1884 John Hamilton Morgan September Trip to San Juan, Utah. Part 2 of 3.

San Juan River, Utah, 1927, from Wikipedia

Continued from here.
By Flora Lee.

From the John Morgan Journal, Marriott Library, University of Utah.

1884
Sept. 12
At 8:30 started for Bluff. The roads very sandy, steep, rocky and uneven. Arrived at Bluff at 1 p.m. Pres. Jos. F. Smith, Brother H. Hollyoake, and myself walked along the ruined water ditch for a distance of about one mile. Had dinner at Bishop Jon [sic. Jens] Neilsons. A heavy rain fell during the afternoon and a number of waterfalls could be seen from town. At 5 p.m. the people gathered at the Meeting House and were addressed by Pres. Smith and brother Snow. All of us met and had supper with brother Cu (?) [this is probably Kumen] Jones. Pres. Smith and myself slept at Irene Haskell’s room.

Sept. 13
Had breakfast at brother Thales Haskell’s and attended meeting at 9 a.m. Pres. Smith desired me to speak first, which I did encouraging the saints to remain at Bluff and try it again. Was followed by Pres. Smith who read a letter from the First Presidency and commented on it quite extensively urging the people to stay and establish themselves. Brother Snow followed in the same spirit. Had dinner at brother Perkin’s [perhaps Ben Perkins] and met with the saints at 1 p.m. When an opportunity was afforded all who desired to express their sentiments about staying or leaving to do so. The majority were willing to remain if the Priesthood so desired, but a few asked to be released. Bishop Jens Neilson (who coined the phrase “stickity tootie”) with his counselors, Elders Jones [perhaps Kumen] and Lumuel Redd were set apart to preside over the San Juan County and Mancos Branch. Immediately after meeting we left Bluff with two teams for Montezuma where we arrived soon after dark, making the distance in three hours and ten minutes. A heavy rain fell as we came through.

Editor’s note: This delightful map of Historic Bluff, Utah, will take you on a virtual tour of the town where you can visit the following places: the Decker house, the Hyrum Perkins house, the Lemuel Redd house, the Platte Lyman house, the Willard Butt house, the Jens Nielson house and mill, the Jens Nielson house, the Adams house, an Unknown house, the Scorup house, the Nick Lovace house, the Jane Allen house, the Barton Cabin, the Kumen Jones house, and the Bluff School, jail, and library.

Sept. 14
Had breakfast at 8 a.m. and started for Burnham. Drove to Hyde’s for dinner where we stopped two hours. Then went by a new road about six miles. Raining hard most of the day and very hard during the afternoon, making the roads heavy and tedious. Went into camp on a wash running into the Mancos [River]. Everything muddy and wet, but were as comfortable as could be expected.
(To be continued.)

Bishop Nielson's courage and his "stickity tootie," from The Undaunted, a Historical Novel, by Gerald N. Lund, copyright 2009, Anchor Point LLC, Epilogue, page 800.