Journal, 1857-1862

File — Box: 1, Volume: 1

Identifier: I

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

May to June 1862 precedes the section that begins July 1857. John spends his time herding stock, shearing, haltering and docking sheep, and plowing, planting and harvesting his crops; all the assorted tasks necessary to running a farm. He is a dutiful member of the Mormon Church, paying tithing, attending meetings, and obeying Brigham Young's orders and the dictates of his faith. He was a handsome and vigorous man and a leader among the people in his ward.
1857
September 12
"Went to the Regiment Muster near the city took my post captain of the 2nd comY at night got purmission to lodge in the city"
Sept. 26
"On my way home at sundown Adjt Cutler who handed me the following notice:
"Sir, You are hereby required to appear at the headquarters of the Brigade on the 27th Inst. at 6 o'clock A.M. mounted and armed and equiped with 5 days rations, to take command of the detachment from the 2nd Brigade, & there wait further orders.
T. D. Richards
Brig Gen Command
Bro Saml received a notice to be the Adjt of the Detat. We are all busy during the night to get ready"
When John arrived at headquarters he received another letter of instruction telling him to march his company and join the command of Col. Cummings and Burton somewhere in the vicinity of Green River. The letter concluded with "May the God of Armies qualify you abundantly for the duty now imposed upon you."
September 30
"Arrived at Bridger about sundown, camped in front of the fort"
October 1
"My comY was detailed to guard fort Bridger... marched forthwith to big bend on blacks fork 18 miles to watch the U. S. troops"
October 3
"I was instructed to know the whereabouts of the enemies camp now guarded, relieved, travelled & acertain their numbers if I could, I took with me 2 men... Saml took the balance and approached the enemies camp"
October 5
"I reported all I know about the soliers"
October 7
"20 men detailed to go and watch the soldiers"
October 9
"I was detailed to travel down Hams fork to the U. S. troops and watch their movments"
October 11
"We started toward the troops saw 2 horsemen move in sight not knowing who they were we put for the hills looked off a point saw the squad in an irregular position when they saw us, two rode towards us, when about 300 yds off I saw the applets on one of their shoulders we now knew they were from the Army, they rode up the steep bluff in a gentlemanly manner, bid us good morning talked first about the winter setting in. Said one I advise you gentlemen not to be too free in gratifying you curiosity... he said there was no danger from the troops if we did not interfere with them but there is men along who have been driven from Salt Lake, whom we cannot control"
October 12
"took a south w course 14 miles over a very rough country struck a trail up a smooth Kanyon over the rim and down a Kanyon west to bear river"
October 13
"We heard a ax chopping which cheered us up we went over the mountain and found Col Burtons camp at Cache cave head of echo made report of our trip"
October 25
"march by the nearest route home via Parleys Kanyon...Col Burton instructed me to go home & refit and be ready for further service in my absence my family had been sick our youngest (Maria) had been dangerously sick with some illness that is common but were all well"
November 9
"10 oclock had notice we have my comY as many as possible in the city today prepared with 30 days rations for mountain campaign"
November 14
"on the march"
November 16
"Marched on to the south of echo & joined our redgment"
November 18
"our platoon now numbered 14"
December 1
"Gen1 Wells addressed the army congradulated officers and men on keeping back the U. S. troops without sheding thier blood & exhorted all to profit by this campaign & do better for the next... a vote was taken which was unanimous to sustain a decision of court martial in case of Warren Drake for Beastality he was sentenced to be shot in publick"
1858
January 10
"I attended morning meeting at the mill the subject of home manufacture and supporting a standing army was spoken of by Br Harker myself and Br Hickman"
January 11
"Fixed up and went to a party at Ballows Hall G.S.L. City Esther Mary T, S. R. & Mary with me party closed at daybreak"
February 8
"moved Esther to the new house in the fort leaving Esther A. & Mary on bottom"
April 6
"Legion formed & were marched into the tabernacle Gov Young delivered an excellent address marched into the street and were inspected afterward I was detailed & 5 more from west Jordan Batt to go into the Service into mountain to start at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning"
April 7
"camped at the foot of big mountain"
April 8
"snowed most of the day we camped 6 miles down east Kanyon"
April 21
"travelled home by way of the city the men had a small piece of beef each and where much weary with march"
May 8
"moved Esther Ann & her things from the bottom up to the fort in with Esther"
September 15
"Yesterday a band of Indians come & camped in my field I invited them to leave by an interpreter Jos Terry & go outside my field but they wouldnt"
September 16
"Went to city with tithing of wheat 10 lbs 40 lbs lambs wool 11 lbs butter...I saw Gov Cummings about moving the Indians he told me to get major Allen to muster his men & put them out of the field forthwith"
September 17
"The Indians were moving off early this morning 16 lodges He had a boy about 3 years old to sell for a horse I give them the horse I was riding and took the boy, they said his father died some time before his name was Kanosh in croping his hair with shears I cut his ear to the bottom of it accidentally"
This Indian boy quickly grew to be part of the family and the other boys came to rely on his survival skills. He spent his time with the other children, herding stock, often camping away from civilization for long periods of time.
John attended most church meetings and at fall conference he writes:
November 14
"Went into conference at the tabernacle...Pres Young gave some instructions to the Elders & closed the conference about 1 oclock he said a man may be a Prophet & have no Priesthood at all"
November 28
"on the 20th I received $20 from the tresurer of the Agricultural Society awared to me for the best buck & ewes"
December 3
"Night very cold one of Br Hickmans men frose to death near the sand ridge & one Br Leaver near the cottonwood creek I had one sheep frose I drove the sheep towards home Sam1 R met me on horse back he took the sheep & I come home my family had been very ancious about me"
1959
January 3
"About home resting and trying to get my foot healed up of frost bite"
January 12
John E. herded the sheep alone for the first" (at the age of eight years)
January 31
"a few days ago I weighed my folks
weight height
John 150 58
Esther 159 53
Ester A. 133 56
Mary T. 134 52
March 12
"ewes lambing several per day losing many lambs mostly from old ewes & yearlings, a cold north wind"
April 7
"I went down and attended conference Elder Taylor preached in forenoon & Pres B. Young in the afternoon for the first time in the tabernacle for over a year I think the preaching was very instructive on doctrine I was glad I had dropt other work & attended to hear for myself, the boys were hunting stock weather pleasant Angeline herding" (she is 12 years old)
May 17
"Esther A. & Mary planting corn"
June 4
"Esther took in butter sold at 20 cts"
June 7
"Esther and Mary planting vines and beans"
July 10
"Br Milo Andrews preached on the necessity of storing up grain against a time of famine"
July 12
"harvesting wheat, Mary and John E. watering from big ditch Angeline & Racheal putting up hay on the bottom"
As is very apparent to anyone reading this journal, the work of ranching and farming was shared by all members of a family from a very early age, the result being that children grew up rather quickly in regards to accepting responsibility.
August 18
"brought a waggon of oxen for seventy dollars of Mr. Walker Freighter got the oxen shod and come home S. R. mowing"
November 24
"Had a thick snow storm to encounter Hyrum got lost coming home with the sheep Mary went out to guide him in got lost also Esther A. Angeline and Racheal followed & got bewildered Lewellyn Mantle went after & two hours after dark they found home"
December 30
"I examined & dressed some sheep for the scab tobacco juice & lard for ointment & buttermilk with sulfur and salt for a wash"
1860
January 21
"Sam1 R drove the oxen into the Kanyon and stoped with the sheep I come home the weather has been foggy this week grass what little is above the snow is frosty, very difficult for the sheep to live"
February
"went up to camp helped herd the sheep the wolves were troublesome charging on the flock at night and carrying off the young lambs"
April 1
"our ewes are lambing fast everyday have showers about mostly to Cache valley and Sanpete"
June 2
"This morning at ten minutes after three oclock Esther gave birth to a son"
June 6
"Esther up and around again"
July 4
"our five oldest children went to the city to see the doings of the celebration I herded sheep & dressed 68 lambs
August 17
"visited Charles Williams who left home two months ago insane got home last night reduced down almost to a skeleton had subsisted on frogs berries & the like, had been alone in the mountains high up he told me he was 4 or 6 days without eating anything He now appears quite rational and a good recollection of what he has past through of which he told me many incidents come home after night"
September 29
"started before day and went to Spanish fork Indian farm to see the Indians and try to get the mare & colt that they had stolen from me last May the Indians were last in the Mountains
December 16
"attended meeting in the tabernacle in the afternoon Elder Kimball said certain ones say that we justify stealing from unbelievers but we do not and they who say so shall be cursed they shall be poor vagabonds on the earth."
December 20
"at twenty-five minutes past three A.M. Mary T. gave birth to a son weight 8 1/2 lbs"
1861
February 5
"herded the sheep I had a swelling come under my right ear give me pain"
February 6
"applied warm salt on my head last night it began to mend"
April 6
"conference began I married our daughter Mary to George Calder in my own home"
July 27
"John received an interesting letter from a cousin, William Bennion relating the last sixteen years of his life in England & Australia, plus some of what he had heard about the Mormons and life in Utah"
"It is passed as an established fact that polygamy is an institution among you I have heard from a man that you have five wives it may be a lie but if it is true I don't know how you keep them under & it goes far to prove that there is monopoly and selfishness among you for some men must do without"

Dates

1857-1862

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