Joseph Hyrum Curtis (1818-1833)

Author: WARENSKI, Nettie Curtis

Classification: COMPILED: FamilyHistory

Location: USA

Date Range: BTWN 1818 and 1883

Document Entry Number: 1

Transcription:

Joseph Curtis was born 24 Dec. 1818 to Nahum and Millicent Wait Curtis, at Conatea, (Conneautville) Erie Pennsylvania. He was the fifth child in a family of nine.

This information is obtained from Grandfather's diary and with the help of my father Frederick Reed Curtis, in a history I wrote for the Daughters of Pioneers in 1932.

When Grandfather was a small boy his father moved to Pontiac, Michigan; it being a new country, they settled on the banks of the beautiful (Silver lake) lake. They cleared the land and started raising crops and cattle. There was good fishing and hunting so they had a good living.

Great-Grandmother being a good woman taught the children to be good and to pray.

(Taken from his diary)

"At the age of about 12, my mind was called to reflect upon the stories concerning the gold Bible, said to have been found or dug out of the ground, and being translated by looking at a stone in a hat. Soon after this the Book of Mormon was brought into the vicinity for sale. My father bought one for $1.25. It was read with interest by my oldest sister, my uncle Jeremiah Curtis, also took interest in reading and conversing about the works. His family as well as my father's family, had an opportunity offered as Seville Harris, brother of Martin Harris, lived in the neighborhood. Ezekiel Kellogg's wife was their sister living in the same place. Also Mother Mack, (sister of Joseph Smith's mother) and others which offered a chance to understand considerable by letter and frequent visits by relatives. Concerning the work and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, before the Church was established."

In the year 1832 and 33 Jared Carter and Joseph Wood came as missionaries, also Brother Bent. The family joined the church and were baptized.

Great Grandfather, the oldest son, Lyman, went to Kirtland and came back much strengthened in the faith. Then Great Grandfather went back to work on the Kirtland Temple.

Joseph Smith with his father and mother came to Michigan. Visited the Saints in Pontiac, held meetings, blessing the heads of the families of many, Great grandfather being one.

The Saints were very humble and wanted to go to Zion to help in the Lord's work, After much fasting and prayer by the whole family., Great Grandfather sold the farm for $800.00 of which $350 was given to help liquidate the debts of the church at Kirtland, for this the family felt they were greatly blessed.

In a company of 8 families in the year 1836 they started for Clay County, Missouri to be with the saints. They traveled about 800 miles in a little over 2 months. Grandfather was about 18 at this time. There were several sick on this trip. One little girl fell from one of the wagons and was killed instantly. They arrived in Clay County the 11th of August.

Great Grandfather bought land and with the others settled this country. There was much sickness at first but as more people moved in it became healthier. The country was organized and called Caldwell. The people followed farming most of the time. People were gathering there from different parts of the land hoping to live in peace.

Grandfather with the other boys and his father cut and hewed logs for their new home.

Two years later 3 Sept. 1838 Great Grandmother died leaving a family of 8 children. Soon after this Grandfather was called by Col. Dunham to go 25 miles north to help protect the saints from the mob. They made several trips from one place to another.

Grandfather tells in his diary of the surrender and of being taken prisoner. The saints suffered greatly. Armed forces filled the towns in every direction insulting men, women and children. Soon orders were given for all connected with the Mormon Church to leave the state. Great Grandfather with others went to Commerce or Nauvoo.

Nauvoo was a very sickly place, had been deserted by those that had lived there. it was supposed the Mormons would soon die off if driven there, and by that means they would be rid of the Mormons.

In his diary he gives a very good description of the saints being driven from one place to another, and of their suffering.

In 1839 Great Grandfather, with others went to Illinois, three miles above Warsaw. The branch was organized at Warsaw. The 2nd of June 1839, at which time Grandfather was ordained a priest. The latter part of the summer Grand Father became so anxious to perform a mission, he walked 15 miles to Nauvoo to Conference. Then that evening asked Joseph Smith if he could go on a mission. He was told to go home and come back for the October Conference of 1839; he went on a mission October 22., 1839.

The first meeting he was called to hold alone he felt very frightened, then opening up the Bible he read "Though we or an angel of heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than we have preached, let him be accursed." Then he made a few remarks and asked if there were any remarks. One man advised him to go home and never try preaching again. But Grandfather filled his mission and went on two others after that.

The second time he attempted to hold a meeting alone, no one can know how he felt. Fear, dread, and bashfulness caused him to weep and cry aloud to God for help . As the time arrived all fear left him and he felt to rejoice gratefully and praise the Lord.

When he arrived home from his mission his father (Nahum Curtis) had married a widowed sister, Delia Byam Reed with a family of 7 children. They were married Oct. 29, 1839. She was a grand lady, everyone loved her. They had been without a mother, and she was a good mother to them. That winter grandfather went to Nauvoo to help work on the Temple. The next summer he went to Nauvoo with his father and brothers to build a home for him from hewed logs. The family was large now. Their home was one-half mile north of the Temple. Grandfather, his brothers and great grandfather all worked on the Temple. They polished stones for the temple by laying one stone on the ground and pouring sand on the cut stone, then another large flat stone was layed on top and ground back and forth until the understone was polished, Sometimes it took days to polish one stone.

He left for his 2nd mission July 27, 1840. In his diary he tells how he worked when out of money, or just for food and a place to sleep, then go on. He met many of his people, wrote down names of father and mother and children, their births, of many of his father's people. He converted many. He came home from the 2nd mission but was not home long when he went on a third mission in April 24, 1844, to labor in Michigan. While on this mission he was called home at the death of the Prophet, which was June 27, 1844.

The following October Conference he was ordained into the 9th Quorum of Seventies; having shared in the masonic Hall and passed several degrees.

Rumors again threatened from without indicated another storm of persecution. At length is was agreed to leave the state. Companies were organized many wagons were made or repaired. Grandfather spent 20 days on the islands getting timber, then continued working in the companies until fall. He then had $53.10 due him for his labors.

On the 1st day of January 1846 he married Sally Ann Reed. Then Feb. 6, 1846 he was the second one to volunteer as a pioneer in helping the 'first fifty' to cross the river, in preparing to go west. He continued in this work until March 17, 1846. On hearing of his father's death was released to go home to help his family in the move. So with one wagon, 3 cows, 1 heifer, and joining horses with another brother, they had 3 teams of horses. They moved 50 miles from Nauvoo. He worked to obtain another team and wagon, then started for winter quarters. They got to within 25 miles and camped. He helped make chairs to sell to Missouri for provisions. In the spring he planted crops and was blessed in abundance.

His first child was born Sept. 27, 1847. She was named Sarah Jane. That winter they prepared to start the trek west in the spring. Tuesday May 30, 1848 they started for the great Salt Lake.

They traveled in companies of ten. Then one of his oxen got lame in July and had to be killed. He put a cow in the place of the oxen and moved on. They traveled as far as they could each day, holding meetings on Sundays. When they got into Indian territory, they divided the wagon train into three divisions. They met some Indians but they were friendly and were much relieved. They reached Salt Lake October 12, 1848. Bought some ground and built a small house to live in. That winter was very cold.

In the spring of 1848 the crops looked fine, but it wasn't long until the crickets came in hordes to destroy them. The people fought, prayed and worked with all of their might., but could not repulse them. Then an unlooked for miracle happened. Vast armies of sea gulls came and exterminated the crickets. This curious incident recurred the following year, with this variation, that in 1849 the gulls came earlier and saved the wheat crops from all harm whatsoever. Thus fulfilling a promise made by President Young in the first part of the season: "That the crickets would so diminish that all would remember as a dream."

They were in Salt Lake two years when the First Presidency returned from a trip south, reported the situation of the country requesting those who so desired to farm and to raise cattle, to do so and secure themselves locations as suited best for that purpose on any of the southern streams.

Dec. 9, 1849 Delia Precinda was born.

Grandfather and his brother George went to find a suitable place; they first stopped at Provo, which was just a fort at this time, then went on south to Peteetneet Creek (Payson). Grandfather Liked this place very much but the stream was small. He went back to Salt Lake to gather his crops. That fall two more brothers arrived in the valley, Moses went to Provo and Hyrum to California.

That fall in meeting Pres. Young wished volunteers to go to Peteetneet to strengthen the brethren. Having already been there and liking the country, grandfather went and made his desires known the following day. President Young told him to go with the blessings of the Lord, for it was a good place.

This was about the last of November in 1850. He left his house in charge of his brother Lyman, took his wife and two little girls and started south, It took them a week. The snow was deep in the hills, too deep to get out timber for a house. Cotton wood was secured along the creek and with the help of his brother George, the cabin was finished for them to move in on the 18th of December.

In his diary grandfather has minutes and names of all who attended the first meeting in Payson, as it soon became known. In fact when ever he went to Conference or heard a good sermon (even Joseph's Smiths sermons) he has it written in his diary, He also kept a record of all the first settlers of Payson and the dates and names of the people as they arrived.

They planted crops, fenced their grounds and built a fort nine feet high for protection from the Indians. They also built a school house. Grandfather Joseph Curtis and his brother George and James E. Daniels were the first school trustees.

The first Bishop of Payson was Benjamin Cross, Reed Searle was 1st Counselor and grandfather 2nd Counselor.

The crops were good, and every able bodied man took turns guarding so as not to have trouble with the Indians, and yet many things were stolen. Grandfather lost his oxen, later they took his team. A few days later hew as told one was lame up by Salt Lake. Grandfather fought both in the Walker and Black Hawk War.

Once while Grandfather was hauling logs with others for a school house, they left their loads on the further side of the river as night had over taken them. In the night a warm wind came up, grandfather got up, telling grandmother he was going after his load of logs, for he was afraid the wind would melt the ice on the river and he would not get the logs or his wagon till the water froze the next fall. So off he went bringing home the logs, unhitched the horses and went to bed, telling grandmother he was afraid it was the spring thaw. When morning came grandfather awoke telling grandmother he had better hurry after the logs. She told him that he had gotten them in the night. He didn't remember it. He walked in his sleep and got his load home. When the other fellows went the next morning for their loads, the river was melted. The ice floated and they couldn't get them across until the next fall.

In 1876 grandfather and others went south to Grass Valley in Sevier County, liking it grandfather took 160 acres for his boys. They took their sheep down and his son Heber stayed with them for the first year. Grandfather went back and forth. Once when he went down, my father went with him and stayed all summer. They went up on Fish Lake mountain hunting for cattle. One morning early an Indian came to their camp. He was old and hungry. Grandfather gave him something to eat.

They went with the Indian on horses, going around some places twice, but at last the Indian got off from his horse, went over to a little rocky ridge, no different than others all around there. He kicked around, then picked up a hand full of rocks that were gold. Father was about 15. He said he picked up some and stuffed them in his pocket, but the Indian took every one out and searched him for more. He then put them down and covered them with dirt and leaves., then said to grandfather, "There much gold here but it won't be discovered in your day. Not even in this boy's day. Now go." He took them around and around, finally coming back to their camp about dark.

Grandfather and father thought they knew the land marks and searched many times but never did find it. It has never been discovered yet, as the Indian had predicted.

Grandfather and Grandmother had nine children. Five boys and four girls. He kept his diary until six month before he died; not giving too many stories, more dates and names, a lot of minutes of meetings or of sermons. But the following Indian story my father remembers.

One summer in Burrville grandfather had two of the girls with him to keep house for him and the boys. Father with the others were after logs to do more building. They had a two room log house. The girls were rolling out some biscuits when the door opened, in came Indians. Both men, women and children. The room was full with them. All wanted something to eat. It frightened the girls. But they remembered grandfather saying Indians were easily frightened too, and rather superstitious. Aunt Mary or Mame as she was called, kept on rolling out the biscuits until it was thin, cutting a piece larger then her face, cutting eyes, nose and mouth in it. Took it into the bedroom and put it on her face. She then threw a white sheet around her and came out. The Indians left, pushing and shoving to get out of the house. It frightened them so badly they made a road on the other side of the valley and to this day won't travel on that road. There is still a small tribe of Indians south of Burrville, in a place called Greenwich. But the main road down the valley is where the Indians made their new road.

Grandfather died 1st of August 1883 in Payson, Utah.

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