Tunnel Hill, Varnell Station, and Dalton, Georgia. April 2014.

(Continued from here.)

Trip to Georgia and Tennessee concluded here. Entries from John Hamilton Morgan's journal are included.

Tunnell Hill, Whitfield County, Georgia.

September 16, 1878 - Wrote a little, read some and drove over to Varnells station and beyond where I got my boots fixed.

September 17, 1878 - Went to see Mr. Huffaker today. Held a long talk with him on the principles of the Gospel. Meeting tonight, full house and good attention, and I think we are moving something. 

Tunnell Hill, Georgia was abloom with flowers, sunshine and a clear blue sky the morning we visited. The slow moving pace of life there didn't call for guard rails at this train crossing.

Unnamed church at Tunnell Hill

September 18, 1878 -  Wrote and visited among the folks and held meeting on the 20th, stayed all night with Mr. Henry Holstine, P. O. Varnells Station, Georgia. Drove to Tunnell Hill and feel that things are moving up.

Tunnell Hill, Georgia. 

September 22, 1878 - Held meeting at 11 a.m. Good attendance and the spirit of God to lead us; a good impression made.

September 23 - Drove over to the station and visited some.

Varnell Station rail road crossings were the only in the area I saw with crossing arms. Slow paced with numerous churches, I snapped pictures of the few indicators of where we were.

Varnell Station was important in Joseph Standing's missionary service in 1878-9 and is further explained at the Ancestor Files and here on earlier posts.

The following pictures were taken at the Joseph Standing Memorial Park in Dalton, Georgia. Without our kind friend chauffeuring us, we'd have never found it. Notwithstanding the wonderful directions on the Amateur Mormon Historian, which I had with me.

A beautiful sacred spot in the midst of woods and confusing, winding roadways. 

We considered it miraculous we arrived and could visit there.

This memorial park and monument honor the memory of Elder Joseph Standing of Salt Lake City, Utah, a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) who was killed here by a mob July 21, 1879. His companion, Elder Rudger Clawson, who later became President of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church was unharmed.

The cooperation of W. C. Puryear and family who donated the land and were most helpful in other was, made this memorial possible.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints May 1952

The site is presently well cared for and must serve members in the area

 and visitors like us with a beautiful destination and retreat.

A clump of watercress was growing in a tiny drainage stream running across the park.

This old broken marker must be as old as the tragedy itself.

Joseph Standing's body was purportedly taken to the Stover family home near Dalton where it was cared for, and prepared for the journey back to Salt Lake City, Utah and home. This cove housing an old pond and mill may be where the Stovers were living at that time.

The roadway below led us out of the cove and our wonderful Tennessee/Georgia adventure which is concluded here.   

John Morgan was in Salt Lake at the time of Joseph Standing's murder. His 1879 journal pages from mid-April to mid-August are missing, so he is silent on the tragedy. He and his wife had James Standing to their home in Salt Lake City for dinner on January 11, 1881.

Spring 1878 John Morgan returned to Rome, Georgia as Mission President. Joined Joseph Standing.

April 12, 1878. "I feel well in getting back to my old beat."

Continued from here.

After spending the Christmas of 1877 at home in Salt Lake City with family and friends in the 14th Ward, John Morgan returned to Rome, Georgia, the nearby mountains and the people living there. He spent his days at home planning and gathering others and resources to return to the South. He returned to Georgia in the Spring of 1878 as Mission President of the Southern States Mission, a calling he held until January 1888.

On Monday, January 21, 1878 he wrote, "Friday was occupied in calling on President Taylor; in the afternoon distributed a lot of prizes to the school, after which I went to the President's office and from there to the Historian's office, where myself, Bro. Johnson and Bro. Williams were all set apart to go on a mission to the Southern States. Raining and bad weather tonight."

He noted in his February 18-23, 1878 journal entry, "Bro.[Matthias] Cowley was set apart  under my hands, my first effort. ... Bro Cowley  had supper with me."

On the train East John Morgan stopped several weeks with the new emigrants he'd left in Pueblo, Colorado the previous November. It was March 30, 1878 before John Morgan arrived back in Rome, Georgia.   "Took train for Rome where we arrived at 9:30 p.m. and put up at the Rome House."

Mountains around Rome: April 12, "I feel well in getting back to my old beat and I trust that the spirit of God will enlighten our minds so that we may be enabled to do a good work."

April 18, "Learned this a.m. that Jos. Standing had arrived from Utah. Returned from Baileys to Haywood Valley where I met some of the Brethren and stayed all night at Walter Smiths."

April 19, "Joseph came up this morning early and we had quite a meeting and a long talk. Wrote a letter to Brother Barnett and Cowley and one to Mellie." [ Morgan left his wife at home feeling ill. Feb 6, 1878, "At home today. Mellie quite unwell and confined to the bed."]

April 20, "Spent the day at Walter Smiths. Wrote some letters and talked."

April 21, 1878,  "Held meeting at 11 a.m. and quite a good attendance and spoke upon the history of the church. Brother Sabin bearing his testimony and Brother Standing reading for me. Went home with Jno., Barbour. Made arrangements for a meeting with Brother Smith Monday night."

(To be continued.)

Notes: I wasn't able to locate missionaries Johnson or Williams in the "Missionaries called to the Southern States Mission" for this time period among the John Hamilton Morgan papers, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. John Morgan Journal Entries are from that collection. Picture is from cousin Geraldine M. 2008 trip to Rome Georgia area.

The First Relief Society Presidency in the Southern States

After reading The Amateur Mormon Historian’s December 1st post, The First Relief Society Presidency in the Southern States, I couldn’t resist. "Sister Victoria Faucett was unanimously sustained as president, Sisters Sinia Lawrence and Emmeline Faucett, her counselors. Sister Joan Manning, secretary; all of whom were elected for six months." It was organized August 10th, 1878. I have a copy of that portion of the John Morgan Journal at home, so I looked up the date.

1878
August 10Conference met at 10 a.m. Attendance improved. The branch from a distance well represented. Held three meetings including a priesthood meeting.

August 11Conference met at 10 a.m. with a good attendance of saints and few strangers. Our meeting was interrupted by a slight shower. Conference adjourned at 9 p.m. after a good time and a general good feeling on the part of the saints. [“Wrote Deseret News” is written after this entry, by Nicholas G. Morgan (is my guess).]

I spent a little time studying the early part of John Morgan's journal looking for the sisters that President Morgan called to The First Relief Society Presidency in the Southern States.

From the John Morgan JournalCassandra [Georgia] 1877
September 10thWrote letters during the forenoon, in the afternoon went up to Mr. Bailey’s and stayed all night.

11th—Started out early in the morning to look up a place to baptize in. Mr. Bailey accompanying me. Selected a spot and went down to Bart Fawcett’s, from there to Mr. Parrs’. Had dinner, returned to Mr. B. and assisted to fix a baptizing place. At night had meeting and preached a long sermon to a good sized audience. Stayed all night at Bart Fawcett’s.

12th—Went up to Mr. Bailey’s and in the afternoon baptized the following persons:
Mrs. Martha Bailey Sr.
Mrs. Martha Bailey, Jr.
Mrs. Jane Payne
Mrs. Millissa Jennings
Miss Emma Fawcett
Miss Victoria Bailey
Stayed all night at Mr. Kerke’s.

Haywood Valley [Georgia] 1877

October 16th—Went to Uncle Jeter’s where we remained part of the day and stayed all night at Bro. Marshalls’. Uncle Jeter came over and informed us that he had some folks to baptize the next morning.

17th—Went over to the baptizing place and baptized the following persons:
B.F. Marshall [,] Confirmed by Elder L. [probably Lisonbee]
Jas. Keele “ [Confirmed by Elder] J. M. [John Morgan]
Sinai Lawrence “ [Confirmed by Elder] L.
Elizabeth Keele “ [Confirmed by Elder] L.

After dinner we went across the Mountain to Bro. Moyer's where we stayed all night.

John Morgan journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah. Picture from John Morgan descendant Geraldine M.'s visit to Haywood Valley, Georgia, 2008.

John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan part 5

On March 4, 1878 John Morgan was again called to the Southern States Mission where he served until the spring of 1879. When he arrived home Mellie and the children had moved from the apartment in the school house to a nice home located at 163 South First West and John saw his baby daughter Ruth for the first time

[From the John Morgan Journal, Marriott Library, University of Utah. Southern States Mission]

Georgia [1878]
October 17
[from Elledges]
Started to write my letters and answered one from my wife informing me that a little babe had been born into my family at home [daughter Ruth born 4 Oct 1878]. Rained hard during part of the day. Turned cold and cleared off late. After supper we walked over to Mr. Huffakers where we stayed tonight. Found a good feeling.
…
Alabama [1878]
December 25
Early this a.m. Brother R. A. Elkins took Elders Ralph Smith and E. Edlefson 10 miles on the way to Rome. I walked some distance with them and parted leaving them feeling well. In the p.m. I rode to the P. O. and got a letter from my wife.
…
North Carolina [1879]
February 5
Wrote some letters and then carried my clothes to Mrs. Harrisons to get them washed. Then rode across the hills to the P. O. Received my mail that contained my release to return home for which I feel very grateful. Preached at Mr. Gibbs. Good attention.
…
March 21
Walked over to Elledges this a.m. and met the Brethren. At 11 a.m. bid them goodbye. Edlef[son] accompanying me, we rode to Tunnell Hill where I had to wait for the train until 3:40 p.m. Arrived in Chattanooga at 6:10. Had supper, then met Sissons Tinslow and Mills. R. R. men. Had a talk over the emigration matter.
…
March 23
The emigrants continued to gather during the day and at a late hour all got in. Our baggage was loaded and at 8:30 p.m. we boarded the M. and C. R. R. enroute for Zion. The officers and men of the road with one honorable exception were decidedly ungentlemanly. At Woodville, we picked up a car containing Jas. Jack’s family.
…
March 28
Secured a place for the people and had to wait during the day for Bishop Jensen to come with wagons to take us out to the settlement. He arrived during the afternoon. Busy during the day.

March 29
Started as soon as we could load our wagons for the settlement, where we arrived at 9 p.m. after a hard days trip through one of the finest valleys I ever saw. Glad to arrive with my emigrants at last.
…
April 4, 1879
Started early this a.m. for home. Passed Cheyenne at 1:30 and turned west on the U. P. Fell quite sick, no appetite.

April 5
Passed Laramie, Rawlins, Evanston, and many towns of smaller note during the day. Nothing of interest until near Ogden where I met Pres. Smith who asked me to have supper with him. At Ogden, Brother and Sister G. [probably Nicholas and Elizabeth Groesbeck] met me and at 8:20 p.m. I reached home after an absence of 13 months. Weary, tired and most sick. Found my dear ones all well and glad am I to be at home with them once more.

History of Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan by granddaughter Marjorie Morgan Gray submitted to Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum 9 June 1977. The picture of John Morgan's home appears in the following publications.

[Picture caption:] “The John Morgan home at 163 South 1st West Street. The front part was built in about 1875; the central part in the late sixties and in the early seventies it was a private school The home was owned and completed by Nicolas Groesbeck and given to his daughter Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan, wife of John Morgan, where that family lived until 1896.” Nicholas Groesbeck by Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan, Sr., photocopy of 20 page pamphlet, no publishing date, pg. 19.

[Picture caption:] “John and Helen Melvina Morgan with two of the children in front of their roomy, well-built home, at 163 South 1st West, a gift of Nicholas Groesbeck. They were forced to give it up in the panic of 1893.” Nichlas Groesbeck Morgan, The Man Who Moved City Hall, by Jean R. Paulson, 1979, pgs. 6-7.



The numbering of the streets to the west, and running parallel with West Temple changed after 1970.

Copy of real estate record of Nicholas Groesbeck's properties on First West and dates of title transfers from Helen Rex Frazier collection.

(To be continued.)