Pioneer School House
at This is The Place Pioneer Village, Salt Lake City, Utah
1876 Springtime Illinois weather was unpredictable.
Missionaries John Morgan and Joseph Standing had rain, snow--and more--rain and
snow. They continually sought people to teach. On March 19 at Kirkpatrick, Illinois—John recorded, ”very cold and unpleasant. Freezing and thawing alternately. Walked 23 miles and
feel very stiff and sore.“
Elder Morgan named over twenty-two schools and homes where they
held meetings during the month; Wilcox School House, Old log school, Prairie College School House, Four Corners
School House, Buck Creek School House,
Two or three school houses, Hayner School House, Hemi School House, Union
School, and a Methodist Church. And he named the countless people he met and
talked to. Mr. Doughtery, Mr. Robert
McClure, S. S. Barnes who invited us to stay for dinner, Mrs. Smith who refused
us lodging, Mr. Shirley where we now are, Mr. Kirkpatrick and J. E. McDaniels,
an Indiana man, are just a few.
Elder Morgan wrote on March 20th, “Came
on the RR to within four miles of the above place [Hoopston, Illinois]”... The
walking on the RR was very wearysome and tired us out very much. Has been
storming and snowing terribly and the roads are impassable."
“We are now getting a thickly settled portion of the country
that is among the oldest part of the State. We have every reason to feel
thankful to God for his care over us and kindness and goodness to us. We trust
to be able to open up a good mission in this locality…”
At Rossville on the 23rd, “…Tried to obtain a
hall to hold meeting in but failed to do so…
Secured the school house to speak in.
Snowing some and muddy.”
March 24, 1876 “Joseph came to me this morning from where [he]
stayed and informed me that the Director, Mr. Snyder, had refused the house
when he found out that we were Saints. I called to see him and found the Spirit
of the Devil rampant. Joseph went North to see the other Director, I went South
to secure school houses and got three to speak in. Was well treated. Stayed all
night with George Miller.”
March 24 [25], 1867, Rossville, Illinois. “Came over to Mr. Gates
in the morning. Joseph went to town to get our mail. Rained hard all day. Could
not hold over meeting on account of the storm. Was sheltered all day at the
house of Mr. Jno. Bivens, a Methodist, who treated me kindly and asked me many
questions.
March 28, 1876 – Rossville, Illinois. “Woke up this morning
and found a terrible storm raging which continued without intermission for the
entire day. Walked from Mr. Rop’s to Mr. George Miller’s facing one of the
worst storms I ever faced, over the worst roads imaginable. Could not hold
meeting owing to the storm. Stayed all night at Mr. Miller’s conversed with the
folks until tolerable late in regard to Utah. Cannot think but that God helps
us by day and by night…
To be continued.
John Hamilton Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
This is great, Bessie! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it. Of late, the more I learn about John Morgan, the more I want to learn.
ReplyDelete