"Sunset clear and promise of better weather." April 1, 1876.

Sunset from atop the Salt Lake Conference Center, May 2009. 

John Morgan and Joseph Standing missionary experiences  Continued from here.

On the 31^st of March, 1876, while Elders John Morgan and Joseph Standing were  in Rossville, Illinois,  John Morgan wrote,  “spent a very pleasant morning talking and looking at flower specimens” with Mr. Gates. He then went, to Mr. Bivans “where I made the day of it, reading and talking. During the afternoon, Mr. B. came home and gave me rather a cool reception. Went to the schoolhouse at about 7 to hold meeting, but found it locked and no one there. Went to a house close by owned by a man by the name of Miller and occupied by [illegible] who refused me shelter on account of my religion though it was nearly 8 at night. He drove me away from his house and refused me shelter from the storm. Went back to Mr. John Bivan’s where I stayed over night. Treated me well. Looks like storm.”

Rossville, Illinois, April 1, 1876— “Went to Rossville this morning to get our mail. Got a postal from Jimmie [John Morgan’s brother James]and waited all day for more mail. Called on Mr. Millegan who has a relative living at Kanosh by the name of Crane. Met Joe at the [post] office and failed to get any letters. A man by the name of Thompson followed us around and tried to create difficulty. Came out to George Miller who received us and treated us kindly. Held meeting at the schoolhouse, a large audience who manifested a good spirit and treated us very kindly. Terribly muddy, the road from Rossville was the worst I ever met with, next to impossible to travel. Sunset clear and promise of better weather. Joseph made several appointments to preach next week south of here and held one meeting.”

Alvin, Illinois, April 2, 1876—“Raining and sleeting this morning; started from Mr. George Miller’s about 11:00 A.M. to come to this place, found the creek up so that we could not cross, had to make along detour to a bridge. Mr. Benedict invited us to dinner. At 3:00 P.M. we started again, waded and walked across the fields to the R.R. feet very wet and boots hurting me severely. Filled our appointment to a good sized congregation considering the condition of the roads and the weather. Some ladies attended. Was invited home by Mr. Jno. Gorrity to stay all night. Kindly treated.”

Bismark, Illinois, April 3, 1876—“Remained at a Swiss Gentleman’s for dinner and then started to come to this place to hold meeting tonight. Arrived at about three. Tried to get a stopping place all over town, but failed to do so until quite late. Went without supper and slept in a boarding house. The man refused to give us breakfast the next morning. Spoke to the hardest crowd of men that I have met with yet, there was a terrible stink in the room that was so strong that we had very little freedom of speech. This will doubtless be a lesson to us to avoid R.R. towns after this and not go about them. We feel to thank God for his testimonies to us so far.”

(To be continued.)

John Hamilton Morgan Journal, Special Curriculum, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.