Journal, 1869-1873

File — Box: 1, Volume: 3

Identifier: I

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

New Years Reflections
1869
January
"When I left home on the 11 of Nov I felt some considerable care on me leaving my family & business but more so starting on a journey of about 500 miles with a wife and young children at this season of the year I had never before handled a four team In our journey we had not a storm at all, my journey was pleasant had not before seen the country, but had read & heard much about it, the counties of Juab, Millard & Iron might extend in wool growing & make it a source of wealth to them The mountains on the east & desert on the west for Pasture is very inviting to the business, Long Valley was settled specially [sic] for herding purposes I made some estimate of our labours in clearing land putting in crops and gardens putting out vines & fruit trees making roads, fence & public corral the whole at three thousand dollars but as the place had failed for herding purposes my mind was to abandon it altogether I could see no way of people sustaining themselves only by fruit growing extensively marketing it on the muddy & at the mines & whoever undertook it would need an income from elsewhere of $400 per year for a family of six with no travel no mail little or no school In six years a good apple orchard would be a living but what a life of exile among Pi-utes good providence keep me far from it"
July 30
"Started the mowing machine it was very satisfactory to see the grass newly mown, acres in a day by a man riding behind a span of horses"
Here the journal skips to 1871
1871
July 18
"In the evening visited Br Harkers Family with Br Mackay to settle a difficulty between Br H & his wife Thebe, all we could see was he had turned a cold shoulder to her & she has become very fretful, advised him to be more socialble & kind to her & her to go to work & stop freting"
August 7
"Went to the Election my wives Mary & Esther voted as provided by law"
1872
John and first wife Esther returned to England on a mission and visited with family and friends from their homeland. He describes his trip in his journal:
November 4
"We had entered the dock about midnight & soon as day light we got our luggage ashore...soon found Sister in law Hannah Berry after 31 years absence I had to tell her who I was she was overjoyed on seeing me & could not talk to me for a little while"
They returned to New York February fourth in 1873, then continued on west through Allegany Mountains to Pittsburg, Chicago, Omaha and then took a train to Ogden and Salt Lake.
April 2
"fetched Dr. Bernhisel from the station He vaccinated 9 of our family" [Bennion doesn't say against what]
August 14
"Sold 26 head of sheep to Irvine & Williams at 9 1/2 lb"
September 28
"started to Wasatch factory when we met Samuel R bringing home our son Enoch a lifeless corpse it was a sorrowful meeting At daybreak they were on the way up Silver creek all three walking Sam R first, Enoch next, Alfred behind, their lines tied up crossing a little hollow the hind team got on the trot & come up along side Enoch's team Enoch was caught now between the two loaded waggons & jamd or crushed so that he fell & was so badly hurt that he died in about ten minutes S R carried him to a camp fire near by laid him on some blankets but soon life was gone he never spoke after his hurt I turnd back & come home ahead to tell the sad story to his mother"
October 10
"Recd several letters & papers heard of the arrest of Prests Young & Wells on a charge of lasciviousness got up by the Antimormon party"
1872
March 11
"Held meeting in the school house dismissed about midnight the Saints were instructed to keep the Sabbath both residents and trancients & become compact together in Eagleville and Panaca and be double watchful on this frontier that they not partake of the sins of the Gentiles"
April 18
"at the tithing office settling up tithing accts &c afternoon went to the Woollen factory I observed a great improvement in the cloth making the last year"
July 12
"the company started for Panaca stoped at Rose Valley to marry a couple held a meeting dinnered at Moodyville"
July 13
"met with the stockholders of the Washington factory & sheep herd Br Snow made report for factory I for the sheep herd & wool I told of my intention to draw out from the sheep herding as I could not get help that was suitable"
July 14
"I was taken sick with the hives & had to retire to Bro Barrons the Elders come & administered to me I drank peach leaf tea & soon began to amend"
July 18
"moved the flock to Nettles spring had nine sheep drowned at crossing of a little stream by rushing"
July 19
"I altered & docked 930 lambs"
July 20
"moved the sheep to head of cottonwood Kanyon & come home"
September 19
"With Br Egbert made out accts how many Dixie sheep we had to deliver & counted them then selected out"
September 20
"Started Harden off with the wethers & the balance of our stock sheep then started Enoch with the Dixie sheep to Deseret Spring canon Israel had gone yesterday to see if Wm Slade would take the Dixie flock off our hands Br Egbert started north today I had my four boys out after sheep & hope soon to close out my sheep herding"
September 22
"At day break I delivered 85 head of mutton to Mr Peck 73 of Dixie and 8 of Bennion & Egbert 4 of Bennion Dixie at 5.56 & B & E at 6.00 per head"
September 26
"started north to Jordan Home David with me I left the St George sheep in care of Enoch & Israel in hopes they would be turned over in a few days but they were not taken away till Nov 15"
Eagleville
1873
April
"Since writing in this book I have been over to England & been two months at my Jordan home which I left on Thurs the 15th"
April 17
"In comdy with Br Egbert we went on to Springville & camp"
April 18
"On to Juab Valley & made dry camp"
April 19
"on to Round Valley & stopd at Sister Bennetts"
April 20
"I deld two scarf sent from Connaks Quay Had an interesting talk about their relatives I had seen in England
June 7
"finished settling with Br Egbert & handed over sheep shearing acct to Br Day I started home & Br E started for his Jordan Home I felt very thankfull to have our Coop sheep herding so near closed up, Enoch drove me home I felt weary & sick"
June 8
"In feeble health but went to meeting and talked off my sickness in part"
September 25
"I had a sick spell with hives after we got home, nettle tea & liquor helped me"
This journal ends with a list of dates on which John had written letters to his family. On the back cover there is a list of sheep delivered and the prices they were sold at.

Dates

1869-1873

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