he was compelled to labor by the day for a living.

In the breaking up at Kirtland the apostates harassed him with law suits until he saw his children often go to bed crying for bread near two weeks lived on greens. His house was a hiding place for Father Joseph Smith, Hyrum, Samuel and Carlos while trying to escape from the persecution in Kirtland. The mummies were hid in his house a long time. Many of the pursued and persecuted found a retreat there and a hiding place from apostate persecution.

In Kirtland, Ohio, he received his washing and anointing in the Temple and was ordained a High Priest and High Councillor, in which office he acted until the Church left there. He lost five hundred dollars in the Kirtland bank.

He started May 21, 1838, for Far West, where he arrived about the 11th of July and by counsel, moved to Diahman, he drove team for Oliver Snow to get his clothing hauled, where he was chosen Commissary for the brethern who armed for defense, and after the mobs had driven and hemmed in the scattering brethern, he was commissary to all the people of that place and had charge of all the provisions of the town. After the surrender of the Church in Missouri he was foreman of the committee chosen to confer with the committee chosen by the mob. These two committees were representatives of, and authorized to transact all business for, their respective communities. He was also one of a committee chosen to see to the poor and get them moved out of the state of Missouri, which they did to the complete satisfaction of all the church, though with no ordinary exertion, and stayed himself till about the last man and family. His was one of the first families that moved to Commerce afterward called Nauvoo where he arrived May 14, 1839.

About the first of July his whole family was taken sick, and on the 8th his wife died of sickness caused by hardship and exposure. At this time he suffered for the comforts of life.

At a conference held on the first Tuesday in October 1839, he was again chosen to the office of High Counselor.

August 28, 1840, he married Lydia Partridge, window of Bishop Edward Partridge, whose maiden name was Lydia Clisbee. As High Counselor he helped lay one of the cornerstones of the Nauvoo temple on the 8th of March 1841.

He commenced immediately upon the walls of the Temple and worked until the basement was done, then cut stone until the cap stone was laid, and by particular request the stones which he cut

65 were laid in a column from the basement to the top of the chimney at the south west corner.

As soon as the Temple was ready for giving endowments he administered therein until the close. He continued a member of the High Council until the expulsion from Nauvoo. In the move from Nauvoo he was appointed captain of a company of fifty wagons which he helped make, and fit up the company, which was subsequently disorganized and he was appointed a captain of ten in Amasa M. Lyman’s company until the settlement of Mount Pisgah, where he was left to preside over that stake or branch with Charles C. Rich and Ezra T. Benson for his counselors.

At this place his labors were extreme and unremitting for the good and welfare of the people, and the comfort of the sick of which there were a great many, and on the 9th of August, 1846, he was taken sick with chills and fever of which he died at ten minutes before eleven a.m. on the 19th of August, 1846. He died without a struggle or a groan.

He was the father of six sons and four daughters, and at the time two daughters and four sons in the Church.

In life he was loved by all the saints. His love and zeal for the cause of God were unsurpassed by any. His judgement was respected and his conduct never questioned; he never had a trial or difficulty with any person in the Church.

Oliver Boardman Huntington (1823-1907) Son of William Huntington & Zina Baker

Wife, Mary Melissa Neal (m. 1845)

Oliver Huntington is the Grandfather of Rosetta Huntington, who is the grandmother of Ray & Jacklyn King

HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF OLIVER B. HUNTINGTON

Also his travels and troubles

written by himself

I was born in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, October 14, 1823. I was brought up very strictly to keep the Sabbath, also be moral, and honest, and deal justly with all my fellow beings.

In the year of our Lord, 1835, my father, mother, one brother and one sister, joined the Mormons. In the year 1836 he sold his farm and moved to Kirtland in Ohio. We started October 1, lay in Sackets Harbour windbound three days and when we did go we had a dreadful storm until we got to Richester [Rochester], there we took the canal for Buffalow [Buffalo], at Buffalow [Buffalo] a steamer for Fairport, 12 miles from Kirtland; arrived in Kirtland four days from the time we started. My father there bought a small farm for $3000 and paid the money down, finally lost it all in that farm and became a poor man. Stayed there two winters, in the which time I went to school, the best part. As a people or family we were respected although I say it. My father was first an elder then a high priest and then a high councilor. About the first of May, 1838, we started for Missouri. Had a long and tedious journey; arrived at Farwest [Far West], Missouri, July 18th, 1838; we stayed there a few weeks and then moved 25 miles to Adamondeahman [Adam-ondi-Ahman]; there we lived through all the wars. I saw one man whom the mob killed

67 and dug his eyes out with sticks, also many others that had been wounded. In the time of the fuss my father was commissary for that place. After we laid down our arms and moved to Farwest [Far West] he was committeeman to see to getting some property out of Daviess County. In the spring of 1839 we left the state, being nearly the last family to leave. Landed at Quiney [Quincy] on the Mississippi River in Illinois. Stayed there two or three weeks and then moved 60 miles up the river to an old city plot called Commerce 1839 then, but soon called Nauvoo by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to which I belonged having joined a few days after we reached Kirtland. That same summer, July 8th, 1839, my mother died. I suppose from or on account of the persecutions of Missouri, at the same time I was so sick I could not attend the funeral.

I was sick until the next spring on the 6th of April following [which] the Church was organized by a general conference held at Nauvoo, 1840. My father was again put in high councilor. 1841 the next spring having obtained a charter, organized ourselves into a city called Nauvoo. Two of my brothers, Dimmick and William, were put in city constables. Wm. [William] also city sexton besides constable. That year a military force was organized; father was made captain of a company called the selvergrays. He also had four sons who belonged to the band one of which was the captain, the writer of this the couerbearer.

February 3, 1842, I went to learn the carpenters trade; worked six months and left. Soon after I went 30 miles to see my brother-in-law. He wanting to go to New York, rented his steam grist mill and carding machine to myself and another youngster about my age; did well and quit in the fall when or in a few weeks after he got to me. I then went to Nauvoo and went to school the rest of the winter.

The next spring which was that of 1843, April the 8th, I was ordained an elder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About six weeks after I was ordained an elder. I started in company with my brother-in-law, Henry B. Jacobs and Elder John Gleason whom I had not acquaintance with before, on a mission to the western part of the 68 state of New York. We found a man by the name of Casper going into the state of Ohio with a two-horse wagon; he said we could ride there free, and find our own provision. Least I forget it, I will here state that I was ordained under the hands of two of the Twelve Apostles, namely John Taylor and George A. Smith, nephew to the prophet.

We started on the 30th of May, traveled thirty miles the first day, 1843 stayed that night with one Mr. Bagbee, and slept on the soft side of the floor for the first time, a pretty good beginning I thought.

Started early the next morning and traveled 36 miles that day; stayed with Mr. Romine, used well and slept on a feather bed.

June 1st, Thursday, traveled 42 miles and got turned out of doors once by a very rich man; went on two miles and got in with a man who belonged to no church. After a little conversation he got angry at something Elder Gleason said, and with a violent blow on the table, said we must not think such things loud in his house again, if we did, we would leave it quick; however we stayed there that night.

June 2nd, crossed the Mackinaw River, passed through Mackinaw Village, also through Bloomington Village, in all traveled 38 miles and got turned out of doors three times.

Finally a man by the name of Rives Cowden, a gentlemanly appearanced man, kindly received us. That night we had a dreadful wind and rain which made it bad going the next day. June 3, found the streams raised by the rain, and fences leveled by the winds. The roads were very bad all days travel only 30 miles and stayed 13 miles from Urban, and had fine nights rest on a hay mow in an old log barn for the first time.

Sunday, June 4th, roads but a little better, traveled 30 miles and put up with Mr. Shearer and slept in the haymow again; rested quite well excepting it turned off cold in the night with rain; rained the best part of the day which made the going very bad indeed, crossed the big Vermillion River at Danville, and took in dinner about two miles

69 the other side. Went a little farther and for the first time in five years saw beach trees which made me laugh heartily. Proceeded a little and crossed the state line into Indiana just as we came onto the edge of a four mile prairie. About six miles from that, within sight of Covington on the Washburn River we stopped for night, and slept on the haymow after having traveled 30 miles.

Tuesday 6, crossed the Wabash pretty early, however the ferry had bad luck in getting from the other side which detained us about an hour in which time the river rose about six inches. We were told it rose six feet the night before, on account of the rains the day before.

We traveled 30 miles that day and stopped at one Mr. Gray's, preached considerable to them and found them quite believing, enough so to give us a good bed to sleep in, which was thankfully received by us.

Wednesday the 7th, crossed Sugar Creek at Crawfordsville pretty early on a very large bridge which was nearly washed away by the flood. The waters were the highest then they had ever been known and we that day had the worst going I ever saw in my life; traveled only 26 miles, doing our best. The water was then high but nothing to what it had been.

Not a bridge from Crawfordsville to New Lebanon was standing even old crossways on level ground washed up; corn and wheat fields destroyed and fences carried off.

One man said before he had 30 acres of corn and after the flood he had three left, the remainder being covered about a foot with washed dirt. All this caused by about six hours of rain.

The old settlers said they never saw such a flood in that country, it was that way all through the state because the rain kept just ahead of us.

We traveled miles where the water had been leg deep on the level as we could see by the fences. Stayed that night in Lebanon and slept on a hay-mow belonging to one Mr. King, a tavern keeper. 70

Thursday 8th, the going was bad as ever. We got within eleven miles of Noblesville on Little Eagle Creek, and found two brethren at work on the road. We then took all things into consideration, our provisions were exhausted, the going unaccountable, horses worn out, our clothes dirty, therefore, we thought it best for two of us to tarry and get recruited, one proceed and drive the team and help the old gentlemen as two could travel together better than three. We therefore took the parting hand amid Brother Gleason went on with the teams. Brother Jacobs and myself tarried to come on foot. We went that night to stay with Brother Tideroe after having traveled 11 miles that day.

Friday, June 9th, Sister Tideroe washed our clothes. We stayed that day there and spent our time in singing and studying. Saturday we also spent to the best advantage. I felt truly thankful to God for the privilege of resting my poor body in the house of a friend indeed in time of need.

Friday an appointment was circulated that on Sunday there would be preaching at Joseph Tideroe's by a Mormon preacher so called.

Sunday the 11th, Elder J. read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews and preached therefrom.

Whilst he was preaching I thought I could preach well enough. After he got through I arose to bear testimony, but the heavens seemed as brass over my head; my feelings, none but the all seeing eye could discern, or imagine. It being the first time I ever arose to address a public assembly. I was somewhat startled, my mind confused and my confidence failed me. After meeting I grew worse and worse; my feelings were past being described by the human tongue.

There was [were] plenty of woods close at hand, and I soon sought the inmost recesses thereof to supplicate my God, and give vent to my feelings in a profuse flood of tears. Why I felt so I knew not, but so it was. I soon felt better and returned to the house. That evening we went home with Brother William Trout about 1 1/2 miles on our road. 71

Monday, June 12th, the going extremely bad, yes I might say incredibly bad, so that we traveled only sixteen miles that day having passed through Westfield over Ciseroe Creek where we had to wade quite a peace on account of the high water, also crossed White River at Noblesville. Soon after we put up with one Mr. John Osburn where we were well treated. Here we saw mysterious things, not unlawful for man to utter, two at one and one in two. Traveled sixteen miles.

However they treated us well, and Christ says that the publicans and harlots shall enter into the kingdom before you? Scribes and pharisees.

Tuesday the 13th, passed through Strawtown and Andersontown by one o'clock, distance 20 miles. Stopped at Brother David Tothingtons's and took dinner; he was gone to Cincinnati; his wife was a wicked opposer to truth, therefore we proceeded on our journey eight miles which made 28 miles that day notwithstanding my feet were badly blistered legs worn out and above all things among strangers; yet I had a friend who will stand by those who trust in him.

Elder Jacob's feet were also badly blistered, his hips very lame also; take us as we were and we were two pitiful objects.

Towards night we fell in company with a man going our road, a mile or two. Brother Jacobs talked about right, and made him think he was a fine man, and then asked for lodging, which we freely obtained and thankfully received. We were truly sorely afflicted; and cast down for a short time, but calling to mind our business, I cheered up my spirits remembering him who sent us. That night I got an old hat and sowed soles on my socks and made moccasins of them and wore them two days carrying my boots, because my feet were very sore. His name I don't recollect; however he did not belong to any church, and all the better for us, as he was not full of prejudice and party-split like some sectarians.

Wednesday, June 14th, started again sore as ever, passed through Yorktown [and] Munsey town and came to Windsor where we received an invitation to stop and preach. It was pretty early, however we thought best to stop as there had been no preaching in that place. We put up with Mr. McLauchlin, a house and congregation was soon made ready and after having traveled 25 miles. Elder Jacobs preached to them from the 2nd epistle of John and done [did] the subject justice; a more attentive congregation I never saw. Mr. McLauchlin used us like gentlemen for which he shall have the praise and blessings of God, for it came in time when we knew how to praise it and truly needed it.

Thursday, June 15th. Got a late start that day, passed through Winchester about one o'clock, also crossed the state line into Ohio walking hand in hand lifting our desires to God for his assistance and his power to be made manifest through us unto the convincing of many souls of the error of their ways.

We stayed that night in Ohio at a tavern about 40 rods from the line, traveled 25 miles. The subject of our faith was soon brought up. Elder Jacobs defended it manfully. Soon a carriage drove up with two gentlemen and I thought them, one lady. The two gentlemen soon began to talk also and about as soon got angry.

Finally Elder Jacobs told one of them he was no part of a gentleman; and at the other took it up and told Elder Jacobs if he said one more word he would beat him till he could not see. He then replied, he thanked God he was in a free land, and I did not see as he trembled much, but certain it is he did not touch him.

Friday the 16th, started very early with muddy roads as it rained hard the night before. Traveled five miles and stopped at Mr. Fredrick Ivesleys and took breakfast. The old lady was a fine woman, and had living with her a granddaughter the most polished Dutch lady I had yet seen. When we came away the old lady shook hands with Brother Jacobs and bade him God speed. Traveled on through Greenville seven miles and took dinner with Thomas Hathaway, with

73 him lived his father-in-law, a Baptist preacher, with whom we had some conversation. Traveled 25 miles that day and stopped with one John Pitsonbarger. Was very weary in consequence of its being very muddy and slippery.

Saturday, June the 17th, the first thing we entered a six mile swamp, the worst I had yet seen at any time. After we got through the swamp we came to a river and if we had not come just as we did, we would have to gone two or three miles farther, for the boat was on the other side and the men were just going away but we called them and they came and took us over, free. About nine miles from that we passed through Harding, two miles east of which we took dinner, had good going all day after we left the swamp. Passed through Sidney which is quite a large village. Passed the village about one mile and met a man in a one- horse wagon whom we hailed and enquired the road, etc. I observed something in the hinder end of the wagon which we soon found out to be a new patent for water wheels the most powerful of any I ever saw. Called the spire and lever wheel, performing one thousand and forty revolutions in one minute, after that came through Jefferson and there saw a blind man playing the flute. Traveled 26 miles that day and stayed with a dutchman whose son had 117 fits in three weeks. That night slept (dutch fashion) on the straw bed with the feather bed over us which nearly smothered me to death.

Sunday, June 18th, shirted, shaved, and proceeded on our journey without breakfast; in a few miles we discovered a man trying to catch a horse in the road, he called for us to stop him, which we done [did] and in return asked him for our breakfast which we received, however whilst eating, he went away to meeting and told his wife nothing of what had happened.

When we got through eating we thanked her for her kindness to us, but says she, "I want my pay." We then told her what we had done and that we were preachers of the gospel traveling without money, 74 purse or scrip as did the ancient apostles. She became satisfied and told us we were welcome. Started on and soon came to the big Miami River which was swollen to the overflowing of the banks on either side of the bridge so that we had to wade about twelve rods. At noon we stopped to get dinner. Some excuses were offered but finally a loaf of bread and plate of butter were presented to us in a chair. We ate and thanked God for that much. Elder Jacobs talked to the old lady (who had the fever) with the spirit and with power until she fairly trembled and said she wished we had a better dinner. We shook hands together and she bade us God speed. Passed through Bellfountain and took the Sundusky Road, came to Rushylvania as tired seemingly as mortal bodies could be and put one foot before the other.

We were soon found out to be preachers and nothing to do but we must preach after having traveled 26 miles. Elder Jacobs gave them a discourse that seemed to take good effect on nearly all; I then arose and bore testimony.

Monday, the 19th, got most ready to go on our journey and went across the road to see a lady who was somewhat believing and there saw a mammoth's double tooth which was about eight inches long and six deep and four wide on the top had bad roads nearly all day, however we traveled quite easy after preaching, because it seemed to give us new life. Crossed the Sciota River and stayed within two miles of Burlington with a man who had lately lost his wife by the milk sickness as I afterwards found out, but they said it was the consumption that there was no milk sickness within three or four miles of there; and that was the story told us all the way through the state of Indiana, and to Richland County, Ohio. When we would get where it was, it was not there but a few miles on ahead and when we got there it was somewhere else. Traveled 22 miles.

Tuesday, June 20th, passed through Burlington, Bosierville, and Little Sandusky where we crossed the Sandusky River. Came on six miles and passed through Wyandot, also passed through Bucirus quite a village one mile east of which we stayed with a Methodist 75 making in all 30 miles. His name is Coal. We told him we were preachers of the gospel; but they did not ask of what denomination we were and I know not but they think we are methodists also to this day.

Wednesday, the 21st, had the best of roads all day, and also the sorest of feet and legs. Got within ten miles of Mansfield and took dinner with widow Elizabeth Hoover. We thanked her, and left with her the blessings of Almighty God, that she might have wisdom and understanding to bring her little ones up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, then proceeded on our journey; passed through Ontario, New Castle and soon came within sight of Mansfield where we laid ourselves down under the shadow of a chestnut tree to rest our weary limbs. Mansfield is a beautiful little village seated in a valley, a memorable place for the imprisonment of the prophet, Joseph Smith. Whilst in the village we found a man going on our road seven miles and got the privilege of riding with him which made us 34 miles. We then thought one good turn deserved another so asked him to keep us overnight, which he agreed to, but rather grudgingly. In the course of the evening he told a number of yanky tricks played on the dutch people (such as he was) in Pennsylvania; knowing we were Yankees, therefore when we came to go to bed he put us up garet in a straw thing and said why he done [did] so, was the women were afraid of us. Such usage raised my dander I tell ye, his name is Mason and has a brother in Farmington, Illinois.

Thursday, June 22nd, started by sunrise passed through Ashland and within one mile and a half of Orange stopped and got breakfast. We told them we were preachers, but they did not ask of what sort, and so got the best breakfast I had yet seen on the way. We thanked them and proceeded, through Orange and Waynsburgh four miles east of which we took dinner with William Ramsey. Had about as good a dinner as we had breakfast. Blessed him in the name of the Lord and proceeded on our journey. Within four miles of Jackson where four ways met, we stopped to rest our exceedingly weary and worn

76 bodies for we were tired beyond measures and description. Pretty soon a wagon came along and we got in a rode one mile which helped us a little. Got to Jackson about sunset, and that tired, it seemed as though my soul would leave my body after having traveled 37 miles.

Elder Jacobs had a cousin there by the name of Delaska Coats where we calculated to stop and rest two or three days.

Friday the 23rd, spent the day principly in reading and studying the scriptures. Mrs. Coats washed and mended our cloths like an own sister. She is a very fine woman indeed; she looks, speaks, and acts enough like the prophet's wife to be her own sister. He also is a very fine man.

Saturday the 24th, spent a good share of the day in study. That being St. John's Day. There was a great performance at Wooster by the Mason's which made a great deal of travel by there that day.

Sunday, June 25th, as there had never been any Mormon preaching there, after much persuasion Elder Jacobs consented to give them a discourse. Accordingly he preached from the second epistle of John, and gave general satisfaction.

Monday the 26th, shook hands with them, bade them farewell, and started on our journey. Passed through Seville and Medina two miles past which we stopped to get a drink and they asked us to eat which we done [did] with thankfulness in our hearts. After dinner, we entered into conversation with the old gentleman. Traveled 27 miles that day.

The subject of the gifts was breached upon; he asked if the gifts were in our church. Elder Jacobs said they were. The old man having but one whole leg spatting the other, said, "Look at that." Elder Jacobs said, "We read it is nothing but an evil and adulterous generation that seeketh for a sign, after a little other conversation we bade him farewell and traveled on. After passing through Strongsville we came to Albion a few miles past which we stopped to a good sectarian and

77 asked him if we could stay with him overnight. He said he was not well prepared for it at present, but there was an infidel at the next house who would keep us. So we went there; and says he such as I have I freely give unto you. His name is Umphrey and lives seven miles from Cleveland. His sister was living there with whom Elder Jacobs had some talk, and she talked so insulting that her brother said, "Why you talk like a damned fool?" She was a Methodist.

Tuesday, June 27th, rose just early enough to get a ride to Cleveland. Ran about considerable to get a passage down the lake to Buffalo. Finally found the Skooner Jessy Smith, Captain Warren Rosifelt going the next morning. We gave him seven shillings to carry us and board us, and helped him load 12,000 staves, which took seven hours. We worked each seven hours hard, although we were hardly able, either of us, to set up; my feet were badly blistered, three on one foot and four on the other, one blister as large as a two shilling piece.

Brother Jacob's hips were also very lame indeed, his feet badly blistered, besides being sick with a distemper which was then raging in Buffalow [Buffalo] and Cleveland. A man who just came from Buffalo, said that seventy-five were buried in one day there, and that there was more sick then than in the time of the colery.

Wednesday the 28th, early, a sailor from the other side of the river, called to our captain and asked if he had lost one of his hands. The captain replied, "No, why?" says he; there was one around, just a stern of us last night, a sailor that is a stranger to me. About seven o'clock the wind being fair we hoisted all sail. In a little while I began to be sea sick, and grew worse and worse until I could hardly sit up, but could not vomit which made me the worse. Had a little sailing breeze until we got just opposite to it, we were left without an excuse, and stayed there until I went to bed, it being then about four o'clock p.m. A little after dark I went to bed, as sick as I wanted to be, all hands went to bed, also but the watch or rather, the pilot.

About eleven o'clock I was waked by a loud stamp on deck. Attended with the doleful pilots cry in the dead of the night. All hands up, reaf force and main sails; after a little I made out to get up and behold the storm which had overtaken us; the winds did howl; whilest the thunders wrent the air with their loud and terrific peals; the forked lightenings, fierce and vividly flew from one end of the heavens to the other; and the liquid elements murmured as with the voice of many waters. I then returned to my bed, and realized that God was speeding us on our journey, by those means and that he was as able to preserve us on water as on land. I then commended all to his kind care, and fell asleep, slept well until morning, when I awoke and found our little bark, with all sail up and running before a strong breeze at the rate of eight miles an hour. After running about 15 miles we came to Eria. The wind raised with the sun so that we soon run at the rate of ten nots an hour. I was somewhat sick, but soon vomited and got better so that he did not take much satisfaction. The wind blew hard all day so that we got into Buffalo. Just Sundown. Slept in the vessel that night, which was enough to bread the Colery for its fartherest distance from Cleveland to Buffalo 200 miles.

Thursday, June 29th, changed our clothes and proceeded to the foot of Main Street where we found one Elder Coats from whom we learned there was a branch of the Church in that place. He took us to Brother Miller's and from there to Brother Wm. E. Folsom's where E. Jacobs was taken violently worse, and thrown on to his bed. Elder Coats and myself administered to him in the name of the Lord, and he got better immediately so that he walked 1/2 a mile to Brother Brown's and stayed all night.

Friday, June 30th he returned to Brother Folsom's, being worse than ever.

Saturday, July 1st, tried to start for Tonawanta but Brother Jacobs could not walk to the canal.

Sunday, July 2nd, he made out to get to the canal and found about just starting we got on canal boat and landed in Tonawanta about

79 one o'clock. We then had to walk two miles which brought him very near his grave. That evening I had to go back to Buffalo with one Brother Car on business, which took me all night and got there just daylight. Distance 18 miles.

Monday the 3rd, done [did] my business and returned on the packet Redbird.

Tuesday, 4th, went in a wagon down to Niagara Falls, viewed the Falls and returned. That night I had a small chill before I went to bed; and a very high fever followed all night. I will here mention, least I entirely pass over it, that on Sunday, soon after we came from Buffalo Co., Whitman, Jacobs, Elder Jacob's uncle, one of the boys came in and said he saw a dead man in the river, he knew it was because he saw his gallowses. Accordingly Mr. Jacobs and myself went to him in a canoe, he paddled, and I toed him ashore. We left him on the beach that night and done [did] more than to fasten him and send for a coroner, who came the next day and held an inquest over him. The jurymen, of which I was one, brought in a verdict of accidental death by drowning. Elder Jacobs was also one of the jurymen.

Wednesday and Thursday passed away without any remarkable occurrence.

Friday, July 7, I started in company with Elder Jacobs, his Uncle Michael, and Father Jacobs for Johnson's Creek where there was a small branch, whom Father Jacobs had raised up. Went to Tonawanta and took a boat, passed through Pendleton and came to Lockport. Where we get off the canal and went one mile and a half and stayed overnight with Brother Benjimen Hawawkins. Next morning returned to the canal and proceeded on our journey.

Saturday, July 8th, passed through Gass Port and about five o'clock reached Middleport where we stopped and held a meeting that evening, and stayed overnight with Brother Boin.

Sunday, 9th. Went six miles to Brother Brown's at the branch, and held a meeting in his barn. Elder Jacobs preached in the forenoon, and partook of the Lord's supper in the afternoon, and in the evening held a prayer meeting, however at noon Elder Jacobs and myself went a quarter of a mile to hear one Mr. Star, an apostate, expose Mormonism. He had a book of Covenants which he read nearly all the time, and though he was doing more good than hurt, and so came away and left him.

Monday, 10th. Elder Brown's brother-in-law carried us nine miles on road back to Faus. We then walked six miles and came to Brother Neals who was worth $10,000. There we stayed overnight and enjoyed ourselves well.

Tuesday, July 11th, concluded that Elder Jacobs and myself would tarry until the morrow and get our cloths washed, afterwhich, we would return by the way of Louistown. Accordingly we stayed and faired sumotuously upon the fat of the land. That evening we sung [sang] psalms, as Christ said, after which we retired to bed.

Wednesday, July 12th, after some refreshments we gave them the parting hand about ten o'clock. At noon we came to Louistown on Niagra [Niagara] River seven miles from Lake Ontario, there I saw Brocks Monument on the Canada side which had been blown nearly down with powder, by a villain who was then in prison for attempting to blow up a steamboat.

Got within four miles of the falls and there I saw the devils hole, so called, where a British army overpowered an army of French and Indians, and with the point of the bayonet forced them off a precipice of 120 feet, where they were dashed to pieces, or torn asunder in the tops of trees. One mile up the river we came to a great whirlpool, with which is formed by nearly the whole river, striking against a square bank. Within one

81 mile of the falls we stayed overnight with Elder Jacobs, Uncle John Youdell.

Thursday, July 13th, proceeded to the falls. Spent the day in searching every crook and corner about the falls. It surely is one of the seven wonders of the world. A man may view them from morn until eve and his mind is not satisfied. It is a scene; one which the narrow mind of man cannot comprehend.

Stayed that night with Brother Jacob's aunt, Mary Youdell.

Friday, 14th, returned to Whitman Jacob's, having traveled 45 miles from the time we left here just a week from or before that time.

Saturday, July 15th, had a heavy rain in the morning but it cleared off so that we started for Buffalo or rather Lagrange, by the way of Buffalo. Reached Buffalo about four o'clock. There I found Elder Carns just from Nauvoo on the way to Scotland. We then went to Brother Miller's and stayed that night.

Sunday the 16th, went up to Brother Felsom's to hear Elder Carns preach. After him Elder Jacobs gave a short lecture, and after him I arose as a witness for Christ. In the afternoon, Brother Young, who had never been with the Saints in Zion, delivered a discourse at Brother Miller's. After he got through he found out there were elders there just from Nauvoo, and said if he had known it, he would not have preached before them. In the evening Elder Jacobs delivered a discourse also at Brother Miller's.

The house was crowded and a still larger congregation in the street.

Monday, July 17th, started for Lagrange where we were to meet Brother Gleasons. Got four miles on the road, and had to lay by an hour or two, on account of the rain, afterwhich, we had very bad traveling all day. Passed through Jerusalem, three miles past which we came to Jerrico [Jericho], and there I found a man by the name of Wm. Beebee who was half a Mormon, as a man told me before we got there, with him we stayed that night; and talked until ten or eleven

82 o'clock. His wife was a very hard and bitter opposer to the gospel. Distance 20.

Tuesday 18th, after considerable conversation Mr. Beebee, Brother Jacobs and myself went out by ourselves, and he there said if we would come there in a few weeks and hold a meeting he would go forward in baptism, to which we agreed.

We then returned to the house, and found a great alteration in his wife, so that she bade us God speed when we started. Arrived in Lagrange just noon. Distance from Tonawanta 42 miles. Went that night and stayed with old Mr. Gleason and found that John Gleason, the old man's son, had not arrived yet, although we expected him there a long time before. There we learned that we had passed, two miles back, on Brother Iry Sherman.

Wednesday, July 19th, returned two miles back to Brother Iry Sherman's, who was a good old brother, and had belonged to the Church ten years, still had never lived with the Church, and he was not so rusty as one might suppose. Strong in the faith, and received whatever we gave him as doctrine. That evening we gave out an appointment for preaching the next day and four o'clock at a school house close by.

Thursday, July 20th, according to appointment, Elder Jacobs gave them a lecture from the 27th chapter 4th verse of Revelations. After him I arose and bore testimony to what had been said, and closed the meeting. An appointment was then given out for preaching the next Sabbath at Lagrange.

Friday 21st, I spent the day in writing; Brother Jacobs in writing and going round to the neighbors, seeing and hearing what he could. He heard that one man said that if we preached in Lagrange we would get some spit in our faces; also found that by the help of the Lord we had made quite a stir, yes, we had kicked up quite a dust in so short a time.

Sunday, July 23rd, at two o'clock Brother Jacobs preached at the schoolhouse and I bore testimony at five o'clock. We held another meeting in Lagrange; had quite a large congregation who paid good attention, among the rest were two Christian preachers, one of which behaved not as a preacher ought. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday I spent in writing. However on Tuesday, six wagons containing 40 brethren bound for Nauvoo stopped there and stayed that night. In the evening we had a prayer meeting which did us all good.

Not a day passed hardly but there was more or less people came in to see us, by which means I hope we sowed some seed that may fall on good ground and bring forth sixty or an hundred fold, as the scriptures say.

Saturday, July 29th, spent the day in studying the scriptures and helping the old gentleman hay.

Sunday 30th, according to appointment at eleven o'clock we repaired to the schoolhouse in Lagrange, one mile and a half distant from Brother Sherman's where we stayed. Brother Jacobs spoke from the third chapter of John fifth verse. Had an exceeding attentive congregation of about an hundred people, as usual I bore testimony at the close of his discourse. Opportunity was given for baptism, but none presented themselves, although numbers had told us they were convinced that we preached the gospel; but still they would not embrace it.

One Mr. Bugbee, a Christian preacher, agreed to be baptized on Sunday, the next day; but by persuasion was wrought upon to forsake the idea. Also one Lemuel Lewis and wife, said they believed it was the right way, but still they would not do that which they owned to be their duty. Take the place and people in general they are the strangest I ever saw in my day and generation. This Lewis is the man who was peddling gum in Willoughby, Ohio, where he was deceitfully led with encouragement of disposing of a large quantity of his hemlock gum, into the third story of the college by a student.

Immediately he found himself surrounded by dead subjects with the doors all locked. Suddenly he saw a man making his way towards him with a long knife, at the sight of which he made his way out of a window thirty-six feet from the hard frozen ground, upon which he lit and the effects of which he will most likely never get entirely rid whilst he lives upon the earth.

Monday, July 31st, Brother Jacobs went eight miles to see Mr. Sidney. Brown who had some relation in the west that he was acquainted with. Nothing else transpired of importance.

Tuesday, August 1st, spent the forenoon in writing and studying; the afternoon I helped Brother Sherman make hay.

Wednesday, August 2, went to Lagrange in order to give out an appointment for preaching, provided we could get a house, the which we did obtain. Whilst passing by one Mr. Howards, a woman put her head out of the window and laughing us in the face, said, "There goes two Mormon preachers." By the appearance of things I thought we were as much of a show as two elephants or a rhinoceros with a long horn on his nose.

Thursday, August 3rd and Friday the 4th, we spent principally in reading, however in the course of the day we went over to Mr. Lewis', about 40 rods distant and there found one Mr. Millard, one of the devil's minute men, standing like a soldier of no sense at all to fight against truth and reason. He said he knew all about Mormonism and what it sprang from, it sprang from masonry or the death of Morgan, that Mormon was derived from the word Morgan. He said he could speak in tongues and prophesy to him.

So he said he would prophesy in the name of the Lord Jehovah that Mormonism did spring from the death of Morgan.

I then asked him if he laid hands on the sick. He said his boy was sick last night, and he laid hands on him anointing him with oil, also with salt and vinegar and he got better right off. He also said he had taken up serpents and put them in his bosom, but always tied their

85 jaws first. Also had taken deadly poison enough to kill six men, out of the docots saddlebags.

Also, he said he had cast out devils, for when they got in his boys he took a whip and whipped them out. Elder Jacobs asked him if that was the way the old ancients did and he said it was. I thought he was the biggest fool I had yet seen, for he had crossed himself in his conversation a dozen times certain.

Sunday, the 6th, in the fore-noon went and heard Elder Lee, a Christian by profession, preach or rather pervert the scriptures. In the afternoon Elder Jacobs gave them a discourse, from the 11 chapter of Hebrews. After the discourse a man arose and said he had heard some truths from the Brother Mormon but if he had the power the ancientry apostles had he wanted to see some of his works. Brother Jacobs quoted Christ's words to him; "Nothing but an evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign and no sign shall be given, except the sign of Jonas the prophet, which was preaching to the Ninevites, and that you have had today in full. The gentleman sat down satisfied he could not be healed of his withered feet then if ever.

We soon repaired to the waters edge and Elder Jacobs baptized four viz.: Lemuel Lewis and his daughter, Hariet. Some of the members of the Christian Church who were there acted ridiculous on the account of which I heard three say they would leave the Church the next fellowship meeting. After baptism we returned home to Brother Sherman's and confirmed them. Monday, August seventh spent the day principally in writing.

Tuesday, August 8th, Elder Jacobs went to Lagrange and gave an appointment for preaching there the next Sabbath at one o'clock. Some said if we preached there again, they would have a scrap with us once certain. He told them they must be civil, or he would see what virtue there was in the law of the land. Others said, "Come and preach--we will stand by you as long as we have one drop of blood in

86 our veins." So they were, all by the ears, old friends became new enemies, by turning a deaf ear to the word of God.

Wednesday, August ninth, we went to Evens Center; by some called Jerico [Jericho], and Elder Jacobs preached that evening, after giving the village or inhabitants thereof a thorough notification, and had but twelve hearers; which made me think of what old Paul said when he stood upon Mars Hill; "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious; after meeting one Mr. Sterdifont a young man, whose parents belonged to the Church, came forward in baptism. Mr. Beebee said he would wait until next Sabbath, come up to Lagrange to meeting; and then be baptized, by so doing peradventure might lead others forward who were strong believers, but afraid of persecution, as he was a very respectable man, and a man of property."

Tuesday tenth, returned to Brother Sherman's and spent the remainder of the day principally in reading. Distance to the center and back 16 miles.

Friday, August 11th, spent the day in writing and reading.

Saturday 13th, held a meeting at Lagrange and Elder Jacobs baptized two, viz.: Wm. A. Beebee and Aurilla Sherman of Dalrimple.

Monday, August 14th, agreeable to appointment all the members in the part met at Brother Sherman's to organize a branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The conference was called to order at half past nine o'clock by Elder Jacobs who was appointed president of the same. Oliver B. Huntington was chosen clerk. The meeting was opened with singing and prayer by Elder Gleason, who arrived there on Wednesday the week before. We then proceeded to business, the president first arose and made some remarks upon the design of the meeting, and upon the order of the Kingdom of God, he then moved that Brother William A. Beebee be ordained an elder to preside over that branch of the Church. Seconded by Elder Gleason and carried by the unanimous voice of the conference. 87

Brother Ira Sherman was nominated by Brother Beebee and seconded by Elder Gleason to be ordained a teacher which was also carried without a dissenting voice.

Elder Jacobs and Elder Gleason accordingly proceeded and ordained them, afterwhich the president read some of the church laws as laid won in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, and explained them plainly unto them, with much good instruction there upon and upon the scriptures. He was followed by Elder Gleason who made many very appropriate remarks. Elder Beebee then arose and said he felt himself incompetent of the task which laid before him, but was determined by the grace of God to improve upon the talents which he had given him and magnify his office and calling. He was followed by all the brethren and sisters who expressed their warmth of feeling for the cause of Christ. The clerk then received the names of those who belonged to that branch which numbered thirteen, viz.: Wm. A. Beebee, Ira Sherman, Lemuel Lewis, John Stodefont [Sturdefont], Stephen Sturdefont, Philip Lewis, Cornelious Phelps, Feebee Sherman, Hariet Sherman, Waity lewis, Sally Francis, Aurilly Dalrimple, May Sturdefont, seven of which Elder Jacobs had lately baptized. By the unanimous voice of the conference the branch was called Brant Branch. The minutes of the conference were then ready and accepted. Moved by the president, seconded by Elder Gleason, and carried that the minutes of the conference be regularly submitted into the authorities of the Church at Nauvoo. The meeting was then closed with singing and prayer by the President Henry B. Jacobs. Oliver B. Huntington, clerk.

Tuesday, August 15th, Elder Jacobs, Elder Gleason and myself went down to Brother Beebee's at Evens Center eight miles, and Elder Gleason gave them a discourse in the evening which was well received, insomuch that two offered themselves for baptism.

Wednesday, August 16th, early in the morning, Louisa Beebee, Brother Beebee's wife, was baptized by Elder Gleason, and Walter Davis was baptized by Elder Jacobs according to previous arrangements we started, soon after confirming them, for Niagra 88

[Niagara] Co. near where Brother Jacob's father was laboring; however, in the course of the day I concluded to go with Brother Gleason over to Canada where his brothers, Alvirus and Oliver Gleason lived, and get some washing, mending, etc. done. We crossed the Niagra Niagara] River three miles below Buffalo at Blackrick on the American side, and Waterloo on the Canada side. After having traveled 30 miles, we stopped for night at eight o'clock in the evening. Rested very well that night it being the first night I ever slept out of the dominion of the U.S.

Thursday 17th, traveled thirty miles, and arrived at Alvirus Gleason's with very sore feet and weary limbs.

Friday I read the Bible and wrote some in my Journal Book.

Saturday, August 19th, went 12 miles west to see Oliver Gleason who was once a Latter-day Saint, but had lately joined the baptist church for the sake of a wife I suppose, for I could see nothing else he should do it for; however, he said he believed the work was true then as much as he ever did, and meant to come back again.

Sunday 20th, returned back by the way of the Wellen Canal which is raised about the level of the land in general, and in places has at times broken away and let the water deluge great tracts of land, wherever the water has been the timber is all dead which presents a doleful appearance. The land is very low and level about there which makes it quite sickly in warm weather. For seven miles it was one continued Tamoracka Swamp, the first I had seen in nearly seven years.

Monday, August 21st, spent the day wholly in writing and reading.

Tuesday 22nd, made a bargain with Mr. Gleason to work for him and get a pair of new pantaloons and my boots mended, so I helped him thresh wheat that day to begin with.

Wednesday, 23rd, we finished threshing.

Thursday 24th, Brother Gleason and I went to Oliver's, his brother eleven miles distant. On our way there as we were traveling on the bank of the Wellen Canal I espied two very large deer standing in the waters edge, we walked on towards them until we got within stone throw of them, when they ran off; they were the first I had seen since I left Nauvoo.

Friday 25th, in the morning we gave out word that there would [be] preaching, by a Mormon, so called at Oliver Gleason's house, by early candle lighting; accordingly when evening came the room was filled as full as they could comfortably sit; and for the first time I took the lead of the meeting, and preached to them as well as I knew how, from the second epistle of John. The congregation paid first rate attention and kept good order. After me, Elder Gleason gave them quite a lengthy discourse.

Saturday, August 26th, returned again home to Alvirus Gleason's by way of the canals; and on our way, about the middle of the big Tamaraca Swamp we saw just ahead of us two black bears apparently anxiously looking to the other side of the canal; we proceeded until we got within good gunshot of them when they discovered us and ran off into the wood, they were the first wild bears I ever saw.

Sunday 27, an appointment was out for preaching at one o'clock in a schoolhouse in a place called the bush; there was also a class meeting there at eleven o'clock, and Brother Gleason and I went to it and found the house full but no one to take the lead, accordingly by request I took the lead and gave them a discourse from the second epistle of John. In the course of my remarks a man disturbed the meeting by replying to something I said, I requested him to just keep accordingly about the close of the meeting I gave liberty for anyone to free their minds that wished but no one had anything to say, therefore we closed the meeting and returned home.

Saturday, September 2nd, having worked all the week yet to do that for which we were sent, we walked ten miles that afternoon to a place on the lake shore called the Clay Bank, and that evening I

90 preached again. During the discourse, at the close we gave liberty for any who wished to speak. Mr. Sutton got one Mr. Ayres to take the lead and said he would follow, but after Mr. Ayres got through he had nothing to say, and did not even bring up a thing he had been so busily employed in writing through my discourse. After meeting we heard that before we got there some said if we did not preach to suit them they would hall us down out of the pulpit quick.

I thought that sounded quite natural.

Sunday, September 3rd, Elder Gleason preached at the same house which was full and running over; after he got through he gave liberty for any who desired to speak, Mr. Sutton a good methodist preacher arose and said, "I honestly think you are a perfect nobody," and went on with a long lingo accordingly. "Finally," says he, "if you are old Paul smite me blind."

"Smite me blind, (walking towards the pulpit) as old Paul did a certain man. I defy your power." Says Brother Gleason, "Do you put yourself in that man's place?" "I do sir; now smite me blind." "I say unto you as old Paul did to a certain man, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, thou art of thy father, the devil." At that the congregation laughed at him and appeared to go against him. M. Chambers who was outdoors put his head in the window and said to him, "I would not make a blackguard of myself." He then went on to mock Elder Gleason as he did in his sermon. Alvirus Gleason spoke to him and said, "You act like a gentleman to mock a preacher in public, you are a man, you are a fine fellow. You act like a teacher in Israel." I thought Mr. Gleason had ought to repent right off and ask God to forgive him for lying. The methodist priest soon took his hat and walked out of the house, and we then dismissed the meeting and walked home that evening ten miles. Tuesday 5th, in the evening after having worked all day we went two miles and Elder Gleason preached to quite a large congregation who paid good attention. After we had gotten home and standing out by the gate talking four or five of us together, we heard a company of people coming home from meeting and one said, not knowing we were 91 there, quite loud, "If he was here we would hang him across these bars." When they got about against us, M. A. Gleason says to them, "Here he is; try it if you wish." They did not say much but paddled off fast as they could handily.

Wednesday I helped Mr. Gleason plough.

Thursday, September 7th, started for Tonawanda by way of Niagra [Niagara] Falls. One Mr.--a Quaker who lived about two miles on our road said we could ride down to the Falls as he was going right there with a two horse wagon, but I suppose he did not mean that we should ride any of the time, for when we got there in the morning he was just ready to start and said we could not ride for he had to take in two other persons about two miles from there; but we enquired all along the road for seven miles and found he had taken in no one yet and I guess did not after that. So we had to go on our own understanding that day. Arrived at the falls about one o'clock; stayed and viewed the falls an hour or two on the Canada side and then crossed the river just below the falls where the waves from the falls made the boat rock terribly. Viewed the falls on that side a short time, and proceeded up the river eight miles to Michael Jacobs where I found Elder Jacobs going to start for Nauvoo in a day or two by land, and his father the next day by water. I felt very glad to think I got there just as I did and so went to bed quite tired after having traveled 30 miles.

Friday I stayed there waiting for the teams which Elder Jacobs was going with to come and trying to make up my mind whether to stay there over winter or go home.

Saturday, September 9th, when the wagons came and Brother Jacobs got ready, I concluded to go to as far as Kirtland certain.

Brother Jacobs and myself rode in one wagon with Brother Bell. I cannot say Brother Boozembark, but Asher Boozembark rode by himself in another wagon. Joseph Godfrey with Mr. Sealy in the other one, Elis and George Coalman in another.

That day we started and passed through Buffalo ten miles west of which we encamped on the shore of Lake Erie making in all 25 miles.

Sunday, September 10th, traveled 16 miles and came to Lagrange where we stopped until Monday and stayed with Brother Sheran. That afternoon we went to hear Elder Stodard preach who was appointed to preside over that branch in our absence, by a conference held in Buffalo, whilst I was in Canada. That night we held a prayer meeting at Brother Sherman's.

Monday, September 11th, gave our friends and brethren a long farewell and started. Traveled that day 37 miles having passed through Silver Creek, Fredonia, Salem and Centerville.

Tuesday 12th, started early and traveled four miles when we came to the state line between New York and Pennsylvania where we had to stop and get one of our wheels fixed; also passed through Erie, traveled in all 30 miles. As yet we had the best roads I ever saw, and tolerable good luck otherwise only a considerable grumbling and fault finding among the brethren, about Brother Jacobs as well as myself.

Wednesday, September 13th. Started about sunrise and soon passed through Fairview then Jirrard then Springfield and then Conneat, where, or two miles east of which, we crossed the state line into Ohio. There we overtook six wagons from Akron, New York going to Nauvoo. Traveled 37 miles that day and at night one of the horses was taken sick and came near dying. That night it rained hard.

Thursday 14th, started in the rain and had rain nearly all the forenoon. That day we passed through Unionville, Madison, Painesville, and reached Kirtland after sights of murmuring. Traveled in all 28 miles. It was with very peculiar and solemn feelings that I entered that place, and beheld those shattered and lonely dwellings which were once full, and thronged with lively enterprising and industrious people, but now left desolate and the streets grown up to grass. My feelings were again sorely wrought upon to look back upon my once happy situation in that place. 93

Surrounded with numerous friends, pleasing parents and all the comforts of life, but now bereft of friends, far from my home and worn down with my journey with hunger and want of repose; moreover my spirits cast down by the ill treatment of those who could and ought to have administered to our necessities like brethren indeed. They had brought me so far according to promise and said they could take me no farther, accordingly I left the wagons that night to shift for myself. Went and stayed with Brother Daniel Jackson.

Friday, September 15th, it still kept raining and was quite muddy. I also kept trying plans to get to Nauvoo but all failed; providence seemed disposed that I should yet linger out my journey with those on whom I was a drudge and could not help myself, but then, I knew not its design or disposition. That night I stayed with George Russel, my old schoolmate, but a Presbyterian.

Saturday, September 16, spent the day in running over town and hunting up my old acquaintance and viewing my former residence.

Sunday, September 17, held a meeting in the Lord's House and Elder Jacobs preached; Brother John Young took our case in hand and raised a contribution of two or three dollars for our assistance, without saying anything to us before hand about it. After meeting, we divided the money between us and I calculated I had enough to board me up to Nauvoo; accordingly I concluded to proceed with them.

Monday, September 18th, bade farewell to Kirtland a second time in my life and started for the West. Passed through Chester, Russel, Banebridge and Aurora, three miles south of which we stayed overnight after having traveled 25 miles.

Tuesday 19th, passed through Hudson, Cuyhauge Falls, Akron, Newportgage and stayed on the public square at Johnsons Four Corners. Traveled in all 22 miles. That day when at Akron, Brother Sealy Godfrey and Marthy Boozembark, in one wagon, was heedless

94 and got left behind and took the wrong road that we saw them no more.

Wednesday 20th, passed through Doilesville and Wooster one mile west of which we stayed overnight, traveled 22 miles.

Thursday 21st, had very hilly going all day. Elis Colmans's wagon tripped over with his wife and two children in it but no one was hurt. We told them that was only a type of what would come if they did not cease their murmuring, bickerings and fault finding. Passed through Loudonville and traveled in all 23 miles.

Friday, September 22nd, had very rough and hilly roads all day. Passed through amity and Mt. Vernon, where I saw an old neighbor in when we lived in New York State by the name of Daniel McGrady; and two miles west of which we stopped for night. We had just encamped and I was absent contracting for hay and corn for the company when Elis Coleman raised a tumult in the camp by declaring that I should no longer remain in the company, but be left behind. When I returned I soon heard the news, which caused my mind to recall all the sufferings and persecutions which I had received by those who rejected the gospel which I had preached; and to then see my brethren fall upon me, unjustly, made my soul seep with anguish.

A meeting was soon called and Brother Coleman required to make his complaint which was in substance this; he believed that it was out of mere speculation, or, a speculative motive which induce me to perform this mission; also he said he had seen me many times when he knew I was hungry, had seen me go to bed hungry, and from morning until evening with nothing to eat, still he felt too poor to ask me to eat or to ride. Therefore he had rather leave me than to have me under his constant observation in such a suffering condition, and not be able to alleviate my sufferings. This was his positive declaration, notwithstanding I had not been chargeable to anyone since I left Kirtland yet he felt to meddle with me for fear I should. The meeting was attended by all except Asher Boozembark

95 who had $200 in cash and who was the man who had never asked either Brother Jacobs nor myself to either eat a mouthful or ride a step. He went to bed. Brother Jacobs and Brother Bell plead my case like brothers indeed; and all said he had no business to meddle with me and that I should go through with them to Nauvoo. Surely his actions were not to be wondered at when we consider he was possessed to that degree that he denied Joseph Smith's being a prophet of God. Traveled that day 22 miles.

Saturday, September 23rd, had pretty good roads all day. Passed through Liberty, Centersburgh, Amity, and Sunsbery, four miles west of which we stopped for night. At Sunsbery, Brother John P. Green overtook us, but in consequence of the weariness of his horses was obliged to stop a day or two. Brother Bell, Jacobs, and myself concluded to stand by each other and as his team could travel the fastest our moneys getting short and could get none from any of the rest to go as far and as fast as we could whilst our money lasted. All together traveled all 24 miles.

Sunday, September 24th, we started early and alone and traveled so all day, passing through Delaware and Marysville where a dreadful shower of rain came upon us after which we traveled on and passed through Millford making in all 30 miles.

Monday 25th, found one of the horses quite sick and lame, I suppose from torrents of rain which fell upon him the day before and the slippery going after the rain, however we did what we could, and he got better in the course of an hour or two, at which time the other wagons overtook us, and we concluded, that providence said, keep together, accordingly we started and passed through Mechanics burgh and traveled about 22 miles over considerable bad road, and stayed within five of Springfield.

Tuesday, September 26, passed through Springfield and took the Dayton Turnpike and passed through Enon and Fairfield making in all 22 miles.

Wednesday, September 27, Brother Jacobs and I concluded that it would be more agreeable for us, and better for the company, for us to go on foot and leave the teams either before or behind, accordingly we started very early and before the rest of the company, taking with us our vallieces which were very heavy. Passed through Eaton, Richmond, Centerville, and came to Dublin, where we stopped for night after having walked 35 miles.

Friday 29th, passed through Nightstown, Lewisville, Ogden, Portland, and came to Philadelphia perfectly worn down with our journey to that degree that when thinking upon the past present and future events and trying to conceal my feelings, the blood gushed from my nose in a stream. However we traveled only 38 miles that day and stayed overnight with Mr. C. Atherwood, a tavern keeper. Whatever we got new came from charity having given Brother Kell [Bell] all our money, when we left but 20 cents to help along a family, thinking we could get along somehow.

Saturday, September 30th, had very muddy and slippery roads all day. Passed through Cumberland and came to Indianapolis where I got a loaf of bread and a quart of meider for a dime which served as dinner that day and the day following. We then passed on, although it rained moderately hard; but soon we had to take shelter, under a large beach tree, when the torrents of rain came upon us as with one mighty sheet that was a day like many others; when it seemed as though the Almighty in his wrath was determined to destroy us with all the torments humanity could suffer. Sometimes I would think of giving up and not try to bear up under my daily afflictions, again I would muster all the manly courage and dignity my youthful mind was in possession of, and brave the torrents of unexperienced sufferings, thus harassed between absolute and resultant motions through grace I resigned that perseverance which, eventually brought me to my long wished for home.

That night we stayed in Bridgeport with Mr.--- whom Brother Jacobs was acquainted with; he treated us well. Traveled that day 26 miles as well. 97

Sunday, October 1st, passed through Plainfield, Belville, Stilesville, and at Mt. Meridian we stayed overnight with Mr. C. G. Vanzent a pretty fine man.

The place is generally called by the inhabitants Mt. Misery. I thought a pretty appropriate name. Traveled in all 25 miles.

Monday, October 2nd, passed through Manhatten and came to Pleasantgarden where we took dinner with Brother Scott. That day we traveled 20 miles and waded two rivers or creeks, through both of which I stripped and carried Brother Jacobs on my back. Tuesday, October 3rd, started very early; traveled 20 miles before 12 o'clock and reached Terahaute, stayed there until the next day.

Wednesday, October 4th, our teams came up and crossed the Wabash River about one half hour before we knew it when we heard it we started post haste and overtook them in travelling eight miles. Soon after we passed them we overtook four teams, two of which had no load and said we could ride as well as not therefore rode with them that day. Passed through Paris and stayed two miles, out on the great prairie west of Pairs [Paris]. Soon after we stopped, the brethren came up and we all camped together that night and nearly all succeeding nights until we got to Nauvoo, we slept in the barn. Traveled 22 miles.

Thursday 5th, traveled 34 miles; the best part of the way prairie.

Friday, October 6th, traveled 31 miles, nearly all prairie.

Saturday, October 7, we had ridden with those four teams, both companies keeping together, until now, when we had to take on foot again because of the rain the night before which made it rather bad for man and beast. At noon, two of the brethren, Soles and Madison, who had the best teams, took our things and left the company because they could travel faster. Brother Jacobs and I kept up with them, making in all 31 miles.

Sunday, October 8, passed through Rochester and Springfield, traveled 26 miles west, making in all 35 miles. 98

Tuesday 10th, traveled 38 miles and stayed within 26 miles of Nauvoo.

Wednesday 11th, traveled 26 miles and arrived at Nauvoo by twelve o'clock. Glad was I to see Nauvoo and my friends once more. Greater was my joy, a thousand times than any tongue can tell. After an absence of four months and ten days, and having undergone such keen and heart-trying suffering as I never before realized, no not even in all Missouri, to see myself safe at home once more, I could hardly believe my own tale.

Soon after I returned I went to work for my brother, William, who was sexton, and got some little necessary clothing. After that I went to Lima to see my sister, Precinda. Stayed there about a week; returned and commenced going to school November 18th to Mr. J. C. Cole.

December 9th, 1843, the whole family joined together took up and removed from the old to the new burying ground, my mother, Bishop Partridge, and Hariet Partridge. One item worthy of notice, my mother was in a state of preservation, her body embalmed equal to a mummy, her size, form, and features were the same as when a living, her flesh as hard seemingly as bone. An unheard of instance in any country, after being buried three years, and upward, without any preservative substance whatever, to remain entire, as when living. Soon after this there was a public gathering in the city, in consequence of mobs without, and there I saw a man shot in the arm, with his own gun, an accident frightful to witness.

January 5th, 1844. Friday evening, 1844, according to a new order of God, my father called his family together and entered into a solemn and strong covenant, according to the order, which was too lengthy to insert here.

Sunday, January 7th, joined the quorum of elders and had a very good meeting at my brother Dimmick's. Sunday, in consequence of illness I did not attend the quorum meetings.

Sunday 21st, all quorums and other meetings gave way and attended a general meeting at the temple with preaching by the prophet.

I continued going to school through the winter and lived with my father. About the 14th of April 1844 I started, according to previous engagement, for Lima Adams Co., to work for my brother-in-law, Norman Buell, at Carding.

I started very early in a canoe and had a prosperous voyage to Warsaw 20 miles down the river. There I sold my canoe and went on foot the rest of the way; got there when they were eating dinner. 32 miles. One thing I will mention that is about the time I went away, a day or two before, I took my first degree in Masonry.

May 1st commenced upon my contract to work for $10 per month; cash, which was quite an object then.

June 2nd, came to Nauvoo and on the 3rd was raised to a master mason. Not far from the 20th of June the well known Mormon war, or it is so termed commenced, which ended in the death of the prophet and patriarch, Joseph and Hyrum Smith. About a week before their death I went with a company from the Morley settlement to Nauvoo in defence of our brethren.

The Sunday before their death the troops were all disbanded, and I with the rest returned home. I shall always mourn that I did not stay and have the privilege of seeing those martyrs after they were slain. However, I afterwards succeeded in getting a cain out of the box in which Joseph was brought to Nauvoo in from Carthage.

I continued at Carding until the last day of July when I was taken very violently ill with the fever, was out of my head a day or two. In about a week my father and brother-in-law, H. Jacobs came down

100 from Nauvoo after me, but was too low to be removed. However in about a week longer the fever was broken up, and on the 16th of August we started for Nauvoo.

That brought on a relapse which came near taking me out of the world. Brother Brigham and Heber came in and laid hands on me and sealed health upon me. From that time I rested content that I should not die.

I was ordained into the quorum of or body of seventies about the month of December, 1844. On the evening of the 21st of December, J. M. Monroe, R. Campbell, myself, and several young men were the actors at an exhibition gotten up by the trustees of the old library started the year before that but was then pretty much run down; this was to make a starting point for a revival but had not the desired effect; for it was too far gone. After the performance was over a number of the young folks stayed and danced about an hour. The next day Brother Brigham blew up everything that had evil consequences attending it and frequent exhibitions amongst the rest.

Tuesday 24th, we all, that is my father's family except Jon, went to Lima to spend Christmas at my sister's, Precenda [Precinda]. Had an excellent time and returned on the 26th. Saturday, December 27th, according to previous appointment we had a repetition from our other exhibition to give room for the old people. They were very much crowded which made much disorder. "When journeying the gospel to preach In a far distant land I did meet A kind and affectionate friend Who I trust will prove true to the end

Unto thee now myself I address O may God forever thee bless With blessings in Zion thee crown In peace there thy life may lay down

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O may I in Zion thee meet A sister in Christ there to greet And faithful hold out to the end Is the prayer of your unworthy poor friend

Remember these lines from me came And Oliver B. H. is my name Whenever these words you do see Then think they were written by me.

HISTORY OF OLIVER BOARDMAN HUNTINGTON, Written by himself.

Compilation of short sketches and journals, commenced December 10th 1845.

I do not write this account of myself, out of any speculative motive; to get gain thereby, or, thinking thereby to beget to myself much honor or applause from anyone, for it will not probably be of great satisfaction to many if any, until I am no more.

Many times have I wished that my father had kept an account of his life, that I might look over it, and see his by-gone days, deed and fortune; and never did he make the scratch of a pen towards it, until he had seen sixty cold winters; and as yet I know but very little of his life, not enough to make any record of, although I have a very short account written, but which is beyond my reach at present, if not forever. Like men in general I presume to suppose, that I shall have a posterity; and that may; like me; wish to know of their father's life, that they might view it, and perhaps profit thereby, or at least, have the satisfaction of knowing it. This is one object that induces me to write; that my nearest kindred, might know of their kinsman. I write also for a satisfaction to myself, to look over my past life, dates and events, and to comply with a requirement, oft

102 repeated by the prophet Joseph Smith, "That every man should keep a daily journal."

I was born in the year 1823, October 14, and passed the first ten years of my life with perhaps nothing more than the usual carelessness and curiosity of childhood, being brought up thus far in the good old way of our fathers, with all the honesty and righteousness they had any knowledge of; but I would to God that gives laws to the saints of the latter days, that I had never known ought but their laws and ways. A few instances of curiosity might be mentioned prior to the time above mentioned; but I intend to make the subject of my narration commence about the year 1825 or 6 being the time that the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was first preached in our hearing; and from the time my parents came into the covenant; more particularly from which time to the present time my life has been spent in the work and among the saints. My birthplace and residence until the year 1836 was in the town of Watertown, county of Jefferson and state of New York. My father's name was William and my mother's name was Zina. They came from New Hampshire and settled in Watertown where they raised a family of seven children who lived to be men and women grown, and lost three whilst in childhood.

Their names according to their ages are as follows. Chauncy and Nansey twins. Nansey died in infancy. Dimmick, Presendia, Adaline, William, Zina, Oliver and John. Adaline died when eleven years old, and also an infant of but a few days old. I cannot tell where he comes in among the rest, for he came and went without being called by any name.

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My mother was a daughter of old Doctor Oliver Baker of New Hampshire. Grandfather Huntington's name was William and a nephew to Samuel Huntington that signed the Declaration of Independence. He served in both the revolutionary war and last war. He served through all the last war and three years in the revolution; and of that the last three; enlisting when he was only seventeen years old. My father also served through the Samuel Huntington (1731–1796) last war as officer. (1812)

In the year 1833 or 34 {conversion] what was called Mormon elders began to preach around our neighborhood, and by some means finally came to our house, and left a Book of Mormon which they read through two or three times and were very much taken up with the doctrine; there had not been much preaching about there, anywhere, but father and mother heard, having a very inquiring mind and being willing to obey truth, they soon were baptized by Elder Dutcher, and turned their whole attention to the work. I think this was in the fall of 1834 and the next spring, my sister Precendia, who had married a man by the name of Norman Buell; and Dimmick, moved to Kirtland in Ohio where the Church was then gathering. I disremember whether they joined the Church before or after they moved to Kirtland. They sailed in a schooner from Saskets Harbour to Fairport or Cleveland.

My father's house was a rendezvous for all the Mormon preachers in that part of the country. In 1835 old father Joseph Smith and his brother John Smith were at our house and stayed a day or two, also Luke Johnson and Orson Pratt. Dutcher and Blakesley, and John P. Green who baptized my grandfather. In fact, it was a home for all Mormons. In 1836 father sold his farm, after much anxiety and concern, by sacrificing about fifteen hundred dollars, in selling it for that much less than it was really worth for the sake of living with the

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Church and obeying the word of God as given to Joseph Smith and whose father had been to our house and counseled father to sell the first opportunity he had which he did in the summer of 1836 and about the first of October that fall, we started from Sackets Harbor in company with Hiram Clark and two or three other families whose names I disremember all being under the direction of and led by Luke Johnson and Orson Pratt who had lately married him a wife about 20 miles from our place, by the name of Sally Bates. I will here mention that William and Zina were baptized that summer and I think at the time they went down to Elder Pratt's wedding, I will not be positive though. One day as I was taking Orson and Luke down to my grandfather's in the carriage; we were passing a spot where but a little time before a thief had hid some money and it could not be found; Luke said to me, "Hadn't we better go and try; I think we will find it." I, not understanding his meaning replied I thought it not worthwhile to try. He said it was not, but Jo. Smith was said to be a great money digger and they were his followers. I often thought of that and thought he was a cunning man.

We left Sackets Harbour, I think, the first day of October, having made an attempt to start the night before, but was driven back, the wind blowing a perfect gale; we landed in Rochester the next morning before sunrise.

During our passage thus far; grounds of suspicion, against a certain sister who had left her husband to go to the city of the saints; were not unlikely, and therefore a watchful eye was justly kept over her and the man with a black coat by the name of Bennet, a strange passenger before unknown to her or any of us, but I suppose she knew him well, before we left the wharf, from the fact that William and Orson Pratt saw them go into an inn together, where they soon found them locked in a room together, and the landlord had to be called to open the door, where signs were seen sufficient to warrant the authorities present to cut her off from the Church immediately. From Rochester we took the canal to Buffalo and from Buffalo to Fairport, 12 miles from Kirtland we sailed on a steamboat, and in

105 four days from the time we left Sackets we were in Kirtland. We all walked the 12 miles with joy, rejoicing at the privilege of getting there no matter how; and O, what joy again came over every one of us as we came in sight of the temple. "The Lord's House," solemnly exclaimed everyone, as we were trudging along in a confused flock. it makes me think of tribes going up to Jerusalem to worship, an anciently.

When we got there we found Precendia, but behold Dimmick had gone to Missouri four months before; seven hundred miles farther. Well, we were glad of it, only we wanted to see him, but did not know when that would be, but expected to sometime. Father went immediately and asked council what to do; and the counsel he received was to buy a certain place or situation just two miles south from the temple; containing thirty acres and on it a good two-story white house; he accordingly made the purchase of it from a man belonging to the Church then, by the name of Jacob Bump, and paid him down to the amount of three thousand dollars; the sum total. Well we all were well satisfied and thought we were doing well if the land was high, and a mortgage on the place; it was in the hands of Brother Bump and we thought all the brethren were honest then, for we did not think that some had come in for the loaves and fishes; in fact never once thought of the possibility of a Mormon being dishonest or even denying the faith. One year had not rolled away and Brother Bump had denied the faith and refused to lift the mortgage, and father could not, having bestowed all his surplus money upon the bank and the poor, so when the bank broke we were broken and as poor as the best of the Mormons. Well, we expected to become poor but not quite so quick.

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About two or three weeks after we arrived there John and I were baptized in the waters of Mormon, by Hiram [Hyrum] Smith, according to a covenant which I had made with God on certain conditions, which he had fulfilled, and so did I on my part. That winter I went to school to Even Gree, and the next summer I had to stay at home and work. We all worked hard, and had to live for that spring was the hardest time we, as a family ever saw, or ever have for provisions and stuff to save life. That spring was a general time of severity of all kinds of eatables; and it was the more so with us in consequence of having but a short time before we came from a farm of everything, and had spent all our money, and did not know how to beg, neither wanted to know.

There was nothing to be had either for love or money, for Mormons, when they had anything to buy with. Many a time did my mother go without her meal of victuals to leave enough for the children, when there was nothing but beach leaves, after string beans and sometimes a very scanty allowance of corn bread, to leave. Once in a while when we were most starved out we would kill a starved to death hen we had wintered over on nothing, and eat as necessity called hardest. My poor old father who but six months ago was in affluent circumstances, and surrounded with everything to make him comfortable, and render life desirable; that a farm of upwards of 230 acres; a good stone house and two frame barns could afford, with close calculation; together with a still greater comfort, which was as good a companion as any man ever chose, who in the midst of affliction, was as an angelic comforter; I say from all these earthly comforts and conveniences, in six months he was brought to live by day's works, and that but very poorly, still my mother was the same mother and the same wife.

It was a torment to each, to see the other in want and still more see their children cry for bread and have none to give them nor know

107 where the next was coming from, and after all their trials and sufferings not only there but elsewhere, never did I hear either of them utter a murmuring or complaining word against any of the authorities of the Church, or express a doubt of the truth of the work. They bore everything that came upon them as saints worthy of the reward laid up for those that do not murmur; and worthy are they, and from my mouth shall they ever be called blessed and worthy. John and I, though small, felt for them as much as our age would and could be expected; we often would kneel beside each other in the woods, and in the barn, daily, and pray to God to have mercy and bless father and mother, that they should not want nor see us want for bread. We used to pray three times a day as regularly as Daniel; and often more than three times.

In those days we were humble and prayed every chance we had and for everything we wanted; we were full of pious notions, but our piety began to be a little different from the old way; and I used to delight in religious conversation in and among the family; and we finally obtained the gift of tongues, all of us, and Zina the gift of interpretation, and we all became exceedingly happy even in the midst of our scarcities and deprivations. In the midst of our poverty in Kirtland none of us complained nor murmured against any of the authorities of the Church or against God; neither was the faith of any one lessened; but as to the work of God, all was joy and content and satisfaction. When I say this I say and tell the unbent truth before God. In ten years travel with the Church I never heard father or mother utter the first expression of doubt or show the least wavering of mind, or lack of unlimited confidence in the prophet.

In the fall of 1837 father was chosen, ordained and set apart for the office of high counselor, one of the standing high council. That winter he underwent a partial endowment and passed through the ordeal or ordinances of washing and anointing. In the spring of 1838, Joseph and the most of the more conspicuous characters having gone to Missouri we determined to go with the Church which was pretty much all going in June or July. The fall before the endowment there,

108 the devil kicked up a great row in the hearts of many who turned away and denied the faith, and became the most bitter enemies of the Church, and used to try every means to make a disturbance among the brethren, every day of the week, Sundays not excepted.

I remember one Sunday of seeing men jumping out of the windows, I ran to see what the fuss was, and found the apostates had tried to make a real muss, as they had frequently tried before, but on this occasion I saw a dagger, the door keeper held, that was wrenched from one of their hands whilst making his way to the stand. I heard the women scream and saw the men jump out of the windows, those that had chicken's hearts and I shall always remember the sensation that came over me.

A few weeks after that, Joseph received a revelation to go immediately to Missouri to move him and Sidney and Hiram [Hyrum], I think started the next day or in two or three days at most. Immediately upon their departure persecution commenced with an iron hand. It was the life and glory of the apostates to hatch up vexatious lawsuits and strip the brethren of their property and means of removing. It seemed as though all power was given them to torment the saints. The real Mormons were designated by the appellation of Lick skillets, and every Lick skillet had to suffer; the principle ones left were hunted like rabbits and foxes who skulk and hide in holes, and so did they. Numbers lay concealed in our house day after day, until their families could be got out of the place, one after another would come and go until we had served a variety with the best we had, and were glad of the privilege of showing favor to the righteous; among which number was Benjamin Wilber, Liman Sherman, old father Smith, Samuel and Carlos Smith, and even the mummies were secreted there to keep them from being destroyed.

And in the mean time father was working out to get fifty dollars for nothing, only to satisfy the demands of the devil on him and screen him from hiding as the rest had to, but their spite towards him did not run high as on others, some of whom they sought their lives by day and night; well, all served one scene of affliction to another that 109 they might be more fully tried, before they had got settled in Missouri and so they were driven from thence, like the people of Enoch.

Father having borrowed money and a yoke of oxen, we started for Farwest [Far West] in Missouri about the first day of May 1838. We had one yoke of oxen on a double-loaded two horse wagon, and an old horse on a one horse wagon with a double load, thus we traveled 15 miles the first day to father's cousin, McCar, in Banebridge where we unloaded all of our best goods, and everything but just what we really needed to make us comfortable on the road, and left them with him to send on by water, which we expected would be there before we would. This we did, finding our loads too heavy, so that we might be able to go through the quicker and easier, but we never saw anything more of our goods, which left us as bare as a sheered sheep; we had the hide left, but not whole; and all that change wrought in two years. Our route to Missouri was from Kirtland to Akron and then to Wooster, Columbus, the capitol of Ohio, Springfield and Dayton, Indianapolis, the capitol of Indiana and Terrahanti, Springfield the capitol of Illinois and Atlap, Lousiana and Ketesville in Missouri. Our pilgrimage to Farwest [Far West], was like the journey of the children of Israel in the wilderness; everything was uncertain but one, and it was but by the hand and power of God that we ever got to our place of destination. That journey, in that season of the year, with an ox team to travel a thousand miles, can be realized by none but they who have performed similar journeys under similar circumstances. Our whole journey was through a scene of new and before unexperienced and unthought of events. We were in company of seven wagons led by Oliver Snow, and whose cattle we had, and through whom God blessed us with means to get to the place of gathering. Brother Snow was a man very much respected among men and as man of good sense, abilities and fortune, but he happened to prove, to be one of the more unfortunate; for soon after we arrived at Farwest [Far West] he became somewhat disaffected and finally turned aside altogether; and in fact he showed strong symptoms of the darkness of his mind, on the road. It was surely a 110 true saying among the Latter-day Saints, that if you want to know a man, fully, take one good Mormon journey with him, for it is sure to prove anyone, whether he be true or false, half or whole hearted. It sufficeth me to say, and cut my notes short on our journey, that through a great school, and series of lessons taught by that hard school master experience, we arrived at Farwest [Far West] in Missouri on the 18th day of July, 1838. When about ten miles from Farwest [Far West] as John and I were walking ahead of the teams, who should we meet, but our brother, Dimmick, who we had not seen for near three years, and who had got to be as fat as a bear.

Presendia had moved into Clay County, and it was sometime before we saw her; they came up the best part of the way with Brother Joseph. We arrived there a few days before; or about the time of the commencement of the long to be remembered disturbance which ended in the extermination of all Latter Day Saints from the state. We stayed in Farwest [Far West] City, until sometime in August, during which time, through the mellon season we fared and shared bountifully, from the generosity of our benevolent neighbors; I think it was in August but it might have been in September that we moved to Adamon-di-ahman [Adam-ondi-ahman] in Daviess County, where there was a stake commenced. There have been so many books written upon the Missouri persecutions that I shall confine my observations upon our own family, and self more particularly. We had heard and read so much about the sufferings of the brethren in the time of an excitement, that we had made up our minds for harder things than we found; not but we found things and times hard enough; for American citizens to bare. The fuss had fairly commenced, and under considerable headway when we moved, insomuch that father, mother, and Zina who went in the hind wagon, and who were until dark before they arrived there, were assailed just before they got to the Mormon inhabitants, by a band of armed and mounted men, who stopped them and in a very rough and barbarous manner, like real natives, demanded their business, names and some other information; gave a good sound damning and then rode off into the woods, the most natural place for such animals. 111

Soon after our arrival there, the fuss grew hotter and heavier, with a seeming renewed vigilance on both sides; one to offend and the other to defend. We were besieged in that weak place, by a secret skulking foe, but a good reinforcement from Farwest [Far West] cleared the ground for a space around. In the meantime the brethren created a gristmill in the town or village, and father was appointed overseer of that and the beef market, or rather in short, all the brethren were put on allowances, or drew rations, and he was commissary general, and had the charge of all the meat, honey, and breat timber, both consecrated and not consecrated. Under these circumstances living in a log house of our own, and five acres of land, on the bottom land of Grand River, one acre of which was devoted to burying the dead on; all being covered with large timber, like the rest of the settlement. I say under these circumstances, having or living in our own house, which cost only rolling the logs together, the floor being made of God's footstool, and no door, we were quite happy that we could get corn and hog enough to make us know that the earth was the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Our wants were mostly supplied; not because we had so much, but because we had learned to lessen our wants. Open hostilities had previously commenced on both sides, by the mobs burning one or two houses, and committing several outbreaks upon the brethren in the country around. Notwithstanding I was young and out of danger that the men were exposed to; yet I feared it not, for it was my natural turn to glory in excitement, campaigns, and something new; and then was the time my curiosity was measurably satisfied; for every day, almost brought fresh news of some new outrage and outbreak, on one side; and the next would be a signal revenge or victory on the other; yet my desires were not satisfied, for I wished and desired to be in the midst of the scene; and often in vain spent tears, implored my father to let me go with the scouting parties.

I was always an obedient boy, and wanted to do everything by his consent, and it was seldom that I did anything of consequence without. At the time that Gallatin was to be burned, I pleaded with father to let me go, but to no effect. On the appointed day I went to 112 the top of the hill; a little above the well known pile of burnt stones, half covered with earth, which the prophet said was the remains of an ancient altar, even an altar that Adam built, and stood nearly on the spot where he also said, "Once stood Adam's Tower; in sight of the spot in the valley where Adam blessed his sons, when they called him Michael." I say I stood there and cast my eyes in the direction of Gallatin, as near as I could judge, and saw the smoke rising towards heaven, which filled me with ambition, the love of excitement, tumult and something new.

In tears I looked far over the trees and wished and sighed and wished again that I was there, and that I was older, for then I thought father would not attempt to stop me from going when I pleased, and with mingled feeling of madness and sorrow I stood alone on the prairie and cried. The next day I went to Bishop Knight's and saw the plunder, and O what lots, I thought; and heard them tell, in what order they took the place, marching up on the run, and one man who was in such a fright to save his life, that he ran from the store to his horse, and on his way, pulled out his knife, and instead of untying his horse, out the reigns, mounted and dashed into the woods out of sight in almost the twinkling of an eye. The store they burned, but the goods were preserved. Soon after, Dimmick came to our house and I heard him telling a circumstance that happened with him; which was this; Just before they came in sight of Gallatin he saw man at a distance on the prairie on horseback with a gun on his shoulder, and immediately rode up to him and asked him his business, which he said was hunting cattle. He had a handkerchief around the lock of his gun it being a misty and damp day; Dimmick cocked his gun and raising it, ordered him to surrender his gun and he would spare his life, otherwise the least resistance would be death. The man handed him his gun but requested the handkerchief, which Dimmick gave him, and ordered him to proceed, which he did at the top of the speed of his beast.

After we had lain down our arms, I saw a man looking among the brethren, for a man, whose description answered for Dimmick,

113 saying if he could just see him he asked no more; and related the above circumstance as having happened to him; but Dimmick at that time was far among the Lamanites making his way for Illinois, where he arrived after having been among the Indians five days and of which he lived on raw deer's tripe that he bought of an Indian. There were three or four brethren with him; they happened to have got out of Farwest [Far West] about 15 minutes before the place was surrounded by the militia; by the advice of Hiram [Hyrum] Smith. On their way, they visited the grave of Black Hawk, and crossed the Mississippi River at or near, Appanoos, from thence to Quincy, where they made a stop. Adamon di Ahman [Adam-ondi-Ahman] is 25 miles from Farwest [Far West], and situated in a large bend of Grand River, the whole settlement being nearly surrounded, and a high point of prairie following into the bend, at the proportional height and distance, from the river, with the bluffs in general; and on this point, the very extreme point, is the remains of the altar before mentioned, and little farther up, perhaps 40 rods, was the place where the tower stood, both being on the prairie.

A little within the medium course of the river the point divided, and the other half was covered with timber; at the very foot of which stood our house, or pen of logs, without any door, but a blanket, nor floor, but the richest of soil trod hard, being used for a kind of guard house by the soldiers, before we moved up. Father having built it sometime before we moved. When we moved things had come to rather a singular crises as to the affairs between Mormons and mobs. Both seemed to be mutually agreed to rob and plunder all they could; at least the mob commenced it and knowing that the governor would do nothing for us, they must have known or naturally expected that we would not be idle; and the brethren being principally gankiesys would have the better of them in almost everything. (Diahman as we called it for convenience sake) being the weaker place and more in the immediate vicinity of the mob, we were besieged on every side; and were obliged to keep a standing army, or company sent us by the brethren of Farwest [Far West].

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Their camping ground was close by our house and I have lain on the floor night after night for nearly two weeks in giving my bed to sick soldiers. I had often heard father and mother say they expected to be poor, for all were destined to become poor that came into the last covenant and Church of Christ; that was their belief, and they murmured not at their lot. Then I realized, what I once feigned. Whilst in Kirtland, hearing our folks telling about our being poor, I one day dressed up in the worst looking cloths I could muster, and went down into the village, to see how it would seem. On returning home, an old lady and her son, a little older than myself, in a carriage overtook me, and seeing my pitiful conditions, began to talk to me about being so poor, asking me a good many questions, and appeared quite sorry for me. All the while I could hardly keep from snorting out laughing but still pretending great poverty. I finally told her I had better cloths, and then they asked my name and drove on. I afterwards experienced a reality of the condition I feigned to be in.

Whilst in Missouri we were poor but never suffered for something to eat, for we always had a plenty of meat and corn bread and corn bread and meat, all the time with only now and then a palefull of consecrated honey which every one that ever ate any of it, knows is good. Whilst things were going on in this kind of confused state, everyone knew that things must soon come to a crisis, yet in what way we could not tell.

It will be well to state, that in the commencement the brethren had their houses burned, a few, and property confiscated, which complaint went to Gov. Boggs, who sent a detachment of 500 men, I think under Gen. Donithan, who went to Di Ah Man and stayed 30 days, and ate everything the brethren had, killed their cattle, etc., protecting them, and then left with the news that we must fight it out among ourselves. They left a few days before we moved up there.

And from that time we tried to defend ourselves, and for which we were driven by executive authority from the state. Some might ask why did we take their cattle, sheep, honey, etc., but as far [as] this it 115 is plain and evident, that when they had taken ours and driven all the farmers, or nearly all, into the cities and besieged us round about, that whoever went without, must go in the night secretly or by a sufficient force to repel all invaders; that we must live; and as we were at open hostilities with each other, we must have the privilege, or take the privilege of retaking as much as they took from us: or in other words we must live in war, we must have something to eat. The brethren were united and whatever they undertook, they accomplished and in one could hinder; they were mighty with the power of God, for his spirit is always with them when they are humble and united; and if ever the time is or was that they will be humble, it is when they are persecuted, tormented, afflicted, and hunted by their enemies, even unto death.

November 28, or 29, 1838, all the forces that could be raised with entirely defenselessly leaving the place went to Farwest [Far West] at a call from there, as all the mob of Daviess County had gathered in Caldwell or Ray Counties; and I disremember whether it was before or after, the battle at Crooked River (in which David Patten was killed with two others and several wounded) that the brethren went down to Farwest [Far West]; at any rate I am pretty sure it was the day after they arrived there, that the massacre at Haun's Mill was, which memorable days or deed was on the 30th of October; and the surrender of Farwest [Far West] was on or about the 1st of November, 1838. It was several days after the surrender before we could hear from there, the city was closely guarded.

The first news was that Joseph and Hiram [Hyrum] were betrayed into the hands of Generals Lewis, Clark, and Doniphan, who were at the head of 3000 men, who surrounded Farwest [Far West] (which was in Caldwell County, and that the Church was going to have the state, and that if we as a people did not leave the state by next spring, the governor had ordered us all to be killed. This was dreadful news, and came like deafening peaks of thunder. Yet in one doubted it for all had been looking for some decisive event, either for or against the Church, however, I cannot say that this was against

116 the Church, in the long run, for all things do work together for their good.

Farwest [Far West] had laid down all its personal and private arms, and lay at the mercies of God, perfectly passive, and entirely in the hands of the malitia mob. This was the pattern for us in Diahman, to stand as a sheep dumb before out shearers; and like Christ, say not a word when they revile us. We soon heard that Dimmick was shot, trying to get out of the city by the guard; this was however won corrected by the truth, that he and four or five others had fled among the Indians. This was good news for we wished him to save his life, for we were sure if he was in Farwest [Far West] and the enemy to find him he must die; for his taking that gun from the man hunting cattle, his being constable and known by nearly everyone in the country, also his having been in the Crooked Rived Battle, and many other things he had done, which gave the mob an eternal and bitter hatred towards him, we thought he must be sure to die by the hands of barbarous cruel men, if they could see him.

The Crooked River Battle

This backround of the Crooked River Battle provided by Howard Wood

On October 24th, 1838, a Missourian mob kidnapped three Saints and planned to kill them that night. At midnight, 75 members of the Church, led by Captain Fear-Not, armed themselves and prepared a daring rescue mission against the mob to rescue their brethren.

David wanted to surprise the mob and take back the prisoners through intimidation alone, but when they came near Crooked River, a mob member standing guard fired a shot and hit Patrick O’Banion, who fell. Captain

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Patten, leading a separate group of about 15 men away to flank the mob, heard the shot and came to the rescue.

The Battle of Crooked River commenced. Several men were wounded, and Gideon Carter was killed instantly. The Missourians were situated behind a riverbank, holding a tactical position that allowed them to fire into the Mormon army.

Patten, seeing the hearts of his men falter in the face of terrific gunfire, led a charge against the mob position, taking his sword and leading with the battle cry of “GOD AND LIBERTY!!!” The Missourian line broke, but not before Patten was shot and mortally wounded.

He died several hours after the battle. On his deathbed, he quoted Paul in saying that, “I feel that I have kept the faith, I have finished my course, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown, which the Lord will give me.” Moments later, he died.

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In about eight or ten days from the surrender of Farwest [Far West] we were visited in our turn by a portion of this host of unparalleled, in human form, to the number of eight or ten hundred. The day on which they arrived, by the request of some of our leading men, they camped out of the city and on the other side of the river, to stay until the next day; and none to disturb us until they came over to receive our arms. As there had been a great many things plundered by us which were taken in our houses, we thought it good to get one night to get it all out of our houses to a general place of deposit. Therefore nearly all the brethren were employed in taking all plundered property to a general plunder depot; that they should now know who had this man's or that man's, and thereby perhaps save some lives. This employment lasted until daylight. Morning came and some of the officers of the enemy came with it to keep up a kind of an honorable appearance, and have all things understood and ready for the reception of the enemy. As we were; the best and only thing that could be policy, was for us to be as sociable, innocent, and as ignorant as we knew how to be. Accordingly this was the course pursued by all the brethren. At the appointed hour the brethren were at Lyman Wight's new block building, not finished, where also all the plundered property was stowed, and about the same time the army made its appearance, and as I was not yet with the men, I on one side of the road and they on the other 1/4 of a mile from me, I was already separated from them by the long line of horseman when I started, yet not afraid I went to the road and walked along with the line of marching cowards one of whom I recognized as having seen before somewhere and who immediately began to ask me what had become of a certain lot of cattle and sheep, in a field close by our house, only two days ago and whose they were and like questions; but of all such things I was very ignorant just then, and consequently could give no satisfactory answer; upon which he drew up his gun, (and I think he cocked it, yet will not say) and swore he would shoot me if I did not tell the truth, and tell where those cattle were. I still professed ignorance, but got out of his way as soon as convenient, for I was alone, and did not know what he might do; I had a little

119 fear he would shoot, yet I was not scared as I have often been when alone and no one near me, but had a kind of dangerous feeling. I walked slowly and fell back, but others seeing me a small boy thought they could get something out of me, but they all failed. About the time I got where the men were the army had pretty much all passed, but some of Neal Gillums [Neil Gillliam] company, Daviess County men, who were all painted, every one according to his own fancy; as soon as they became scattered enough to allow me to get across the road I was among the brethren and felt safe enough. The army passed on a little way farther and formed a hollowsquare in a corner of the prairie. I got some old guns, and with the rest of the condemned Mormons like a flock of sheep, were conducted into the pen, by a few officers and there we formed another hellish d-- like beings I ever saw. At the word of command we all turned inward face and lay down every man his own personal arms (except some few that were hidden) and then forward marched, in single file off from the ground. Whilst in the pen we stopped and stood a few minutes just long enough to cast one good look all around, and throw one candid reflection upon our real condition; and though not one of us to ten of them, had it been the word of the Lord, every heart would have seized that moment, without doubt or fear, to show forth the power of God, and to gratify nature.

One little incident; as we started to march off from the ground or as the arms were laid down (the one immediately followed the other) one man attempted to retain and secrete a pistol, but as all eyes were that way, he was easily detected and in an instant several rifles were aimed, and a cry from some of the officers stopped both parties from farther operations.

A young man by the name of Ezekiel Megin, before our surrender, went and dressed up as nice as possible, with white gloves and white hat; he made a fine appearance, which attracted some considerable attention from the mob (I say mob because I consider all their proceedings according to mob law although, acting under executive authority) insomuch that they began to talk to him for being a

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Mormon and for not leaving them, that he was too likely a looking man to be there and already a home was provided for him; when to their astonishment they found he was not a member of the society; and nothing to do then but he must leave; but he stood for the Mormons declaring he never wished to live with better people. This little occurrence gave a great many quite favorable opinion the Mormons, and opened the eyes of others to look for themselves. The place where we lay down our arms was in the valley of Adamondiahman [Adam-ondi-Ahman], where Adam blessed his sons. It was a most glorious and joyfully handsome prairie of two or three in length and in full view of the ground when both Adam's altar and tower once stood, only a few trees were between us and the altar, yet all three places were just on the edge of the prairie. After our surrender we were conducted in front of the army to the fence in the woods, by the side of which we were put under a guard, and to be for the purpose of keeping us from any insult or injury that might otherwise happen from the soldiery.

This was done, I suppose, from the request of some of the brethren; but this did not entirely preserve us, yet it was something for us. We were soon in a solid pen, the fence on one side, and devil's on the three other. This was about eleven o'clock and we were kept there until about night. I was unconscious of any fear or dread at that period, and was altogether swallowed up in the strangeness and novelty of the scene, and being small was unnoticed by anyone, yet noticed everyone, for I had nothing to do but stand and look on, as there was no use of my being there for the sake of being there, and seeing. We had not been surrounded long with greedy eyes and swearing mouths, when in steps a man passed the guard and lifts his gun over a brother's head, "G-- d--- your soul, you stole my little wheel and now I am going to kill you." Attempts to strike, his gun is caught hold of, he attempts to shoot, his gun again seized and he put out of the ring by the guard,--still looks on cursing and threatening all the Mormons. Next, my attention was attracted by a man who was going a long looking at and scrutinizing every one, and saying he wanted to see, to just get sight, was all he asked; of, a man who rode 121 up to him one day as he was hunting cattle, and took his gun from him. He said if he could get sight of him he should know him, and would be put to death, without question. He told the story just as I had heard it from Dimmick, so that I knew who he wanted, and I thanked God the person was far away among the Indians. Several other similar scenes occurred during the afternoon.

But a few weeks before, and but a few rods from this same place, I first formed a knowledge, and took the first mystic step in the new and unknown bounds of the brothers and ites of Dan; entered an apprentice in the divine brotherly union; and ended at the same time; or rather that was my first and last step, on account of our breaking up there, and our removal from the state. This society of Danites was condemned by the public like the rest of Mormonism; and there was a great huandory about the Danites, all over the county and among the army; but who and what they were no one was any wiser for anything they heard; and as many stories were in circulation the most horrid and awfully distorted opinions their minds could imagine, and they all thought that every depredation was committed by the Danites; Danites, awful Danites; every mobber was afraid of the thoughts of one of those awful men. And if they were to see a man of their own acquaintance, and were told in confidence he was a Danite, they would even shun his company and conversation. Such being their opinion and belief of the Danites, and we knowing it, concluded to make the best of it. So every mysterious trick and bold adventure which had been transacted, was planned upon them and everybody knew there had a company of Mormons fled to the Indian territories, (for they were pursued by their trail) and they, it was stated, were the Danites, a most daring band of braves, who were bound together like the Masons.--Thus they became, in a great measure, the scapegoats of the people, bearing off every charge, unless, it was personal. But it was not long after that (the surrender) before a charge came against father by Adam Black, but father so successfully smoothed it over and cleared it up they were afterwards on good and friendly terms. Black brought with him Major Davis and Doctor Carr, another officer of the army, as witnesses and council, 122 but so effectually remove their suspicions, that they thought the most honest man on earth, and after that Davis and Carr brought their rations to our house, and ate at the table with the family, instead of quartering with the army which was camped not more than 40 rods from the house. This brought us into great repute on both sides, the one for cunning and good luck and the other for honesty of heart; and as there was to be a committee of twelve to be chosen from either of the parties (mob and Mormon) as conferring representatives of the holy body on either of the sides, to do all business with the Church and settle all affairs and business in Davis, Caldwell, Clay and other counties; father was pitched upon as one; he and Bishop Hale, were the most active and had in a short time to do all their business entirely with but one of the other committee. The committee all wore white strips around, or hanging from their hats, whenever they went on business, that they might be known, (for it was very dangerous for anyone to go into the country around or even to their own farms, for all were compelled to live in Farwest [Far West] and a man was liable to be shot if he was found picking his own corn, without an order from some or all of the committees. The treaty, or terms on which we surrendered and gave up our arms, was; that we were to have our lives spared and retain all personal property for ourselves; and we were to leave there and move to Farwest in ten days, and from there, according to the governor's orders, we were to leave the state in the spring. We did not all leave Diahman until sometime after the ten days, for a violent snow storm soon set in, which made it doubly bad for them to what it was for us as they were incamp. (and we not much better.)

I started with the first load in a one horse wagon for Farwest, alone and in a very cold, snowy day, suffered much, and as I started late did not get through that day, but stopped at a brother's house to stay overnight, but it was a miserable stay, for there were so many women and children that the floor could hardly hold them, and allow the men to sit up around the fire, so some were obliged to stay in their wagons, and which was my lot, but my load was principally beds and bedding, so I got as near the middle of all as possible and 123 passed the night after a fashion, sometimes there and sometimes in the house to warm my toes. It was a bitter cold night about the first of December, 1838. In a day or two the rest of the family came.

I will now return to the night after we laid down our arms, which was a night long to be remembered by all who witnessed the scenes of that night; for no sooner had the army finished their night duties of camp than they repaired to Adam's altar which as near the house where the plundered property was stowed; and by the by they had understood what it was, and commenced hooting and laughing at it, and from hooting they got to howling like dogs and wolves, and so continued on howling like dogs, mewing like cats and alternately cursing and swearing all night, until daylight, and by their noise kept the inhabitants awake, who listened at their clamor with sincere wishes that our persecutors might howl with anguish, even as they then howled in derision.

Our curiosity was a little gratified when we came to see them pick out personal property from the confused mass that filled and surrounded the plunder house, for every man thought the property he lost was the best, or at least every one nearly took and claimed the best he saw, that was of the kind he had; so that the poorest property was left to them that came last, and it came like to have ended in an uncivil war.

Some not finding all of their things proceeded to search our houses, and one man went to the house of Lyman Wight and claimed one of their beds (Lyman was then at Farwest [Far West]) and on being asked how he knew it to be his mother's bed, said he knew it by the stripes, (common bed ticking). They asked him how he knew it by the stripes as nearly all ticks were striped. Said he used to lay and feel of them with his toes and knew they run that way.

This is one sample of the ignorance of the Missouri backwoodsmen. This Megin I have spoken of, had brothers and sisters there that belonged to the Church and they all kept house together; and they had several things taken that they could prove they bought from

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Canada, among which was a pair of stulyards their fathers had; thus everything was at their disposal, and we had no power to do anything, to defend ourselves or our property. "Well," some may say, "you had no business to steal and plunder their property and drive them off." But remember they were the aggressors, and commenced upon our innocent and unoffending brethren, and burned their houses, drove off their cattle, plundered their property, raved with plundering and put to death much as they could. So we thought it no more than right to pay them off in their own coin, which we did as well as we knew how, and be sure we knew how as well as they. On returning to Farwest [Far West], father had hardly got into the house (we moved in with Dimmick's family in his house) before he was told that men were in town to take him to jail to keep him from being a witness for Joseph.

Father immediately disappeared, and stayed in King Follet's cornfield, until there was an understanding between him and the committee, that he should go about his business as committeeman.

Father had not been out of the house an hour, before armed men came and searched it from top to bottom for him. We had not been there long before there was an expedition started up to release the prisoners in jail, in Clay County, this was where Joseph and Hiram [Hyrum] were; and then there was another jail (I do not recollect where, now) where a lot of more common prisoners were held. Amongst this company was William, which caused a great many sorrowful hours to father and mother; for it was a very dangerous undertaking to break a jail and let out prisoners, yet the brethren were determined to try if we were all killed to pay for it; and as Wm. had had as much as one finger in the most of the pies baked he thought he would, or rather he was chosen to dip, in this. Well, they were mistrusted of the design when they had only knocked one man down; and then the key happened to get turned and left them all, but one or two, in with the rest of the prisoners, but I never knew anything like having a brother in jail until after he had been there several days.

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There is one thing strange, yet no less strange than true; those that were out of the jail bailed one that was in, out, and he bailed another, and in like manner they all, alternately became kettle and bail, until they were all out, and then kettle and bail left the state. Things passed on in a new and strange way, the same as the whole series of events which I have witnessed since our union with the Church; however in every event there is something instructing, there is wisdom and there is something tending to break the shackles of false tradition, and to give liberty to the soul to soar from low and groveling principles to a degree of knowledge and honor before unknown, to those brought up in the glare of the present Christian light and bigotry. The brethren were continually hunted and abused by every one that met them out of the city; many were obliged to live by night and hide by day, in the woodshed that was but little known, and little noticed.

In the spring or latter part of winter a man came to our house (it was in the dead of winter) hearing our name and place in mind and apparently an acquaintance, and asked if Dimmick Huntington's family lived there. We were surprised to see a covered wagon, good, clean, decent looking man and so familiar. Finally he pulled out of one of the cleats on his wagon box, by the side of the hind stake, in which was hollow filled with letters from brethren Dimmick went with through the wilderness, and are from him, stating his condition, journey, and etc. And this man he had hired to bring his family out of the state. His name was Cleveland, Judge Cleveland of Quincy, Illinois.

During all this time Norman Buell was in Clay County saying good Lord and kind devil, for a time; but the time finally came that he must choose a side, so he chose the master that would give him the most money then, and in whose hands he thought he would be the safest. He even got to the pitch that he would not let his wife say a word in favor of her brethren, and would say all manner of evil of them himself. He was once an elder in The Church of Jesus Christ. Families were moving out of the state all winter, and the same teams

126 returning to bring others, and by the time grass was good, great share of the Church was in Quincy on the east side of the Mississippi River. Thus everything was hurried and pushed on and every string drawn, for the work of the Lord could not lay still and the Saints were destined to be hurried from place to place, and from one sieve to another until they be fully prepared as a bride, for the reception of the groom. One day I saw a crowd around a wagon not far from our house, so I ran up to see what was going on; I climbed up and stuck my head over the edge of the box and the first thing my eyes met was the familiar face of Gideon Carter, and although the cursed, worse than inhuman mob, had dug his eyes out with sticks he still looked like himself. Gideon was killed in the Croocked [Crooked] River Battle, had a ball hole in his breast and a large gash of a sword in the back side of his head. He lay on the battle ground until the next day or two when the mob came and buried their own dead, dug his eyes out and kicked the dirt over him where he had laid until now, the brethren not daring to go that far from home or for some other cause I know not what.

Although we gained the day and the ground in that affair, yet he was left on the ground, from the cause of its being strict orders not to touch a dead man at all hazards; so they hurried from the ground an did not miss him until a day or two after, when it was not known exactly where he was; and when he was found he was just as I saw him; in his every-day clothes, and smelled very bad.

I say, and was acquainted with all that were wounded both there and at Hawn's Mills Massacre.

I'll here state, that Joseph, Hirum [Hyrum], and two or three others were in Liberty Jail, Clay County, P. P. Pratt and a score of others in Richmond, Ray County. Father's situation compelled us to stay until about the last family that left the place. When we landed at Quincy, which was the general rendezvous of the whole Church, we met Dimmick on the bank, and were glad that we had again overtaken him which was the third time he had started and led the way before the family, we went to his residence, which was a small log cabin on 127

Judge Cleveland's farm, four miles east of Quincy, whither he, and the four that came through the wilderness together, were directed by revelation, or the spirit of God, and which was the first resting place they found after they started. There was another company of about 15 started a little after they that were also directed to Quincy, not knowing whether to flee or where to stop, until they came there when the spirit bade them, rest. We stayed with Dimmick two or three weeks when William came from a place called Commerce 50 miles above Quincy, on the river, where he had been living with Sidney Rigdon, and was still living there, but came down to let us know that he had rented a house and five acres of land for us, up there; and that there was the appointed place for the Church to settle. Accordingly in a few days we moved up to a wild forsaken sickening place, for it was very sickly there.

It was perhaps three or four days after the prophet had moved to Commerce, that we moved. It will be understood that he had been living in the house with Judge Cleveland ever since his deliverance from Missouri dungeons, which I think, but will not be sure, happened before we got out of the state. We should have gone when he did, but Dimmick's little girl lay at the point of death and we stopped to bury her. William went to living with the prophet before or soon after, his removal to Commerce, I disremember which; and stayed there all summer.

When we arrived at our new home we all felt as though a home was good though ever so humble. We went to work with might and main. All of us to do something towards preparing for the future, and our first work was to plant to potatoes and corn, what little ground we could occupy; and after that father made several thousand shingles to pay the rent and get a little something to live on as we went along. Sometimes we would kill a quail or two, sometimes a squirrel and sometimes catch a fish, all of which were very plenty, and which helped us to live.

We were now very happy, that we were out of an enemies country and in a land of tolerable plenty, if we could only get it; and another 128 means of happiness was, that our wants were lessened, and that we had found we could live with a great deal less than we once thought we could, and enjoy ourselves too.

George William Huntington (1848-1926) Son of Oliver Huntington & Mary Neal Wife, Sarah Elizabeth Sprouse (m. 1870)

George Huntington is the Father of Rosetta Huntington, who is the grandmother of Ray & Jacklyn King

Georg W. Huntington was born 18 September 1848 at Cambria, New York, of Oliver Boardman Huntington and Mary Melissa Neal. In his boyhood and young manhood he was nicknamed “Busty Neal”. The first because of his robust and vigorous physique. The second because (great) Grandmother Melissa Neal objected very seriously to (great ) Grandfather Oliver taking a polygamous wife. She took her maiden name and hence “Busty Neal”.

The old family home was a 2 story adobe house located on First North Street, Salt Lake City, between Main and West Temple. Note: This would be about one block north of Temple Square. Link: loc.gov/item/75696611

I helped my father move personal effects of Grama Neal’s from there. I remember she had saved in her attic almost every periodical and newspaper that came her way. She gave father a hand axe with a 10- 129

12 inch blade which Brigham young carried on his saddle crossing the plains. Grandfather George was also a Salt Lake City policeman. What a figure he must have made at about 6', 6" tall and weighing 260-270 pounds. He wore a brace of “cap and ball” horse pistol, one of which I inherited and of which I am very proud. After his marriage to Sarah Elizabeth Sprouse (our blood line) in September 1870, he farmed on the west side of the Jordan River on old Camp’s Lane (Redwood Road) between Third and Fourth North. His farm took in, on the west, part of the land where Airport Village was built. He raised cattle and horses and had a fine orchard north and south of the house, east of Redwood Road on the banks of the Jordan River. This orchard was his pride and joy. Heaven help the kid he caught stealing apples etc.

Well do I remember, as a small boy on an extended visit in the summer, going to town in the buggy with Grandfather for supplies. Going to Knott’s Store which was at First South and State Street, as near as I can remember. They had a fleet of mule-drawn light wagons for delivery purposes. Among the usual purchases was a special piece of cheese selected for our lunch on the return trip. We stopped at the Nabisco Factory and bought a great sack of broken cookies. Cookies and cheese carved by Grandfather’s jackknife were our lunch. To this day nothing tastes better than sweet cookies and cheese.

Sarah Sprouse Huntington was the mother of Mary Zina, George Agustus and my mother, Mabel Elizabeth (our line). She also gave birth to another son, John William, who died at the age of 6 months, preceded in death by his mother, February, 1876. My mother was about 12 years old at the time of Sarah’s death.

Grandfather married Rosetta Squires 14 February 1878, and to them were born eight children, of whom about six died at an early age. This was typical of families during this period. Rosetta was born 14 March 1855 at Braintree, England.

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As Grandfather grew old and crippled, he sold the farm and moved to a more modern home on Oakley St. Here he kept his horse and buggy and garden. He had a stroke in his garden which killed him 28 July, 1926.

How he loved to take his little grandchildren and kiss them and rub his massive beard in their faces, laughing when they made a face and wiped their mouths.

How wonderful were the days when the family all got together for Christmas, New Years, Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July. I remember the English plum puddings covered with brandy and lit. The raisins were put around the pudding and how the kids matched(?) them of the flames. These were huge raisins, not the seedless kind, sweet as sugar with a special flavor.

Sarah Elizabeth Sprouse Huntington

A short history to perpetuate her memory and her family. Sarah was my maternal grandmother. She was born 27 October 1844 at Summerville, Mississippi, the daughter of John Sprouse and Catherine Ann Wooldridge Hundley.

John Sprouse was a well-to-do plantation owner in Noxubee County, Mississippi, and in Grange County, Texas. He owned a string of race horses and had Negro slaves. He was very much a southern gentleman. Catherine Wooldridge Hundley married john Sprouse on 6 January 1835 at Macon, Mississippi. She was a very spiritual- minded woman who loved her God and sought his guidance in all things. When the Mormon elders came to call, she herd their message of angels coming to the earth and restoring to His Prophet the gospel of Christ taught in the meridian of time. She soon became a firm believer for it was shown to her in a dream or vision that this message was true.

When Great Grandfather John heard that the Mormons had been there, he was furious and said that if they ever set foot on his place 131 again, he would horsewhip them. This did not frighten Great Grandmother, for she invited the elders back again and again, hiding them from Great Grandfather. She had to hear more of their message which she accepted and was baptized. (Maurine, Uncle George tells the following part of the story of how Great Grandmother, before her death, while they lived in Texas, extracted a promise from Great Grandfather to take the children to Utah to be educated.) In the year 1850, which is the date of the census on file in Grimes(?) County, Texas, there was held at the home of John Sprouse a great gathering of the clan and a fine dinner was served. It was thought to be either Thanksgiving or Christmas. Great grandmother took occasion while they were yet seated at the table to say what was in her heart and could not wait to be said. She went to the other room saying she was tired and wanted to rest. When the servants went to waken her sometime later, they found she was dead. After the funeral, it seems Great Grandfather forgot his promise for some time and followed the duties of his farm. One day he was riding when he was struck down by an invisible force. He did not know what hit him, but he knew why. The next day he went to the county seat and started proceedings to sell his home and property in order to emigrate to Utah. What a caravan that must have been coming up from Texas. Great Grandfather Sprouse not only brought his family and servants who were formerly slaves, but he brought the first string of race horses to Utah. According to his own temple records, on 6 March 1867 he was baptized in 186?.

John was a prosperous land owner and farmer in Grantsville Tooele County Utah. Than in 1857 John married Nancy Reddick Greer Johnson, Nancy had lost her husband the year before, so for a short while the two of them were happy and not longer lonely unlit March that John become ill and died. John Died in Salt Lake City on March 14, 1857

Aunt Cad and Uncle Billy were the personal Negro servants of Great Grandmother Sprouse. Aunt Cad suckled Great Grandmother’s babies at her own breast, including my grandmother. They loved

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Great Grandmother and believed her implicitly, accepting the gospel wholeheartedly. Uncle Billy said if he could just receive the priesthood and go through the temple of God he would suffer himself to be skinned alive.

Sarah Elizabeth Sprouse married George William Huntington in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City Utah, September 1870. She gave birth to four children, the first and the last died in infancy and the last cost her her life also. My Mother was only 12 and Uncle George 3 when she died. Every one who knew her said that she was a noble and lovely lady in every sense of the word. I would like to perpetuate her memory for my children and grandchildren. She died 1 February 1876 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Grandfather put his resources into storage wheat. When famine came, any deserving person could have what they needed to eat at no cost. He joined the Church and later married Nancy Reddick Greer Johnson.

I would like to tell an incident told to me by Uncle George, which gives an idea of pioneer conditions and what these good people went through to win the West for their posterity.

Uncle Gus, (Augustus Wooldridge W. Sprouse), brother of my Grandmother, was a rough and ready sort who did not back down from an argument. He was tending bar at Hot Springs, north of Salt Lake when a quarrelsome fellow with too much to drink provoked a shootout. Uncle Gus outdrew him and shot him dead. He was exonerated of any blame as it was self-defense.

Uncle Gus married Clarissa Fackrell, and they went up to Otter Creek on a ranch miles from anyone. Aunt Clarissa said she never saw a white woman for two years. She told of wild stallions coming and fighting in her front yard. The stallions stood on their hind legs, fighting like men boxing.

Uncle Gus and Aunt Clarissa later moved to settle on the west shore of the beautiful Bear Lake in what is now Garden City, Utah. Geneva

133 came to live with us while she was in nursing school, and we learned to love her as the sister we never had. Dear Aunt Clarissa was the kindest and best loved person you can imagine. I spent three wonderful weeks at her home in Bear Lake, hunting, fishing, and riding horses. That was when I was sixteen. I shall never forget it. God bless her memory.

Memories as told by his grandson, Charles L. Knight, 1964.

Huntington Family in England and America

The Huntington Family,distinguished and brilliant in England and America: Samuel Huntington, Signer of Declaration of Independence and President of First Continental Congress, Soldiers, Judges, Doctors, Professors and Notable Men and Women,The Baker Family, Charles B. Dymock, famous in English Courts, Zina D. H. Young, not less brilliant and worthy of her great inheritance.

That Mrs. Zina D. Huntington Young was one of the most remarkable women of this Church and this generation would be readily conceded by everyone who knew her. But that she had a most remarkable family back of her is not so well known. To be well born is not often to be born into titled families; both riches and luxury have the same enervating effect now as in ancient times. But the family of America, as well as England, the Huntingtons, is as truly as wonderful as any of those marvelous puritan pioneers of whom we owe so much.

In England, the original Huntington dates his surname back to the restoration of Malcolm the Third, on the defeat of the famous Macbeth in 1107. Edward was honored then with the title of Earl of Huntington. A son of Edward married the niece of William the Conqueror. This son, named Waldeof, had a daughter who married Simon St. Lya, and after his death she married David, brother of Queen Maud of Scotland. David himself succeeded to the throne of Scotland.

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The Conqueror made Robert, Portgrave of Hastings, the Earl of Huntington; so that from another branch the title descended. The name itself sprang from the favorite pastime of the gloomy Conqueror. The hunting of animals was almost his only pleasure and recreation. For the killing and destroying of men cannot be called a pleasure, even if the gory William himself seemed so to consider it. Another English line was created through George Hastings who married, Anne, daughter of the Duke of Buckingham. From him descended the noted Lady Huntington.

The Huntington line is no less distinguished. The emigrant Simon came over in an English ship in 1633 with his wife, Margaret, and three or four children. But the brave man died on shipboard of smallpox, and his widow was left to stem the tide of life alone and unaided in the new and savage country. She went to Roxbury, and was under the pastorate of the famous Rev. John Eliot. In later years she married Thomas Stoughten, leaving her oldest son in Roxbury, and taking her three youngest boys with her to Windsor, Connecticut.

Samuel, the most famous descendant of the emigrant, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was presented with the highest offices of the nation, being governor of his state for nearly ten years and president of the continental congress which adopted the instrument he had so nobly defended. His glory is made the brighter through the tributes paid by his biographers to the deeply religious nature which lay at the root of all his labors. And that his kinsmen scattered in nearly all the New England states would fling aside their plows and pruning hooks to take up the sword of justice at the call of the struggling patriots in 1776, is not at all to be wondered at. The Huntingtons were in every field and around the fires of every American camp.

The educational and judicial records of this family fairly blaze with brilliant names and achievements. Mrs. Sigourney the poetess, writers, artists and philosophers, as well as clouds of revered doctors, fill glowing pages of family achievements. The family 135 biographer, speaking of the American record of this family, says: “We have furnished not less than thirty state senators and representatives, two governors, one of whom was president of the Congress, fifteen judges, some of them chief justices. A hundred of the family has taken collegiate honors; ministers cover over a third of the descendants. Professors in colleges, writers and authors, all are found there. And the Huntington daughters have not been behind their brothers in these contributions to the civil and educational movements of our land. They have been eminently the mothers of legislators, of divines, of doctors, or lawyers and teachers. Their sons were numbered by tens in the French and Indian Wars and hundreds in the Revolutionary struggle, and in the War of 1812.”

The biographer continues: “From the very beginning of our American history, the name of Huntington has sustained an honorable rank for the patriotism and piety of its members and representatives. I must name Deacon Hezekiah, whose prayers and counsels, whose affability penetrated with the grace of his true piety, endeared him to all who knew him. “Need I do more than name the Honorable Jeded????, honored most of all by a piety who was as philanthropic as he was Christian, a man whose consistency was proclaimed to be better and more effective than eloquence, yet whose counsels and prayers were so felicitous that none could forget them, and who won from the people among whom he labored, the appellation to himself of that divinest ascription: ‘The Spirit of the Lord rested upon him.’”

A number of distinguished women of the race are mentioned, among them Ruth, who married Dr. Wheelock; Lydia Huntington Fitch, whose counsel to her son, Ebenezer Fitch, resulted in the founding of the famous Williams College, with her son as its president. Abigail, mother of the famous sisters, Mesdames Winslow, Hutchins, Perry and Cherry, who spent their lives among the heathen; Hannah Huntington; and Catherine, wife of Col. Williams of Utica, a woman in whose piety there was a completeness which best asserted its genuineness. Her pastor said pf her: “She was one of the rarest, choicest characters in the whole acquaintance of my life. To our

136 partial vision, she appeared to pear the perfections of heaven during the probation of earth.

The fascinating delineation of this most remarkable family through all its branches would tempt the pen to linger with far more copious quotations. Suffice it to say, the lines are crowded with gallant men and noble women. The recent well known name of Col. C. P. Huntington belongs to this family; and he was pleased at one time to send his Utah kinswoman, Aunt Zina, railroad passes to pay a visit to her eastern relatives.

On the maternal side, Aunt Zina claimed a no less famous pedigree. There is now in the Relic Hall of the Daughters of the Pioneers, a most interesting genealogical chart of Dr. Oliver Baker, who was born October 5, 1756, and who married Dorcas Dimic, or Dymock, as the English name was spelled.

This chart bears the family names of their children, among them Zina Baker, born May 2, 1786. This was Aunt Zina’s mother, who married William Huntington in 1805. The chart is boarded with a quote inscription, or design and bears the legend “Keep sacred the memory of your ancestors.” The forms of the four females, one with a babe in her arms, at the four corners of the chart, are ancient indeed; while vases of flowers, horns of plenty, a bird feeding her young, and very woodeny eagle at the top, are all drawn with the touch of mingled symbolism and inartistic but thoroughly genuine feeling which characterized the drawings of 100 years ago. If the ink had not been so faded, the picture of the rare relic would have appeared in these pages.

The Dymocks are a very old and famous English family, five of its gallant cavaliers of early times, holding the same office in

137 succession, namely that of Champion to the king and queen of England. While the Bakers hold a splendid Puritan record for integrity and patriotism. All in all, this family from which Aunt Zina, with her brothers and sisters, sprang may be acknowledged as on of the most famous and brilliant of all the founders of the Church.

A curious circumstance which occurred in Aunt Zina’s life was related by her: An Eastern brother, who was a devoted adherent to Spiritualism, sent his Utah sister the printed organ of his society. Aunt Zina was not at much pains to read the paper, but one day an item with the name of Salt Lake City caught her eye. It proved to be the story of a famous medium who had been visited for years by a very bright, intelligent spirit. One day, the medium was unable to call up her favorite familiar spirit. On inquiring of the spirit who did answer her call, the medium was informed that her favorite spirit had been baptized by proxy in a font in Salt Lake City, and had therefore gone beyond and would never return to her former haunts.

Aunt Zina was not alone in her remarkable inheritance from this remarkable family. Whomever saw that grand old veteran, Uncle Dimic Huntington, can ever forget his kingly bearing, his indomitable courage and his firm integrity? What child that ever sprang to dancing feet at the sound of his ringing martial band music will every forget the feet-tingle, or the eye-flash, as Uncle Dimic paced slowly down the street, leading his noble little band of musicians, who had drummed up the 500 soldiers at Mount Pisgah and Council Bluffs who formed that famous Mormon battalion? And was he not friend, associate and guard to the Prophet Joseph Smith. And what of his younger brother, Uncle Oliver, of recent blessed memory, whose whole life was consecrated by sacrifice and purified in the fires of affliction. Oliver, brave as a lion, guarded the living and dead bodies of his idolized leaders, the Prophet and Patriarch, till both were folded for their last sleep in the bosom of mother earth. And Aunt Prescinda Huntington Kimball--could an eye forget the majesty of her presence, or the dignity of her manners? Nor can the saints cease to reverence the long and arduous labors she

138 undertook, in company with her more famous sister Zina, in the homes of the poor, the sick and the desolate. Truly, these men and women have been as polished shafts in the Church of the Lamb, and together with their pious and worthy dead, will find their places in eternity, close to the great white throne of Him who will rule and reign forever.

Extracted from an article printed in the Deseret News March 2, 1907. The actual document from which the information was gathered was prepared by the genealogical committee of the Daughters of the Pioneers) Elizabeth Claridge Mcuney, Chairman, Edith A. Smith, Winnie Horne James, Josephine Beatie Burton

Samuel Huntington (1731-1796) Son of Nathaniel Huntington & Mehetabel Thurston Wife, Martha Devotion (m. 1761)

Samuel Huntington was born on July 16, 1731, the fourth of ten children of Nathaniel and Mehetabel (Thurston) Huntington. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Huntingtons were a large and prominent family in this region. Samuel's great-grandfather Simon was among the original settlers of Norwich in 1660, his grandfather Joseph was one of the founders of Windham and his father Nathaniel helped to establish the Scotland area as a separate parish of Windham. Nathaniel was a prosperous and influential farmer who owned a 180-acre farm bordering Merrick's Brook in Scotland Parish.

The house where Samuel Huntington was born and raised was built for his father about 1723. It was two stories in height with one room on each floor. In the present house, the east front room on the

139 ground floor and the chamber above it are Nathaniel Huntington's original house. In form and construction, this house reflected a conservative approach to building that was rooted deep in the seventeenth century. The house was enlarged and remodelled to its present appearance in several phases over the next 120 years.

Nathaniel Huntington sent three sons to Yale where they trained for careers in the ministry, but Samuel was not one of them. On his own, the young man pursued the study of law in the library of Reverend Ebenezer Devotion, and under the instruction of several lawyers. In 1754 Samuel received permission to practice law in the Connecticut colony. In 1760, he moved to the river port town of Norwich where greater opportunities existed for a young and ambitious attorney. It was here that he launched his illustrious political career.

From election as a Representative from Norwich to the Connecticut General Assembly in 1764, Samuel rose to King's Attorney for Connecticut and Judge and Chief Justice of the Connecticut Superior Court. Because of his patriot sympathies he was appointed a member of Governor Trumbull's Council of Safety and a delegate to the Continental Congress, where in 1776 he signed the Declaration of Independence.

He represented Connecticut in the Continental Congress until 1784, serving as President from 1779 through 1781. Those were some of the most difficult years in the War for Independence. Through quiet diplomacy and encouragement, Samuel was successful in encouraging the states to meet their quotas of men and provisions. It was during his term as President that the Congress ratified the Articles of Confederation and adopted the name "United States."

In 1786 Samuel was elected Governor of Connecticut, an office he held until his death in 1796.He presided over the adoption of the Federal Constitution in 1788 and the decision to erect a new state house in Hartford, designed by the highly regarded Boston architect Charles Bulfinch.

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