Ruth May Fox, ancestor to Easton Fox

Hey everybody:  I was on meridianmagazine.com today and found a great article about one of our great Uncle, Easton Fox's ancestors.  Easton once showed me a book about this great lady.  The article is about her life and her contributions to the church.  They still have a recording of her voice and there is also a picture of her in the article. 
She wrote the hymn Carry On, was in the Young Women general Presidency of the Mutual Improvement Association for over forty years, including acting as president.  She was involved in the women's suffrage movement, as were many of the prominent women in Utah back in the late 1800's.
She took her first plane ride at the age of 103 and died when she was 104.
She arrived in the great Salt Lake Valley in 1867.
I hope you will check out this article.  Though she is not in our blood line she is in Easton's and we all loved him very much.
To read the article, go to meridianmagazine.com and check out the First Line News in the upper right hand corner.  Scroll down until you see the heading "Lost Recording......."  Click there and follow the link.  Great stuff.

Hope everyone is almost ready for Christmas.  I am looking forward to seeing all the Cali relatives the week after Christmas.  Love to you all.
Susie

A Noble Son of Zion

Today we come to the conclusion of Zerah's story in his own words.

"In the meantime, we were rather destitute of clothing, but speculators followed the army and brought more goods to the valley than was ever brought before so that the people were decently clothed.  All this we considereed direct from the hand of God to supply our wants.  But evils have followed the army.  Such a herd of abomibable characers have come in their wake, that lying, gambling, robbing, stealing, and murdering till it seemed as though they were determined to break up all law and order in the territory.  They brought with them much liquor which still furthered them in their abomination, and many of our people who were weak joined with them in their wickedness, especially the rising generation who imitated their habits.  This gave us some trouble to keept the church in order.  Brother Brigham preached continually to bring the church to obedience, but they were now careless.

We had some trouble with the Indians, but nothing in consequence of our being driven out from the United States.  I think all the wars we have had with the Indians have not as yet made us so much trouble as the armys sent from the United States.

I still continued my labors in town and on my farm---what time I could get.  I had much labor too among the seventies, remaining a counselor.  I was frequently out four or five evenings a week besides day meetings.

In March of 1857 I married Martha Hughes, daughter of James and Ann Picton Hughes.  She bore me five children.

I discovered that with the age that I had approached that it began to wear upon my constitution.  I was advised by some to give up my presiding and let a younger man take it that invoked upon it.  I therefore gave it up, with the privilege of remaining in the body of the seventies or join the high priest quorum.  I, therefore, have yet remained in the body of the seventies.  Considering they were both embraced in the Melchizedek Priesthood it was a matter of indifference to me.

However, the southern mission that had been in action for some time had some influence with me, partly on account of its necessity and partly on account of some of my boys that were called there.  Therefore, I said I did not know but that I would go there if the presidency thought it best.  No sooner than they heard of it they sent me an order to go with my family.  I, therefore, put myself in the way of selling my property.  My boys heard of it and came to help me move to Dixie.  Accordingly, in the fall of 1862 I removed to Shoal Creek (later called Hebron,) where my boys were keeping a herd for the southern people.  (the members of the church residing in St. George)  I found it to be a very healthy section, and I enjoyed myself very well, considering the obscurity of the place.  We were a great  distance from the abode of the white men in the very midst of the roving red men."

Susie's notes:
The town of Hebron was eventually destroyed by floods and an earthquake.  Gary and I found where Zerah's body is buried in an extremely small cemetary just west of the town of Enterprise.  You have to cross a creek to get to the cemetary so you can only find it at certain times of the year as the creek runs pretty high in the spring.  Zerah's sons found the Shoal Creek area while exploring west of Enterprise and found it to be a great place to raise cattle.  They then settled the town and ran cattle for the  church, feeding the people of St. George.  When the town was destroyed by flood, most of the people living there went to Enterprise, just a few miles east, and helped then to establish that community.  Zerah had two daughters who married a Terry.  He was the founder of Enterprise.  There is a monument there to recognize these families.

"I will now reflect back to the time our family meetings convened.  The first was in February, 1855.  I called my children together at my home in Salt Lake at this meeting and said, "I want to instruct you a little and give such advice which I hope you will remember.  First get the spirit of the Lord and keep it. The most of you have the priesthood and you will be likely to use it to govern your families and bring up your children .  When a man has a number of good children he loves all of them.  If the destroyer comes to take one of them, which will he give?  Most likely the one he cannot keep, of course.  Which child can't you keep by the prayer of faith and the authority of the priesthood?  Pray mighty to God, let your thoughts be raised in prayer day and night, that you may have the spirit of the Lord to be with you.  Never speak till you know what you are going to say.  Never whip a child in anger.  Be sure that the spirit of the Lord dictates to you when you groom your children.  Never let your girls go with men that you do not know for some men have the fever of seducing, therefore, beware who they go with.  Some women think if their husbands get another wife they cannot love them anymore, but they are under a great mistake, for he can love one hundred as well as the sun can shine upon each of them in a clear day---if God requires you get them.  Such idle thoughts should be banished from their minds forever.  Why is it so?  Becasue it is God's order.  A man may love his wives just in proportion to their acts of kindness to him.  I beg of you mothers to take care of your children while they are with you.  I now will give way for you to speak.
Then each child would bear their testimonies.  These meetings were held regularly once a year and recorded."

I have a copy of John Pulsipher's journal, he was Zerah's son, and he recorded all of these family meetings.  They always had a lot of food, including lots of cheeses, which I thought was interesting.

Zerah Pulsipher was instrumental in building the towns of Pine Valley and Hebron.  He died in Hebron January 1, 1872 at the age of eighty-four.  This day closed another chapter in the book of life for one of God's chosen and noble sons.  He was remembered at his funeral with the following poem:

ZIONS NOBLE SON

Zkon's noble son is sleeping
Neath the sod of Zion's land.
Chosen by the great Creator,
And by the strength of nature's hand.

To the just his spirit has wafted,
Not to rest, but plod along;
In the quest of the resurrection,
Which God says is in the morn.

Among the rocks, amid the desert,
He has striven to maintain
Zion's standart in the mountains,
And to honor his Maker's name.

Scores of branches from the honored
Taught by him to reverance God,
Have sprung up and dwelt in Zion
And sing their praise with one accord.

Through a useful life he's passed,
Bearing Temples unto God,
Have sprung up and dwelt in Zion
And sing their praise with one accord.

Through a useful life he's passed,
Bearing Temples unto God,
Choosing right; maintaining justice;
Taking this path for his abode.

Like the rock of Gibralter
He has stood from first to last,
Through the blast of persecutiion
And to God his anchor cast.

Companies of the dear departed,
One with tottering steps and hoary hair;
Sons and daugters of the shepherd,
Weep not for thy father dear.

Author Unknown

A few notes:  Zerah married Martha Hughes in 1857.  She was fourteen and he was in his sixties.  I have read that she was a well developed young woman, recently arrived from Wales and appeared older than she was.  When the brethren found out about the marriage, he was called before them and chastised to the point that he was released as a president of the seventies, excommunicated but re-baptized immediately after and called as a Patriarch. He was punished because he did not get permission from the church leaders at the time to marry Martha.  There were some strict guidelines to the practice of polygamy and in this instance Zerah had not complied.   It is recorded that he died in good standing as a member of the church.

Also, a troop of Boy Scouts moved Zerah's and Mary Ann Brown Pulsipher's graves from Hebron to the present location a few miles west of Enterprise because of the flood waters.  We have them to thank for such an undertaking.

Arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, at long last.

Again, this is all in Zerah's own words:

"We arrived in the valley about the twenty-third of September, 1847, with all our stock except the sheep.  Those we lost at Winter Quarters.  We immediately prepared to build.  I found grain scarce and hard to get.  John Kneff was building a mill, the only one in the valley.  I sold three cows to pay his workmen that I might get grain for twenty dollars in grain, but he said he could not let anyone have more than half that sum, and that was not half what I had paid for.  This made me feel very disagreeable because I had a large family and three other families of my friends that had no way of helping themselves and money would not buy it.

I thought on it one night and then came to the conclusion that I would build a mill and take a part of the toll of the grain that was in the valley.  Accordingly I rallied my help, went onto the mill site, dug a hole in the bank to live in through the winter about the first of December, and we commenced getting timber, without feed for our cattle and but little for ourselves.  We continued our labor with about half rations upon all the different branches of the work till the first of March.  By that time we got the first grist mill started and timber out for a sawmill.  When done I ground for one-sixteenth, while others ground for one-twelveth.  From that time we had  bread to eat with all our families.  I have seen the hand of God in preserving ourselves and cattle while the snow was three feet deep in the canyon where we got the timber and some of the time more than one foot in the valley, and we had not as much fodder as could be carried in one load.  When I looked upon the circumstance I could not comprehend it in any other way but the marvelous power of God in sustaining them.

1850 was a hard season for many.  After we got our mill running we had enough, but lived prudent on account of so many that had none.  Indian meal would command five dollars a bushel, but so many poor had none that I sold all that I had to spare one dollar a bushel, though I was offered five dollars by those that were going to California.  But their gold would not buy it of me when so many poor were starving.  There were some informed me that they had not any bread in their houses for six weeks and came to me to buy bran, but I sold none---I gave them that.  This scarce time caused people to scratch for life to raise grain, but the crickets were very troublesome and destroyed many crops in 1851.  But in 1852 the gulls came and destroyed them according to the word of the prophet.

We built a house thirty-four by thirty feet on the corner of block eighty-two on Jordan Street.  The next season we built a large barn and made a farm over Jordan about two miles off which gave us a good chance to keep cattle.  There was nothing then of a very extraordinary nature with exception of Brother Brigham preaching continually to bring the church into obedience, but they were growing rich and careless till about the time of the October conference in 1856 when I understood Brother Brigham to say that the Lord would wait no longer.  I think he did not define what chastisement testimony that some uncommon event was near at hand, but I was not aware that I had become so dull and careless relative to my duty till Brother Kimball called on me in public to awake to my duty.  I began to call more fervently on the Lord.  I soon saw that Brother Kimball was right and that I was holding a high and responsible station in the church as asleep with many others.  (At this time, Zerah was one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy.)

Brother Grant, who was one of Brigham's counselors, was authorized to preach repentance to the people and to a good effect.  I with the associates of my council went before Brother Brigham and informed him that if he knew of any others that would take our places better, magnify it for the interest of the kingdom than we could, he was perfectly at liberty to do so, but he told us to go and magnify our calling ourselves.  There was much confessing among the people of their faults.

Brother Brigham gave some strong prophetic language relative to the United States of America.  I think not far from this the president and congress became very hostile to us and seemed to have designs to brand us like themselves or destroy us.  Therefore, they sent an army to bring us to or destroy us, but we thought it not best to bring them in among us because we did not like their hostile spirit nor their habits.  Therefore, we sent a few of our young men to meet them, which brought them to a stand for further consideration.

In the spring following, all the north part of the territory moved south till the army passed through to their quarters at Camp Floyd.  But previous to this the president and congress saw their mistake in sending the army here.  Notwithstanding, they had charged us with treason and many other offenses.  They sent commissioners here, forgave all our sins against them and wished peace and tranquility.  Accordingly we all moved back to our possessions peaceably."

Some records indicate they arrived in the valley in September of 1848, not 1847.
Brother Brigham is, of course, Brigham Young.
Johnston's army came to Utah in May of 1857 under orders from President James Buchanan.  They were blocked from entering the valley, as Zerah refers to.  They left in July of 1858.  There were no battles fought in this "war" and things ended peacefully after Brigham Young gave up his governorship.  How interesting to hear from someone who actually lived through this historical event.  Zerah doesn't say much about it but he wrote this history years after the occurrence.  This is the time when Brigham had the foundations of the temple covered in sand to prevent the army from seeing it.  When they later returned to resume work on the temple they found the foundation had cracked and it is then that they chose to use the granite stone that the Salt Lake Temple is so famous for.
Also, how great to hear from Zerah about the historical event we all have heard so much about growing up in the church, the crickets and the gulls.  Our ancestors were a part of that and lived through that miraculous event.

Trek to Salt Lake Begins

"That winter ws a sorrowful time for the church.  500 of our young men were demanded by the general goverment through the influence of old Tom Benton, who was a noted mobber in the first Missouri persecutions, and was then in the senate.  This left the church with old men, children and many poor women, while their husbands were fighting the battles of the United States."

(Fortunatley, none of the Mormon Battalion were required to fight in any battles.  They did contribute greatly to helping establish parts of San Diego.)  Zerah's young daughter, Sarah, traveled with the Battalion as did Zerah's nephew, David Pulsipher.  If you ever go to the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center in San Diego you can look up David and find a little bit more about him.  Why Sarah went when none of her brothers or her father were there is a mystery.  I believe she was only about ten years old at the time.

"There were not well people enough to take care of the sick and dying.  My boys continued to team through the winter till they both got sick.  John was laid on the bed and was near the gate of death for a long time, when I was called in to see him breathe his last.  He was taken with pneumonia which many people think to be a certain sign of death.  He looked very much like it to be sure.  When I came in the doctor and my family stood around the bed.  I called to him and he opened his eyes.  I said, "John, you are not going to die now.  I cannot spare you now.  You must get well to help us move through the mountains."  He immediately began to vomit a large quantity of the most filthy matter I ever saw come from any person's stomach, as black as ink.  From that hour he began to recover and soon was able to drive a team.

In the spring the church leaders organized a company of about fifty wagons and we started for Salt Lake.  I was advised to take ten wagons and go ahead and assist in making roads, but such storms followed us as I never saw.  The highest and driest land in the country was soaked with water so that it was difficult to get along with a wagon.  One morning I got on my horse and rode back a few miles to see how the company was getting along.  I saw a man walking with a rubber coat on.  I asked him how they got along and he said, "'First rate."  He put his hands in his pockets and they were full of water.

Parley P. and Orson Pratt and myself went forward to look for a location for the poor, and such as could not go on.  We found a grove of timber and called it Garden Grove, a convenient place for a settlement.  I then unloaded my wagon and delivered my load of flour and bacon and went back to look after my family.  I met them not far from the Mississippi River in the year 1847.  One boy got his leg broken and one man broke his arm in my company, but I set them and they soon got well."

Zerah does not share any details of the trek to the western mountains, but we know he was a captain of 100 and the Burgess family was a part of his group.  Again, this family traveled together from the time they left Kirtland, Ohio until they eventually settled in Southern Utah.

The next post will begin with their arrival in the Great Salt Lake Valley.

The Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum

"I labored to support my family (in Kirtland, Ohio) and in the fall of 1837 I went to Canada on a mission, raised a branch of twenty-nine members, and returned January 29, 1838 to Kirtland.  I was ordained to the council of the first president of seventies."  See Doctrine and Covenants 122:138

"And again, I give unto you Joseph Young, Josiah Butterfield, Daniel Miles, Henry Herriman, Zera Pulsipher, Levi Hancock, James Foster, to preside over the quorum of seventies."

The Missouri Years:

"The Missouri mobs were continually seeking the life of Brother Joseph.  I think there had been some raisings against him without success.  These mobbers finally came to the conclusion that the law could not reach him, but powder and ball could.  Therefore, they organized a mob of about 200 men, and put him in Carthage jail with Dr. Richards, Hyrum Smith and John Taylor.  The mobs came and broke into the jail, shot Joseph and Hyrum and wounded John Taylor by shooting four balls into him.  The fourth saved his life, striking his watch which was in his vest pocket.  After Joseph had fell dead one of the ruffians made a move to take off his head, but a singular light shown around him that struck the man with fear.  They therefore flew in every direction and disappeared.  This being done it gave us a hard shock and caused much mourning.  Our brethren went and brought them home and buried the dead and restored the wounded.

At this time the mob expected we would rise and give them battle.  We thought best not to do it.  We just kept still, continued our work on the temple, finished it and got our endowments.  At that time most of the twelve were absent on missions.  Sidney Rigdon, who aspired for the presidency, came and called the church together and  presented his claim for the presidency.  But the twleve soon came home and appeared on the stand at the day appointed for choosing.  Sidney made his plea.  Brigham Young began to speak and at that time I sat with my back towards the stand as did many others.  When Brigham spoke he spoke with the voice of Joseph and we turned around to see Brigham speaking in Joseph's voice and beheld Jospeh's mantle had fallen on him.  The people understood it in the same way.  Brigham stood at the head of the twleve, therefore the church turned to him.

Persecution continually waxed against the church.  They thought it best to go to a more secluded land.  Accordingly in January of 1846, I had notice to be ready at three days notice to leave on account of so many attempts to destroy the church.

At length I had the notice and started with a good team the second day of February, crossed the Mississippi River and went as far as Sugar Creek, until the cold weather broke.  There were about 500 of the heads of the church here.  I went back once, gave my son orders to sell what property he could and take the family and follow as soon as the spring opened.  We went on from Sugar Creek in the spring, but streams and tempests opposed our march till late in the season.

I frequently went forward to pioneer the way and organize places for the poor to stop that were not able to go any further.  In May I took my team and went back to meet my family and found them in Lee County (Iowa) with two teams, a few cows and a few sheep.  My sacrifices there was about two thousand dollars.  We went on and crossed the Missouri River that season and established a place called Winter Quarters.

That fall and winter, which was 1846 and 1847, the church suffered exceedingly.  When we got there we found so many sick and dying from exposure that I took my team and what help I could raise and drew timber four miles and built six houses.  Then I was obliged to go down to Missouri for provisions, was gone about six weeks in winter, camping out, and exposed to all the storms that are common in that season of the year.

I brought home what I could.  When I got home I was so far exhausted from exposure that I could not walk one step without two crutches.  I then sent my boys again, while I took care of the cattle wich amounted to eighteen head.  Many times I went on my crutches to get my horse, then rode all day to save my cattle from the Indians, who were continuously killing them."

The Story Continues

"This season one of our neighbors from Nauvoo came for help in sickness, and informed us that there were not well ones enough to take care of the sick.  I sent my daughter and sister there to help take care of the sick.  I promised them that I would come to conference and see them.  Accordingly, when the time came, I took my carriage and went up.  I went first to the place where  my daughter was, and found the house shut up with window curtains drawn.  I knocked at the door and a faint voice answered.  I went in and found a large family and every person laying prostrate.  My daughter was the last one that came down.  She had been down about one week.  Having the whole family to nurse night and day, she could not endure it.  When I entered the house she heard my voice, sprang up from the bed and said, "Father, you have come.  I want to go home."  I told her to get ready and I would go and look for my sister.  I went where she was and found her and the family in the same situation.  I put a bed into the carriage and went home the same day and nursed them three months before I could heal them.

It was thought that my daughter would die, but I did not give her up.  I called to the bed one day to see her close her eyes in death.  I was seeing her apparently breathing her last.  At that instant the Spirit of God came upon me.  I said, "Mariah, do you want to live to raise a family, keep the commanments of God and do all you can to build up Zion?"  She opened her eyes and said she did.  I said to her, "Then you will live."  That hour she sat up in bed and immediately got well, as did also my sister.
  (Mariah Pulsipher married William Burgess, Jr. and that is how we tie into the Burgess family.  Mariah and William are our direct line ancestors.  Their grandson is James William Burgess who was married to Dina Elizabeth Crow.)

I would like to tell another little incident that happened.  There was a man with a family come into the church, who lived about fifteen miles from me, who had a brother-in-law that was possessed with the devil, and was chained in a tight room.  Numbers had been there to administer to him, but to no effect.  I went there to preach in the after part of the day.  The man got loose and was breaking down the ceiling.  They had been in the habit of getting a very strong man to help on such occasions, and were about to send for him in a hurry.  I desired them to let me see him before they did.  They were afraid he would come out and kill some of them.  With much persuasion I got them to unlock the door of his room.  All the rough language and profane swearing, and threatening anyone who came in sight I had never heard before.  They said he was dangerous to encounter with, but I entreated him to let me open the door.  I had full confidence that I could handle him, with the help that God would give me.  I was satisfied that they did not understand my intention.  I looked through the crack of the door.  When he caught my eye he bawled out, "Old Pulsipher, I know you of old."  At that instant I burst the door open.  He stood with a sharp stick in his hand drawn back ready to stab me.  Although he was a stout man and full of violent passion, I closed in with him so quick that he did not know what was up till he lay on his back, and I holding him while they bound him again.  The family seemed a little surprised.

Before I left the next morning, the man, whose name was Samuel Newcomb, wished me to come and stay with him one year.  He would give me large wages for he said that I could handle the sick man with ease, and he could leave his family and home with more safety.  He was a man of considerable business to gather up to Kirtland with the church.   He said he would if he could sell  his farm.  He wanted $1,6ll for all.  We arranged for him to go the next spring, and I took the whole care of the wild man.

I recollect at one time upon the matter of his feeding, he flew into a rage all at once and broke loose.  I was at work in the barn and a messenger came running for me, and said the man was killing his mother.  I rushed into the room, took him by the shoulders, shook him and said, "Sam, what are you about?"  He in a moment left his raging, dropped his head and became docile till he was bound again.

Later on we counselled with old Father Smith (Joseph Smith, Sr.) and he advised us to get seven elders of good report and fast and pray till he was delivered.  We consulted the family, who had not kept the word of wisdom, but they agreed to do it.  We therefore took the man, loosened his hands, administered to him in a room by ourselves, and I do not remember of him having a raving spell after that for six months.  Then the devil entered him again.  We were called for the second time.  The family had promised to keep the covenants, but we found they had returned to the old practice of breaking the word of wisdom.  We therefore sent a message to Father Smith, and he said if whey would not keep the covenants we might go about our business and let them all go to hell together."

Heavenly Direction

Continuing Zerah's story in his own words:

"I borrowed another horse and went to Illinois with my family and then returned for the remainder.  We went into Bear Creek timber, and with one horse and our hands, built three homes, cleared thirteen acres of land and put it into crops, but we had nothing to live on until the crops were ripe.  Brother Burgess (William Burgess, Sr.) and boys (William's sons) were strong to work out, but I was not able to do so on account of the exposure that I had past.  Therefore, I could not do a days work in a day.  I knew not how to obtain food for my family.

While hesitating upon these things, I dreamed that I was going to make boxes and measures, and also dreamed that my women and children were making baskets, and that I went to sell them.  In the morning I went and found some excellent timber for that purpose and made the frame according to the pattern that I had seen and also found some suitable timber for baskets.  The women went to work according to their direction from me.  We soon obtained a small load and went out into the settlement and sold them directly for every kind of provisions that we wantd to live upon and some money.  In this way we got along until harvest."

Isn't that awesome? He was able to get answers to his dilemma through this dreams.  What I love about this account is that he exercised his faith by going out and getting that timber and then proceeding in the manner he had been shown in his dream.  Through that faith, he was able to provide for his family until their crops were able to be harvested.  I know that prayers are answered in many different ways and that we too can find answers and receive blessings as we exercise our faith today.

I am off to a genealogical conference up in Odgen so will write more later.

Exodus to Illinois

Zerah's story continues:

"We went to our labors.  Soon after this, I, with other people, went across the river three miles to gather corn, when 800 of the mob were seen coming upon us.  As they came up to the gate where we were at work, they halted and sent a messenger to inform us that we were their prisoners.  I happened to be on a load the nearest to them.  They directed their attention to me and said we must go wtih them.  I observed to them that we were there gathering for our families and cattle which they were in view of.  They then said we might fill our wagons, get some boys to drive them home, and go with them.

Accordingly we did.  They went about a mile and halted.  We were surrounded by a strong guard for some time and then discharged and sent home to await their trip into town.  We had not gone more than fifty or one hundred rods before we heard a volley of guns fired.  I would think from  fifty to one hundred.  The balls came there among us.  We looked around and saw a company supposed to be one hundred men paraded a little to the south of the main camp.  They also gave a second shot.  We kept a sturdy walk as though nothing had happened, for they hurt none of us.  We went home the same day into Diahman, took all arms from the people and then put a strong guard around us.

In that time we were often insulted by scoundrels.  One of them in the shape of me (in my image) which brought us near a fight, but the commander stopped it.  However, he prowled around there for a number of days and then gave us ten days to get out of that place or the mob would be set loose upon us.  This had been the case all the time, but now we had nothing to defend ourselves with.  Besides, there were many poor people that had no teams and many widows that had nothing but small children.

I immediately got my horses shod and took my family, a widow and family, and another family all to one lead, moved to Far West, then returned back after another family.  These were among the last that went out while the mobs were prowling about stealing all they could find, but although I was alone, the last night I lay down by the side of my horses and saved them and went the next day and got the other family and carried them to Far West.  This was the last of November.  We were all destitute for grain or feed for our teams.  Our fields of corn were twenty miles off among the mobs as was also what few cattle we had.  But the most of our corn was destroyed before we could get it.  We therefore had hard living through the winter.  After I had obtained a little meal for my family I went away up to the Platt country with my team to get work for money to move out of the state in the spring as the edict of the governor was that we should never raise any more crops in that state.

I obtained some money and returned to my family, but while I was gone I was obliged to stay at a mob tavern one night, alone,where they were very hostile.  I did not like their appearances, but I was obliged to stay there or run the risk of freezing on the great cold prairie.  Therefore, I had to watch as well as pray.  But in the later part of the night I heard people in the lower part of the house in much commotion.  I heard them saying they never saw such things before.  They seemed to be much astonished at what they saw in the heavens.  I raised myself up in bed and looked out and saw a very bright circle around the moon  with a very bright half circle at the outside of that with a very bright spot at the side of that nearly as big as the sun.  Then another apparent sun was in the northwest with another in the southwest, which gave a very extraordinary appearance.  This gave them such a fright that they could pay no more attention to me, so I went on in peace.

I prepared to move to Illinois.  I took my horses and rode to Richmond to get my gun that they took from me at Diahman in the war.  I obtained it and prepared to move in March.  I buried my mother (Elizabeth Dutton Pulsipher, 1752-1838) there on a divide near Plum Creek.  We succeeded in moving to Gurney where I found rents on houses so high that it would be hard for a poor man with a large family as I had to obtain a living and get anything ahead.  Therefore, I took my horse up the river to Lyma and found a forest of about eleven miles square and considerable game in it.  I went into the timber with Brother Burgess (William Burgess, Sr.)  I lost one horse moving from Missouri.  My son-in-law lost one too, and had to stop among strangers with my daughter who had given birth to a child on the prairie.

I love his advice that we must "watch as well as pray."  Being aware of our surroundings both spiritually and physically can be very beneficial to us all.  Add that awareness to prayer and there is nothing we cannot accomplish.

Are any of you familiar with the celestial happenings he describes above?  If so, share with us what it might possibly have been.

Happy Labor Day to you all.  Our ancestors "labored" greatly to make the lives we enjoy today possible.  I hope you will remember them in your prayers of thanksgiving today.

Persecutions Intensify

I will continue  with Zerah's story in his own words:

"When we got into Illinois a few of our company stopped, and further on in Illinois, Joseph Young with others stopped.  The remainder of us went on continually hearing reports that there was war in Missouri and if we went on we should be killed by the mob.  But we went in good order, keeping guards all the time.  When we arrived within five miles of Far West, which was the metropolis of the church in Missouri, there Joseph and Hyrum met us, greatly pleased that we had arrived with so large a company.  They conducted us on to Far West and we camped around the temple cellar as they had it dug.

In the morning, the first of October, 1838, Joseph (Smith) came to me and said he wished me to take the company and go to Diahman, Daviess County, about twenty-five miles north, which would take us two days, and advised us to guard our wagons during the night.  I informed him that his advice was good, but we had not been without a guard since we left Kirtland.  However, we went on to the place appointed and found a few brethren there surrounded by numerous mobs.  Being greatly rejoiced to see us come, we were as glad to get through, for we had been on the road with a large company from the fifth of July to the third of October.  We suffered the perils of a hard journey for near one thousand miles among a hostile people, but the Lord had brought us to try us to see what our faith was made of.  We expected we had got home where we could locate our families and prepare to build up Zion, therefore, we sold our loose property for improvements subject to free nation rights.

The people being much opposed to our faith decided to drive us out of the country and obtain their farms back again that we had paid for.  To carry this out they began to burn their houses and then go to the governor and swear that we had driven them out of their settlements and burned their buildings.

Daviess County was a beautiful place situated on Grand River.  First rate land and plenty of good timber where we supposed there had been an ancient city of the Nephites, as the hewn stones were already there in piles.  Also the mound of altar built by Father Adam, where he went to offer sacrifices when he was old.  Leaning on his staff, he prophesied the most noted things that should take place down to the latest generations.  Therefore, it was called Adam-ondi-Ahman.

There we stayed about a month, being continually annoyed by mobs and thieves stealing everything that they could lay their hands upon that belonged to people of our church.  In the time I was there I assisted to build sixteen houses and the longest that I lived in one was four days.  I had a large family with an aged mother.  I think I  never slept many nights while I was there without having my sword and pistols by my bed and frequently I was called by the sound of the bugle to defend the  people from mobs.  Yet all the while we expected to stay there and by faith and works retain our places.

Then one day there came two messengers from Far West and informed us that Joseph, with others of the authorities of the church at Far West, were delivered into the hands of the mob.  The mob had 3,000 men and the word from Joseph to us was that they would likely come here soon.  He advised us to lay away our arms, go to work, and submit to anything that they should say.  This struck us with great depression of spirit, not knowing how to comprehend the ways of God.  We had expected to stay there, locate our families and preach the gospel, but we were disappointed, and right afront us we knew not and were left in a perfect state of suspence.  But we knew nothing than to abide by the word of the prophet.

In this conflict of feeling, I walked away from the company where I had received the above information, toward the grove and said in the anguish of my soul, "Lord, what do all these things mean?"  The answer to me was instantaneous, though inexpressed, "Be still and know that I am God."  In a moment I was at rest and happy in my condition.

I returned immediatley back to the company that I had left and said to them, "Have no fear, for God will provide a way for our escape."  So, we trusted in Him, but if we had not received word from Joseph we should have been very likely to have sent hundreds of them to hell, cross-lots, for there were about 130 of us well armed.  There was but one place where they would be likely to cross the river in a line exactly in front of our cannons, well loaded with small slugs of iron.  We had not only our houses, lands, wives, and children, but the house of God to fight for.  But the Lord's, "Be still and know that I am God," was with us.  Therefore, we were quiet, bearing the afflictions that were laid upon us."

Family Trivia

Today I will be sending along just a few snippets of fun family history trivia.  I needed a break from some of the more serious accounts from Zerah Pulsipher's journals.

As we study the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History this year in Sunday School it is interesting to think about our own ancestors and that they were all there with the main body of the Saints as they journeyed from place to place, from persecution to persecution.  My mind is boggled really at the thought that a Governor of the United States of America could actually issue an extermination order for a large group of people.  Today's media becomes irate at the least little speculation of someone's civil rights being trodden upon, and yet the Mormon pioneers were beaten, unlawfully jailed, raped, murdered, lost their homes to burnings, run out of town after town, etc. etc.
.
One of our Burgess ancestors writes of holding her baby in her arms as she witnessed the mobs burning her small home to the ground.  Can you imagine if that were to happen today!  The persecution of the Saints as they traveled from Ohio, to Missouri, to Illinois and on to Iowa and eventually Utah is a minor  footnote in todays history books.  Remember that your ancestors were all a part of that horrible time and suffered much at the hands of the mobsters.

Even upon entering the supposed peace of the Great Salt Lake Valley they were once again threatened by the government, this time by the United States government.  In 1857 Johnston's army was ordered to march on Salt Lake and take control of that pesky Brigham Young.
Sarah Pulsipher Alger, the daughter of Zerah and Mary Ann recounts a story from that time that involves her brother, Charles.

"My brother, Charles, was sent into the Johnstons's Army camp at night as a spy to find out what he could of their plans.  He went at night wile Johnston and his men were around their camp fire with their wagons in a circle.  Charles crept up in the darkness and crawled under a wagon until he reached the front of it and was huddled close to a small bush under the wagon tongue and double-trees.  He was listening intently when he heard foot steps right close to him.  He did not dare to move for fear he would be heard.  The footsteps kept coming closer until they would have touched him if he had not been protected by the wagon tongue and double-trees.  In a few seconds warm "water" commenced to trickle down over him.  He took quite a sprinkling before the soldier had finished his job and went back to the fire.  Charles decided he had heard all he wanted to for one night and was not long getting out of there."

Sarah Pulsipher, the young daughter of Zerah and Mary Ann went with Zion's Camp.  She was ten years old at the time.  None of her family were a part of the camp.  I don't know why she went or in what capacity, but can you imagine how her mom must have felt sending that little girl on an unknown journey, supposedly into a war environment, not knowing when she would see her again.

Harrison Burgess, the brother of my third great grandfather, William Burgess, Jr. was also a part of Zion's Camp.  Perhaps he helped watch over Sarah on the march as their families were very close, united by multiple marriages.  I will later share some of Harrison's journal entries.  He held his dearest friend, John Carter in his arms as he died from cholera during the march.

Another ancestor, David Pulsipher was a part of the Mormon Battalion.  I am not yet sure of his relationship to Zerah but I believe he was a nephew.  Zerah's brother also joined the church and traveled west with the Saints.  When you go to the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center in San Diego you can look him up on their computer program and see a picture of him.

Exodus to Missouri Commences

"I think it was in the month of March that I was at work in the woods about nine o'clock in the morning when there appeared to be a mighty rattling of wagons at the south.  I suppose it must be as much as a dozen wagons rattling on pebble stones.  It continued to draw nearer till I discovered it to be in the air, and as it drew near I heard the sound of a steamboat puff.  It passed immediately over our heads and went on about one mile to the Kirtland temple.  There it appeared in the form of a steamboat loaded with passengers.  Old Elder Beamen, who was the president of the Elders, had anointed them a few months before, but had been dead a short time, he was in the bow of the boat.  He was singing and swinging his hat till it came in front of the temple.  It then divided in two parts, the one was black and the other white.  The white went west and the black went north.  The explanation of the phenomenon we saw with much clearness.  When within a few months from that time there was a division of the authorities of the church.  A number of the twelve and first presidents of seventies descended (or apostatized) and led many after them, but the pure in heart went west.

We observed while we were atttending to our prayers in the temple from time to time there was a curious circumstace transpire.  A Methodist meeting house stood a few rods from the temple which took fire one night.  There was a brand of fire thrown into the temple at a window, but it went out.  Most of the people being very hostile, the mob laid the charge of burning the house to the council of seventies.  There was no doubt but that they fired it themselves hoping by that means to get a pretext for our destruction, but we knew we were innocent and trusted in God.  We continued our course steadily along and paid no attention to them.  There was a universal determination that we should never leave that place in a company and they knew as well as we that the poor could not go out alone.  Therefore, they had a deep plot laid for our destruction.

But we knew where our hope was grounded and kept our steady course preparing to go out in a company well organized.  But as I related to the burning of that house, they raged to a great extent because most of them supposed that we had actually done it.  But as the Lord dictated, the great leader of that mob, who had once been a Mormon and well calculated to carry out his devilish designs, was held by the power of God so that he had a vision and saw those that fired the house.  He seemed to be greatly astonished for a while and then met with the mob and informed them that it was not the council that burned the house and knew who it was.  But he dared not tell on account of the law because he could prove it only by vision, which they would not believe and still swore vengeance on us.  But he swore by all the Gods that lived that he would have revenge on them if they lost a hair of our heads.  He had a large store of goods and could swear and get drunk.  He had some influence with them so that we were preserved by the hand of God.

We obtained money and clothing for the company and the fourth day of July this man that had led the mob invited me to take all our teams and company and camp in a clover field which was about one foot high.  I thanked him and embraced the officer.  The next day we all went out all in order as we said we would in the beginning with about sixty-five teams and seventy cows.  Nothing transpired for some weeks until we got to Dutton and got out of money.  The people would take nothing of us but money for our expenses, and at a high price too.  We went into council and prayed to God for money and provisions.  Accordingly the Lord sent a turn-pike jobber after us to get us to do a job for him.  We therefore agreed with him for a job of twelve hundred dollars which we did in good order with his acceptance.  He then wanted us to do another job.

It was then very dry and the wells were so low that it was difficult to get water for our animals in the dry part of the country if we should go on.  But we inquired of the Lord for what was best and we were impressed to go on, not knowing what we should do for drink.  The day following there fell such a flood of water that the low places in the country were filled and we got along very well."

I love Zerah's words, "but we knew where our hope was grounded" as it is such a powerful example to each of us as to know where our own hope is grounded.  We can do nothing of ourselves.  We must rely on the Lord to guide and direct our paths and put our complete faith and trust in Him.  He will send the "floods of water" down on our own parched lives and souls and we will be filled and "get along very well."  It may not transpire according to our calendar or time clock but it WILL transpire.  I bear testimony of that to each of you.

Kirtland Experiences

Soon after accepting the gospel, Zerah packed up his large family and sold everything they owned.  Mary Ann gave up all the conveniences they had enjoyed as an established, settled family.  They willingly sacrificed all they had to move to Kirtland to be with the Prophet, Joseph Smith and the other saints living there.

Again, it was here that the Pulsipher family first became acquainted with the Burgess family and from here on out they are always together, through the good times as well as the bad.  There are maps of both Kirtland and Nauvoo that show who owned property and exactly where those lots were located.  I have those maps in my posession but when you go to Kirtland and Nauvoo you can get copies for yourselves if you desire.  If anyone wants a copy just let me know and I will get them to you, eventually.  Our ancestors show up on both of those maps.

I am  not an expert in Church History so I cannot tell you exact dates and places of where many of these events transpire, but I will include some experiences from Zerah's personal history.  The Pulsipher's and the Burgess's helped to build the Kirtland Temple and they were all present at the dedication.  I like to read D&C 109 and imagine how our ancestors must have felt as they listened to the incredible blessings and promises issued in that powerful dedicatory prayer, knowing they had played an important role in the building of the temple.

Eventually, the members in Kirtland began to suffer from the persecutions heaped upon them from the mobs and haters.  Zerah gives us an insight into what it was like.

"The season following there arose a great persecution.  The saints were able to escape in the best manner they could.  Joseph was carried away in a box nailed on an ox sled to save his life.  Old father Joseph was taken out of a window in the night and sent away horseback.  After the most of the saints were gone to Missouri, I remained in Kirtland with about four of the First Presidents of the Seventies.  (In D&C 124:138 Zerah is called to be one of the first seven presidents of the Seventy.  At the time that the persecutions became unbearable Joseph Smith took the majority of the saints and escaped to Missouri.  He requested that Zerah and the other presidents of the Seventy stay and figure out a way to get the remaining 600 or so of the saints to Missouri.  It was quite a challenge as these people were almost destitute and did not have the financial means to make the journey.  Later in this post I will share with you one of my favorite accounts from Zerah's life, the visitation from a Heavenly messenger and how they were helped in solving their dilemma.)
We continued to hold our meetings in the temple.  Accordingly, while at a meeting one Sunday, we took a notion to put our property together and remove in that way, when, notwithstanding the great inconvenience we labored under for want of means.  We lacked means to move ourselves and many poor that were yet remaining that had neither clothing nor teams to go with.  But when they heard that we were going together and would help one another they wanted to join us and get out of that hell of persecution.  Therefore, we could not neglect them, for all there was against them was that they were poor and could not help themselves.

We continued to receive them till we got between five and six hundred on our hands.  According to our covenant we had got them to move or stay there with them so we found we had got a job on our hands.  We counseled together from time to time on the subject and came to the  conclusion that we could not effect the purpose of the priesthood.  Therefore, we concluded it best to go into the temple in the attic story and pray that our Father would open the way and give us means to gather with the saints in Missouri, which was nearly a thousand miles away.  Accordingly, one day while we were on our knees in prayer, I saw a messenger apparently like an old man with white hair down to his  shoulders.  He was a very large man nearly seven feet high, dressed in a white robe  down to his ankles.  He looked on me then turned his eyes on the others and then to me again and spoke and said, "Be one and you shall have enough."    This gave us great joy.  We immediately advised the brothers to scatter and work for anything that they could get that would be useful in moving to a new country.  Some went to  making staves to sell on the lake shore, among  which I was one."  If you ever go to the Kirtland Temple you can go up to the third floor, the attic story, where this event actually transpired.  Gary and I had meetings there one year and actually had one of our training sessions in that room.  It was so awesome to be there and feel of the Spirit.  Our church does not own that temple but the Spirit is still there, Gary and I can both bear witness of that.

(A stave is a narrow strip of wood or iron placed edge to edge to form the sides, covering, or lining of a barrel.)
The saints all went out and found whatever work they could and then they all pooled their money and resources so that they were eventually able to leave Kirtland.
I still have some more accounts from Zerah of Kirtland events that I will share in the next post.  Devin and his family and Sara and her family are here with us this week so it may be a while before I get back to the blog.  Grandpa and Grandma Higginson were here last Saturday for the blessing of their 54th(?) great grandchild, Violet Ruth Delozier (Devin's daughter) and they will be back in town this coming Sunday for Kingston Matua's mission farewell (Kingston is their first great grandchild and the son of Jennifer Kolowich and Seti Matua.)

Zerah's Mission Experiences

I first became acquainted with Zerah when I read Wilford Woodruff's autobiography.  He tells of how he was first introduced to the Gospel through two missionaries, one of them being Zerah Pulsipher.  Your kids and grandkids have seen the Church's video portrayal of Wilford's conversion but probably never knew it was the story of their own ancestor they were watching as Zerah's name is not mentioned.  The video is shown in Seminary during the Doctrine and Covenants year of study.

In Zerah's own history he merely states that "I had the privilege of baptizing Wilford Woodruff on the thirty-first of December 1833 at Richland, New York."
For those of you who have been in New York in December you can imagine how cold it must have been for these two men to go down into the waters of baptism, probably a small creek in the neighborhood.  Such great faith and  commitment.

To continue Zerah's story:  "At length there came one or two elders there (they are still in Onendaga County, New York) with enthusiastic spirits which led the church into diversions which caused me a journey of 325 miles to get counsel to settle the difficulty.  I remained in that part preaching in regions around and had the privilege of baptizing many into the kindgom till the spring of 1835, in which I gathered up the remnants of that church and went to Kirtland, Ohio.  There I assisted in the building of the Temple.  In the winter of 1836 I received my first endowment in that house, with about 300 Elders."  And it is here in Kirtland that the Pulsipher family first meets the William Burgess, Sr. family. These two families lives will be intertwined for the rest of their lives.

Both the Pulsipher and Burgess men helped to build not only the Kirtland Temple, but also the Salt Lake Temple, and the St. George Temple.

"I labored to support my family, and in the fall of 1837 I went to Canada on a mission, raised a branch of twenty-nine members.  I returned January 29, 1838, to Kirtland.  I was ordained to the Council of First Presidency of Seventies.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 124:138  How many of you knew that your ancestor is mentioned by name in this great book?)  I took a mission south of the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers, preached considerably, and established a branch with some persecution.  One day I stopped my carriage at the hitching post before a large house where I saw a number of women looking out the window.  They were entire strangers too, as I had never seen them before.  One woman met me at the door, called me brother, and said she had seen a vision where she saw a Mormon Elder drive up to the yard.  She observed the horse and carriage and person, and as soon as she saw me she knew I was the one.  We called a meeting and I preached there that night."

Our family will be sending out the first missionary of Don and Bonnie Higginson's great grandchildren in just a few weeks.  Hopefully Zerah's mission experiences can be a strength and an example to all of those in the family who will yet serve the Lord in redeeming His kingdom.

Zerah's Conversion Story

I will continue Zerah's story with his own words:

"In the fall of 1831 there was a Book of Mormon brought into town.  I succeeded in getting it.  I directly read it through twice, give it a thorough investigation and believed it was true.  (His wife, Mary Ann also read the book and believed it to be true.)
The winter following, Jared Carter came that  was from a mission to Vermont or Lake George (Lake George, New York, where the Burgess family was living and heard the gospel at the same time from Elder Simeon Carter, Jared's brother.  Quite a coincidence considering the connection that was soon to develop between these two families.)  As soon as he came into town, I, with two Methodist Preachers, went to see him.  After a reasonable introduction I questioned him upon the principles of the ancient gospel with all its gifts belonging to it.  I asked him if he believed it?  He answered in the affirmative.  I asked him if he had ever laid hands on the sick and they had recoveredd."  "Yes," he said, "I have in many instances."

"He preached the following evening to a crowded congregation, held up the Book of Mormon and declared it to be a revelation from God.  I could not gain-say anything he had said.  He sat down and gave  liberty for remarks.  The congregation seemed to be in a maze not knowing what to think of what they had heard.  I arose and said to the congregation that we had been hearing strange things, and if true they were of the utmost importance to us.  If not true, it was one of the greatest impositions.  And, as the preacher had said that he had got his knowledge from heaven, and was nothing but a man, and I the same, that I had just as good a right to obtain that blessing as he.  Therefore, I was determined to  have that knowledge for myself, which I considered it my privilege.  From that time I made it a matter of fervent prayer.

I think about the seventh day, as I was thrashing in my barn with doors shut, all at once there seemed to be a ray of light from heaven which caused me to stop work for a short time, but soon began it again.  Then in a few minutes another light came over  my head which caused me to look up.  I thought I saw the angels with the Book of Mormon in their hands in the attitude of showing it to me and saying, "This is the great revelation of the last days, in which all things spoken of by the prophets must be fulfilled."  The vision was so open and plain that I began to rejoice exceedingly so that I walked the length of my barn crying, "Glory Hallelujah to God and the Lamb forever."

For some time it seemed a little difficult to keep my mind in a proper state of reasonable order, I was so filled with the joys of heaven.  But when my mind became calm I called the church together and informed them of what I had seen.  I told them of my determination to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which I did and a large body of my church went with me.  I was ordained to the office of an elder and went to preaching with considerable success at home and abroad."

Isn't it wonderful that Zerah had a knowledge and understanding of the Bible so that he understood he had not yet found a church with the fullness of the gospel until he read the Book of Mormon.  How impressive that he read the book through, twice within a few days.  How many of us can make a similar claim?   Zerah also wanted a knowledge of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon for himself and "made it a matter of fervent prayer."  Each of us can gain a sure testimony in exactly the same way.   I will say this many times, but I am so very grateful for the heritage of these faithful, committed pioneer ancestors. We owe them so much for the incredible legacy they have given us.

Zerah's Path to the Gospel

We are so blessed to have a record of Zerah's life, written by his own hand and passed down from generation to generation.  As we consider the events in Zerah's life which eventually led to his conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I would like to share with you some of those I think are most important.

"My father (John Pulsipher, born 8 July 1749 in Pomfret, Connecticut) was absolute in his family government, kind and affectionate to all his friends.  His common practice was to make a feast once a year and invite some of the poorest people there were in the town and he seemed to take pleasure in their company.  I lived with him twenty-five years and never knew him to turn a beggar away empty.

When I was but a child I frequently had serious reflections but never prayed.  When I was a small boy my father ws taken sick for some time.  I was not much concerned till I heard some of the neighbors say that Mr. Pulsipher must die.  This put me to thinking that if my father should die, a large family of small children would be left without a head to the open winter, subject to many disasters that were incident to human life.  I could  not bear the thought.  Am inpression immediately came to me that I must go to the barn and there pray for his recovery.  I turned and ran as fast as I could.  When I got there I was about to bow down when something informed me that if I did  should die there and never return, which scared me so that I turned and ran back as fast as my legs would carry me.  But my Father in Heaven took the will for the deed and restored my father to health.

Nothing of important nature happened for a number of years till I think I was about fourteen or fifteen years of age.  When one evening as I was sitting by the fireside in my father's kitchen alone, a sudden influence overpowered my mind to such an extent that I lost sight of everything on earth for some time. I never knew how long.  Suffice it to say that it was necessary that more preparation should be made before I should be willing to  pass the vale of death.  Though I could not be reconciled to souls left in hell fire to all eternity as I had been taught by the sectarians, still there were some things among the sects that appeared reasonable.  I have often heard my father say that the signs of Christ's second coming were often seen and that Christ would come before many years should pass away.  And if he did not live to see it, likely his children would.

When I was about twenty-one, I married a very agreeable companion, lived with her about one year when she died, leaving one child which we named Harriet.  After the death of my wife I had some anxiety about her state and condition.  Consequently in answer to my desires, in a few weeks she came to me in vision and appearing natural, looked pleasant as she ever did.  She sat by my side and assisted me in singing a hymn beginning thus, "That glorious day is drawing nigh when Zion's light shall shine."  This she did with a seeming composure.  This vision took away all the anxiety of my mind concerning her, inasmuch as she seemed to enjoy herself well.  This hymn, which she introduced and sang with me, applied to the great work of the last dispensation of the fullness of times.  This transpired about the year before Joseph Smith had discovered the first revelation of the work of the last days.  My mind became calm as respecting her condition in the spirit world.

In the year 1814 I hired a farm at Bellows Falls on the Connecticut River, and being alone, gave my brother John the privilege to work it with me.  In the fall of that season there were the most extraordinary northern lights that I had ever seen.  It was the cause of many speculative notions among the people, but my father said it was the signs of the last days and of Christ's second coming.   I regarded my father's remarks as specimens of good sense.

I soon wound up my business in that country and went to Pennsyvania, in Susquehanna County, a new country where there was much good timber.  I built a mill, cleared a farm and married a wife by the name of Mary Brown (our direct line ancestor) a very agreeable companion by whom I have a large family of kind children.  I labored very hard rafting on the Susquehanna River.  Many times my life was much exposed, but I stayed in that country about eight years and removed to Onondaga county in the state of New York.  I then lost my only son by the fall of a tree which caused much grief to me in that place.

I had many agreeable friends and a good society there.  I bought a farm and built a mill.  I also built a meeting house for the Baptist Church which I was then associated with.

In the summer of 1831 I heard a minister say that an ancient record, or golden bible, was found in Palmyra, near Manchester, which remark struck me like a shock of electricity.  At the same time I  thought it might be something that would give light to my mind upon principles that I had been thinking of for years.  Many times I had remarked that the pure church with its gifts and graces was not on the earth.  If so, I had not found it, but I should be happy enough to find it in my day.  I embraced it accordingly."

You can see how the Lord's hand was in Zerah's life many years before he found the true gospel.  Many of the experiences he had were a preparation to his receiving the restored gospel.

The next post will address Zerah's conversion to the gospel.  If you are wondering what our connection is to the Pulsipher family let me explain.  Zerah's two daughters, Mariah and Almira married Burgess brothers, William and Horace.  They were sons of William Burgess, Sr.and Violate Stockwell.  They joined the church in New York in 1832 and also traveled with the Saints from Kirtland to Salt Lake and beyond.  These two families had a very close connection and were always together in their journeys, from Kirtland to Southern Utah.  There will be many upcoming posts detailing the Burgess family and their incredible heritage to each of us.

The Pulsipher Connection

Zerah and Mary Ann (Brown) Pulsipher


Zerah, also often spelled as Zera, Pulsipher is my fourth great grandfather.  Just to help you out with understanding how we all fit in this family, Zerah is the great grandfather of my great grandfather, James William Burgess, husband to Dina Elizabeth Crow.  Zerah was first married to Mary Polly Randall.  They had one daughter, Harriet but Mary died soon after.  Zera married second Mary Ann Brown and together they had at least twelve known children.  It was with Mary Ann that Zera joined the LDS Church in 1832 and then eventually arrived in the great Salt Lake Valley after moving with the saints through all their persecutions in Kirtland, Jackson County, Nauvoo, and Winter Quarters.
Much has been written about this good man and we also have copies of his personal family history.  I will share much of this information and some amazing stories in the next few posts.  For today, I would like to establish the lineage of the Pulsipher family here in America.

Benedict Pulsephar (original spelling of Pulsipher) was the first of our line arriving here in America around 1655.  In the history of Newton, Massachusetts, it is recorded that Benedict Pulsephar bought land in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1655.  We do not know for sure which country Benedict emigrated from but most family historians agree it was probably Ireland, perhaps with some of his ancestors coming from Italy.
According to The Early Pulsipher Family History, researched and arranged by Adah Mackleprang Wood, "It has been claimed by some that Benedict changed his name when he reached America from Pulford, a well-known English family name , to Pulsepahr according to his spelling, in order to escape the emissaries of Charles II, whom it was thought Benedict feared, as Benedict was a Puritan in England and was perhaps connected with Cromwell's army that was responsible for the beheading of Charles I."  This is more speculation as to where Benedict originally came from.  We have no known records to verify any theory.

Benedict was married twice but we know only the name of his second wife, Susanna A. Waters.  Their son, David married Susanna.  Their son David married Elizabeth Stowell.  Their son John married Elizabeth Dutton.  Zera is a son of the union between John and Elizabeth.  Both John Pulsipher and his father, David fought in the battle of Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary war.   Grandfather David died due to either injuries sustained during the war or from illness contracted at the time.  He never returned home to his family.
So we see that Zerah  is the fourth generation of Pulsiphers born here in America.
From Massachusetts, Benedict's son, David went to Boston and it was there that his six children were born.  His son, David went to Pomfret, Windham County, Connecticut.  His son, John eventually moved to Rockingham, Windham County, Vermont.  It was here that Zerah was born the 24 of June 1789.

Zerah's grandfather, David came to Rockingham County in 1766.  He built the first log cabin "Inn" in the town, located on the site of the dwelling now standing west of the old church.  Town meetings were held in his home, also church meetings previous to the building of the first meeting or "town" house.
When the first church was organized in October, 1773, David and Elizabeth Pulsipher were among the first nineteen members and later David joined with others in presenting the town with the land which, for a century and a third, has been occupied by the old meeting house and the burying ground adjoining.
After the first church, organized in 1773, was discontinued in 1839, the Record Book as well as the Communion Service, the table cloth and one napkin were preserved by members of the Pulsipher family to whom much credit is given for their faithful care.
Zerah's mother, Elizabeth Dutton Pulsipher was the daughter of Thomas Dutton and his first wife, Mary Hill.  She was a descendant of the Thomas Dutton and his wife, Susanna, who settled in Reading, Massachusetts, and were the fourth great-grandparents of our "Beloved Prophet Joseph Smith."  This same Dutton family are said to be the family of Duttons who came to Chester, England, in 1066 with William The Conqueror.

The Beginning

This will be the very first post of hopefully many more to come.  After collecting information on our family lines for the past thirty-plus years and not knowing how to best share with each of you the thousands of pages of charts, maps, pictures, journal entries and personal histories I have, I decided to try and blog the information to you.  Sort of like eating an elephant, one bite at a time, I will attempt to disperse all the info I have, one day at a time.

We have an incredible heritage of faith and sacrifice and I truly believe that unless we know where we came from we will never truly understand who we are.  So to that end I hope to share with you the stories of those who have gone before, who they were, what they did, and what was of utmost importance to them.

This is probably the most bland blog you have ever seen but don't despair, I will add and update as I go.  This is a learning process for me.  Hopefully some of my kids will come and help me out here.  So, please be patient.  It will get better.

WHO ARE WE?

Many Americans today are first, second, and third generation to this country.  On several of our lines we  can claim to have been here since the late 1600's.  We have ancestors who fought in the revolution between the British and the colonists which means if any of you are interested in joining the Daughters (or Sons) of the American Revolution, you have the pedigree to do so.  The same goes for the Daughters (or Sons) of Utah Pioneers.  A framed portrait of our common ancestor, Robert Crow and his wife, Elizabeth (Betsey) Brown Crow hangs in the DUP museum in downtown Salt Lake City.

Robert Crow and his family were the very first pioneers to enter the Salt Lake Valley on July 22nd, 1847.  They were sent into the valley before the vanguard company arrived on July 24th, 1847.  They were directed to plant potatoes which they did.  According to Robert's journal they planted a five acre plot of potoatoes and then diverted water from what we now call City Creek in order to water that plot. Several days later, Robert's grandson, Milton Howard Thirlkill, age 3, drowned in that same creek, making his death the first in the valley.  He died August 11, 1847.
The Crow women are reported to be the first white women to enter the valley.  There were only three women who accompanied Brigham Young in that first group of pioneers to come to Salt Lake City.  They were there to cook and do laundry.  However, the Crow women were not a part of that original group.  How then were they the first women in the valley?  According to numerous LDS Church historical records, the Crow family joined with Brigham and the other pioneers at Fort Laramie after wintering in Pueblo, Colorado.  They are always referred to as the Mississippi Saints who joined Brigham's vanguard company and yet the Crow's were not from Mississippi.  They were traveling with Betsy Brown  Crow's cousin, James Brown who had come from Mississippi.  Robert and his family joined James in Missouri, where they had been living.
I will include more historical resources about this group, the Mississippi Saints, in upcoming posts.

Other ancestors include:  Zera and Mary (Brown) Pulsipher, William and Violate (Stockwell) Burgess, James Harvey and Mariah (Holden) Heath, and our Native American ancestor, Gratawa, from the Ponca Indian nation.