Joseph Mahonri Tippets
Joseph Mahonri was born 25 September 1838 in Clinton County, Missouri. His father, Joseph Harrison Tippets, of Essex, New York, had joined the Mormon Church in the early 1830s and went to Kirtland, Ohio. He then went to Caldwell County, Missouri, where he purchased land in 1836. He then married his cousin's daughter Rosalia Perry. They soon moved to Clinton County where Joseph was born. The mobs caused so much trouble they were forced to move to Illinois. They lived in an area about 5 miles from Carthage, Illinois. Here his sister Caroline Cornelia was born 5 June 1840. It was a bad year in the Nauvoo area because so many were suffering from serious illness. His mother Rosalie died December 1841 and was buried in Nauvoo. His father married his wife's younger sister, Amanda Melvina Perry, in June of 1842. Two brothers, Hyrum Henry and Henry Chase, were born while living near Nauvoo.
As persecution got bad they moved to Pottawattame County, Iowa, near Council Bluff. Two more children were added to the family, Amanda Jane and Brigham Lewis.
His parents prepared to go to the Rocky Mountains. They joined the John Walker wagon train leaving from Kanesville Iowa 5 July 1852. Young Joseph Mahonri was 13 years of age. He probably was a great help to his parents as they came to the Salt Lake Valley. They arrived 3 October 1852 and settled in the Farmington area. A brother and sister Orson Harrison and Eunice Elvira were born while at Farmington Utah. Sometime and somewhere he was well educated. His journal lets us know, he knew about what was going on in the United States and the world.
William Plummer Tippets, a cousin to his father (Joseph Harrison) was living at Three Mile Creek in Box Elder County. The Joseph Harrison family moved there about 1856. The settlement was later called Perry. Another brother and two sisters were born, Jedediah Morgan, Lucy Melvina, and Mary Elizabeth. Mahonri grew up in Farmington and Perry. He learned the carpenter trade from his father, as well as farming. At that time almost everyone had to grow their own food. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was good at repairing guns for himself and others.
Joseph Mahonri was married 1 January l860 at the age of 21. His wife, age 15, Alice Jennette, was the daughter of William Plummer Tippets. They had a farm in the Perry/Brigham City area.
His first child, Alice Rosalia, was born 16 June 1861 at Three Mile Creek. A son, Joseph William, was born 29 January 1863 at Perry, Box Elder County. A daughter Eliza Rebecca was born 13 January 1865, while at Blue Springs, Box Elder County, but lived only two months. Mary Ellen was born 5 May 1866 in Brigham City. Harrison Plummer was born 16 October 1868 in Brigham City.
Mahonri wrote faithfully in his journal starting as they crossed the plains. We have only one, the others destroyed in a fire. The fire also took the lives of Emma Koeven and her three little sons.
The journal we have starts, "I have not wrote any for a long time for want of paper. I will now begin again." The date was January 14, 1874 in Perry, Utah and ends July 28, 1899 in Georgetown, Idaho. We can wonder about the last ten years of his life. He had been having a lot of stomach problems through the 90's. Maybe he was not well enough to write much.
As we read his journal we find he was a religious man. He encouraged his family to not hunt on the Sabbath. He attended church regularly. He was in the superintendency of the Sunday School. There were times he was invited to give talks. He attended the Logan temple and had his family sealed. He tells of going to Salt Lake City to be baptized for dead relatives in November 1874. That was before the SL temple was finished. In 1880 he says, "Had a dance benefit of the Sunday School. Received $6." On February 1, 1882 he wrote, "Have paid donations for the Logan Temple during the year 1881: $13; to poor: fast donations, flour 60 lbs.; to Quorum for mission, etc.: $2." One time he writes, "We are all well, thanks to the Almighty." Several times he writes, ''We are all well, thank the Lord." His journal tells about his concerns of Lorenzo Snow and his arrest. Several times he tells of paying tithing, usually with crops. In 1890 he was sustained as Superintendent of Religion class of Georgetown. This class was held during the week, with 30 to 40 attending. He was there almost every week.
He tells about the organization of the Box Elder Stake at the Quarterly Conference February 1888. He lists the tithes each ward paid and concerns of Bishops such as division in families and those who went to the saloon. It's interesting to know what wards existed in the early years. He lists them as 1st Ward, 2nd Ward 3rd Ward, 4th Ward, Three Mile Creek Ward, Willard Ward, Bear River Ward, Mantua Ward, Warm Creek Ward, and North Ward. Apostle Lorenzo Snow proposed that Rudger Clawson
be Stake President. He was sustained. Things like this were important to him to be recorded in his journal.
He was called to be on jury duty in Salt Lake City. He was to attend the Third District Court as a petit juror. He left has home October 15, 1876. He was allowed to go home for short period of time. He was released to go home the 25 October. He was given a certificate for the time spent and for mileage which amounted to $2. When he took it to William Clayton to get his pay, he was told the certificate was good for nothing. So he says in the journal, "I would have to state that I was compelled to leave my home and go to Salt Lake City, to attend the Third District Court as a Petit Juror, pay my fare down and back and all expenses while there. With no hope of pay?" It makes us wonder if he received his pay. While in Salt Lake City he mentioned seeing the new Tabernacle.
Mahonri tells about the weather throughout his journal. The weather was very important to them. He tells of planting, harvesting and farming. They lived off the land. Winds and frost, snow, rain, and lack of rain destroyed crops. He tells of many big snow storms in April and May. On May 27, 1877 he says, "The grasshoppers have destroyed all of my garden." They depended on the rain for water. He bought 2 stands of bees for $12 in April of 1882. Some years he had good harvests, others not so good, but didn't complain. Squirrels were a problem on the farm. He writes, "Squirrels had eaten all of the cabbage plants that we put out before going to Soda." Pans of dough with strychnine was scattered around to kill them. They also hunted squirrels so that could sell their tails for a dollar each. Sometimes they got paid for the squirrel scalps.
A very sad day of his life was while at Perry on Sunday, September 30, 1883. His son Joey had gone hunting against Mahonri's wishes. Joey accidentally shot himself in the chest. For several days they thought he would not live. The doctor came from Ogden and gave them little hope. Joey was given several Priesthood blessings. Twenty days later he was able to go outside and walk 30 rods. Their prayers had been answered. At the time, his first child, Maurice was nine months old. Joey was able to live and raise 14 children but had trouble with the wound throughout his life.
November 1, 1883, his wife Jennette was called to go to Salt Lake City to study Midwifery. This left Mahonri home with 17-year-old Mary Ellen and Harrison, age 15. They must have been a great help to him while Jennette was gone. Jennette was able to come home at Christmas time for a few days. Mahonri was able to visit her in Salt Lake City. On a trip in February, he tells of arriving in Ogden at 3 PM, boarding a train for Salt Lake City at 5:30 PM and arriving there at 8:30 PM. A snow slide had blocked the tracks. Going home was much better. He left Salt Lake City at 7 AM and arrived in Brigham City at 2 PM. He does not say how long Jennette was in Salt Lake City for training. But her training was of great help to the family and neighbors.
In 1885 he went to Star Valley, Wyoming, and Montpelier, Idaho to find property to buy. He bought a place from Ed Merell for a horse and harness worth $150. More land was purchased in 1886. He bought 34 acres from L.C. Larson for $160. He was still farming in Brigham City. Mahonri took heifers, colts and lumber to Bear Lake for Chris. (Alice's husband?) In June of 1886 he planted 21 aces of oats, one acre of potatoes, and two of squash. He hauled logs, worked on roads, fixed fences, helped build a house for Hans (Mary's husband?), and helped build two stables. Several trips were made between Brigham City and Bear Lake that summer and fall. The families in Bear Lake liked getting fruit from Brigham City.
March 1887, Mahonri writes, "Our City election came off the first Monday in March, being the first to take place under the new law. (Edmunds Tucker Bill) One hundred twenty-one took oath and voted the People's Ticket. Was elected 109 to 12." His attendance to city council meetings is mentioned throughout the year. This was in Brigham City.
His 'Shop' must have been an interesting place. Many times in his journal he says 'worked in the shop.' Some of the things he mentioned doing were mending chairs, stocking and fixing guns for himself and for friends, making harrow teeth and tongs, and sharpening the plow. He told of taking furniture to Sister Rosenbaum, so he had probably made it.
He tells of making and putting down ten foot bridges for the city. He set 13 trees on the square west of the tabernacle. This was while he was serving on the City Council.
His son Joey was preparing to move to Bear Lake in the spring of 1887. Mahonri and Jennette helped with the move starting May 10th. It took them 5 days to take Joey's family to Preston and through Emigration canyon. He helped Hans, Chris, and Joey get logs and poles, build roads, and start Joey's house before returning to Brigham City.
While at Brigham City he was ordained a High Priest under the hands of Rudger Clawson, Samuel Smith and Adolph Madsen. At a Sunday School Quarterly Review, he was presented a photograph, of the officers and teachers of the Sabbath School. He wrote, "It was a complete surprise to me, as it had not enter my head that my associates of the Sunday School would confer such an honor upon me for the poor services I had rendered. And they kept it from me, so that I had not a hint of what they were going to do." In his thank you to them he said, “I assure you I dearly prize the tokens of love and respect shown me on this occasion. And you will long be remembered by me. May God Bless and preserve you in the Faith of the Everlasting Gospel, is the prayer of your humble servant.”
In 1888 he moved to Bear Lake County, Idaho, buying a house from his brother-in law, M. Smith, for $30. June 24, 1888 he writes, "Got to our new home at 1 PM. Found all well."
Now his time was spent planting more crops and building stables and cow yards, better houses for his children's families who were already living in the area. They all worked together hauling logs and poles. In August of 1888, they bought a new threshing machine for $865.
Even there and then, they had political problems. He wrote October 27, 1888, "We had our names taken off the Ward records, it being necessary to do this on account of unconstitutional laws, made expressly to prevent members of the Mormon Church from exercising the elective franchise." In November they went to Bennington to vote.
Most Sundays the family went to church. He was set apart as a teacher in the Bennington Ward. He felt the need to do temple work. In 1889 they, Mahonri and Jennette, went to the Logan temple with his sister Caroline. They did the work for their parents and had them sealed. They were also sealed to their parents.
Mahonri went to Paris, Idaho, where he homesteaded a quarter section of land. Joey also homesteaded a piece. They had a lot of farming to do. In the summer of 1889 much time was spent working on a sawmill. It had cost $200. In August that year they thrashed only 6,000 bushels of grain. The year before in Bennington Ward they had thrashed nearly 20,000 bushel.
Entries were not regular after 1889. He would summarize the year. January 1, 1894 he wrote, "The year 1893 is now counted among the past. It has been a remarkable year in many respects, fraught with important events… Looking backward we see numerous disasters on land and sea, and a remarkable long death roll. The territories of the Rocky Mountains have suffered comparatively little from the calamities that have swept other parts of the world. The year has also brought improvement and important events of a cheerful character than those alluded to. The world's Fair… The dedication of the Great Temple in Salt Lake City deserves mention. The acceptance of the House of the Lord is a pledge that His promises are ever faithful, ever true."
"1894 is now past and gone. It was a very bad year for frost in the Bear Lake Valley, but crops of small grain and hay have never been better since I have been a resident here, some six years or more."
In 1895 on September 24, he wrote, "I am 57 years old today. I feel younger and stronger than I did three years ago." He, with sons Joey and Harrison, do a lot of farming together. They thrash grain for neighbors. They went fishing and hunting together. Grandsons are old enough to join them. His wife Jennette was away from home a lot caring for the sick. They often wrote to each other. There were months at a time he would not see her.
A house and lot was purchased in Georgetown, August 1897. He wrote, “Paid $300 for it. Gave a note for $200. Paid down $100.” They moved to Georgetown 5 November 1897. He still went to the farm. They grew lots of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and dewberries. These they traded for cheese and money. They also grew grain, beets, onions, and potatoes. He writes, "Have got 45 Bus. of beets, and 4 of onions. Dug and sacked 30 sacks of potatoes, had 50 bushels of wheat, and 95 of oats. He tells of shearing 46 sheep in two days. He bought tobacco and lye to make dip to 'dip' the sheep. Dip cost 75 cents.
Mahonri and Jennette welcomed everyone to their home. They had Jennette's mother Sophia Mead in their home and cared for her until her death, 25 June 1898. He enjoyed reading and had more books than many had. There was a piano that several learned to play. They helped raise grandchildren. Nettie Sorensen and Fanny Prescott lived with them. They took in Frank Pecora, an Italian orphan and raised him until he married Nettie in June of 1899. Maurice Tippets lived with them and helped on the farm. Probably others, too.
In 1898 he was able to attend general conference in Salt Lake City, speakers included President Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, F. D. Richards, J. W. Taylor and Joseph F. Smith. He took notes on their talks. While in SLC they attended the temple 11 April to have their "Second Anointings, also received them for my Father and Mother and Father's second wife Amanda Melvina Perry." They went to the temple again on April 13th and 14th. He wrote, "Tuesday there were near 300 people went through. The next two days, Wednesday and Thursday, there were about 200 each day."
He was interested in politics. He tells about several elections. One time he wrote "Went and visited Sister Jane, and had a long talk with her on politics, she being determined to sustain the Democratic ticket, not withstanding their inability to help us as a people." Of the election of Nov. 1898 he wrote, "The Republicans of this precinct had a large majority for most of their nominees...The Democrats carried Bear Lake County... Utah is mostly Democratic."
Through the years of 1896 to 1899 he writes very often, "Not feeling well... Began using Viavi last night, my stomach feels very bad." A week later he writes, "Think the Viavi treatment is making me feel better, am quite stout again." His sickness didn't seem to keep him down. He was a very active busy man. He probably kept working even when he was sick. On August 21, 1898 he wrote "Sunday. Didn't go to meeting; have got the whooping cough." (At age 61) In June he bought a pair of distance glasses. Paid $2.50.
Mahonri writes on June 10th he “went to Montpelier, bought a new buggy, harness, whip, halter, and lap rope. Paid $95; $30 down, and $65 due Nov. 1, 1900, to draw 10 percent interest from Nov. 1st 1899." This is probably the buggy Jennette used to do her doctoring and service as Relief Society President.
We know nothing of the next ten years. We can assume he attended meetings as his health would permit. He probably continued farming and did a lot of reading. He was a man that kept busy. He showed a lot of love and concern for his family and did a lot to help them.
He died 1 October 1910 in Georgetown, Bear Lake, Idaho, at the age of 72. His wife Jennette, sons Joseph William and Harrison Plummer, and daughter Mary Ellen survived him. There were also many grandchildren and great grandchildren who are proud to call him Grandpa.
Taken from his journal by Colleen Tippets, wife of John
JOURNAL OF JOSEPH MAHONRI TIPPETS (Written 1874 to 1899)
(This digital version of the book, A Time To Remember 1873 , by Ruby Noyes Tippets, 1987, was typed by Vicki Harrison Cutler, a great great granddaughter of Joseph Mahonri and Alice Jennette Tippets in 2015. Spelling and typo’s have been corrected and punctuation has been changed in some instances. The format has been changed to eliminate confusing paragraphs. At the end are some life stories and other comments that are interesting. These appeared in the front of the book originally. The following is added for reference.)
LIFE HISTORY DETAILS OF JOSEPH MAHONRI TIPPETS:
He was born 25 Sept. 1838, died 2 Oct. 1910. Married his distant cousin, Alice Jeannette Tippets 1 Jan. 1860. She lived 1844 to 1914. Parents of 5 children:
Alice Rosalia born 1861, died 1908, married Christian Sorensen
Joseph William (Joey) born 1863, died 1911, married Ellen Rosenbaum
Eliza Rebecca born 1865, (lived 6 days)
Mary Ellen born 1866, died 1932, married Hans Sorensen
Harrison Plummer born 1868, died 1953, married Emma Van Orman
1874
January 14th, 1874 I have not wrote any for a long time for want of paper. I will now begin again. It has been a hot dry summer and fall and the winter has been dry and cold so far, but not much snow. We raised good crops of everything, but money is scarce and hard to get. But we get along first rate, for our co-op is doing well and supplies us with most everything we need. We are all well at present and everything is prospering. I am working in my shop at present, have worked considerable in the canyon.
Tues. Jan. 27th Nothing transpired of worthy note. I am still working in the shop. Weather has been good most of the time. They are not working on the U.N.R.R. building at Ogden. There has been very little snow on the ground. We are all in good health.
Mon. Feb. 28th There is not much going on at present. Times are dull and money is scarce. The U.N.R.R. is now finished to Ogden. It made its first trip today. The weather is very pleasant and scarcely any snow on the ground. We are all in good health
Mon. Feb. 29th We are having the hardest of our winter. It is snowing more or less every day. The snow is about 4 inches deep where it is drifted. We have had some heavy winds lately. There has been nothing of note happened of late. Everything is peace and quiet. We are all in good health.
March 2nd Snowed very near all day. Has been very cold weather for some time. We are having the worst of our winter. Caroline Smith’s little girl was buried this afternoon. We are enjoying good health at present. It has been a very long winter, but good weather most of the time.
Friday March 3rd It began snowing about 10 o’clock last night and snowed most of the day. The snow fell about 7 inches deep and it is freezing some tonight. We still have good health at present, but are getting very tired of winter. I have not got much hay left and it is very scarce and hard to get. I have been working for Brother Josephson on his house for about two weeks.
We have had two days of meetings, at which was represented the various branches, or settlements in the county. Also, our cooperative institutions which consist of a store, woolen factory, tannery, boot and shoe, hat and harness shop and lumber mills, which are all said to be in prosperous condition.
Some of the sheep are dying on account of cold weather. It snowed nearly all day Sunday the 25th but the weather is not very cold. There is about 5 inches of snow on the ground.
Friday 20th Snow 9 inches deep with south wind blowing. It has snowed for the last 5 days and still looks stormy. Feed getting scarce and no sign of spring yet. But we are all well and in good health. That is a great blessing for which we are very thankful.
March 24th My sister, Mary Elizabeth, died at 4 o’clock a.m. She died very sudden of putrid sore throat. The weather is more pleasant now, warm days but freezing hard at night, some bare spots where it has been tramped. Snow 4 or 5 inches deep.
April 12 I plowed the ground and sowed a piece of lucern the first day of this month. I have planted my onions and a few parsnips. The spring is very backward and cold, not much plowing or sowing done yet. Two of my children have been very sick, but they are now well at present. (Typist’s note: Lucerne is either alfalfa or some grassy hay that was grown for animal feed.)
April 20th Snowed all day today. I sowed one acre of wheat the 18, Sat. We are all well at present. Weather still cold.
May 8th It is now snowing. We have had some very pleasant weather. The crops are beginning to grow, peaches in bloom and everything looks lovely and there is still a great deal of sickness in town. I finished sowing my small grain the first of the month and finished planting potatoes the 7th.
Sunday 17th It is raining. The weather is now very warm. I began planting corn the 16th, Saturday. We all enjoy good health for which we are very thankful. There are a great many sick with the sore throat, mostly children.
June 7th We are now having a long rainy spell. I have been hauling wood and lumber now for some time but the roads are very bad. Crops look good. Jones’ little Mary died the 3rd, Wed.
Sunday 21st Everything all well at present. Weather very warm and dry. Crops look well. Jennette went to Cache Valley Wednesday morning. I expect her back today. We are going to have a two day meeting when we will organize the United Order, Sunday the 28th. We had good teaching at our meeting on the United Order. Officers were elected and preparations were made for entering into it. We are all well at present except for the whooping cough. It is good weather, but very dry.
September 13, 1874 Everything all well at present. We have had a very hot day and a dry summer. Hard frost on the 8th killed all of the corn and potatoes in the field. I was working in the canyon getting out wood at the time. I have all my threshing done. I raised wheat 150 bus., barley 75 bus.
Sept. 27th We are all well at present. Still very dry and hot for this time of year. I have got my corn all harvested. I think I will have about 100 bushels. Judge McKean and his associates are doing all they can to make trouble and hinder the work of the Lord on the Earth.
Oct. 27th, 1874 It is now storming and has been for 4 or 5 days, with no sign of stopping. There has not been any frost here in town yet. We are all well. I have not got enough wood yet. I finished digging my potatoes on the 16th. I sold 220 bus. Paid 25 bus. for tithing, and kept 70 bus. for my own use.
Nov. 28th 1874 Started to Salt Lake City to be baptized for the dead relatives. We got there on Sunday, the 29th. Monday 30th my brother Brigham and his wife’s sister Eliza were married.
Tues. December 1st Spent the day in the city.
Wed. 2nd Was baptized for our dead
Thurs 3rd Started home. Stormed most of the day. Stayed overnight between Ogden and the Hot Springs.
Friday 4th Got home. There has been a great deal of rain this fall but not much snow. The ground is now bare. Freezing hard nights.
Dec. 10, 1874 We are still all well. Very good weather. Not any snow yet, the ground is still bare, but freezing hard nights. I have been working for Bro. Reader, building a stable. We are all well.
1875
Sunday Jan 10, 1875 I have been going to the canyon for 4 or 5 days hauling shingle timber. I have got most of it hauled. My brother Heber’s little child, Melvina Jane, died today at 10 o’clock of sore throat. She died very sudden.
Monday 11th It snowed 3 or 4 inches last night and today. We are all well, for which we are very thankful.
Jan 18th 1875 It has been snowing all week or more, a foot deep and still snowing very fast. I finished hauling my shingle timber last week and made a sled.
Jan. 19th 1875 Wind from the south. Snow melting very fast.
January 20th Ground bare, almost a flood. I don’t remember such a thaw since I have lived in Brigham City.
Sunday 31st The ground is still bare, cold nights, but warm and pleasant days. We are all well at present and feel thankful for the same. Times are dull. No money stirring.
March 1st 1875 Very nice and pleasant all through February. Today, March first, cold and blustering. Ground bare and has been since the 20th of January. We are still all well. We can soon begin plowing if the weather is favorable.
March 16th It has been cold and stormy every since March began. The snow is about 4 inches deep where it is drifted. I went on the mountain and got 50 poles during the month of February, and the rest of the time I have worked in the shop. We are all well.
Thurs. Apr. 8th ’75 It is now most beautiful weather and has been for nearly a week. I sowed two acres of wheat the 16th. We are all well. Times are dull, no money stirring. There is a prospect of good fruit crops this season.
Sunday April 25th I finished sowing my small grain the 24th. Apricots are now in full bloom, the weather is warm and dry. We still all have good health.
Sunday May 2nd I sowed a piece of oats on the sod the 28th. Began planting potatoes the 30th. It is now cloudy but warm; peaches are in full bloom. Everything looks well except small garden seeds. It has been warm but there is signs of storm now. We are all well.
Monday May 10th I finished planting potatoes the 4th, began planting corn the 5th, finished the 6th. It began raining the afternoon of the 6th and has rained every day until now. I plowed my lot today and sowed a few onions. We are still all well.
Wednesday, June 2nd It is now rather cold. There was a frost on the field about a week ago and the night before last and last night. My uncle, Henry E. Perry, died May 19th of consumption. There is still prospects of fruit and grain crops at present. I have run the cultivator through my corn and hoed part of it today. We are all well at present.
July 25th, 1875 I have now got the most of my hay up. The weather is very hot and dry. Everything looks well. Oats and barley are almost ripe. We still all have good health.
September 20th, 1875 It is now very windy and cold, rained some last night. There is a light frost on the field; was on the 18th of August. There have been good crops this year. I had 295 bushels of wheat, 120 of barley, and 77 of oats. We are trying to dry peaches, but it is very bad weather for drying. I have not hauled any wood yet. It has been a very dry hot summer. We are all well at present and have been during the summer.
October 31st, 1875 It is now rather stormy and has been for 4 or 5 days. I haven’t hauled much wood. It was very good weather from the 22nd of Sept. to the 25th of October. I had 40 bushels of corn and 320 of potatoes. I finished digging potatoes on the 16th of this month. We sold 205 pounds of peaches at Willard at 9 ¢ lb. Here at home we sold at 8 ½ ¢ per pound.
Nov. 26th It is now snowing a little. It has been storming for about four weeks. I have not got wood enough yet. I have not been doing much for 2 or 3 weeks. We sold 110 lb. of peaches at 9 ½ ¢ per lb. at home. We are not all well at present.
1876
Feb. 9 1876 Wind in the south, thawing very fast. Weather has been very mild for two weeks. The snow laid on the ground about 2 inches during the most of January until now. I have got 3 loads of wood off the mountain last week. We have all had good health and still enjoy the same blessings, for which we are very thankful. The missionaries that were called to Arizona started the 3rd of this month. We sold peaches last year amounting to $45.55.
Feb. 27th, 1876 We have had some good weather this month and some storm. Quite a snow storm last night. The ground is getting mostly bare. Times are dull but we all feel good.
March 9th Thursday Snowed last night 8 inches. I have hauled about 2 loads of rock for myself and 1 ½ loads for the tabernacle. We are all well. The weather has been mostly stormy for about 3 weeks.
March 29th 1876 Wednesday It is warm today, but has been very cold all this month until now. The ground has been mostly all bare this month. I had a piece of lucern sowed the 25th. I got my leg hurt on the 15th so that I have had to walk with crutches ever since, but it is now getting some better. I sowed some onion seed the 29th and cabbage also. We are all well.
April 22nd We had had some good weather but it has been mostly cold. I sowed three acres of wheat the 15th, finished sowing wheat the 17th, sowed barley and oats the 19th. Began planting potatoes the 21st. It is now storming. Apricots are now beginning to bloom. There is a great prospect of fruit this spring. I had to use crutches just 3 weeks. I can walk very well now but am quite lame yet.
April 30th Very heavy rain last night. Looks stormy now. I finished planting potatoes the 25th. The weather has been warm. Peaches are beginning to bloom. Strawberries and plums also. I am now about over my lameness. We are all well for which we are very thankful.
May 7th 1876 The weather has been cold for 5 or 6 days. Peaches are now beginning to bloom. I have plowed my lot and planted it. Plowed and planted my corn ground. All’s well.
June 6th. We have had very high water this year. The weather has been mostly cold with some storm. There is a good prospect of good crops of small grain and fruit. I planted my corn about the middle of May. It does not look very well on account of the cold weather. Strawberries are beginning to get ripe. We are all well, for which we are thankful.
July 2nd 1876 The weather is now very hot and has been for three or four weeks. Everything looks well but times are dull. We are all well at present. P Burbank’s little girl died Thursday, the 29th of June.
Sunday the 16th Heavy storm of wind and rain the 7th. Weather very warm. Times are still dull. I have hauled one load of bark this week. All well at present.
Sunday 23rd Heavy rainstorm with wind last night. Began cutting hay the 21st. Hauled one load the 22nd. All well at present, except colds.
Sunday Aug. 20th, 1876 There has been a great deal of bad weather during harvest. Looks like storm now. I have got my hay all up and harvesting done the 12th. There was light frost on the 9th on the field. We are all well at present and are thankful for the same.
Oct. 6, 1876 It is a nice and warm day yet. I have worked 10 days in the canyon hauling logs. I have got my corn all up, there was 23 loads, began digging potatoes the 5th. We are all well yet, thanks to the Lord.
Oct. 15 I had to leave my potatoes unfinished, and start for the city to attend the Third District Court as a pettit juror. I had some over 400 bu. of potatoes and 100 of corn. I will now copy from my note book:
Oct. 15th Left my home for Salt Lake City.
30th, snow on the ground. In court.
Tues. 31st, In court. Bought a ½ ton of coal, for which I paid $4.00.
Wed. 1st of Nov. In court all day.
Thursday, Nov. 2nd, in court until noon; got dinner at the hotel, afternoon in jury room, could not agree, was released from further consideration of the case.
Nov. 3rd Met at court, was released; in court all day.
Sat. 4th. In court. Got a letter from home.
Sun. 5th. Finished writing a letter. Went to Sunday School in 8th Ward, p.m. went to meeting at New Tabernacle
Mon. 6th Went to court; drawn on jury, couldn’t agree, was left in all night
Tuesday 7th Was released until Wed. morning at 10
Wed. 8th There was a great deal of hurrahing on the streets for Tildon and Hendricks. Went to court.
Thursday 9th In court all day.
Friday 10th In court all day
Sat. 11th In court. Did not get through with the case: E.P. Johnson et al vs. Waterman & Co. mining suit.
Sunday 12th Went to meeting at tabernacle, evening at 8th Ward
Monday 13th In court about 1 ½ hours, spent rest of day and night in jury room. Could not agree. Had supper, dinner, breakfast at hotel. Got paid $10 pay.
Tuesday 14th In court
Wed. In court
Thurs 16th and Fri 17th in court. Was released until 10 o’clock.
Saturday Started home. Got home at 10 o’clock. 50 miles. Found everything there all right at home.
Sunday At home.
Monday 20th 1876 Turned and trimmed and covered my grapes and started back to the city p.m. 25 miles to Ogden, got there at 4 p.m. Started on to the city at 6 p.m. 20 miles, got to the city at 8 p.m. 20 miles.
Tuesday 21st In court. Wed. In court. Thurs. in court. Seen Sim Gunard, George Doxey from the Cotton Farm p.m. P.m. in court. Released until Tues. 28th.
Friday 24th Studied arithmetic until noon. Afternoon went to graveyard and up through 20th Ward. In court a few minutes.
Saturday 25th Started to write a letter home, did not finish. Went to court and got released to return home. Got my time and juror’s certificate, which, with mileage, amounted to $2.00. Went to Wm. Claytons to see if I could get any pay, could not get any. Was told that my certificate was good for nothing. I would have to state that I was compelled to leave my home and go to Salt Lake City, to attend the Third District Court as a Petit Juror, pay my fare down and back and all expenses while there. With no hope of pay?
Sunday 26th Started home. Got home at 4 p.m. 50 miles.
Monday 27th At home
Tues. Shucked some corn
Wed. 29th At home
December 10th I have been to Corrinne. Sold some onions and potatoes. Got 90 ¢ per bushel onions and 35 ¢ for potatoes. Fixed up a bellows and got most of my corn husked and put away and hauled 3 loads of wood.
Wednesday Dec. 20th 1876 It is now clear and pleasant, the first good day we have had for two or three weeks. It has been foggy all of that time. I have been working some in the shop stocking guns. Today I went to the canyon and got a load of poles. Killed hog the 15th. It has now been storming for a week or more. Began snowing the 21st or 22nd. I killed my last hog and took it to Corrinne, and sold it for 10 ¢ lb. We have been and still are, blessed with good health, for which we are thankful to the Lord.
Dec. 29th It is quite warm and thawing. I have been working in the shop stocking a gun.
1877
January 8th 1877 We are all well, thank the Lord. It is still warm weather with a little snow on the ground. I am still working in the shop stocking guns and doing some other things now and then.
January 21st 1877 There is now about 4 inches of snow on the ground and more coming. Looks like winter weather, mildly cold. We are fine for which we are very thankful. Times are dull. Every prospect of a Civil War in the United States: wars and rumors of wars all over the world. There were portions of the St. George Temple dedicated on Jan. 1st, 1877.
January 28th There is now 6 or 7 inches of snow on the ground. Weather very cold. I went to the canyon today and got a load of poles. We are still all well.
Feb. 8th 1877. There is now 6 or 7 inches of snow on the ground. Hillsides mostly bare. Warm days and cold nights. We still have good health.
Sunday Feb. 11th Warm days and cold nights. Weather pleasant. Snow going off slowly. I went to the canyon yesterday and got some wood. Hauled one load of rock, came loaded. I would not haul any more until the road is better. We still have good health.
March 2nd It is now raining. The snow mostly off. On the 24th of Feb. I plowed some. March 1st, planted a few onions. Good weather most of the past month. Got manure hauled mostly.
March 7th There has been very little snow on the mountain this year and enough to hinder going anywhere with a team. Has rained all the time this month.
March 11th Has rained all the time this month with a little snow. Ground bare at present. Weather warm. Hayes was inaugurated the 5th, it is said, by fraud. We are well at present, thanks to the Lord. I have been working in the shop for a week or more.
March 20th It is now very warm and pleasant. I have planted peas and onions. Worked today on pasture fence. Shall begin plowing for wheat tomorrow. We are still all well.
March 26th Still warm and pleasant. Sowed four acres of wheat the 24th. Been plowing today. I planted lettuce and radishes last week. Gooseberries are starting and everything looks well. We are still all well, thank the Lord.
March 31st It began raining night before last and has stormed all the time since. It has been snowing all day today. Apricots are in bloom. I finished sowing wheat the 29th. My wife’s father, William Plummer Tippets, died on the 29th of typhoid fever. He was born June 26th 1812, in the town of Grotan, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. He died at his home at Three Mile Creek, surrounded by his children and friends.
April 15th The weather has been rather cold so far this month. Peaches, plums and strawberries are now in bloom. I planted potatoes in the field on the 12th. The grasshoppers are hatching very thick. We are all well at present, for which we are thankful.
April 25th Still cold and windy, have not planted any more potatoes yet. Got my corn ground plowed, but not planted, and sowed corn and beans. Last week snow fell 3 inches deep on the 20th. All’s well at present.
May 1st 1877 I finished planting potatoes yesterday. Rained last night. Weather more warm. Apples in bloom. Grasshoppers doing some damage. Grain looks well in the field. Have not planted corn yet. All well.
May 27th It has now been warm for three or four days. Had one big snowstorm the 17th. The grasshoppers have destroyed all of my garden. I lent my team out to plow last week. Went to look at a saw mill at Three Mile Creek, Idaho. Done some work on the mill. All have good health.
May 31st It has been storming for 3 or 4 days, and still looks stormy. Grain looks well in the field.
June 10th It has now cleared off warm. Grain still looks well in the field. Started the saw mill on the 7th. It works well. I have been and got my lumber. Plowed my corn and some of my potatoes. Replanted my lot. Still all well.
June 17th Worked in the canyon 4 days last week, hauling wood Friday and Saturday. Worked on the farm plowing. Potatoes and corn. Weather very warm. Grasshoppers have eaten my squash and melons second time. Been flying all last week, going north, mostly.
June 24th Watered wheat the 18th Monday. Worked in the canyon rest of the week getting out wood. Weather more cool. Grasshoppers still flying north. All well, thank the Lord.
July 15th The weather is now very hot and has been for some time. There was a heavy frost in the field the night of the 24th of June, which killed the potatoes and some of the corn. Watered wheat again on the 11th of July. I have been running the saw mill for 11 ½ days. Sawed 4,972 ft., beside 2 pr. of sled runners and worked some on mill repairing. All well. My son Harrison was baptized on the 8th of July by John Christiansen, and confirmed by Adolph Madsen.
August 26th 1877 It is now getting pretty cold nights. Frost killed everything in the field about the middle of September. I had 40 bus. of corn. Potatoes are almost a failure. I think I will have about 150 bushels. I have most of my adobes made. We are all well at present.
Monday Oct. 28th Began snowing last night, snowed all day. Held our Quarterly Conference yesterday and today. Had some good teaching from Brothers Woodruff and Richards. I have not got all my wood hauled yet. Sowed 3 ½ acres of wheat. All is well, for which we feel thankful.
November 25th Have had some light snow storms. Ground bare at present. I have got my house up and the rafters on. I have sold 8 or 9 cords of wood and got 4 or 5 cords left. Got 760 adobes from the yard and 200 from C. Hansen.
December 16th Had some rain last night. Weather milk and warm. I got the roof on my house and the floor laid and the windows in. Mary (daughter) has been sick since the 10th but is some better. Joey has been hauling wood first week. Worked 9 ½ days on the road previous.
Day before Christmas. Is now very cold, snow 3 inches deep. I have got my house ready for plastering. Our woolen factory was burned down on the night of the 21st.
1878
January 5th 1878 There has been very nice weather until the 7th of this month, when it snowed about a foot and is freezing some nights. I was out to Point Lookout and laid up a house for Orson. Been working in the shop since I came back. We are building our woolen factory again as fast as the weather will permit.
Feb. 24th Ground now bare and looks like spring. I have been out to Point Lookout and stayed two weeks. Stormed most of the time. We are still all well for which we thank the Lord.
March 11th We had a very cold storm last week, but not much snow. The ground is bare and drying up very fast. I have been at Point Lookout again and just returned. I have spent 4 weeks out there during February and this month. We are all well, for which we are thankful. Times are dull, money very scarce.
March 18th 1878 I came home from Point Lookout on the 17th. We have made nine miles of fence, built and finished a house for Orson, and built one for Sam during the winter. It is now very warm weather. Peach buds are swelling very fast. I started plowing for wheat this morning on the farm. We are still all well.
March 26th 1878 Rained last night. Still very warm weather. Sowed 3 ½ acres of wheat the 25th. My brother Hyrum’s little boy died the 21st and his youngest girl on the 25th. Both died of scarlet fever. Apricots are now in bloom. I have planted my onions, and plowed some ground to plant some other things. We are all well at present for which we thank the Lord.
April 1st Warm and pleasant. Have planted peas, beets and parsnips.
April 7th Still very warm. Peaches and plums are in bloom. Everything looks well. Finished sowing small grain the 2nd, been making chairs for two or three days. We are all well and think to thank God for the same.
May 12th 1878 Light shower of rain last night. Weather quite warm again now. Has been very cold most of April and this month so far. There was a great deal of frost the last month. Most of the fruit is killed. Some damage done to small grain. Plowed my lot the 25th of April and planted sweet corn and beans. Finished planting potatoes 26th. Planted corn 8th of May. Heavy frost May 1st. Joey has been very sick but is now quite well again, thank God.
May 19th Been storming three or four days; snowed the 16th. Frost at night looks like clearing off now. Most everything in the garden is covered with lice. Went to the canyon 15th.
August 11th The nights are now quite cold. Have been very hot up to the present. I finished harvesting the 5th of this month. Will have good crops of small grain. Potatoes and corn look well. I got about 5 ton of hay from my land this year. Sawed about 5,000 of lumber at our saw mill this season. We are all well, and have been most of the time, thank the Lord.
October 15, 1878 It is now pretty cold and the mountains covered with snow. I have not got much wood yet. Have got my threshing done, corn hoed and hauled, and potatoes dug. Had wheat 307 bus., barley 110, corn 100, potatoes 500 bushels. Joey has had a lame arm for about a month but is now getting so he can work again. Alice was married the 13th of September to Christian Sorensen. We are all well at present, thank the Lord.
December 15th 1878 It is now very cold. Has been for 5 or 6 days now. No snow yet in the valley and not much on the mountain. I have got up wood enough, I think. My children are all going to school now. Went to Ogden in November and bought a new wagon. Paid $73.00 for it. Built a house at Point Lookout week before last. We are all well, thank the Lord.
1879
January 6th 1879 Have had our first snow storm today of any account. Fell about 6 inches deep. Started to make a bob sled today. Have been at home most of the time working in the shop. All well, thank God.
Jan. 24th It is now thawing very fast, ground most bare. I have been working in the shop most of the time. All well at present. The Supreme Court of the United States confirmed the decision of the Lower Court in the Rhonalds Polygamy Case some time near the first of this month.
Jan. 26th Thaw. Finished up with the snow storm. Is snowing now. Snow about 4 inches deep. Still all well, thank the Lord.
February 10th 1879 Thawing again. Ground most bare. We are all well at present. The diphtheria is again in town. There are three or four children dead with it.
Feb. 28th All well at present, thanks to the Lord. No sickness in town. I planted my onions on the 25th. It is now good weather. I have got my manure all hauled out, made a bed for pie plant, and plowed a piece of land for peas.
March 27th I finished sowing wheat the 25th. Has not been much warm weather yet. Apricots are now in bloom. There have been no heavy storms this winter or spring; no snow in the mountains to speak of, but there was a good shower last night. We are all well at present, thank the Lord.
April 6th, 1879 Rained last night. Peaches in bloom. Strawberries beginning to bloom. Weather warm. Everything looks well. There was a wind from the north mountain the first of this month, which injured the wheat some. Still all well.
April 20th Another wind from the mountain. It destroyed 3 acres of wheat. Had to resow it, which I did, on the 18th of this month. Have had some frost which has done some damage to fruit. Rained all day today. Snowed on the mountain. We are all well, thanks to the Lord.
Friday May 16th There has been a great deal of cold weather. Frost about every week. No rain for three or four weeks, not very good prospects for small grain. Have been over to Point Lookout, dug a well, had to dig 22 feet, got good water. Went to canyon, got out 85 ties for U.N.R.R.
June 26th Weather is warm daytimes, cold nights. Have had one or two little storms. Everything looks well at present. I have my potatoes and corn plowed and hoed. Got out 170 ties and 7 loads of wood. All well at present, thank the Lord.
August 10th Finished harvesting on the 9th, everything looks well. Has been very dry and hot all summer.
August 31st There was a light frost on the fields on the 29th and 30th, heavy winds two or three days before. Still dry, and cooler nights. We got our threshing done, had 269 bus. of wheat, 74 ½ of barley. All well, thanks to the Lord.
September 9th 1879 Still all well. Weather warm and dry. There was a SIGN in the SKY on the night of the fifth of Sept., about 7 o’clock, a little north of west. A star shot downward, leaving a bright streak, which gradually assumed the appearance of a snake and continued to change and curl, until it formed the following WAR and still continuing to change, it formed AR and this ^c. It was visible about half an hour altogether. (typist’s note: WAR, AR and ^c were written by hand and are not easily duplicated on a keyboard.)
I finished getting up my corn the 10th. Will have a fair crop.
November 9th 1879 Weather cold. Snow fell yesterday but the ground now bare. Have got my wood up, potatoes dug and corn shucked. I had 360 bushels of potatoes and 75 of corn. Done 19 days work on Sam’s house. We are still all well.
Nov. 16th Snow about every other night but it goes off in the daytime. Still all well. Snowed two feet deep in the mountains.
Nov. 30th Turned warm last night. Rained some. Frost mostly out of the ground. I hauled 6 loads of manure to farm. Done 5 days work at Three Mile Creek.
1880
Feb. 10, 1880 We are still enjoying good health, for which we feel very grateful. The weather has been mostly cold this winter, some snow laying in December, and frost in January. About 2 or 3 weeks of warm weather in January, which took off most of the snow. The ground is mostly bare but frost is not out. Snowing some now. We have begun to build a meeting house in the Third Ward, have got rock hauled for the foundation and some of the sand and gravel and clay hauled. Using the teams and wagons, J.M. worked and hauled load of rock and done 5 days work in stone quarry. Team has been hauling clay for 6 or 8 days. There has been a good deal of wet weather this winter. Ground is well soaked.
March 25th Snowed this evening. Have not planted any yet. I have stocked a good many guns this winter. Has been warm days and cold nights for a week or two. Had a dance for benefit of the Sunday School week before last, got $6 in cash. Have had a good time this winter, although the weather has been very cold and the winter long. Hay has got scarce, selling as high as $20 per ton, and hard to get at that. A great many stock have died on the range. There is plenty of snow in the mountains at present. We are all well, thank the Lord.
April 17th This month came in with rain and has been mild most of the time with a great deal of wind. I began plowing in the field the 10th. Got 5 acres ready to sow on the 14th but it began snowing and kept on till now. Stock still dying. Grass has not yet started. I went down to Conference on the 6th and came back the 9th. We are all well, thanks to the Lord.
April 19th 1880 Monday the 26th I sowed the first wheat. Wed. 28th sowed barley, Thurs. 29th finished sowing small grain. It has been cold and stormy all this month. Grass is starting a little. Buds are swelling. Apricots are in bloom. We are all well, thanks to the Lord.
May 5th Planted some potatoes this forenoon. North wind and snow this afternoon. Was very warm three or four days previous. Box Elder Creek broke its banks on the night of the 3rd and ran down through the field, doing some damage. Plums are beginning to bloom, lucern and grass now starting very fast. We are all well at present.
May 14th It is now cold and stormy. I finished planting potatoes the 12th. Have been hauling manure and hoeing in the garden last two days. Peaches are now in bloom, strawberries also. We are still well, thank the Lord.
July 2nd It is now very hot weather and has been for some time. It had been dry and cold except 2 or 3 days at a time, until the last two weeks. Small grain does not look well, water is getting scarce. Grain does not look well where the land is low and cold. Corn did not come up good but looks well now where it is up. Garden stuff looks well. Water is getting scarce. I have got my corn and potatoes cultivated and hoed, have hauled 5 or 6 loads of wood. I went to Cache Valley on the 19th of June to look at land. Was gone 8 days. Did not find anything that suited me. We are all well, thank the Lord. July was a very windy month. Hot and cold weather, light frost.
August 9th Began harvest on the 9th, finished on the 20th. Frost the 30th, rain the 29th nine days. Both hot and cold weather during month.
December South wind three days. Warmer. Began raining 11th, continued to 28th and then began snowing again.
1881
January 1881 Snowing. Warm the 2nd, cooler the 3rd or 4th. More snow. The snow is now about 6 inches deep and still snowing. We have had good health all the time and are very thankful for the same. Last year had been a worry, cold and frosty one. Still there were very fair crops raised.
February 1881 Rain most of the day. Cloudy the first day, rain at night. It has been warm and stormy most of the time during January. The ground is now bare and has been very warm and pleasant. We are still well, thanks to the Lord.
March - Stormed some during the day, wind north. Ground bare and most ready to plow. Plowed a few furrows by the peach trees today. Rained and snowed most of the time last month. We all have good health. Made half dozen chairs and done some other work.
April 1881 Weather has been warm for 10 or 12 days first of the month. Cold and stormy now. Began plowing on farm the 7th. Sowed first wheat 21st. Finished 29th of April. Apricots are now in bloom. Wife’s grandmother died the 3rd of April of old age. We are all well at present.
May - Weather has been mostly warm, with cool nights. Peaches in bloom 15th and apples 20th of April There is the best prospect of fruit I have ever seen before. Small grain looks first rate but is getting dry. Finished planting potatoes 22nd of April, planted corn 28, 29, 30th.
June – There was a good deal of cold weather from the first to 20th of May then very warm the rest of the month. There was frost in the fields 3 or 4 times, injured grain some, yet everything looks well now. On May 9th started to Bear Lake with Brig. Was gone 21 days. Still all well, thanks to the Lord.
July 1881 – All well at present, thanks to the Lord. There was some cold weather during June, light frost in the field, no damage. We have now got our corn and potatoes all plowed for the first time. Grain looks well, Barley beginning to ripen. Potatoes and corn look well. Began mowing the 28th of June.
August – President Garfield was shot and badly wounded the 2nd of July. It is very hot, but frost on the field the night of the 7th of July. It rained. Corn injured some, potatoes some. Weather has been mostly hot. A good deal of rain and some wind. Began cutting barley 19th, wheat 25th, finished 30th. President Garfield is improving. We are all well, thanks to the Lord.
September – Rained the 7th of August. Finished mowing Aug. 2nd. Have mowed 54 acres of grass and cut 40 acres of grain.
1882
January 1st, 1882 Ground bare at present, had a very early fall and a good deal of stormy weather. Some snow but mostly rain. Had a good crop this year. Potatoes, 500 bus.; wheat 179, barley 108, oats 100, turnips 5, and hay 18 tons.
February 1882 Clear and pleasant. Has been cold through January. Not much snow. The roads bare most of the time. Have paid donations for the Logan Temple during the year 1881, $13.00, to poor, $3.00. Fast donations, flour 60 lbs. To Quorum for mission, etc., $2.00.
March 1882 Clear and warm. Turned warm and stormy the last of Feb. Has been very cold most of Feb. Snow fell about 21 inches on the 13th and 14th, laying on until toward the last of the month. It is now about 4 inches deep. No sign of spring yet. Feed is beginning to get scarce. We are all well thank the Lord. Joey was married March 2nd, 1882, to Nellie Rosenbaum.
April 1882 It is now cold and stormy. March has been mostly cold, but pleasant. Very warm at the last and first of April. Warm and pleasant toward the 7th. Rained on the 6th. Began plowing in field on the 3rd, sowed barley 5th. Did not get all harrowed in. Sowed a piece of barley on T. Nielson’s lot 1st. Made some garden 4th. Bought two stands of bees of S. Smith, paid $12. Do not feel very well at present. Rest of the family all well, thank the Lord.
May 1882 Warm and pleasant. Has been warm for 4 or 5 days. Was cold and stormy most of the time during April. Have got 5 acres of barley, 3 of oats, and 17 of wheat sowed. Land in good condition to plow at present. Cut my leg last week, but have sowed some wheat today. Am still lame.
June 1882 Warm and fine. Was cold most of the time during May. Not much storm, very dry now. Had to water some of the corn to bring it up. Finished sowing May 5th grain and corn the 19th. Joey and Chris started to Bear Lake 22nd to work. Went to Ogden and got a new wagon on May 27th. Paid down $60. Still owe $50. Everything looks well where it has water.
July 1882 Very hot now. Was cool most of the time during June. Had some rain between the 10th and 15th, light frost in the field, did no damage. Have got corn and potatoes all cultivated and hoed once. They look well. Harrison has hauled 5 loads of wood. Are now plowing potatoes. All well, thanks to the Lord.
August 1882 It is hot now. Was cool with some cold weather in July. Heavy frost in field the 8th, killed potatoes and corn pretty bad. Most of them look well now but will be very late. Have got all the hay up except Janes. Had 68 loads, 34 on the meadow. Smallpox in town, one case. All well at present thanks to the Lord.
September – Hot and dry during August. Still all well.
October 1882 All well, thank the Lord. Got threshing done, had fair crop of small grain.
November 1882 Rained most all the time during October, some snow. Had a hard time digging potatoes. No sale for them at all. Pitted most of them at farm. Corn not very good. What there was was damaged by rain. Brother Hyrum and family started for Arizona 10th October. All well.
December 1882 Rained some in November, warm and pleasant rest of the time. Ground bare.
1883
January 1883 December was warm with some rain about half of month, last half snowing but didn’t lay on long. Had a letter from Hyrum, all well. Is at Smithville, Graham Co., Arizona, on the Gila River. This month has been very cold most of the time, warm and raining the last 4 or 5 days. Ground most bare now, except ice. Had another letter from Brother Hyrum. All well. We are all well, also, thanks to the Almighty.
Feb. 1883 Snowed hard all day. Wind north. Turned cold next day and remained so for 10 or 12 days then turned some warmer, variable with warm days, but cold at night.
March – Clear and warm days, nights cold. Rained some until 18th. Windy and cloudy most of time, some rain until last day. We began plowing in field the 12th, finished sowing small grain 28th.
April 1883 Variable. April has been a cold and stormy month. On the 24th there was a very hard wind from the east, which done a great deal of damage, blowing down shade trees, scattering hay, and also turning over and tearing down some barns. Blew down our stockyard at field. Damaged the grain considerable. We began planting potatoes on the 17th, are not quite done yet. Most of the grain looks quite well again. The cold weather has killed all of the peaches and some of the trees. Apricots are now in bloom. Apples are beginning to bloom the 25th. We are all well at present, for which we feel very thankful.
May – Sold our potatoes 20 ¢ bushel, finished planting corn the 12th. Started to Bear Lake the 16th, found everybody all well. Had a good visit, got back 28th. Had to plant corn all over again, which makes it late. All well, Weather cold.
June 1883 Finished planting the corn and setting out cabbage plants 10 or 12th. Weather cold with some showers, turned warm 18th and was hot most of the time. Worked on farm – self, Harrison, Joey and Sammy being in Canyon most of time. All well thanks to the Lord.
July 1883 Weather hot all month, everything looks well. Corn is growing fast. Got up about half of the hay and began harvesting.
August – Still hot. Finished harvest and got up the rest of the hay. A light frost on the 8th or 10. Didn’t damage corn but a little.
Sunday September 30th I SHALL ALWAYS REMEMBER IT WAS SUNDAY AND QUARTERLY CONFERENCE. Joey and Sammy had come home from the canyon on Saturday about noon and went over to the river hunting. I had told them a great many times NOT to hunt on Sunday and yet I don’t feel free of blame.
They had come into the shop where I was at work and talked of going, no doubt for the purpose of getting my sanction. But I was worried over my work and didn’t take any notice of them, but went on down to the field and didn’t get back ‘till after dark. They had gone while I was away. When I got back and found they had gone I was vexed and I wished, in my heart, that something would happen to prevent them from being so ready to break the Sabbath Day and thinking so lightly of sacred things. But little did I realize the fearful ordeal through which we would have to pass.
The next day, about 3 o’clock p.m., I was called out of meeting and told that Joey had shot himself in the breast and was perhaps dead. I was not prepared for such fearful news and was nearly paralyzed, or stunned, at first. MY SON DEAD? He was just perhaps badly wounded. It had happened to teach him a lesson, was the whisperings of the Spirit and yet I started to meet him with fear and trembling.
I had not gone far when I saw them coming and he was setting up in the seat. My fears were settled: YES, he would live. He was covered by a blanket so I could not see his face. It was raining. When we got home and I saw his face, my heart almost ceased to beat. The deathly pallor of his face, his sunken eyes and haggard look brought cries from his wife and mother, “Oh, oh, Joey, Joey!” were the first words I heard uttered from the depths of a mother’s heart.
I said, “Bring him in the house,” and I took hold of and helped to carry him in, the blood running a stream all the way. The first words he said after we got him into the house were, “Administer to me, can’t you?” We did as requested and he felt easier.
The shot had entered about midway between the right nipple and breast bone, passing through the right lung and lodging under the shoulder blade close to the skin. He had bled until his clothes were soaked with blood, and was still bleeding very fast. He had been holding his hand over the wound to stop the blood, and keep the wind from drawing in and out as he breathed. The cavity would fill with blood, and when he would cough or move, it would gush out a pint at a time or more.
It was near 4 o’clock when he got home. We telegraphed to Ogden for a doctor, but he could not get there until ten. Joey was administered to a number of times and felt relief each time. The second or third time we could both see and feel its effects. The color came back to his face, the light to his eyes, and hope beamed from his countenance and the pain mostly ceased. He sat up in a chair until the doctor came, which was near 10 o’clock.
The doctor examined the wound and said there was nothing to be done for him. Nature would have to work a cure if he got well, but we thought the doctor acted as if he had not much hope that Joey would get well. Still, we had faith that the Lord would not forsake us, as He had already manifested His power to save. It was our only hope. And our hopes were not in vain. Joey laid down and passed a comparatively quiet night. The doctor went home the next morning having prescribed a prescription for cough and a few pills to ease pain, should he become restless. But he didn’t need the pills and didn’t suffer much pain.
The third or fourth day he had considerable pain and fever, and was so sore he could scarcely be turned in bed. We began to get uneasy about him. Brother A.A. Jensen called in and administered to Joey and the pain almost instantly ceased, and all that we had faith to ask was granted.
We prayed to God to give him strength to endure until the wound should be healed, with many other blessings which all have been granted so far. He recovered strength immediately, turned himself over in bed without the least pain, and called for his baby (who was Maurice) and talked and played with him for a long time. But our faith was weak. We said, “Be careful and not worry and move too much, or you will hurt yourself.”
He has continued to improve and is still doing well about 20 or 21 days from the time he was hurt. He went out of doors and walked to the next house, 30 rods.
October 1883 – Raining and dreary. Spent the first two weeks mostly watching beside Joey. Sammy and Harrison were digging potatoes when the weather would permit. Didn’t get the potatoes dug until the last of the month. Rained most of the time during October.
November – Still raining a great deal of the time. Jennette was called to Salt Lake City to begin to study for midwifery. She started the 17th. Joey is so as to be out and around when the weather is good. Some good days, but most of the time stormy.
December 1883 – Weather good first part of month. Joey is improving. Jennette came home Sunday the 23rd and stayed during the holidays. Monday the 24th stormed most of the day. Jennette’s sister, Rebecca, was sick and Jennette went down to see her and stayed two nights. Christmas snowed and blowed all day. Jennette came home the 26th. Rebecca was better. All well at home.
1884
January 1884 spent part of the day at home. Went down to Brother Sorensen’s and spent the evening with them. Weather clear and cold the third and 4th. Turned warm and rained hard changing to snow. A good day in between. Cold and freezing on the 12th. Jennette went back Thur. 3rd. All well at home. Joey is gaining fast, thanks to the Lord. Continued cold, freezing hard nights until toward last of month. Warmer and snow went off. Rained some. Joey’s wound began discharging again. Some more of the clothing and some of the shot came out. Had no pain and seems to be gaining all of the time.
February 1884 First day clear and warm, second cloudy. Stormed some after noon, sun shone once or twice in forenoon. Has rained and snowed so far ever since the 5th. Now on the 6th wind blew from mountain. Snowed and blowed all day and part of the night, colder the 7th. Pleasant and clear and cold until the 11th. Cold and snowing and blowing some more snow, more than we have had all winter before, about 6 inches and still snowing. We are all reasonably well at present, thanks to the giver of all good.
Feb. 22nd Warm. Thawing very fast. Ground nearly bare. Have had stormy weather nearly all month, except a day or two at a time. Have been to Salt Lake City, went down with Rosenbaum as a witness for land which he had homesteaded. Had to go with a team to Ogden, started the 18th. Snowed and blowed very hard most of the way to Ogden. Got there about 3 o’clock, took dinner at a hotel, boarded train for Salt Lake City at 5:15. Was delayed two hours waiting for U.P blocked by a snowslide. Got in S.L. City about half past 8 o’clock. Stayed at Valley House overnight.
Tuesday 19th, took breakfast with my wife at Miss C. Raleigh’s. Had not seen my wife for six or 7 weeks. Found her tolerably well and in good spirits. Finished our business as witness, visited with some of Rosenbaum’s wife’s sisters, went to the class where my wife is studying, found all well and in good spirits. Came back with my wife to Miss Raleigh’s, stayed overnight, started home next morning on the 7 o’clock train, got home alright about 2 o’clock p.m.
20th. Found all well at home, weather stormy, but not so cold.
March 1884 March came in clear and pleasant, freezing some nights. Some good weather last of February, ground bare, and most of the frost out. Plowed a little in the garden on 27th, trimmed shade trees for city, 29th and 1st of March. Began raining yesterday 4th, still raining 5th. All well, thanks to the Lord.
March 10th Snowed 4 or 5 inches deep and still snowing but looks a little like clearing off, has rained and snowed for 6 days very hard. Has been the most disagreeable weather that I can remember of this time of year. But the health of the people has been very good all winter and we should not complain, but thank the Lord we are not worse off.
March 31st Has been storming most of the time, not very cold, but bad weather. Began plowing in field March 28th, sowed first wheat April 2nd.
April 1884 Warm and pleasant but not clear. Weather mostly good first 13 days, then rain and snow until the 17th and still looks stormy. Sowed 3 ½ acres of oats the 9th and 3 acres of barley 10th. Sowed 4 acres of wheat 5th. Have sowed 14 ½ acres. Will not be able to sow any more for some time if don’t have any more storm. But we all have good health for which we feel thankful.
May 1884 Was a reasonable fair day. Heavy rain on the third and quite cloudy for 2 or 3 days, turned warm the 7th, is very warm now. Creek is high, likely to do damage. Have been planting some potatoes and plowing for corn, have not finished sowing wheat and oats yet. The lower end of farm is too wet to plow. It has been the worst spring that I can remember of. Rain and snow nearly all the time. Apricots began to bloom on 26th of April. Peaches, strawberries and currants are in bloom now. Apples are beginning.
May 10th Did not finish sowing grain until the 21st. Finished planting corn 29th. Some storm last of the month.
June 1884 all well at present thanks to the Lord. First day of June was cool and windy in the morning, hot middle of day and shower in evening. Looks like more storm now. Grain looks well in field. Will be very weedy on account of so much wet weather.
May 15th Weather quite cool for this time of year. Storm threatening most of the time. Have mowed lucern, but hard work to get it dry. Grain looks well in the field, some of it is very late. Will start to cultivate tomorrow 16th, both corn and potatoes will do. Worms are doing some damage. Have eaten most all of cabbage plants. Harrison and Sammy have made 4 trips to the canyon. Sammy’s wagon was broke last year hauling lumber, paid $10 to get it fixed. All well, for which we feel very thankful.
July – All well, thanks to the Lord.
August 1884 Still all well. Have had very good weather most of the time. There has been so much water in the field this season that we have had a hard time to get our hay from lower meadow. Moss deep and ground so soft. Very hard wind from south wasting some hay which had not been raked. Very heavy crop of hay this season.
Two of our missionaries were murdered by a mob of masked men while holding a meeting on Cane Creek, at the house of Brother Conder, in Lewis County, Tennessee. The names of those killed are as follows: Wm. J. Berry and John Gibbs, of Utah. Morton Conder and James Hudson, son and step-son of Brother Conder, at whose house the meeting was being held. One of the mob was killed, named David Winson. This sad event took place Sunday, the tenth of August, 1884.
September – We finished cutting grain 28th of Aug. Had previously hauled 15 loads of wheat and barley. Began hauling oats on 4th of Sept. Started to rain night of 4th and has rained steady, with only an hour or two cessation at a time until the present.
September 9th Began clearing off the 9th. Good weather for some time. Had to open stacks and spread grain in the field. Land was very muddy. Had a hard time to get grain hauled. Got threshing done and hauled most of corn during September. Corn crop almost a failure on account of worms. Potatoes about half crop. Have had a great deal of rain and some snow. Considerable grain sprouted in stack.
1885
January 1885 Quite warm and pleasant. Ground bare. Have not had much cold weather yet. Spent evening with Bro. Sorensen’s. My daughter Mary was married at Logan Temple December 17th, 1884, to Hans Sorensen.
January 10 – Raining again today, ground bare. Has been warm so far this month. All at present, for which we feel very thankful.
Jan 11th – There fell during this month about 10 inches of snow. Turned quite cold towards last of month and remained so until 30th. Began to turn warmer.
February 1885 Warm and pleasant, snow melting very fast, cloudy and warm, some sunshine.
Feb. 3rd – Rain. Snow going very fast toward the last of Jan. Brother Taylor and some of the Twelve, paid a visit to Old Mexico and made arrangements to purchase some land on which to build a city of refuge for the Latter Day Saints, who are compelled to leave their homes or submit to severe persecution, on account of their religious beliefs and practices. The Trustee of the Church paid $5,000 dollars, the balance was paid by donation, making $20,000 in all. I paid $3.00.
March 1885 Came in warm and pleasant, cold nights. Ground bare. Began snowing about the 10th of February, fell 8 or 10 inches deep, but was all gone before the first of the month of March. Plowed some at Rosenbaum’s on the 28th of February.
There was a Primary Meeting towards last of February, for the purpose of choosing delegates to nominate city officers to be voted for Monday, March 2nd. Some of the young men undertook to run things in their own way. Prominent among them was A.W. Snow, E.W. Pierce, and others, who made speeches claiming that things had to be done proper, so they had taken it upon themselves to set things right. E.W. Pierce objected to polygamists having any voice in the meeting, as they were disenfranchised. Gentiles and apostates joined with them. All were moved upon by the same spirit that has caused men to fight against the Church’s servants of God in all ages of the world. These men, it must be remembered, were Seventies and Elders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who had covenanted to serve God and sustain His authority upon the earth.
March 20th Still raining. Rained all day.
Thursday, 21st Went to my sister’s. Road very muddy.
March 22nd – Started for Star Valley, went through Montpelier, up Bear Hollow. Had some trouble to find the road down into Montpelier Creek, which was high, and bad to cross.
March 23rd – On up Montpelier Creek, turned to the right of Snow Slide Canyon. Shot two large fish, which made all that 4 of us could eat for dinner. Road very bad, crossed Thomas Fork and up Beaver Canyon and over, rolling to Salt Works. Snowed some at night. Froze hard Sunday.
March 24th – Crow Creek 15 miles, coming in to south end of Star Valley. Stopped for dinner, creek was high. Bro. Heber rode across horseback, thought we could ford without danger, which we did, the water coming up to front end of wagon box. Traveled north down the valley, crossed Afton to large creek on east side of Valley. This is a beautiful place for a city. In fact, the whole Valley would be a perfect paradise if it were not for the cold weather in the winters, the snow falling down two or three feet deep and laying on from four to six months. Here we saw deer, shot at them, but didn’t get any.
March 25th, Monday Drove over to the north end of the valley, which is about 25 miles long, laying nearly due north and south. Went up to canyon to look at timber, which was good, and easy of access. Heber shot a deer, which made us all the meat we needed. Drove back, and camped at Afton.
March 26, Tue. Drove back to Salt Works for dinner. Stayed at Snow Slide overnight, this being the only place that we could find any fish. Shot quite a number of large trout.
March 27th Drove back to Bennington, got there about 4 o’clock.
March 28th Looked at three or four different places that were offered for sale. I bought one of Ed. Merell’s, gave a horse and harness worth $150.00.
March 29th Started home. Crossed the river on ferry boat below Bennington, traveled south through Bear River Valley, passed Ovid, Paris, Bloomington, St. Charles and Fish Haven, camped at Swan Creek on Blacksmith Fork.
Sunday the 31st Got home between 5 and 6 o’clock p.m. Found all well, I had a chill first night on getting home, was quite sick for some time, recovered slowly.
December 1st I have not written any since getting home. It is now quite cold, with 2 or 3 inches of snow on the ground. Has been a very fruitful season, good crops of all kinds. There has not been much sickness this summer and fall. The government officers have been doing all they could to have us persecuted. They have packed juries and convict all they can get hold of, except those that would agree to put away their wives, and obey the laws, as interpreted by the courts. Apostle Lorenzo Snow was arrested last month at his home in Brigham City, taken to Ogden, and placed under $1,800 bonds, to appear when wanted.
It has been a good summer and fall, pleasant and agreeable, rained most of the time during November.
1886
January 1886 Rained most of the time during December, turned cold towards last of month. January came in cold but pleasant, has been quite cold so far. It is now the 11th. Apostle Lorenzo Snow has been convicted of unlawful cohabitation – three counts. Took an appeal to the Supreme Court of the Territory. Destination postponed until sometime in February.
Turned warmed toward the last of January, rained, and wind blew from the south until the snow was all gone. There has not been more than 4 or 5 inches of snow at one time so far this winter. We are all well and have been for some time.
February – February came in warm and some rain. Feb. 2nd, day cloudy all day. Has been very warm and pleasant so far. It is now the 7th. Looks and feels like spring.
There has been no attempts to arrest any of the Brethren since Brother Snow was arrested. Senator Edmunds has introduced a new bill, which has passed the Senate. If it becomes law it will give our enemies power to do about as they please. No doubt they are waiting, in hopes it will pass the House. Remained warm and pleasant all through February. There was some wheat sown on benchland. We done one day’s plowing on farm. Stormed some last day or two. All well, thanks to the Lord.
March 1886 March came in stormy and rough. Has been bad weather all month so far. Some rain, but mostly snow falling from 1 to 5 inches, but not laying on ground more than a day or two. It is now snowing very fast.
March 18th Myself, wife, Joey, Alice, Mary and husband, his mother and brother went over to Logan the 9th to work in the Temple. Received endowments for dead relatives the 10th and 11th and 12th. Had our children sealed to us, came home 13th.
Brother Snow voluntarily went to jail for the purpose of having his case advanced on the Supreme Court calendar. It is reported that Geo. Q. Cannon could not be found when wanted for trial, which was set for the 17th.
It is stormy, has been until last day or two which were clear and fine until last night when it rained some. George Q. Cannon cannot be found. His bonds were declared forfeited. The bondsmen will contest the order on the grounds that bail was excessive.
April 1886 April came in mild and warm, but windy and cloudy. Stormed next day. We sowed 4 acres of wheat latter part of March, sowed 3 acres of barley and 3 of wheat beginning of this month. Has been quite cold and stormy most of the time so far.
April 11th – Conference was held at Provo this month on Sunday the 4th, continued 4 days, ending Wed. the 7th. President of the Twelve, F.D. Richards, George A. Smith, H. J. Grant and John W. Taylor there. There was an epistle read on Tuesday from the First Presidency, sign by John Taylor and George Q. Cannon, giving good instruction and encouraging the saints to be patient and endure to the end. I have been very bad, with a lame back for 4 or 5 days. Am getting better slowly. Apricots are now in bloom, grass is starting, and it feels very much like spring.
May 5th 1886 Daughter Mary’s birthday. Fruit and berries in bloom. Things look well.
May 10th – Start for Bear Lake with floor for Chris’ house this morning. Also took 2 heifers, 3 calves, 2 colts. Was 9 days on the road.
June – Frost. June 28th we started home, arrived July 2nd. Stayed overnight with Sister Caroline, at Mink Creek. While at Bear Lake planted 21 acres oats, 1 acre potatoes, 2 squash and garden. Worked 12 days on the canyon road, built house for Hans. Hauled 1 load poles, 10 of logs, 10 of clay and sand. Fixed fence, laid up 2 stables.
August 1st – Paid $160 for 34 acres meadow from L. C. Larsen. All well at present, feel thankful for blessings. Very bad weather, with some hard winds.
September – Still very hot. All well. Crops are very light everywhere this season.
October – Still quite hot. All well. Have got our crop all secured except potatoes. Potatoes are bringing a good price at present.
October 12th – Have sold 265 bushels of potatoes at 40 ¢ per bushel.
October 29th - Have potatoes all dug, had near 500 bushels. Joey has made three trips to Bear Lake with fruit, and I made one. We sold near $100 worth of fruit at Bear Lake, and sold $25.00 worth of dried fruit. Harrison has worked about two months on the gravel train, at $1.50 per day. Joey has earned upwards of $40.00 working out west. He is now quite well and weighs as heavy as ever did before he was hurt.
November 1886 Some stormy weather but mostly fine. Snow fell about 4 or 5 inches deep near the middle, but turned warmer and snow went off again. Quite warm days, freezing nights, some nights. All have been well this month. Harrison came home near the middle and has been getting out some wood. Have not got near enough yet. The Marshals have made several raids, but got no one yet, so far, for which we are very thankful.
December 10th – Has been very warm and pleasant, although ground bare. Some plowing done.
December 16th – Edward M. Dowlton, of Parawan, was shot and killed by Deputy U.S. Marshal William Thomson, because, as claimed by Thomson, Dowlton would not stop when called upon to halt. Dowlton was under indictment for unlawful cohabitation, but the evidence at trial showed that he did not try to get away, and was shot without the least provocation. Thomson was indicted for manslaughter by the grand jury of his own selection and was tried by a jury procured by open venture, and pronounced not guilty.
1887
January 1887 Came in warm and pleasant. Was warm for 3 or 4 days, then turned cooler, freezing quite hard a few days, then turned warmer again. Snowing and blowing some last night. Ground bare in spots.
January 12th – The House passed the Edmunds Tucker Bill today. It was passed with a “whoop & a Holler” without discussion, members being so blinded by prejudice against the Mormons that they were willing to destroy every vestige of human rights in order to injure the Mormons. It has not yet become law. It will have to go to the Senate and then be signed by the President, which may take some time yet.
January 20th – It has been very changeable so far this month. Snowing and raining, freezing two or three days, then thawing. Ground is bare at present. All are well. General good health throughout the city. Continued windy and stormy most of the time until last day, which was clear and warm.
Feb. – This month came in cloudy and warm. Feb. 2nd snowed most of the day, has been windy and stormy all through, but warm most of the time. Snow fell about 10 inches on the 17th, turned cold. Snow freezing quite hard but warm in the middle of the day when sun shines.
The Supreme Court of the United States rendered a decision in the case of Lorenzo Snow on appeal from the First District Court of Utah. Segregation was declared unlawful, and L. Snow and others who were serving double terms, and terrible terms, were set at liberty. On the seventeenth, the Edmunds Tucker Bill passed the house, Yays 20, Nays 39. It soon passed the senate and has gone to the President for his signature.
March 1887 The President didn’t sign the Edmunds Tucker Bill, but it became law through not being returned or noticed by President Cleveland. Our city election came off the first Monday in March, being the first to take place under the new law. One hundred and twenty-one took oath and voted the People’s Ticket, was elected 109 to 12. The vote stood as follows: For Mayor, A. Madson – 109; Counselors, W. Horsley – 118, J.F. Merrill – 119, J.M. Tippets – 119; Brigham Wright – 119, J. J. Jensen – 109. Recorder: G.L. Grachl – 190, Treasurer O.M. Stohl – 115, Assessor & Collector: C. Wixom – 109. Justice of the Peace: M.L. Ensign – 118, A.H. Snow – 118, Marshall: David Rees – 115.
April 1887 – Continued quite cold and dry through this month, yet there is a fair prospect of good crops. Most of the small grain was put in during March.
May 1887 – May came in warm, remained so for 8 or 9 days, then turned cooler. My son, Joseph, and family, has been preparing to move to Bear Lake this spring. Started on the 10th day of May. Myself and wife accompanied him. Had two wagons and teams, driving 5 colts, 1 cow, and 1 yearling calf. Had a cold and windy time but got along first rate. Ground was very dry and feed poor on account of so much cold weather. We got to our destination on the 15th at about 7:30 p.m. Found all well. The boys had got the small grain in. Most of it looks well. Some of the oats had not come up very good, the ground being too dry. We helped to plant some potatoes and made a garden on the 19th. We went over to Georgetown to look at a place to take the water out. There is a company from Bloomington who have been locating a ditch to bring water from Georgetown around our place about two miles south. They would like to have us join them in this.
On Friday the 20th, we planted some carrots and put water onto the oats to bring them up as there was no sign of storm yet. Went to the canyon in afternoon with the boys to get some poles and look for a place to get house logs.
Saturday 21st – Chris and Hans went to Montpelier to Elder’s Meeting, and made 6 rods of fence for our meadow at Bennington. Joey and I plowed some ditches in the grain and tended the water.
On the 24th we went to the canyon and worked on the road. Got a load of house logs. The 25th we all went to the canyon. Chris and Joey went up and got a load of poles for H. Smith, and a load of house logs. Hans and I worked on the road.
Sunday the 29th – Went over to Brig’s and down to Bennington to meeting. The weather is getting quite warm. On Monday the 30th, we all went to the canyon. I fell a tree on one of Hans’ horses. It broke across the stump, a thing scarcely ever known to happen when a tree stands straight like this one did. But the only damage done was a broken hame (curved part of horse collar) and a few scratches on the horse. It was a wonder that it didn’t kill the horse, as it struck him with full force breaking the tree in three pieces.
On Wednesday, June 1st, we finished hauling logs and started foundation of Joey’s house. Joey moved camp up to where his house is started.
Thursday 2nd – Started home. Wind blew hard all day. Very cold riding. Came to Soda Springs Friday 3rd. Quite warm this morning, wind south. Drove on down to Sister Rosenbaum’s. She had just received word that Martha, her son’s wife, was dead. We went on down and stayed at my sister’s at mouth of Mink Creek.
Saturday 4th – Rained all day so we couldn’t travel. Caught about 8 lbs of fish between showers.
Sunday 5th – Started on for home. Wind blew hard from the north all day. Cold for this time of year. Stopped at Bullen’s for dinner and on Logan Bottom at night. Very cold but no frost. Got home Monday 6th, found all well; garden dry and weedy. Harrison is working with John Forsgren, learning the carpenter trade.
Tuesday, 7th, - attended meeting of City Council, held two sessions. R.R. Wilson applied for a reduction of his license fee to sell liquors and run pool tables; petition not granted. He left the room in a very ungentlemanly manner, remarking, as he left, “I hope the next City Council will be composed of Gentlemen.”
Wednesday 8th – Hoed garden and fixed wagon. Thursday, hitched up and went to the store, bought lock. Friday 10th, hoed some in garden and mowed lucern by hand. Harrison went to canyon for wood.
Sat. 11th, worked in the garden. Harrison raked up and hauled lucern. After noon we went down and plowed some ditches in oats and turned water on.
Sunday 12th – Went to meeting and Sunday School, after which we rode down horseback to change water on the oats. When going to get off, I dropped the spade, which frightened the horse, causing her to jump to one side, throwing me off, but I was not hurt much. Harrison went down to Plain City to visit.
Monday the 13th – Loaded up to start to Bear Lake. Went to the store and bought the following: 25 lbs. sugar, $2, 1 doz. milk pans, $1.20, 5 gal. syrup, $2.75, nails 45 ¢, stove boiler, $2.50..
Tuesday 14th – Started for Bear Lake, in company with O.P. Olsen. Was on the road Wed. & Thursday 16th. Got to our place at 8:30 p.m.
Friday 17th – Went to canyon with Brother Olsen to look at timber, found all satisfactory. Went over the ridge to Georgetown to look at mill, got home late. Saturday 18th, went to Montpelier, bought lumber for Joey’s house, paid $5.65, nails, 25 ¢, bought a grindstone in connection with Chris and Hans, cost $2.50, Joey’s share 75 ¢.
Sunday 19th – Went fishing. Brig and family was over when we got back. Monday 20th – all went down to run the lines on a piece of meadow Joey had rented while I was gone; found he had made a mistake and took the wrong piece. Came home at noon. Joey and Hans went to watering. Chris and I fixed the grindstone and ground our tools. Brother Olsen went to work on mill at Georgetown.
Tuesday 21st, Wed. 22nd, Thurs. 23rd, and Friday 24th – worked on Joey’s house, finished carpenter work. Weather very hot. Saturday 26th, stayed home most of the day, weather cool since rain.
Monday 27th – Made a bedstead for the children. Joey hauled clay on his house. Chris and Hans finished watering. Brother Olsen is getting some better, having been sick for a time.
Tuesday 28th – Chris and I plastered Joey’s house, Joey tending us, got done and moved some of the things in. Wed. 29th, all worked in garden plowing, hoeing, and watering. Got done in good time. Things are going well. Brother Olsen was worse today.
Thursday 30th – Joey started over after his mother. Hans and I went to canyon. Weather hot days and cool nights. Friday July 1st, rain and cloud most of day. Saturday 2nd, clear this morning, quite cool. Went to canyon and got some poles. Joey got back with mother. Weather warm.
Sunday 3rd – Went to meeting at Bennington, had some good instructions from Bishop Wright: partaking of the Sacrament, and mixing up with Gentiles in our celebrations. Was called upon to speak. Felt to endorse the remarks of the bishop.
Monday July 4th – Fixed up to start home. Went to the river fishing, took the women and children.
July 5th – Started home, leaving my wife there. Wind blew very hard all day, which made it very disagreeable traveling on account of dust. Camped at Garden City. Grain here is about one week ahead of Bennington. People are just cutting their first crop of lucern, which is good and heavy.
Wednesday, 6th – Floating clouds and high showers. Thursday 7th, got home about half past 12 p.m., found all well. Went down to the field in the evening to look at the grain, found it looking well. Saw Neils, whom I had made a bargain with to cut hay. He had hired a machine in. Is going to cut it himself. This puts me to inconvenience as I was depending on it for my hay.
Friday 8th and Saturday 9th – Worked in the garden.
Sunday the 10th – Attended two meetings at Seventies Conference. Jacob Gates and R.L. Campbell are up from Salt Lake City. The 59th, 58th, 52nd, and 5th Quorums were represented. Several names were to fill vacancies.
Monday 11th, worked in garden, quite heavy showers Sunday and Monday nights.
Tuesday 12th, worked in shop. Fixed a mower. Harrison went and cut some barley for Wm. Evans. Harrison has been out of work since Saturday 9th.
Wednesday 13th – At home working in garden. Harrison cutting lucern for Wm. Evans. Light showers every day.
Thursday 14th – Cut our lucern and went to Three Mile Creek. Promised to cut 10 acres of meadow and 4 acres of lucern for G. Gridley at $1.25 acre. Also 5 acres of meadow for J. Sheffield.
Friday 15th – Harrison to circus in Ogden. I fixed a knife for mower, got $90.00 of S. Smith on some land he had sold, $67.50 in cash and $22.00 on store. Paid $42.55 to L.C. Larsen. Borrowed money, making us square.
Saturday, 16th, at home. Worked in the garden.
Sunday 17th – Went to Sunday School, Meeting, and Seventies Meeting.
Monday 18th, went down and started to mow for J. Sheffield, got throwed from the machine and hurt some but not serious. Harrison came down and mowed. I came home and made a bargain with Bro. Smith for three tons of hay at $5.00. Tuesday, picked apples, finished picking apples Wednesday. Harrison mowing and raking.
Thursday 21st – Picked 3 bushels of apricots, sold 2 to L. Grieghl, and 5 of apples. Harrison mowed for G. Gadney. Friday, set up Reaper, and cut ¾ of an acre of wheat for W. Evans. Wrote a letter to Bear Lake. Harrison raked hay and cut a piece of lucern for Burbank.
Saturday 23rd – Celebration of 24th of July. Harrison got up at 5 a.m. and cut a piece of wheat for Rasmus Jensen, then went to the celebration. I remained at home and watered, got done at 1:30. Went to B.M. Young’s Grove at 4 p.m. to Old Folks Party. Seemed to be having a good time. Heard that President John Taylor was very sick.
Monday 25th – Began cutting grain for Sammy. Harrison binding.
Tue. 26th, cut grain. Finished. Wheat is ready.
Wednesday 27th – Harrison mowed for O.G. Snow. I stayed at home and picked apples, picked 9 bushels. Heard that President Taylor was dead.
Thursday 28th, finished picking apples, sold them to Horsley. Harrison started to mow lucern for G. Gidney, broke down. Took most of the day to fix the machine.
Friday 29th – Brother Taylor was buried today in Salt Lake City. I went to farm and cut grain, Harrison binding.
Saturday, 30th, stayed at home to water. Went to meeting. Harrison run reaper. Went down to look at oats to see if they would be ready to cut. Found them nearly ripe.
Sunday, 31st, went to meeting at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Harrison started to work for Bufort Crocker and Co. at Promontory.
August – Cut oats for Sammy, Aug. 2nd, began cutting oats for self. Attended meeting of City Council. Went back to field in the afternoon. Wednesday reaping for self, broke down at 3 p.m., got a bolt of L.L. Christiansen, got ready to work next morning. My wife’s niece came down from Snake River. Was sick. She got Dr. Carrington to attend her.
August 4th – finished cutting my grain and went back to farm and finished Sammy’s oats, broke down just at quitting time, had to bring the reaper home.
Friday 5th, got reaper fixed ready to go back to work at 10 a.m. Went down and cut oats for Nils.
Saturday 6th, watered lot and reaped afternoon. My wife’s niece, Sophia, went down to Three Mile Creek to stay with her mother-in-law awhile. She is getting very fat, but her baby is quite sick now.
Sunday Aug. 7th – Went to Sunday School and Meeting.
Monday 8th, cut wheat for Sammy. Tuesday, 9th, finished reaping and brought reaper home.
Wednesday 10th, picked fruit all day, loaded up with fruit and started for Bear Lake, after my wife took a load of fruit along to sell. Camped at Alvin Crocket’s, above Logan Canyon.
Friday 12th, drove on up canyon. Had rained night before making it hard and quite muddy. Camped overnight near head of canyon where U.O. Saw Mill was burned. Cold and windy.
Saturday 13th – Looks like storm this morning. Got to Garden City at 10 a.m., didn’t sell much, as there had been two teams ahead of me. Stayed at Bloomington overnight, having sold about $8.00 worth. Rained some in afternoon and Sunday, 14th. Started on at 7 a.m., cloudy and cool this morning. Drove to Ovid, selling some along the way. Stopped for dinner on bottom, rained some while I was stopping. Got to Joey’s before dark, having 5 boxes of plums left. Got $19.50 for the load.
Monday 15th – Went to Maple and down to Bennington. Tuesday 16, started home. My wife and Nettie with me. Camped overnight at Swan Creek, was sick most of the night.
Wednesday, 17th, feel quite weak this morning, drove on all day. Camped in canyon about 15 miles above Logan. We gathered some hops while in camp and more next morning on the way down the canyon. Thursday 18th, felt better this morning. Got home about 8 p.m. feeling very tired.
Friday, 19th, picked and sold 108 lbs of peaches, $2.15. Hauled a load of oats.
Saturday 20th, watered lot. Brig. Dunn and A. Evans hauled 3 loads of oats.
Sunday 21st – Went to Sunday School and Meeting.
Monday, 22nd and Tue. 23rd, hauled oats. Sold 5 ½ bus. of plums, 3 of apples, 1 of tomatoes and 22 lbs of grapes. Harrison came home this afternoon, helped us unload our last load of oats.
Saturday 27th – Moved our wheat in granary and sifted lime on it, the weevil being bad. The threshers came at 4 p.m. and threshed a little over 100 bushels.
Sunday 28th – Went to Sunday School and Meeting. Apostle Lorenzo Snow gave some good and timely instructions on the way the Saints should live to secure the blessings promised.
Monday, 29th, finished threshing about 10 a.m., wind blowing hard from the south. Went down to field to help Sammy thresh, got started after dinner. Wind still blowing very hard, looks like a storm.
Tuesday 30th – Continued threshing, wind very bad.
Wed. 31st, rained some last night, snowed on the mountains.
September 1st, Thursday – Went to Fast Meeting. Cut lucern afternoon.
Friday, 2nd, went out to Bear River with Henry Jensen, got back at noon. Cut lucern on Sister Sorensen’s lot. White frost last night, but not enough to do any hurt. Saturday, watered and raked lucern.
Sunday, went to Sunday School and Meeting.
Monday 5th – Picked some fruit and raked Sister Sorensen’s lot.
Tuesday, 6th, met with City Council in forenoon. Gave Bro. Heiser an order for trees and shrubbery, amounting to $10.00. Hauled lucern Wednesday,
Sept. 7th and Thursday 8th, was home choring.
Friday 9th picked fruit for Sister Hurd, received $1.85. Saturday, watered lot.
Sunday Sept. 10th – Went to Sunday School and Meeting. Nettie was baptized today by J.P. Johnson and confirmed by A.A. Jensen and A. Madsen. Took my wife over to Corrinne to take the train for Erncliff. The train was 4 hours late, had to wait until half past 11 p.m. Wind blew very hard and some rain. Very cold after 1 a.m.
September 12 – Picked fruit.
Tuesday 13, picked fruit. Got a letter from Aunt Percy.
Wednesday 14, picked a load of peaches to take to Cache Valley. Rebecca came with Mother and Walter, and got her things and took them home. She has been staying with us about a year and a half, and just taken a notion to return home.
September 15 – Loaded up and started for Cache Valley. Roads very dusty. Stayed overnight at George Woods, on Logan Bottom. Friday 16th, went to Providence, sold out my load and got back home at about 11 p.m. Found that Joey and Chris had come soon after I left. Got a card from wife stating that she had got to Kelton safe and was met by Mr. Platts, the husband of the woman she was going to wait upon. Saturday, 17th, watered lot and fixed a gun. Joey was most of the day getting his horses shod. Harrison and Chris went down to Salt Works and got their bed cloths and four sacks of salt to take to Bear Lake with them.
Sunday the 18th, went to Sunday School and Meeting.
Monday the 19th, spent the day picking and loading fruit, got all ready to start.
Tuesday the 20th, the boys started home, Harrison going with them. I spent the day picking peaches.
Wednesday 21st, worked on bridge across Box Elder Creek. The rest of the day it rained. Rained some at night. Very hot all day.
September 22nd, Worked half a day on bridge. Picked peaches rest of day. Rained some at night, very hot all day.
Friday 23rd, cloudy and warm, worked in the garden.
Saturday 24th, had quite a hard shower last night. Andy Rosenbaum came this afternoon. Have not heard a word from my wife since she left Kelton, feel as if I could not endure the suspense any longer. Wrote a letter to Earncliff, the place where she went to.
Sunday 25th - Went to Sunday School and Meeting.
Monday 26th, worked on the bridge for D Burt. Tuesday worked some in the shop. Wrote a letter to Chris at Bear Lake.
Wed. 28th, worked in the shop most of the day. Jennette came home about noon today, got a lady to bring her from Corrinne in a wagon. Had got along alright while away, but was very careless about writing home. Hope I shall get over worrying about her afterwhile.
September 29th – Worked in the shop. Wrote a letter to Bear Lake to tell them that Ma had got home.
Friday 30th, worked in shop stocking guns.
October 1st – Went to Priesthood Meeting. The time was mostly spent in talking about the canyon roads being fenced up by orders of . P. Tarpy, a lawyer employed by the railroad co.
Sunday, October 2nd – Went to Sunday School and Meeting. Ward meeting at night, being the first one of the season.
Monday 3rd, worked in the shop most of the day. My sister, Caroline, and brother-in-law came from Mink Creek on a visit.
Tuesday 4th and Wed. 5th – worked in shop.
Oct.. 6th, went to Fast Meeting. Related a dream which I had over 2 years ago, which was the following (Note from Ruby: The pages in which he relates his dream are missing.) Had a good meeting, but the people seemed backward to get up and talk.
Friday the 7th – Started to Salt Lake to attend Conference, got there at 12 noon, attended Meeting at 2 p.m. Erastus Snow preached the subject Marriage, treating the subject in a powerful manner.
Saturday 8th, attended two meetings in daytime and one at night. Found that my notes are imperfect, so cannot depend on them.
Sunday 9th – Attended two meetings and came home at night.
Monday 10, most of the day nothing of note occurring. Tuesday, fixed a gun for Andrew Bert.
Wed. 12th, spent most of the day getting ready to go to Bear Lake on a hunt.
October 12th, started to Bear Lake, weather being warm. Went in company with Nils Sorensen, Sammy and Marritta Smith, stayed at Mariah Smith’s in Smithfield that first night.
Friday, 14th, drove on to Hyrum Smith’s at Riverdale, stayed overnight. Rained some toward morning.
Saturday 15 – Cloudy. Looks like storm. Started at 7 a.m., got over to the boys’ at half-past 7 p.m. Ground white with snow, quite cold. Found all well.
Sunday 16th - Snow went all off before noon. Went down to the river afternoon.
17th, some of the boys went on the mountain hunting. I went over to Maple and spent the day with Brig. Tuesday 18th, the threshers came and started, but broke down and didn’t get to do anymore today.
Wed., finished threshing. Had 91 bus. of oats and 306 of wheat. Wind blew all day from north.
Thursday 20th – Started out hunting. Went up through Georgetown Canyon and over on the head of Blackfoot.
Friday, 21st, started out two and two, all in different directions. We killed two elk and brought the hindquarters to camp.
Sat. 22nd, hunted all day but didn’t kill any more.
Sunday, 23rd, snowed about 4 inches last night. We hitched and came home as all our provisions were gone. Monday 24th, froze very hard last night. Wrote a few words home to Jennette. Went to Maple. Heber was off hunting again, have not had a chance to see him yet.
Tuesday, 25th, Heber came home this morning, stayed until afternoon. Helped Joey part, got ready to start home.
Wed. 26th, started home. Weather cold. Got to H. Smith’s about dark. Turned warmer at night.
Oct. 27th – Warm today. Spent most of time fishing.
Wed. 28th, took dinner at Eli Forsgren’s, drove on to Smithfield, stayed at Ann Smith’s overnight.
Saturday 29th, drove on home, found all well.
Sunday 30th – Went to Sunday School. Had Quarterly Review, went to Meeting at 2 p.m.
Monday, 31st, weather still fine. Covered some trees that had just arrived from the Sioux City Nurseries.
November 1st, Tuesday – Began stocking gun for Wm Gilbert.
Thursday 3rd, went to Fast Meeting, was called upon to open meeting. Settled up with Wm. Horsley. Weather, snow.
Friday 4th, Baker was buried today, having died of typhoid fever.
Saturday 5th, Quarterly Conference. Attended Meeting. O. F. Whitney occupied most of the time. He is a grand speaker.
Monday 7th, cloudy this morning. Began stocking a gun for Andrew Bart.
Tuesday 8th, worked in the shop fixing guns. Harrison went to the canyon.
Wed. worked in the shop fixing guns, Harrison went and got another load of wood. Weather still fine.
Friday 11th – Worked in the shop. The four condemned anarchists were executed at Chicago, spies Engel Fisher and Parsons, Ling having previously killed himself in prison by holding a percussion cap in his mouth and lighting it by a fuse. The sentence of Fielden and Swab was continued to imprisonment for life. There was some great excitement and great efforts made to have them pardoned by the Governor, but he could not be moved to take any action in the matter.
Sunday Nov. 13 – The executed anarchists were buried today, having a grand funeral.
Monday 16th, spent the day shipping furniture to Sister Rosenbaum at Franklin. Worked in the shop. Harrison got another load of wood.
Nov. 17th and Friday 18th and 19th, worked in the shop. Don’t make much some days, not more than 25 ¢. Weather still warm and dry.
Sunday the 20th, went to Sunday School and Meeting.
November 21st – Began stocking gun for James Tingey.
Tuesday, finished stocking gun.
Wed. made and put down 10 foot bridges for City. Went to Seventies Meeting. Weather still fine. Spoke on apostasy of Primitive Church.
Nov. 24th – Worked in the shop and watered the lot.
Friday 25th, it snowed all day but went off nearly as fast as it fell. Worked in the shop. Saturday attended Young Men’s Conference. Sunday also attended Young Men’s Conference. Had some good instructions from J.F. Wells. Has been very cold since the storm Friday.
Monday the 28th – turning warmer.
Tue. 29th, warm and pleasant. Killed hog Wed.
Thursday 30th, worked in shop, went to YMMIA, spoke 15 min. on Dealings of God with His Children.
December 1st – Fast Day. Went to Meeting, day very warm and pleasant.
December 2nd – Snowed all day, south wind. Worked in the shop. My sister Eunice has been quite sick for the last 4 or 5 days, is getting better now. On Thursday, December 1st, Louisa Neilson, a daughter who was beloved to our son Harrison, and who had noble qualities, and we were fondly looking forth the time when we could claim her as a daughter whom we had learned to dearly love, was taken sick, but didn’t seem to be dangerous for a few days, but at the end of the fourth or fifth day, the disease became complicated. We began to be somewhat alarmed for her safety. But she soon appeared to be getting better, and we felt quite easy and thought that the danger had passed, until Sunday the 11th, when hemorrhage of the bowels set in and she became very low and weak. But the bleeding stopped and on the morning of the 12th, she rallied and our hopes again revived. But at night she again passed blood and soon breathed her last, perfectly conscious and begging for us to not let her go. She died at a quarter past six.
I had just left to come home to attend to my chores, little realizing how close the end was, for I could not believe, even to the last, that she was going to die. And when the news was brought to me I could hardly believe that is was true. But God is just and we feel to acknowledge His hand in all things, and say, “Thy will be done.” But it is a severe trial to Harrison, who has been at her side almost continually night and day, from the time she was taken sick, until her remains were laid to rest. She was his first and only love and he feels there is nothing more left for him in this world of sorrow.
Friday the 13th – We stayed at Sister Neilson’s last night as the family was very sad and lonely, on account of the cruel persecution now being carried on in the name of the Law. Brother Neilson, the husband and father of the afflicted family, was compelled to be absent from home, and could not come to attend the funeral or speak words of comfort to his beloved family. It was pitiful to hear the wife and mother crying, “Oh, if only I could have my husband here for just one hour, but no, it cannot be. We must bear our trouble alone.”
Wednesday 14th – Clear and cold. Harrison came home and slept some last night and ate a little breakfast, then went back and sat in a semi-conscious condition all day and most of the night. We could not prevail upon him to come home.
Thursday 15th, was the funeral services, held in our meeting house, beginning at 12 noon. Consoling remarks were made by D. M. Burbank, Bishop, and A. Madison and Ephraim Ralphs. The remains were accompanied to the grave by 27 vehicles, led by the YLMIA, of whom Louisa was First Counselor.
Dec. 16th – Still clear and cold. We received letters today from our children in Bear Lake, saying that all was well. Joey’s wife had gave birth to a baby girl on the night of the 12th. All doing well. Our sorrow was mingled with joy at this good news. (Baby was named Louisa R.)
Saturday 17th, cold and pleasant. Harrison began to take some interest in things again.
Sunday the 18th – Roger Clawson was up from Salt Lake City. Occupied the time relating incident of the death of Elder Joseph Standing, who was killed by a mob in Georgia, while on a mission to preach the Gospel.
Monday 19th, Tue. 20th through Friday 23rd – At home, not doing anything particular. Very cold, but no snow and wind. The following brethren were went to the Pen the last few days, Ferdinand Hansen, Lars Mortinsen, and Brother Bishop James Hansen, John L. Andersen, and Lars C. Larsen.
Saturday 24th – Still cold. Looks like storm.
25th, snowed last night, still snowing this morning, turning warmer. Went to Sunday School and Meeting. Dina Burgen fell on the ice and broke her collar bone. Wind south, thawing fast.
Monday 26th – Ground bare in spots,
Wed. 27th, warm and thawing. Spent time at home reading. Thursday, settled up tithing of what I have paid this year. Amounts to: Cash, $16.20, various other ways, $12. Total, $28.20. Harrison paid cash, $5.00, wood $4.00, total $9.00. Grand total for both of us, $37.20 for 1887.
Friday 30th – Cold and stormy. The Primary held an entertainment and dance, at which the children enjoyed themselves very much.
Saturday, 31st, we all attended a picnic party at Meeting House, except Harrison, who could not be prevailed upon to go. Had a very good time.
1888
Sunday, January 1st, 1888 (The following is a letter to Harrison from his sister, Mary)
Bennington
December 25, 1887
My Darling Brother,
It is with pleasure that I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines, to let you know how we are getting along, and also in answer to your very welcome letter.
We received your letter and Pa’s the same day, but they didn’t come until after the 20th. The P.O. had been discontinued at Bennington so we have to go to Montpelier or to Georgetown. There is a store at Georgetown now, so letters had better be sent there, after this, as it will save a long journey to Montpelier.
Harrison, dear, I didn’t get your letter informing me that Louisa was sick until I got Pa’s letter saying that she was dead. And you can never know how grieved I was to hear that you are the one to bear such a heavy load. It is hard, I know, to have your first trouble such a pitiful one. It seems as though either of us was better prepared to bear such a blow, than you are. The rest know a little about trouble, but ours nothing to compare with yours.
Brother, dear, you think you have lost the only one that you ever had a thought for, but you must not think that. She has only passed on a little before you, and when you meet again, happiness will be made more complete. She is yours, and no one can deny your right to her. You can go and have her sealed to you, and can live for her. If you cannot have her in this world, you can have her for a Guiding Star, and instead of building and making a house for her here, you can prepare yourself for complete happiness in the world to come. And it will keep you from doing wrong. And when you are tempted to do a wrong of any sort, just think that there is one that is watching you and is anxious to meet you as you are to meet her.
Brother, dear, don’t grieve any more than you can help. If I could bear your heartache for you, how willingly I would do it. Or if I could lessen it in any way it would be a pleasure. But it is our trials that are going to prove us, and it is them that hurt the worst that is the most for our salvation. But we cannot always see it in that light, but we only know that it is bitter to bear.
Brother, Dear, forgive me if it pains you to read what I have wrote but I have to write just what I think. How well I would like to see you and to have a good talk with you. But I will wait until I can talk and not wring your heart to pieces.
Darling, I will close for this time. Write as soon as you can, and anything you like, for if anyone can sympathize with you, your sister can.
From your sincere and loving sister,
Mary T. Sorensen (This is Harrison’s older sister)
January 3rd, 1888 – Rained most of the night, snow all gone this morning. Snowed some this morning, wind still coming south, Continued snowing all day and most of the night. Wed. 4th, still snowing 5 to 6 in. deep, no wind. Still snowing.
Jan. 5th – Snowed about 12 inches deep. Fast Day. Went to Meeting, so spent p.m. at home reading. Has not snowed much today, looks like more tonight.
Friday 6th, show 15 inches deep this morning, clearing off.
Saturday 7th, clear and cold, bright sun dogs all day. Went to Priesthood Meeting.
Sunday 8th, clear. Very cold Thursday, 2 degrees above zero. Went to Sunday School and meeting.
Monday 9th, clear and cold. Last Thursday was 6 degrees below zero.
January 10th – Moderated a little. The U & P R.R. is blocked. Still clear.
Wednesday, 11th – Cloudy, still quite cold. Bro. Ingstrom was taken very sick last Sunday night, is still very bad. Went with Bro. Andersen to administer to Sister Willard Hansen, who is sick.
Tues. 12th, snowed a little last night, getting a little warmer.
Friday 13th, it snowed today. Light wind from north, turning colder at night. Wind from the mountain. Saturday, 14th, very cold Thursday, 16 degrees below zero.
Sunday the 15th, extremely cold, 25 below zero. Went to Sunday School, had no meeting in Tabernacle on account of the cold. Ward meeting at night.
Monday 16th – Clear and cold. School was dismissed because of extreme cold.
Tuesday, 17th, have not done anything for several days, can hardly keep warm in the house by the stove. Wed. 18th, clear and sun shines warm in middle of the day, but very cold at night. Got two papers today, have not had but two mails for two weeks. The bees came out yesterday, dropped on the snow and died. A great many folks closed the bees up for fear of losing too many. Bro. Ingstrom is still very sick. Brother S. Smith was arrested at his home in Brigham City, by Depts. Steel and Cory.
Jan. 19th, cloudy, looks like storm, weather more moderate, 10 below zero.
Friday 20th, been snowing slowly all day. Began falling fast at night. Thursday was 30 degrees above. Harrison and I cut straw today.
Saturday 22nd – Snow and rain. Thawing fast. Cut straw. Sunday, went to Sunday School and Meeting, very warm. Bees came out and had a good flight. Bro. S. Smith was at Ward Meeting.
Monday 23rd – Froze a little last night, thundered hard all night. We cut straw. Rained all day and most of the night.
Tue. 24th, clear and warmer. Fixed a gate to yard, Thursday the 26th.
Friday the 27 was clear and warm. We had a Social Party today The following persons attended: A.A. Jensen, James Bywater, C.S. Andersen, Hannah Andersen, Christina Andersen, Sena Jensen, Hannah Bywater, and two children, Maretta Sorensen, Mary Ann Andersen, Priscella Tingey, Sophia Thomson, and Jane Smith.
Saturday 28th – Weather still fine. We had a letter from Mary stating that Joey had taken cold, and his lungs gathered, and he was coughing and spitting as at first. All the rest are well.
Sunday 29th, held our Quarterly Review. The following were rendered: Piece in Concert, J. Forsgren & class, Mary Sorensen & class. Music by Christian Fredrick and Moses Larsen, questions and answers on the Book of Mormon, H.C. Jenson and class, recitation, Anna Gregersen, Lecture on the Book of Mormon, E. Ralphs, song by the choir. Dialogue by D.P. Burt and class, selected reading by Rachel Evans; chapter on prayer, Sophia Larsen and class, song, Louisa Madsen.
Monday 30th – Still fine. On Tuesday, 31st, got a letter from Nellie saying that Joey was improving.
Wed. February 1st, quite cold this morning. Clear and warm all day, some clouds.
Thursday 2nd – Went to Meeting. The sun shone part of the day.
Friday, 3rd, sent a box to Joey. Bear Lake weather still fine.
Saturday 4th, Quarterly Conference. The following Bishops reporting:
H. Tingey, First Ward, Meetings pretty well attended, some division in families, had just paid tithing $2,260.00
David Rees, 4th Ward: had 59 tithe payers and had paid tithing $1,265.00, had but a few who went to the saloon.
A. Nichols, 2nd Ward, something we would like to have different, but the majority was trying to do right, tithing could compare favorable with the other seasons.
A. Madsen, 3rd Ward: organization of ward complete. Donation to Manti Temple $10.75. Had 26 tithe payers, paid tithing $2,800.00,
O.A. Perry, Three Mile Creek Ward, said that in visiting ward, found a great many things that are not right, were not behind in any donations, except to the clerk at Logan Temple.
John Edwards, Willard Ward, had a great deal of sickness among children. Some had died. The Lord blessed the Elders in their administrations among the sick and many had been healed. Was well organized, and in good order, had appointed some High Priests to visit among the people, thought it resulted in good.
Bishop Jensen, Bear River Ward, had his own faults to contend with more than any other man’s in the ward, was organized, and in good order tithes and offerings.
T. Harper, North Ward, had no Primary. All other organizations complete.
Bishop Jensen, Mantua Ward, We are not as good we would like to be, thought there was a good many that went to the saloon, no Seventies that he knew of, High Priests and Elders, 4 or 5 in all. Donations as good as required.
W. Neeley of Warm Creek Ward, bore a strong testimony to truth of the Gospel. Had a few good Latter Day Saints in Ward.
Sunday 5th – Apostle Lorenzo Snow occupied most of time speaking on Stake Organization, recommended Rodger Clawsen as President of the Box Elder Stake, the motion was sustained. Bro. E. Box, who has been acting President, spoke about 20 minutes, said he didn’t desire to be released. P.M. Brother Dunford, of Salt Lake City, spoke principally on smoking and drinking. Apostle Snow instructed officers in regard to their duties, said the President should be found in the Primaries, YM and YLMIA associations, Relief Societies, and Ward Meetings. Said it is necessary for Church officers to work for the interest of the people. Private interests should be secondary all of the time.
Monday 6th – Snowing some this morning. Received a letter from Nellie saying that Joey’s old wound had broke open and was discharging matter, he was feeling better, and this was February 2nd.
Tuesday 7th – Worked in shop most of the day. Made a pair of tongs and fixed a gun. Wed. quite warm today, snow going off very fast. Some of the ground bare.
Wednesday the 8th, quite warm today.
Thursday 9th, still warm but cloudy. Worked in shop. Rain at night. Jennette has been nursing a sick child of H. Barnard’s, about 6 miles north of Brigham. She has been gone all week.
Friday 10th – Cloudy and warm. Jennette came home today.
Saturday, 11, sent to the Fourth Ward Sunday School Review. Did not get to go to meeting.
Monday 13th – Warm. Snow about all gone. Helped manure a piece of land that the ward had purchased to build a school house upon. Cleaned up our dooryard.
Tuesday 14th, turned colder last night. Wind from the canyon all day. Ground getting dry fast.
Wed. 15th, warmer again. We hauled some manure on garden.
Thursday 16th, still warm day. Freezes hard nights. The Mayor of Salt Lake ejected parties that were attempting to grab some of the squares and other lands belonging to the City Corporation.
Friday 17th, very warm. Scattered manure on garden. Went to Theological Class at the 4th Ward.
Saturday 19th, two meetings at Tabernacle in interest of Sunday School. Had a good speaker, Bro. Wm Wells, up from Salt Lake. He said the Ten Virgins are all sleeping at present. Let us be sure we have oil in our lamps or, in other words, the Spirit of God, so that we may know the voice of the Bridegroom. Apostle Lorenzo Snow said that Jesus has already appeared and will appear from time to time in our tabernacles and temples.
February 20 – Snowed again last night. Harrison came home this morning.
Tuesday 21st, snow about all gone off today. Was cloudy most of day and stormed some. Salt Lake held their first election for City Officers on Monday the 13th. Made a Citizen, or Fusion Ticket, was elected almost entirely by the People’s Party. Not more than 25% of the Liberals voting with the People. I have been sick for a few days, having a sore throat with considerable fever. Harrison went to Ogden to see about getting his pay.
Wednesday 22nd, was clear and nice this morning. Froze hard last night. Don’t feel much better yet.
Thursday 23rd – Still warm. Am getting better slowly. Harrison got home, didn’t get his pay.
Friday 24th, Harrison hauled some manure and cut some wood. I am feeling about the same.
Saturday 25th, Harrison went back to Ogden. Cloudy, looks like storm.
Sunday 26th – Weather warm and cloudy, am beginning to feel some better. Harrison came home again without his pay. Charles Ingstrom died this afternoon.
Monday, Harrison went back to Ogden again. I worked a little in the shop but am very weak.
Tuesday, worked again in the shop. It rained all day. Charles Ingstrom was buried this afternoon. I am still gaining slowly, got a letter from Joey stating that he was still gaining.
Wednesday 29th, snowed all day. Fell 4 inches deep.
March 1st Thursday – Snow melted some leaving some bare spots. Went to Fast Meeting.
Friday 2nd, snowing again. Our cow had a calf last night. Harrison came home, two days. Sun shone a little. Saturday 3rd, Priesthood Meeting. Subject: Have Bishops a right to cut members off from the Church? Instructed not to cut anyone off who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Sunday 4th – Went to Sunday School and Meeting. It snowed 6 inches last night.
Monday 5th, worked in the shop making bee hives, snowing and thawing.
Tuesday 6th, City Council. Met at 10 a.m. Got through with business at 1:30 p.m. Treasurer report accepted and warrants destroyed. Several petitions were presented and referred to committee, etc. Snowed all day. Wed. 7th, cloudy. South wind all day. Harrison sawed wood.
Thur. 8th, rained most of the night and all day. We worked in the shop. Snowed at night 2 inches. Friday I went to look for a place for the waste water from the city without doing damage to the fields. Clear and colder.
Saturday 11th, was clear Freezing hard at night. Warm days. Worked in shop.
Sunday – Went to Sunday School and Meeting. Wrote a letter to Joey.
Monday wrote a letter to Hyrum Smith, offering to buy part of his place. Worked in shop. Harrison hauled gravel to the school house. Jennette went to Honeyville.
Tuesday, Harrison and I made and put in place 8 footbridges. Jennette got home this morning. Clouding up this afternoon. Snow most all gone.
Wednesday 14th – Harrison went to work on the school house. I finished and hung two gates for Sammy. Cloudy.
Thursday 15th, clear again. Harrison working on the school house. Jennette came home from north where she had been all night with a sick baby.
Friday, 16th, sent a letter to my sister at Mink Creek. Clear and warm, plowed a piece in the garden and set out some trees. Made a bargain to sell our place to Nathan Yearsley for $750.00 Saturday 17th.
Sunday 18th – Rain this morning. Went to S.S. and Meeting. Squally.
Monday 19th, partially clear. North wind cold.
Tue. 20th, clear, freezes at night. Some wind.
Wed. 21st, warm days and cold nights. Worked in the shop. Yarsley moved into the log house.
Thursday 22nd, mended harness and Harrison greased it. Friday, Harrison dug up some dead trees on City Square.
Saturday 24th, rain last night, cold today, wind north. Cut some straw at Jensen’s.
Sunday 25th – Went to S.S. and Meeting. Cold. Some snow on the ground. Monday, received a letter from Chris. Still cold, wind northeast. Therm. Stands 26 to 30 degrees, having been from 40 to 50 deg. Most of the month. City Council meeting 9 p.m. in session until 12 o’clock at night.
Tuesday 27th, clear and cold, wind southwest. Had three teeth pulled. Went down to see a plowing match. Sent $2.60 to Browning Bros. in payment for gun repairs.
Wed. worked in shop, the weather dull and fuggy. Wrote letter to Chris.
Thurs. still dull. I worked in shop.
Friday 30th, looks more like storm, warmer. Worked in shop.
Saturday 31st, sent for a sulky plow, worked some in shop. It rained at night, quite warm.
April 1st – looks like clearing off. Sun shining by spells. Went to S. S. and Meeting. Ward meeting at night. Spoke a few minutes. Got the sulky plow this afternoon and helped Harrison load up and start for Bear Lake. Monday, Harrison started out to Blue Creek to work for P. Neilson. I worked in shop.
Tue. 3rd, worked in shop and Wed. Rain most of the day.
Thursday 5th, Fast Day. Clear this morning. Went to Fast Meeting p.m. Went with Geo. Parsons to see a stove. Friday 6th, heavy white frost. Went down to Willard to see L. Jacobsen about a debt he was owing us, got his note payable Sept. 1, 1888. Saturday went to Priesthood Meeting, didn’t have one, not enough present.
Sunday 8th April – Went to S.S. and Meeting. Harrison came home for hay.
Monday 9th, Harrison started at 12 noon. Still warm and pleasant. Got a letter from Joey and Nellie saying all was well.
Tue. 10th, went with S. Carter to get 45 trees of A. Jensen. Set out 8.
Wed. 11th, went with S. Carter and finished setting out trees, got done at 1 p.m. Got James Bywater to make our deed for N. Yearsley. Brother Andersen came home sick.
Thurs. 12th, clear and fine. Worked in shop.
Friday 13th, still clear and fine. Worked in the shop. Saturday 14th, very warm. Currants are beginning to bloom. There is not going to be any peaches, apricots or plums to speak of, all having been killed by the extreme ordinary cold weather. Painted some bee hives.
Sunday, went to S.S. and Meeting. Clouding up and looks like a storm. Bro. A.A. Jensen is gaining.
Monday 16th, looks very much like storm. Renewed subscription to Deseret News. Tue. Sold oats to Horsley 3,867 lbs., at $1.55: $57.59.
Wednesday 18th – Still very warm. Worked in the shop making harrow teeth.
Thursday 19th, settled up with C. Wright, was owing him $1.75 which I paid.
Friday 20th, very warm. Worked in the shop, don’t feel very well today. Bought a crosscut saw, pd. $3.00 and a pr. of nippers to cut wire.
Saturday 21st, put a bottom on wash tub for Sis. Yearsley. Still very warm, don’t remember of seeing such warm weather this time of year. Apples and strawberries, gooseberries, plums and all kinds of fruit that was not killed by cold weather are in bloom. Everything looks well, but the ground is very dry.
Sunday 22nd – Had our Quarterly Review. I was presented with a beautiful photograph of the officers and teachers of the Sabbath School. There was 12 ladies and 12 gentlemen in the two groups, both in one frame. James Bywater delivered the following address:
Presentation Address:
The Teachers of the Third Ward Sabbath School. Brigham City, to Joseph M. Tippets, Assistant Superintendent, April 22nd, 1888.
Greetings. We, your brethren and sisters, having learned that you are about moving to a new home, which you have chosen in the distant stake of Zion, that while regretting to lose your esteemed society and your useful labors desire to express in our humble manner our appreciation of your valuable services, and our love for your personal worth. We therefore present you with our pictures as a small memento thereof.
Perhaps in after years, the finger of time may partially erase them, but we trust while memory lasts, and being endured, our mutual love will ever remain bright and fresh, you will occasionally cast a passing glance at these our Sun Shadows, from which may bring memory to your minds view, happy reminiscence, joyous scenes and passing pleasures of your old but distant Brigham City home, and with the poet say
In absence, we must with reason
Reason’s virtues friends admire
Time matures a just affection
And absence makes it truly known.
Dear brother, now our love and blessing, and may a kind Providence strew your future path with peace and plenty and the wintertime of life touch you gently and kindly. And when the Church, as a bride, is adored ready for the wedding, may each of us be also ready and with our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Israel, set down at the marriage of the Lamb. AMEN.
April 22nd, 1888 At the Sunday School Quarterly Review the foregoing presentation was made and the entire Sunday School approved and endorsed the same with its sentiments, by rising to their feet. It was a complete surprise to me, as it had not entered my head that my associates of the Sunday School would confer such an honor upon me for the poor services I had rendered. And they kept it from me so that I had not a hint of what they were going to do.
Dear Brothers and Sisters and Associates of Sabbath School,
I assure you I dearly prize the tokens of love and respect shown me on this occasion. And you will long be remembered by me. May God bless and preserve you in the Faith of the Everlasting Gospel, is the prayer of your humble servant. J.M.T.
Monday 23rd - Set 13 trees on the square west of Tabernacle. Still very warm, some clouds.
Tues. 24th, worked some in the shop. Hard wind from south. Clouding up fast, wind turned. Wed. 25th, rained all of the night and still raining. Apples, pears, strawberries, etc., are now in full bloom. Weather has been warmer than I have ever known this time of year. Harrison came home today, having made clear of expenses, $48.50.
Thursday 26th, still all cloudy, but looks like clearing off. Mended some chairs and sharpened plow. Went to graveyard and put a footstone at Father’s grave. Bought a stove, pd. $39.00 for it.
Fri. 27th, clear this morning, frost last night. Beginning to clear up. We loaded up and got ready to start for Bear Lake.
Saturday 28th, got started at 10 a.m. Clear, but quite cold, wind from mountain, drove to Hot Springs for dinner, got there at 2 p.m., camped at Hanson’s Dairy overnight. We had a cow leading. She got very tired, had to pay 20 ¢ for turning our horses through a gate into the range.
Sunday 29th – Some clouds, cool. Camped at Smithfield for dinner, got there at half past 11. Stayed until 2 p.m. Camped for the night on High Creek, north of Richmond. Had to let cow rest several times. She would lie down while traveling. Feed very short.
Mon. 30th, up early this morning, built a fire for the first time since leaving home. Went to Warm Creek for dinner. Floating clouds, wind from the south blowing hard. Stopped at Sister Caroline’s below Mink Creek. Had a shower of rain, lasted 10 or 15 minutes.
May 1st, 1888 – Drove up to Rosenbaum’s before breakfast. Cloudy and cold. Camped at first house north of the bridge in Gentile Valley overnight, bought hay for the horses. Cloudy. A windy day.
Wednesday 2nd, drove to Old Mine for breakfast. Clear and cold, camped at Soda Point for breakfast. Clouds all day, some rain and sleet.
Thursday 3rd, drove on to Soda Springs for breakfast, from there to a creek below the divide. Cloudy and cold. Not far from home. Found all well. Feed rather short yet.
Friday 4th, paid my brother-in-law, M. Smith, $30.00 for his old house. Sowed a piece of lucern for Chris. Rained in the afternoon and evening, not very cold. Started to plant potatoes.
Saturday 5th, Mary’s birthday. Cloudy this morning. Harrison started on Dunn’s land. Joey and I set out some strawberries, There was 15 or 20 of the neighbors gathered to Mary’s in the evening, it being her 23rd birthday. Had an enjoyable time. It rained hard about 10 o’clock.
Sunday 6th – Rained most of the day. Stayed home all day.
Monday 7th, got Chris and Hans to help plow, sowed some oats and Joey went to Georgetown. Harrison got kicked by his colt this evening. Struck him on his right arm and side just above the hip. He fell as dead and turned black in the face, but soon recovered. It was a terrible shock to me, long to be remembered.
Tuesday 8th – Joey went to Montpelier and got 200 ft. of lumber to finish house on river. I went to Georgetown and bought some grain. Chris plowed and Harrison harrowed. We finished oats. Wed. Joey plowed on sod. Harrison harrowed. Rained.
Thursday 10th, cold and cloudy. Planted peas. Froze hard last night.
Friday 11th, clearing off. Cold. Finished sowing grain. Frost last night. Finished planting peas and planted some beets.
Saturday 12th, finished planting potatoes and planted some more garden. Quite warm today.
Sunday 13th – Spent the day at home, there being no meeting on account of Stake Conference. Brig and family came over and spent the day with us.
Monday, 14th, clear and warm. This morning I went to Georgetown to look at some calves, didn’t get to see them. Made posts rest of day.
Tuesday 15th, bought 4 calves, pd. $40.00. Hard frost last night.
May 16th, 1888 – Snowed some today, very cold. Hard frost last night.
Thursday 17th, clear and cold. Finished rolling grain and went to Meeting. Boys took loads of timber to Bennington to fence meadow.
Friday 18th, all went to Bennington to make fence for Joey. He stayed at home, Nellie being sick.
Saturday 19th, finished fence at Bennington. Bought a roan heifer 3 yr old, pd. $15.00. Cloudy and cold.
Sunday 20th – Warm rain. At home all day.
Monday 21st, made posts. Mary and Nellie have been sick for 4 or 5 days. Cloudy with showers.
Tuesday 22nd, cloudy. Went to Bennington, bought a sow and 8 pigs, pd. $16.00. Rained while gone.
Wed. 23rd, Sun shone this morning, quite a treat. Service berries are just beginning to bloom. Working on the river. Got a letter from my wife today, the first word since leaving home 4 weeks ago next Saturday. Letter was mailed the 11th. Planted beans, corn, squash, and melons, etc.
Thursday 24th, went to Georgetown, got a keg of spikes and 63 lbs. of wire. Heavy shower of hail and rain. Saturday 26th, wet and muddy. Light rain all afternoon.
Sunday 27th – Got a letter from Jennette saying all was well. Jennette was nearly worn out tending sick, not her own, but the neighbors. Showers all day. Brother Brig and family came over to spend the day.
Monday the 28th – We went to Georgetown Canyon, got two loads of poles.
Tues. 29th, worked on fence. Some rain.
Wed. 30th, worked on fence. Harrison and Hans went for poles. Warm today.
Thursday 31st, went to Georgetown Canyon again. Warm showers.
June 1st – Worked on the fence. Warm.
Saturday 2nd, run furrows in grain. Rain and hail.
Sunday 3rd, cool this morning. All went to Meeting at Bennington. Rain and hail. Went to Brother Heber’s after Meeting.
Monday 4th, storm. Got a load of poles.
Tues 5 and Wed. 6th, all worked on fence.
Thursday 7th, got fence done. Turned water on meadow.
Friday 8th, put a sand board in Hans’s wagon. Showers.
Saturday 9th, worked in garden. Harrison and Joey went to the canyon. Light frost last night. No damage. Will go home next Monday if all goes well, to move over.
Sunday 10th – Weather pleasant, all went to meeting.
June 11th, Monday – Started home. Warm and cloudy. While passing a house, a man came out and wished to ride with me over to Brigham. He proved to be Solomon Wixom, who had lately been confined in the Penitentiary, and served a term of six months for unlawful cohabitation. He was in poor health, had been for some time, and is somewhat damaged in his mind. Stopped at my sister’s overnight.
Tuesday 12, started on home. Stayed at Sister Woodruff’s in Smithfield overnight. Warm and cloudy.
Wed., drove to Logan for breakfast. Clearing up. Warm. Got home at 6 p.m., found all well.
Thursday 14th, sent an order to Brownings for a gun. Went to mill, bought a sack of sugar, $7.50, stoveblack, can of oil, doubletree and singletrees, paid $3.45.
Friday the 15th, went up to the graveyard and helped J. Bott put up some stones on Louisa’s grave. Bought a gun, pd. $15.00.
Saturday 16th, worked on shop fixing a wagon. Harrison got home at 1 o’clock p.m. A company of ladies came and spent the afternoon presenting Jennette with a large autograph album and a photograph of 13 ladies in a group on one card. Had a good time.
Sunday 17th – Went to Sunday School and Meeting. Was set apart as a High Priest, under the hands of Rudger Clawson, Samuel Smith and Adolph Madsen
Monday 18th – Spent the day loading up. Tuesday, finished loading up, got ready to start at noon. It began raining. Had to lay over.
Wednesday 20th – Started at 8 a.m. Had a shower on the divide. Stayed at James Olsen’s place in Logan Bottom overnight. Pd. $1.00 for hay. Cold.
Thursday 21st – Drove on to Logan, bought bellows, $14.00 Camped on High Creek, beyond Richmond. Friday 22nd, bought a churn at Franklin, pd. $4.75. Hot day. Camped at Strawberry overnight. Rosenbaum’s had found our horse that was lost last spring. Got him as we came along.
Saturday 23rd – Doubled up Big Dugway. Was until noon getting up. Camped at mouth of canyon.
Sunday 24th of June – Got to our NEW HOME at 1 p.m. Found all well.
July 11th – Have been very busy and neglected to keep a daily record. There is not much water this season. We have not been able to water much of our grain. Joey, Harrison, and Chester went to Soda Springs the fourth. We have hauled logs and built two stables. Sold a horse for poles, got 100 of them. Built a cow yard and part of a stack yard. The weather is hot, the therm. ranging at 90 deg. during the day, but the nights are quite cool. Harrison began mowing yesterday. Joey has been to Paris for 3 or 4 days on trial as a witness between two men that got into difficulty over pulling horses. We watered potatoes.
July 12th – Joey came home. Harrison mowing and bringing a load home at night. Have finished stackyard and am working on Joey’s house on the river. Later, Uncle Chris and Aunt Alice arrived on Friday 13th.
Saturday 14th – Finished Joey’s house. Weather has been quite cool since the storm on the 12th.
Sunday 15th July – All went to Meeting.
Tuesday 17th, still quite cool. Joey moved to the river.
Thurs. 19th, had a light shower this afternoon. Sunday the 22nd went to Meeting, gave our recommends.
Monday 23rd – At home watering.
Tue. 24th, went to Bennington to celebration. Wed., got ready to start plowing on river, started the 26th. The ground is dry, but works quite well. Joey went hunting with John Dunn. Got a deer.
Friday 27th – went to the canyon, broke a wheel, had to leave the load.
Saturday 28th, fixed up mower and rake. Sunday, stayed home and watered. Folks went to Meeting. Cloudy and warm
Tuesday 31st – Rained hard all day and most of night.
August 1st – Began plowing on the north 40.
Saturday 4th, cloudy this morning. Harrison is still plowing. The rain had soaked the ground. If frost holds off will have a good crop yet.
Sunday 5th – All went to Meeting.
Monday 6th, started to cut hay at Bennington, Sister Rosenbaum came for a visit.
Wed. 8th, south wind this morning.
Sunday 12th – Started to cut grain. Boys went to Montpelier and got a new threshing machine that we had sent for last week. It cost $865.00.
Wed. 15th, rained hard this morning. Boys had to come home from haying. Brig came over and started to put machine together.
Saturday 18th – Done some blacksmithing. Hyrum Smith, his wife, his father and mother, spent the day with us.
Sunday 19th – Went to Meeting.
Tuesday the 23rd, took a load of potatoes to Montpelier and sold them. They came to $23.60.
Wed. 24th, boys plowed potato patch, got 15 bushels.
Friday 26th, snowed abt. 2 inches. All went to Bennington to a political meeting at night.
Saturday 27th, went to Montpelier and bought some lumber. We had our names taken off the Ward records, it being necessary to do this on account of unconstitutional laws, made expressly to prevent members of the Mormon Church from exercising the elective franchise.
Sunday 28th – All went to Meeting, but found when we got there that there would be no Meeting, the Bishop having gone to Paris. Went up to Maple, promised to go hunting with Heber.
Monday 29th, fixed to go hunting. Weather still warm.
Tue. 30th, started hunting. Went north to old Tie Camp.
Wed. 31st, it began snowing about 9 p.m. Snowed all day. To keep from getting wet, we sat under a pine tree all day. Snow fell 3 or 4 inches deep.
November 1st, Thursday I went up on one canyon and Heber up on the other. He killed three elk and wounded another. I killed one deer and brought it to camp.
Monday 5th – Loaded up and went and got the other elk. Heber got a nice fat buck while coming down the canyon.
Tuesday, went to Bennington and voted. Still snowing.
Friday 9th, clear and cold nights, warm days. Snow going off.
Saturday 10th, have got Hans’s house all done but the doors.
Sunday – quite warm. No Meeting.
Thursday 22nd, ground bare, quite warm. Have a shed for our threshing machine and have felled lumber two days. Sent $28.00 back to Chicago for goods. Worked some on shed and stable. Am making a harrow now.
Friday, 23rd, sowed a piece of wheat in field. It freezes nights so that we cannot harrow until after noon. Saturday, finished harrowing wheat.
Sunday – went over and spent the day with Heber, got six bushels of wheat for seed.
Monday 26th, Hans’ birthday. Snowing and raining.
Tuesday, went to Bennington to meeting. Still storming, melting as fast as it falls.
November 28th – We are still in an unorganized condition, waiting to see what our enemies are going to do. Thursday, Brig was over, all had supper at Chris’s, it being his birthday.
Friday 30th, weather quite cold but ground bare in spots.
December 1st Saturday – Cold. Snowing some.
Monday 10th, turned warmer again the 2nd or 3rd, ground bare and stock doing well on the range. I received 150 lbs of lucern seed from J.F. Morrell of Brigham City. The freight cost $1.08. This came on the 8th of this month. I also received a bench drill and sledge hammer from Chicago same day, on 6th. Bro. Ole Paulson and wife paid us a visit Sunday the 9th.
Tuesday 11th- Worked on canyon road.
Saturday 15th, snowed quite hard all day. Jennette and Harrison went to Montpelier with Chris and got grist mill.
Sunday 16th – All went to Meeting. I was set apart to act as a teacher in Bennington Ward.
Monday 17th, sun shone bright and warm all day. I don’t feel very well.
Friday 21st, boys have been going to canyon hauling wood, have got most of it hauled. Growing warmer.
Saturday 22nd – Began snowing this morning, south wind. Chris is sick. Received a letter and picture from A.A. Jensen, of Brigham City, stating all was well. Was thankful to hear such good news.
Sunday 23rd, went to Meeting. Still snowing some, but not very cold.
Monday 24th, went to a dance at Bennington.
Tue., the folks all went to Bennington, they having a Christmas tree for the children. I stayed home, not feeling well.
Wednesday 26th, clear and cold. Thursday Harrison got a load of hay from Bennington.
Friday, spent the day in visiting, found all well. No complaints.
Saturday, still clear and cold. Sunday 30th, all went to Meeting.
1889
January 1st, 1889 – All went to Brig’s and spent the day, had a good time. Total eclipse of the sun at 3 p.m. Very cold nights, warm days.
Saturday 5th, boys finished hauling hay. Cloudy tonight.
Sunday 6th, all went to Meeting. Bishop Wright spoke on several subjects, said the instructions from headquarters are to ordain no one to the Holy Priesthood that uses tobacco. If it is wrong to ordain those using it, is it not wrong for those making use of it to hold the Priesthood?
Monday 7th – Drifting snow. Storm last night, clearing off about noon. Cold wind from the north.
Sunday 13th – Was all last week finishing sled. Boys hauled some wood from canyon. Got a couple of our colts down that had been running out on the mountain. Found one of them very poor, it having been sick. All went to Meeting. Snow about 6 inches deep.
Monday 14th – Snowing, but a little warmer most every day.
Tue. 15th, all went to canyon for mill timber. Wed. 16th, north wind, snow. Snow about a foot deep. Clear. Got a letter from A.A. Jensen of Brigham City. There had been three deaths lately, Abraham Hunsaker, Old Lady Anderson, and Joseph Bergen.
Thursday 17th, very cold. Boys went to the canyon.
Sunday 20th – All went to Meeting.
Thursday and Friday went out teaching.
Saturday 27th, at home. Boys got last load of wood that they had piled.
Monday 28th, one of the cows had her calf last night. It froze to death, although she was in a stable where it was warm.
February 1st Friday – Cloudy, snowing some. Went to Georgetown and traded for a bull. Was up to Montpelier last Thursday to O. Poulson’s trial. It was postponed on another day. Cold nights and warm days.
Wednesday 13th, snowed all day, wind north. Has been thawing considerable last few days, roads getting bare. Went to Paris on Monday the 11th and homesteaded a quarter section of land.
Tue. 19th, we are having quite cold weather again. Has snowed so that the ground is covered. We are talking of buying an old saw mill over in Georgetown Canyon.
February 28th – Has been very warm for some days, snow melting very fast. Roads getting bare again so that it is hard traveling with sleds. Have held two District Meetings, having been set apart as a Priest, meetings well attended, the people turning out immense. We made a bargain for saw mill at Georgetown, but the parties came and backed out next day. O. Poulson has been here the last two days. He is afraid of being arrested again, for unlawful cohabitation.
Sunday March 10 - At home all day. Harrison went to Bennington but there was no Meeting. Chris and I looked at a piece of land that George Perkins is offering for sale. We could not make a bargain with him. We went with a sled, but had bare ground about half way. The ground is bare nearly all over now. Frost out. Could plow if it didn’t freeze so hard at nights. We have got 25 pairs of posts bored and about half of our wood sawed up.
Thursday 14th Has been raining several days now. Does not do much good. Started to plow on river today. Ground is only wet 3 or 4 inches deep.
Thursday 21st – Sowed and harrowed some grass seed on river today. Warm this morning. Prepared some seed wheat.
April 19th Friday – It has been cold and stormy for about two weeks. Looks like clearing off now. Most of the grain is up but does not grow much. It is too cold. We have sowed about 5 acres of lucern on river. Harrison has been breaking 2 or 3 days. Moved our fence out yesterday. Chopped grain and sawed wood today.
Sunday 28th – South wind. The weather has been warm for the last 4 or 5 days. It is cooler now. Looks like storm. Grass is getting good now and grain looks well. Jennette started to Brigham on Wed. the 24th, having heard that Sister Rebecca was very sick. O. Poulson worked on saw mill Wed. 24th. I commenced Thursday 25th. I worked 9 days on P. Jensen’s house. Harrison has worked 4 days this week.
May 2nd – South wind blowing hard, cold and squally. All went to Bennington yesterday to see First of May Celebration, had a good time but was rather cold. Joey bought 3 heifers, pd. $26.00 for them.
May 9th, still very cold. Froze hard the night of 7th, snow 3 in. deep, all gone next day. Joey and I went to Paris with Chris to get his citizen papers. Joey homesteaded his land on the river. Grain and grass looks well.
May 16th – Has snowed all the time for the last two days, is now very cold. I went to Mink Creek on the 10th to meet Jennette, she having wrote she would be there on that day. I stayed until the 13th. At 4 o’clock the mail came but not a word from her so I started home and drove to Nownon that night and home next morning by 8 o’clock. Found all well at home. Got home the 24th.
May 15th – Began storming. Had the hardest storm since last Aug. Our house and stables all leaked. Worked on saw mill. Have not heard from Jennette yet, but it has stormed so she could not travel.
May 18 – looks like clearing off now.
Sunday 19th, went to Meeting. Got recommends for Temple.
May 20th, worked on mill. Clear and warm. No word from Jennette yet.
June 1st 1889 – Hot days but cold nights. Getting quite dry again. Jennette came home Thursday, 23rd June. Sammy, Neils, and Retta coming with her. They had been prevented from starting when ready by storm. I had went to Montpelier the day before and sent a telegram to ascertain, if possible, what was happening to her so long, as the last we heard from her was her request to be met at Mink Creek 20 days ago. Joey and Mary were getting very uneasy. Could not get any answer that day so Joey went up to meet her next morning. Met her coming. She had been well and visiting and having a good time, not thinking how anxious we were at home fearing some accident had happened to her while on the way home. We have got most of the timber ready for mill. Took two loads last Thursday 29th.
Sunday June 2nd – Went to Meeting. Monday 3rd, sent the following order to Browning Bros., Ogden, for shot gun, 38 cal: $7.00, one hundred cartridges for same: $2.00, one reloading tool, $1.75.
Sunday 9th – Quite a hard frost last night. Worked on saw mill last week at Georgetown.
December 21st, 1889 – I have spent most of my time working on saw mill this summer. Got it finished about first of October. It had taken a great deal more time and means to complete it than we had any idea it would when we started it. It cost near $200.00. Sammy and Jane bought a claim and presented two quarters. The weather continued very dry until too late to help the crops any. Had a heavy hail and rain storm sometime in August that done a great deal of damage to both hay and grain. The hay crop was very light and grain almost a failure. Bennington Ward, last season, raised near 20,000 bushels of grain and this season only about 1,500. Times are very dull, no sale for stock, and no grain to spare. We only threshed a little over 6,000 bushels and went nearly all over the Valley to find that.
Winter setting in very early this fall. It began snowing first of November and has continued snowing and raining nearly all the time until the present. We started down to Brigham City the 23rd of Sept. Went to Mink Creek first day. I stopped at Mink Creek and got my sister Caroline to go with me to the Temple. Went to Smithfield and stayed overnight at Mariah Smith’s.
Harrison went on to Logan, got there the 24th. He went through the Temple and was married to Emma Van Orman. We got there about noon and went through the Temple the 26th. Caroline was endowed for her mother and we were sealed to our parents and had Father and Mother sealed. I went through for Seth Rochm the same day. We got to Brigham City the 27th, found all well. Got loads of dried fruit and salt. Was gone about two weeks. Found all well at home when we got back.
Harrison and Chris started down below to work on the Bothwell Canal on the third of December. They got there the 7th and before they got ready to go to work, the Co. gave orders to quit for the winter. So they wrote they would start to work the 14th, for the contractors. I am trying to build another room, but am getting along very slow, as it is storming nearly all the time, and I got good many chores to do.
Saturday December 28th, 1889 – It has been very warm all this month. Storming nearly all the time. Sunday 22nd, the snow began to pour down as fast as I ever saw it come in my life. It continued to come with scarce a break between until Wednesday morning when it looked as if it was going to clear up. The snow was then about two feet deep and solid. We could not get away from home, so we spent most of the day breaking roads. At night it began pouring down again as if it meant to bury us all up, it was so damp that it settled down hard and the snow was full of water at the bottom of our house. Our house leaked all over and ran down the walls until the plaster fell off in many places. It is still snowing tonight, but has turned some colder.
Monday the 23rd was observed as a day of fasting and prayer by all Latter Day Saints, as the enemies of truth are doing their best to destroy us as a people and rob us of every right, which our fair men and women hold so dear. We could protect ourselves for a time at least, by resorting to violence, but this is not our mission. Our mission is peace on earth and good will to all. We must sustain the law and good order, let what will take place. And hence we appeal to Him, who holds the destiny of all in His hands, hoping He will be merciful and soften the hearts of the wicked that they may not be allowed to destroy that glorious instrument, the Constitution of the United States, and cause anarchy and confusion to spread broadcast in the land.
So, the snow was so deep we could not get to Meeting. We observed the fast at home and went to each other’s houses and offered our prayers in behalf of freedom and human rights, this day being the 84th birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
The snow is about 2 ½ feet as near as I can tell. It began drifting considerable.
The 29th, went to Meeting. Quite cold.
1890
January 1st, 1890 – Hauled hay the first, second, and third. The wind blew hard from north, drifting very bad.
Fourth, still drifting. Could not haul hay, roads full.
Fifth, was Sunday, stayed home, the roads being bad. First clear day for a long time. No word from the boys.
The 6th, hauled hay. Clear and cold.
Thursday 14 deg. below zero.
Seventh, finished our hay. 8th, Joey hauled a load of hay for Hans.
9th, got ready to go to the mill.
10th, Joey went to the mill. Turned warmer and snowed some last night. Cold again this afternoon.
11th, wind still north. Snow drifting very bad. Joey got home at night. Team nearly tired out.
January 19th, Sunday – Got word that Van Ormand’s child, a little girl, died last night. There is a great deal of sickness this winter, an epidemic called influenza. Not very many dying with it yet. I will here state that we have heard from the boys twice, the last being wrote 28th of December. They started the 3rd, being gone 25 days from home, had worked 2 days. Harrison was $4.28 behind and Chris 75 ¢, besides their expenses at Brigham City, which they didn’t state. Was no snow there at the time, had turned their horses out and didn’t know what to do. Perhaps it would not be out of place to give a brief summary of what has transpired during the year 1889.
The Year 1889
The Developments Upon Continental Europe
Consider them all, and the conviction is unavoidable, that they will lead to mighty upheavals in the near future. The repeated attempts on the Czar’s life indicate the internal condition of Russia.
The successful overtures the latter has made to America, from which it is a foregone conclusion that the great Triple Alliance between Italy, Germany and Austria, cannot long continue, mean the removal of the conditions that have preserved the semblance of peace among the Great Powers, for the last ten years.
In England, the Times Parnell case gave the cause of Home Rule a tremendous impetus, and now Scotland, Wales, and India, as well as Ireland, are demanding local government. The recent London scandals have shaken, for generations, and the prediction is freely and soberly made, that their result will be the establishment of a Republic at the end of Victoria’s reign.
It is notable circumstance that the latter end of the year has witnessed the sufferings, from an epidemic, of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of human beings, on the European Continent.
The Western World has not the facilities for learning, in detail, what is taking place in Asia, but we know that phenomenal events, rarely equaled in the history of the past, have transpired there within the year.
Japan suddenly transformed itself, by adopting a constitution, and thus, in its form of government, became more AngloSaxon than Oriental. In China, one river destroyed within the space of a few days, five million human lives, and floods, destroying many thousands, have occurred repeatedly in that country.
The abolition of the Empire of Brazil, removes from the Western World the institution of Monarchy. And the unsettled question whether Brazil will have a Republic or anarchy, may remain undetermined for some time.
The action of the Spanish-American Republic, in sending representatives on tour through the United States, is significant, as it is the attempt to form a confederation of the States of Central America.
In our country, there have occurred this year, developments worthy of deep consideration. Among these may be mentioned the Cronon Case, from which alone is apparent that the spirit of secret combination and murder, is widespread in this land. The return of the Republican Party to power early in the year has turned popular thought in the direction of financial science to a remarkable degree. And the consequence, as already indicated, will be great changes in the Nation’s fiscal policy.
The concentration of wealth, and the spirit of combination among workers, are significant features of the year. The race question in the South had grown very much in gravity this year, while the Johnstown Calamity and the Seattle, Linn, and Boston Fires, are among the historic disasters our Country has suffered. The creation of four new states in one year, signalizes the year in a special manner.
By the people of Utah the last year will ever be held memorable. In the early part of it, was laid before the Supreme Court Tribunal of our country, the question whether or not they could be robbed of the property, in a Church conspiracy. And near its end was placed before the same judgment seat, the question whether or not they could be robbed of civil and political rights in an individual capacity, because of their religious beliefs. With these two questions will be determined the future status of the Latter Day Saints, in respect to their country and the rest of the world and mankind.
If they shall be decided in favor of the Saints, the latter will be recognized as having rights which others respect. But if adversely, the effect will be to cast out the Saints civilly and politically, as socially and religiously and to place them in an extraordinary position of being the only citizens of this republic who are denied the privilege of being a part of it, of having the protection of its Constitution and laws and participating in its governmental affairs.
The notable events that have transpired during the year in which the Saints are especially interested, are too numerous to be named within this short sketch. The progress of the work in Asia and the Holy Land, the translation of the Book of Mormon into the Jewish and Maori languages, the conversion of large numbers of Lamanites in New Zealand and elsewhere, the political development in Utah, which alone will require a long chapter to describe, and last, but not least, the day of fasting and prayer, by which the birth of Joseph The Seer was commemorated may be cited as subjects for retrospective consideration.
The contemplative mind may well tremble as, from the verge of a new year, it seeks to read and forecast the events of the near future. But there is always this assurance that all things will work together for good, to them who love the Lord.
Individually, this year has been one of mixed successes and reverses. I spent the most part of my time building saw mill, which is only partially a success, so far, but hope that it will do better when I can attend to it myself.
Our crops were almost a failure for want of water. We had 33 bushels of grain off about 9 acres. Our hay crop was very light for the same reason, drought. This made me short of feed for our stock, and also short of means to clothe ourselves. And having a note of $75.00 coming due the first of March, 1890, Harrison thought he would go down and work on the Bothwell Canal, he having heard that he could earn $2.00 per day with a team. So he took two teams and went. But the work stopped as soon as he got there, which left him without resources 150 miles from home, a high range of mountains to cross and snow so deep that it was impossible to get back with his teams. He had no money to buy food for them over there.
The mail is so unregular that we could not hear from Harrison very often, so we felt uneasy about him. Our cattle and horses have increased and done well, and we have been blessed with fair health during this year.
January 20, 1890 Went to the funeral of VanOrman’s little girl by his second wife, it having died the 18th. They have another child very sick. Jennette and Emma are there helping to nurse the sick. There are a great number of children sick with a very curious disease. Some think it is Whooping Cough.
February 1st, 1890 It has snowed most of the day. South wind blew hard. Not very cold. Emma is still at her father’s. We have not heard from over there for over a week. The last we heard, they were all getting better. January has been stormy all through, snowing a little every day or at least two days over every week for a long time, filling the roads so that we were not able to get out to Meeting for the last two or three weeks. And it now looks as if we would not be able to go tomorrow.
Emma had a letter from Harrison written on the 19th of January, stating that they had made arrangements to have their horses fed at $2 per head and would start home in a week of two. We have not heard anything from them since. Our stock is all doing well so far. Our feed will last two months more. We have all been sick within the past two weeks, but are not serious. Joey feels quite bad now. I expect it is the same disease that so many are having all over the world, but in a milder form. We feel to thank the Lord for His blessings we enjoy from His bounteous hand.
January 1st, 1894 – The year 1893 is now counted among the past. It has been a remarkable year in many respects, fraught with important events, some of which will never fade from the annals of mankind. Looking backward, we see numerous disasters on land and sea, and a remarkably long death roll. Several of the notables of the earth having passed away. Millions worth of property has been destroyed by fire, thousands of lives lost in earthquakes and cyclones, and hundreds more by railroad accidents. Revolution had kindled its hot flames in several places, while at home and abroad, have caused much anxiety and untold distress in many places.
But the year has also been marked by improvement and important events of a more cheerful character than those alluded to. The World’s Fair with the numerous congresses has already sent petitions to our Gvmt. In the interest of the inauguration of peace among the nations of the world. The Religious Parliament, not withstanding its shortcomings, will tend to prove the equality of the great religions of the world, thereby preparing the way for the religion of Christ. Among the prominent events of the year, the dedication of the Great Temple in Salt Lake City, deserves great mention. The acceptance of the House of the Lord is a pledge that His promises are ever faithful, ever true.
The Territories of the Rocky Mountains have suffered comparatively little from the calamities that have swept other parts of the world. The New Year breaks in with prospects of peace in the midst of the people. Utah’s friends are constantly finding their ranks increased at home and abroad. The Heavens pour down their blessings over hill and dale, inspiring the hope of another abundant harvest, in due time. And the day seems near when fair Territory of Utah shall be blessed with the full privileges accorded to her citizens by the divinely inspired Constitution.
Hard times, like storms, come and go. The sun is ever spreading its glorious light above the clouds. So Providence overrules all things and turns even the trials to good for His Children. To those who can hold to this sure anchor of hope, the New Year will bring nothing but feelings of happiness and joy.
Eighteen Ninety-four is now past and gone. It was a very bad year for frost in Bear Lake Valley, but crops of small grain and hay have never been better since I have been a resident here, some six years or more. There has been more sickness than usual, but not many deaths.
September 13, 1895 – My wife, granddaughter, and niece started to Logan, Utah, to attend school at the Agriculture College for a term of nine months. Joey went to take them down with a team. He went to Brigham City and got a load of fruit. We have had the worst season so far that I have experienced, sudden extremes of heat and cold, frost and wind, very dry and squally doing great damage to crops of all kinds. I have thought many times, if I had full control of the elements, and wanted to vex and worry mankind, I could not manage any better to accomplish my desires.
September 19th – The threshing machine sat at my place today, before getting started. There was a light shower of rain, soon clearing off. Wind going down, which had been howling very hard for several weeks past. Had a good time threshing, doing a good job. We had 260 bus. of wheat, 77 of oats, and 60 of barley, which is a fair crop for the season.
Sept. 20th – Threshing for Hans. It began snowing about 11 o’clock and snowed all the rest of the day and part of the night, bringing 3 or 4 inches of snow in the morning.
Saturday 21st – Snowed hard all day, being quite cold. We have not cut second crop of lucern yet. It is mashed in the ground.
Sunday 22nd, Froze hard last night, killing everything.
Monday 23rd – Growing warmer. Snow all gone. We heard from wife today, had got to Logan alright, liked the location first rate, talked of going on to Brigham to visit relatives and friends.
Tuesday 24th – Had first fall wheat sowed. It is now growing warmer. Wed. finished sowing oats, having 8 acres. I am 57 yrs. old today. Feel younger and stronger than I did three years ago.
Thursday 26th – Cleaned out cellars for getting ready for digging potatoes. Warm and fine today. Dug onions yesterday, good crop. Harrison’s wife and her father started to Salt Lake going to Conference.
Saturday 29th – I wrote and mailed a letter to A.A. Jensen at Brigham City. Went to Meeting, there were Home Missionaries. We had good instruction. Still very warm Sunday.
Monday 30th – It is very hot today for this time of year. Sign of storm. Sacked up our onions, had 3 bushels. Raked up hay. Monday the thirtieth, my daughter Mary’s little girl Alice was baptized today by Alvaro Dunn and confirmed by H.A. Lewis, Bishop of Georgetown.
October 1st Tuesday – Rained some today but we got our hay in without being injured too much.
October 13 – We have been loading up all morning to start for Logan with provisions for the folks who are down there attending school. Started at 4 o’clock and went to Ovid, stopped at M. Rosenbaum’s overnight. His wife just returned from Logan and had left the folks all well. We are through threshing and have most of our potatoes dug. There is no sale for potatoes yet. The weather is warm and beautiful but somewhat cold at night.
Oct. 14th – Started on at 7 a.m., drove to mouth of canyon and stopped about two hours for breakfast, drove over to Mink Creek and stayed overnight at my sister Caroline’s. Found all well. William Walker, my brother-in-law, had gone up the river fishing, to be gone all night. Would like to have seen him, but could not wait for his return.
October 15th – Drove on to Richmond, camped for dinner. While we were waiting, my nephew Samuel Smith, who was on his way home from Brigham City, came and stopped a short time for noon. Left all well at Brigham City. Drove on to Logan, got there about 4 p.m., found wife and girls well. They were surprised to see me, as they could be, but was glad I had come. We had brought them 550 lbs. of flour, 5 sacks of potatoes, a table, wash boiler, etc., being loaded quite heavy to cross the mountain.
Oct. 16th – Harrison went to Brigham City this morning. Jennette also started for Mink Creek at 10 a.m., having promised to go and wait on my nephew’s wife, Rebecca Walker. The weather still continues very warm. I am left alone with the girls. They start to school at 8:30 a.m. and return between 3 and 4 p.m. I took a walk through town today, got newspaper with the latest news. Began clouding up some this afternoon. Logan is a beautiful town. Broad streets lined with shade trees in each side of the street. This, together with numerous apple orchards loaded down with lovely fruit, and scenting the air with its perfume, makes it a desirable place to live in.
Oct. 17th – Looks like storm this morning. The girls are off to the school and I am alone again. Fixed Mrs. Izett’s water pump and went for a walk down by the river, came back through town. The streets are thronged with people. Logan is a busy place and building up fast.
Oct. 18th – Has cleared off again and turned quite cold. East wind is blowing hard, very dusty. Went up to college to see fine stock. They have a fine Jersey bull and two Jersey cows, some fine Oxford sheep, and two or three different breed of hogs, the Berkshire being the largest and finest. Wind continued hard all day and night.
Oct. 19th – Clear and pleasant this morning. Hans Hansen and one of G. Birche’s boys called in this morning, having come down from Bear Lake. I stayed at home and read history most of the day, went to a concert at the college at night.
Oct. 20th Sunday – There was Sunday School Conference today. We attended three meetings. There were excellent instructions given. Geo. Godard, an old man between 80 and 90 years old, spoke at each meeting, closing with a song each time. In the forenoon, he closed with “A Good Girl’s Resolve”, chorus: “Good girls, rally ‘round the cause of truth, Remember your Creator in the days of early youth.” In the afternoon, “Hold the Fort…”, evening, “In Deseret we are free,” etc. The following brethren also spoke at the evening service: Dr. J.M. Tanner, on Religion and Science, C.J. Maeser answered questions in regard to authority of Superintendants, President Orson Smith made a few remarks.
When we got home, Harrison and Emma had come and were just preparing for bed. They had left Brigham at 1:30 p.m.
We plowed out some potatoes for Mrs. Izatt, got some straw for the girls to put under the carpet, and got started home at 12:30 p.m. Nooned at creek N. of Richmond, got to Mink Creek at 8 p.m., found all well. Jennette was still there, not having got through yet.
Oct. 22nd – Spent the day visiting relatives. The weather is getting some colder, pleasant days and cold nights.
Oct. 23rd, we expected to have started this morning, but didn’t find our horses in time. Stayed and went fishing.
Oct. 24th – Started home leaving all well. It was hard to part with my wife and leave her, not expecting to see her again until sometime next spring. “Oh, Father, may thy protecting care be over her and the Spirit rest upon her, that she may have joy and comfort in her labors this winter, and be a shield and protector to the innocent.” Amen.
Got to Ovid and stayed at M. Rosenbaum’s again overnight.
Oct. 25th – Got home and found all well. It is freezing quite hard nights, but warm days. Our Tithing Potatoes are not dug. Dug some of the beets and some carrots, also Tithing Potatoes. Pd. 35 bus. for tithing. The Bishop said they were the best that had been brought in this fall.
Oct. 27th, Sunday – Went to Bennington with Harrison and Emma, got back after dark and wrote a letter to Nettie and one to Browning Bros., Ogden, containing 50 ¢ in stamps. Went to Montpelier with Hans, gave two notes to Ed. Burgoyne on my wife’s account, one for $50.00 at 10% interest due on June 1st, 1897, and one for $78.71, due Dec. 15, 1897. Joey and boys finished digging carrots, etc., and I went to Teacher’s Meeting at Georgetown at night. There were some new Teachers appointed and changes made in districts. Got back home about 10:30.
October 29th – Sawed some wood and put a wall under house. Harrison took a load of grain to Montpelier.
October 31st – Joey and Harrison went to Montpelier with two loads of grain, paid to Burgoyne on account.
November 1st – Joey went hunting. Harrison and I stacked up two loads of grain from our granary.
Nov. 2nd, Joey and Harrison went to town with the two loads of grain, one to Burgoyne, on my note, and one to Coop on per cent. Morris and I went hunting down to Bear River, got one duck and two chickens.
Sunday, 3rd – Went and took dinner with Mirtle, it being her 10th(?) birthday. It began raining slowly about 12 o’clock, turning to snow at 1:15. Snowed so hard we didn’t go to Meeting.
Monday 4th, snowed and blowed all day. The snow is now about 5 inches deep, not very cold. Have not heard from folks in Logan since we left there two weeks ago.
Nov. 7th, C. Goff came out this morning with a surveyor, to lay off a 4 rod street, running east and west 80 rods south of section line, running through northwest quarter section 21 township 11 S. range 44 east and two rod street running north and S. on half quarter line of northwest quarter section 21, 160 rods between me and John Dunn, then making a jog of about 36 rods east along first mentioned street, thence a 3 rod street running in a northeasterly direction to mouth of canyon. Weather cloudy and snowing some. Not very cold.
November 8th, I didn’t feel well. Sat in house and read most of day. Cloudy and snowing some.
Nov. 9th, Harrison went to Conference at Paris. I plastered some on chicken coop and done some chores around the barn. Had a letter from Nettie. Jennette is still at Mink Creek but the girls are getting along first rate. Still cloudy and warm, snowing and blowing some. We cannot do much but our chores. We are feeding our cows and teams and also the sheep most of the time.
November 12th – Brig sent word that he would start to Logan next Wednesday, the 13th. We killed a sheep to send with him. Joey went and took the things down to Brig that we wished to send. The weather is still bad. Cloudy. Snowing some. But the snow does not get much deeper. Ground bare in spots.
November 13th – At home doing chores. Looks like we are going to have winter.
November 14th – Joey went down to Clark’s and got a bull calf that he had traded for. He went with a sled, but there was considerable bare ground. Nor. 15th, warmer this morning. Looks like rain. Joey went to Ovid with butter and eggs. Harrison went to canyon to pile wood. Cleared off some. I was at home all day.
November 16th – Clear and warm this morning, snow all gone except a few spots. Frost is out of the ground. Traded for a hog of Dan Rowley, pd. Him $5.00 for it.
Nov. 17th, white frost last night. Clear and warmer this morning. Went to Meeting. Brother Andrew Galaway was there. He spoke on the Priesthood being taken away from the earth and again restored in the Last Days.
November 18th – Cloudy this morning, didn’t freeze much last night. We began plowing again today. Harrison went to canyon. Joey and I went to river, caught about 50 lbs. of fish, mostly suckers. It cleared off again.
Nov. 19th – Clear and pleasant. The snow is now all gone except a few spots where the sun does not strike it. It thaws now and then. Joey started to plow on lower field today. The ground is only wet down about three or four inches.
November 20th – Joey and Harrison both went down to plow this morning. I stayed at home and sawed wood and fixed a cart, etc. Warm and pleasant days and cool nights. We are not feeding anything now, except teams that work and milk cows a little.
Nov. 21st – Joey and Harrison both plowed again today. I made stairs to house, let Dan Rowley have 750 lbs. of potatoes on a pig we had bought of him. It is clearing up and looks like snow.
Nov. 22nd – Snowed most of the night. The snow is now about 6 inches deep and quite cold. It snowed most of the day, looks like winter has set in.
Nov. 23rd – Cloudy and cold. Snow drifted quite bad last night. The ground is not froze any, to speak of. Young stock are living out yet. Chopped first grain today. Have not fed any grain to hogs yet, am feeding small potatoes. All well. Have not heard from Logan for a long time.
Nov. 24th – Clear and pleasant. Went to Meeting with Harrison, Emma, Joey and Emily. Nov. 25th, clear warm days and cold nights. Joey went to mill this morning and Harrison to canyon after saw logs. I put door frames on the stairs, paid cash tithing $2.50, Deseret News $1.00. Still all well.
Nov. 26th, worked some on the house. It is quite cold today. Went up and took dinner with Hans and Mary, it being Hans’ birthday. He is 38 years old. Chris was there. Harrison brought home a letter from Nettie. They are all well. Jennette got back from Mink Creek on the 15th. Ed Walker’s wife had a pair of twins, a boy and a girl.
November 27th – Cloudy this morning turning warmer. Made a door for upstairs. Joey got back from mill tonight. Began snowing at 4 p.m. Snow most of the night.
Nov. 28th – Was cloudy and looked like storm fore part of day, cleared off about noon. Harrison went to canyon and Joey hunted stock. Didn’t find any. We have got three calves gone that are worth at least $30.00. I worked in shop blacksmithing for Neils Sorensen and Arthur Smith.
Nov. 29th – Snowing again today very slowly, doesn’t get any deeper. Joey and Harrison went to Montpelier, took 3 doz. chickens and 3 ducks. They sold the 3 ducks for $1.00 and the chickens at 20 ¢ each. Harrison bought a feed cutter, pd. $19.50 for it, also 500 lbs. of coal for $1.75.
November 30th. Snowed most of the day, there keeps about 6 inches deep. It looks like clearing off tonight. We tried the feed cutter this forenoon. It works very well. I worked in shop this afternoon. Alva is sick. Sent for Alvaro Dunn to administer to him.
December 1st – Alva is better this morning. It is snowing by spells and shining between. Went to Meeting. Dec. 2nd, was sick all day. Harrison and Joey went to Jewits and got two loads of hay. Looks like it is clearing off. Dec. 3rd, clear and cold. Joey and Harrison went to Montpelier with their hay. It brought $12.65. I do not feel very well, got done with chores.
Dec. 4th – Cold and foggy. I went to Montpelier with Hans, paid taxes, $22.45.
Dec. 5th, fixed a sled for Joey and done some blacksmithing for A. Smith. Still foggy and cold.
Dec. 6th, turned warmer in the night, snowing some today, almost rain. Worked in shop.
Dec. 7th, cloudy and warm today. Joey and Harrison are still going to the canyon piling wood and bringing loads home at night. I put in window and hung door upstairs. Worked half a day for Neils S. blacksmithing.
Sunday the 8th – Clear and warm. Stayed home and wrote a letter to Jennette. Harrison and Emma went to Meeting, brought a letter from Jennette. They are all well, but anxious to come home for the Holidays, but have not got money to come with. It is taking considerable money to pay their expenses and it is hard to get.
December 9th – Worked in shop, made sled tong for Joey and helped Neils S. finish his sled. Colder today. Dec. 10th, killed two hogs today. Joey took one of them to town. Went to Ovid to stay overnight to hunt calves. Weather mild again but cloudy. We have been feeding everything since the 2nd of the month.
December 11th – Cold and cloudy, thawing quite a bit. Side hills facing sun are bare. Joey got back tonight, found one of the calves, two more gone yet. The hog that he took to town brought $8.50, weighed 170 lbs. He got a coat for Nellie with it. I worked in shop fixing sled. Harrison got two loads from canyon today.
Dec. 12th – There is a mist over the Valley this morning, quite damp and penetrating, brought from the lake by the south wind, making it quite disagreeable to be out. I feel better than I have for some time. My stomach having pained me a little all the time, making me feel weak and unable to do much work. Made two chain hooks for D. Smith. Fog is lifting a little this afternoon.
December 13th – Still foggy. Wind in north turning colder and clearing off. Worked in shop most of day. Made clevis doe habs and fixed sled for Joey.
Dec. 14, clear and cold. Joey and Nellie went to Ovid to stay all night. I sawed some wood and done chores around home. Harrison went to Elders Meeting at Montpelier.
December 15th – I was sick all night, feel some better this morning, not well enough to go to Meeting. Snowed and blowed all day, wind south until about 5 o’clock p.m. when it turned north and blew a hurricane for two or three hours. Harrison went to Meeting. Joey got back about dark, facing the blizzard. I sent a letter to Jennette containing a P.O. Order for $15.00.
December 16th – Cold and cloudy. Sat in the house most of the day not feeling well.
Dec. 17th, snowed some last night and is snowing this morning. Snow is again about 6 inches deep. I feel some better today, done some tinkering mending milk pans, etc. Looks like it is now clearing off this afternoon.
Dec. 18th, clear and cold. Snow is about 8 inches deep. Was at home all day. Harrison went to canyon and Joey to saw mill, got 600 ft. of lumber on old (?). the mill is still owing me 4 or 5 years.
Dec. 19 – Cold. Snowing a little. It is too cold for me to work out of doors. Joey and Harrison both went to sawmill with logs. Snowed all day turning warmer. I sawed wood and done chores. Dec. 20th, weather is quite warm. Wind in south. Snowing slowly. Joey and Harrison both made two trips to canyon for logs. I worked in the shop. Wind turned to the north at night. Snowing and blowing very hard. We have been sending for mail every day expecting a letter letting us know when the folks will be home from Logan, but have got none yet.
Dec. 21st – Clear and cold. Snow about 12 or 13 inches deep. The boys went to Elders Meeting at Georgetown today.
Dec. 22nd, Sunday, clear and cold this morning. As we were about ready to start to Meeting, the folks came home from Logan. Lewis brought them from Bennington and traveled all night, and were very tired and sleepy. We didn’t go to Meeting.
Dec. 23rd – Cloudy and cold. The boys went to Montpelier and Harrison went on to Paris Bottom to see about a calf that we heard was over there. Began snowing and blowing towards night. The boys got back after dark, found calf and brought it home.
December 24th – Cold and cloudy. Started to snow and blow from the north about 10 a.m., continued all day very cold. C. Polmunteer and J. Allen came tonight to visit with the young folks during the Holidays.
December 25th, Christmas – Cold and stormy. The folks all went down to Georgetown to spend Christmas. The Sunday School giving an entertainment in the Ward Meeting House. I concluded not to go, it is so very cold. Has stormed slowly all day, wind in the north. I spent the time at home looking over my Temple records. Am getting very anxious to have all the Temple work as soon as possible. I am getting old, and have poor health most of the time, would like to see all my dear relatives officiated for before I am called away from this sphere of action.
Dec. 26th – Still cloudy, but not so cold. Stormed some.
Dec. 27th, cloudy and storming some. Mr. Neilson and wife came from Ovid to see Jennette. Eva Rosenbaum came with them. They went home at night. Mrs. Rosenbaum stayed and went with our folks to the Squirel dance. I stayed at home and took care of the children. It was a very bad night, the worst I have seen since I have lived in the Valley some over eight yr. I was afraid that the folks would get lost coming home, but the wind lulled before they came.
Dec. 28th, storm and blustering turning colder. At home all day.
Dec. 29th, clear and very cold. C. Polinan and Ellen went home today. Most of us went to Meeting. Jennette was called down to Chris’s last night, Alice being very sick.
Dec. 30th, quite windy, snow drifting. I was sick all day, could not do my chores. All at home except Jennette. Dec. 31st, some warmer today. Harrison and Eva Rosenbaum home this morning. I feel better, done my chores and oiled the clock. No word from Chris yet. Chris has just come up. Says they got a baby girl, was born Sunday 29th. All doing well.
1896
January 1st 1896 Snowing some this morning. All went to Georgetown to an entertainment gotten up by Young Ladies MIA, also stayed to the Children’s Dance. The storm increased in violence all day and continued to snow and to blow most of the night.
Once more, the Roundup of Time has brought us face to face with a New Year, fresh from its days of pleasure and pain, of trouble and of triumph. For mortal beings, it is a regular recurring point of vintage, that affords relief as a breath-spell in which to contemplate the past and awaken new hopes and resolves for the future. For those who have striven to do well there will be few regrets for the year now closed, but rather a sense of relief, and thankfulness that all is as well as it is. And for the future, a renewed determination and effort to improve each day that hastens man toward the Gates that stand ajar at the entrance of another sphere.
That great changes have been wrought in 1895, none will deny, or that its closing days auger still greater changes in the near future. There have been the usual successes and failures, calamities and prosperities that have furnished the varied experiences of earth the past few years. And on the important problems which trouble the Nations, there has been more than the customary amount of agitation. The financial puzzle is as perplexing as ever. The world’s social and industrial condition presents no better encouragement, as time passes.
The religious world appears no nearer unification, or a common platform and political problems seem to become more intricate. Altogether, the world confesses a feeling of vague uncertainty as to the future, yet expresses a conviction of approaching solution of vexed questions, which is dreaded, because of the fear that it will be calamitous to existing conditions. While these developments have been going on increase, Utah too, has been the field of marked changes, in her case they are full of promise for a glorious career. Her people have pursued a steady, straightforward course and have passed another stage in the National advancement.
With the New Year, Utah puts on the habitments of Statehood, full of life and vigor to meet the responsibilities of the future, ripe with an experience which teaches that having the hand on the plow there will be no turning back. There has been no faltering in the past, there will be no failure in the future, whatever of trial it may bring, it will lead in triumph.
As the Commonwealth of Utah has had many difficulties to cope with, her people in an individual capacity have been required to experience hardships and sorrows. And as the State now enters a more glorious field, so do the promises of a great and better daydawn upon her citizens.
January 2nd – Fast Day. Stormed so hard we concluded not to go down to Meeting. Jennette came home from Chris’s, left all as well as could be expected. The baby and Alice to be doing well.
January 3rd, still cloudy and cold. Alma Hays and Albert Rolph and wives came over and visited.
Jan. 4th, went down and settled tithing. Deeded a piece of land to Lewis P. Monk, of Bennington. Got a bull of W. Clark to winter, having traded ours off.
January 5th – Clear and cold. Took wife and Nettie to Bennington. They have to start back to Logan tonight. Brig will take them to Montpelier there they will take the train for Logan. Emily went down to wait on Alice for a week or two, leaving me here alone. It will be quite a change, no doubt. I shall feel lonely.
January 6th – Clear and pleasant, cold nights. Was at home all day. Utah inaugurated her state officers today. Jan. 7th, sun breaking through at times. Was sick all night and today. Done my chores but do not feel hardly able. Had dinner at Mary’s. Harrison and Joey have been hauling logs over to the saw mill the last two days. Jan. 9th, clear and warm, feels almost like spring. Joey and Harrison went to canyon today.
January 10th – Clear and pleasant. Thawing some middle of the day. At home doing chores. Joey chopped some grain and Harrison visited the Elders, as a Teacher.
January 11th – Still quite warm, some clouds. Boys went to Elders Meeting at Montpelier. I worked a little in the shop.
Jan. 12th, Sunday, went to Meeting. Clear but some cooler.
Monday clear and cold. We worked in the shop fixing a horsepower out of an old mower.
Jan. 14th – Snowed some today. Very cold. One of our ewes had a lamb last night. Worked on the horsepower again today. Wrote a letter to Sister Wideborg, of Brigham City.
Jan. 15, warmer. Wind south. Snowing slowly. Finished the horsepower. Harrison went to mill with logs.
Jan. 16th – Still snowing slowly, almost rain. Staked down the horsepower and tried to cut straw, broke the power so that we had to throw it away, took the Machine Power and cut straw with it. It works good. Had a letter from Jennette. Wrote one back to her and sent her some names of dead to be endowed for, she having requested them.
Jan. 17th – Stormy and thawing very fast, some rain. Joey and Harrison went to the saw mill with logs, got two loads of lumber. I was at home all day.
Jan. 18th, boys went to Montpelier with lumber, gone 5 days. I done a little in the shop for Sammy Smith, Emily came home today. Left all tolerable well at Chris’s. Boys got back at dark.
Jan. 19th, Sunday, cloudy and mild. Went to Meeting with Hans. Harrison went to Bloomington.
Jan. 20th – Weather still mild. Looks like storm. Joey and Harrison went to the saw mill. I worked in the shop. Wind south. Began snowing about 10 a.m., continued getting worse all day. Mostly rain, thawing quite a bit.
Jan. 21st, snowing and blowing from the south. Joey and Harrison went to Montpelier with two loads of lumber, got back at dark. Sold one load to Jews for clothing, paid other to Co-op on account (or %).
Jan 22nd, colder wind north, snowing some. Cut some hay. Harrison is getting ready to go over to Nounin to haul saw logs. They have sold timber this winter amounting to $45.74, pd. to Burgoyne’s $20.00 and to Jew for readymade clothing $25.74. They have got another load or two at the mill.
Jan. 23 – Joey and Harry went to the saw mill for lumber. I worked in the shop making a log clevis. The weather is quite cold again.
24th, clear and cold. Harrison went to Nounon to look for a place to get logs. I finished log clevis and helped cut feed.
Jan. 25th, cloudy and cold. Sawed some wood. Joey went to saw mill for lumber. Harrison got back from Nounon tonight. It is snowing slowly.
January 26th Sunday – Went to Meeting, cloudy, the sun shining by spells. The Bishop read a discourse, delivered on January 20th, 1895, by Joseph F. Smith, on the resurrection of those who suffer the second death, not annihilated, but must suffer throughout the endless ages of eternity. I had read it before, but still it had passed from my mind.
Jan. 27th – Clear and warm in the daytime. I went to Meeting with Hans, had missionaries from Montpelier. They spoke well in the duties of the Saints at the present time. Joey and Harrison went to Montpelier with lumber, paid one load to Co-op W & M Co., $14.30, one load for Jews $8.00.
Jan. 28th, Harrison started to Nounon to haul logs. We helped him get started and then cut feed. Clear and mild in morning, clouded up and snowed toward night.
Jan. 29th, cloudy and snowing a little, weather mild. The snow is only about 16 inches deep. Doesn’t appear like we are going to have much snow this winter.
Jan. 30th, turning cold, wind from the north blowing hard. I laid floors in cow stable, got cold, didn’t feel well.
Jan. 31st, clear but cold. Was sick all night with pains in stomach, feel bad today. Joey went to saw mill, got lumber and slabs. Had a letter from Sister Wideborg, of Brigham City.
February 1st – Cloudy, some fog, cold. Didn’t feel well yet. Stomach pain a little all the time.
Sunday the 2nd, didn’t go to meeting. Snowing by spells. The boys and Emily went to Meeting. Snowing by spells between sunshine and warmer.
Feb. 3rd, cloudy, snowing a little, cold. I am getting better slowly. Joey and boys cut some hay this aft. Harrison went to Nounon last night.
Feb. 4th, cloudy and cold, wind north. I feel lots better today, the boys are sawing wood. Turning colder all day, very cold at night.
Feb. 5th, warmer this morning, snowing quite fast and colder again at night, north wind a blizzard.
Feb. 6th – Snow drifted bad last night, clearing off cold this morning.
Feb. 7th, clear and cold north breeze. I have done nothing but chores. Joey took a fast offering to Georgetown of 100 lbs of flour and got the mail.
Feb. 8th, warmer today. Thawing some. Joey went to Montpelier. Harrison sent his cant hook home this morning to be mended. I mended it and made one for David Smith.
Feb. 9th – South wind getting harder, cloudy and cold. There has been very poor sale for butter the last two months, and now there is none at all. Times are very dull, no sale for anything that we produce except grain and that is very low. Didn’t get to Meeting.
Feb. 10th, clear and warm, thawing fast. Cut some hay and moved the cutter to the straw stack.
Feb. 11th, snowing today and very cold.
Feb. 12th – Cloudy and quite moderate. We cut straw most of the day. There is not much snow yet, only about 12 or 15 inches.
Feb. 13, thawing some. South wind.
Feb. 14th, sent letter to folks at Logan. All well and quite warm.
Feb. 15th, at home all day, some cooler.
Feb. 16th Sunday, went to Meeting. Bro. Lee spoke on laboring for the dead in Temples. Had a good meeting, all felt well.
Feb. 17th, wind north and very cold. 18th, warmer. Killed two hogs.
Feb. 19th, colder again, clear with some fog at night. Joey went to mill at Montpelier, got back at night. I cut up the hogs and salted meat. Jennette got home from Logan, left all well.
Feb. 20th, still clear and cold. Visited with Mary all day.
Feb. 21st, clear and cold. Sawed wood most of the day. Mr. Brown and wife, from Liberty, came and stayed overnight with us.
Feb. 22nd – Clear and growing warmer. Joey went to Bennington with his mother and Emma. I made out an order for garden seeds to plant this spring.
The 23rd, Sunday, went to Meeting. Home missionaries from Montpelier gave good instruction concerning everyday duties.
Feb. 24th, clouding up. Still cold. We cleaned out ice house.
25th, got a load of ice. Traded for a black ewe and lamb. Weather is warm.
Feb. 26th, looks like rain. Got another load of ice. Hans got a load also. Wind turned in north and snowed some. Neils S. and Betta, and Jane and Eunice and Arthur paid us a visit. Was glad to see them.
Feb. 27th, cloudy, moderate, snowed in the afternoon. Sharpened a few harrow teeth for Chris.
Feb. 28th, rain and sleet all night, wind blew very hard. Cloudy and cold this morning, wind north. Snowing and some drifting. Finished sharpening harrow teeth.
Feb. 29th, clear. Froze quite hard last night. Our little Tice died last night or yesterday, apparently from strychnine. I don’t feel well, having taken a severe cold, the only one I have had this winter.
Harrison came home from Nounon with a load of lumber.
March 1st – Cold and snowing quite fast. Jennette was called to Georgetown last night to wait on Lizzie Rolph. Snowed some today, the sun shining for a few minutes, once or twice.
Mar. 2nd, froze hard last night. Joey and Harrison went to Montpelier with lumber. Harrison and Emma went to Meeting yesterday. I didn’t feel well enough to go. Had dinner with Hans and Mary. The boys paid their lumber to the Co-op on %. It came to $22.50.
March 3rd – Very cold wind. Harrison went back to Nounon. He got a new pair of bobsleds yesterday, costing $55.00 to be paid in lumber. He desires to get out and ought to pay for them.
March 4th, snowing and turning warmer. Made rave for sled. Brig and wife came over on a visit. Snowed all day, wind blowing from the north at night. Looks like clearing off.
March 5th, Fast Sunday – Didn’t go to Meeting. Clear and cold, visited all day with Mary and Hans.
6th, snowing and blowing very hard. Went to Joey’s for dinner.
March 7th, milder, some sunshine. Joey took his mother to Georgetown. Seen first robin this morning.
March 8th, snowing. Went to visit Neils and Retta and went to Meeting. There was home missionaries, had a good Meeting. Met with Bishop and Council a short time after Meeting to talk over the School Bonds question.
March 9th – Clearing off quite cold. Went and visited my sister Jane Smith.
March 10th, clear. More moderate. Visited with Sister Eunice Smith. The snow is deeper now than it has been before this winter. It is near two feet deep where it is not drifted.
March 11th – Partially clear, thawing fast. North breeze. Jennette was prepared to start back to Logan this morning, but was to Nounon to wait on Roda Crowsley. Joey went to Nounon for lumber. Warmest day since last fall.
March 12th, clear and warm. Jennette got back from Nounon last night, was anxious to start to Logan today, but had to wait for Joey to get back at night.
March 13th – Snowing slowly this morning. Joey took his mother to Ovid. She expects to take the train for Logan tonight. Wind turned and blew hard, snowing fast.
March 14th, very cold with south, clearing off. Joey stayed all night at Ovid, got back today. Jennette stayed there also, on account of storm. Will go tonight if nothing happens to prevent it.
March 15th, Sunday, clear and cold. Went to Meeting and drove Hans’s team. Bro. A. Galaway spoke on Foreordination.
March 16th, cloudy and cold. Joey and Harrison went to Montpelier with lumber, took some over 2900 ft to Co-op. It came to $26.30. It turned warmer during day and snowed very hard.
March 17th – Clear and cold. Worked in shop. Sammy Smith and A. Van Orman came to visit Harrison. C. Polmanteer has been two or three days.
March 18th, clear and warm, thawing fast. One of our last spring’s lambs had a lamb today. Joey went to Nounon.
March 19th, clear and warm, thawed quite fast today. There was two shocks of earthquakes at 9:25 p.m.
March 20th – Cloudy and warm, looks stormy. I was sick most of the night, feel quite yet. Thawed very fast today.
Mar. 21st, went to town with Hans and Mary. Had a hard time to get back the snow was so soft.
Mar. 23rd, very warm. Got a letter from Jennette saying she had got to Logan, found all well. It was wrote the 18th. I dreamed this morning of picking out one of my teeth, thought it hurt so bad, but could not have it replaced. Worked some in the shop. Joey went to Montpelier with lumber, got back after dark. Very warm. Mar. 24th, partially clear. Very warm. Took some covering off potato pit. They was sprouting very bad. I moved some of straw in barn. Joey went to Nounon. Rained all night.
Mar. 25th, rained all last night, snow going very fast. Finished getting straw in barn, made a gate for upper field. Sharpened harrow teeth for Sammy. Joey got home. Cloudy and warm.
March 26th – Rain. Joey went back to Nounon. I mailed a letter to Jennette and one to M.W. & Co., ordering goods.
Mar. 27th snowed all day. Harrison came home from Nounon. 28th, snow squalls all day, clear and cold tonight. Went to Georgetown and voted Bonds. “Yes.”
Mar. 29th Sunday – Cloudy and cold. Was sick last night. Could not do chores this morning. Snowed most of the day. Thirtieth, still snow and cold. Very cold north wind.
Mar. 31st, very cold, looks like clearing off. I feel much better this morning. Has been clear and very cold most of the day, clear at night & freezing hard.
April 1st, 1896 – The first clear and cold, froze very hard last night, thawed a little during the day. Worked some in the shop. Was sick again during the day and night, am subject to bilious attacks.
Apr. 2nd, clear and cold, froze hard again last night. I feel better this morning. The weather growing warmer. Thawed considerable today. Went up and cut a few quaking asps for wood, worked some in shop.
Apr. 3rd, partially clear, warmer. Thawed very fast. Went down to river. It is just beginning to break up. Joey got back from mill with a load of lumber. Harrison fell and hurt himself rolling logs out of pit. Joey went back to mill.
Apr. 5th, partially clear, warm. The roads are so bad we don’t try to go to Meeting. Had dinner at Mary’s.
April 6th – Very warm. Sun shone most of the day, ground getting dry in spots where snow was not drifted. Sheep and cattle are out on the hills every day, don’t need much feed. We got out balance of potatoes from pit. They are over half spoilt for sale. Joey and Harrison came home from mill. Sowed some cabbage seed, etc., in cold frame on the 4th.
April 7th – Spent the day in dehorning cattle. Dehorned 33 head and sharpened a plow for Dave Smith.
April 8th, cloudy. Quite cool. Went down and helped Chris dehorn his cattle, 7 head. Harrison went to Montpelier.
April 9th, cold and stormy. Worked in the sheep yard.
Apr. 10th, all worked in the sheep yard. Cold. Began snowing hard at about 4 p.m. Ground was most all bare, grass starting very fast. Two of our lambs got lost today.
Apr. 11th, snow about 4 inches deep. Worked in shop. Most of snow went off.
Sunday, April 12th – Didn’t freeze much last night. Got a letter from Jennette today, all was well. Scattered some strychnine for squirrels this morning. Partially clear.
April 13th – Rained some last night, snowed in the mountains, has rained and still raining, snow most gone. Apr. 14th, snow and rain all day, our house and stables all leaking. Have not had such a soaking rain for years. Had dinner with Hans and Mary.
Apr. 15th, froze some last night, looks like clearing off. The last one of our ewes had twins last night. Cloudy and cold. We laid water ditches on side hill.
Apr. 16th, snowing slowly this morning, growing warmer, continuing all day melting fast, as fast as it fell. Turned cold at night. I worked in the shop sharpening harrow teeth. We are all well for which we feel very thankful.
April 17th – Very cold wind from north, snowing some. Eighteenth, snow most of the day and night. Boys went to Montpelier, sent a box to Logan containing 10 lbs. meat and 8 of butter. Worked in shop.
Apr. 19, still snowing. Froze some last night. Went to Meeting. The Bishop read a circular sent by the First Presidency of the Church, to all its officers and members, setting forth the Order of the Priesthood. It was put before the Meeting, and unanimously sustained by vote.
April 20th – Began snowing hard about daylight this morning, fell 5 in. Growing warmer. Cleared off at 12 p.m. Snow all gone at night. Harrison began plowing for lucern this afternoon.
Apr. 21st, clear and pleasant. Finished the harrow, and scattered strychnine for squirrels.
April 22nd, cloudy. Looks like storm. Sawed some posts for fence in front of house on street. Stormed some. Cool. Mary got a letter from Logan. They was all well but needed money very bad, am sorry we can’t send them some.
April 23rd – Partially clear. Hard south wind. Scattered manure on garden, harrowed lucern and some on sod. Harrison broke his plow. Froze quite hard last night.
Apr. 24th, partially clear. South wind drying the ground very fast. Hans began drilling today, then harrowed, getting land ready to seed lucern. Quite stormy, but warm.
Apr. 25, clear and warm, south wind. Roads dry, snow most gone out of the land. Grass and lucern starting slowly. Boys started to plow on job field.
April 26th – Got word to bring Sister Black home with us, Joey’s wife being sick. She was delivered of a girl baby at 11:30 p.m.
April 27th – Cloudy. Looks like rain. All well this morning. Sent a card to Logan. Boys went to harrow in job field, south wind cold.
April 28th, partially clear, north wind cold. Boys harrowed for Pat’s. The squirrels are very thick, looks somewhat doubtful about raising crops this season, as squirrels are so numerous about grain.
April 29th, hard south wind. Planted artichokes and early potatoes, got ground ready to plant onions.
Apr. 30, snowed 3 inches last night, cold this morning. North wind. Feed all gone and stock hardly live out. Have sowed 8 ½ acres of lucern, 1 ¾ of barley, and 27 ½ of oats. I worked in shop. Harrison got a load of hay from Chris.
1896, May 1st – Froze quite hard last night, more pleasant this morning, south wind raised about 9 a.m., blew hard all day. We killed two hogs and planted onions, radishes, turnips, and a few beets and lettuce. Harrison done some plowing.
May 2nd, snowed 4 inches deep this morning, continued squally all day. Snow mostly off before night. I fixed keg and salted meat.
May 3rd, cloudy, cool. Went to Meeting. The question has been agitated for some time to kill off the squirrels, have not fully decided what to do yet.
May 4th, rained some last night and this morning, sunshine this afternoon. Worked on fence most of day. Joey went to Montpelier to sell hog. It brought $6.10 at 4 ¢ per lb.
May 5th – Cloudy and cold. Worked some on strawberries, plowing up old bed. Began raining about 4 p.m. Joey went to Georgetown to trade for a hog and get some lime for spraying purposes.
May 6th, worked on fence, the ground being too wet to do any seeding, had rain last night.
May 7th, I was quite sick last night. Began snowing this morning and poured down until about 2 p.m. Harrison dug a few post holes.
May 8th, clear this morning. We all went to job field. I went on the river. Clouded up and began raining about 12 noon, stormed rest of the day.
May 9th, snowed most of the day. Ground now bare at night. I worked in shop. Made a gate for front of the house. Harrison bought some hay at Georgetown.
Sunday, May 10th – Snow storm. Didn’t go to Meeting. We are having the longest stormy spell we have ever had in Bear Lake. The ground is thoroughly soaked and so cold that nothing can grow. No grain up yet, and not much sowed.
May 11th, snowed most of the day, sun shone some in the afternoon.
May 12th, snowed all day but went off as fast as it fell. Everybody almost discouraged about trying to get their crops in. Snow 3 inches deep at night.
May 13th, snowing some again today. Ground bare. Boys went to plow on Schofield’s place. Snowed about 2 inches at night and froze hard.
May 14th – Clear this morning and cold, turned warmer about 10 a.m. and began snowing all day. Met with Schoolboard at Georgetown to canvas bids on Bonds, accepted bid Mister Redman of Montpelier. Bonds at per 7% interest per annum. Killed two sheep to send up to W. Hoff.
May 16th – Froze very hard last night. Sun shone bright and clear but soon clouded up, wind raised and blew very hard from south. Boys went to Montpelier with sheep, got $4.50 for them. I sawed wood.
Sunday 17th, ground again covered with snow, stormed most of the day, did not go to Meeting.
May 18th, no storm today, partially clear, south wind. Joey and I worked on fence. Harrison finished sowing oats.
May 19, ground covered with snow again this morning and still snowing very fast, wind north. There have been 17 stormy days this month. I worked in shop. Seed sowed the 1st are just beginning to come up.
May 20th – NO STORM. First good day this month. Planted parsnips and carrots, sold old iron, 1,250 lbs for $2.50.
May 21st – Clear and warm. Didn’t freeze any last night. South wind raised at 9 a.m., blew hard, rained at night. Planted peas, barley and rye.
May 22nd, raining. Worked in the shop, warmer and cloudy. Set out some shade trees. Boys worked on fence.
May 23rd, went down to the river. Caught 11 fish. Cloudy and warm.
May 24th, clear and warm this morning, clouding up and storming at 1 p.m. Went to Meeting. Rained all the way home.
May 25th – Cloudy. Killed a sheep for W. Hoff. Harrison went down to fix up fence on job field. Joey and I worked at setting out shade trees. No storm. We held a Reservoir Meeting at night, did not accomplish anything, authorized the President to wait on Mister Wix (or Hix) and notify him that his work had been rejected.
May 26th, partially clear and warm. Went and castrated 4 colts. Joey went to mill. I set out some shrubbery and trees. Harrison and Rance Van Orman worked on water ditch.
May 27th, clear and warm. Went to scatter grain for squirrels.
May 28th – Clear. Scattered grain for squirrels again. Thunder shower p.m. with hard wind. Joey hunted for a mare that has been missing some days.
May 29th, partly clear. Scattered grain today. I sprayed gooseberries. Rain at night.
May 30th, rain all day. We cut potatoes and Harrison sheared sheep.
May 31st, Sunday, partly clear. Went to Meeting, roads very muddy.
June 1st – Clear and very warm. Went to Montpelier, took a sheep. This makes 4 head we have sold this spring. The four head brought $10.00. Didn’t get back in time to vote. Wm. Stoddard was elected Trustee. June 2nd, worked on fence. Very warm. Joey went to Thomas’s Fork and got mare that had run away.
June 3rd, north wind growing colder. Planted potatoes.
Fourth, clear. Castrated 6 lambs and 5 calves and marked 14 lambs.
June 5th, loaded up and got ready to start for the Logan Temple.
June 6th – Cloudy. Wind north. Cool. Started to Logan in company with Joey and Brig and wife. Nooned at spring below Swan Lake, hitched up and drove to Soda, filled bottles with soda water and drove about 2 miles below Ten Mile Ford. Stayed there all night, being very good feed.
Sunday 7th – Hitched up at 5:30 and drove down to Whisky Creek 9 miles. Got breakfast and drove on to Strawberry Creek for dinner. Got there at 12 noon. Roads are very rough, no grass here for horses. Hitched up and drove on down to D. Evans place on Bear River. One of Brig’s horses gave out, got one of D. Evans to go on with. Had to stay all night, as his horses were out on range.
June 8th, started on at 7 a.m., took dinner with Mariah Smith at Smithfield. Got there at 11:45 a.m. got to Logan at 3 p.m. Found all well and just sitting down to dinner. Happy and contented.
June 9th – Clear and warm. Vegetation is a great deal ahead of Bear Lake Valley We go to the Temple this morning. Went in and see them baptize, got back home at 11 a.m. Walter Tippets was baptized for 13 dead men and Eliza, Brig’s wife, was baptized for 12 women. A great many was baptized for their health. It is a great pleasure to work in the Temple.
June 11th, canyon wind this morning, some clouds. The folks went to a concert at the A.C. last night. We are now in the Temple. Services just began. Prayer. The Spirit of God rested mightily upon the spokesman. Great blessing asked for in behalf of the Kingdom of God.
I was endowed for Joseph Mead, ordained for him by Thomas Morgan. Joey was endowed for Ezra Mead, ordained by Bro., Edilfsen. Brig for Hezekiah Mead, ordained by Thomas Moore. Quite warm today, cooler at night.
June 11th – Quite cool this morning. Went to the Temple, received endowments for James Parish Mead, ordained by Thomas Moore, Brig for Miner Mead, ordained by Samuel Raskelly, Joey for Nathan Wilcox, ordained by Bro. Leishman. Joey was sealed to Fanny Rosenbaum. Cool all day. We got home at 11:30.
June 12th – Weather clear and warm. In Temple, I went through for Mr. Wilder first, ordained by Bro. Edilfsen, Joey for Mr. Wilder 2nd, ordained by Thomas Moore. Brig for Mr. Crosby, ordained by Bro. Leishman. Got through at 12:40 p.m. South wind blowing hard, clouding up.
Sister Rosenbaum went through for Lois Lewis, Mariah Ann for Polly Lewis, and Sister Izatt for Salomia Lewis.
I went down to the store and bought a small wrench and some rope, got back and packed up some things to send home on the cars.
June 13th, shipped 480 lbs. home on cars at 70 ¢ per 100 lbs. Loaded up and got started home at 10:45 a.m. Stopped about one mile south of Richmond for dinner. South wind. Have spent, since leaving home, hay at Georgetown, 25 ¢, salmon, etc. 30 ¢, gave to Joey, $1.00, donated to Temple $1.00. Clothes to work in, $2.50, Deseret News, $1.00. Stayed at D. Evans overnight.
Sunday 14th June – Very warm last night. Got started at 7:25 a.m. Took dinner on Bear River just over the divide, very hot this afternoon. Looks like we might have a thunder storm. Rained a little but not enough to wet us. Rained not enough to prevent us from traveling. Stayed overnight at Bridge on Ten Mile.
June 15th, cooler. Hitched up and drove on to lower Soda, got there at 9 a.m., stopped and fed horses. Filled a box of bottles with soda water, took dinner on springs below Swan Lake. Had a light thunder shower p.m. Got home at 9 p.m., found folks all well.
Everything getting dry. Squirrels beginning to damage grain considerable. Went and turned water. Harrison was watering lucern and meadow in job field.
June 16th, cloudy and warm, continued watering. Joey got land ready to plant corn, beans, etc., garden needs hoeing very bad. June 17th, clear and warm. Continued hoeing and watering the garden.
Eighteenth, still very warm. Planted squashes, some corn and beans and continued watering hay.
June 19th – Cooler last night, very hot today. Planted more corn and beans. Harrison is watering on Schofield’s place. Joey is now tending it here at home. I have got most of onions hoed, all had dinner at Mary’s.
June 20th, finished planting corn, put water onto strawberries, am still watering hay.
Sunday 21st – Ward Conference, went to one Meeting, didn’t get horses in time to attend forenoon Meeting. James W. Wort was there and occupied most of time, gave good instructions, and exhorted all to live exemplary lives.
June 22nd, clear cool nights and hot days. Finished watering strawberries, got 2 oz. of strychnine, cost $1.35 per oz. Squirrels are doing great damage to crop.
June 23rd, Joey got through watering lucern today. Harrison is still watering Schofields. Nights cool.
June 24th – Cool and clear. Started to water grain today. The water is beginning to fail some, having started to use it on time this morning. The hay bids fair to be extra heavy, grain is backward.
June 25th, it is warm today, south wind. Has been no frost this spring to do any damage to speak of.
26th, clear and warm.
27th, finished watering grain. Harrison hauled a load of lumber from Nounon. Joey went to Ovid and got Sister Rosenbaum. Everything looks well where the squirrels have not destroyed it. I went to river, caught some fish and scattered strychnine for squirrels.
June 28th, Sunday, clear and warm. Went to Meeting.
June 29th, cloudy, south wind. Harrison took lumber to Montpelier. We fought squirrels and Joey plowed. June 30th, clear and warm. The squirrels are more numerous this season than they have been before in Bear Lake.
July 1st – Harrison took another load of lumber to town. We went to job field and scattered strychnine. Second, fought squirrels all day. Harrison got a load of lumber for Bishop Lewis. Finished plowing in lower field. July 3rd, clear and warm. Sick. Had cramps in stomach all night.
July 4th, feel much better today. The weather is very hot. Have been hoeing in the garden some today.
July 5th, Sunday – Went over to visit with Brig and family. July 6th, cloudy, light shower, warm. Tended water and fought squirrels. The squirrels are eating grain all up, looks as if we would not raise our bread.
July 7th – Clear but still watering. Sent order to Browning Bros. for two guns. Watered the strawberries, cloudy afternoon, light shower.
July 8th, clear and warm, still watering. Harrison is sick. Joey finished plowing.
Ninth, weather hot. Started to Soda Springs, camped on river, went on to Soda Springs.
10th, filled bottles and back home at night. Weather very hot. My brother-in-law, Hyrum Dudley, came from Snake River on a visit.
July 11th – Went down to job field and got ready to take water.
Sunday, July 12, went to Meeting. Harrison took water, Joey helping to tend it. We picked first strawberries today, sold 14 pounds for cheese.
July 13th, Brother Van Orman is very sick.
July 14th – Cloudy and warm. Cultivated potatoes and carrots, was sick at night.
July 15th, sent first strawberries to town, got $5.00 for them being $1.00 a box. Harrison cut lucern. Shower. July 16th, still is cloudy. Cultivated corn and beans, Harrison mowing.
July 17th, sent 10 boxes of berries to Montpelier. Shot squirrels and hoed some in garden. Very hot.
July 18th, worked in shop setting wagon tire, raked first hay.
Sunday 19th, picked 46 quarts of strawberries, sold them all for cheese except 3 lbs. Joey and Harrison went to Meeting. I stayed home being sick.
July 20th, still hot. Shipped 10 cases of strawberries to Salt Lake City. Hoed some in the garden. Joey sold $4.00 worth of berries at Montpelier.
July 21st, cloudy, light shower. Harrison hauled 2 loads of hay. We picked strawberries.
July 22nd – Still cloudy, picked strawberries and sent them to town. Harrison hauled hay.
July 23rd, cloudy. South wind. Watered potatoes, picked and sold some berries.
August 9th – Have been out to Blackfoot with brother-in-law, W. Walker and sister Caroline. Started out the 28th of July and got back the 3rd of August. Was sick all the time while gone but not bedfast. Got some nice trout and quite a number of wild chickens, found all well at home. There was a heavy hail storm the 7th, damaged our grain about one fourth, injured some fruits and strawberries. Strawberries are all gone, our hay is all cut and hauled up here at home. Have just started to cut hay on job field. There has been a good thunder storm today doing considerable damage to hay.
August 10th – Clear and warm. Harrison has been making a swingpole to stack hay at job field, got it done. Harrison and Adam Van Orman went to Montpelier and got a new binder. They bought it partnership. Harrison worked all day setting up binder. Joey mowed some.
August 12th, still very warm, some clouds. I have not been well enough to do any work since returning from Blackfoot. Boys started binder today. Cut 1 ¾ acres of barley and about the same of wheat. Our crop is very light on home place this season, the squirrels took about 9 acres of wheat and the hail ¼ of what was left.
August 13th – Light shower today. Harrison started to cut rye for D. Smith.
Aug. 14th, partly clear, hot and sultry. I am not able to work yet, being so weak.
Aug. 15th, warm. Partly clear.
Aug. 23rd – Has been raining every day for 8 days. Have not been able to do anything for a week. We have had considerable hay damage by wet. Our wheat was cut the day it rained. Cut yesterday all except what the squirrels have damaged.
Aug. 24th, clear but very smoky. 25th, still smoky. Folks went to pick berries today, all kinds of wild fruits are very plentiful this season.
Aug. 26th, still smoky. Went down to meadow and went over and settled up with W. Hess, had 132 lbs of cheese coming. Brought home 12 ½ pounds.
August 27th, 1896, more clouds but smoke lifting some.
Aug. 28th, Emma’s second girl was born this morning. Boys worked some on hay. Weather warm.
Aug. 29th, Brother Van Orman sent this morning for his son, Adam, and also for Harrison. They were hauling hay and cutting grain, but got to him a short time before he breathed his last, which happened at 3 o’clock p.m. I was down to the river and didn’t hear of it until nearly night.
Sunday Aug. 30th – All went down to Brother VanOrman’s.
Brother VanOrman was buried today, Aug. 31st. Weather still cloudy with showers. Bro. Van Orman’s family is left in very destitute circumstances.
September 1st, 1896 – Partially clear and warm, worked in strawberries. Boys reaping and hauling hay. Turning cool
Sept. 2nd, clear and cool today, worked in strawberries.
Sept. 3rd, cool showers. Went down to the meadow and down to the river. Will be about 19 tons of hay on job field.
Sept. 4th – Weather warm. Home all day. Fifth, clear and warm. Boys hauled hay.
Sunday 6th, didn’t go to Meeting. Rance VanOrman and mother came out to see the baby.
Seventh, tended water on lucern.
Sept. 8th, rain. Quite cool. Boys went to the mill. Killing frost at night.
Sept. 9th, cold all day, heavy frost last night killed the potato vines, squash and beans, corn, etc., damaged grain quite a bit.
Sept. 10th, began cutting last crop of lucern. Clear and cold, cloudy on the 11th, didn’t freeze last night.
Sept. 12, clear most of the day with south wind. Began mowing some of our oats for hay.
Sept. 13th Sunday – Partially clear. Went to Meeting. Harrison continued reaping, got a colt hurt very bad on picket fence.
Sept. 14, went down to job field, mowed some and shocked up grain. Clear and warm.
Sept. 15th, Harrison finished cutting our oats.
16th, clouding up, very warm. Boys hauled hay.
Aug. 17th, cloudy and south wind.
18th, wind, looks like storm. Very cold.
Sept. 19th, south wind very hard. Finished the shocking of grain.
Sunday 20th – Went to Meeting. Had quite a shower while there. Joey went to Ovid.
Mon. 21st, south wind. Clear. Began fixing up the threshing machine, worked on it all day.
Sept. 22, got machine ready to start rain at night. Heavy showers 3rd, sun shone most of the day. Boys went to Bennington with machine. Clouding up.
Sept. 24th, rain. Hay and grain is soaked so there can be no hauling for some days. I worked in the shop.
Sept. 25th – Cloudy. Some rain. Worked in shop. Snowed some on the mountain.
Sept. 26th, heavy frost last night, clearing off today, cold wind north. Went down to the river. Worked on Dave’s wagon. Sunday 27th, turning warmer. Went to Meeting.
Monday 28th, went to Paris to a Republican Convention, in company with W.A. Dunn, Sen.
Tue. 29th, quite warm. Joey and boys hauled grain. I was sick at night.
Sept. 30, warm, finished hauling grain. I managed to do my chores but was quite sick all day.
October 1st – Warm and pleasant. Boys hauled hay. I went to the river and caught some fish. It always makes me feel better when poorly, to take an out of some kind.
Oct. 2nd, clear and warm. Boys hauled hay here at home I sent 15 fruit boxes to Sister Rosenbaum.
Oct. 3rd, at home all day. Joey hauled hay in barn, got all up but one load.
Sunday Oct. 4th – Went to Meeting. Clear and cold.
Fifth, clear, cool. Boys hauled hay on job field. Oct. 6th, cool. Worked on t. machine repairing. Boys still hauling hay.
Sept. 7th, finished hauling hay and started to haul oats on Schofield’s. Have found all the calves but one.
The 8th, looks like storm. I had a chimney built on house. Boys helped Sammy thresh.
Oct. 9th, wind north, turning cold. Was sick all day.
Oct. 10th, clear and cold. Feel better today, finished cleaning the cellar and killed a sheep.
Sunday Oct. 11 – Went to Meeting. Quite warm.
Oct. 12th, cloudy and cold. The boys finished hauling oats on the 10th. Joey worked on the stackyard today. Oct. 13th, clear and cold, finished the stackyard and shipped 3 sacks of turnips and 3 of carrots, one of parsnips and one of cabbage.
Oct. 14th – Clear and warm.
Began digging potatoes, 15th, dug potatoes again the 16th. Oct. 17th, clear and warm, took 68 sacks to fill with potatoes @ 20 ¢ per hundred lb.
Sunday 18th, clear and warm. Went to Meeting.
Oct. 19, loaded the potatoes on cars, 68 sacks weighed 8,600 lbs. Clouding up, warm, finished digging potatoes.
October 20th – Clear and some cooler. Went to Montpelier to get bill for threshing, made bargain to sell hay and oats. Oats @ 55 ¢ per hundred lbs. and hay at $6.50 per ton.
Oct. 21st – Worked in the shop. Partly clear.
Oct. 22nd, moved things to job field to get ready for the threshers. Cloudy day.
Oct. 23rd, clear again. Warm. Threshed. Had oats on our own, 232 bushels, on Schofield’s 512 bushels. Our share 341 bus. Total: 573 Bus.
Oct. 24th – Clear and warm. Moved things back home again. Joey moved down to job field, is going to make his home there for a time.
Oct. 25th, Sunday. Went to Meeting. Looks like storm. Oct. 26th, loaded some oats on cars. Harrison took a load to Montpelier. Began raining about 9 a.m., turned to snow and snowed most of the day. Had our sheep dipped.
Oct. 27th – Cloudy, cold. Loaded more oats on cars.
Oct. 28th, cloudy, clearing off cold. Went to a political meeting. The speakers advocated McKinley for President of the United States.
Oct. 29th, had our grain threshed that we raised here at home. Had 45 bushels of wheat where we should have had 400 bushels. We had 38 of rye, should have had 175 bus. Barley, 18 bus, should have had 70 bus. Total, 121 bushels on 21 acres. Cause of failure, squirrels and hail. Clear and cold, freezing hard.
Oct. 30th – Joey went to Ovid with a load of oats, got back at night. Brought some fruit home that had come from Brigham City. I went and got some for Hans.
Oct. 31st, rain and snow most of the day. Worked some in the shop.
November 1st, Sunday – Cold, ground covered with snow.
2nd, snowed most of the day, fell 2 in. Third, Election Day. Cold wind from the N. Thawed a little, ground bare in spots. Went to Polls and voted the Republican Ticket.
Nov. 4, Harrison went to mill. I worked in the shop.
Nov. 5th, snowed two inches.
Nov. 6th, cloudy and cold. Harrison got 3,898 lbs. of potatoes on cars for Co-op V & M Co. Election returns came in slowly. It thought McKinley is elected.
Nov. 7th, very cold. Ground covered with snow. Have to feel sheep and cows and teams. Freezing very hard.
Sunday Nov. 8th – Snowed all day, fell 4 inches. Is warmer, rained last night, snowing some today, almost rain. Children started to school.
Nov. 10th, still snowing. Froze some last night.
Nov. 11th, looks like clearing off. All well. There is 6 inches of snow on the ground.
Nov. 12, clear and warm, snow melting some. Worked on shop.
Thirteenth, clear and warm. Snow melting some. Worked in the shop awhile this morning. Killed two hogs. Children have started to school twice, but had to return as there was no school for some cause.
Nov. 14th, warm and clear. Worked in the shop. Went down to river. Boys finished laying up Joey’s stable.
Sunday Nov. 15th – Partially clear and warm. Went to Meeting.
16th, cloudy and warm. Boys made first trip to canyon.
Nov. 17th, rain and snow. Snow almost gone. Dug last of the carrots.
Nov. 18th, still warm and almost clear. Worked in the shop.
Nov. 19th, snow fell 2 inch. Fixed a flour box for Emma. Twentieth, rain and snow, ground bare here at home.
Nov. 21st, snowed most of the day, froze quite hard at night. Boys have made 5 trips to the canyon this week.
Sunday Nov. 22nd – Stormed all day. Didn’t go to Meeting. Snowed two inches during the night.
Nov. 24th, rained all night, ground bare, very muddy. Rained all day.
Nov. 25th, snow this morning turning to rain most of the day, snowing and blowing at night with north wind. Worked on Hans’s house.
Nov. 27th, clear and cold, freezing hard. I worked on Hans’s house.
Nov. 28th, still very cold. Worked again on Hans’s house. Boys sawed wood.
Sunday Nov. 29th – cold and clear. Went to Meeting.
Nov. 30th, cloudy turning a little warmer. Worked on Hans’s house. One of our horses took very sick. Hauled him home on sled.
December 1st – Snowing slowly all day. Worked on H. house. Boys began bailing hay.
Dec. 2nd, snow most of the day. Worked house.
Dec. 3rd, cloudy and thawing quite fast. Lot, one of our horses, died last night, pneumonia. I worked half a day on Hans’s house and hung the new grind stone.
Dec. 4th, warm, some snow. We all went down to a lecture on Phrenology at Georgetown.
Dec. 5th, stormy, snow. Boys finished bailing hay, bailed some 13 tons.
Sunday, Fast Day, went to Meeting. North wind quite cold, snow fell about 2 inches and drifted quite bad. Dec. 6th, stormy snow.
Dec. 7th, cloudy. I was sick last night having pain in stomach, feel better today. It snowed most of the day. Dec. 8th, cloudy and thawing quite fast. Killed two hares.
Dec. 9th, some colder. Harrison took grist to the mill.
Dec. 10th, heavy fog this morning. Was quite sick again last night, don’t feel well today.
Dec. 11th, sunshine most of the day. Worked some in the shop. Boys got ready to start to Nounon to log.
Dec. 12th – Cloudy, moderate. Harrison and Frank went to Nounon.
Sunday 13th – North wind very cold. Didn’t go to Meeting.
December 14th – Clear and cold. Chopped grain for Hans and Dunn.
Dec. 15th – Clear. Quite cold. It takes me most of time to do chores.
Dec. 16 – Cloudy. Some warmer. Brother L.P. Monk, of Bennington, paid $30.00 to me today, $25.00 on note and interest $5.00. The balance, $25.00 will be paid due June 1st, 1897, with 10% interest.
Dec. 17th – Snowing slowly. Quite warm. Don’t feel well today.
Dec. 18th – Cloudy, Moderate. Boys came home from Nounon all well. I still feel very poorly, think it is La Gripe that ails me. Dec. 19, Cloudy. Boys went to Montpelier. Harrison paid our taxes. We sold 5 calves @ $9.00 and one @ $7.00, making $52.00.
Sunday, Dec. 20th – Foggy. Harrison and folks went to Meeting. I stayed at home not feeling well. Dec. 21st, folks went to Meeting again. Brother Budge and others of Stake Presidency being there. Came home and killed two hogs, each weighing about 250 lbs. It’s colder, still foggy.
Dec. 22 – Quite cold, some foggy. At home all day.
Dec. 23rd, foggy. Cold. Boys went to Elders Meeting. Boys sawed wood.
Dec. 24th – Some warmer, cloudy. At home. All well.
Dec. 25th – Christmas. Clear and cold. Went to hear the program rendered by the Sunday School of Georgetown, came back and had dinner with Hans and Mary. The roads are very good, snow 6 inches deep.
December 26th – Clear and cold. At home all day. Worked on Joey’s sled.
Sunday, Dec. 27th – Cloudy and warmer. Harrison went to Bennington last night to a dance, didn’t get home with the team so we could go to Meeting today.
Dec. 28th, cold nights, moderate days. At home all day.
Dec. 29th, partly cloudy weather, moderate. Settled tithing and paid $2.50 on the past.
Dec. 30th, went to Montpelier and paid $25.00 on note to Burgoyne, and $5.00 interest. Got grist from the mill. Foggy during the day.
Dec. 31st, snowed 2 inches last night, cloudy today, quite cold.
1897
January 1st, 1897 – Cold and stormy, north wind. Frost falling all day. Worked in the shop for Chris.
Jan. 2nd, still very cold, frost falling, some sunshine. Harrison’s baby has been quite sick for a day or two. Emma took sick today. All the folks have got bad colds. My sister, Lucy Smith, gave birth to a little girl at 9 p.m.
Sunday Jan. 3rd - Fast Day. Didn’t go to Meeting, all being sick. I was sick last night, am not well. Sunshine most of the day. Cold.
Jan. 4th, sunshine part of the day, clouding up, and snowing some p.m. Still sick, could not do our chores, if it wasn’t for Frank Picora.
Jan. 5th, cloudy and snowing slowly, some warmer. One of our ewes had twin lambs last night. All sick yet. The snow is only about 6 inches deep on level.
January 6th, 1897 – Cloudy, quite moderate. All are feeling better this morning. Mary, our youngest daughter, was delivered of a boy baby at 1:25 p.m.
Jan. 7th – Foggy all day. All getting better except Emily. Growing colder. Boys chopped some grain.
Jan. 8th, foggy, some sunshine. I don’t feel quite so well today, rest are all about the same.
Jan. 9, still foggy with some sunshine. Done some work in the shop for Arthur Smith. Harrison is some better today, all seem to be improving.
Sunday, Jan. 10th – None of us able to go to Meeting. Harrison is considerably worse. Oh, how lonesome it is to have so many sick so long and no relief. Frank has to do most of the chores.
Jan. 11th, still cold with fog. Folks about the same.
January 12th – Snowed slowly most of the day, fell about 3 inches. Joey and Frank went to Montpelier today. Folks all getting some better.
Jan. 13th, at home all day. Weather moderate, still all improving.
Jan. 14th – Foggy. Colder. All feeling better at home. At home all day.
Jan. 15th, more moderate. Frank went to Nounon for wood. Began snowing about 4 p.m.
Jan. 16th, still snowing, fell 6 inches. Harrison and Frank sawed some wood. All getting better.
Sunday, January 17th – Clear, not very cold. Snow drifted considerable last night. It is about a foot deep on level now. Harrison and folks went to Meeting, first time for three weeks. I stayed home, not feeling well enough to go.
Jan. 18th, clear and cold. Harrison and Frank went to Nounon today.
Jan. 19th, very cold last night, clouding up and turning warm today.
Jan. 20th, warm. Snowing slowly all day. The snow is now about 12 in. deep. At home all day, improving slowly.
Jan. 21st, cloudy, warm. At home all day. Folks all better now.
Jan. 22nd – Warm, thawing fast. Roads beginning to get bare. I don’t feel quite so well today, fixed a coupling for Joey on sled.
Jan. 23rd, still warm. Some clouds. Snow melting fast.
Jan. 24th, Sunday, Harrison was over to Nounon with team, so we all had to stay home. Snowed slowly most of the day. Warmer.
Jan. 25th, colder and cloudy. Do not feel well today, snow last night.
Jan. 26th, clear, very cold, snowed 3 inches last night. We have got 6 lambs. All well.
Jan. 27th – Very cold and cloudy, frost falling all day. Children didn’t go to school.
Jan. 28th, warmer. Snow most of the day.
Jan. 29th, snowing a little. Harrison and Joey took two loads of lumber to Montpelier.
Jan. 30th, cloudy, moderate. Had 6 lambs come last night and today. Folks went to Bennington.
Sunday, Jan. 31st – Cloudy, snowing slowly most of day. Moderate. Didn’t go to Meeting. Having company.
February 1st, 1897 – Snowing slowly most of the day. Worked in the shop. Windy all day and next night,
2nd, partly clear and warm. Brig and wife spent the day with us.
Feb. 3rd, snowing slowly all day, thawing some. Snow is now about 12 inches deep. We have now 19 lambs.
Feb. 4th – Cloudy and warm. Some snow.
Feb. 5th – Snow most of the day
Feb. 6th – Cloudy and warm. A lamb died last night.
Seventh, Sunday – Went to Meeting with Hans. Some cooler.
Feb. 8th – Snowed some today, weather moderate. Harrison and folks went to Montpelier.
Feb. 9th – Somewhat cloudy. Brother Smythe and family spent the day with us.
February 9th, 1897
Mary’s baby boy was blessed today. The following was given by the Spirit of God, and pronounced upon him by myself, being mouth.
Oh, God the Eternal Father, we, Thy servants, take this little infant in our arms, according to the pattern which Thou hast revealed. We bless it, and give it the name of Frank Adelbert Sorensen, the name by which he shall be known throughout all future generations.
And we bless him with a good and strong constitution, that he may have power to withstand all sickness and disease to which flesh is heir. And we bless him with a sound mind which shall be capable of great development.
He shall be a leader of men, and shall have the gift of language and become a great and powerful speaker, even to the confounding of all those who shall oppose the truth. And he shall have power to bring many souls unto Christ. He shall be a wise counselor and have great knowledge and understanding in his day and generation.
He shall receive the Holy Priesthood, and enter into the House of God, and perform the ordinances for the living and the dead and thus become a Savior on Mount Zion.
We pronounce, and seal these blessings upon him, with all blessing appertaining to the New and Everlasting Covenant, by the authority and power of the Holy Priesthood, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we pray God, the Eternal Father, to seal and ratify the same in Heaven. And we give unto Thee, oh Father, all the honor, the power and the glory, through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen
February 10th – Clear. Sun shone all day. Got a telegram today telling us that my brother-in-law William Wray Walker, of Mink Creek, Idaho, died yesterday, the 9th. Not being well, none of us went to his funeral
Feb. 11 – Cloudy, warmer. Some snow. Was sick all day. L.P. Monk pd. balance on his note, $25.25.
Feb. 12th, wind blew quite hard last night, drifting the snow considerable. Snowing slowly most of day.
Feb. 14th Sunday – Went to Meeting with Hans. South wind quite cold and some snow.
Feb. 15th, snowed hard most of the day. Harrison’s children have all been sick again, not very bad as yet. Boys started to load a car of hay.
Feb. 16th – Cloudy and some snow. Jennette went with Frank to see his sister-in-law.
Feb. 17th, clear. Sun shone all day, quite cold at night. Home all day.
Feb. 18th, cloudy and very cold. Froze hard last night, some snow toward morning. Jennette and Frank got back home.
Sunday Feb. 21st – All went to Meeting. Cold and some snow. Monday, very cold all day, blustering. I sawed some wood.
Feb. 23rd, more moderate. Snowed some. Harrison went to Nounon. Got a letter from Heber Walker stating that all was well. His mother was down at his place. My brother-in-law W.W. Walker was buried at Riverdale, Oneida Co., Idaho.
Feb. 24th, clear and cold. At home all day.
Feb. 25th – Still clear. Moderating a little. Harrison came home last night. I worked some in the shop. Went down to Meeting with Hans. President Budge and others were here from Paris. Gave the people very good instructions. The Spirit of God resting mightily upon the speakers.
Feb. 26th, partially clear. 27th, still clear and thawing some. All went to the theatre at night.
Feb. 28th, Sunday, clear and moderate. All went to Meeting. Home missionaries spoke on obedience.
March 1st, 1897 – Snowing most of the day. Went to Meeting at Georgetown to commemorate Pres. W. Woodruff’s 90th birthday. Had a full house and a good time.
March 2nd, Clear and warm. Alma Hays, Abel Smart and their wives paid us a visit. Was very glad to see them.
March 3rd, warm, some clouds. At home all day.
March 4th, colder, snow. Snow is now about 20 in. deep.
March 5th, colder and blizzard blowing, snowing all day. South wind.
March 6th, still snowing and blowing from the south. Boys came home from Nounon last night.
March 7th Sunday – Snowed and blowed from south until about 4 p.m. then came from the north awhile. Wind went down and continued snowing all night. Didn’t go to Meeting.
March 8th, clear. Snow is now about three feet deep on the level.
March 9th, snowing all day. Wind south quite cool.
March 10th, snowing. Cold south wind.
March 11th – Very cold and cloudy. South wind drifting snow. All have good health.
March 12th, very cold south wind. Harrison went to Bennington, will stay all night and go to Conference at Paris.
March 13th, very cold. We are having the worst of our winter now. It freezes very hard nights.
Sunday, March 14th – Not quite so cold, some snow. I didn’t go to Meeting, Harrison being gone with the team.
March 15th, clear and cold. Hyrum Larsen and family paid us a visit.
March 16th, Joey and Harrison each took a load of lumber to Montpelier.
March 17th – Snowing by spells. Folks went to Bennington, it being the Anniversary of Relief Society Organization.
March 18th, partially clear, snow squalls. Was sick last night.
March 19th, thawing some. Dug out mill and done some chopping.
Twentieth, north wind cold, it is snowing. Snow is now 3 foot deep.
Sunday, March 21st – North wind very cold. Drifting. Did not go to Meeting. Chris and Alice visited us with their family.
March 22nd, cold sawed some wood.
23rd, snowing again. Warmer.
March 24th, cloudy and some warmer. Went to Meeting at Georgetown. Harrison went to Nounon.
March 25th, rained last night, warm today, thawing very fast. Sawed some wood.
March 26th, still warm and thawing. Snowed about one ft. in two days. Has settled.
March 27th, cooler. Still thawing. Snow now two feet deep. Sawed wood most of the day.
Sunday – Froze hard last night. South wind, began raining about 4 p.m. Wind turned to north at 5 p.m. Snowed and blowed very hard for about 2 hours.
March 29th, partly clear. Albert Rolph and family and Eva Rosenbaum and folks visited us.
March 30th, northern blizzard, worst of season. Snow drifts 6 feet deep in front of the house.
Mar. 31st, clear and very cold, north wind. Snow crusted hard. Jennette went home with Eva Rosenbaum.
April 1st – Partially clear and cold. No storm. All at home.
April 2nd, snowing slowly. Warmer. Harrison went to Nounon.
April 3rd, snowing all day. Warmer.
Sunday, April 4th – Fast Day. Went to Meeting with Chris. He brought Alice and children up and we went to Meeting.
April 5th, foggy, some snow p.m. Thawing.
April 6th, snowed and blew from the south most of the day. Warm.
April 7th, northern blizzard, not very cold, snowing and drifting. Received garden seeds from Burpees. Snow drifting about 2 ½ feet.
April 8th – Clear. North wind thawing. Very bad weather.
April 9th, some sunshine, thawing quite a bit. Cleaned snow off the chicken coop and granary.
April 10th, sun shone most of the day. Was sick last night. Sister VanOrman was out to Emma’s to see the baby. Emma’s baby is sick. She has scarlet fever.
Sunday 11th – Blowing hard from the north, not very cold. Snowing some. Caught first squirrels today. Snow 2 feet deep. Didn’t go to Meeting, weather too bad.
April 12th, cloudy, warm. Harrison went to mill, got grist.
April 13th, clear and warm, thawing very fast. All well.
April 14th, still very warm, clouding up some. Harrison went to Nounon. I was sick again. Jennette went to Hy Skinners Monday the 12th, has not got back yet.
April 15th, clear and warm. Began scattering strychnine for squirrels this morning. They began coming out about the 10th. First bare ground visible on ridges today.
April 16th – Clear warm days, cold nights. Snow going slowly. Harrison and Joey came home today. Am sick again.
Apr. 17th, clear and warm. Snow going very fast, some bare spots in garden where I have sowed dirt. Am still sick. Boys went to Meeting at Montpelier. S
Sunday, April 18th, partially clear, warm. Roads to Meeting were very bad.
April 19th, clear and warm. Cattle went out on hills this morning. We began hauling manure. Snow is 12 inches deep.
Apr. 20, rain, snow, some of the garden is bare. Cramps in my stomach. Had some. Snow most of the day. Still not able to do chores. Feel some better but still a cramp in my stomach again last night. Am sick nearly all of the time lately.
April 21st, snow almost all of the day. Cooler. Still unable to do the chores, but feel some better. Boys hauling manure.
April 22nd – Froze quite hard last night. Cloudy. Am getting better slowly. Boys still hauling manure. Twenty-third, clear warm days, cold nights, beginning to dry up around the house and barn.
April 24th, Clear warm days, I planted seed in frames.
Sunday April 25th – Went down to the river. It is very high and muddy. I feel quite well again now.
April 26th – Clear and very warm, snow going very fast. Sheep went out on the hills this morning. Worked in the shop fixing plows.
April 27th – Partly clear. Didn’t freeze much last night Chopped some grain.
April 28th, cloudy, heavy thunder, some rain. Plowed some in garden. Ground is mostly bare except drifts. April 29th, north wind. Went down to Chris’s and dehorned cattle. Came back and dehorned & branded part of our own.
April 30th, warmer. Planted onions, radishes, lettuce, turnips, etc.
May 1st – Cleaned and vitereld seed wheat seed. Hans drilled 5 acres in upper field. Ground is bare, grass and lucern now starting fast. Not fed sheep for 2 days.
May 2nd Sunday – Clear and warm. Brig and folks paid us a visit, did not go to Meeting. Was sick all afternoon.
May 3rd, warm, light showers. Finished sowing wheat on upper farm. Planted some grain and potatoes.
May 4th, clear. Very warm. Sowed a small piece of lucern & planted potatoes.
May 5th – Started to plow in job field. A wolf killed 3 of our lambs. Clouding up, very warm.
May 6th, south wind, partly clear, very warm. Grass is now getting quite good. Cows will not eat much hay. Turnips and radishes coming up.
May 7th, south wind. Went down to river, caught some nice trout. Wind turned north and blew very hard. Turning very cold.
May 8th, froze some last night, killing some of the radishes. I planted peas today.
May 9th Sunday – Went to Meeting. Cool. Frost at night.
May 10th – Showers. Cool. Worked in the shop.
May 11th, clear, some warmer. Finished planting peas. Set out raspberries at Harrison’s. Went to the river. Hard north wind.
May 12th, warmer. Put water in the garden to bring up seed.
May 13th, went down to the river. Harrison sheared sheep. Light showers.
May 14th, cleaned some timothy seed. Warmer.
May 15th, clear, roads getting dry and dusty. Went to Montpelier, got 3 oz of strychnine, pd. $1.25 per oz. Joey sold a span of colts for $100.00 cash. Sunday, went to Meeting. S. wind.
Monday, May 17th – Cloudy. Looks like rain. Began setting out strawberries.
May 18th, south wind very hard. Ground getting very dry now. I worked all day in the strawberries.
May 19th, cloudy and hot. Worked in s. berries. Light showers.
May 20th, rained slowly most of the day. Marked 18 lambs. Harrison sheared sheep. We cut some potatoes. May 21st, rain part of the day. Cultivated strawberries & planted potatoes.
May 22nd – Rain part of the day, set more strawberries. Warm.
May 23rd, Sunday – Went to Meeting. Cloudy and warm.
Twenty-fourth, worked in the strawberries. Boys plowed the ditch.
May 26th, cloudy. High south wind. Cool. Worked in the s. berries.
May 27th, light showers, cool. Set cabbage. Went to the river. Joey went to the mill. Harrison went to view the roads in the canyon.
May 28th, clear. Boys worked on the ditch at Georgetown.
29th, clear, warmer. Boys still on the ditch. Turned water on lucern, made a dugway in mouth of the canyon.
Sunday May 30th – Conference at Montpelier. Went to the river.
May 31st, cool. Watered the lucern.
June 1st, 1897 – Cool, cloudy, north wind. It looks like rain.
June 2nd, partly clear and cool. Still watering the lucern, watered the strawberries for first time.
June 3rd, snowing hard this morning.
June 4th, partly clear. Am sick again. Boys still watering. Maurice began plowing on summer fallow. Brig and Lide was over to see when we were going to Soda. I am not able to go yet. The weather quite cool. No frost. June 5th, partly clear & cool. I am still sick. Boys still watering. I think if I could get to Soda it would help me and do me some good. Went to meeting at Georgetown called in the interest of Religion Class work.
Sunday, June 6th – Clear. Didn’t go to Church, not feeling good.
June 7th, I started to Soda with Jennette and Maurice, shower the day of the 8th, cloudy all day. Had an early breakfast and drove on to Blackfoot. Had a pain in my stomach, couldn’t fish any to speak of. Heber caught several nice trout.
June 9, fished awhile this morning, caught two nice trout. Rain. Came back to Soda, stayed all night.
June 10th – Started back home. Clear and cool. Stopped at river below the divide. Fish didn’t bite very good. June 11th, clear, warmer. Fished until noon and then drove on home.
Twelfth, warm. Tended to water on strawberries, will have a good crop this spring if nothing happens to prevent. Has been very dry this spring, hard to get seed to come up. Feel some better now. Boys went to Stake Conference at Paris.
Sunday June 13th – Clear and warm. Feel some better this morning.
June 14th, very warm. Harrison run ditches in the grain. Joey fenced pasture on river. Hard south wind. Am feeling better.
June 15th, clear, south wind warm. Worked in the garden. Everything is getting dry. Went to hunt for a heifer. Began raining about 4 p.m. Turned cold.
June 16th, rain, cold. At home all day.
June 17th, light frost last night. Cloudy and cold today. Scattered strychnine for squirrels. Went to the river.
June 18th – Hard frost last night, clear this morning, killed beans & squashes, etc. and damaged small fruits to some extent. Cold and windy p.m. Boys scattered 3 pans of dough (strychnine was mixed into the dough to kill the squirrels) on river today.
June 19th, some warmer today. Boys went to Montpelier.
June 20th Sunday – Ward Conference. Went to Meeting, was sustained, unanimous vote, to be Superintendent of Religion Class of Georgetown. Weather clear and warm. Had dinner at Sister Eunice Smith’s.
June 21st, partially clear and warm. Mixed 3 more pans of dough. Scattered it for squirrels at the river. Was sick again today. Harrison began watering the grain.
June 23rd, still clear and warm. I watered the s. berries second time. Went to Religion Class, 7 boys attended and quite a houseful of girls. Had a good orderly meeting.
June 24th – Windy, some clouds. Fixed up the mower and worked on Dave’s wagon. Didn’t feel well.
June 25th, cooler. At home. Hoed some in the garden.
June 26th, clear this morning. Harrison went to Soda. Cultivated the young berries, corn, etc. Went to the river. Light showers.
June 27th, Sunday, Cloudy, cool. Picked first ripe strawberries the 20th. Have had none on the table yet. Didn’t go to Meeting, no team.
June 28th – Cloudy, cool. Hoed s. berries, light showers.
June 29th, partially clear, hoed in the garden. Joey began mowing lucern. Went to river fishing, got a few. Harrison got home.
June 30th, partially clear and warm. Had the water on wheat, fixed the mower and went to Religion Class, had attendance of 30.
July 1st – Cloudy, looks like rain, warm. Got grain all watered at home. Squirrels doing considerable damage to grain & lucern. I went to the river and scattered 2 more pans of dough.
July 2nd, heavy rain last night and still raining. Have got about 6 acres of hay down, will be badly damaged. July 3rd, partly clear. Harrison went to Priesthood Meeting at Paris. All well, for which we feel very thankful.
July 4th, Sunday – Fast Day. Went to Meeting. Cool. Some frost on the river.
July 5th, south wind, clouding up. Hoed the garden and cultivated berries. Maurice raked the hay and plowed some. Rained a little.
July 6th, clear, south wind. Finished cultivating berries. Scattered strychnine and shot squirrels.
July 7th, warm, began hauling hay. So. Wind All are well. Went to Religion Class. 38 present.
July 8th – Clear and warm. Picked 40 cups of s. berries and sent them to town. Still hauling hay.
July 9th, warm days, cool nights. Went down to the river, scattered dough for the squirrels, and went fishing. Harrison and Joey both still watering.
July 10th, clear and warm. I picked 34 quarts of berries and sent to town. Joey watering and Harrison mowing and hauling hay.
Sunday July 11th – Went to Meeting. Harrison and Albert Rolph made their first Home Missionary speeches. July 12th, very warm. Joey took squirrel tails to Paris, had $9.50 worth @ $1.00 each.
July 13, warm again. Picked 143 qts. Of strawberries. Light showers p.m. Boys still hauling hay.
July 14th, clear and hot, has been quite hot for some few days. Went to Religion Class, 46 present.
July 15th, we picked berries all day. Clear and very hot.
July 16th, cloudy this morning. Cooler.
July 17th, north wind growing cold. Picked berries most of the day. Boys went to Meeting.
July 18th, Sunday, cold and clear. Heavy frost last night killed our potatoes closest to the ground. Picked berries. Didn’t go to Meeting.
July 19th – Partly clear. No frost last night. Picked berries and went to the river.
July 20th, picked berries afternoon. Warmer.
July 21st, cloudy with south wind, warm. Went to Religion Class, number present 36. Picked some berries. July 22nd, partly clear & warm. Worked some in the shop. Cultivated potatoes.
July 23rd, Hot. Picked berries all day. Light shower p.m.
July 24th – Cloudy most of the day. Went to the celebration & went up and had dinner with Brother and Sister Hayes.
July 25th – Clear and hot. Harrison went to Montpelier with Albert Rolph as Home Missionaries.
July 26th, very warm. Picked berries.
July 27th, picked berries again. Some cooler today.
July 28th – Went to Montpelier with berries. Very warm.
July 29th, hot. Picked berries again.
July 30th, very hot. Went down to Harding’s. Very heavy thunder shower, cloud burst in canyon. Was sick all day.
July 31st, clear this morning. Am very weak, but free from pain. Went to Georgetown with children, Joey’s little boy, Aaron, cut one of his toes off.
August 1st, 1897 – Fast Day. Cloudy with showers. Cooler. Went to Meeting and down to Joey’s. Aaron rested good last night, was out playing today.
Aug. 2nd, clear and hot. Cultivated strawberries & garden. Picked berries and got ground ready to plant turnips.
Aug. 3rd, planted turnips, picked berries to preserve, will have no more to sell.
Aug. 4th, light shower. Was sick all night. Am very weak today. Went to Religion Class, numbers present 54. Aug. 5th, cloudy. Went to the river, caught a nice string of fish and shot 2 sage hens.
Aug. 6th – At home all day. Heavy rain storm.
Seventh, clear. Welder brought 27 head of sheep for us to herd, @ 5 ¢ per head per month. Shower last night.
Sunday, Aug. 8th – Cloudy and warm. Went to Meeting. Am talking of buying a house and lot in Georgetown of Mrs. Barkdull.
Aug. 9th, clear and warm. Worked some in the garden. Settled up the strawberry acct. Had received cash, $40.00, merchandise, $7.50, cheese, $1.32 Total $48.82.
Aug. 10th – Clear and hot. Boys hauling hay, worked in the garden. Went to the river and caught 3 large trout.
Aug. 11th, hot. Worked in garden, went to Religion Class afternoon. Didn’t have as good attendance as usual, on account of an entertainment gotten up for Primary.
Aug. 12th, cloudy. Light showers. Worked in garden and fixed a gun.
Aug. 13th – Clear and hot. Went to river. Gone all day.
Aug. 14th, tended water and chopped some grain.
Aug. 15th, Sunday, went to Meeting. Clear and warm.
Sixteenth, plowed ditches in grain. Barley is ready to cut. Harrison cut the barley and we shocked it up. Sold some turnips and potatoes to Hess. Bought house and lot in Georgetown, pd. $300.00 for it, gave a note for $200, pd. down $100.00.
Aug. 17th – Very hot. Went to Meeting tonight.
Aug. 18th, clear and warm. Went to Religion Class, had a good meeting. Subjects treated, Lord’s Prayer and the Blessing on the Bread. Questions.
Aug. 19th – Cultivated garden, strawberries, etc.
Twentieth, very hot days, cool nights. At home all day, not well.
Aug. 21st, hot day. I fixed mower for Joey. Started for Soda at 8 p.m., drove to Blind Springs, stayed overnight, went on to Soda. Filled bottles on 22nd. Harrison attended Meeting. We came home at night.
Aug. 23rd, tended water on garden. Harrison and Adam VanOrman started to cut grain. Still clear and hot days.
Aug. 24 – Hoed strawberries. Went to the river.
Aug. 25th, cloudy & high wind & showers. Joey cut 2nd crop of lucern. I went to Georgetown to Religion Class, 33 present.
Aug. 26th, clear. At home all day, not feeling well.
Twenty-seventh, cooler and clear. Put water on lucern.
Aug. 28th, cloudy and hot. Harrison cut our wheat in south field. Boys hauled 2 loads of hay to Georgetown home.
Sunday the 29th – Cloudy. Didn’t go to Meeting, being sick. Folks went to Meeting. I paid $3.00 to Hans for harvesting berries.
Aug. 30th, south wind. Was sick abed all day. Boys took two more load of hay to Georgetown home.
Aug. 31st, clear and hot. Am not well today. Began harvesting fall grain.
September 1st – Went to Religion Class, had a good attendance. South wind.
Sept. 2nd, cloudy, looks like rain.
Sept. 3rd, rained most of the day.
Sept. 4th, partly clear. Went to the river fishing.
Sunday – Went to Meeting. Clear and warm. Had a good meeting. Richard Bee read Brother Woodruff’s last discourse. Several bore testimonies.
Sept. 6th, went to Georgetown & paid balance due on the house & lot. Received deed to same. South wind.
Sept. 7th, clear and warm, hard south wind. Shocked up wheat & turned water on lucern. Harrison cut the last of our wheat yesterday, the sixth.
Sept. 8th, went to Religion Class, had a good attendance. The north wind cold, feels like frost.
Sept. 9th – Clear. Frost last night. South wind, growing warmer. The frost killed potatoes.
Sept. 10th, warmer, no frost last night.
Sept. 11th, cloudy, no frost, light showers.
Twelfth, cloudy this morning. Went to Paris. George Q. Cannon occupied the time speaking on the authority of the Priesthood.
Sept. 13th – Clear and warm. Worked in the shop. Boys cut the last of the oats on river.
Sept. 14th, some frost last night, warm today, put water on the berries.
Sept. 15th, clear & cool. Went to Religion Class, good meeting, 44 present.
Sept. 16th, Joey started to haul wheat. We had a visit from Wm Wight.
Sept. 17th – Warmer & clear. Stacked wheat all day. Boys came home from cutting grain. Brother Quinto held Meeting at our place, had a good meeting, all felt well.
Sept. 18th, clear & warm. Cut the last of hay. Went to the river fishing. Jennette went to Nounon, sold corn for cheese.
Sunday the 19th, clear and warm. Went to Meeting.
20th, worked on threshing machine, fixing it up to start threshing. Harrison had a tooth pulled. We are still hauling hay.
Sept. 21st, clear and hot. I worked on the threshing machine.
Sept. 22, clouding up. Warm, worked on the t. machine. Boys hauled hay, finished. Didn’t go to Religion Class, there was no meeting.
Sept. 23rd, rain. Worked on machine.
Twenty-fourth, worked in the shop a.m., on machine p.m.
Sept. 25th – Threshed our wheat & barley, had 339 bus. of wheat, and 48 of barley, also a load of oats, 37 ½ bushels.
Sunday Sept. 26th, warm showers. Went to Meeting.
Sept. 27th, partially clear. Was sick all night. Hans moved his granary. Boys went to Bennington to start to thresh.
Sept. 28th, cloudy & cooler. Joey got ready to start below for fruit.
Sept. 29th, clear & warm. Joey and Hans started to Brigham City to get fruit. Harrison brought a load of grain home.
Sept. 30th, cloudy, very hard south wind. Hauled last of hay. Jennette started to Brigham with Sammy Smith.
October 1st, 1897 – Rain all day. Ground soaked. Heavy wind. Second, partially clear. Cut some corn.
Sunday – Fast Day. Went to Meeting. Cool.
Oct. 4th, clear & moderate. At home all day.
Oct. 5th, clear. Sick last night with bowel complaint. Very warm. Boys put new pinion on horse power. Harrison drilled 7 ½ acres of wheat.
Oct. 6th, clouding up again. One of Joey’s cows got killed on lucern. I went to Religion Class. No teachers present. Had a good Meeting.
Oct. 7th – Stormy. Warm. I feel some better, but am not well yet. The rest all well.
Oct. 8th, cloudy & cool. Began digging potatoes. Poor crop. Had first mess of ripe tomatoes raised at home. No frost.
Oct. 9th, cloudy and cool. Looks like rain. I went to river fishing. Had cramps in my stomach.
Sunday Oct. 10th – Clear and cool. Went to Meeting.
Oct. 11, cool. Went to river, straitened up oats, they will do to haul.
Oct. 12th, cloudy. Some rain & warmer. Threshed a few peas. Harrison brought a load of toal grain home. Thirteenth, rained most of the day and all night. Cooler, the ground is soaked thoroughly.
Oct. 14th, rained most of the night, south wind today. Warm. No frost to kill garden yet.
Oct. 15th, snow about 4 inches deep. Folks got home from Brigham last night. Cold all day, froze hard last night.
Oct. 16th – Harrison went to mill and to Elder’s Meeting at Montpelier.
Sunday, Oct. 17th – Snowing slowly most of the day. Didn’t go to Meeting. Having company.
Oct. 18th, clear. Froze some last night. Went to the river fishing.
Oct. 19th, clear. Froze a little. Got in a load of cabbage. Cleaned yard.
Oct. 20th, Morris cleaned the sheep yard. We got in balance of cabbage. Went to Religion Class. 27 present.
Oct. 21st – Some clouds, a little warmer. Boys finished digging potatoes. Had about 60 bushels. Put skein on wagon.
Oct. 22nd, cloudy & looks like rain. Began hauling oats. They are quite wet and no hopes of getting any drier. Oct. 23rd, cloudy but no rain. Takes me most of time to do chores. Went down & fixed a bin for wheat in town.
Oct. 24th Sunday – Cloudy & cold. Went to Meeting, got home late.
Oct. 25th, light snow last night, wind blowing hard from north today. Cold. Mary’s house took fire from a light left burning upstairs. They were threshing & all turned in, and soon put it out. If there had been no men nearby, it would very likely have burned down.
Oct. 26th – Clear and cold. Went to town and fixed granary. Wind still north, freezing hard nights.
Oct. 27th, clear and cold. Walter started home this morning. All well at present. Went to Religion Class.
Oct. 28th, clear, some warmer. Joey went to mill. Sold some turnips, carrots, etc. for butter.
Oct. 29th, finished getting up turnips and went to river fishing.
Oct. 30th, made steps for granary in town. Sick afternoon. Joey plowed potato ground over. Got 13 bushels.
Sunday, Oct. 31st – Still clear and pleasant. Went to Meeting.
November 1st, Monday – Threshed our oats on lower farm, had 717 bushels, about half of them was mixed with wild oats.
Nov. 2nd, some clouds and the same on the 3rd. Nov. 4th, rained a little. Shucked corn most of the day. Jennette went to Georgetown, fixed the house ready for moving.
Nov. 5th, moved to town. Snow squalls all day. Cold. Harrison got done threshing yesterday. Total of grain threshed this season, 16,798 bushels (? Typing light, may not be correct)
Nov. 6th – Still cloudy and cold. Emma’s baby has been quite sick, but is better now. We brought two cows with us tonight.
Sunday, Fast Day, we went to Meeting, snowed 4 inches last night, still snowing. Very cold.
Nov. 8th, weather unsettled, snowing some. Went to farm. Cold.
Ninth, cloudy & cold. Looks like snow. Went to farm, got chickens.
Tenth, warmer, raining slowly. At home all day. Harrison cleaning house in town.
Nov. 11th, looks like clearing off. Snow most gone. Frost out of the ground. Harrison moved down today. I was sick again last night.
Nov. 12th, went up and helped Harrison get another load. Do not feel well yet. Partly clear & warm.
Nov. 13th – Rained hard last night. Showers this morning. Joey plowed in lower field. I went up and got balance of chickens, have got 40 here now.
Sunday, Nov. 14th, Snowed again last night. Harrison went to Soda to assist in organizing the Elders. I was very sick again last night. Dull and stormy all day.
Nov. 15th, cloudy and cold. Still sick, all the rest are well.
Nov. 16th, froze hard last night. Frosted up %. Felt very bad in stomach all day.
Nov. 17th, some warmer and clear. Feel better today. There will be a dance tonight for two of the boys of Georgetown who are going on missions.
Nov. 18th, went to a wedding reception of Albert Bacon, had a good and pleasant time. 40 persons partook of the bountiful repast. Presents were numerous, good and well chosen.
Nov. 19th – At home all day. Weather warm and milk.
Twentieth, went up to farm, found hogs out and doing considerable damage. Rained most of day. Went to Sunday School Conference p.m. One of the visitors stayed with us, John Madsen. His home is at St. Charles.
Nov. 22nd – Stormy but warm. Went to Teachers meeting, was appointed to labor as a High Priest.
Nov. 23rd, clearing off. Roads very bad. Went up to farm, found all all right.
Nov. 24th - Stormed again last night. Some snow. Cooler. Frank Pecora was baptized by Harrison and confirmed by myself at our home in Georgetown.
Nov. 25th, killed a small hog. Chopped some grain.
Nov. 26, clear and cold. Boys killed hogs. I was sick again last night.
Nov. 27th, still clear. Joey took hog to Montpelier. Harrison went to find a place to pile wood, didn’t find any to please him. The hog weighed 370 lbs. @ 5 ¢, $18.50.
Sunday, Nov. 28th – Went to Meeting. Two of our boys spoke from the stand that were going on missions. Nov. 29th, cloudy. Harrison went after wood. I killed a sheep and sold to F. Brown @ 5 ¢, weighed 83 lbs., $4.15.
December 1st, 1897 – Snowing slowly all day. Went to the farm.
Second, clear and very cold.
Third, clear and cold. Went down creek fishing. Came back and went to Religion Class.
Dec. 4th, cloudy & cold. Went up the farm and helped Joey chop some barley.
Sunday, Dec. 5th, Fast Day. All fasted and went to Meeting except myself being sick. I could not go. Storming. Dec. 6th, clearing some. It snowed on the seventh. I worked in stable fixing place for cows. Harrison went back to Nounon.
Dec. 8th, snowed most of the day. Finished stable for cows, found our lost calf that was gone.
Dec. 9th – Went down creek hunting and fishing, caught a trout and killed one hare & one duck. Warm today. All well.
Dec. 10th, went to Religion Class, had good attendance. Looks stormy.
Dec. 11th, snowing fast all dat. Expected Harrison home last night to go to Conference. He didn’t come.
Dec. 12th, clear and cold. Snowed 6 inches deep, went to Meeting.
Dec. 13th, cold and cloudy. S.B. Young & C.J Fieldstead held a meeting & organized the 114 Quorum of Seventy in Georgetown Ward.
Dec. 14th, cloudy and warm. I caught 18 trout. Harrison went back to Nounon. Jennette was called to wait on Mrs. Crosley.
Dec. 15th, cloudy & snowing slowly. Went up to the farm, got some vegetables and tithing grain.
Dec. 16th, clear, very cold. Thursday it was 6 degrees above zero.
Dec. 17th, snowing slowly all day and very cold. Went to Religion Class. Attendance, males, 14, females, 25.
Dec. 18th – Clear & very cold.
Sunday, Dec. 19th – Went to Meeting. Clear and cold. 10 degrees below at 8 a.m. Snow 6 inches deep.
Dec. 20th, still very cold. Visited as a High Priest in connection with Rolph, attended lesser Priesthood Meeting at night.
Dec. 31st – Went down creek fishing, got 6 trout. Foggy. Colder.
1898
January 1st, 1898 – Spent the day at home with Brig and wife. This is our thirty-eighth wedding anniversary day. Thermom. stands at 10 above at 8 a.m. We went to a wedding dance.
Jan. 2nd – Sunday and Fast Day, clear and cold. Therm. at zero at 8 a.m.
Jan 3rd, cold and clear. Harrison went back to Nounon.
Jan 4th, cold. Was sick again last night. Joey is working on the house.
Jan 5th, cloudy and warmer the 5th and 6th. Sixth quite warm.
Seventh, went to Religion Class. Good attendance.
Jan. 8th – Cooler. Settled tithing. My brother Brigham and wife came and stayed overnight with us.
Sunday, Jan. 9th, went to Meeting. Brig and wife went home at night.
Jan. 10th – snowed about 8 inches deep at present. Has been about 2 ft. of snow fall so far this season.
Jan. 11, clear and very cold. 12 degrees below zero.
Jan. 12th, clear. Therm. 2 below.
13th, clear and very cold on 14th also. Boys began bailing hay on the 10th, still bailing. I walked out to Joey’s and back. Was called to administer to Mrs. Johnsen’s little girl, Mattie. Went to Young Men’s Meeting.
Jan. 14th, clear. Not so cold. Therm at zero at 8 a.m. Went to Religion Class, had a full house.
Jan. 15th – Cloudy and some snow. Therm. at zero at 8 a.m. Twenty-four above most of day. Worked some on stable.
Jan 16th, Sunday, cloudy & warmer. Went to Meeting. Jan. 17th, more snow & cold. The frost falling all day. Jan. 18th, clear this morning. Boys finished bailing hay about noon.
Jan. 19th, snowing all day, snow about 8 in. on level.
Jan. 20th – Cloudy & cold. Some snow. Went to Joey’s & killed hogs.
Jan. 21st, cut up pork. Went to Religion Class, had a good attendance.
Jan. 22nd – Still cold. Made brine for park. Eva Rosenbaum returned home, having spent two nights with us.
Sunday, Jan 23rd – Very cold. Therm. at 10 deg. Below zero. Visited some as a H. Priest at night the 22nd.
Jan. 24th – Clear. 10 deg. Below. Was sick last night. Rest all well.
Jan 25th – Clear and extremely cold, 24 deg. Below zero at 8 a.m.
Jan 26th, still very cold. 28 deg. Below at 8 a.m.
Jan 27th, clear and cold. 10 deg. Below. Standing near zero all day.
Jan 28th, still very cold, near zero at 8 a.m. Went to Religion Class, had good attendance. Held a District Meeting in the evening at C. Larsen’s, had a real good time.
Jan 29th, clear, warmer, 10 deg. Above 8 a.m., rose to 50 above p.m. Visited at H. Priest.
Jan. 30th, Sunday, moderate. Bishop Lewis and wife spent the evening with us. Had Home Missionaries today.
Jan. 31st, clear, colder. 4 below at 8 a.m. Visited as H. Priest, went to Priesthood Meeting at night.
February 1st, 1898 – Cloudy & some snow. Warmer. Sunshine in places.
Second, cloudy, warm 20 deg. Above at 8 a.m. F
eb. 3rd, colder mist & frost falling. Jersey calved last night. Had a District Meeting at A. Dunn’s last night.
Feb. 4th, partially clear, warmer. At home all day.
Fifth, clear, am not very well today. W. Lewis began bailing hay for R. Barkdull this morning.
Feb. 6th, Sunday – Fast Day. Went to church. Good attendance.
Feb. 7th, clear, went to farm, got a sack of beets for W. Lewis, came back and killed a sheep for F. Bacon. Very warm, snow at night. We now have 5 lambs. Sent an order to Brownings Bros. for a gun. Snow fell 4 inches last night. Clear & colder.
Feb. 9th – Clear and cold. Therm at zero a.m. At home, cannot do much but chores.
Feb. 10th, cold and clear, same as yesterday. At home.
Feb. 11th, cloudy still cold 2 deg. Above. My oldest daughter, Alice T. Sorensen, gave birth to a girl baby at 12:15 on the seventh.
Feb. 12th – Cloudy. Some warmer. Joey took two sows home to breed. One of them died going home. He came back and got another one. We have 9 lambs now.
Feb. 13th, Sunday, very cloudy & warm. Some snow. Went to Meeting. One lamb died last night.
Feb. 14th, still warm, thawing fast. Went down to the river fishing, didn’t get a bite.
Feb. 15th, warm. Went up to farm. All well for which we feel very thankful.
Feb. 16th – Cold blizzard from the north. At home all day. Snowed some.
Feb. 17th – Colder. Therm at zero at 8 a.m., cold all day, snow gone in spots. Side hills and roads getting bare. Feb. 18th, some warmer. Went to Religion Class, had good attendance. Brother Keech was with us, gave us many good instructions.
Feb. 19th, partially clear. Quite warm. Went to meeting held by missionaries in interest of Young Men’s Spirit of the Lord was enjoyed by all the speakers & much good instruction given.
Sunday Feb. 20th – Went to Meeting. Quite warm. Elders and Seventies meeting at night. Harrison went to Geneva with President Jensen to organize the Elders Quorum. He was appointed First councilor in the Young Men’s Association of Georgetown, Saturday evening, Feb. 19th 1898.
Monday, Feb. 21st – Snow blizzard from the north. Took 3100 lbs. of oats to D. W. Hess @ 65 ¢, $20.15. Tuesday, Feb. 22nd, Washington’s Birthday, clear and colder. Hans and Mary brought their children down to dance. Spent the day with us.
Feb. 23rd. Cold and clear. Therm. at zero 8 a.m., cold all day. Held a District Meeting at Samuel Smith home, had a good time. 27 present.
Feb. 24th – Cloudy & some warmer.
Twenty-fifth, clear, warm & thawing fast, snow about 7 inches deep. Went to Religion Class, 37 present, had a good meeting. All well. Had a District Meeting at F. Bacon’s in the evening.
Feb. 26th – Still warm and cloudy. Froze a little last night.
Feb. 28th, still warm. Looks like a storm. Began selling milk to W. Hess.
March 1st, 1898 – Snowed about 3 inches last night, looks like clearing off. Wind north, not very cold.
Mar. 2nd, foggy and cooler, thawed considerable during the day.
March 3rd, foggy & cooler. Was not well last night.
Mar. 4th, snowed a little this morning. Do not feel very well. Jennette was called to Joey’s last night. Quite warm.
Mar. 5th – Warm. Snowed 3 inches last night. Joey’s wife gave birth to a fine boy today, born at 11:40 a.m.
Sunday, Mar. 6th – Fast Day. Clear & cool. The ward all fasted and prayed for Sister Smythe, that she might have her sight restored. I was also anointed and administered to for my health, feel much better. Perry Harding and wife were confirmed members of the Church, having previously been baptized.
Mar. 7th, partially clear, warm. At home all day.
Mar. 8th – Snowed last night 3 inches. Cooler.
Ninth, cloudy & snowing a little. Cold.
Mar. 10th, clearing off. Cold. Snowed 3 inches last night. Mailed an order to Colorado Seed House for garden seeds, 90 ¢.
Mar. 11th, partially cold and clear. Therm. 8 deg. Above at 8 a.m.
Mar. 12th, cloudy. Snowed 2 inches. Warmer. Sawed some wood.
Sunday Mar. 13th – Snowed 6 inches last night, snowing and blowing all day, wind north. Went to Meeting. Had to take charge, Bishop and Council being sick. Had a good meeting.
Mar. 14th, still snowing some. Froze hard last night, snow 10 inches deep.
Mar. 15th, Snowed all day, fell 6 inches. Was sick all night.
Mar. 16th, clearing off. Therm. at zero this morning 7 a.m. Sent a watch to M. Ward & Co., to be repaired. Mar. 17th, partially clear. Warmer. The Relief Society held an entertainment today. Dance at night.
Mar. 18th – Cloudy & not very cold. Some snow. Harrison went to Conference.
Mar. 19th, cloudy, snowing by spells.
Twentieth, snow fell 5 in. last night. Snowing, not very cold, south wind, drifting. Went to Meeting, not very good attendance.
Mar. 21st, showed most of the day. Fell 5 inches, turning colder.
Mar. 22nd – Very cold. Therm at 10 below at 7 a.m., north wind. Sold 3 head of calves at $15.00: $45.00 & two yearlings @ $18.00: $36.00. Joey sold two cows for $50.00.
Mar. 23rd, cold and clear. Therm. staying at 20 above all day. Was sick last night. Harrison not very well.
Mar. 24th – Still clear and cold.
Mar. 25th, turning warmer. Looks like storm. Brother King’s funeral was held at 1 p.m., large attendance. Mar. 26th, snowing from the north. Blizzard. Snowed 12 inches.
Mar. 27th, Sunday – Attended Meeting. Clear and cold. Harding’s folks stayed overnight with us. Nettie went to Ovid.
Mar. 28th, snowing some. I hired $45.00 cash of Hans @ 10 per cent.
Mar. 29th, clear and cold.
Mar. 30th, cloudy and cold, went to Montpelier, snowed some during day.
Mar. 31st, cloudy, moderate. At home all day preparing to go to Conference.
April 1st, 1898 – Clear and cool. S
econd, clear & very warm, thawing fast.
Sunday, Apr. 3rd, cloudy & cool. Will start to Conference between one and two p.m. Harrison took us to Montpelier. Roads very muddy from Bennington up. Got on cars at 12:15 a.m. Waited at McCammon (4th) 1 ½ hours, got to Salt Lake City at 8:55 a.m. Was met at depot by Mr. Thomson, went to his place to stay while in the city. Had dinner and then took a walk down on Main Street, very muddy. Some snow on the ground. Will be mostly off by night. Quite warm.
Apr. 5th – Clear. Froze some last night. We rested all afternoon, being up all the night before. Went to the depot to meet Lide, but she did not come, went back to Mr. Thomson’s & had dinner, then all took walk through town. Visited City and County Bldg, bought tickets for Theatre and went back to Thomson’s. Got back at 6 p.m.
April 6th – Attended Meeting at the Tabernacle. President W. Woodruff said a few words, blessed the people with the Spirit of God. George Q. Cannon & Joseph F. Smith spoke at some length. p.m., Lorenzo Snow was the first speaker. Truth is a knowledge of things past and present and future. We should live so that we know that our work is acceptable to God from day to day. Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, finding Himself in the image of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. When we get to the other life, we should be able to look back on our acts here in this life with pleasure. Always do better today than done yesterday.
The United Order: There will be a time when you nor I nor any other Latter Day Saint, will be satisfied with any other arrangement. God bless you, my brothers and sisters. Amen.
J. G. Grant said, “I desire only to be tried so far as is necessary to prepare me for eternal life. In regard to tithing, many will compromise with the Lord for 25 or 50 ¢ on the dollar.
F.D. Richards: In early days when we embraced the gospel, we gave ourselves up to the Lord with all we possessed to forward His work. We have lived to see the work of the Lord grow from a few hundred to a few hundred thousand. The world today is as far apostatized from true business principles as we were in spiritual things. Let us train our generations today after us to do better than we are doing. Today there is too much sleepiness in the quorums. We should all wake up in regard to building up the Kingdom of God.
Came back to Thomson’s & had supper. Took a walk around a few blocks in northeast part of town. Counted 15 places with notices of sale posted up: mortgages the cause. The weather is cold and windy, looks some like storm. The people are just beginning to clear up their lots and make gardens.
April 7th, partially clear and cool, didn’t attend forenoon meeting. Went to ticket office to get lay off at Brigham City. Did not succeed. Went with Morris Rosenbaum thru and viewed a candy factory and through McCormic Bldg, seven stories high. Had a good view of Salt Lake City. Attended afternoon Meeting. Was sick, with cramps in my stomach.
April 8th, warmer. Some clouds. Feel better this morning. Went to Meeting 10 a.m. M.W. Merrels was the first speaker: A brother came to me for council. He was in debt. I said to him, do you pay your tithing? Well, no. Not strictly as I should. I said to him, pay your tithing strictly and honestly by being economical, cease to give mortgages on your homes, and turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart. And I promise the Latter Day Saints that they will be able to free themselves from debt.
J. W. Taylor: Sure the Lord will give no commandments except He prepares the way for its accomplishment. Nephi 28: 3rd verse.
J. W. Kimball: The time is not far distant when the people of these United States will worship work more than money. We have hundreds of young men who are hanging around these cities and starving to death. I want to tell you, my brethren and sisters, that all is not well in Zion. For if you labor for money, we shall perish.
Joseph F. Smith, chapter 4 of Mosiah. (I did not take any notes, not having a seat that was suitable. I bought a “Pearl of Great Price”, 50 ¢ and a “Witness For God”, $1.50.) Don’t feel well today.
April 9th, went to Priesthood Meeting, didn’t get a seat where I could hear very well, had good intentions. Walked around the streets awhile, went down and had a nice visit with Adolph Madsen.
Sunday April 10th – Clear and very warm. Got to Meeting late. Rode down with the folks in buggy, they were going out over Jordan. Joseph F. Smith was speaking. Said his desk was filled with anonymous letters threatening vengeance and accusing him and Brother George Q. Cannon of things of which they were entirely innocent.
Walked around town visiting many places of interest. Back at 7 p.m.
April 11th – Clear & quite warm. We went to the Temple and had our Second Anointings, also received them for my father and mother, and Father’s second wife, Amanda Melvina Perry. Went and visited an old friend and former neighbor, Angus McDonald. Found him in rather poor health, but full of ambition to perform the great mission he believes himself called to accomplish before his death.
April 12th – cool and clear. Will go to the Temple again today. There was a very full house. We did not get through until about 5 o’clock p.m. and we were near the first that came out. Was not well, had a pain in my bowels all day. Trees are beginning to look green. Most of the people have got their gardens in. Flowers are blooming in profusion. Went through the Temple for Jefferson Lewis, was ordained by Apostle George Teasdale. Jennette went through for Sophronia Lewis.
April 13th – Clear and warm. We are now in the Temple going through for Thomas Lewis, ordained by Apostle Teasdale. Jennette went through for Pamelia Tippets. Got through at 4 p.m., went down and had supper with Carry G. Williams, Mr. Thomson’s daughter. Has been very warm today.
April 14th – Still clear and warm. Went to the Temple. Went through for Seth Lewis, was ordained by Bro. W.A. Burton. Jennette went for Hannah Brown Lewis. Had father, his brother Alva & his sisters, Caroline and Pamelia, sealed to their parents. Got through at 4 p.m. Went up to Thomson’s and had dinner. The first day, Tuesday, there was near 300 people went through. The next two days, Wednesday and Thursday there was about 200 each day.
April 15th – Very warm and clear. Started for Brigham City at 8 a.m. Got there about 10:20. Stopped at Sister Rosenbaum’s. Gave an order to W.W. Craighead for shrubbery, $15.15. It is very warm today. Gardens are just beginning to come up. Apricots are in bloom. Peaches are mostly killed in lower part of town. Gooseberries, strawberries, currants, etc. are just ready to bloom. Lucern is nice and green, small grain is mostly in & looks well. Went up to P. Sorensen’s & stayed all night. Looks like it will rain. Wind from east.
April 16th – Partially clear & very warm. Walter came up and we all went home with him. Had dinner & then took a walk over the farm. His grain is all in and looks nice. Lucern is near 6 inches high. He will have a good crop of peaches unless something happens to prevent.
Sunday April 17th – Cooler. Stayed overnight at Walter’s. The old place looks dismal. Everything is going to ruin. Started back to Brigham City. Called at Uncle Alonzo Perry’s. Him and Aunt Betsy are living together. They are getting old but are quite well and hearty. Had dinner at P. Sorensen’s then went to Meeting in the new Tabernacle. After Meeting went through and viewed the building from top to bottom. It is a grand building, having all modern conveniences of lighting & heating.
Brigham City is very beautiful. It may well be termed, The City Of Beautiful Homes. I had great joy in meeting many old friends with which I had been associated for years. Went down & had supper with Sister Rosenbaum. Boarded the cars for home at 11:15 p.m., traveled all night.
April 18th – Got home at 8:30 a.m. Found all well. The ground is ready to begin seeding. Plenty of squirrels in sight. The schoolhouse lot was fenced today. Am sick again.
April 19th – Clear and warm. Went up to the farm, found everything all right.
April 20th, began raining in the night, rained most of the day.
April 21st, looks like clearing off. Went fishing, caught 2 large suckers. Harrison went to Montpelier, got Frank and the shrubbery from Brigham City. Paid freight, 75 ¢ & storage on trunk, 65 ¢.
April 22nd – Rain last night. Cooler. Had some manure hauled on lot. Worked some on fence.
April 23rd, went up to farm and dug parsnips.
April 24th – Sunday – Clear. Quite warm. Went to Meeting.
April 25th – Clear and warm. Went up to the farm. Fixed a gun for Smart and one for Jed. Are now ready to begin seeding. Squirrels quite thick.
April 26th – Hard south wind. Joey’s stackyard burned up today, lost hay and straw, $30.00, stables & other stuff burnt, $25.00.
April 27th – North wind. Cooler. Set raspberries, gooseberries, blackberries, and a few dewberries, and planted some lettuce.
April 28th, Cold. It froze some last night. Lucern and fall grain is growing nicely. Set strawberries, planted radishes, etc.
Apr. 29th, cloudy & showers. Planted cabbage in the frame.
Apr. 30th, cool. Planted onions. Dan Mills took dinner at the farm.
May 1st – Snowed some last night. Fast Day. Went to Meeting. Tried to settle a difficulty between Dan Rowley and A. Rolph. Thought we had succeeded, but they got into a quarrel going home and made the breach wider.
May 2nd – Snowing by spells. Folks all went to a May Day Celebration. I don’t feel well today. There is a dance tonight.
May 3rd, ground is covered with snow this morning & still snowing. Cool.
May 4th, still snowing, melts as fast as it falls.
May 5th, froze quite hard last night. Partly clear.
May 6th, clear this morning, still light frost. Planted peas.
May 7th – Rain last night. Cloudy. Got a calf out of the well that had fallen in & drowned a few days ago. Wrote notices of sale for stray horses.
May 8th Sunday – Partially clear. Went to Meeting.
May 9th, clear & warm. Sent an order to Browning Bros. for 2 guns.
May 10th, sent an order to Brownings for two more guns.
May 11th – Partly clear. Finished planting garden. Radishes, lettuce, onions are up. Planted potatoes. Warm. May 12th, sharpened 2 plows. Windy & warm. Went to the river.
May 13th, went to the farm. Let Bacon have 360# of wheat @ $1.50. Light showers.
May 14th, cloudy. Harrison sowed some oats on Scofield’s land.
Sunday, May 15th – Warm. Went to Meeting down at McCammon with A Rolph, H.A. Dunn, Jennette going with us. Had a good meeting. No men at home.
May 16th, partly clear. Worked on lot.
May 17th, ground is covered with snow.
May 18th, cloudy & some rain.
19th, rain & snow, ground thoroughly soaked. Harrison raised the large part of his house.
May 20th, froze quite hard last night, looks like clearing off.
May 21st – Heavy frost last night. South wind.
May 22nd, Sunday, warmed, some rain. Went to Meeting. May 23rd, light rain from the north. Cold the 24th. Stormy.
May 25th, rained slowly all day. Found the calves that had been gone several days. Boys sold Bill and Pett for 1200 ft. of lumber.
May 26th, partly clear. Started to plant potatoes.
May 27th – Marked and docked lambs, 12 in number. Planted potatoes.
May 28th – Rain all night and most of the day.
29th, light frost. Went to Meeting.
May 30th, cloudy, showers, cool, frost at night.
May 31st, partially clear & cool. Sent another order to Browning Bro. for 500 cartridges and 50 shells.
June 1st, 1898 – Partially clear & warmer. Heavy south wind, turned to the north at night, very cold.
June 2nd, cold north wind all day, a storm at night.
June 3rd, ground white with snow this morning. Cold north wind. Had a calf die last night, bloated on grass in lot.
June 4th – Clear & warmer. Sharpened plow, planted potatoes in upper end of field. Showers.
Fifth, went to Meeting.
Sixth, cloudy & showers. Finished planting potatoes, started for corn, etc.
Seventh, castrated lambs.
The 8th – Still clear. Warmer. Got ready to plant corn. Planted beans, cultivated strawberries.
June 9th, planted sweet corn, squashes, beans, peas & coffee peas.
June 10th, harrowed potatoes. Cultivated peas and s. berries. Finished planting corn, squashes, etc.
June 11th, showers. Hunted squirrels.
Jun. 12th, clear. No meeting. Conference at Paris. The boys went.
June 13th, went to the farm, started to break, cleaned ditches, etc., showers, everything is growing nicely.
June 14th – Clear and warm. Strawberries beginning to bloom quite freely.
June 15th, clear and warm. All vegetation making rapid growth. Began watering the lucern. Set cabbage in lot.
June 16th, very hot. Went to farm and hoed the garden.
June 17th, watered the s. berries. They are now in full bloom. They have not been damaged but very little by the frost this season.
une 18th, hoed part of the day. The chokecherries are now in bloom. Everything looks well.
Sunday, Jun. 19th – Went to Meeting. Harrison watering the lucern. Sent an order to Browning Bros. for $20.00.
June 20th, Harrison still is watering in the lower end of the field.
June 21st, hot and dry.
22nd, cloudy & warm. Worked on the strawberries.
June 23rd, shower. Went to farm. Squirrels are doing considerable damage. My mother is quite sick.
June 24th, heavy rain last night. Held Religion Class.
June 25th – Clearing off. Mother was very sick last night, had to be up most of the night with her. Went to the farm. Harrison brang the word that Mother was worse. She was dead when I got home. She died at 6:40 p.m., June 25th, 1898.
June 27th – Had three pans of dough scattered for squirrels. It looks now as if the squirrels were going to take all our wheat. Cultivated some early potatoes.
June 28th – Mother was buried today. The funeral held at Meeting House at 2 p.m. W. Clark, F.M. Winters, & H.A. Lewis being speakers. Was a full house. Twenty-five wagons and carriages accompanied the remains to the graveyard. Walter and Deilie got here in time for the funeral.
June 29th – Cool. Went up to the farm.
June 30th, quite hard frost last night. Did no damage to the farm.
July 1st – Cool all day, frost at night. Was sick. Stayed at Mary’s
July 2nd – Picked first ripe strawberries. Started to Soda. Warmer.
July 3rd – Got back home at 8 p.m., heavy south wind all day.
July 4th – Cool. Some clouds. Went to the farm. Squirrels doing a great deal of damage.
July 5th, got ready to cut hay. Had first mess of strawberries on the fourth.
July 6th, warm. Started to cut day.
7th, was sick, had to stay at Mary’s.
July 8th, worked some in garden, cultivated corn, picked 9 quarts of s. berries. Harrison hauled first load of hay.
Sunday, July 9th – Finished watering the berries. Harrison hauled hay.
July 10th – Went to farm and changed water on the raspberries, picked strawberries. Harrison and Emma went to Ovid.
July 17th – Have been up to the farm all week, tending and shipping berries. Didn’t write any being so busy early and late. Berry crop is good this year but prices are lower than ever before. All is well at present. We are getting along pretty well with our hay, have been bothered some by showers.
July 18th – Sold 132# of berries for $8.50, picked 7 cases more (all double).
July 19th, sent 7 ½ cases to Montpelier this morning, are picking between 200 and 300 quarts a day. Light showers.
July 20th – Some warmer. Floating clouds. Sent 8 cases of berries to Montpelier, picked 5 more, sent 2 down home to sell for cheese.
July 21st – Sent 7 cases to Montpelier, sold 25# to T. Williams for cheese.
July 22nd, south wind, warmer. Cloudy. Looks like rain. Sent 11 ½ cases of berries to Montpelier. Heavy shower & some hail p.m. Done no damage.
July 23rd – Clear and hot. Sent 9 cases to Montpelier, sold 59# for cheese, & beets & onions, 70 ¢.
July 24th, put water on berries.
July 25th – Sent 10 cases to Montpelier & took 4 cases to Hans. Went down home and rested.
The 24th was celebrated today. I didn’t attend.
July 26th, clear and hot. Sent 5 cases to Montpelier & one down home. Went down and met with Brothers Bee and Hess to settle a difficulty between two brothers. Stayed in town overnight.
July 27th – Clear and hot. Sent 7 cases to Montpelier, 8 ½ cases to W. Skinner for cheese.
July 28th, sold 77- ½# for $5.00, sent 4 ½ cases to Montpelier.
July 29th, sent 5 cases to Montpelier & took one down home. Let Hans have 3 & sent 1 ½ to Joey’s. Weather very hot.
July 30th, sent 5 cases to Montpelier and sent one down home. Will not have any more berries to sell.
July 31st, Sunday, went to Meeting, small attendance. Joey and Harrison got a new mower yesterday.
August 1st, 1898 – Picked 6 cases of berries, 2 for Burgoyne & 2 for Haddock, sold one and one left to send off.
Aug. 2nd – Sent 2 ½ cases to town. Put water on the berries. Raspberries are ripening fast. Began hauling hay on job field.
Aug. 3rd – Raspberries are ripening fast. Clear. Windy.
Aug. 4th, light shower. Sent 5 ½ cases of berries to town, had to bring back 1 ½.
Aug. 5th, sent 7 cases to town, sold 5 to one man @ $1.65 per case, sent two home.
Aug. 6th, sent 5 ½ cases home, pd one for picking.
Sunday Aug. 7th – Went to Meeting. Good meeting, had good instructions.
Aug. 8th, was sick abed all day. Received orders for 4 cases of berries & 2 of currants. Could not fill them. Weather very hot.
Aug. 9th, am still feeling quite poorly. Harrison cut Hans’s barley, cut a small piece for Dave on the sixth.
Aug. 10th – Picked a case of raspberries. Feel better tonight.
Aug. 11th – Picked a case of s. berries and sent home. Very hot.
Aug. 12th, cloudy and windy. Still feeling better. Went to the river fishing. Caught a nice mess, gave some to Mary.
Aug. 13th, fixed a gun for Ors. Went home at night.
Sunday, Aug. 14th – Clear, windy and hot. Showers.
Monday 15th – Showers.
Sixteenth, cloudy & cooler. Cut fall grain, what the squirrels had left, about 1 ½ acres. Picked raspberries.
Aug. 17th – Finished picking raspberries, gave a basket full to Mary, about 6 quarts, and took 12 quarts to Mrs. Rolph.
Aug. 18th – Came up and changed water on the potatoes.
Aug. 19th – Harrison cut spring wheat. Nettie picked the first beans, have had 2 or 3 messes of squashes. Aug. 20th, put water on the s. berries. South wind & showers.
Aug. 21st, Sunday, didn’t go to Meeting, have got the whooping cough.
Aug. 22nd, clear and hot.
Was sick the 23rd, felt bad all day. Clear and hot.
Aug. 24th, felt some better. Stock was in field, done some damage to lucern.
Aug. 25th – Still very hot, no wind. Went hunting a heifer, found her, & fished some.
Aug. 26th, don’t feel well today, am so very weak.
Aug. 27th – Partially clear. Got first mess of corn, have had cucumbers
Aug. 28th, Sunday – Went to Meeting. Warm.
Aug. 29th, boys went to Bennington to start threshing. Showers. Frank got home yesterday.
Aug. 30th – Rain most of the night, still cloudy. Showers most of the day.
Aug. 31st, south wind, cooler. Showers. Weeded strawberries.
September 1st, 1898 – Began harrowing ground for fall grain. Put up a grist mill.
Sept 2nd – Heavy shower with hail. Joey went to the mill.
Sept 3rd – Clear. Frost on low lands. None on farm to speak of. Started to plow on summer fallow, weeds too large to sow grain on. Quite cool today.
Sunday, Sept. 4 – Fast Day. Pd. 25# flour for offering, didn’t go to meeting. Quite cool. Frost every night in town.
Monday 5th, fixed a gun and wheel on grain drill. Joey and boys hauled wheat.
Sept. 6th – Clear. Frost. Joey cut lucern.
Seventh, clear, warm. Was sick.
Sept. 8th – Harrison went on machine last night.
Sept. 9th, clear, cool. Sent Maurice to haul grain for Sister Robertson.
Sept. 10th, heavy frost last night, everything killed on the farm, finished hauling hay on farm.
Sept. 11th, was sick all night. Heavy frost. Harrison finished cutting grain and went back to Bennington to thresh.
Sunday 12th – Have been sick all day. No Meeting, so many at Conference.
Monday, 13th Sept., clear, some warmer. Spent the day with Bro. Welch. Feel some better. Began using Viavi at night, my stomach feels very bad. At home all day. Jennette gone to Nounon. (*Note: Viavi is a patent medicine that has been found to contain golden seal extract and cocoa butter.)
Sept. 14th – Fixed a bin for wheat, got Roxey home with her calf.
Sept. 15th – Partially clear. Put water on the berries. Joey finished mowing second crop of lucern yesterday. Sept. 17th, warm, went to the farm, took Jennette to Mary’s. Turned water off, and spent the day with Mary and Hans.
Sept. 19th, very warm. Went to Montpelier with Mary, sent 10 fruit boxes to P. Sorensen, 6 large & 4 small ones. I pd. 40 ¢ for freight. Sent $10.00 to buy fruit from P. Sorensen.
Sept. 20th – Went to the farm. Joey finished hauling hay.
Sept. 21st, still very warm, began hauling grain. South wind.
Sept. 22nd, cloudy. Hard south wind. Finished hauling grain. Joey went to Montpelier for fruit. Paid F. Hanson for berry cases, $18.85, for sugar, $2.50, freight on fruit, $4.75, and extra $1.25 on bike.
Sept. 23rd – Went to farm. Maurice helped Dave haul his hay.
Sept. 24th, gathered onions and plowed some.
Sept. 25th, clear and warm. I am sixty years old today. Think the Viavi treatment is making me feel better, am quite stout again.
Sept. 26th – got ready to go to Soda.
7th, started to Soda. Began raining so we could not travel, stopped on the river overnight.
Sept. 28th, cloudy. Stopped and fished until 12, went on to Soda, filled bottles & came home. Got home 12 at night.
Sept. 29th, partially clear. Cold. Froze hard last night.
Sept. 30th, began digging potatoes. Dug 75 or 80 bushels, sacked 30.
October 1st, 1898 – Snowed last night three inches. Quite cold. Got Hans to plow between berries.
Sunday Oct. 2nd – Fast Day. Didn’t go to Meeting, snowed a trace.
Oct. 3rd, more snow. Dug potatoes in upper field. They are very good.
Oct. 8th, went down to Mrs. Andersen’s to get sheep, concluded to leave them and have them dipped. They are quite scabby. Camped on the river and fished. Got some coal. Have got beets and onions all gathered. Had 45 bus. of beets & 4 of onions.
Oct. 9th – On river most of day, got home at night. Rained some.
Oct. 10th, went to the farm, dug & sacked 30 sacks of potatoes. Was sick all night.
Oct. 11th, cloudy, looks like rain. Threshed in town today, had 50 bushels of wheat & 96 of oats.
Oct. 12th, went down and dipped sheep and brought them home after dark. Sheep are quite poor.
Oct. 13th – Went to farm and dug potatoes, weather fair and cool nights. Boys got through threshing. Put the machine in shed today.
Oct. 14, Jennette was called to wait on Luella Wright. Cool.
Oct. 15th, cold. Sharpened plow, plowed some on potato ground.
Sunday, Oct. 16th – Went to Meeting and Teacher’s Meeting at night. The Lesser Priesthood will begin their labors for the winter.
Oct. 17th, went to Bennington to see my brother, Brigham, before he starts on his mission. Went up to Montpelier with him and his wife. Wife had her teeth taken out. We returned home at dark.
Oct. 18th, cloudy & some warmer. Went up to farm and plowed potato ground.
Oct. 19th – Clear & cold. Went to farm.
Oct. 20th, finished plowing potato ground.
Oct. 21st, still clear. Warm days, cold nights. Got a 5 gallon can of honey.
Oct. 22nd – burnt weeds on strawberry ground.
Oct. 23rd, Sunday, Sick last night, didn’t go to Meeting. Some rain.
Oct. 24th, snowed 2 inches last night. Went to the river fishing, got a nice string. Dreamed last night of walking south with a companion just after sunset. Looking southwest, we beheld a sword in bright gold pointing eastward. I woke up while viewing it.
Oct. 25th, worked on cellar. Clear & warm.
Oct. 26th, worked on the cellar. Cloudy. Looks like storm. Freezes hard at night. Harrison is plowing.
Oct. 27th, went to farm, found that W.M. Smith’s hogs had destroyed most of our corn. Made some hinges for the cellar door.
Oct. 28th, looks like storm. Cooler. Harrison began sowing wheat. I corked on the cellar doors. Went to Religion Class, had a large attendance & good order.
Oct. 29th, went to river. Harrison has got in 8 acres of wheat.
Oct. 30th, Sunday, clear. Freezing hard nights, went to Meeting.
Oct. 31st, cloudy, some rain. Worked on cellar. Went to the farm.
Nov. 1st, 1898 – Clear, cold nights.
Second, began selling milk. Harrison went to Montpelier to buy a hay press, got his hand hurt, returned without it.
Nov. 3rd, went up to N. Hayes. It stormed all day & most of night. Harrison went to Ovid.
Nov. 4th, rain all morning, looks like clearing off, 12 noon. Harrison loaded some oats for Hess @ 80¢ per 100#. Went and visited Sister Jane, had a long talk with her on politics, she being determined to sustain Democratic Ticket, notwithstanding their inability to help us, as a people.
Nov. 6th Sunday – Fast Day. Went to Meeting, blessed Bro. Ludwig’s baby, named Clarice.
Nov. 7th, cooler. Went to farm, done some work in shop.
Nov. 8th, Election Day. At home. Very cold.
Nov. 9th, clear, freezing very hard. At home all day, not feeling well. The Republicans of this precinct had a large majority for most of their nominees.
Nov. 10th, cloudy and cold, worked on the cellar.
Nov. 11th, partly clear. Had mill and horse power brought down, got mill ready for grind.
Nov. 12th, ground 20 bushels of grain for Sizemore. Very cold. The Democrats carried Bear Lake County. The only Republicans electing, Wm Budge, Senator, Alford Budge, County Attorney, & P. Linsay, County Commissioner. Utah is also mostly Democratic.
Nov. 13th Sunday – Went to Meeting.
Nov. 14th, clear, ground bare, roads dry and dusty. Got ready to shear sheep. Ludwig moved into Harrison’s house at farm.
Nov. 15th, began shearing sheep, got 32 done.
Nov. 16th, snowed 4 inches last night. Finished shearing sheep, got 46 in all. Dipped all but 17. Snowed slowly all day. Dip cost 75¢.
Nov. 17th – got more tobacco and lye to make dip. Chopped 5 bushels of grain. Warmer, almost like rain. Snowed 5 inches last night and today.
Nov. 18th, clear, south wind. Finished dipping the sheep. Snow all gone, frost mostly out of the ground.
Nov. 19th, rain. Was sick again. Harrison chopped 20 bushels of grain for H. Hoff.
Sunday, Nov. 20th – Snowed 4 inches last night. Colder, went to Meeting. James E. Hart and Alph Osmond were the speakers.
Nov. 21st, very cold. Therm. at 5 deg. below zero. Went visiting as a Priest, with A. Rolph, spent the day with Chris and family.
Nov. 22nd, warmer, snowing slowly. Snow now 4 or 5 inches deep. Got a pr of shoes and a hat for Morris, $3.10
Nov. 23rd, snowing slowly all day. Chris and Hans built them a stable for use of school children.
Nov. 24th, looks like clearing off, not very cold. Joey and Harrison & families took dinner with us.
Nov. 25th, clear, very cold. Some fog. Joey killed a hog.
Nov. 26th, foggy, cold.
Nov. 27th, cloudy, cold. Went to Meeting. Harrison went to Paris to Young Men’s Conference.
Nov. 28th, snowed 2 inches, looked stormy all day.
Nov. 29th, snowing hard all day. Six or 7 inches fell.
Nov. 30th, snowed most of the day.
December 1st, 1898 – Harrison got a load of wood. I went to Mary’s. Snowing slowly.
Dec. 2nd, clear & colder. Killed 2 hogs. Jennette went to Religion Class.
Dec. 3rd, very cold all day. Cut up hogs. Chopped some grain.
Dec. 4th, cloudy. Fast Day. Went to Meeting. Pd 42# flour fast offering.
Dec. 5th, made brine & put meat in. Clear & very cold. Fixed cellar at home.
Dec. 7th, not quite so cold. Got 5 gallons of coal oil.
Dec. 8th – Foggy & cold, went to the farm.
Dec. 9th, clear and cold. D
ec. 10th, working on Harrison’s house. Therm at 15 deg. Has ranged from 20 above to 20 below for 4 or 5 days.
Dec. 11th, Sunday – Ten degrees below zero this morning. Went to Meeting. Home missionaries.
Dec. 12th, foggy, very cold. Boys began to load a car of hay.
Dec. 13th, finished loading hay. I worked on Harrison’s house.
Dec. 14th, cold and clear, 20 degrees below zero. Worked on Harrison’s house.
December 15th – Partially clear, some warmer. Put busk with sheep.
Dec. 16, boys went for wood.
Dec. 17th, has been foggy 4 or 5 days. Was sick last night. W. Facer and C. Jensen, missionaries to Young Men, have stayed with us 2 nights.
Dec. 18th, foggy, Sunday, all well. Missionaries are with us. Went to Meeting.
Dec. 19th, snowing slowly all day. Went to farm.
Dec. 20th, still snowing & warm. Snow fell about 4 inches.
Dec. 21st, clearing off cold. Worked on Harrison’s house.
Dec. 22nd, more snow.
Dec. 23rd, clearing off. Was sick last night.
Dec. 24th, very cold. Filed a saw.
December 25th Christmas – Sunday Alice & family took dinner with us. Foggy.
Dec. 26th – warmer. Took meat out of brine, hung in cellar.
Dec. 27th, partly clear, thawing. Fixed yard for the calves. Joey got him a new range.
Dec. 28th, still warm and thawing fast. Christmas Program rendered today, dance at night. Blizzard.
Dec. 29th, snowing and blowing. Colder. North wind. Went to Chris’s on a visit.
Dec. 30, a little warmer. Snows a little every night.
Dec. 31st, at home all day. Cold.
1899
January 1st, 1899 – Cloudy and cold. Some snow. Sunday Fast Day. Went to Meeting.
Jan. 2nd, snowing and blowing, went up and spent the day with Hans and Mary.
Jan. 3rd, still snowing and blowing by spells. Put a window in the house.
Jan. 4th, more snow. Fixed up the window. Snow is now 12 to 15 inches on level.
Jan 5th, still warm. Put door on house. Got a letter from my brother, Brigham, who is on a mission in the Southern States. He is well, but it is hard work to travel, being so much rain.
Jan. 6th – Worked on door. Snow most of day. Folks went to Bennington.
Jan. 7th, Showing a little. Worked on house. Warmer.
Jan. 8th, Sunday, cloudy & moderate. Went to Meeting. Some snow.
Jan. 9th, clear. Colder.
Jan 10th, snowing slowly. Moderate. Worked on the house.
Jan. 11th, more snow. Boys all went to canyon, got good loads. All well.
Jan. 12th, partially clear, snow squalls. Worked on house.
Jan. 13th, killed a hog.
Jan. 14th, snowed most of the day. Harrison took hog to town, sold it @ 5¢, weighed 295 lbs., $14.75, to Burgoyne on %. Got case of oil, $3.00, bedstead, $4.00. Nellie is quite sick. There is considerable sickness at present, mostly La Grippe. Worked on house. Sunday,
Jan 15th, snowing, not very cold. Therm. at 30 deg. Above. Went to Meeting.
Monday, Jan. 16th – Warm and thawing some. Worked on the house.
Jan. 17th, settled tithing, had paid $113.99, a good tithing, considering the loss of our wheat crop by squirrels. Mary and Hans & Chris & Alice were here for dinner. Harrison and others fasted and prayed for H. Larsen’s wife, who was very sick. The Lord heard their prayers and gave her immediate relief.
Jan. 18th, worked on house. Still warm.
Jan. 19th, warm sunshine most of the day. Worked on house.
Jan. 20th, very warm. Thawing fast. Worked on house then went to Religion Class.
Jan. 21st, didn’t freeze any last night, finished the house.
Jan. 22nd Sunday, Clear. North wind. Wind turning colder. Home Missionaries.
Jan. 23rd, at home all day. Harrison went to Montpelier, gave note to Co-op W. & M. Co. for $65.00 @ 10 per cent interest. Clear and cold.
Jan. 24th, some snow last night. North wind cold. It’s cloudy.
Jan. 25th, warm. Clearing, cleaning house.
Jan. 26th, put cloth on walls of house. There is considerable sickness in town. La Grippe, mostly.
Jan. 27th, still warm, thawing.
Jan. 28th, some cooler. Still thawing.
Jan 29th, Sunday, clear, went to Meeting.
30th a blizzard. Sent an order for strawberry plants to W.F. Allen, $1.00.
Jan 31st, blizzard, south and west wind very hard. Not snowing. Wind turned to the north about 4 p.m., snowed & blew very hard most of the night.
February 1st, 1899 – Partially clear, light snow falling by spells all day. Had a colt die today, two more very sick.
Feb. 2nd, snowing hard most of the day.
Feb. 3rd, colder. North wind. Snow.
Feb. 4th, clear and very cold. Therm. at 16 degrees below zero. Harrison and Maurice hauled manure.
Feb. 5th Sunday – Fast Day. All went to Meeting. It is very clear & very cold. Therm. stands at 36 deg. below zero at 8 a.m.
Feb. 6th, very cold, therm at 38 below at 8 a.m.
Feb. 7th, still cold. Moderating a little. Light snow. Had a cow calve today.
Feb. 8th, warmer. Snowing fast. Paid 50# flour for Fast Offering. A good many are yet sick in town. Sent wood to the schoolhouse. Harrison did this.
Feb. 9th, snowed all day, snow is now two feet deep. All well at home.
Feb. 10th, northern blizzard, looks like it may clear off. Harrison and family went to Bennington to stay all night. No Religion Class held today.
Feb. 11th, clear and colder.
Sunday, Feb. 12th – Some snow. Went to Meeting. Harrison is not well.
Feb. 13th, partly clear, warmer. Spent the day copying notes.
Feb. 14, warm and squally. Boys dressed some of the sheep. They are scaley again. It is hard to keep it down. At home writing all day.
Feb. 15, very warm, some wind. Boys finished the sheep. Jennette has been to Brig’s since the 13th, taking care of Emma, who is very sick.
Feb. 16th, quite warm. Squally. Harrison got his pay from Rowley.
Feb. 17th, I was sick all night. Weather moderate.
Feb. 18th – Still sick. Don’t know what ails me, think it might be the same as ails the colts! They are improving slowly. Jennette has not come home yet.
Feb. 19th, still very weak. Have just heard that Emma, Brig’s daughter, is not expected to live, but I think she will.
Feb. 20th, Frank took the girls to Bennington last night, brought back word that Emma was getting better. Sent orders for garden seeds to Bartel’s & Co. 93¢, to Burpees, $1, to Iowa Co., 25¢.
Feb. 22nd, am better. Warmer. Have been copying notes. Wind north, Jennette is still at Bennington.
Feb. 23rd, South wind cold. Froze hard last night. Cloudy.
Feb. 24th, partially clear. Snowed 2 inches last night. Went to Religion Class, present 13.
Feb. 25th, clear. Not very cold. Snowed last night 3 inches. Looks like clearing off. Jennette came home last night. Emma is improving slowly.
Sunday, Feb. 26th – More snow last night, not very cold. Was sick again, don’t feel able to go to Meeting today, rest all well.
Feb. 27th, blizzard from the north. Cold.
Feb. 28th, south wind. Snowing hard & warmer. Harrison and Nettie are helping decorate the Meeting House for Old Folks Party. Snow is now 3 foot deep.
March 1st, 1899 – Snow most of the day, not very cold. Went to the entertainment gotten up for the Old Folks, had dinner at 1:30 p.m. About 100 were seated at tables each time, had two tables the whole length of Meeting House. A very nice program was rendered.
March 2nd, stormy & warm. Went out to Joey’s to look at sheep, hay, etc. The children had a dance at 1 p.m. today.
Mar. 3rd, still stormy & warm. Am not very well. Received word the first that Bishop A.A. Jensen, of 3rd Ward, Brigham City, was dead. He was a man beloved by all who knew him. Have been acquainted with him many years and was very much attached to him. My health will not permit me to attend his funeral, for which I am very sorry.
March 4th – Some cooler. Snow. Received freight from Chicago. Harrison and all his children are sick.
Sunday, March 5th – Clear. Fast Day. Went to Meeting. All getting some better.
March 6th, clear & cold. Therm. at 8 above at 8 a.m. Harrison getting better.
March. 7th, clear and cool. Was sick all night.
March 8th, clear and pleasant.
Ninth, today children all getting better. Harrison is some better.
March 10th, cold north wind. Clearing off. Went to Religion Class.
March 11th, Partly clear & cold.
Mar. 12th, cloudy. Went to Young Conference at Bennington.
March 13th – Snowing, quite cold. Bought 5 T. at $5.00 T.
March 14th, partly clear. One of our horses is very sick.
March 15th, snow all day. Is about 2 ½ feet on the level.
March 16th, partly clear, warm. Went to the farm, got some potatoes and beets.
March 17th, snow most of day. Went to Anniversary Program of the Relief Society. Very warm. Blizzard last night.
March 18th, partly clear, quite warm.
March 19th, Sunday, snowed 4 inches.
March 20th, showing by spells.
March 21st – Blizzard. Snowed 5 inches a.m. Am not very well today.
March 22nd, cloudy. Some snow, warmer. Don’t feel well. Rest all better. Our horse is still very bad. Some bare spots on sidehill. Snow is going quite fast. Snow about 2 ½ ft. deep on level.
March 23rd – Warmer, some rain. Snow going fast.
March 24th, rain slowly all day. Jennette went to Montpelier, brought word that Emma was worse, and afraid she will not recover.
March 25th, am still sick. Warm rain. Hills bare on sunny sides.
March 26th, Sunday. Cold. Froze hard last night. Some sunshine. Harrison and Jennette went to Bennington to see how Emma is. At home all day being sick.
March 27th – Partly clear. Not well. Horses all sick, cannot work them.
March 28th, snowing slowly all day. Some warmer.
March 29th, snowing a little. Sent order to Browning Bros. for guns and ammunition.
March 30th, snow thawing some. Am feeling better. One of our horses is very sick.
March 31st, partly clear. Froze hard last night.
April 1st, 1899 – Warmer. Some snow.
April 2nd, Fast Day, went to Meeting, large attendance.
April 3rd, more snow last night. Thawing fast today.
April 4th, very warm. Boys took the horses on the hills. Cows went up to the farm and back at night. I went down creek fishing.
April 5th, clear. Cold north wind.
April 6th, clear and cold. Went to Priesthood Meeting tonight, donated $6.00 to the Stake Academy.
April 7th, clear and warm, thawing fast, ground drying up around the house and yard. Feel better today. Two stray horses that we have been feeding was sold today. Harrison bought them, one at $3.00 and the other at $7.50. Didn’t bring enough to pay expenses. Had no Religion Class, only 5 being present.
April 8th – Clear and cold. Sold sheep to Abel Smart. 31 head for $35.00 and 3 cows. Went fishing. Harrison got a new plow, pd. $50.00, one year’s time.
April 9th, warmer. Went to Meeting. My brother Brigham got home from his mission yesterday, having been called home on account of sickness.
April 10th, quite warm. Got some boxes ready to plant seeds in. Wrote 2 letters, one to Dan Miles, and one to the Post.
April 11th, got word that my brother Brigham’s daughter, Emma, was dead. Died at 3 p.m.
April 12th, went to Bennington to see Brig and folks, all well as could be expected. Harrison and Joey went to Montpelier, got a box of guns sent by Browning Bro. of Ogden, Utah.
April 13th –Attended the funeral of Emma Tippets. There was a very large attendance. Teams reached for half a mile.
April 14th, still warm, snow going fast. Roads mostly bare. Some are still using sleds. Streets here in town are nearly dry. Went up to farm to see Mary’s baby. They are doing first rate. Snow getting deep up there.
April 15th – Clear. Very warm. Made an incubator.
April 16th, cloudy, looks like rain. Snow is most gone from city lot. Ground drying fast p.m. Blizzard from the north & some snow.
April 17th, clear. Froze hard last night. Worked some in the shop.
April 18th, more snow. Brig and wife came and stayed overnight.
April 19th, partly clear, north wind very cold.
April 20th, warmer, went up the farm and hunted squirrels. Ground bare in spots. George, one of our horses, died this morning. Harrison plowed some in lot.
April 21st – Was sick all night. W. Stodard’s boy died this morning.
April 22nd, hard south wind. Went to the river with Joey to get the horses. Fished and shot squirrels.
April 23rd, south wind all day. Went to Meeting. W. Stodard’s son Elmer was buried today.
April 24th, went to farm. Snow is all gone, ground drying very fast. Dug some asparagus & rhubarb. South wind very hard.
April 25th, planted asparagus and rhubarb. South wind very hard.
April 26th, south wind still blowing. Sent an order to Browning Bros. for 3 bags of shot. Harrison moved up to farm, took all our stock up there. Snow is just out of the land, grass is starting. Some lucern and grain all right.
April 27th, snowing hard, 4 inches deep. Sent $2.00 to Post for advertising stray horses. Went to farm.
April 28th – Cold north wind. Let D.W. Hess have 3,880# of oats @ $1.25 per hundred. Took milk to the creamery. Worked in the garden.
April 29th, clear. Warmer. Froze hard again last night.
April 30th, cloudy and colder. Went to Meeting.
May 1st, 1899 – Blizzard from the north, snowed 5 inches.
May 2nd, cloudy, north wind. Froze quite hard last night. Snow melting some.
May 3rd, colder and cloudy. North wind.
May 4th, partly clear. Went to farm. Cleaned house.
May 5th, sunshine most of the day. Warmer. Planted some peas.
May 6th, partly clear. Warmer. Planted more garden. Castrated 6 colts and 3 calves.
Sunday, May 7th, Went to Meeting. Fast Day. Gave 50# flour for fast offering. Had a visit from Brother Keech, Stake President of the Religion Classes.
May 8th – Clear, warm. Was sick all night with cramps in stomach.
May 9th, cloudy. Some rain.
May 14th – Partly cloudy. Have been staying at the farm last 5 days. The weather has been mostly warm. Some heavy winds. Have got most of garden in. Turnips, radishes, and lettuce are coming up. Buds are swelling fast. Lucern & fall grain are looking quite green. We sold 8 head of calves for $123.00 Have not sowed any grain yet. Have got ground ready to sow 20 acres.
May 15th, went to Montpelier. Heavy south wind, snow squalls. Cold. Got two dozen traps, looked at some buggies, think of buying one.
May 16th – Cloudy and cold. Got some ground ready to sow.
May 17th, partly clear, south wind. Heavy frost last night, no damage.
May 18th, north wind cold. Sent money order to Browning Bros. for $60. Went down to the creek fishing. No fish up yet.
May 19th, north wind, cold. Harrison finished sowing grain.
May 20th – Snow most of the night, cold, stormy day, north wind.
May 21st, snowed all day. Didn’t go to Meeting.
May 22nd, still stormy and cold. Planted early potatoes in garden.
May 23rd, clear. Warmer. Went down home and back at night. Harrison plowed ground for peas and beets. May 24th, south wind. Planted peas and beets & carrots. Cloudy.
May 25th, went down and planted a few carrots, peas and potatoes on lot. Cold wind at night.
May 26th, clear. Hard frost last night. No damage. Fixed pasture fence, began planting potatoes.
May 27th, cloudy, cold. Hunted squirrels and cut potatoes. Harrison began planting potatoes in south field. Windy and cold.
May 28th, Sunday – Cold and cloudy. No Meeting, so many being at Conference.
May 29th, cloudy, some rain. Sold squirrel scalps $5.35, Will, 65¢, Harrison $4.35, total, $10.35.
May 30th, partly clear, some warmer. Harrison set trees on lot. Bought a pair of distant glasses, pd. $2.50, gave Harrison $2.50.
May 31st, partly clear. Finished setting trees on lot. Shocked up load of oats, was sick at night.
June 1st – Cloudy. Was sick all night. Harrison took oats to town.
June 2nd – Cloudy. Cool wind. Helped Joey straighten his house.
June 3rd , Sunday – Fast Day. Went to meeting. Cloudy and cold.
June 4th – Rain. Cold. Froze hard at night.
June 5th, clear, warmer. First day for two months without wind or storm.
June 6th, some clouds. Frost last night, not much damage.
June 7th – Some clouds. Cool.
June 8th, quite warm. Cultivated the garden and part of the strawberries. Hoed some in garden.
June 9th, warm. Planted some more garden. Set berries on lot. Sacked up the last of the oats.
June 10th, went to Montpelier, bought a new buggy, harness, whip, halter, and lap robe. Paid $95.00, $30.00 down and $65.00 due Nov. 1st, 1900, to draw 10 per cent interest from Nov. 1st, 1899. Harrison’s wife, Emma, gave birth to a daughter last night. All are doing well.
June 11th – Was sick again last night. Jennette got a telegram that her sister Rebecca was dead. She died at Provo. She will go over to attend the funeral at Brigham City. Looks like rain. Went down home with Jennette, stayed all night.
June 12th, rain most of the night. Hitched up to take Jennette to Bennington. Horse laid down and broke shaft to buggy. Got there in time. Jennette and her sister Eliza started to Brigham City on 12:45 train.
June 13th – Cold and stormy, snow and rain. Do not feel well.
June 14th, heavy frost last night, not much damage. Went down home, got some cabbage plants, gave $10.00 to Nettie. Had a letter from Jennette. She had got to Brigham, but not in time for funeral, was very glad she went.
June 15th – Set cabbage plants. Was very warm today, light frost last night.
June 16th, clear and warm. Planted corn & went to Religion Class. Louisa Cecelia Tippets was baptized today by George Hoff, and confirmed by Abel Smart.
June 17th, clear. Very warm. Mixed two pans of dough to poison squirrels. Do not feel well.
June 18th, Sunday – Ward Conference. President Budge was here and good instructions were given concerning tithe paying and other duties.
June 19th, partially clear, cooler. Went down and watered trees and plants on city lot.
June 20th, shower and hail last night. Started to Soda Springs, stayed at Dan Miles overnight. Cool.
June 21st, partially clear & cool, went on over to Blackfoot. Spent afternoon fishing, didn’t get any. Joey had a chill. We drove back to Dan Miles and stayed all night. Cold. Froze quite hard.
June 22nd – Came back home, stayed at Joey’s all night.
June 23rd, some warmer. Came up home this morning, found all well. Joey is quite sick. Squirrels had eaten all of the cabbage plants that we set out before going to Soda.
June 24th, went to the river and caught a mess of fish. Warmer. Heavy wind from the south. My Nettie ready to start to get married.
Sunday, June 25th – Partially cold. Nettie started to Logan to be married to Frank Pecora. Joey is some worse. June 26th, windy and warm. Am trying to water lot.
June 27th, Joey is no better. Mixed two pans of dough for squirrels. They are getting very numerous and are beginning to do some damage. Everything is now growing very fast.
June 28th, very warm. Went down and ground some graham and some corn meal. Joey is getting some better.
June 29th – Clear and windy. Am watering Strawberries.
June 30th, squirrels are doing lots of damage.
July 1st – Cooler. Tended water on the berries and hunted squirrels.
Sunday, July 2nd, Fast Day. Went to Meeting. At home, Joey is about the same.
July 3rd, clear and very warm. Finished watering the berries.
July 4th, went to the river fishing. Most of the people went to Soda Springs, some to Montpelier, and a few to Paris. Weather warm. South wind.
July 5th, 1899, At home, hunting squirrels and hoeing garden. Folks got home today from below.
July 6th, very hot and dry. Squirrels very numerous.
July 7th, am watering lot. It is clear and hot. Joey is no better and is about the same.
July 8th, very hot. Watered peas at the farm. Went to Meeting.
Sunday, July 9th, watering the garden. Clear and very hot.
July 10th – Harrison began watering grain yesterday. He went down to Teacher’s Meeting at night.
July 11th, put water on the berries & went to town.
July 12th, finished watering berries, went down to the farm with Emma. Had a litter of pigs come last night.
July 13th, hoed corn. Harrison cultivated the potatoes.
July 14th, watering city lot. Stayed home overnight.
July 15th, chopped grain.
July 16th, Sunday, attended Meeting. Cool. Had first mess of strawberries on the 14th. Early Wilson.
July 17th – Warmer. Joey cultivated his potatoes. Weather is unsettled.
July 18th, picked 24 quarts of berries, made a present of 12 qts. to D.W. Hess and 2 quarts to Bishop Lewis. Took 4 quarts home , used balance at farm.
July 19th, am not well. I hunted squirrels.
July 20th – Very hot. Picked 7 cases of berries. Am quite sick.
July 21st, picked one case of berries. Took them to Hess. Joey took 7 cases to Montpelier, sold them all at $2.00 per case.
July 22nd, cooler. I am quite sick.
July 23rd, light frost last night, not much damage. Feel a little better. Picked 7 cases of berries, sold two of them.
July 24th – Clear. Quite warm. Picked 4 cases of berries. Joey took 9 cases to Montpelier, sold all $2.00. Am some better today.
July 25th, light shower. Picked a case of berries. Five quarts for Bishop Lewis & 6 for Hess.
July 26th, Feel considerably better. We picked 13 cases of berries, less 6 qts. Joey took 6 cases to Montpelier, one to Caldwell and one to Hess. Took ½ case to Bacon. Heber J. Grant held Meeting in Georgetown at 7:30 p.m. Jennette and Harrison went to the Meeting on the 27th.
July 28th – Partially clear. Picked 55 qts of berries. Joey and Chris went to Montpelier. Put water onto the berries, watered the potatoes, first time. Have had new potatoes about a week. Joey let Burgoyne have 2 cases on % and 4 cups sold for cash.
August 5th – Have finished picking berries to sell. Had about 1,400 quarts. Average price 8¢ per quart. Have been sick nearly all of the time during the picking season with fever and bowel complaint. Am a little better now. It has rained most of the time for two days, damaging the hay quite bad.
NOTE by Vicki Cutler:
This journal was published by Ruby Noyes Tippets, wife of Reed J. Tippets, a grandson of Joseph Mahonri Tippets, 1987.
At the front of the journal, she gave the following tribute:
In loving gratitude to my Beloved Husband, Reed Joseph Tippets.
A Tribute to those stalwart Pioneers, Joseph Mahonri Tippets and to his dear Wife, Doctor Alice Jennette Tippets. These two fine forebears left us an honored heritage of a blessing everlasting.
A Tribute to our Family Members for the loving trust and encouragement given when needed so very badly. Thank you.
First Printing July – August – 1987.
Printed in the United States of America.
All rights reserved under patent.
Copyrights applied for.
Joseph Mahonri Tippets was a very ambitious man, a loving husband and father and a keeper of records. Thanks to his old, carefully kept journal, this book was made possible. Ruby Tippets
(Harold Tippetts, to whom this last remaining journal was given by his grandfather at Georgetown, Idaho, gave permission for Ruby Tippets to record it and publish it.)
I REMEMBER GRANDPA
by Harold Tippetts (a son of Harrison Tippets and grandson of Joseph Mahonri Tippets)
I shall never forget how Grandpa J. Mahonri Tippets took me with him as he went fishing down at the river. I suppose that I must have been his favorite grandson.
During the time while Father, Harrison Tippetts, was away on his mission for the Church, I lived at Grandpa’s home most of the time. When Father returned home, he jokingly stated that he quessed that he would have to “sell” me to Grandpa.
Thus it was that Grandpa handed Father a silver dollar to “buy” me. I was delighted, and ran home to pack my few belongings to move over to my new home. I guess it took a great deal of talking to convince a six-year-old that a deal had not been truly made.
When I was about nine years of age, Father took me with him as he drove the wagonload of potatoes to sell at a local store. The price for the potatoes was $400.00 Father got that fortune, and bought a Model T Ford, his first car. He then shopped for the food items Mother had ordered, and the plan was made for me to drive the team and wagon back to Georgetown. Father drove the new car.
The day was bitterly cold, and as I tried to keep from freezing, I ran along behind the wagon, allowing the team to find their way home. I became so chilled that I was ill for a few days and then my legs became almost useless, as my fever arose. Pains filled my abdomen.
My parents called in no less than three good doctors to examine me. They were Dr. J.W. Lynn, his brother, Dr. D.H. Lynn, and as these two could not decide what the ailment was, Dr. Ira Hayward was summoned. After these men examined me, Dr. J.W. Lynn gave Mother three tablets of morphine to be given to ease the pain while I died.
But these good doctors failed to realize that my parents had yet another source of power. Father called in some of his brethren of the Priesthood and a Prayer Circle was arranged around my bed.
These men were Bishop Alma Hayes, Charles Clark, W.W. Clark, Joe Bee, June Freeman, Albert Bacon, George Hoff, and Henry H. Hoff. As these humble men anointed and sealed the anointing, each took turns asking God to spare my life. I still recall these men kneeling there.
The pleadings to Heavenly Father was always ended by the words, Thy Will Be Done, but those sincere and humble prayers saved my life.
Yet it took months of care for me before my parents realized that I would live. For instance, I was given an early Christmas the following October, because it seemed, even then, that I might die. I recall being given a knitted pair of mittens and a scarf as my gifts.
During that winter, my school teacher, Jean Smith, often brought my classmates to the home, and she tutored me through the school year, arriving almost daily to instruct me.
When I was able to be taken to the Church meetings, I was held on Grandpa’s lap during the sessions. On one such occasion, I watched out the window as the local store, owned by Larsen & Hoff, burned to the ground. Everyone left the meeting. There was six feet of snow on the ground and no waterpower to stop the blaze. So the meeting ended without a closing prayer. Everyone hurried out to watch the fire.
As I grew to manhood, and found a beautiful young lady to become my wife, I left the rural settlement of Georgetown, Idaho. This was in 1922. I have never lived there since that time, but I remember my beloved Grandpa.
Note: Our Aunt Jeanette T. Stumpp also remembers her Grandpa. It seemed that he loved his grandchildren to visit him. He would hide candy mints in the sugar used on the cooked cereal, and each kid got the surprises, which likely encouraged them to eat the mush. Thank you, too, Aunt Jeanette. R.N.T
To Aunt Emma, With Love
The day that I first met Aunt Emmie and Uncle Harrison Tippetts was an eventful day in more ways than one. That day, February 19, 1947, was the day Reed Joseph Tippets and I were married in the Temple there at Salt Lake City. We could not start on our honeymoon until we visited his uncle and auntie. We were welcomed there.
This was only the first visit I had with Aunt Emma. Years later, her daughter, Percie T. Clark, invited me to her home to visit with Aunt Emma. These delightful experiences went on and on for a few days. During those special days, Auntie gave me a history of her life as the wife of Harrison Tippetts. I, in return, told of the years spent with Reed, her grand nephew, who was very dear to her.
One wish was made during those days. The wish and the hope that there might be a time when I could see the Journal compiled by the Father-in-law of Aunt Emma, one J. Mahonri Tippets. The chance of ever seeing this manuscript was slim, but I promised that if there ever was an opportunity to see it, I would remember her wish.
Auntie’s great admiration for J. Mahonri Tippets is a story in itself. She firmly believed that he should have had wings, because he was that near to being an angel. He had taken care of her and of her young children during the time that Harrison was away on his mission. She stated that she likely would have starved without that assistance.
During the following year, Uncle Harrison passed away in 1953. Aunt Emma went to live with her son, Harold, in Citrus Heights, CA. It was there where she died at age 89, in 1961.
Last year, 1986, Reed and I visited Harold Tippetts and his wife and reviewed the Journal. The rest is now history. The Journal has now been recorded for the first time. Reed and I have worked together on this lengthy project with prayers and with thankfulness and gratitude that Harold allowed us to undertake the great task.
Could it be possible that Aunt Emma foresaw this event? I like to think that this is so. Ruby
(The following was written at the front of the book by Ruby Tippets):
To The Memory Of Joseph Mahonri Tippets, Pioneer Extraordinary
When one thinks of starting to record events of the day, or starting to record a lengthy journal of day-by-day events, it is usual to put if off until a more convenient time.
But there was one man in our family, who thought of journal keeping as a duty to be most carefully attended to. This man, our Great Grandfather, Joseph Mahonri Tippets, faithfully recorded his concern for his family, the weather, the conditions of his crops, the failure or success of his businesses, and the work assigned him in his Ward.
He never failed, either, to tell of his concern for his brothers and sisters, and for the friends and neighbors whom he dealt with. This Grandpa seems to have been a worrier about many things, yet he thanked the Lord daily for blessings enjoyed.
As this writer recorded the words of this precious old manuscript, a realization came as to the devotion of this pioneer and his wife, who faced the hardships of the extreme winters there at Three Milk Creek and Georgetown, and also, the dedication to the medical work accomplished by Dr. Alice Jennette Tippets. To her must also go a humble and grateful thanks for labors completed.
To our cousin, Harold Tippetts, and to the memory of his dear wife, the writer expresses grateful thanks. This couple welcomed her into a beautifully kept home and allowed time to be spent recording words from this one-hundred and thirteen-year old Journal, a record given to Harold by a loving grandfather, when Harold was a young man.
It is sad to relate that others of Grandpa’s writings were lost by fire. How very fortunate that this remaining Journal was more carefully guarded and preserved by Harold and his dear wife. How great is the opportunity, for us of the family, to get to read and to love the devotion for us that was foremost in our grandfather’s mind as he carefully took the time to write his thoughts.
A special thanks is hereby given for a loving husband, mine, for patience and encouragement during this lengthy writing. Reed has not once complained of meals to prepare, errands to run, costs to pay for, or of a wife whose hands were tired, and whose eyes were dim from the reading of faded writing. A blessing, by him, sustained me. Ruby Noyes Tippets
FORWARD
There is no chapter in the American history so full of adventure and romance as the great westward trek of the pioneers in 1849.
Starting from Nauvoo, Illinois, these stalwart men and women, with their families, drove lumbering wagons toward a dream; a dream of freedom from persecution; a dream of high mountain ranges and of a valley wherein they might worship God and build a New Zion.
How endless was the turning of the ponderous wagon wheels on that fateful journey. How the hearts of the pioneers must have faltered at times because of the dangers ahead.
One of these pioneers by the name of Joseph Harrison Tippets, and his wife and two children, made this journey to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.
The two children, Joseph Mahonri Tippets, and Caroline Cornelia Tippets, ages eleven and nine, were finally established there in the Valley, and grew to young manhood and womanhood there.
Joseph Harrison finally was sent to the Brigham City area, where he took a farm and labored to support his family.
Young Joseph Mahonri and his sister learned well the fact that they must eat what they raised and raise what they ate. They met and learned to associate with others of the young people there at Box Elder County.
It was there, at the settlement of Perry, Utah, that young Mahonri married one of his distant cousins, Alice Jennette Tippets, daughter of William Plummer Tippets and Sophia B. Mead Waymouth.
This couple, Mahonri and Alice Jennette, were able to establish a home, finally, at the Georgetown, Idaho area. Their story follows… A story of hard work, of love, and of faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, as herein recorded from Mahonri’s journal.
IN LOVING AND GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF DR. ALICE JENNETTE TIPPETS
Alice Jennette Tippets was born March 15, 1844, at Liberty, Missouri. She was the eldest child of William Plummer Tippets and Sophia Burnam Mead.
Her parents had been acquainted for many years; each had lost a mate. They were united in marriage when Alice was twenty-six years of age, and J. Mahonri was thirty-two years old. The marriage took place at Perry, Utah.
Alice Jennette’s parents, William Plummer Tippets and his wife, Sophia, were joined in marriage by the Prophet Joseph Smith, and a reception was held for them at his home.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred in 1844. Alice Jennette would have been about three months old at that time. Her parents later gathered with the Saints in Council Bluffs (then called Kanesville) and on July 4th, 1850, left with the Captain Hunt Company for the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, arriving the middle of October. Although Jennette was a child of six years of age, she recorded her experience of walking a great deal of the way across the plains. She worked to help care for the younger children of the family. Her long skirt was made from the cover of an umbrella.
Jennette seemed to have a special blessing for attending to the sick. She and Mahonri were living at Brigham City when she was called to study Midwifery in Salt Lake City. Her instructor was Dr. Ellis R. Shipp, and Jennette graduated from the School of Medicine and Surgery in 1883-4.
Although her training was meager, Dr. Jennette was often called upon to do miraculous works. At one time her grandchild, Aaron Tippets, accidentally severed two of his toes with an ax. Dr. Jennette was summoned, and she quickly picked up the severed toes, bound them in place and the toes grew back to Aaron’s foot. A tomato can was put over the bandaged toes to protect them while they grew back on.
Other such miracles seemed to be commonplace beneath the skilled hands of Dr. Jennette. But after some years at the Three Mile place, Jennette and Mahonri removed to the nearby settlement of Georgetown. From the home there, she was more able to attend to the many confinement cases, etc., and she traveled far and near, as her skills were needed. She labored as a doctor for twenty-seven years in the area wherein she resided.
Jennette’s strong faith in the Lord was foremost all during her life. She was asked to serve as President of the Georgetown Relief Society on August 7, 1902. She guided the sisters of her organization in the care of the sick and needy, and in the skills of preparing bodies for burial, and the making of burial clothing. At this time she was fifty-eight years old. However, at age seventy, Jennette attended the birth of her great-granddaughter, born April 20, 1914.
The devotion to a career, the adoration for her husband and children, and her humble thankfulness for the blessing given them and herself, likely kept Dr. Jennette well. She passed away quietly, and without suffering. It is said that she made this statement a few days before her death, “I know if my Heavenly Father is pleased with my work, as I have done it, He will take me without my lingering and suffering.”
There can be little said to give more praise and devotion to this fine pioneer doctor than has already been said. Those who inherit a portion of her steadfastness and talents should be very thankful for the heritage she left them.
SOPHIA BURNHAM MEAD TIPPETS
(This story was taken by Ruby Tippets from one composed by Rebecca T. Hall.)
On the twelfth day of July, 1812, a baby girl first opened her eyes to view this vale of tears. She was born in the little town of Homer, Cortland County, New York.
At that time, the country was in turmoil; the War of 1812 had commenced one month before this time. Was the birth of this girl prophetic? Did it presage the fact that all of her life she would have to face a crisis of one kind or another? Perhaps this was so.
Sophia was the firstborn of Ezra and Elizabeth Wilcox Mead, and was named in remembrance of a lost sweetheart of her father, one Sophia Burnam. Her parents were perhaps not ideally mated. Her father was a proud, highstrung, impatient but artistic man. But generous to a fault. The mother was a very practical, industrious and plodding woman, and her family had been very poor. Toil and hardship had been her lot, even as a small child. She was ‘bound out’ to a farmer and his wife, and there worked for a wage that gave her not enough money to buy food for her growing body. One day Sophia located a nest of eggs. While her mistress was away, the girl cooked and ate all of the eggs, then buried the shells. For once the girl had enough to eat, but the eggs made her very ill afterwards.
Later in her life, Sophia became an apprentice to a tailor and she learned to design and construct men’s clothing.
Sophia learned from her father to be proud and artistic, which gave her a love for beautiful things. Added to these were her mother’s ambition and resourcefulness.
Sophia seemed to have been her father’s favorite child, and he took her many places and instructed her in the love of literature. It seems that this artistic father spent many hours and took care to teach her many of the abilities he possessed.
Realizing that schooling for Sophia was almost an impossibility, Ezra Mead carefully instructed young Sophia, and he took great pleasure in teaching her. Schooling opportunities were very scarce at this time in America. Yet her father instilled in the girl a love of good literature.
Sophia was twelve years of age when the great LaFayette made his second visit to the United States, in August, 1824. It was an occasion of great celebration, and Sophia’s father took her to see the great man. About this time, one of her father’s boyhood friends called to visit them. When he was ready to leave, he said, “When Sophia is fifteen years of age, I will come back and marry her.”
The family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, after a time, and it was there that they were living when the girl reached the age of fifteen. Shortly after, true to his word, the man, Daniel Waymouth, returned. And Sophia Burnham Mead married him, a man twice her age.
The couple returned to a milltown along the Allegheny River, Pa., to a farm on the Ohio River. Neighbors were few, and in order to visit with any of them, Sophia had to row a boat a mile up the river.
Daniel shipped his lumber to other points by raft. Following the birth of a daughter, Sophia B. M. Waymouth developed a troublesome cough, and the doctor pronounced it ‘consumption.’ Feeling that she had only a short time to live, she was eager to return to her parent’s home. Her husband made the arrangements for her to make the thousand-mile trip to her home, on a lumber raft.
Sophia was very ill when she started, but during the trip, her health improved and the reunion with her family was a happy one, although her father was away at the time, on one of his periodic trips away from home. As the family awaited Sophia’s father’s return, she received word that Ezra Mead was dead. This was the year 1834.
Previously, her mother and her brothers and sisters had accepted the Gospel. They eagerly taught Sophia and she was converted, and was baptized. Eagerly she wrote her husband to tell him of the wonderful news that she now belonged to the Mormon Church. But she was informed that if she had joined Joe Smith’s Mormons, he was through with her, BUT anytime that she felt she might give up that religion, she was free to return to him.
Years later, her husband visited her at Independence, Missouri, and gave her $5.00, his total contribution to her support, and the support of her little girl. Later, she received news of his death, by accident, in one of his mills. No provisions were made for her and for the child.
During the 1830’s the Saints were active in their desire to go to Jackson County, Missouri, the center Stake of Zion. Sophia and her daughter, with the aid of friends, made the trip by water, as far as possible, then overland. They arrived at Independence, Missouri. Sophia had found that she was to bear another child, because of her reunion with her husband. She delivered this child, a boy, and gave him the name of James Wilmouth.
At Independence, this delicate young son died, and was buried at the Temple Lot there.
When the Saints were driven from Jackson County, Missouri, Sophia, along with her daughter and her mother, lived near Liberty, where they worked in a tailoring profession, which supported them well. The family was there when the Prophet ‘rebuked the guards’, at Liberty Jail, and where he later escaped them at Quincy, Ill., thus unto Commerce, and on to Nauvoo during the 1830’s. The Prophet’s followers went with him to these places. (Typist’s note: These facts are not fully correct. The Prophet rebuked the guards in Richmond, IL, and he was in Liberty Jail when he escaped and followed the Saints to Quincy, IL. Then on to Commerce, which became Nauvoo. VC)
At Liberty, Missouri, Sophia Burnham Mead Waymouth met and married William Plummer Tippets. This man was a quiet and unassuming man, honest and industrious. He had been with the Prophet Joseph Smith at Zion’s Camp, and onward with him the thousand miles from Kirtland, Far West, and onward to redeem Zion. This was the year 1834. Upon his return to Kirtland, Ohio, William P. Tippets had married his cousin, Caroline, and the marriage had been performed by the Prophet, himself. Caroline died in childbirth, and lies buried there in Liberty.
The Prophet Joseph Smith recorded a blessing which he gave to the Tippets brothers as they left Kirtland, Ohio, in the spring of 1835.
The mutual respect and friendship of Sophia and William Plummer was ripening into love and devotion during their lives together. The first child was born to them on March 15, 1844, and they gave her the name of Alice Jennette.
There were other children born to the Tippets family. Emma was born January 4, 1846, Ellen, born 22nd December, 1848, and Eliza, born January 18th, 1850.
The Tippets family crossed the plains with the Edward Hunter Company, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley October 13, 1850. All of the possessions of this fine couple were crowded into two wagons, one wagon drawn by oxen, the other by horses. They led their faithful old milk cow behind one of the wagons for a while, but then one of the oxen died. Then the cow was hitched to the wagon.
The milk from this sturdy cow was placed into a jar, which was tied to the side of the wagon and the rich milk churned into butter and buttermilk as the jolting wagon made its way across the rough land. This fresh produce was eagerly eaten at the evening meal.
The first home of William Plummer Tippets and his family was in the Nineteenth Ward, there in Salt Lake City. But in the spring of 1853, he removed his wife and children to Box Elder County, and settled an area known as Three Mile Creek. (This settlement of Three Mile is not to be confused with the area of the same name near Georgetown, Idaho.) This rural area lay three miles south of Brigham City, Utah.
There at Three Milk Creek, William Plummer Tippets, first settler, worked to irrigate the land. His daughter was born there at Perry, Utah, the first child born in the area. They gave her the name of Delila. The first home for this family was constructed of a wagonbox, with a bowery of brush and poles.
As the men of the settlement worked in the canyon to get materials with which to build homes and corrals, a band of thirty Indians arrived at the settlement. The leader came to Sophia’s door asking for ‘biscuit’. She gave him all of the fresh bread she could spare. The Indian pretended he did not believe her. Taking her baby in her arms she told them to be off, even after they threatened her. With a whoop and a holler, they rode away. At a later date, the chief of the Indian tribe informed Wm. Plummer that his group had gone to the settlement to destroy it, but because “…the squaw so brave deserved to live…” No doubt this courageous Sophia had saved the settlement.
At the time of the “Move,” in 1858, when Johnson’s Army came to destroy the Mormons, William Plummer drove a number of stock as far as Draper, Utah. Upon arriving there, he learned that peace had been established. He then returned to Perry.
There were years of prosperity for the Tippets’ as well as years which were otherwise. The grasshoppers destroyed crops for all of the settlers. But, through hard work and prayer, the Saints struggled onward. They shared what they had with others, and upheld their faith in God.
Until the year 1866, Sophia used a fireplace to do her cooking. She made soap and candles, grew and prepared wool from the sheep to construct the clothing they wore. Her spinning wheel was never idle for any length of time, and she knitted stockings, caps, and mittens for all. Her abilities as a seamstress enabled her to design and construct all of the clothing for her own, as well as for others.
William Plummer was a carpenter and cabinet maker. He built a 5 room home for his family, making all of the door frames, doors, and furnishings, including the window sashes.
Nine children were born to the Tippets’, seven daughters and two sons. One of the sons died in infancy. The youngest child, a son named Walter, was born to Sophia when she was forty-eight years old.
When gold was discovered in Montana, William Plummer filled his empty grain bins with salt from the salt beds of the lake and sold it at his door for 10¢ per pound to the settlers who were making their way to Montana to find gold.
William Plummer Tippets was generous with his fellowmen. He was a peacemaker with the Indians there in Box Elder County. He died on the 29th day of March, 1877, of typhoid fever.
For the next twenty years, Sophia Tippets kept the farm going, but finally left it in care of her son and removed to Georgetown, Idaho.
Sophia Tippets was a witty, agreeable soul to be near. She did sewing and knitting for her daughters’ children and for the grand children and great grandchildren during her last happy years. Her life was lived abundantly and nobly to the very last.
The day Sophia Burnham Mead W. Tippets died, June 25th, 1898, three of her daughters were with her. They were Jennette, Lydia, and Delila. Jennette’s daughter, Alice was also there as was Harrison Tippets’ wife, Emma Van Orman Tippets.
Sophia knew that she was dying and insisted that the girls get her bathed, dress her, and trim her nails. “I always believe in being ready,” she stated.
The girls had quite a time removing her ‘shimmy’, and one of them suggested that they just rip it off. “no, you don’t,” panted Sophia, “It’s a good shimmy. Take your time and finish.” The girls did so and as they were finished, Sophia smiled a bit and dozed. In a few minutes she simply stopped breathing, but roused to say, “Now, I am ready.” As her daughters stood crying beside the bed, Jennette said, “Why do we weep? This is our mother’s Graduation Day.”
The funeral was held at Georgetown Meeting House, with the Bishop of the Ward conducting. Bishop Henry A. Lewis had the casket placed in a white-topped buggy, which was driven down the long lane and followed by the lengthy group of mourners, including the grandchildren, all dressed in white and carrying arms full of flowers.
The settlement of Georgetown was established in the year 1871. During the Pioneer Centennial of 1947, a movement was started to beautify Mormon cemeteries. Therefore, within the past decade, the Georgetown Cemetery has been planted with grass, to replace the sagebrush.
There Sophia lies, waiting for the morning of the resurrection. Her grave is marked with a modest headstone and beside her grave is the grave of her daughter, Jennette, and Joseph Mahonri Tippets, husband of Jennette. William Plummer Tippets is buried at Brigham City.