We have established that John Christian Burgess, formerly known as the Hessian soldier, John Christian Borges, came to America from Germany to fight against the colonists but ended up fighting alongside them. He married Hannah Newland and they raised a large family in Lake George, New York.
Their son, William, married Violate Stockwell and they had a large family as well. One of their sons, William, Jr. wrote a life sketch:
I was born March first 1822 in the township of Putnam, Washington County, New York. When I was ten years old my father and most of his family (his wife and kids, not his siblings) joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. This was December second, 1832. The next August we started to move to Jackson County, Missouri. We arrived in Kirtland, Ohio the first part of September. The Prophet Joseph Smith advised us to stop there and help build the Temple. The walls were about four feet above the ground.
That fall (1833) the church was driven out of Jackson County by the mob. In February 1835 I was baptized by my brother Harrison Burgess and confirmed by the Prophet Joseph Smith, under the following circumstances. There had been about thirty-five baptized during the week and all went to church on Sunday to be confirmed. We sat on the three front rows of seats and I was on the third one. Jared Carter and Elder Cahoon were doing the confirming. After they had confirmed all on the first row, the Prophet held up his hand for them to stop, and came to where I was and confirmed me, then went back to the stand and told the brethren to go on with the confirming.
(William had lived with Joseph and Emma and I think that may have been why Joseph performed William's confirmation.)
I lived in the Smith family for two years, and learned much of the gospel hearing the prophet talk. I helped build the Kirtland Temple and was at the dedication. We passed through the persecution with the saints and were driven out. We then moved to Caldwell County, Missouri in August of 1838. The prophet counseled us to go to Daviess County. We arrived at Adam-Ondi-Ahman about the twentieth of August, 1838. The mob spirit was raging and all the old settlers but two moved away in order to have their families safe while they were fighting. For about three months I didn't undress only to wash and change clothes, and no one except those that passed through it knows the tribulation and privations that we had to endure. As it was for the gospel's sake, we endured cheerfully. (Wish I could say I always "endure" cheerfully!) I was taken prisoner by the mob and abused terribly. But we depended on the Lord and He delivered us from them. We went to Caldwell County in December and in the spring we were put in prison and the church was driven from the state.
We next went to Adams County, Illinois. We were driven out of Missouri leaving our homes and all we had, but we were thankful for our lives that we were spared.
On September 17, 1840 I married Mariah Pulsipher, daughter of Zerah Mulsipher and Mary Brown, near Lima, Adams County, Illinois.
This is where the Pulsipher and Burgess families first become forever connected. Another Burgess boy married Mariah's sister, Almira. These two families, the Burgess's and the Pulsipher's then were always together, settling area after area until finally ending up in different parts of southern Utah.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
The Burgess family begins.....
We finished up with Zera Pulsipher's autobiography last time and so today I wish to start with the Burgess line. I do have more writings from some of Zera's sons and daughters as well as his wife, Mary Ann Brown, but will save those for another day.
Our first "Burgess" ancestor to set foot on American soil was Johann Christian (Watterman) Borges. Johann was a Hessian mercenary. How he was recruited is not known, but he defected early upon arriving in the new world. This was not uncommon among the Hessian soldiers hired by the British to come and fight against the Continental Army. They viewed this as an opportunity for free passage to a new land, one with plenty of available wide open spaces to begin a new life and new adventure.
The first German troops arrive mid-1776 and we find Johann trying to get married as early as February of 1777. Some believe that he was wounded and healed back to health by a family named Burgess and so he adopted their name. Yet in the records I have found his name was Borges and was written as Burgess when he defected to the American's side.
He tried to marry Hannah Newland three different times before he was allowed to do so. A young couple had to have the select men's consent to be wed, and with Johann being a German mercenary they were refused twice before finally receiving permission to be married.
Hannah Newland was christened on May 10, 1758 at Norton, Bristol, Massachusetts the daughter of Antony and Patience Woodward Newland. This christening record can be found in the vital record of Norton. It is believed that Hannah had one son when she married John Burgess (his new American name.) Supposedly, Hannah and this son's father were never married.
Not only did John defect from the Hessian army, but we have records available of John's service after he enlisted in the Continental army in 1782 in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island State Library, State House, Providence, Rhode Island: Multiple records list John Burgess, a weaver, born in Germany enlisted as a private on March 19, 1782 in James Angells's class, Campaign of 1782, age twenty-six years. He served nine months and received a certificate for service in December of 1782.
John and Hannah moved to Lake George, New York. They were there in 1790 for the census but we are not sure exactly when they arrived.
One record indicates that John Burgess was the first owner of the place now occupied by Mr. Hiram Vowers, at the foot of Elephant Mountain. He had eleven children. Some records indicate that John died due to a tree falling on him while living in the Lake George area.
He shows up in the 1800 census, listing ten people living with him. As to his date of death, I will have to do more research.
Of their eleven children, William Burgess was the only one to join the LDS Church. William was married to Violate Stockwell and they were also living near Lake George when the Mormon missionaries came into their community. Their oldest son, Harrison, listened to the Elder's message and came to know of it's truthfulness and wished to be baptized. William and Violate also joined the Church but their is still some confusion as to when. One record indicates it was not until they moved to Kirtland, but William Burgess, Junior indicates that his parents were baptized while still in Lake George.
Interesting note: One of John and Hannah Burgess's sons is believed to have taken the picture of Abraham Lincoln that is used on the five dollar bill. So, each time you see that you can think of your legacy from your Burgess line. I have discovered a history of this particular son and will share that with you later as well.
We will continue the story of William Burgess and his family next time. I will tell you that William arrived in Kirtland, Ohio in September of 1833 and according to some records, William was one of the chief carpenters in erecting the temple at Kirland. He laid out the roofing timbers.
Another tidbit: My mom (Bonnie Jean Petty Higginson) told me that she had heard rumor in her family that her grandfather, James William Burgess (husband of Diana Elizabeth Crow) sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I checked the choir's history and it does indeed appear that he was once a member of the Choir. Fun fact!
Our first "Burgess" ancestor to set foot on American soil was Johann Christian (Watterman) Borges. Johann was a Hessian mercenary. How he was recruited is not known, but he defected early upon arriving in the new world. This was not uncommon among the Hessian soldiers hired by the British to come and fight against the Continental Army. They viewed this as an opportunity for free passage to a new land, one with plenty of available wide open spaces to begin a new life and new adventure.
The first German troops arrive mid-1776 and we find Johann trying to get married as early as February of 1777. Some believe that he was wounded and healed back to health by a family named Burgess and so he adopted their name. Yet in the records I have found his name was Borges and was written as Burgess when he defected to the American's side.
He tried to marry Hannah Newland three different times before he was allowed to do so. A young couple had to have the select men's consent to be wed, and with Johann being a German mercenary they were refused twice before finally receiving permission to be married.
Hannah Newland was christened on May 10, 1758 at Norton, Bristol, Massachusetts the daughter of Antony and Patience Woodward Newland. This christening record can be found in the vital record of Norton. It is believed that Hannah had one son when she married John Burgess (his new American name.) Supposedly, Hannah and this son's father were never married.
Not only did John defect from the Hessian army, but we have records available of John's service after he enlisted in the Continental army in 1782 in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island State Library, State House, Providence, Rhode Island: Multiple records list John Burgess, a weaver, born in Germany enlisted as a private on March 19, 1782 in James Angells's class, Campaign of 1782, age twenty-six years. He served nine months and received a certificate for service in December of 1782.
John and Hannah moved to Lake George, New York. They were there in 1790 for the census but we are not sure exactly when they arrived.
One record indicates that John Burgess was the first owner of the place now occupied by Mr. Hiram Vowers, at the foot of Elephant Mountain. He had eleven children. Some records indicate that John died due to a tree falling on him while living in the Lake George area.
He shows up in the 1800 census, listing ten people living with him. As to his date of death, I will have to do more research.
Of their eleven children, William Burgess was the only one to join the LDS Church. William was married to Violate Stockwell and they were also living near Lake George when the Mormon missionaries came into their community. Their oldest son, Harrison, listened to the Elder's message and came to know of it's truthfulness and wished to be baptized. William and Violate also joined the Church but their is still some confusion as to when. One record indicates it was not until they moved to Kirtland, but William Burgess, Junior indicates that his parents were baptized while still in Lake George.
Interesting note: One of John and Hannah Burgess's sons is believed to have taken the picture of Abraham Lincoln that is used on the five dollar bill. So, each time you see that you can think of your legacy from your Burgess line. I have discovered a history of this particular son and will share that with you later as well.
We will continue the story of William Burgess and his family next time. I will tell you that William arrived in Kirtland, Ohio in September of 1833 and according to some records, William was one of the chief carpenters in erecting the temple at Kirland. He laid out the roofing timbers.
Another tidbit: My mom (Bonnie Jean Petty Higginson) told me that she had heard rumor in her family that her grandfather, James William Burgess (husband of Diana Elizabeth Crow) sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I checked the choir's history and it does indeed appear that he was once a member of the Choir. Fun fact!
Friday, December 13, 2013
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
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
Friday, November 29, 2013
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.
"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.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
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.
"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.
Monday, October 28, 2013
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.
(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.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
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."
"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."
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