Diary, 1855
By George Benjamin Wallace
[First page(s) missing]
Saturday Nov 3 1855 (The latter part of this day’s entry
reads as follows:) In the night his wife
was taken in labor and brought forth a fine boy. When she was in labor Bro
Nobles and myself went in to Bro. Farnsworth’s, who lived next door.
Sunday Nov 4 Weather
fine. We are at Bro. Farnsworth’s. Meeting commenced in the school house at 11 o’clock. I opened by prayer, after the opening song, then
Bro. Nobles arose and addressed the Saints. I followed, speaking on their practical daily duties. In the afternoon 10 or 12 were baptized, some
rebaptized and some children for the first time. Bro. Nobles and I assisted the Bishop in the
confirmations. In the evening meeting I
was called on to speak. I was followed
by Bro. Nobles and J. S. Fullmer. The
brethren are building a fine meeting house. The walls are up and they are putting the roof on. Bro. Walker is a go-ahead man and tries to
carry out the measures of the Presidency.
Monday Nov 5 Dined
with John Halman, son of Bro Halman who died at Winter Quarters. He is a good young man. We started and traveled through Provo. Stopped at Hobble Creek, at Newell Johnson’s,
and dined. Then went on to Payson and
stopped at Henry Nebeker’s. He was
absent. Had gone to Salt Lake City.
Tuesday Nov 6 In the
morning we asked a brother for a few ears of corn for our horses but he would
not let us have any. However we obtained
some from the Bishop, Charles Hancock. He is a whole-souled Mormon. We
left about nine for Salt Creek and reached there about half past three. Called
upon Bishop Bigler and he sent us to Bro John Cazire where we were
kindly entertained with a good warm supper and a welcome “make yourselves at
home.” In the evening we attended
meeting. Bro. Carter and Bro. Hunt had
just arrived from San Pete, and they met us. Also Bro Jacob Hutchison. I was
called upon to speak and spoke on the good feeling we would have when filled
with the Spirit of God and the reverse when the Spirit was driven from us. I was followed by Bro. Hutchison. Then Bros. Nobles, Carter and Hunt
spoke. I made an appointment for a
meeting to be held Wednesday evening that I might organize the High Priests.
Wednesday Nov 7 Spent
the day with the Saints, visiting them at their houses. In the evening met at a schoolhouse. The room was filled. I addressed the High Priests and taught them
their duty and organized them by having one to preside over them. Bro. Bigler was selected. After I was through instructing the High
Priests I touched upon Celestial Marriage. The meeting was dismissed and one appointed for Thursday.
Thursday Nov 8 Brother Huntington, Call, Hasa Stout and others came in from Salt Lake
City on their way to Fillmore. In the
evening we met in the school room. Brother Call spoke followed by Brothers Stout Hutchinson and
myself. A good spirit was in the room.
Friday Nov 9 left
Salt Creek in company with Brothers Call, Stout, Huntington, Wall and
others. It rained Thursday night and
Friday morning. The road was heavy. We came to the springs, 14 miles from Nephi,
and camped. Bro Call had ordered some
hay and wood to be brought out from Nephi and it reached us a little after
dark. We found it very convenient. It was a wet and cold night.
Saturday Nov 10 Had
breakfast early then started and traveled to Round Perry and bated our
horses. We then traveled on to Fillmore,
arriving at 7 A.M. Stopped at Bro.
King’s. This day we traveled 46 miles. One of Bro. Call’s mules got tired out, so
that we could scarsely make it.
Sunday Nov 11 In the
morning I was called on by President Ray (or Roy) and he wished to know how
long we were to stay. He expressed
himself pleased that we had come to this place for he said preaching was
necessary and needed. We then commenced
meeting at 11. I was called to speak and
spoke to the Saints about one hour on the principles of obedience, showing that
through obedience we would be blessed with the Holy Spirit of God which would
cause us to rejoice all of the day long but that the opposite would cause the
reverse, even darkness, drought, cold and bleak. We reached Parawan about 3 o’clock, 35 miles
from Beaver Creek. Ansa Lyman had
just arrived before us from California in good health and spirits. We stopped at Bro. Houd’s and were
made welcome.
Thursday Nov 22 Was
in company with Ansa Lyman. Visited G.
A. Smith’s flouring mill and Calvin Pendleton’s machine shop for manufacturing
poles and tubs. Bro. Houd and about 10
others left for Fillmore. They were
special witnesses on the case of Baker who was endicted for murdering a child
at Parawan about the first of November. In the evening Amsa Lyman preached and the house was well
filled. In the afternoon Bros. Allred,
Frost, Keller and H. Finley, missionaries, and some others came in from
California in good spirits. They
attended the meeting and Bro Allred spoke a few minutes after Bro. Lyman. A meeting was appointed for the next evening.
Friday Nov 23 Stormy. It snowed most of the day. About 2 o’clock Bro. Lyman and Company left
for Salt Lake City. I wrote a letter and
sent it to my family by Bro. Frost. In
the evening I spoke to the Saints, also Bro Nobles. We had a good meeting. After meeting we went to Bro. Jesse Smith’s
house and stayed all night. His mother
was there and we spent a happy evening with them. The next morning Silas Smith’s wives came in
and breakfasted with us. They were Bro.
Rich’s daughters. Good women.
Saturday Nov 24 Left
Bro. Smith’s about 11 o’clock. Went to
Bro. Houd’s and got our horses and started for Cedar City about 9 o’clock. It was cold traveling and snowed much of the
way. We went to I. C. Haight’s and
stopped. We were made comfortable. He was not at home when we first arrived but
soon came home from the iron works and received us kindly. Bro. Haight has three wives, good and true.
Sunday Nov 25 In the
morning met with the Saints at their meeting house. There were a good number present. Bro. Nobles was called on to speak by
President I. C. Haight. He spoke a short
time and after him I was called on to speak. I was brief in my remarks. Bro. Haight
followed giving the Saints some instructions. Meeting dismissed until evening. At three o’clock met with the circle and had a good time. Went to the meeting. Bro. Hults spoke. He had just returned from his mission to Las
Vegas. He felt well and said the Indians
were very friendly. I followed him and
occupied the rest of the evening. There
was a good spirit in the meeting.
Monday Nov 26 Visited
the iron works in company with Bro. Haight and Bro. Nobles. The water froze up in the canyon and stopped
the blast about daybreak, Monday morning. They did not get it started until about 10 o’clock. They are much troubled with the water
freezing up in the canyon, so that there is not enough comes down to turn the
wheel. The company has done some
castings for their machinery and have a pretty good stock of ore on hand, also coal
and wood. In the afternoon visited Bro.
Morris and supped with them. A pleasant
evening.
Tuesday Nov 27 In the
morning went to the Iron Works. The
blasting had stopped as the water in the canyon had frozen. They were building a cupola to cast a wheel
to balance the water wheel. Took tea
with the Sisters Smith, the Bishop’s wives. Also spent the evening with them.
Wednesday Nov 28 Visited the Saints and spent the evening with Bro. Holtes.
Thursday Nov 29 Dined
with Bro. Willis and also took tea with him. In the evening went to a testimony meeting at the meeting house. The brethren bore testimony to the truth of
this work, etc. Such meeting would
freeze up Salt Lake for they look backwards and not forward. They do not scan the works of today and cry
to sanctify themselves before the Lord. I spoke a few minutes and had an appointment given out for the next
evening for preaching.
Friday Nov 30 Visited
the Saints at their houses, and also visited the Iron Works. Took tea at Bro. Wright’s. In the evening met the Saints at the meeting
house and I preached to them, teaching them their practical duties, both men
and women. Me to their superiors in the
Priesthood and women to their husbands and young people to their parents. I was blessed much with the spirit of the
Lord. I think my preaching opened the
eyes of some, while it cut the hypocrit and the adulterer.
Saturday Dec 1 Took
breakfast with Bro. Thomas Willis. Dined
with Colonel Kees and in the afternoon and evening was at Bro. Stuart’s wedding
night. The day was pleasant. I learned through Bro. C. Smith that my dear
little William was dead.
Sunday Dec 9 Breakfasted with the Hout’s and attended meeting at 11 o’clock. Before meeting we washed and anointed and
administered to Bro. Smith for his health. I spoke in the morning and there was much confusion on account of the
Saints [not?] coming to meeting till 12 o’clock. I rebuked them sharply for not coming at the
proper time. I think it had a good
effect for in the evening they came on time. At 4 we attended circle with the brethren. In the evening I preached to a full house on
the Order of the Holy Priesthood and the Celestial Marriage and I think it had
a good effect. I received a letter from
my wife, Lydia, informing me of the death of my son, William Heber. He died on the sixth of November 1855 aged 13
months. She also informed me of the
death of Mrs. Neeham, who came with her husband and child to live with my
family. Through the winter she died very
suddenly. The letter was written on the
12th of November and brought to Parowan by Sister Smith, wife of G.
A. Smith. We dined with Jacob Hufine.
Monday Dec 10 Dined
with Bro. Whitney. He is a blacksmith by
trade and he has a machine for cutting nails. He can cut about 60 per minute. About twice as fast as he can cut. We also visited Bro Pendleton’s machine shop which he is building for
the manufacture of poles and wooden ware, and also for pistols and rifles. In the evening at half past six we went to
the meeting house and hound the house nearly filled. While the choir was singing, Bro. Ensign from
Red Creek or Paragonah came in and informed us that Bro. Snow was at
Paragonah. He had just arrived and
brought in an arrow that he pulled out of one of his cows. It was shot in 14 inches and also one more he
found shot. Neither of them were
dead. Bro. Nobles was called on and
spoke a short time with much power. I
then followed on the same subject that I spoke on the evening before to an
attentive congregation. The meeting was
dismissed and a good spirit was with the Saints. Went to Bro. Hollingshead’s and stopped all
night.
Tuesday Dec 11 Breakfasted with Bro. Hollingshead. About 11 went out on the road and met Bros. Snow and Gates and we had a
happy meeting. They came in and went to
Bro. Hollingshead’s and put up, and bated their horses and took dinner. Bro. Nobles learned from Bro. Snow of the
death of his little daughter about 8 years old. I had no additional news from my family. We learned through them that Bro. Orson Spencer was dead. That he died in St. Louis. We also learned that the allies had taken
Sebastopol of that the Russians had vacated and burnt and destroyed it and all
of the ships in harbor and that 20 thousand French were killed; that the Russians
had crossed the river and was fortified on the north side of town. We left Parawan at 4 for Cedar City and
arrived there about 8. Bros. Snow and
Gates went to Bro. Pugmire’s and stopped and we went to Bro. Haight’s. Found Bro. Haight’s family all well.
Wednesday Dec 12 Stormed most all the day. Dined
at Bro. Woodhouse’s. Bros. Snow and
gates preached to a good and attentive congregation with much power.
Thursday Dec 13 In
the morning Bro. Gates called on us and we went and dined with Bro. Bradshaw
and tead at Bro. Pugmire’s. Then Bro.
Gates, Bro. Nobles and myself went to Johnson’s Fort, six miles north, and held
a meeting. Bro. Gates spoke. There are six families living there. They have a fort about 200 feet square and
the wall is about 8 feet high.
Friday Dec 14 Wrote a
letter to my wives. In the afternoon
Bros. Snow and Gates came to Bro. Haight’s and dined.
Saturday Dec 15 Conference was held in Cedar City in their meeting house. Present were Erastus Snow of the Twelve
Apostles, Jacob Gates, J. B. Nobles, T. D. Brown and G. B. Wallace of the
missionaries. There was a good
congregation. The house was filled. Bro. J. Lewis and others from Parawan and J.
D. Lee and others from Harmony were present and participated in the exercise of
the Conference. A good spirit rested down
on the Saints and much good teaching was given to them by Bros. Snow, gates and
others.
Sunday Dec 16 Conference met at 10 o’clock A.M. All were present of the missionaries. There was a full congregation and the spirit and power of God rested
down on the congregation and the speakers. The Conference was adjourned until the 16th and 17th
of March 1856.
Monday Dec 17 Started
in the morning and went down to Fort Harmony, Washington County. Bro. J. D. Lee accompanied Bros. Snow, Gates,
Nobles and myself. The distance is 20
miles from Cedar City. We went to the
house of Bro. Lees. He is President
there, under I. C. Haight who is
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good wife for some men. We traveled on to the divide between Parawan Valley and Beaver and
camped in the cedars. We had plenty of
wood on hand so that we made ourselves very comfortable, considering the cold
weather and the depth of the snow, which was about 10 inches. Bro. Nobles and myself had to lie on the
ground and we found it rather a cold berth. The distance we traveled was about twenty five miles. We left Bro. Calvin L. Smith very sick and if
he does not get help soon he will die.
Thursday Dec 27 We
started about daylight and in a few minutes passed over the divide and came
down to a long canyon. The descent was
gradual and the road very good. The snow
grew thinner as we descended into the valley. When we got down to Beaver Creek the snow was not more than 2 inches
deep. The creek was hard to cross but we
found one place pretty clear of ice and we crossed without much difficulty and
traveled on to Indian Creek where we stopped. We bated our horses and made some coffee and then traveled on to the
edge of the evening. The wind blew very
hard from the south, and very cold. We
crossed Pine Creek and turned off from the road where we camped in the
cedars. The snow was about 6 inches
deep. We made our horses comfortable as
we could, and also ourselves, but that was not very comfortable, for the wind
was very piercing and in the course of the night it snowed about 2 inches. We were warmer after the snow fell. The wind changed toward morning and came
around to the northwest and was very cold.
Friday Dec 28 We
started about daylight. It was very cold
but the wind had gone down. We traveled
on and as we were coming down into Dog Valley we met a team with three men on
their way to San Bernardino, California. They had been to Salt Lake City with goods. We passed on. The snow was thin when we got out of Dog Valley but as we drew near to
Fillmore we found the snow deeper, about 4 inches, and it was very cold. I had as much as I could do to keep from
freezing. We got into Fillmore between
six and seven. Bro. Nobles and myself
went to John Webb’s and Bro. Snow and Bro. Gates went to Bro. Felsham’s. We were happy to get in where we could sleep
under cover. None of us got frozen but
we were much chilled and it made me feel sick for some days.
Saturday Dec 29 This
is a day set apart for Conference. The
Legislature adjourned from Friday to Monday. The meeting, or Conference, met in the meeting house at 10. Bro. Snow presided. In the morning Bro. Gates preached. There were many of the members of the
Legislature present. In the afternoon C.
V. Spencer and others spoke. We had an
interesting meeting. We continued it in
the evening.
Sunday Dec 30 Meeting
commenced at 10 A.M. In the morning Bro.
Orson Pratt preached on the prophecies and Pouring Out the Vials of God’s
Wrath. In the afternoon Bro. Grant and
H. C. Kimball spoke about our practical duties and in the evening Bro. E. Snow
preached and Bro. Woodruff followed. The
Conference adjourned till the last Saturday and Sunday in March. The people who attended Conference appeared
to feel well and I believe there has been a great improvement in the people
since we first came down here.
Monday Dec 31 We
visited the Saints and went to the Legislature Hall. The Houses were in joint session. After some discussion on a Bill to divide
Weber County, Bro. P. P. Pratt’s essay on polygamy was read by the Chief Clerk
of the House. In the evening Bro Nobles
and I visited Bro. Young. Bros. Kimball
and Grant were there. We spent a short
time with them very pleasantly, and then withdrew and went to Bro. King’s and
stayed all night there.
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