This manuscript is an autobiographical sketch written by Charles Pulsipher (1830 – 1915), who was the son of Zerah Pulsipher and Mary Brown. It also contains diary entries from his last few years of life. It has been referred to as the Charles Pulsipher reminiscences, diary, autobiography, autobiographical sketch, and journal at various times. At least one other autobiography exists which is more widely-publicized (the one in the Pulsipher Family book).
Original manuscript reference:
Pulsipher, Charles, 1830 – 1915. Charles Pulsipher reminiscences , https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/9a417b71-f011-468e-8366-b474f1a60a87/0/0?lang=eng (accessed: May 25, 2023)
~Chad Nielsen, June 2023
Record of Charles Pulsipher and family
My Parents Joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day <Saints> Dec 1831 Baptized by Simeon Carter[.].[1] Father[2] was ordained an Elder <and set> apart to preside over the branch and to travel and preach as the Spirit might direct and while working in the field the Spirit moved upon him to Start out and go north and preach the gospel[.] he Stopt and thought on it and finely concluded to work on untill night and then he would think more about it but the Spirit Soon told him to go north on a mission So he quit work and went home[,] told mother[3] to get his close [clothes] ready for he was going on a mission in the morning. [“]where are you agoing[?”] [p.[2]] [“]I dont know onley I am to go north[.”] [“]how long will you be gone[?”] [“]I dont know[.”] that he got Bro [Elijah] Cheney[4] who had been ordained a teacher to go with him[.] they traveld two days about 80 miles from home and just before Sundown Father looked a head of them and Said [“]do you See that little house in the clearing their[?”] [“]yes[.”] [“]well that is where we are to Stop[.”] So they turned off to the house and Father Said to the Lady[5] [“]can you keep two traveling preachers of the great Latter day gospel[?”] [“]Yes[,”] she said[, “]I guess so, we never turn away preach<ers>[.”]
So they went in and She prepaird Supper for them[.] directly her husband[6] come in and they told him ther business and Father Said [“]do you think we can get a meeting tonight[?”] [“]I guess so, I will go out and See about it[.”] he give out the word and lit up the [p.3] School house and the Brethren went to meeting[.] about that time Wilford Woodruff[7] come in from his work and Said to his Sister in law [“]what is that light for in the School hous[e?”] She said [“]2 men come her[e] and Said they had the great latter day gospel and they are haveing a meeting tonight[.”] Bro Woodruff Said he did not want any supper and did not even take time to wash but went to the meeting and when he got in Father Pulsipher had the book of mormon in his hand and was explaining it and how it was brought forth by the power of the Lord to bless this jeneration with[.] Father Spoke about one hour and Bro Cheney bore testamony and Father give liberty if any one wanted to speak their was liberty[.] Bro Woodruff said the next thing that he knew he was on his feet bearing testimony to what he had heard[8] [p.4]
The meeting was soon dismissed and they went home and had a long talk on the principals of the gospel after the brethren retired he never closed his eyes that night but Scaned the book through and was ready for babtizem next day but they held an other meeting and on the next day babtized severel and ordained Bro Woodruff a Priest and set him apart to preside over the little branch their[.] they felt their mission was filld and they returned home
In 1835 we moved to kirtland ohio where I saw the Temple that was haveing the roof put on and Saw the Prophet Joseph for the first time[.] in the winter of 36 and 37 Father went on a mission to Canady where he done a good work[.] before starting he Said to some [p.5] of the neighbors that if they would draw up some wood I think the little [boys] can cut it up[.] I was 5 and my Bro [John] 8 years <old> but we went towork cutting and haul[ing] from the timber on our hand sleighs that we mad[e] and when the Brethren calld to see if we wanted some wood hauld we had considerable ahead So they did not neede to haul any and when Father come home in the Spring we had 2 ½ cord piled up besid<es> what we had burnt. [p.6]
The Brethren expected to Stay some longer [in Canada,] but Father was warned one night that they must get out of their for their would be trouble if they Staid any longer when Father got up the next morning he told Bro Baker that we must get out of Canada immediately they notified the other Brethren to start out rite away but they concluded to stay a few days and fill their appointments and then <come>[9] [p.7]
So they did and they was taken up and put into prison and laid their for Some time before they could get away[.] Father and Bro Baker Started the same day that they got the word and walked direct to the ferry boat rite between the Soldiers that was Stationed to prevent all foreners from leaveing[.] Soon as they Stept on to the boat it pushed off and took them over all right[.] Bro Baker said the Soldiers could not see them at least they did not appear to for they paid no attention to them
persecution began to rage in kirtland and the Prophet had to leave and all that was able to go Started for Missouri leaving about 500 of the poor that had no means to go with[.] Joseph left the Prest [Presidency] of the Seventies to take charge of the Saints [p.8] that was left[.] they began to meete in the Temple and pray for deliverance they agreede to unite together and all go together or Stay and die together they was advised to go out to work for any thing that would help make an outfeit for the journey and the fist of July they come in and brought their means in and told the council to distribute it according to the families[.] the mob had said that they should not carry out that agreement for they would not let 2 wagons go out together but we paid no attention to their threts and the day before we was to start one of the leaders of the mob[10] come to Father and said [“]I want you [p.9] to come and camp in my pasture the last night you stay her[e] and I will see that you are protected from any harm[.”] we did so and on the morning of the 5th we all started out together making a long train of near half mile[.] the people come out and Stood and looked with amasement at such a large company start out together in Such good order[.] we traveld on in harmony to Dayton[, Ohio] and stopt [p.10] to work for more money money to buy our provisions with[.] Johnathan Dunham was forage master and Johntham Hales comesary[.] the provisions was bought at whole Sale and delt out according to the no [number] in family[.][11] we laid over one month and then went on again and when we began to get near to Missouri we herd all kinds of bad reports about the troubles in that country[.] some of our co[mpany] [p.11] wanted to stop and turn of[f] the main road and wait untill the trouble was over but the larger part of the co[mpany] was in favor of staying together and fill their covenants made in the Temple[.] So they called a council meeting fast and talked the matter over and I well remember Father S[p]eaking the 2nd time urging them to hang together[.] I listend with great attention he said [“]Brethren I tell you in the name of the Lord that if you will Stick together and fill the covenant you Shall all go through and not one hair of your heads be hurt but if you pull off and brake that covenant their is no such promis made to me to give to you[.”] but not withstanding all the talk near one third of the co[mpany] took the left hand road and pulld [p.12] and the next we heard of them they had been shot down like So many kiotes [coyotes] all the men killd or wounded excepting one and he run off and hid untill it was allover with[.] their bodies was throne into a dry well for burral[12]
The rest of the company went on and was met and welcomed by the Prophet Joseph[.] he said he wanted us to camp around the Temple foundation for the night and then go on to Davis Co. [Daviess County, Missouri] for that was the weakest point[.] we did so and escaped all the bullets all tho was Shot at by the mob considerel after they had compeld our Brethren to give up their arms and agreede to leave the co[unty] in 10 days and as they returned to make peperation to leave old Bogards co[mpany] all fired upon them but no one hurt[.] Father said [“]Scatter out about 8 ft apart and you will not be hit[,”] which they [did] and all got off without any harm[.] Our faithfull old cow that had give us milk for a year had been stole from us and the night before we was to leave the co[unty,] She come home and was waiting for us to milk her[.] we found they had kept her to her milk So we felt very plased to get her back again So we could have some milk with the cornbread[.] we started out the next day and traveld through a cold rain storm all day [p.13] and then had to camp by the way and go through the next day[.] this was very disagreeable as their was 9 of us all in one little waggon[.] granmah Pulsipher took cold and died in a few days[13]
We remained in Far west untill March and then left the State for Ill[inois.] one of our horses died and my oldest Sister Almera[14] was Sick in the wagon with a little babe 3 days old[.] they had to stop until we got to Quincy then Father returned and brought them out and while getting them out an other horse died So it left us with one to move the 2 families with[.] we went into a 10 mile forest 20 miles from Quincy and went to work clearing the land and fencing and put in a crop that Season and on the 4th of July we had grean corn to eat[.] we was very Scarce of provisions untill our crop come off but we killd some wild game that helped to mak a variety
While their Bro J P Harmon[15] come to see us[.] he had went up to Missouri in our co[mpany] and he thought he ought to have old kate that had been so faithfull to take us through as he had put some means into the co[mpany] before leaveing Kirtland[.] Father thought the mare belong to us[.] Bro Harmon had a good mate for her and he Stuck to that he had ought have her[.] [“]Well[,”] Father Said [“]if you think you neede her worse than we do you can take her and leave us without any thing but we will get along better without her than you will with her[.”] So he took her and the chld[illegible] [p.14] he said as he Started[, “]well if it is not right I shant be prosperd with her[.”] all cried to see the old favorite leave us[.] he took the team which was a Splended one put on a new harness and Sleigh and sent his big Son Appleton to hal wood acrost the river on the ice and the ice broke[.] down went the team and all, the boy barley Saveing his life by hanging to the ice untill he could get out
We got a large fine yoke of Cattle which made us a good team to move up to Nauvoo with which we did early in the Spring of 1840[. We] bought Some land 2 ½ miles east of Nauvoo where we Soon made a fine home raised plenty of grain and built good brick house and soon got a good horse team[.] In 1842 I was musterd into the Nauvoo Legion and served under Gen Joseph Smith and assisted as one of his life guard[.] I was in the sham battle where John C. Bennett planned to take Josephs life but the Lord warned him of it and Bennett couldnot get Joseph to take his position where he could be shot down with out being detected[.] I was on duty for a long time to help protect Prophets life as it was Sought after continualy by his enemies[.] I have went away out 6 miles from the City to Stand picket guard all night on foot[.] as we had no horses to ride them if the enemy did Start to come in dureing the darkness of the night[,] we was to run to Town and give the word So that we might [p.15] be ready to meete them and thus not be taken unawares and so the troubles went on that we had to neglect our crops and could not give them the attention that they should have to mak a good growth[.] I was present on perade on the 18 of June when Gen Smith drew the whole Legion up in front of his mansion in the Street and stood in close quarters and listened to him speak to us from the top of a little frame building that was up to the Square[.] him and his Bro Hyrum[,][16] Johnathan Dunham[17] and L W Hancock[18] <and W W Phelps>[19] were the onley ones on the frame with him[.] he Spoke for over a hour to that large assembly while we all stood under armes and listened with great attention he rehearst the continued persecution that had followed him from his childhood and finely said [“]I am allmost tired of life if it has got to be continued like the past[.”] He drew his sword and extended it into the air above his head and Said these words[: “]I unsheath my Sword with a firm decree that it never Shall be Sheathed again until this people obtain their legal rights or my Blood be Spilt upon the ground and run like water[.”][20] This Struck me with great Surprise but Still I could not realize that his time was so short[.] He wanted to get away and live to come to the mountains but I guess that was not to be for those who should have been his true friends got after him and begd of him to come back and give himself up to the mob and you will get away again, but he said if I go to Carthage [p.16] I shall never come away alive but if my friends dont care any more for my life I dont care to live and he turned back but his Strength left him and he fell prostrate upon the ground and when he come to they helped him up and he went on but said [“]I am going like a lamb to the Slaughter but I am as calm as a summer morning[.] I die an inocent man and it will be said of me [‘]he died in cold blood[.’”] he went <to> Carthage and give himself to the governer Tho[ma]s Ford who pledged his honor to protect him[.] no evil could be found against him but his enemies was heard to say if the Law will not reach him powder ball shall and so they carried out their damnible threats for the 27th June 4 oclock an armed par♢♢ mob rushed upon the jale and Shot them down[.] Bro Hyrum fell first[.] Bro Joseph thinking to Save the other Brethren jumped from the window to the ground and fell with 4 balls pierced him through and thus we see his last prodiction fulfilld while the other Brethren Bro Hyrum [Smith] and [John] Taylor[21] fell on the floor in the upper room and their blood was spilt on that floor and never can be washed out but Josephs was spilt upon the ground and run like water[.] and thus we see those last words spoken in that public adress literely fulfilld in the Short Span of 7 days[.] little did the people think his time was so short. [p.17] and when the ruffi[a]n rushed forward with drawn knife [to] cut his head from his body[,] it being on a clear sun sunny day[,] a streak of Lictrisity [electricity] like lightning Struck him while he had the knife drawn and [he was] helpless and pals[i]ed[.] thus we see the power of the Lord made manifest to prevent them from any further mutulating his body any farther they had been permitted to take his life but no farther can you go and this man stood helpless and had to be carried off by his comrads[22] These day was very sorrowful for the Saints every one in the deepest of morning
The news soon reached Prest [President] Young and the rest of the Apostles[.] they hurried home as soon as they could to comfort and bless the people who had been so Sadly bereafed of their leader[.] Sidney Rigdon had sought to lay in his claim to become leader to the church but as Bro Brigham arrived home the night before Bro Rigdon was agoing to ask the people to vote him in and when the people had geatherd and Saw Bro Brigham step upon the stand their hearts leaped for joy and when he arose and began to Speak he had the very voice of Josep[h.] his whole being was like unto Joseph the people all most felt like Joseph had returned unto them but they had no trouble in desideing who the true leader was to be [p.18]
Their was a large number Seventies ordained and new Quorums organized I was ordained in 1845 and placed into the 2nd Quorum of seventies[.] I met with them and tried to prepair to preach the gospel[.] In Jan 46 I received my Endowments in the Temple and Soon after come the call for the people to move to the mountains and hunt out a new home far away from our enemies[.] we went to buildings wa[go]ns to move with[.] we geatherd up all the good timber we could find that was dry and ready to work into the wagons and on the 2nd of Feb 1846 Father Burgess and my Father[,] my Brother in law Wm Burges and myself fitted out a 4 horse team and Started in the Pioneer co[mpany] crost the river and pulld out a few miles[.] made camp to wate for the rest of the company to come up[.] In bidding good bye to the home of my childhood and start out into the wilderness to hunt for some place to make a new home but we we went gladly to get away from the percecution that had followed me up from the earliest of my recolect<eing>
Soon after starting considerable snow fell and we had cold wether So as to freeze the river over to enable the other teams to cross on the ice and save the expence of ferr[y]ing when all was come to camp that we expected we was [p.19] organized into companies of 50 and 10 to better attende to camp duty and also protect our selves from the Savage Indians that inhabited the western country[.] their was so much snow and rain that we made very Slow progress[.] it took us the most of the time to pull the teams out of the mud and as their was no hay to be got we cut down cotton woods for them to eat the bark off the tops and then with their grain they managed to live but hard fare for them to work hard and Stand out without any shelter and not much to live on[.] our grain begin to give out and we had to go down into the settlements and work for more[.] we took a job of a rich farmer to build him a block house[.] we hewed the timber and put up the house and finished it complete which took us near a month[.] dureing our stay their I got acquainted with a young Lady that lived with the Old jentleman[,] a niece[.] She took a great likeing to me and told her Bro that she was agoing to keepe me their and not let me go off to the mountains to be killd with the Indians[.] I was very carefull not to hold out any inducements for her to build upon[.] a few days before we was to leave[,] the Old jentleman took me one side and said [“]I see their is quite an affectonate feeling between you and Sarah my niece[.] now you had better Stay here with us we have got plenty and when you get married I will give you a good outfeit and that 40 acre farm will be yours for wedding present[.”] I thanked him for his kind offer and told him I understood [p.20] but the more I thought of it the farthur I was from accepting <it>
So I pulld carefully away and followed my co to the west for I could not forsake my religion and all my old friends for a thousand dollars and a fine yong lady in the bargen all tho it was quite a temptation to place before a young boy that ne’r had much before but my Faith would not permit me to Stay[.] we overtook the company and as we had not heard from home sense we left could not find out whether they had sold or got any thing to come with or not So we started back on the 18 of May and traveld back over the most of the ground in 8 days that we had been over 100 days in makeing roads and getting over while goeing west[.] we met the folks near Bonapart[e, Iowa] and found they had a very poor outfeit to go on so long a journey with[.] So we desided to stop their and go to work for more[.] we stoped 2 ½ months and had all our teams could haul and then went on up to the head camp and found them at the Missouri river[.] Stopt for winter on account of gov[ernment] makeing that call upon us for 500 of our best able boddied men to go in the war of Mexico[23] leaving their families on our hands for us to support So we went to work building houses [and] putting up hay for the stock[.] I helped to build 5 houses to help shelter the poor[.] in consequence of much exposure considerable sickness set in and during our stay their 300 died and was burried on the banks of the Messour river [p.21] and amongst the many Sick I was taken down with the Chills and and Severe fever[.] I took lots of medison but kept on getting worse untill I got So weak that I could not walk that I could not walk to the fire[.] one morning Father come in to see how I was[.] I Said [“]Father I aint agoing to take any more of that bitter medison[.”] [“]what are you agoing to do[?] lay their and die?[”] [“]no if you will hich up the team put a bed in the wagon and take me down to the river and Baptize me for my helth I will get well[.”][24] [“]do you think So[?”] [“]yes I do[.”] [“]well it Shall be done[.”] he goot 2 good Elders my Bro and Sis and they carried me from the wagon into the water and one stood on each side[.] one Said the Seremony and they both held on to me and laid under the water and when they raised me up I said [“]let go of me[.”] [“]why[?] you will fall[.”] [“]no I wont for I am well[.”] and I walked to the wagon clim in and coverd up in the bedding[.] had a good Sleep and Swet and got up drest me and felt entirely well onley a little weak which I soon regained and I have never had any more of that terible disease Since[,] all tho I have been in the South in an ague [malaria] country but it past me by
in 1848 Father gave me my Blessing in which he Said [“]your missions Shall be Short and Spedy and you Shall geather means in abundance for the building up and beautifying of Zion[.] you shall do much missionary labor amongst [p.22] Stakes of Zion[.] you Shall be a counciler in Israel and do much good amongst the young[.] You Shall have power to Speak the Language of any nation or tribe amongst whom your lot is cast[.] you shall be brought into many tight placeses but your faith Shall take you safely through[.”] In May we fitte[d] up for traveling again and on the 20th we Started out again pulled out to Loup Fork where we found the water high and it was with considerable difficulty that we got over and while waiting to get over one of our co[mpany,] a little 8 year old boy of Bro Neffs a Step son hers was Charle Beers steped into the river and was drownd[.] this brought a gloom over the whole co[mpany.] he was a lovely inteligent child[.] we made him a coffin out of a cottonwood log by diggin it out and made it without nails[.] the organizeing of the co was completed their by appointing Father Capt[ain] of the 50 and other capt[ain] of 10 We traveld on very pleasantly haveing fine wether[.] Met Some large bands of Indians[.] we made them some presents that kept peace with them[.] we all ways thought it better to give them presents than to fight them and when we got up into the Buffalo country we wa[s] glad to get some fresh meete to go with corn bread[.] I was appointed one of the hunters for the co and Br. Alger[25] [p.23] for the other one[.] we Started one afternoon and Shot one down. I stade to guard it while John went to get a team [to] haul it in[.] their had a large company of the wild fellows been in to the river for a drink and when they Saw the white coverd wagons come along and severel men run out to get a shot at them they took scare and run with great fury rushing over every thing that was in their way and they [ran] strait towards where I was guarding my beef and the farther they run[,] the larger the herd got as all joind in the race and by the time they got near me they had increast to about 2000 head comeing with great fury I thought they would Slacken down before they got to me but the nearer they come the harder the[y] seamed to run and mad[e] the whole earth tremble with their heavy bodies jumping[.] when I found they was comeing direct to me it looked like I would be tramped under their feet but my onley chance was to Stand my ground so I pulld off my hat Swong it and hollard as loud as I could and when they come [p.24] within a few feet of me they crowded a little one side so as to pass me and then crowded in again and filld up the space and when I see that they try to pass me without jumping upon me I took courage and kept up my nois untill the[y] had got past and I will assure you I was very glad when they had past and left me safe[.] their was one man told me that he heard me 3 miles away[.] by this time it was getting dark* and began to rain[.] I built up a fire to lite the team to me but the rain come So hard and the brush very small that the fire soon went out left me in the dark then my onley chance was to listen to hear them holler which they did but as the wind was against me I could not make them hear and I found they was about [to] pass me on one Side So I had to leave my beef and run to cut them off from passing me[.] I Soon made them hear and we met but it was so dark and Still raining the we decided we could not find the beef so we started for camp Some 4 miles away[.] they had kept up a fire from the wood they had geathered from the river that showed us the way back [p.25] So we made a strait line for the camp over hills and hollers and we Stept off one bank about 10 or 15 ft and all went down together 4 yoke of cattle and 3 men but as it was sandy no one hurt so we geatherd up our guns and went on again and got to camp all right[,] glad to find a good supper and warm fire to dry our wet close [clothes] by alltho it was not our company but we staid all night with them and went on the next morning to over take our own co and they was glad to see us come up for they had been trampled down in the Stampede[.] we did not care to hunt any more for severel days and the company begin to get hungry for Some beef so they desided to lay over and give us a chance to get Some[.] we started early in the July morning and traveled untill late in the afternoon before we found any as we had nearly got out of their range and when we Saw them they were standing as if asleep but kept one sentinal on guard to warn them if and one aproched I saw that we had got to be [p.26] very carefull if we got a good shot at them So I proposed that we come up on both sides of them So that if they did get a scare we could one get a Shot at least[.] I went around in hollow and when we got nearer we crawled close to the ground untill we got ahed near enough then we Signeld to each other by putting a red hanker on our ramrods and reaching it up in sight and when bot[h] was ready we made a shot So near together that we droped one in his tracks then the other 6 run directly towards John but he was quick in gitting an other load into his gun So that when they past him he took another just back of the front legs and centerd him through the heart and fell in his tracks so we had 2 near together but about 15 miles from camp[.] I went to dressing the beef while John struck for a team to haul it in[.] he got back about 11 oclock at night with a keg of water and some supper and I can tell you that water was good as I had not had any since earley in the morning[.] we soon loaded the 1800 or 2000 [lb] of beef into the wagon and mad[e] our way back to camp arriving their a little before day light then we had to lay over an other day to cure our meat this is done by cutting into [p.27] thin sliceses and dip into boiling brine and then spread on a rack made of willows and keep a slow fire under it for 24 hours then it can be Strung on a cord and hung in the wagons to finish drying which makes splendid eating in a time of scarcity[.] We traveld on the next day but did not find any more buffalo on the rest of the journey but we had sufficiant meat to last us through to SL Lake wher we arrived on the 22nd of Sept haveing been 4 m[onths] and 2 day on the way from the Missouri River 1030 mils dureing our traveling
I got acquanted <with> one young lady [named Ann Beers][26] while she was driving an ox team acrost the plains her Bro haveingone in the Batalion to serve his country and left her to drive the team
In the Spring of [18]49 Apr 30th we were married by Prest B Young[. It was] rather of a dull time to Start house keeping nothing to be got in the country and 1200 miles from any place where they could be got but we concluded they would come Some way and Shure enough they did[.] Some got discuraged and left for California and Some for the states for fear they would [p.28] Starve to deth as the crickets was eating up their crops and times looked quite dark dureing these days I heard Prest [Heber C.] Kimball Say to the people [“]hang on and dont give up for within 6 weeks you Shall be able to buy things cheaper in the Streets of SL City than in St Louis[.”][27] I thought that a wonderfull prodiction and it Seamed impossible for it to be fulfilld so I noted the date which was the first days of May[.] I could not see any way to get in Suplies onley to send out teams and haul them in from the East and that would take at least 3 months to make the trip So it seamed to be allmost impossible for that prodiction to be fulfilld but it was made and I had never known any of his prodictions [to] fail to be fulfilld[.] It must be rememberd that their was no mails[,] no Telegraph lines[,] or any way to get word from the east or west onley as it could be sent by private conveyance and we jenerly did not get letters through in less than 2 or 3 months but to our great Surprise on the 15th of June, her[e] come the large emigration companies come rooling in sight to the surprise of all[.] they were on their way to California in search of gold [p.27] and when they go to S Lake they found that goods and Supplies could be bought in California plentifull and cheap so they come by water So they wanted to Sell of[f] their big teams and loads and get g ponies that was not tired and jaded with the long journey So they could pack through in a hurry and thus gain considerable time and their was so many that wanted to Sell and but few that had means to buy with So that they had to allmost give them away[.] to Show you how cheap things went We bought a large trunk of good clothing for $7.00[,] carpenter tools new cheaper than St Louis priceses[,] 3 good young mares for 45.00[,] 2 good nearly new wagons 36.00 and many other things in proportion So that his words was literely fulfilld[.] Seeds of all kinds was very Scarce we got half a lb of seede potatoes that had been packed through from California on a mule[.] we paid 50 c for them but we planted them and tendid them with great care and when the sprouts got about 2 in long we pulld off them and planted them in another place thus makeing a double crop [p.28] and we raised thirty lb So that we had seed for the next year
one man got a peck of seede wheat he drilld it putting one curnel in a place about 15 in apart then when it come up he tendid it like a choice garden plant hoed and waterd it with the greatest of care[.] it branched out and fill the ground and counted 30 good heads from one curnel and he raised 80 busheles from it good wheat for I ground some of it and made him 40 lb of good flour to the bushel[.] it is wonder full what crops was raised from the Small amount of Seede but of course the best of care was taken of it[.] I well remember earley that Spring that Hugh moon[28] come walking out to our mill 4 miles and he was so weak that he Staggerd as he waked[.] he come in and my kind old mother said [“]you look Sick[.”] [“]yes I am[.”] [“]lay rite down on the bed and rest[.”] about that time She had taken up a little jonney cake[29] and laid [it] on the table[.] She Said to him [“]what can I do for you[?] what medison can I give you[?”] [“]the best medison you can give me is a piece of that cake for I have not tasted bread for 6 week[.”] So She put on Some butter and milk and told him to help himself [p.29] he got up and eat a little and then waited some time and then eat a little more saying he dare not eat much at once for fear it would kill him as is stomach was so weak and by thus nurseing him up he appeard a new man[.] toward night then we gave him a sack of meal and he carried it home to his family[.] he said years after [“]if you would give me a thousand dollars now I couldnot apreciate more than I did that gift of meal[.”] We never saw such hard times as that because we had the little mill that brought in some for our support and we delt out to many a person that was in neede but after the emigration began to come in it was not so bad for the [b]arly crops began to come off the bran was ground up like corn and sifted and made lots better bread than bran which many was glad to get when they could not do better and the next year 1850 was much better So that every body seamed to have plenty
<1857> I built a good adobie house in 501 and finished it up in good shape and done considerable carpenter work for <others> [p.30]
In 1852 I built a shop and hired 2 hands to help me in the work
in 53 I was calld and sent out on a mission to the Snake Indians where I spent about one year[. I] larnt their language and startd a Settlement and done some preaching to the natives
when I was released for [a] time and my Bro John took my place in 55 there was another scarcety for provisions by the ravegesses of the grasshoppers that come in vast numbers that they clouded the sun in many instances and when they fell into the lake they drifted upon the Shore 2 and 3 ft deep and formed a terible s[c]ent[.] I built a house in the 14 ward for Bro John Barlow for which I got 125000 So that I supplied many of the poor with provisions[.] Prest Young took an account of the provisions and found it was a great deficiantly[.] he told the people if they would take his advice that they should git through and not Suffer[.] So I concluded I would try it he said dont turn any one away hungry and be carefull with it and you Shall have enough to take you through I told my folks to carry that out which they did and one day the fed 19 and I still the [p.31] [food] lengthend out to last us long as comon
Jully 10th 1856 I married Sariah Robbins[30]
In Oct 52 I was calld on a mission to grean River country to the Snake tribe of Indians[31] to learn their language preach Sevil<iz>ation [Civilization] to them an also teach them the gospel as far as they were capable of receiving them[.] we built a fort[32] 2 sides made of log houses[.] the winter was very hard and cold the thermometer went down to 31 below zero [-35°C.] Some of our stock died but the most got through all right[.] we put in a crop in the Spring and that fall was releast to return home.
On July 10th I was married to Sariah Robbins daughter of Lewis Robbins[.] 1855 I was ordained one of the Presidents of the 2nd quorum of Seventies
In the Spring of 57 I move down to cottonwood[. I] bought a little farm of 40 acres put up a log cabin on it and put in a good crop of wheat[,] corn[,] and potatoes and in aug[ust] just as I had comenced to harvest the wheat I was notifide to be at the city that night ready to Start out next morning in in the minute company[33] to meete the enemy that was on their [p.32] way to the valley In a hostile feelings towards our people & fit out our selves which I did[.] Clothing was very Scarce[.] my folks took off a cotton bed tick[,] washed it and made me a pair of garments before I started and I went without a coat because I could not get one but that didnot Stop me from going and filling the call
This company of Soldiers was Sent by the Government but they faild to notify Govner Young that they was sending them So it give him the right to resist them as a mob which we did[.] our orders was to do all we could to hinder their progress but not take life onley in Self def<ence> their was 46 of us minute men under command of Col R J Burton[34] and three thousand of the c<h>oice of the U S armey[,] well fitted out with every thing that they could think of that they would want while we had but a Scanty fit out with little ponies to ride and a Saddle tree with a few Straps on it while they had large american horses with their draggoon Saddles on but when we got too near them and they took after us we would Start for the rough mountains and we could run our ponies up hill and down all the Same while they had to get off and walk down and then [p.33] get on and rush after us but we had gained So much in going over the rough ground that they would give up the chase and concluded it no use to try to catch us and when they got near enough they Shot[,] but one got a hole through the top of his hat above his head an other through the end of the roole of blankets which was tied on behind him[.] ones horse stumbled on the rough ground and fell but he jumped up again and the rider grabed the horn of his Saddel and Sprang into it without much damage[.] they Swore that if they did Shoot them down they would jump on to their horse and run off again[.] So they give up chaseing us becaus they found it of no use[.] we would go out in co[mpany] of 10 to harras them but one time the whole co[mpany] of 46 made a brake on the[m] with the calculation of Stampeding their animels but they had taken the precaution to hobble them with the iron hobbles and then Stake them with large ropes So that we couldnot get them to run[.] one of the boys run into one of the guy ropes of the tent with his horses breast which upset the tent and Scart the soldiers out of their sleep Screaming [p.34] [“]what in hell is the matter here[?”] and they finely got the old bugler out but he was so excited that it took him Some time to get up a tune to call the men into ranks and we kept up the row untill the[y] begin get ready for action[.] then we concluded to bid them good night and leave them[.] when we got out of camp an old friend of mine called out [“]Oh Robert[.”] [“]what do you want John[?”] [“]we never got a damned mule[.”]
We traveld on up to greene River and burnt 3 large trains of suply and kept up harrasing them by night and day So as to keepe them in constant fear and on the guard we would build fires in the brush and grass[.] when they would rush out that way we would run arond an other side and Start up fires their and So we kept up the race all night then we would slip off a few miles and hid up and take our rest and an other would take it the next night and thus keepe them in constant trouble and when they heard that Echo Canyon was so fortified that it would be impossible for them to come in that way they got one Mr Bridger to pilot them in by way of the north to go up hams Fork and down the weber river and come in on the north[,] but we kept in front of them burning all the grass So that their [p.35] teams had nothing to live on[.] they give up that plan and desided to Stop and make camp untill they got word from head quarters[.] We wanted Some more fresh horses to ride So we went down the river apiese and found where their was 46 head of good animels being herded by a small detachment of men[.] they started to run for camp which [was] just acrost the river but we Swing our ropes and got down to a dead run and caught them before they got to the river and took them back and told them to help geather up the horses[,] which they did[.] [“]now boys if your horses is a little tired change your Saddles on to fresh horses So that we can rush them through[,”] which we soon did ketching the best in the herd[.] one of the boys caught a big frim bay and the guard said [“]you ant agoing to take that one are you[?”] [“]why not[?”] [“]that is the colnels race horse and he would not take 80000 for him[.”] [“]well that is just the one that we do want[.”] So when [“]now boys help us to get them started then you can go to the camp[,”] which they did and we lost no time for we put them [p.36] about 60 miles that afternoon and evening then turned off the road into a deepe holler and made camp to rest and let the horses feede we[.] placed a picket guard about ½ m[ile] back on the trail So that if they followed us we could have word in time to get out of their way[.] we also took the precaution to leave our lassoes on our horses So that we could soon ketch them if we needed them in a hurry
we was standing around the fire gnawing our dried beef as that was all we had to eat and I heard the clatter of horses feet on the frozen ground[.] I said to the rest of the co[mpany “]they are comeing[,”] and of course all listend to see what I heard and they couldnot hear any thing[.] I stept off a little way and put my ear to the ground and I could hear every jump of the horse quite plain[.] I said [“]come here and put you ear down to the ground[.”] then their was 3 that could hear it[.] there was how I found my hearing was good[.] we soon rallied our horses and was ready to start as soon as the guard fired the alarm but he did not give us any alarm for it prove to be some of our own men that was out and took our track followed us up[.] so we rested peacefully untill morning [p.37] and then went on to head quarters with our horses and mules
Our next raid was to get their beef stock from them[.] we found they were driveing them about 1 mile behind the Soldiers and we concluded that we could take them and run them off[.] this was 2 co joined together to take them and when they got one to the hill rite in plain sight of them[,] the co had Stopt for dinner and the Stock had come rite up to the back part of the Soldiers[.] this was quite different to what they expected So they come to a halt and began to argue the point[.] one Capt being more cautious than the other[35] told him it was too riskey[,] we had better give it up to a more favorable time[.] the other said [“]we can take them and that was no time for argument rite in plain Sight of the whole 3000 troops[.”] So he drew his sword and Swung it over his head and said to his co[mpany] [“]come on[,”] dashing the spurs into his brave horse he dashed down the hill in double quick time to seround the stock[.] Soon as he had Started the other capt done the same onley Striking rite in between the Soldiers and the stock and they had [p.38] them serrounded and on the jump immiediately and in less time than it takes to tell it they was over the hill and out of sight[.] this took the commanding officers with such a surprise that they calld a council to deside what to do[.] while they soon came to a decision to mount the Infantry on the work mules and take the company of cavelry and [“]follow them up and bring back our beef for we neede them[,”] but there was one old col[onel] more thoutfull Said [“]hold on I have not had my say yet[,”] so they stoped to hear the aged col[onel] speak and he Said [“]I wanto tell you jentleman that is one of the deepest laid plot that I have ever seen[.] no set of men with Sound judgment would ever take Such a risk unless they had their thousands secreted to way lay & cut off those that persue and if you take my advice you will Stay rite here and guard this magizine and keeping them from takeing it[.”] they took his advice and never followed up the stock[.] I said the Lord inspired him to speak in that way to save our boys from any farthur danger and I will assure you we had plenty of good beef to eat after that [p.39]
The Soldiers desided to make camp for winter as it was getting into Dec and considerable Snow in the hills and the grass burnt in front of them and they could not make much headway So they pulld up to Fort Bridger for the winter and We were all reliesed[,] but a few for a guard that was located at Echo Kanyon to hold that point and see if they made any move to come in[.] I got home near christmas and found my folks had got the crops farely well secured
In the winter and early Spring of [18]58 we made peperations to move to the South with the intention of burning every house and destroy all good improvements that we could and leave the country desolate for them to inhabit if they attempted to come in with a hostile feeling and as proof of our Sayings we had burnt some good improvements in green River co[untry.] I Set fire to the house which I had worked hard to build and then went down and set fire to the mill and a large lot of choice good lumber and rode off by the light of it and when goverment desided to send in peace commisoners [p.40] around by way of California and get in the Southern rout and met with Govener Young he told them in plain terms what he would do if they percisted to come in with hostile feelings[,] for said he [“]we have been percecuted and driven and many killd for the last time[.] we will hide our famlies away in the mountains wher we have plenty of provisions and we will continue to harras you as long as you stay in our country[,] for we have come here when this country blong to the Mexican domanes and our mormon batallion helpt to gain it and we was the first to raise the US flag upon this land and we have allway been lawiel [loyal] to the goverment[,] but if you wish to come peacefully you can pass through S L City and go where you please[,] at least thirty miles away and mak your barrax and you will not be moles<ted>[.”][36]
So the commision accepted the terms dictated by Gov Young and went back to the Pre[si]d[e]nt of the US[.] he endorsed it and sent us a free pardon for all that we had done in resisting the goverment forcesses and destroying their property for they saw that they were the agressers and we was onley acting in self defence which we had <the right to do> [p.41]
Govener Youngs terms was acepted by the commision earley in the Spring of 58[.] The comissioners returnd to Washington and made their report and the Prest [President] Saw where he was lame in not notifying Gov Young of Sending in troop to the Terr[itory] and that we was justifide in resisting them So the best way for him to get out of it was to accept of Gov Youngs proposition and Issue a free pardon for what we had don[e] which he sent to us So that peace was established again and the Troops come in and past through through the City and went out to Cedar Valley and made their barrack
We furnished them their lumber and built their houses for them[.] I mad[e] their Sash for their windows and got 80000 for that job which helped us out as we was getting quite destitute for clothing[.] on the 3rd of Oct I had a little son born to me and Sariah which was was the first child in my 28th year.[37] I built a lath and molasses mill run by water also took one third intrest in a tanery to make our leather[.] our tanner being an unexpearenced foreman put in [p.42] too many hides before we could get the new bark to carry them on and we had about 50000 worth spoil which was very discourageing and then he took one to another vat with 20000 worth in that was bound Spoil before the bark could be got
I look at the condition and I was not a tanner but the impression Struck me that they could be Saved with Salt[.] I said to him [“]whinot pack them in Salt and Save them untill the bark can be got[?”] he Studdied a little and Said [“]I believe we can[.”] we did so immediately and not only Saved them but made an improvement on the leather
I was appointed to take charge of the mass quorum of Seventies n the Union Ward[.][38] I had expended all of my Surpluss means and got in debt some to accomplish the building of the mill I got the molasses mill to running in time to work up the cane and cleard 40000 worth of molasses that fall[.] just in rush of the molasses work I received word that I had been calld at the Oct conference to go to Southern Utah or Dixie as it was call 300 miles and they wanted word back by the messinger if I [p.43] be ready to Start in 4 weeks I sent back word that I would[. I] hadent Stopt to consider what it would take to get ready and when I looked over to see what it would take for an outfeit I found it would take 2 good wagons and teams to take the family and a years provisions and I had neither team or wagon and I was 400 in debt
but I had given my word that I would be ready and I was determined to do all in my power to fill the promis I hired other help to run the molasses business and I went to work and built a wagon to fit Some irons which I had bought an other running gear of a larger wagon made the boxes and fitted them for traveling[.] Sold out and paid up my debts[.] got 2 yoke of cattle for the big wagon and a fine Span of 2 ½ year old colts but not broke and I was so crowded to get ready that I never got time to hich them up together to see if they would work untill the night before we started then I hitched them up and drove them 1½ m[ile] and found that I could controole them by being very carefull and the company come on time Stayed over night with me and next morning we put a little stove in the [p.44] wagon to keepe the family of 6 comfortable for it was getting quite cold wether first Dec but we roold out in good Shape[:] my 2 Bros teams [and] my Fathernlaw Bro Robbins[.] We moved a long very well without any serious axident and arrived in St George on the 24 of Dec[,] or rather near where St George was after located & which I helped to Survey[.] Prest [Erastus] Snow calld on my 2 Bros in conexion with me to go out and hunt out a place to keepe the Stock of the Settlement
My 2 Bros went up the Santa Clara about 20 miles and located for the winter range[.] It commenced raining the next day after we got in and continued for 6 weeks which made terible floods down into the lower county[,] washing away much good land and many houses and one mill belonging to Bro J[acob] Hamblin[39]
the flood cut a wide deepe channel down the river and in the night Bo Hamblin was trying to save some of his goods and a large piece of land caved down about 15 or 20 feet into the rageing stream[.] he kept climbing to keepe on top and hollard for those above to throw him a rope which they did and pulld him up the way before the cave washed away So as to take him down Stream[.] [p.45] a very little delay on that ocasion would have washed down stream and probaly never ben heard of any more[.] dureing all this cold stormey winter we camped out in a brush shed Sleeping in our wagons[.] We laid out the City of St George and I helped to Surveigh it[.] In February my older Bro John and my self went out to hunt out a Sumer range for the Stock and as their had been trouble with the Indians and one of them had been killd it seamed a little dangerous to go off 50 or 60 miles into their country but duty required it and we went Staid over night with Bro Robbinson at Pintoe[.] he give us som infermation of a place calld Shole Creek about 20 miles South west from their[.] So we went on an old trail workeing the road as we went which was very badly washed out down the desending ground[.] when we had gone as far as we well could with our cart we left it and went on foot[.] found some Springs of water[.] all at once we were supprised by 2 indians[.] they were very much excited and very anxious to find out what we was their for[.] one of them dodged into the brush and was soon out [p.46] of Sight but not longe in returning with a quite a crowd with him with their bows and arrows all ready fer use[.] we had some trouble in talking to them at first but soon got them to under stand that we wanted to bring our stock their and wanted them to help us take care of them[.] they seamed pleased and showed us the water and grass in the serondig [surrounding] country and we desided it would do for our purpos and told them to come over to the other valley and meete us with the Stock in 15 days and help us to drive them over[,] which they did and we camped at the first water and mad[e] up a good warm supper for all[.] this act of kindness to them created a friendship that was lasting for in after years when other settlements around us had considerable trouble we never had any with that little band and they would come and tell us if wild bad Indians was around
I helped locate Hebron and located a reservoy [reservoir] 50 miles up the canyon which is now one of the best and most perminent ones in the country and a fine city laid out at the north of the canyon in the big desert which is the best of land and plenty of water for it the Town is named enterprise I build a fine little brick school house for the Ward at a cost of about 1500 and as I was the building committi when the people did not furnished the means to gon [go on] with the work I furnish [p.47] and in 6 weeks I had it ready for use and when we got through and settled up I had abut 500 in it[.] I served as Bps [bishop’s] first counsiler all the <rest of the> time that I lived their
In 61 [1871] they desided to build a Temple in St George[40] I felt the spirit of it and concluded I would do all that I could to forward the work[.] I went out into Iron Co[unty] and got a load of flour to last us through the winter and then was going to St George to put in the winter on the Temple So I left Sariahs flour here at Hebron as she was living here and got up her wood then went and got a load for Father and Will[.] I was on loading[.] the folks told one that Father was sick and wanted me to come in before I went down home[.] So I left the team stand and went in to see him[.] I staid some time he seemed to hate me to leave him and kept on talking and when started out he said [“]come up in the morning before you start[,”] which I did and he wanted to talk[. He] did not know where to stop[.] finely he said [“]I want you to administer to me before you leave[,”] which I did and received a testimony that he was not agoing to get up again so I give up starting to St George that day and desided to stay with him untill the last and in 4 days from that time he breathed his last on the 1st of Jan 62 [1872.] We burried him and then I went down and went to work with [p.48] the carpenters on the Temple I had worked a few days when I attendid a meeting in the evening and after meeting was out their was severel Standing around the Stove before starting home[.] B[isho]p Mcarthur[41] said [“]Bro Snow[42] what are we agoing to do for provisions to keepe these Temple hands at work[?”] for the most of the hands had not got their Suplies as I had but dependid on the tithing Office to furnish them[.] [“]We have sent for the last load of corn that I have any acct of to get[.”] Bro Snow Studdid a little and said to him [“]dont you think considerable could be raised by freewill Offerings[?”] [“]well[,”] the Bp said [“]perhaps a little might be got in that way but nothing to what it take to feede those 40 hands and their families[.”] he then turnd round to me putting putting the question der[illegible] to me [“]and what do you think about it Bro Charles[?”] I was Suprised that he should ask me that question[.] I said [ “]about 3 week ago I was up to Sedar City to get my flour for the winter and I found quite a lively intrest manifested in regard the building of a Temple and I think that if Some thorough arangements was enterd into and persevereing missionaries Sent that considerable means could be geatherd[.”] he Slapt his hand on my sholder and Said [ “]wont you Start out and See what can be done[?”] I said [“]why Bro Snow I ant a preacher and not one of the missionaries[.”] [“]well we can [p.49] well we can make you a missionary and you can learn to be a preacher.[”] [“]Well if you Say go[,] of course I will go and do the best I can.[”] [“]When you get your pardner of your choice come around and I will see you off[,”] and as my team was s♢ away I went to Bro Israel Ivins[43] and asked him for his team to go with[,] which was freely turned out[.] I got Eld H M Church[44] to go with me and we drove around to Prest Snows Office the next day and told him we was ready[. “]Oh are you off so soon[?”] [“]yes sir[.] we wanto go to Washington to have meeting tonight[.”] [“]well I was just Starting into a council meeting but come in a minute[.] Bro Ireing[45] write a few lines as I dictate[.] Bro Pulsipher and Church go with our faith and blessing to geather tithes and Offerings for the Temple[.”] Erastus Snow
So we took the letter of recomendation and started out feeling very humble and not one word of instruction how to do or keep the acc[oun]ts but I knew every thing should be kept proper acc[oun]t of and show up where it all was[.] So we prepaird our selves with little me books and went from one settlement to the <next> [p.50] holding a meeting at every settlement urgeing the necessity of donateing of our means to help along the noble work and as Soon as we got a load we would ♢ome one or two to go and take it rite dowen So that the hands might keepe at work and thus we kept them agoing[.] we went all through Washington[,] Iron[,] and Bever Co[unties] visiting every settlement geathering offerings from all that we could reach and when we had got through the 3 counties I found that we had traveld 300 miles by team and held 22 publice meetings and geathered about 8000 dollars in cash[,] flour[,] good[s] of all kinds and such things as was needed for the forwarding of the work
We arrived home late in the evening and thought we would not let any one know of our arrival untill we got our accounts balanced up in good shape as we had done So much in so short time for every name had to be coppied 3 times with the things and one on our books then we had to give the teamsters our orders to get their supplies on the road and carry them forward to have the amount taken out [p.51] their cr[edit] for hauling in Supplies So as to keep every dollar properly shown up at the end[.] this is the plan that we started and they carried it out all the way through for they could <not> see any better way to do the business and when we got through we could show up every dollar which was very Satesfactory[.] We showed a generel expence acc[oun]t and my Individual acc[oun]t for if I had to have a pair of socks or a shirt the parties that turned them in got their cr[edit] and if got them they were eg to me and I paid for them[.] Prest Snow Said [“]it may [be] necessary to continue these labors[.] wher will you be next week[?”] [“]I will be here at work on the Temple I expect[.”] [“]Well I would like you to go out with me and visit the Western Settlements[.”] [“]all right[.”] dureing our last days travel together Prest Snow Said to me I would like you to raise Some teams to go up to Sanpete and bring in some flour that Bro D H Cannon[46] has brought up their for us[.] We had a meeting a[t] Pintoe that night and before the close of the meeting I said[, “]we want 2 good teams from here to go up to Sampete and bring some flour[.”] [p.52] When I set down Prest Snow got up and Said [“]I hope you will give heed to any call he may make on you[,] for we have appointed him traveling agent to do the business through the different Stakes[.”] So that I see that I was in for it for I well knew it would take about all of my time to fill that apoint<ment>
In the fifties when the white people was at war with the Ute tribe of indians that lived on the eastern sid[e] of Utah[47] I had be been appointed by the authorities to travel and labor amongst the Snake or Shoshone tribe and I learnt their language farely well I had been in home and it was nessary for me to go out again and as ther was no one ready to go with me I started alone and concluded I would go Strait through their country thinking they had not left their winter quarters yet[.] I started early and got about half way through their country with out seeing any one[.] I begin to think by traveling late in the night that I might get through all right but to my surprise a little before sundown up jumped an Indian from behind a bush[.] I readily saw that it was a Ute and knew he was not their alone[.] I knew it would be of no [use] [p.53] to run from him for very likely I would be persued shot down without any hearing[.] So I made up my mind to go rite into their camp and trust to chances of getting away later on[.] So I kept rite on towards him and called out [“]where is your wickiup[?”] he throwed his hand around the point of the mou[ntain] I said [“]take me to your by Captain soon as you can[.”] he Started and I went by his side[.] we soon turned round the point and their opened up to my view a large camp of wickiups[.] he come to one large round lodge about the size of a Sibley tent[48] but it was made of Skins[.] he opend the door and Said Somthing which I did not understand[.] I jumped off my horse and as the old chief come out and straightend up I saw he was a large fierce looking fellow[.] I stept forward one s[t]ep and offerd him my hand with a Smile but he never moved and didnot offer me his hand but stood erect and Serly as a wild tiger and instead of offering me his ha[n]d he raised a whoop and you ought to see how quicke his waryers was around me[.] I saw I was in their power perfectly helpless and I prayed in ernest [p.54] [“]Father I am here amongst the wild saveges and donot know their language[.] father thou hast promest me through thy serv[an]t the Patriarch that I should have power to Speak the language of any nation or tribe amongst whom my lot was cast[.][49] now father the time has come for this to be fulfilld[.] give me power I pray the[e] to Speak to this people that I may convince them that I am their friend and thus gain my libirty again[.”] when I had offerd this short prayer the Spirit rested upon me and all fear left me I commenced Speaking to the chief with great earnestness and word come to me as fast as I could utter them but what words I used to convey my meaning I donot know but I do know that I said this unto him
[“]Sir I have come a long way to See you[.] I have come alone and without arms[.] I trust myself in your care[.] I want you to take my horsses and take care of them untill morning and bring them to me early So that I can go on for I have other people to visit[.] I want you to call all your brave warrirs together to night So that I can talk to all[.”]
and when I stoped he stept forward and reached <me his hand with> a smile[.] [p.55] my heart leaped for joy for I see that I had reached his [hear]T[.] he Spoke to 2 young men and they come and took my horsses I sit down on my Saddle in deepe thought and ♢ in a little while the chiefs wife come out and reached me a nice piece of fresh venson and I in return gave her 2 b♢♢s ♢ ♢t in a Short time the brave wariers come walking into the big tent[.] about dark the captain come out and said [“]come in they are all here[,”] So I walked in feeling my inibilety to talk to them as I was not acquainted with the Ute language but I put my whole trust in Father for knew he could help me through which I felt he would do for I was engaged in his work[.] when I got in I found the large tent well filld Setting on little mats with one left for me and a small fire in the center for a lite[.] I took my Seat and wait started & be envited to speak and the Old chief said [“]we are all waiting for you to talk[.”] I commenced and Spoke the words that come to me and I spoke with great earnst and told them a great many moons ago that we was all good brothers together and lived in peace with each other [p.56] but through their waring with each other and sheding of much blood and liveing on wild meat and neglecting to raise grain to live on that they had dwindled down to what they are now
[“]but the time has come for you to quit fighting and go to work like we do and quit fighting and when you come to see us We should feide [feed] you on Mormon beef and flour and when we come to See you, You should give us venson to eat and thus be good friends[.”] and when I felt I had taked long enough to reach the hearts of all [I] ceased and the Chief took it up and explained very nicely to them and told them they must treat me kindly for I had told them many good things and they must let me go on my way without any harm and when he got through talking he took out his long pipe and filld it with Shiwop[50] took a draw and past it to his right and they all done the same and when come to me I done the same and past it on rou[n]d And I will assure you I felt very thankfull to see the wonder<full> change that I had wrought in the Short space of 5 or 6 hours
they then got up quietly and retired to their own lodges bidding me good night[.] I also went out Spread down my blankets and enjoyed a good sleepe[.] next morning everything was peaceful [p.57] and my horses was brought to me in good time and I packed them and bid my Indian friends good by & went on in peace and visited my friends at the other tribe and done all the good that I could and returned home all right in due time
In March 62 [1872] I started up to Sanpete[. I] got Bro Thos Terry[51] to go with me and we visited all the main Settlements in that Stake where Elder Orson Hyde Presided[.] we had a good time preaching Temple work and building of Temples for about 3 weeks[,] geatherd up about three hundred Sacks of flour loadid all the teams we could get their and returned again to St George
We jenerly found plenty of friends to stop with over night but we come to a Small Settlement of onley 3 families and it was nearly dark and a Stormey night and as the roads was very bad and it was 7 miles to the next settlement it was of a necessity that we should stay their and neither of us being acquainted but it fell to Bro Terrys lot to ask for the privilage of staying and he tried 2 of them but was refused [p.58] So it onley left one more[.] I said [“]well you have tried 2[.] that is your part[.] now I will try the other one[.”] I made up my mind that we would stay[.] I found out the mans name and I urged up the horses and got them on a good trot as we came in near the door jumped out of the wagon and met the man at the door as he come out to see what the excitement was[.] I reached him my hand and said [“]good evening Bro Prisby how are you[?] We have come to stay over night with you[,”] and I went to unhictching[. “]where Shall we put our horses[?] We are traveling missionaries representing the St George Temple[.”] he answerd [“]rite down their to the stable[.] plenty of feede[.”] we got the people together and had an interesting meeting in the evening and raised about 4000 of Temple offerings[.] before We started out I had got the promise of them 4 horse teams to come in two weeks[.] Prest Snow and gone to the city to conference and 2 of the next presideing Brethren heard what I was doeing and they both met me and said [“]you are calculateing to have 10 teams come rite after you I hear.[”] [“]Yes sir[.”] [“]well you have onley 113 sacks of flour up their [p.59] what are you agoing to finish up the loads with[?”] I said [“]with flour[.”] [“]but how do you know you can get the flour[?”] [“]because Prest Snow told me to take them and load them and I have allways fill every call that he has made on me and I calculated to fill this one,[”] [“]If you dont and those teams go up and back without any any load who will pay the expence[?] you or the Church[?”] this set me to Studd[y]ing as two of the highest authority there at the time had exprest their doubts in regards to my being able to raise that amount So I [thought] I had better be safe and as I had never been in Sanpete to know the condition of the people there[.] So I instructed half of the teams to come in 2 week and the other 5 wate untill I sent for them but I found that instead of 10 I could load 15 and I Telegraphed for the balance to come but they had got putting in their crops and could not come for another month which brought the flour into St George after their early harves had come in and the price of flour had fell from 10 down to 6 and by that failure of not getting it in So as to sell out the surpluss and by this the Church [p.60] lost three hundred and 50 dollars and when Bro Snow heard of it he was vext to think they should interfere with me and thus stop me from makeing that amount for the Church inst[ead] of the teams haveing to be paid for the trip[.] Bro Snow Said [“]they had not got the faith that you had or they would have let you alone[.”]
I had to visit 7 stakes Washington[,] Kane[,] Iron[,] Beaver[,] Millard[,] Sanpete[,] Severe[.] While I was out in Sanpete Stake I got word that they had dug down on the foundation untill they had struck the quagmire on 3 corners of the Temple foundation and a solid rock on the other corner[.] the[y] sent Prest Young the word and asked what to do[.] he told them to hold on untill he come down and in the mean time see if they could find any better place[.] this word was very detrimental to me as I was preaching Temple and to get the word that the work had stopt and may be no Temple built and I studied over it considerable and went to bed and dreamed that I went to St George and went down to see how they were getting along with the work on the Temple and when I come near I saw Prest Young Standing with a little group of men talking to them with his over coat on and as I come up partley behind him he stoped talking and turned around to face me and reach me his hand and said at the Same time and spread his hands towards the work which was a few rods away [“]you see Bro Charles we have got to work again[.”] I looked[p.61] I looked and saw it was rite on the same spot that it was first located and the men was as thick as they could work on it[.][52] I looked with great supprise and joy to see the work go on so fast[.] I was so overjoyed that I awoke and rejoiced for what I had seen[.] the next morning at the brakfirst table I told the family where I was staying that the Temple would be built rite on the identical spot where it was located[.] [“]do you think so[?”] [“]yes I know so for I Saw it going up in a hurry and it <will> be so[.”]
One morning as I was getting ready to start from fillmore Bro Isaace Carling[53] come to me with a dollar bill in his hand and said [“]we have kept this for some time and did not Spend it for it would not get what we needed So we have concluded to give it to you for the Temple and trust in your promis that the Lord would open the way for our wants to be supplied[.”] I took it and gave him credid and Shook hands with him and Said [“]the Lord bless and reward you with many dollars in return[.”] I drove away and thought no more of it, In about a month after I was driveing through in a hurry and I saw Some one coming acrost the square [p.62] to catch me on foot[.] I checked up for him to come up and found it was Bro Carling[.] he said [“]I wanto tell you Some thing[.”] [“]well get rite in as I am going your way[.”] So he got in and Said [“]do you remember when you was her[e] last that I gave you a dollar just as you was Starting[?”] [“]yes I do[.”] [“]Well do you remember what you Said to me at the time[?”] [“]no I dont know as I do,[”] [“]Well I do[.] you said [‘]the Lord bless and reward you with many dollars in return[.’] I want [to] tell you how soon it was fulfilld[.] I was going up in town that same afternoon and as I past a neighbors house he come to the door and said [‘]come in[.’] So I went to see what he wanted[.] he Said [‘]I see I am owe you ten dollars and I wanto pay it[,’] and handed out a ten dollar bill[.] [‘]why Bro that was only a produce deal and I never expectid cash on that[.’] [‘]well it is yourse and I feel imprest to give it to you and I guess you neede it[.’] [‘]yes I do[.’] so I thanked him for his kindnes and went got all that we realy needed at the time I felt the blessing had been returned to me in a hurry[.”]
While in Severe Co[unty] I got considerble wheat[.] I had it deliverd at the mills and then bought a bolt of cloth got it made into sacks and sacked up the flour and stored it for the teams to come and get as we needid it[,] so as to keepe plenty to carry us through [p.63] untill harvest I jenerly got it hauld down by paying half the amt in flour and give them cr[edit] for the other half on Temple Offering
1873 I was in Sanpete Co[unty] visiting the different Wards and I got to Ephraim on Saturday night and [had] an apointment for 10 o clock next day and that evening I received a telegram from St George requesting me to Send them 10 or 12 good Stone maisons immediately and and the next day I red the telegram in meeting and was speaking on the Subject and urgeing the neccessity of pushing the work forward as fast as possible while Prest Young was alive that he might get the Ordinan[ce]s established and the Temple ha[n]ds thoroughly drill So that all could go on in order after he had gone and before I was aware of what I was Saying I said [“]come go down and help us build that Temple and we will come up there and help you build one in Sanpete[,”] and when I found what I had Said I was Supprised for I had never heard of any intentions of building one in Sanpete but it was said and I knew it would be done for it wasn at my opresnede⟡ate sayings so I went rite on and never let on that I had Said anything out of the common re⟡⟡c⟡l of ⟡e ⟡⟡k⟡⟡⟡ [p.64] and at the close of the meeting they geatherd around me and Said [“]So we are agoing to have a Temple up her in Sanpete are we[?”] [“]yes sir[.”] [“]well when did Prest Young tell you about it[?”] [“]he never told me[.”] [“]and when did you first hear of it[?”] [“]you heard it as soon as I did[.”] [“]and do you think it will be so[?”] [“]yes I not onley think but I know it will be fulfilld[,”] and in about 4 years I sent 2 hands up to work on the Manti Temple[.] thus I filld my promis[54]
I asked Bro Snow at one time about takeing offerings from a poor wido<w> [“]yes[,”] he said[.] [“]accept their offering and get their names on the Temple records but be shure and leave a blessing with them that they Shall be abundantly rewarded in return[.”] I allways felt free to do so and many times parties have told me how unexpectedly means had come into their hands to more than make up for what they had donated for the Temple
I had an apointment for Sund[ay] at 10 in a small Ward off from the main road and then an other for the evening at 7 which was 30 miles apart I drove from Manti in the morning and reached their 15 minutes before 10 and when I met the B[isho]p he said to me [“]do you understand the Danish language[?] I see your are an american[.”] [“]no I dont understand one word of the danish lanugage[.”] [“]well we are in a bad fix our people [p.65] come rite through and Settled here to themselves and not learnt the Inglish language So the only way for us to do is for you to tell what you wish and I will have to interpet it to them[.”] So I concluded I would speak about ¾ of an hour and explain all that I could in that time and leave him the same to interpet it to their understanding[.] when I arose I looked at my time and concluded I must stop at 11 I commenced speak and never thought of time any more I had great liberty but did not understand what I was saying it seamed to me that I stood about 2 ft above them in the air but the floor was on the level and I come to an end and thought I had used up my portion of the time and when I looked and saw that it was just 15 m[inutes] to 12 oclock I never was So Surprised for I had no Idea that I was taking all the time [“]why[,”] I said[, “]is is posible I have taken all the time[?] what shall we do[?] appoint an other meeting for you to interpet it[?”] [“]no you dont need to for they understood all right for I did in the danish language[.”] So he call out to them and asked if they understood and they all cried out that they did[,] it needes no interpeting and as I had to be rite off to meete my appointment at Salina 30 miles away I did not get a chance to talk with the B[isho]p about it and never had the opportunity of going their again but I suppose I must have Spoke the Danish language for them to understand it so well for I know they understood me by the liberal Offerings they made just as fast as the clerk could rite
In 1874 the united order was established in the different Wards and I helped [p.66] organized the mountain meadows and Pintoe in conection with Milo Andrus[55] and Hebron I was appointed vice Prest and also foreman of the mechanic and building comm[ittee.] we worked together very succesfully we build 5 good houses my Bro John supt of the daries and Bro Wm[56] was appointed Superentendent of the Stock We raised a good end of grain took better care of the Stock and made lots of butter and cheese[.] we Settled up in the winter and paid all fare wages So that we come out allright but the means did not come in Sufficiant to keepe the Temple work going on as fast as they wanted and earley in the Spring I was recalld to travel again in company with Bro John L Smith,[57] Bro George A Smiths Brother[.] We started out together about 14 months together geathering many Offerings and tithes for the Temple Bro John L being ordained a Patriarch give about 200 blessings which I rote for him[.] We got word that Bro Geo A was very very sick So we drove to the [Salt Lake] city as fast as we could making 50 miles a day[.] we Staid a few days and he semed to be a little better So we started out on our missionay Labors again and got apart way through Sanpete Co[unty] and got an other telegram that he was dead[.][58] We drove to the terminus of the road Bro John L got to the train and went in to the city that night[.] I drove to Pleasant Grove left the team with my Bro[ther.] J Beers and I went in to the city next day attended the funerel next day I was one of the pall bearers Staid in the City an other day and then went on to our missionary labors[.] while in Sanpete co[unty] Bro Jos A Young[59] got the Surveigher and went up on to the Site for the Manti Temple and looked around their for an hour or two and finely got into his buggy and Said [“]Father has apointed me to build this Temple but Shall never live to commence it[.”] he went to [p.67] his Sons home in manti and died in a few days[.] Bro John L went up <with me> onto the Temple site and examined it and found it to be a beautifull locat location could see all over the valley I felt pleased that the prediction that I made in 73 was to be fulfilld so soon their was plenty of fine white rock handy to build with and Solid rock foundation to build on
We continued our labors in preaching the gospel unto the people and urging the young people to be faithfull and prepair themselves to enter into the Temple when it was done and receive the blessings of the Same for it would be worth more to them than money and when we had geatherd Sufficiant means to complete the work we was released and I had gone out home to visit with the folks and on the 6th of April[,] conference was held in the [St. George] Temple and I attendid the Dedication of the Temple[. I] had been home a few days [when] Prest Young Sent me the following Telegram [“]Chas Pulsipher Hebron I wanto see you come immediately[.”] I got [it] late in the evening and I onley had a span of wild colts up but concluded I could drive them down next day So got 2 hands to help me hich them up and hold to them untill I got in and [p.68] got the lines all right I had a good harness and wagon and when I was all ready I says let them go and away we went my little son Charles going with me down out of the Canyon on to the smoth country and we went in a hurry then he jumped out behind and went back and I went on alone stopping 3 times on the way to rest the team a little and then drove into St George just as it begin to get dark[.] I got help to assist me in unhitching and went rite to the Prest Office and found him alone[.] he greeted me and Said [“]well are you here already[?”] [“]yes sir[,] you Said immediately and I thought you meant it[.”] [“]yes but I did not think you could get here so soon but I am glad you are here[.] I can tell you what we want[.] We have been looking around for Some suitable hand to take the church ranch and Superented it and Bro Snow has recomended you for the job[.”] [“]well Bro Brigham I dont claim to be a Stock man[.”] [“]well dont you think it a good business[?”] [“]yes My Bro Wm has got rich at it[.”] [“]and we will give you a thousand a year to handle it and furnish you and the family[.] how many wives have you[?”] [“]just the 2 that you gave me and 4 children[.”] [“]that ant enough[.] you ought to get some more. Well what do you think about it[?”] [“]Well If I am the one you want I will do the best that I can[.”] [p.69] [“]you have had quite a lengthy mission without pay now this will pay well for your labors[.] we Shall want you to travel and geather the tithing stock and bring the beef into St George and keepe the work correctly[.] our former Supt has not give very good satesfaction[.] well you can write cant you[?”] [“]oh yes[.”] [“]well you can write the truth cant you[?”] [“]I try to[.”] [“]well that is all we want[.] just keepe the acc[oun]ts on members and bring them into Bro Eyreing and he will do the rest[.”]
[“]I wanto start to the [Salt Lake] city on the 10 of june and would like you to come down with a good horse and hich in with mine and drive the carriage out to Kanab and we will see the place[,] then you can hich in with Bro Snow who is comeing from Arazona and come back with him[.”] [“]all right I will be here if the lord will.[”]
At the apointed time I went down to St George and on the morning of the 10th of June we started out[. It was a] very hot day and we drove to Toker[60] put up for the night[.] Prest Young was very poorley could not attend meetings[.] Bro Musser and myself had to go and fill the appointement which was hard to do when the people had come to hear the President but we got along better than I expected we could[.] the President was so poorly We [p.70] Staid over an other day and then went on up the river and visited all the settlements on the river Stopping a short time at each place[.] next day we drove to Canan ranch and Staid for the night[.] next day we drove to Winsor Ranch for dinner[.][61] Bro Musser put in the telegraph office and left my niece Liddie Terry to tend to it and we went on to Kanab that night[.] next morning I went to bid Prest Young good by[.] he followed me out to Street and Stood under a Shade tree at Bro Nuttals and he told me what he wanted me to do at the Ranch [“]divide off that large upper room into bedrooms so that when the Brethren come along you can make them comfertable[.”] [“]yes and then I shall expect a visit from you[.”] he shook his head and said [“]no I Shall never visit this country again[.”] I was much surprised for I thought he might live for years yet but Shure enough on the last day of August I was at Kanab under the Same shade tree that he told on the previous June that he should never visit this country again I received a telegram of his deat<h>[62]
The company <Bro Snows> had arrived from arazona and I hiched in my horse with his and we drove 20 miles to the ranch Stade overnight and then went on to St George[.] I went out home to Hebron and geatherd my Stock Sold out and moved to the Winsor Ranch turned my Stock over to the co[mpany] and helped [p.71] and helped geather the co[mpany] Stock and receive them which took about 2 months[.] I made peperations to have the cows milked and make butter & cheese and the next Season we run 3 dairies[.] got all the good heifers broke to milk <& made> good milk cows So that they would sell for 5 to 8 dollars more than the wild ones
A large number of the stock had Straid off into the out skirts of the rough country and we commenced geathering them out and desposeing of all the big wild Steers that we could and filling up their numbers with young growing stock that would make more increase. I continued to look after the Stock for three years and I found that our Stock was mixing up with the Canan Stock and theirs was mixing with ours So that we had to ride over the Same ground with our hands to seperate and get each others stock and I come to the conclusion that if the two co[mpanies] was combined together in one the whole of the Stock could be handled with considerable less expence that to keepe two sets of hands[.] I proposed it to Bro Snow and he readily saw the advantage and saveing of time. and we worked up the combination and as ours was the smallest lot So I turned them over to the Canan herd and when I had got that done that liberated me and I drew out my Stock and moved up to upper Kanab to Sink valley[63] [p.72] where I bought a ranch of my own and took <my 2 to 4 up their> I was continued on the home missionary list and visited the Settlements in Kane Co[unty] teaching them their privelage and duties in regerd to their Temple work[.] Prest Young said to me [“]now we have got the Temple done we want the Saints to come and get their blessings[.”] I had many questions asked me in regard to the Temple work and amongst the many Bro Stevens Said to me in regard to the sealing of children to their Parents and said [“]my wife is at one place and the children are grown up and scattered[.] will it be nessary to get them all together or can I go down and have it done without their being their[?”] I said to him [“]you would like to get another wife[?”] [“]yes[,”] he said[.] [“]well hunt up one that is willing to be seald to you and go down to the Temple[.] will you take her along or will you go alone[?”] [“]oh of course I would take her along[.”] [“]Well it is just as necessary that you take the whole family along as it would be to take her[.”]
1877 on the 13th of Dec Julia A. Johnson was seald to me[64]
The winter turned out to be so hard 3 ft of Snow for a long time[.] I took 90 head of horn stock about 25 head of horses and when we geatherd up in the Spring we <had> 40 head and 15 horses [p.73] and as our Ranch had but little water could not farm much and our Stock So reduced that we had not Sufficiant to pay for tending them So we concluded we would have to move I wrote to Bro Snow and told him our circumstances and he recomendid me to go to Castle Valley[. He] Said [“]their is plenty of land and water out their and I think you can do well their[.”] So we began to prepair for the move <1880> but before we got ready to Start our barn took fire and burnt down burning our little crop and all our machienry 2 wagons 2 sets of harness and all the hay loss 80000 [65]
We started out in Nov and landed at Huntington about the last of the month with 40 head of Stock 5 wagons loaded we found their was no dich to take the water over the Town Site[.] we went to work and built 2 good log houses to make us comfertable for the winter and then we commenced on the dich which was a big job but we Stuck to it and got the water out the forepart of June So that we raised a crop that season this dich cost about Sixteen thousand dollars
Dec Bro Lymen[66] come out to our confernce and organised the High Council ordained me a High priest and put me into the council where I continued untill the next confernce traveling as one of the home missionaries and at the Spring confernce Bro Woodruff come out and put me in B[isho]p of the Huntington Ward. I knew it was comeing the night before and I Saw Peter Johnson [and] N A Jorgenson placed in for councilers So that I was partly prepared [p.74] alltho I dreaded it for of all the Offises that I ever filld the B[isho]p was the hardest but it was the choice of the Apostles and the voice of the people and I concluded to do the best that I could[.] I had commenced to build a Saw Mill which was very much needed to build up the country as their was plenty of timber but no mills to cut it into lumber So I continued on and run it for severel years[. I] made considerable lumber for the people which was more benefeit to them than to me because their was very little money to pay for lumber with[.] I put in 900 dollars in water diches to get the water out on the land and built a comfertable home and made every body welcome to our table we had as many as 25 to eat with us at confernce but when the percecution come upon us it was quite severe[67] Bro Lyman told me I had to get that young family away or go to the pen[itentiary.] I did not fancy the pen So I moved them into Colorado[68] but was quite expensive as the children were too young to help much in makeing a liveing[.] I sold off what loose property to keepe up expences and Still went behind as it took about half my time to attend to the duties of the Ward and not much income from that and when the percucition abaded I moved the family back to Cleveland[, Utah] and build them an other home haveing Sold theirs in Huntington and used up all the means we got for it 3 times as much more So that we had to commence <again> [p.75] We had burried one little boy in Manasa col[orado] and burried 2 little boys and one little girl in Huntington[69] We had got another little son up to nearly 14 year old and we begin to feel his help very much I had got him a Small team So that he could get his mothers wood and hay up and relieved me from that labor but on the 25th of March 1899 he was axidently shot and when the brought me word I was Satesfide that he couldnot live very long[.] I had been Sick for a week and it was raining but put on my overcoat went out Saddled my horse and jumped on and put her on the run and in 28 minutes was their[.] I found him in terible pain[.] the charge had past through a portion of the brain[.] I threw off my wet coat and called the brethren around and administered to him again and dedicated him to the Lord and asked him to relieve him from pain he Soon quieted down and breathed his last[70]
This was a severe blow to us haveing burried all of her [Julia’s] boys in childhood and this one just getting to be of so much company and help to us and he had to be Snaped away so suddin the mother took it very hard but I had more Strength to bare up under it[.] We went to the Temple and I done his work for him and got a permit of Bro Amos Johnson[71] to have his daughter Johannah Johnson[72] Sealed to him So that we had done [p.76] all that we could for him[.] Still the mother could not help greaving for him She dremp one night when She was feeling so bad that he come rite before her and Said [“]Mah dont grieve for me I am allright[.] I have got life eternal and a masters crown[.] now come with me and I will prove it to you[.”] She Said they Seamed to flie away like the Speed of lightning and directly we Stood in the Manti Temple rite where we had been and done the work for him and when they reached their I was their with them[.] he Started up stairs and we followed him[.] he turned and went up again and then a third Storys he walked up to the door and rap[p]ed ♢ distinct raps[.] the door was opend[.] a fine looking man Stood in the door and Said [“]what is wanted[?”] W[illia]m Said [“]will you please Show me the record book the Lambs book of life Eternal[?”] [“]yes come in[.”] he walked acrost the room and opend a large Secratary and took out a large record book and laid it down opend it and turned over a few leaves and then drawed his hand down the page that was partly filld and Said [“]thair it is[.”] She looked over and red down apart way and red his name distinctly [“]now mah you will believe me So dont feel bad any more for when you feel bad it makes me feel bad and I cant do the work that I ought to[.”] She felt so happy that it aroused her out of the trance of course I had more Strength and better able to bare up under such things [p.77]
On the 16th of Jan 1899 Bro Lyman come out and stopt with us and had a good visit together and he Said he had come to Ordain me a Patriarch Said he had been chided every time he had come and released me from the B[isho]p for not ordaining me before but he was a going to do it this time before he went <back> and on the 16th he ordained Bro Larsen and me and Said to us [“]now the question may be asked here is 2 good Bret[heren] being ordained to the same office which will be the gratest[?] I can tell you the one that gets out and does the most that is what will make a man great[,] the one that does the most good[.”] So I concluded I would do all that I could I sent rite off and got my book and went rite at it and kept nearly Steady at work for a year visited most of the Wards in the Stake and kept busy for nearly a year hiring my clerk and buying the books and paying for all expences when I did not get enough in to meete them Many parts of the blessings was literely fulfilld in a Short time So that it give us great encouragement to go ahead and do all the good that I could in the line of my duty[.] I visited all the Wards in the Stake and give all blessings that asked for them and Stopt on account of no pay and when I did not find much more to do I felt anxious to visit old Mexico [p.78] and See that part of the country and see what good I could do their[73] and as we was nearly broke up here in consequence of the long percecusion had sell every thing that I could to pay up debts and preserve our names with honer So I sold off every thing paid off all debts and had enough left to take us down their and buy 2 cows then I went to work with the carpenter tools to make a liveing[.] every thing was so high that it was a hard job to keepe up at it I give all my relatives a blessing and found that it was allmost impossible to get lumber to build with at [Colonia] Diaz So I moved up to [Colonia] Dublan as I was much nearer the mills and I got 3 city lots formed then and put up 2 houses for the folks on them[. I] helped to build many homes for others[.] I worked 3 months on Bro Bowmans fine cottage home that cost him thousand dollars and give all the people blessings that called for them and then went to preaching to the Mexican people and help to bring in some of them and then give them their blessings which they greatly apreciated and looked forward for their fulfillment[.] I think I give more blessings to the Mexican people than all the rest of the Patriarchs in the Stake[.] I remember one man heard of the gospel and walked 75 mile to investigate[.] he soon got baptised and come to me for his blessing which I gave him and when I com to his Lineage I found him to be a desendent of Neph[74] I blest him and told him he should go and preach to his people [p.79] and in a Short time he was ordained an Elder and sent out to preach and at last accounts wa[s] doeing a good work amongst th that people[.] <they> think a grea[t ]deel of a blessing and I done all that I could to accomodate them[.] I gave the Mexican people <more> blessings than all the rest of the Patriachs in the Stake and when Prest Ivins[75] desided that I ought to come back and see my folks and the people heard that I was agoing to leave they crowded me allmost night and day[.] one Mexican woman come with her baby in her armes for me to bless it while I was on my way to the Station and wanted me to Stop and give it a blessing I told her it was Imposible[,] if I did Stop to bless it I would be too late for the train[.] She felt So bad that She nearly cride So I told her to come rite along with me and I will bless the baby as we walk, I done so and She felt better about my leaveing but of all the blessings that I gave to that people I never received a nickel in return but I felt that I done them good and I felt blest in So doeing but did think that Some of our well to do brethren [p.80] might give me enough to buy the books and pay for the recording but blest one whole family just when I was in a big hurry to get ready to Start and then I had to pay his wife $100 to get her to record them.
We traveld without any axident alltho their was a man followed me up for 200 miles to try to find out if I had some money[,] questioning in a round about way but I ketched onto what he was after and I cut him off in short order and when he found that I Suspiciend him he concluded that he had gone farr enough that way and got off at the next Station alltho he had told me he was going nearley to Utah[.] We arrived to Castle Gate and made a visit with our son Charles 4 days and give some blessings then went down to Price and visited with Bro Harmons my relatives and give Some more blessings their and Spoke to the people on Sunday 2 of the grand children come over from Huntington and took us over their and rented a room from Wm Mathis[76] and bought some things for house keepeing I made a trip over to Sunne[y]side visited with my niece Sarah Ann Cowley[77] and give some blessings their Stade 2 days [p.81] and got back on new years day I visited Some of the Wards in this Stake and explained the necessity of the Temple work unto the young[.] I was called upon to Speak at a funerel in Huntington of the wife of a young man that was left with 2 Small children and that not went to the Temple [“]My dear brethren and Sisters I earnestly desire the Spirit of the Lord that I may be able to Speak to your under Standing and not hurt your feelings yet I must speak plain for you to get the full benefeit of my teaching[.] here is Sister Grange whos remains lies before us[.] She has done all that She can do for her exaltation[.] She has filld her marriage covenent with Bro Grange which was untill death Should Seperate them[.] She has left 2 lovely little children for Bro Grange to raise and teach them the gospel but unless Something more is done Bro Grange will have no further claim on them nor the mother[,] which was the beloved wife of his youth[.] now dear brother if you expect to enjoy their company in the family circle you must prepair yourself and get the B[isho]ps recomend and and take the little children to the Temple and get Some good Sister to go with you and act in place of your wife and do the <work> for her [p.82] and you do your owen work and have your wife seald to you through proxey and then have those little children Seald to you then you will have claim on them, but unless this is done you have no farther claim upon them[.] now my dear Brethren and Sisters I hope you you will not negleck this work while you have the chance of doeing it for yourselves not have to get assisted by others to get it done[.] life is is not sertain to any of us and it is not safe to postpone Such important work as this lest we might be taken as this Bro then we would feel it more keenly[.] let us do all in our power for ourselves then we will have nothing to regret[.]
[“]May God bless and help you to be faithfull to the end is my prayer and comfert your hearts in this hour of Sorrow and I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ amen[.”]
I visited Castle Gate & Price wards and spok to them and urged necessity of their going to the Temple and doeing their work for their dead Relatives[.] I gave Some blessings in Castle Gate one man come to me when I was their about a month later and Said [“]Bro Pulsipher I wanto tell you how literely apart of my blessing has come true within 2 weeks [p.83] from the time you gave it to me[.] do you remember one part of it that I could not See how it could be fulfilld[?] it red thus [‘]Thy labors Shall be litend and thy Supplies Shall be increast that you Shall have Sufficiant to meete all thy necessi<ties>[.’] I could not see how it could possibly come true to have less work and more pay but it is literely fulfilld, the Sup[erintenden]t of the mine[78] come to me and Said [‘]I have been watching you and I see that you fall behind each pay day not made quite enough to squar up[.] now I have concluded to give you a better job[.] it is a responsable one but Believe you will be able to do it[.’] [‘]Well what is it[?’] [‘]you must get up to the mine at 4 oclock in the morning go into the mine and See that every thing is all right and get out to the mouth before 7 so as to report to the miners before they go in and that is all you will have to do untill the next morning but you must not let any thing prvent you from doeing this and I will give you 350 per day[.’] [‘]all right I thank you for it[.’]
[“]Now Bro Pulsipher I get enough to meete all my expences and I think that is <spended>[.”]
[symbol] When Prest James Buckhannan desided to send an armey to Utah[79] and we first heard of it Govener B Young could not believe it but he sent Bro Samuel Richards to go through and tak[e] some good young persevereing man with him him to send this young man back with a letter just as fast as it was possible to be brought with all the information that he could get So that we could prepair for it[.] Bro Richards Selected my Bro in law R H Beers[.] he had a good pony to ride[.] they traveld down to near Ft Laremy 500 miles when they met some of our returning missionaries that brought the word that 3000 troop with a large amount of Suplies [p.84] had Started[.] they Stopt and nooned and Bro Richards wrote this letter and told Robt he wanted him to tak[e] this letter to Prest Young just a quick as possi<ble> Bro Richards [“]what horse Shall I ride[?] dont you know that mine has been So lame for 2 or 3 days that I had considerably difficuilty to make him keepe up with you[,] traveling onley 40 m per day[?”] [“]well their is no other one[.] bring him up and let us examin his foot[.”] they could not find any thing rong with it Bro Richards p[l]aced one hand on the head of the boy & the other hand on the horse and blest them both and told them that they should go through with speede and without any delay Robt got on his horse and star<ted> he went off without any lameness[.] he pulld off his hat a hollard [“]I shall go through all right[!”] which he did onley Stopping long enough to let the horse feede a little by tieing the Lasso to the horse and around his own foot so as to wake him when he got to the end[.] when he got 200 miles he found some of our men on the road and they proposed to give him a fresh horse but Robt Said [“]no I dare not risk it for this horse has had the blessing and promis to go through all right[.”] [“]well then take another man along with you to keepe you awake[.”] [“]allright[.”] So he took Bro N Ashby and they traveld about 200 mile together he could not keepe Bro Ashby awak So he told him he could Stop and rest [“]but I must go on[,”] which he did and reached Prest Youngs Office late in the evening deliverd the letter all right makeing the 500 miles in 5 days and 5 hours nearly 100 m per day with the same horse [symbol] [p.85]
1907
When I was imprest to come back from Old Mexico I coun[sel]ed with Prest Ivins and B[isho]p Robbinson on it. They both Said “yes, you had better go back. take Sister Ann with you and when you get their you can write to Sister Julia to sell out and come,” which I did and She Sold out and come in the Spring leaveing leaveing about Seventeen hundred dollars due us from the Sale of our property and what was comeing from her mother estate and the war broke out and our folks all drove out of the country.[80] Consequently we donot expect to get any more from their[.] I went to work and built a 2 room house in Huntington in 1908. I built ♢ for our home but Aunty [Ann Beers Pulsipher] was So very poorly that She didnot enjoy it long She got so bad that it was hard for me to take care of her So we desided to move down to Cleveland or washboard flat where the children lived to get ther help we moved into one of Bro W[orth] Tuckers rooms and they helped in careing for her and 1912 May 5th She died and by her request we burried her in the Huntington buring ground with our children[81]
We got a lot in the Elmo town and made a garden raiseing Some vegatibles.[82] in Oct we went to the City to confernce and done Some work in the Temple for the dead. Julia doeing the work for Eliza Beers wifee of [illegible] Beers who had his work done Oct 1888 in the Logan Temple and I done Able Cadwel [p.86]
We returned from the city about the 12 of Oct and in Nov we got the timber together to build us anoth[er] home in Elmo and by the help of the Son in laws and our own labor we heaved the logs and put up good room 13+25 ft[.] got it finished up So that we moved in 2 day before Christmas but through the hard labor and cold wether I took a heavy cold which laid me up for 6 weeks[.] a list of those who furnished or attended and helped on the house G H Oviatt furnished 5 logs, G Y Oviatt 5 logs <& 9 days> B Earickson 5 logs, Beman Oviatt 6 logs, T Oliver 18 logs W Tucker 5 W Clegh 5 logs and 5 days work Geo Breth worked 2 ½ days work, F. Mortensen 2 ½ days, Frank Jones $5 cash, H Rasmussen 2 logs, Walter Clegg 1 l[oa]d wood, Worth Tucker one l[oa]d wood, B Earickson 1 l[oa]d wood, J Gensen 1 l[oa]d W Atwood 1 l[oa]d, Elick Larsen come over from Molen on a visit and he Staid and put in 8 days on the house W Tucker 1 day G S Oviatt ½ day I assisted a branch teacher and visited many of the people and encouraged to faithfuly
In January I Saw a vision of the famin and wars & pestilens that was Shortly comeing upon the people I faithfully warned to prepair for it or it would be upon them before they was redy for it Some could See it and are trying to be prepard [p.87]
1913 Sunday 23 Feb I attended meeting and as I had get my helth again Bro George calld on me to Speak as we had a full house I was greately blest with the good Spirit and Spoke with great power for one hour and ¼ on the Subject of the preeixstence of man and the present existence and what we may come to through our faithfull works in this probation[.] The people was greately interested in the Subject.
Our old cow went dry and left us without milk and butter[.] I got a chance to Sell her and bought a young jersey that makes us milk and butter for the family which is a great blessing[.] I Sold our little place in Huntington and Sent off and got a new fly shuttle loom for the folks to make their Liveing by their labor[.] I visited Victor and gave 8 blessings to my friends[.] I sent off and got an incuvator to hach chick which proves a good success[.] on the 14th June I dreamed that Bro M Df Romney[83] calld for me[,] Said he wanted my help[.] I felt that I wasent quite ready to go and the word was [“]hurry up hurry up hurry up[,”] and on Sunday 17 I attended Sunday School and spoke to them also the ward meeting and spok N/4 to the Ward teaching them Temple work [p.88]
Thursday I attendid Relief Society meeting and Spoke 20 mi[nu]t[e]s teaching them their duties in their labors and assisted the Bp in setting the Officers apart[.] I was mouth in setting Sister Ereckson apart also Sister Silva Oviatt as Secratery and Sister Ereskson Prest
Sund[ay] 23 Bro W Clegg took me down to Victor to fill our appointement in that Ward Stopt with B[isho]p Mills attended Sunday School and Spoke to the children 20 m attendid meeting at 2 oclock and as their was 4 other missionarres [I] didnot speak but 30 m teaching them the necessity of doeing their Temple work[.] give 3 Blessings and returned home in the evening and as we did not have time to fill our mission the Bp Sennt for us to come again and do all the good that we <could> and on Sund[ay] the 30 We returned and met with the Sunday School also the meeting and Spoke one hour to the full house of the Ward on the duties of man in filling his mission her[e] in the propbation[.] Bro Clegg spoke 30 minutes on the same subject and we explained the necessity of their doeing their Temple work[.] Stayed untill 3 oclock Mond[ay] and give 2 blessings and then returned feeling Satesfid with our Labors
Frid[ay] the 4 of July attended the celebration and Spoke a short time give some insident that happend in the bunker hill battle as my 2 grandfathers was in that battle and I got the infermation from that by Father[84] [p.89]
We Spent the week in getting up hay got one ton and ½ from W Tucker one ton from G T Oviatt one ton from Bp G H Oviatt one tone from Dell Larsen 1600 from Job Oliver
Sunday 20 Bro W. Cleg and myself drove to Molen to fill an apointment their arrived at 1 oclock Spoke to the Saints on the early history of the church and Bro Clegg continued the Same and then went home with the Bp and found his wife very Sick[.] We administerd to her and then gave her a Patriarchel blessing and next day She was up doeing a washing[.] we continued giveing blessing untill Tuesday evening give 21 returned on Wed a heavy rain Started in on us and as I did not [want] to get wet for fear of getting cold We asked Father to turn the Storm asid[e] and we Stopt five minutes and w[a]tched the Storm turn to the west and Soon quit where we was[.] We arrived home in Saftey without getting wet but it fell very <heavy> just west of us
Thursday 24 had a fine celebration I spoke ¾ of an hour on Pioner life
Frid[ay] 25 Spent the most of the day in visiting the 2nd bra♢♢♢ of this Ward and preaching the gospel unto them they were much interested in the vis♢ [vision]
Bro H Rasmusson accompanied me part of the time 6 of Aug We visited 4 placeses and Settled a difficuilty between 2 of the brethren taught them their duty
Frid[ay] the 8 started to confernce to Emery Stopt at Laurence and minesterd to Bro Alma Staker who was very Sick leaveing our blessing with him and went on to Ferron put up at Bro Rasmussons give his wife & daughter a blessing Bro Clegg wrote for me Sund[ay] drove to Emery in time for meeting 10 oclock Had a Splendid confernce [p.90]
Saturday & Sunday attended 6 meetings returned home Monday calld at Bro H Sakers and found him up and feeling very well onley weak
Sunday the 18 visited Castle dale with Bro W Clegg to fill an apoin<timent> their put up with Bp Larsen attended the Sunday School and Spoke to them Attendid the afternoon meeting and we Spoke 1 ½ on the early history of the Church and proved that Joseph was a true Prophet & seer appointed an other meeting for the evening and both of us spoke ¾ of an hour each on the creation of man and object of him comeing here and the duties of the young & the necessity of their doeing their Temple work[.]
Mond[ay] 19 give one blessing and returned home
Sund[ay] attendid Sunday School and instructed parent <family govern> class on Spoke ¾ of an hour on the dustany of man and the necessity doeing their Temple <work>
Sund[ay] 21st Spoke ¾ of an hour on the Baptisme for the dead and ministering the ordinances in the Temple for the dead Sat[urday] 27 drve to Molen gave Br Rasmussens children their Blessings 4 and Staid over night
Sunday 28 drove to Emery was taken very sick on the way Bro W Clegg administ<ered> to me and was soon relieved from pain and drove to Emery in time for meeting put up with Bp Brinkerhoff and Spoke ¾ an hour [on Tem]ple work and the Resrection of the dead gave out a meeting for the evening and Bro Clegg Spoke to the young people ¾ of an hour on the preexistance of man
Mond[ay] 29 drove to Bro Stakers and staid overnight and gave Sister Staker her blessing & instructed them on Temple <work>
Oct 3 drve to Molen and visited with Effe and geatherd fruit on Shares[.] Sund[ay] 5 met with Sund[ay] Sc[hool] and spoke to them on early history amongst the indians and the wonderfull after being taken [illegible] drove to Ferron and spoke 1 hour on the reserection of the dead & Temple work [p.91]
Oct the 5th drove home Sunday the 10 Spoke to the Elmo Ward on the law of Tithing desided on staying home and building an other room to our house as it was getting too cold to <travel>
Dec 23 Spoke to the Sunday school on the life of the Saviour also Spoke on the Life of Joseph Smith[.] 12 o’clock Spoke ¾ of an hour on the Life of Joseph Smith ¾ of an hour and gave many interesting events that I was acquainted with
Spent the 25 with many of our relatives & friends received a present of 100 flour and 10 lbs of meat also 50 lbs flour 5 lbs sugar and 5 lbs soap from our [illegible] also coal oill and meat from T Garies 8 lbs meat from G T Oviatt
We finished our new room and got into it before Christmas which which made us quite comfertable
We enterd into pardnership with F R Jones W Tucker to get the machienry make candy as the children can make it & hop[e] it will be quite an income in the future[.] The winter has been very cold and considerable Snow fell So that I could not get out very much without Suffering with the cold[.] April 20 last evening a housefull of relatives and friends geatherd to congratulate me on my 84 birthday[.] we Spent a very pleasant time together with songs speaches & co I related Some of my Soldier life when 46 of us minute men faced the U S armey of 3000 and Stopt them out in the mountains and kept them out all winter [p.92]
I here attach Some lines written and red to us on the Occasion and can say that I believe that I have traveld and Pioneerd out new Settlements and helped locate and surveigh them more than any other man of my acquaintence I helped Surveigh S L City and South Cottonwood and St George and many other Towns I took charge and helpt to build 15 mills built 22 new homes for myself and 51 homes for others; have traveld many thousand miles Spent 8 years in the mission field and geatherd over 50000 dollars for the building of the St George Temple and done work for all the dead that I could get the names of[.] I have been in all the 6 Temples built in this dispensation and helpd in building 5 of them[.] I have heard much of the teachings of the Prophet Joseph and lived to see many of his prodictions fulfilld
Frid[ay] 21st of May met in the Old folks geathering and had a fine dinner & a good time[.] our Bp spoke and welcomed the old folks to the geathering Said [“]here is Bro Pulsipher over 84 years old and has spent all his life in Pioneering out new countries and makeing wad & homes for the people he has built 22 new homes for himself helped locat 12 new settlements built 15 mills and 51 houses for other folks we ought to appeciate his councils and good teaching[.”]
May 28 I attendid a Raleif confernce at Castle dale had 2 d♢♢ Splendid meetings much valuble instruction imparted[.] I spoke at one of the meetings and gave them some of the wonderfull manifestations I had received from the Spirit world and bore a faithfull testamony that Joseph the Prophet stablished the Baptizing for the dead gave one blessing to Milles Jameson.
Sat[urday] 13 June by Special invitation I went to Castle Dale and [g]ave 5 blessings meet up with Larsen and 14 attended Sunday School & meeting spoke ovr one hour on Temple work and on the marriage cors of eternity give 6 blessings and the good people gave me $18 which was greately appreciated returned home monday in the rain [p.93]
Mond[ay] the 16 June 1914 paid the Bp 100 tithing 24 June attended Priesthood meeting and Spake on the subject of Baptizems for the dead & urged the people to do all they could for the redemption of the dead July 5th and 6th was quite Sick[.] Walter Clegg come and adminsted and and my wife doctor me and I got better and rested good at night
Sund[ay] 26 July I continued to improve and was able to attend Sunday School and Spoke 20 m on the Subject of amusements for our children and explained why Prest Young introduced dancing in the church in the year 46 when we was drove out of Nauvoo by our enemies in Feb and Sufferd very much from the cold Storms and many were taken down with sickness through exposeure and 300 was burried on the bank of the Masouri R[iver]. Prest Young told them to dance and be mery to raise their minds above the trials & hard Ships that they were passing through[85]
At 2 oclock meeting the Bp calld on me to Speak which I did with great liberty on the principal of building Temples and doeing the work for the dead and Shoed the people that it was our dutie to do this work for the dead that they might be redeemed and brought into unto the new and everlasting covenant
Aug 18 visited Orangevill[e.] I attended and met many of my old friends Spoke to the ward for one hour teaching them the need of their doeing their Temple work and urged them to attend to it
Frid[ay] 23 <1914> attendid the funerel of Bro Atwoods little 12 y old boy and Spoke to the people ¾ of an hour on the reserection of the dead [p.94]
Sund[ay] 7 Sept 1914 I was urged by the Spirit to go to Huntington which I did and Spoke to the people of that Ward ½ an hour on the fulfillment [of] Prophecy and gave Severel insidents of modern prodictions be[i]ng literl fulfilld
Maud berry the old folkes day I Staid and attendid had a goo[d] timee Elias Cox[,] myself[,] Peter Johnson[,] Wm Nixon[,] antone Nielson all having Presided at different times in Hunting[ton] for the last 33 years had our Portoees [photos] taken
Aug 7 <1915> went to confernce at Castle Dale and by Special request of Prest Overson Spoke 35 minutes to the largest conference that I had ever met with in the Stake[.] bore a powerfull testamony to the truth of the gospel and repeated many predictions of the Prophet Joseph which I h[e]ard him make and was grately congratulated by all who got the chance to Shake hand with me[.] went to Molena in after confernce met with our daughter Effe spent one day 2 nights there met in a cottage meeting ministerd to 2 that was aff[l]icted and give 2 Paitr [patriarchal] blessings returndd home all right on the 10th Aug 1915
Oct 27 1915 hitched up old Ben went down to ahlgr and then he went to the thrashing machine and on the 28 he had a bad spell and laid chill and on the 1 of November the Engine blowed up and he took another bad spill and on the 3 he took down his fort and died 20 Nov 1915 [p.95]
Remarcible prophesies literely fulfilld
In the Spring of 1849 We built a little mill near the mouth of Parlies Pratts Kanyon wher[e] we lived to make lumber to finish our houses on the 30th of April Ann Beers was married to me the 3 couple married in S L City Prest B Young come down in the 3 Ward and married us Prest Young Said as he Sit down to a well spread table this don’t look much like Starveing
Sunday 13 of May We attendid meeting in the brush bowery on the Temple B and Prest Kimball was the Speaker[.] This spring was a very hard times Some wer[e] getting discouraged and wanting to leave[.] Prest Kimball was urgeing them to hang on [“]for ralief will come Inside of six weeks you Shall be able to buy goods and Suplies rite here in the St[reet] of SLC Cheaper than you can buy them in St Louis[.”] Apostle C. Rich Said at the close of the meeting [“]Bro Kimball I am afraid you have mist it this time[.”] Prest Kimball Said [“]the Lord inspired me to speak it and he can fulfill it[.”] I marked the time deffinately for I could not se[e] how it was possible to be fulfilld in such a Short time as it took 3 months to make the journey to St Lous and back On the 19 of June we Saw a train of 4 horse teame comeing down the road but we could not think <what> it ment we soon found that they were emigrants to calefornie hunting gold They had started out early from the states and as we had no mails to let us know they were comeing[.] They soon desided to sell off their big teams and get ponies and pack through consequently their teams and gear was sold for a trifle and Prest Kimballs prophesy literely fulfilld good wagons sold 16 to 20 dollars good harnesses from 5 to 750 a trunk of good clothing for 750 other things the same
In the winter of 1855 & 6 I dont hear much Spoken of that was the great destruction on the crops by the crickets[86] [p.96] which come in numerous hosts and when they Settled down the grain crops took every thing before them So that nearly all the wheat was eat but as many as could get Seede corn and planted So that con corn was raised[.] In the winter Prest Young being ansious [anxious] to how our suplies coresponded with our numbers to feede and reequested t[he] Bps to take a diffinent account of all the provisions on hand and w the amount come in they was much Surprised and he recquired ev one of the council to [“]keepe it a Secrete and leave it to me an will promis you if you will take my council you shall not [go hungry.] In the first place dont ration for you will be hungry all the time[.] if you cook a reasonable amt and let that do and then dont you let any one from your door hunry[,] and if you will do this you Shall not [go hungry.”] I had a contract to get a ½ bushel of corn per week for our family of 4 working a at very low price which I was glad to do to secure the corn we decided to follow Prest Youngs council and stick to the promis he made there was a family come in that fall liveing near to us and they was without provisions[.] I told my folks to see that they had one evry day 6 of them We have made 126 meals from that 24 lb of [illegible] and every day quite a number of visiters to have a meal with us one day we counted 20 persons that eat from it besides our regular n[umber] and many times when we went to the beir scrapeing the bottom and deny it out not knowing where the next would come from but it al[ways] come untill the next ½ bushel come and This may seem ha[rd] for some to believe but it is nevertheless true
C Pulsipher V Far
[1] Most records indicate that it was Jared Carter (Simeon’s younger brother) who visited Spafford and baptized the Pulsiphers.
[2] Zerah Pulsipher (1789 – 1872) was an early convert to the Church who would go on to serve as one of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventies for many years.
[3] Mary Brown Pulsipher (1799 – 1880) was an early convert to the Church who was Charles’s mother.
[4] Elijah Cheney (1785 – 1863) was another early convert who lived in the Spafford area and who would go on to follow the general membership to Utah.
[5] Elizabeth Norton Hart (1796 – 1851).
[6] Azmon Woodruff (1802 – 1889).
[7] Wilford Woodruff (1807 – 1898) would go on to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and became the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1889.
[8] Wilford Woodruff later recalled that: “In the winter of 1833, I saw, for the first time in my life, an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He preached in a school-house near where I lived. I attended the meeting, and the Spirit of the Lord bore record to me that what I heard was true. I invited the Elder to my house, and next day I, with my eldest brother, went down into the water and was baptized. We were the first two baptized in Oswego County, New York” (“Leaves From My Journal,” p. 13, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed February 24, 2023, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/r1w).
[9] The Rebellions of 1837 – 1838 were two armed uprisings that took place in Lower and Upper Canada in 1837 and 1838. Both rebellions were motivated by frustrations with lack of political reform. Rebellion in Upper Canada (and Lower Canada also) broke out after the 1836 Legislative Assembly elections were corrupted. American sympathizers became involved in the conflict as well. The British military crushed the rebellions. It was in this context that the Latter Day Saint missionaries from America faced arrests and problems traveling back to the United States.
[10] Jacob Bump (1791 – 1865) was a member of the Church who dissented and took part in efforts to depose Joseph Smith. He would later associate with James Strang’s and William E. McLellin’s brands of Mormonism. Zerah Pulsipher identified him as the person in this story.
[11] The company is generally known as the Kirtland Camp. The company was organized and departed with over 500 members in June 1838. They created a camp constitution that provided guidelines regarding the camp’s organization and set a code of conduct for its members.
As may be expected with a large company, there were a considerable amount of delays caused by illness, broken wagons and equipment, river crossings, poor traveling conditions, problems with animals, and food shortages. Groups of company members also occasionally stopped to find temporary work in order to obtain enough food and money to continue on the journey. Due to these conditions, company members gradually became strung out and dispersed along the path or left the company altogether. By the time it reached Springfield, Illinois, there were only 260 members left in the main company.
[12] “Throughout the month of October 1838, additional groups and families who at one time had been part of Kirtland Camp, but for one reason or another had lagged behind, continued to make their way to Far West. Sadly, several of these road-weary travelers became innocent victims of the Hawn’s Mill tragedy. Joseph Young, senior president of the Seventy, was leading one of these last groups of stragglers still on the road in late October. While passing through Livingston County, anti-Mormon raiders accosted the
small party who threatened they would be killed if they proceeded; however, they were allowed to go
on. Young’s party arrived at the Hawn’s Mill settlement on 28 October, two days before the fatal attack.
Among their number killed were Warren Smith, husband of Amanda Barnes Smith, and their ten year-old son Sardius. A second son, six-year-old Alma, was severely wounded. Nathan K. Knight, another Kirtland Camp member, incurred serious injuries but recovered” (Alexander Baugh, “Kirtland Camp, 1838: Bringing the Poor to Missouri,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 22, no. 1 (2013), 58-61.
[13] Mary Brown Pulsipher wrote that: “The winter we was in far west Mo we had to part with our good old Mother Pulsipher. She was Sick one week, then died. . . . She fell asleep without a Strugle or groan. I think She was eighty five years old.” (Mary Brown Pulsipher, “That We May All in Glory Dwell,” ed. Rhonda Seamons, in Women of Faith in the Latter Days, Volume One, 1775-1820, ed. Richard E. Turley Jr. and Brittany A. Chapman (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2011), 259 – 270.
[14] Almira Iona Pulsipher Burgess (1817 – 1868) had married Horace Burgess in 1836 and at the time they left Missouri in 1839, they had two children: Hyrum William Burgess (1837 – 1924) and George Martin Burgess (1839 – 1923).
[15] Jesse Perse Harmon (1795 – 1877).
[16] Hyrum Smith (1800 – 1844) was Joseph Smith’s older brother and served as Presiding Patriarch and Assistant President of the Church in 1844.
[17] Johnathan Dunham (1800 – 1845) was captain of police and wharf master in Nauvoo and acting major general of Nauvoo Legion.
[18] Levi Ward Hancock (1803 – 1882) was one of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventy. He was also a member of the Nauvoo Legion and the Nauvoo police force.
[19] William Wines Phelps (1792 – 1872) was a prominent Latter Day Saint writer, editor, and poet who served as Joseph Smith’s ghost writer. He was also a member of the Council of Fifty and the Nauvoo City Council.
[20] This address was delivered on June 18, 1844. According to a more contemporary record, Joseph Smith stated that: “I call God and Angels to witness, that I have unsheathed my sword with a firm and unalterable determination, that this people shall have their legal rights, and be protected from mob violence, or my blood shall be spilt upon the ground like water, and my body consigned to the silent tomb.” History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844], p. 119, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed June 1, 2023, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1838-1856-volume-f-1-1-may-1844-8-august-1844/125.
[21] John Taylor (1808 – 1887) was an apostle. He survived his wounds and would eventually become third president of the Church.
[22] This “attempted beheading of Joseph Smith at Carthage and a shaft of lightning preventing it” narrative was a popular “martyrdom miracle” story among Latter-day Saints in the early twentieth century, but has no real basis in contemporary records and should not be treated as being historically accurate. Elder B. H. Roberts specifically excluded this story from his Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because he believed that “these alleged miracles” were “falsehoods” that should not be perpetuated (see Truman G. Madsen, Defender of the Faith: The B. H. Roberts Story (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1980), 363, 436).
[23] The Mormon Battalion.
[24] Rebaptisms for health were a common practice in the Church during the nineteenth century.
[25] John Alger (1820 – 1897) was Charles’s brother-in-law, having married Sarah Ann Pulsipher in 1842. John’s older sister was Fanny Alger, the first plural wife that Joseph Smith married.
[26] Ann Beers (1828 – 1912) was Charles’s first wife. They never had any children together. When they lived in Huntington area, Ann ran a store.
[27] According to Heber C. Kimball’s recollection: “I have seen the time when our brethren have had to eat beef-hides, wolves, dogs and skunks. You may smile, but I can tell you that it was no laughing matter at that time, for there were many who could not get even dogs to eat. Many of the brethren in those trying times were clothed in skins of wild animals. I felt impressed to prophesy to them, and I said, ‘Never mind, boys, in less than one year there will be plenty of clothes and everything that we shall want sold at less than St. Louis prices;’ and I thought when I came to reflect upon it that it was a very improbable thing, and brother Rich told me that he thought I had done up the job at prophesying that time, but the sequel showed the prediction to be of the Lord. In less than six months, the emigration to California came through here laden down with good clothing, bacon, flour, groceries, and everything we wanted. The opening of the gold mines had caused them to rush for the scene of excitement; they came with their trunks full of the best of clothing, and they opened them and turned out a great deal of the clothing, and the brethren and sisters bought good coats, vests, shawls, and dresses at a mere nominal price, and in this way the Lord supplied our wants, and he will do so again if the circumstances ever require it.” (Heber C. Kimball, July 19, 1863, Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. (London and Liverpool: LDS Booksellers Depot, 1854 – 86),10:247). Charles also brings up this story again at the end of this record.
[28] Hugh Moon (1815 – 1870) was a convert from England who would live in St. George around the same time as Charles Pulsipher did.
[29] Johnny cakes are a type of cornmeal flatbread.
[30] Sariah Eliza Robbins (1838 – 1921). They had four children together. After they moved to Huntington in 1882, Sariah stopped living together with Charles, since he was focused on the family he had with his third wife. According to recollections, Sariah was a short, heavy, dark complexioned, and attractive woman.
[31] The Green River flows from Wyoming, through Colorado, and into northeastern Utah, including the Uinta Basin. Snake Indians is a collective name given to the Northern Paiute, Bannock, and Shoshone Native American tribes.
[32] Fort Supply was located in what is now Uinta County, Wyoming. Established in 1853, it was used until the Utah War in 1857, when it was abandoned and burned to the ground.
[33] Charles was acting as a minuteman in the Nauvoo Legion.
[34] Robert Taylor Burton (1821 – 1907) was one of the principal officers in the Nauvoo Legion during its Utah reconstitution and led the territorial militia against the Morrisites during the 1862 Morrisite War. He would later serve in the Presiding Bishopric of the Church.
[35] In a different version of Charles Pulsipher’s autobiography, he stated that O. Porter Rockwell was the more cautious captain and Lot Smith was the more reckless captain.
[36] The peace commission was headed by Thomas L. Kane, a longtime friend of the Latter-day Saints and had been sent by President James Buchanan to mediate between the Latter-day Saints and the army.
[37] Charles Pulsipher, Jr. (1858 – 1931).
[38] “Unlike recent practice, a man remained a member of his original quorum as long as he was a seventy. Thus, when the Saints settled various parts of Utah, these quorums became completely scattered. Since seventies were traveling ministers (D&C 107:97) and not regarded as part of the ward or stake organization, they were on their own; church leaders made little effort to organize them. Eventually “mass” quorum meetings began; local gatherings of seventies who belonged to different quorums but lived in the same community” (Richard D. Ouellette: “Seventies Quorums: 1835 – 1986,” Sunstone, January 1987, 35).
[39] Robert Gardner, one of the settlers in the area, recorded: “When the rain storm came, lasting three weeks, a little before it quit it got in a big hurry and let down all at once. It raised the streams of the Virgin and Clara Creek to mighty rivers. They ran away beyond their bounds, and carried away some of the best bottom land. The little settlement on the Clara Creek was all under water, and the people fled to the hills. The water was several feet deep in their little log houses. We went to their relief and took them our dancing tent for shelter. At the junction of the two streams Great Cottonwood trees came floating down, roots and limbs. It was said that a large anvil came down ahead of the blacksmith shop. A great many pieces of Hamlin’s grist mill were carried down stream for four miles.” Southern Utah historian Juanita Brooks observed: “This flood changed conditions for everyone in the south. The cotton farm at Tonaquint with its small orchard of fruit trees, its garden and corn land, was scooped out clean and replaced with miles of mud and debris. The fort at Harmony was reduced to a pile of mud; the farms at Pocketville were carved away in great slices. The Swiss colony at Santa Clara clung to the barren hillside, losing only their month’s work on the ditch, but Jacob Hamblin and the others of the settlement lost everything: the fort, the orchards, the molasses mill, and the small burr flour mill” (Juanita Brooks, “The Cotton Mission,” Utah Historical Quarterly 29, no. 3 (1961), 14-53).
[40] Charles is off by a decade in this section. The St. George Temple was announced on November 9, 1871 and Zerah Pulsipher died on January 1, 1872.
[41] Daniel D. McArthur (1820 – 1908).
[42] Erastus Snow (1818 – 1888) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and was the leader of St. George at that time.
[43] Israel Ivins (1815 – 1897) was the first physician in St. George and father of Anthony W. Ivins.
[44] Hayden W. Church (1817 – 1875).
[45] Henry Eyring (1835 – 1902) served as a bishop, mayor, and stake presidency counselor in St. George before moving to Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. He is the great-grandfather of Henry B. Eyring.
[46] David Henry Cannon (1838 – 1924) was the son of George Cannon and Ann Quayle. He would later work in the St. George Temple.
[47] The Walker War was a dispute between Utes and the Latter-day Saints in Utah Valley between July 1853 and 1854.
[48] Silbey tents are conical military tents that are about 3.7 m (12 feet) high and 5.5 m (18 feet) in diameter.
[49] This refers to an 1852 blessing by Patriarch John Smith.
[50] Uncertain what words Charles was trying to use here, but in Ute culture, peppermint and wild tobacco were collected and used in many important ceremonies.
[51] Thomas Terry (1825 – 1920), was married to Charles’s sisters Mary Ann and Eliza Jane.
[52] When construction began on the St. George Temple, it was discovered that the chosen site was swampy due to underground streams. Brigham Young was consulted on moving the site, but he remained firm that the location was the correct site for the temple. To deal with the swampy site, workers created drains to eliminate as much water as possible. Then they brought lava rock to the site and crushed it into gravel to create a dry foundation for the temple. After stabilizing the foundation, work began on the structure.
[53] Isaac VanWagoner Carling (1831 – 1911).
[54] Brigham Young announced the temple site 25 June 1875 and dedicated the site on 25 April 1877. According to one recollection, Heber C. Kimball also prophesied of the temple site: “In an early day when President Young and party were making the location of a settlement here, President Heber C. Kimball prophesied that the day would come when a temple would be built on this hill. Some disbelieved and doubted the possibility of even making a settlement here. Brother Kimball said, ‘Well, it will be so, and more than that, the rock will be quarried from that hill to build it with’” (Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, an apostle: the father and founder of the British Mission [Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1888], 446). Orson F. Whitney gave no source for this quote, so it is difficult to verify the context or accuracy of the recollection. See also The Manti Temple Centennial: 1888-1988 (Provo, UT: Community Press, 1988), 1-3.
[55] Milo Andrus (1814 – 1893).
[56] William Pulsipher was Charles’s younger brother.
[57] John Lyman Smith (1828 – 1898) was a Church patriarch and mission president, and served as a delegate to the Utah Territorial Legislature.
[58] George A. Smith was an apostle and member of the First Presidency. He died on September 1, 1875.
[59] Joseph Angell Young (1834 – 1875) was a son of Brigham Young who was called as an apostle (though he never served in the Quorum of the Twelve). He was serving as stake president in Sevier County at the time.
[60] Possibly Toquerville.
[61] Florence Abby Pulsipher (1878 – 1951), Charles’s and Julia’s daughter, recalled that: “At this time my father was foreman on a large ranch that the church owned down on the borderline between Utah and Arizona. It was called Windsor Castle.” (“The Story of Florence Abby Pulsipher Tucker.”)
[62] Brigham Young died on August 29, 1877.
[63] Florence Abby Pulsipher recalled: “When I was about two years old the church changed ranches and had father move his family to Pipe Springs or sometimes called Sink Valley. It was here on March 10, 1881 that my twin sisters Effie and Evie were born.” (“The Story of Florence Abby Pulsipher Tucker.”)
[64] Julia Abby Johnson (1858 – 1919) had twelve children with Charles, though only seven children survived to adulthood.
Florence Abby Pulsipher recalled that: “My mother was father’s third wife and was married at the age of nineteen years and eight months in the St. George Temple. . . . At this time [in 1878] our family consisted of father, his first wife Ann Beers Pulsipher, his second wife, Sariah Robbins Pulsipher, her four children . . . and my Mother and I. Sarah Robbins had a small house by herself. Ann Beers known to us as Aunty lived with mother in the same house, Sariah was a midwife and acted as doctor when mother’s babies were born and then Aunty took care of her and the baby while she was in bed.
“On Christmas morning when I was three weeks old, (it was also Aunty’s birthday) Aunty came into mother’s bedroom to wish mother a Merry Christmas. Mother Said ‘It isn’t a very Merry Christmas to me, I am 60 miles away from my mother and father and can’t go see them and this is the first time I had been away from them for the holidays.’
“Aunty said, ‘Why Julia, if I had such a precious bundle as that baby I would think it was the best Christmas I ever had.’ Aunty had never been blessed with children and she dearly loved them. This why she was so willing for her husband to take other wives. Then he could be blessed with a family.
“Mother said to Aunty, ‘As long as we live in the same house, you may call her yours.’ ‘That is a bargain,’ Aunty said and she did call me her child all the rest of her life.” (“The Story of Florence Abby Pulsipher Tucker.”)
[65] Florence recalled: “In the fall of 1882, the church called father and his family to go to Emery county to help settle Castle Valley, however, due to a fire started by the children playing with matches in which they almost lost their lives, all their property was lost except the house, over a thousand dollars worth, therefore, the trip had to be delayed until they could get more wagons and teams to make the trip.” (“The Story of Florence Abby Pulsipher Tucker.”)
[66] This is probably Francis Marion Lyman (1840 – 1916), who was ordained an apostle on October 27, 1880.
[67] “The Raid” was the anti-polygamy legislation (specifically the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882 and the Edmunds–Tucker Act of 1887) and their enforcement.
Florence recalled that: “The Government was giving the polygamist families a lot of trouble trying to put the fathers in jail if they could catch them but the Lord was with father and although he had some very narrow escapes he always managed to get away just in time to not be caught. For the next few years mother and her family had to hide away by living wherever father could find a place for us to live, one log cabin we lived in didn’t have doors or windows, just a quilt hung at the door and during the night a skunk come in and when he tried to get him out he went behind the flour bin and scented up the cabin so bad we couldn’t remain there, even our flour had to be thrown out. Those years were very hard for us but we always seemed to manage somehow.” (“The Story of Florence Abby Pulsipher Tucker.”)
[68] This seems to have been his family with Julia Abby Johnson. Manassa, Colorado was a community where many polygamous Latter-day Saint families settled to avoid legal prosecution.
Florence recalled that: “On my 11th birthday we moved to Manassa, Colorado. As now we had eight in the family it was necessary for Mother [Julia] to take in work, such as sewing and washing to help support us. At this time Father was Bishop of Huntington ward so he couldn’t be with us for long when he did come to see us.” (“The Story of Florence Abby Pulsipher Tucker.”)
[69] Janie Pulsipher (1882 – 1884), Carlos Derby Pulsipher (1884 – 1884), Wilford Pulsipher (1889 – 1890), Zerah Cadwallader Pulsipher (1892 – 1895) were all children of Charles and Julia Abby Johnson who died at a young age.
[70] John William Pulsipher (1885 – 1899) was the son of Charles and Julia Abby Johnson.
[71] Amos Partridge Johnson (1846 – 1935).
[72] It’s unclear who this was. There is Hannah Augusta Johnson (1880 – 1941), whose name is the closest among Amos’s daughters, but she was married to Hannah Augusta Johnson in 1897. Julia Rosetta Johnson (1874 – 1887) died in childhood, so seems like a more likely candidate for this type of sealing.
[73] Florence recalled: “In April 1900 my Mother and Father and his first wife decided to go to Old Mexico to live where he could live with both of his wives without breaking the law. Besides Mother’s brother William Derby Johnson Jr. was bishop in Colonia Diaz and wanted them to come down there with him.” (“The Story of Florence Abby Pulsipher Tucker.”) While polygamy was illegal in Mexico, political leaders tended to turn a blind eye to plural marriages in the Latter-day Saint colonies.
[74] Unclear whether this is meant to be Naphtali or Nephi.
[75] Anthony W. Ivins (1852 – 1934) was stake president in the Mexico colonies. He would later serve as an apostle and member of the First Presidency.
[76] Possibly William Thomas Mathis (1972 – 1948).
[77] Sarah Ann Alger (1845 – 1933) was the daughter of Sarah Ann Pulsipher and John Alger. She helped establish the Clover Valley, Pine Valley and St. George settlements, as well as Windsor Castle, AZ. She and William Cowley eventually moved their family to Castle Valley, Emery county, Utah. Sarah’s husband William was murdered in 1901 in Helper, Utah and Sarah spent the remainder of her life in this area, living for a time in Sunnyside,then returning to Cleveland. Sarah died 14 Feb 1933 in Cleveland.
[78] Castle Gate and Price were coal-mining communities.
[79] Charles is returning back to 1856 – 1857 at this point.
[80] The Mexican Revolution began in 1910. The anti-foreign sentiment of the Mexican Revolution in 1910 made life for the Latter-day Saint colonists difficult, with many threats to their lives and property. As a result, the colonists returned to the United States with only a fraction returning after things settled down.
[81] Florence recalled: “Aunty had got so old and childish that she lost her mind at times and did not know what she was doing so Father was tied right there most of the time. . . . [In 1911] I went to Huntington to see Mother and Aunty and when I got there Aunty was so miserable she asked me if she could come and live with me so I could take care of her and I said yes she could come. Father brought her to Elmo and we gave them the little bedroom to sleep in and we all ate together. Aunty was an awful lot of care, we dared not leave her alone a minute or she would run away and hide out in the barn or anywhere she could not be seen. . . . Aunty lived about a year and then took a stroke and died in May 1912.” (“The Story of Florence Abby Pulsipher Tucker.”) The symptoms Ann experienced seem related to some form of dementia. Worth Tucker was Florence’s husband.
[82] Florence stated: “After Auntie died, Father got a lot in Elmo townsite about a mile from where we lived on a little hill south of us. He built Mother a home there. It was a log cabin with two rooms and a lean-to bedroom on the south side of it; this is where they lived for the rest of their lives.” (“The Story of Florence Abby Pulsipher Tucker.”)
[83] Most likely Miles Park Romney (1843 – 1904).
[84] Zerah Pulsipher wrote that: “when the Revolution war Commencd my Father was young & being away from home one day he Heard that the British Army had destroyd some Military stores at Concord N Hampshire and being fird with Indignation he saught for a recruiting officer and enlisted for one Campaign and when he returnd home informd his father of the Circumstances. The old gentleman Told him that he was too young and that he would Enlist and go with him acordingly he did and they both went to Boston MS and was in the Memorable Battle of Bunkers hill the 17th of June AD 1775 there they stood and faught side & side with about Thirteen Americans against Three Thousand of the British for about two hours when the Enemy after firing Charleston and wending round under the smoak had Nearly surrounded that wing of the our army when they saw but a small gap to retreat through which was then continualy Plowing the ground with Balls from the shiping – but while they were going out my grand father saw one of our men wounded and crawling away on his hands & knees in the mean time a British <soldier> ran him through with a Bayonet being fild with indignation at such u<n>hal♢ed [unhallowed] breach of the laws of all civilized nations he immediately stopd amid the scenes of Death and Carnage loaded his gun and shot that man down before he left the ground and then obtained a safe retreat.” (Church History Library in Salt Lake City, MS_753_f0001_item_1-Record_book_circa_1858-1878.)
[85] “If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving” (D&C 136:28). President Brigham Young had also invited the Saints to dance prior to that time, including a dance inside the Nauvoo Temple.
[86] A repeated challenge that Latter-day Saint settlers faced in Utah Territory was swarms of Mormon crickets (Anabrus simplex) that would consume crops. This is most famously recalled in the miracle of the gulls story, though that was not the last or only swarm faced over the years. Although called crickets, they are actually part of the Tettigoniidae (katydids) family of insects.
The Pulsipher Papers Project 