Journal, 1862-1873

File — Box: 1, Volume: 2

Identifier: I

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

1863
February 8
"about 5 oclock our baby Esther Ellen departed this life during the day I saw the cough went hard with it, a few minutes before 5 oclock I called together all the family had them sit around the baby on its mothers lap, I then anointed it with oil and layed on hands confirming the anointing...the family was shedding tears my heart was full unto the stoping... but was unawares and in a minute or two its spirit left the tabernacle no more to return until the resurrection day, it was small and weakly in body, but we fancied a noble intelligent looked out through a bright dark blue eye" [this was the daughter of Esther, John's first wife. She died of whooping cough at the age of two months]
February 26
"a cold windy day, scarce any feed for stock, I thought it the darkest time I had ever seen for the stock, concluded the day has gone by to winter stock out on this range"
May 5
"Jobing about home & went to the distillery for whiskey"
June 29
"Dressed some lambs with calomal reduced to a salve with butter and tar for the scab"
August 15
"Started on with the sheep camped between Joe Dug outs & Jordan, dog had left us had but one boy with me 3 sheep died of red water twas a sleepless dreary night to me"
October 20
"I was engaged in looking after the stock built a log house and making yards, Samuel R was at home attending to things got up winters wood thrashing done & other work, John E. went back and forth three trips third trip in Sept he brought out Mary T. to stay and be house keeper for us I had good health the stock improved in condition I felt that I was blest of the Lord adundantly"
October 27
"Lizzy very sick I went to the city twice to get medical aid her complaint was lung fever got adivce & medicine from Dr. Morgan" [Lizzie was the daughter of Esther, John's first wife. She was eight years old]
November 2
"Last evening Lizzie grew worse Esther Ann and Angeline waiting on her first part of the night before midnight they woke her mother & me her breathing distressed her much we did all we could for her about half past two she appeared to get a little better, could speak to us, she said I am going home, but I will come and see you again, she said to her mother - would not your mother like to see you? soon after day break her breathing got worse we concluded to see the doctor I went to the yard to get a horse for Angeline to go, when Racheal called me in hastily I ran in to Lizzy she breathed her last in my arms, twas hard for me to believe it. I administered to her but we could not keep her she closed her eyes in death about six oclock in the morning we laid the body after Esther A. had washed it by the parlour window on a lounge"
November 4
"repairing up the stable my little children pratling around me but I miss my dear Lizzie I pray the Lord to help me endure faithful to his cause to the end of my days, that I may worthy to receive my children back into the family circle, who have fallen asleep in Christ in the days of their innocence Ann, Moroni, Esther Ellen & Elizabeth"
New Years Reflections
1864
January
"Wars and rumors of wars are becoming so common amon the nations of the world, that attract but little notice amongst the people of LD Saints situated here in these peaceful valleys of Deseret. It has been a year of much sickness among this people and many have died. One has been added to the family we named it William This year also we commenced to make a home in rush valley for the purposes of keeping our sheep & cattle, such has been the risk and loss on west Jordan range that this move was highly necessary"
New Years Reflections
1865
January
"The past year has been a time of prosperity with the people of the Latter Day Saints in these vallies crops on the whole have been better than any season since we settled the country The large increase of population in this & neighbouring territories & the words of inspired men has waked up the farmers to a sense of duty to take care of the grain Some few not of our faith are already casting in thier lot among us for peace sake & many more are tired of the war & trouble in the states In this day of prosperity I pray the Lord to preserve me & my family in the faith & love of the gospel that we may keep our garments unspotted from the pollutions of this vain and wicked world The year has passed favourably with us, have had some sickness in family Maria, Harriet & Ira had the measles & Racheal a severe spell of Ruematic fever but all have recovered & with John E. attend school On the fifth of January Esther gave birth to a son in her 47th year we named it Ira"
February 8
"travelled to Mountain home found all well Esther A. had another son born was a week old"
September 13
"Went to the Kanyon called at Jordan mill payed one bus of wheat into the Indian fund left one ox & five sheep hides at the tanners"
October 14
"Gathered and took in my tithing potatoes also took in wheat to apply on the Dixie Mission"
November 1
"rigged up my baggage waggon & met the Battalion at Cottonwood Mills from thence marched to the parade ground then formed in with the redgement pitched tents"
November 2
"drilled a while then had a sham fight then retired into camp for the night"
November 4
"the division formed square heard some orders read speeches deld then broke up camp marched into & through the city 7 were dismissed about noon"
New Years Reflections
1866
January
"The year of 1865 has now past & gone as a people we have enjoyed a year of peace have been rewarded for our labour by an abundant harvest the fore part of the season prospects appeared rather dull, afterwards grew finely and harvested well, this year was notable for the close of the civil war between the north and south also a few prominent men in the government have visited and passed through our territory to wit Colfax, Ashley & others, has been much talk about crushing Mormonism etc. but it is becoming more apparent that we have rights and dare maintain them we have been favoured as family have enjoyed a good degree of health I spent a few weeks at my Mountain home awhile Samuel R enjoyed his home on Jordan Esther Ann and Mary have given birth to another son whom we named David and Marcus Our daughter Angeline (18 years old) was married to Deo Spencer on the 4th of November and on the 8th I was engaged in getting my winters firewood in Butterfield Kanyon when by falling I fractured my knee this kept me to my bed awhile twas tedius for me to endure as I have scarcely lay in bed a whole day afterwards to the house I thought it was well that in the vigour of my lifetime the Lord had blessed my labours so that now I have means faithful family so that if I properly direct thier labours we shall continue to live comfortably although I am disabled for hard work I pray the Lord that my skill in directing may increase and make up for this"
May 13
"Started to rush valley to fetch home the folks report of Indian depredations rendered it necessary"
May 14
"found my folks in rush all right for this I felt thankful to the Lord"
Indians were a real danger in those years the Bennion family spent at Rush Valley, although some of them became very friendly and helpful to them.
May 18
"my family all at home for the first time in about 3 years"
June 30
"This week was a gloom over the saints by several of our men getting killed by Indians
July 1
"A Mr. Thos Hughes son of Robt Hughes of Mancott once a neighbour of mine in my youthful days called to see me was on his way from California to Montana our conversation brought persons & scenes to mind that I had nigh forgotten"
August 19
"at day break I was sent to administer to Angeline she was very sick in childbearing soon after she gave birth to her first son"
September 14
"Finished hauling up the hay we administered to Angelines baby its life seem to hang on a slender thread it began to amend"
September 16
"attended Sunday school & meeting last night Angelines baby appeared as dead for several minutes but again revived"
September 17
"This morning I administered to Angelines baby the ordinance of blessing naming it Albert"
New Years Reflections
1867
January
"The year 1866 is past as a family we have been favored with good health on last new years day I did not expect my injured knee to get as sound and strong as it has I feel thankful for this blessing the season has been a fruitful one more than usual rains which brought forward an unusual growth of grass and vegetables the wheat crop partly cut off by rust I had thrashed 156 bus of rather lean wheat This summer was noted for Indian war in Sanpete and adjacent valley in which this led me to move in my family from Rush valley they being too much exposed I next set about building so as to make house room for them In these United States the Spirit of hatred and persecution against the saints is becoming more prevelent especially at the far seat of government There is a disposition in many by lies and all manner of misrepresentations to vex and trouble us in our hard earned mountain home but Israel continues to flourish making their homes pleasant and improving the country"
July 8
"Had a Battalion muster Col Richards present some means to sustain the defense against Indians"
August 11
"I went up to the ward house early was on the committee of arrangements for this day Prest B Young and several of the Twelve were present the west Jordan ward house was dedicated had a fine bowery erected but it rained & meeting was held in the Ward House"
1868
January
"The past year has been mostly a time of health and general prosperity with us Samuel R took to him a wife on the 28th of September Esther Ann give birth to another son whom we named Justin The grasshoppers came in swarms from north doing much damage to the crops some neighbourhoods suffered more than others in our neighbourhood it was favourable This summer we built a rock school house I as a trustee spent much time & means to accomplish it"
February 16
"Esther A's baby was very sick"
February 17 "Tarried at home watching over the sick child it appeared some better"
February 20
"We thought the child was on the recover I went to the city Esther & Mary P went in roads bad we arrived home about dark the child had taken a turn for the worse soon after we left and about --oclock P.M. it died, twas a noble looking child before taken sick its mother had some forebodings about parting with it while the child was sick she dreamed of Lizzie coming into the room to fetch it away"
March 12
"went to the city with team I purchased some trees from Hartwell & Fowlers nursery some apple, honey locust Sibernia crab & one lombardy poplar slips of yellow willow"
March 21
"bought four cherry trees from T Elerbeck for $5.00 cash
April 5
"afternoon baptized several persons in the river near my home"
April 8
"at 6:00 P.M. Mary give birth to another son"
April 10
"attended a leap year party at school house"
April 20
"attended the school of the Prophets in the old tabernacle my name had been put down previous"
May 30
"Had a joyous time out on the bench to where the schools marched back to ward house took dinner & spent the afternoon in dancing had the 4th Battalion Martial band in attendence the members 13 in number took supper with us after the days performance was over"
June 8
"went up to sheep camp we haltered & docked 300 lambs loaded wool started home"
June 11
"the hoppers that have for some time been held in check are making bad work on the bottoms the weather is very warm one field after another is being taken"
June 21
"attended sunday school and meeting female relief society organized"
July 8
"went to the woollen factory with a load of wool unwashed about 1200 1bs sold at 55c"
August 5
"went to woollen factory first to Smoot & Co done some trading there then to Deseret Mills"
August 10
"I received word by John Birch that my name was called off at conference for a mission to Dixie
October 17
"went to City I had my likeness taken at Savage & Othinger for the first time in my life"
December 1
"On to Beaver Dams met an express informing us of the Navahoe Indians stealing stock"
He began his Dixie mission on November 11, 1869
December 3
"started on soon met an express informing us that a company a few miles ahead had thier animals stampeted & ran off by Navahoes we fitted up 3 good horse men with water and food to the relief of those who had persued the robbers the next night some friendly Indians went out & recovered part of the stolen horses & mules We come up to our unfortunate bretheren & camped we sent one of our young men to St. Joseph on express with the news of the fix this company was in"

Dates

1862-1873

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