Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck and money! From her journal.

February 13, 1867 Nicholas wrote the following from his mission in England home to Elizabeth, ... “If you see him [Porter Rockwell] please to remember me to him and remember me to all of my renters, or your renters, for it is all one, William Showell, Smith McGarth and wife and all others. Please in your next to state what rooms are empty, if any; it does very well to fill up with, and it interests me some at the same time. Please state whether blacksmith shop rented or not; when you wrote last you did say who rented it and was not certain how long they would keep it.”

An account of Elizabeth’s generous nature was shared in the March 2009 Capitol Hill Neighborhood Council Bulletin (pictured above). A family, destitute because of illness and unemployment, rented a cottage (according to some reports this was the house at 76 West 200 North) from the Groesbecks. A puzzled friend asked the husband where he got the money to pay the rent. The man replied, “We receive the rent money from Mrs. Groesbeck. She comes around with the rent money a day or two before her husband comes around to collect it.”

Discovering Elizabeth's 1875-1883 journal clarifies many things. She felt entitled to direct some of her family's money to things she valued.  The account preserved in this 2009 Community Bulletin is reflected further in these journal entries.

March 1^st 1877 I rose prity early went down stairs get the churning redy then I went upstairs to do the work there   found Brother Groesbeck rather cross about sum vases that Mellie had got for apreacnt [a present] for me   this maid me feel raither bad as he had let agrait meney thousands of dolers go   I felt to say never mind those litel vases they wold not brake eneyone up   make your self happy as you can for I shall spen all the money I git holt of    I attended a funerel in the after noon of a littel boy by the name of Olson [Olaf Chas. Olson 1872-1877 (FamilySearch.org)]

January 1878 Wednesday 16^th I went to the picture gallery and thare I seen apicture of Jeneral Washington  I liked it and bot it   paid tenn dalers I knew that my Husband wold not like to have me spend

And thus Elizabeth needed to do some things in secret.

Nicholas Groesbeck purchased a corral and horse stables in Salt Lake in 1861.

Nicholas Groesbeck (1819-1884)

Amy at the Ancestor Files has been researching Wills and Probate and gave us a link to Ancestry's new collection. She is using it to gather information for several projects. In the midst of her work she located the following document and knew I would be interested. Thank you Amy.

The tedium and discipline necessary to work my way through the document evidences her skill and patience in gathering facts from this kind of record. It contributes to more than one fascinating story.

It seems my great great grandfather Nicholas Groesbeck stepped in and purchased a mortgaged coral [corral] and horse stables in Salt Lake following the 1860 misfortune of two Salt Lake business men. Thomas S. William and Palmanio A. Jackman mortgaged their properties for a venture to California where they were killed by Indians. The following year N. Groesbeck paid $1238.31 for their mortgage and interest, "in which is included one hundred dollars which I hereby agree to pay to the widows of the said William & Jackman part in gear and part in flour as they may severely need the same."  He also agreed to pay their delinquent taxes. 

This is an example of one way Nicholas Groesbeck acquired real estate in the 1860's.

William descendants include an account of this unfortunate incident on their grandmother's find a grave memorial.  

Utah State Archives Series 1621 Case 67 P A Jackman Probate 

Elizabeth Groesbeck's first Salt Lake home became the Deseret Hospital.

Elizabeth Groesbeck (probably 1883)

I was asked the other day if any of my ancestors’ homes are represented in the This is the Place Heritage Park.  I’ve decided I can answer that question with “yes.”

When I first visited the replica of the Deseret Hospital that was rebuilt in the heritage park, I realized that though it was the Deseret Hospital, my Groesbeck great great grandparents called that building home. Soon after their 1856 arrival in the Salt Lake Valley they moved into the three-story adobe brick structure that then stood kitty-corner across the street from Pioneer Square where West High School is now located. 

Great great Grandfather Nicholas Groesbeck purchased that building three weeks after his family arrived in the Valley on October 3, 1856. There he unloaded the wagons of merchandise he carried with him from Springfield, Illinois as a member of the John Banks Company. He established his family in part of the building and housed a mercantile store in the other part.  Their time in that home was short-lived because they had to pack everything up and move south the following October when Johnston’s Army threatened the Valley.

There isn’t record that their family lived there again. Nearly thirty years later in 1884 after it had been used as the University of Deseret and Union Academy the Groesbecks’ financial success and generosity may have helped open the new Deseret Hospital.  When it was established on August 1, 1882 Eliza R. Snow was president of the Deseret Hospital Association with Zina D. Young as Vice President. Elizabeth Groesbeck was listed as one of a ten member finance committee. [1]

Presently the lovely air conditioned 2003 Deseret Hospital houses a model of the original with early medical memorabilia and an extensive quilt collection.

1. Our Pioneer Heritage Vol. 6, compiled by Kate B. Carter, 1963, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, “Pioneer Women Doctors, ‘The Deseret Hospital,’ ” Pgs 413-414.

Bessie Morgan Rex's history of her Grandfather Nicholas Groesbeck. 1935.

I purchased this picture of Salt Lake City's Kenyon Hotel on e-Bay last year. It was cut from a pamphlet of some sort. The Kenyon Hotel Nicholas Groesbeck built undoubtedly stood on the same corner (2nd South and Main Street) years earlier. Nicholas Groesbeck died in 1884. This card states that the main building opened 1899. The Annex opened in 1900.

The following brief  history of Nicholas Groesbeck was written by his granddaughter Bessie Morgan Rex in 1935 when she submitted her application to become a member of Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. I posted it here three years ago. A close read of her hand written account reveals many interesting facts about her grandfather.

"Nicholas Groesbeck joined the church at the age of 19. He was baptized by Patriarch Hyrum Smith. He lived in Springfield, Ill, but made many trips to Nauvoo, and was intimately acquainted with the prophet, acting as his bondsman at one time. He knew Abraham Lincoln who acted as his counsel on several occasions.

"When he came to Utah he brought considerable merchandise, and engaged in general merchandizing. He later turned to real estate and mining, and provided the money to develop the noted Flagstaff Mine in Little Cottonwood. He later sold it and purchased real estate in Salt Lake. He built the Kenyon Hotel at a cost of $200,000. He became interested in the development of coal & iron, & was director of the Deseret Savings and several railroads. He was recognized as one of the outstanding financiers of his day.

"Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck was very good to those who needed help & when her husband gained wealth she spent her time helping the poor & meeting immigrant trains to give them food & clothing.

Nicholas Groesbeck's biography begins here. An index to all of the posts about Nicholas Groesbeck is found here. 

Buskirk Bridge area New York.

(Continued from here.)

 Buskirks Bridge

Cousin Geraldine M. lives in New York and has done a lot or research on the Groesbeck Family. Three or four years ago she visited the area where Great Grandfather Nicholas Groesbeck (1819-1884) lived. She sent me pictures from that area to share here.

 She said, “I don’t know precisely who each of these gravestones belong to, but they are our Groesbecks.“

Thank you Geraldine for sharing these beautiful pictures!

Nicholas Groesbeck (1819-1884). "He possessed a character of rigid integrity, and his word was always his bond".

I found this undated Nicholas Groesbeck "Our Gallery of Pioneers" clipping in his folder at the DUP Museum History Room yesterday. I'm looking for a source, and a date, of GG Grandfather Nicholas Groesbeck's conversion and his baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Hyrum Smith.

I thought I might at least find the date of the newspaper clipping by looking through the Utah Digital  Newspaper Project. No luck. I didn't find that clipping, however, I found the following March 31, 1900 clipping. It didn't answer my specific question, but gave me a lot. My favorite is the author's description of this grandfather, He possessed a character of rigid integrity, and his word was always his bond.

"The important part which the late Nicholas Groesbeck took in the founding of Salt Lake City is well testified to by the monument of his industry  and energy which still stands in the Groesbeck and Wasatch blocks on the corner of Main and Second South Streets.  Mr. Groesbeck belonged in the foremost rank of our financial pioneer stalwarts whose pictures have already appeared in this series of articles, but he was almost the only one of them who made the bulk of his fortune through real estate properties. He also engaged somewhat in merchandising and mining. His death took place on Sunday, June 29, 1884 at the age of 64. He was born at Buskirk Bridge, Rensellaer  [Rensselaer ] county, New York, September 5^th, 1819. He joined the Church in 1837, and moved to Springfield, Ill., where in 1841 he married Elizabeth Thompson, who remained his companion for years, and whose death occurred only six months before his own. While living in Springfield he became one of the bondsmen of the Prophet Joseph Smith who was tried there on trumped up charge in 1842. Although never living at Nauvoo he made frequent trips to that city, and was engaged in coal mining and contracting there. He emigrated [immigrated] to Utah in the fall of 1856, passing a division of Johnston’s Army on his way, and saving his goods only by a narrow chance. He was noted for his energy of character and for his incessant hard work at his business.  He possessed a character of rigid integrity, and his word was always his bond. His name is perpetuated in that of the Groesbeck Company today, which owns the property he left behind. The stock is now held by others than his own family, business reverses having overtaken nearly all his heirs. The president of the company, however, is Hon. John HenrySmith, who married one of Mr. Groesbeck’s daughters [Josephine]."

Some posts about Nicholas Groesbeck's life are here and here.

Additional information will follow soon.

[Note: the first newspaper clipping is too difficult to read. It follows here:]

"A native of New York state, where he was born in 1819, and a prominent citizen of Utah from 1856 until his death in 1884, Nicholas Groesbeck left in the local community many marks of his loyalty and business  sagacity . He joined the Church in 1838 in his native state, and removed to Illinois the next year, making his home in Springfield. Here he engaged in trading, for which he had a natural aptitude, and acquired considerable wealth, so that when he decided to come to Utah he was well equipped for entering at once upon his career of future prosperity. He performed adventurous and valuable service upon the plains during times connected with the western movement of Johnston’s army, and at the time of “the move,” he located and went [text missing] turned to Salt Lake where he thereafter made his home.  As early as 1858 he purchased what was later known as the Wasatch corner, Second South and Main streets (now the Kenyon) and built upon it. In 1869 he began to engage in mining, and in his operations in Little Cottonwood he opened up and later sold the famous Flagstaff mine. Everything he touched seemed to prosper, and he was always on hand to join in any enterprise that promised the development and up-building of the country. He performed two or three missions, and was steadfast and consistent in his religious belief. He was at one time a member of the city council, and he was ever a public spirited and exemplary citizen generally. He died wealthy, being a large holder of real estate, mining [text missing]."

Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck's last year. 1883.

This concluding post on Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck’s life is continued from here.

1883 was the last year of Elizabeth’s life, and on her August 16th birthday that year she turned sixty-three.  Earlier in the year Elizabeth hired Mary Hansen, an exceptional dressmaker,  to fashion a dress for her to wear to the April 11, 1883 (NFS) wedding of Priscilla Paul Jennings to William W. Riter. Elizabeth and her daughter Mellie assisted dressmaker Mary Hansen make the exquisite dress that is described and pictured here.

Elizabeth assisted her daughters and watched over their children in their parents absence. In June of 1883, Mellie accompanied her husband, John Morgan, in his travel to Manassa, Colorado and it’s very likely their children were left in the Groesbecks care. The children were with their grandparents in October when Mellie accompanied John on a month long trip to the Eastern States and the Southern  States Mission.

John Morgan wrote in his journal in early October that he had dinner at the Groesbecks and there discussed plans to travel east with his wife, Mellie, to visit his family and the Southern States Mission. It appeared that travel plans included brother-in-law John A. Groesbeck and his wife Ann.  

John and Mellie left their children home with the Groesbecks and a couple of weeks into the trip John wrote that he’d received a telegram from Nicholas informing him that all was well at home with their children.

That October daughter Josephine also needed her mother ’s help. She left her five-year-old daughter Sara in Elizabeth’s care.  In 1882 Josephine’s husband, Apostle John Henry Smith, was called to preside over the European Mission. A year later [1883] “he sent for Josephine to take charge of the mission home in Liverpool [England]. She left Sarah [born 1878], her first child, with her parents and took Nicholas [born 1881] with her. She had been in England only a few months when her mother died 28 December 1883. Six months later, 29 June 1884, her father passed away. With the death of both parents she felt she had to return to the little daughter she had left behind with her folks. She arrived in Utah August 11, 1883 [84]”.

On November 20, 1883 John and Mellie arrived back in Salt Lake. John wrote in his journal, "Arrived at Salt Lake at 6 a.m. and drove to brother G's [Groesbeck] for breakfast. Had dinner there and in the p.m. brought wife and children down home."  On December 16 he wrote that he "visited Sister Groesbeck who is quite sick."                 

I've gathered and posted information on Great Great Grandmother Groesbeck’s passing that can be read here and here and here. 

Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck. 1866-1868.

Cathedral in Derby, England

In 1866 when Nicholas Groesbeck was called to serve a mission to England, all but one of Elizabeth’s children were still living at home with her. Their oldest son Nicholas Harman married Rebecca Sanderson in 1862, and was presumably living in Springville, Utah with two children, and running the mercantile business Harmon purchased from his father in 1863.

William was 19 years-old, John Amberson was 17 years-old, Helen Melvina (Mellie), was 14, Hyrum was 12, Josephine, 9, Samuel, 6, and Joseph Smith was 2-years-old. Elizabeth’s eighty-year-old mother-in-law, Marie Bovee Groesbeck, would have also been living with her. Elizabeth probably had further household help, as she did twelve years later according to the 1880 census.

1880 Census Salt Lake City

Elizabeth was noted for her generosity and it was her custom to meet the immigration wagon trains as they arrived at the old Immigration Square (present day City and County Building, 4^th South and StateStreet), where she presented baskets of food and clothing to those without necessities. Sometimes she employed young women as domestic help and companions for her children. She was instrumental in the emigration of a number of Saints,one of them, Sarah Blood, who became her daughter-in-law. Sarah married Elizabeth’s youngest son, Joseph Smith, March 24, 1887.

What motivated Nicholas’ return home from his mission in the Spring in 1867 isn’t known. In the letter (posted here and here) he wrote to Elizabeth from Derby, England in February, 1867, Nicholas discussed a variety of topics that may have influenced his early return; his health, longings for Elizabeth, his dreams, concern for his sons’ behavior and education, and his properties and holdings.

He wrote in the letter, “You have a comfortable and a happy home, which I feel thankful for, and a plenty to make you happy, as far as this world’s goods are concerned but that does not always add to happiness.”

On November 2, 1867, their son William married Eleanor Philotta Pack. A couple of months later, in January, 1868, while enrolled at The Morgan Commercial College, their daughter Mellie met her future husband, John Hamilton Morgan. 

Nicholas and Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck's sealing in the Endowment House. 1857.

This history of Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck is continued from here.

Early in the year following their October 1856 arrival into the Salt Lake Valley, Nicholas and Elizabeth went to the Endowment House and were sealed there on February 19, 1857. Elizabeth had accepted the doctrine of plural marriage, the opposition of which led to her estrangement from the Church in the years following her 1841 Nauvoo baptism. On February 19, 1857 Nicholas was also sealed to Elizabeth McGregor in the endowment House. That marriage however ended in divorce. According to New Family Search NFS their sealing was cancelled April 24, 1859.

The Utah War confrontation lasted from May 1857 until July 1858, and the Groesbecks, along with everyone else in the Salt Lake Valley, packed up all of their belongings and moved South (some time after baby Josephine’s October 1857 birth). Nicholas settled his family in Springville, Utah where he set up another store, stocked with the merchandise he brought with him from Salt Lake.

The following year, 1858, when the Saints were given the go-ahead to return to the Salt Lake Valley Nicholas and Elizabeth left the store with their son Nicholas Harmon, who remained in Springville and purchased the business from his father.

The Groesbecks returned to an adobe house and an adjoining lot on the southeast corner of Main Street and 2nd South upon their 1858 return to Salt Lake. They lived there until 1864 when Nicholas purchased a home and land from Alfred Randall at 1st North and West Temple. There they were members of the 17^th Ward, and Nicholas and Elizabeth lived out their lives in the home on the land that became known as the Groesbeck Homestead.

Nicholas built the Kenyon Hotel on the southeast corner of 2^nd South and Main Street, where the family lived from 1858 to 1864. It is not yet clear to me when he built the hotel, but looking at the picture of it does clarify why his son-in-law John Hamilton Morgan aspired to do the same thing.

Nicholas Groesbeck became a very wealthy man, and any privation Elizabeth suffered as the oldest of ten children in the back woods of Pennsylvania surely was alleviated by the affluence she enjoyed as an adult.

A granddaughter wrote, “The floors of her home were covered with fine English velvet carpets. The furniture was made of the old solid walnut of those days. Her finest china was imported from France and she enjoyed buying the very best in silver, jewelry and glassware. Her choice was always in good taste. Her children and grandchildren are now enjoying the use of the lovely things she left to them.”

DUP Pioneer History of Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck written January 28, 1999 by granddaughter Barbara Rex Wade

The Groesbecks encountered buffalo on their 1856 trek to Utah.

The account of Nicholas and Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck’s trip from St. Louis, Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley is continued from here.

After securing the release of their son Nicholas Harmon from prison, Nicholas and Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck and family began their journey to Utah on June 3, 1856. They spent a few days with relatives in Schuyler County, Illinois on their way to the old Winter Quarters of Florence, about six miles above Omaha on the Missouri River, where Nicholas had sent all of his wagons and cattle. Their children, who traveled with them, were Nicholas Harmon, 14-years old, William, 12-years old, seven-year-old John Amberson, Helen Melvina (Mellie), four years old, and three-year-old Hyrum.

Their trek wasn’t without its share of blessings and disasters. Twenty days after their group left Florence they had to make a dry camp. That entailed digging wells to obtain enough water for culinary purposes. Their efforts provided very little water for their stock. The following morning as they started out, two of their teams became unmanageable and ran away. An eight- or nine-year old boy in one of the wagons attempted to jump from the front of the wagon, slipping. He fell in front of the wheels and was killed.

One night they camped by a shallow stream-let. A heavy rain fall during the night to the north turned the stream into a raging torrent of water six to eight feet deep. All were spared, however, they were required to continue camp until that night when the waters receded enough for them to cross over. When it rained again the next night raising the waters five or six feet, they considered themselves fortunate for they had camped on the south side of the river. They continued their journey, and camped on the south side of the next river. Unexpected deep stream waters weren’t cause for further delaying the Groesbecks’ journey.

The caravan saw their first buffalo on July 27 and some of the men took their guns and went out killing two or three. They brought in the first meat they’d had for some time which everyone enjoyed. The following morning, soon after they began their travel, they came upon some sand hills that were literally covered with buffalo. Two of their horses became frightened and ran into the midst of them. In the course of recovering the horses they came to the top of the hills and looked down on the valley below where, “we there saw the sight of our lives, for as far as the eye could see west, north and south it was a heavy mass of galloping buffalo.”

As the train proceeded they sent some men ahead shooting blank cartridges to scare the buffalo out of their way, and they traveled that way for a couple of hours. A row of buffalo traveling two abreast from the north then broke through their train separating the travelers. And it was with great difficulty they were eventually reunited. They traveled until reaching a bend in the Platte river where they stopped to camp for the night, turning their horses and cattle into the bend, and guarding the north side so their stock could not get our during the night, and the buffalo could not get it.

“It was a terrible night for all concerned for we were surrounded by those wild animals whose bellowing was like the roaring of the ocean.”

The following morning the company captains agreed to lay over a day to get some buffalo meat and jerk and dry it. During the day there was an accident that took the life of one of the Groesbeck teamsters. Solomon Hall was shot through the thigh, severing an artery, and causing him to bleed to death. They “buried him that evening in a very deep grave to keep the wolves from scratching him up.”

Four-year-old Mellie forever remembered her encounter with the buffalo, and for the rest of her life she recalled and retold the story of running into buffalo on her way to Utah.

They continued their travel for another ten days without incident, until they came upon a village of about three thousand Sioux and Cheyenne Indians who demanded a toll of provisions from the company. Through the course of a few days they experienced fear, they shared provisions, exchanged services, traded some and continued on their journey peacefully.

After they arrived west of Fort Laramie, Wyoming, their company split into five companies, each going on by itself. They crossed the Platte River--twice--and on September 4th they were in a great alkali bed where they gathered enough crude soda to last for years.

The day they camped east of Independence Rock, was the warmest they’d experienced on the road. The next morning they woke to six inches of snow on the ground and about “thirty head of oxen had been chilled to death. Fortunately there were some Indian traders there who sold us what cattle we wanted at a very reasonable price.

Notes: From Nicholas Harmon Groesbeck’s August 1916 autobiography. The copy in my possession is from cousin Karen M. Information about the John Banks Company may be seen here.

Thank you to cousin Nancy for the picture of "Brigham Young's Arrow." She took it three weeks ago about thirty miles east of Evanston, Wyoming, when she revisited the site where she'd walked on Pioneer Trek fourteen years earlier. She said there isn't a marker at the site. The rock arrow is fenced, and when she was on trek she was told this is the arrow President Young left, pointing the way for those who followed him. I assume the Groesbecks passed by that way also.

Groesbeck troubles in Springfield, Illinois. 1855-56.

Picture of Abraham Lincoln from Elizabeth Groesbeck's granddaughter Bessie Morgan Rex's scrapbook.

Following the Groesbecks’ conversion and rebaptism they had their challenges leaving Springfield, Illinois for the Salt Lake Valley.

In the fall of 1855 Nicholas Groesbeck, with his sons (Nicholas Harmon-13 yrs old, William-8 yrs old), and his brother Cornelius Groesbeck, partnered in cutting hay on the prairie. They would stay there a week at a time, mowing and raking and hauling the hay. Nicholas would sell the hay in the city and arrange for delivery by his son, Nicholas Harmon.

L-R; Nicholas Harmon, William, and John Groesbeck

On one occasion Elizabeth permitted her six-year-old John to go with his older brothers to the fields. As John set a fire for their lunch (they were going to cook beefsteak) a terrific gust of wind blew the fire into the dry grass and it spread faster than the boys could run and beat it down. The fire spread across a field, though they “worked like Trojans” to put it out, it set fire to large stacks of wheat and oats, containing eleven hundred bushels of grain belonging to a Mr. McGinnes who demanded $1100.00 as payment from Nicholas. Nicholas refused to pay, explaining it was an accident, and he was not responsible. Ten days later Mr. McGinnes brought suit against Nicholas and Cornelius and Nicholas Harmon. A trial was held in October, 1855 before a jury. Nicholas Groesbeck was cleared and a verdict of $3000.00 was rendered against Cornelius and Harmon Groesbeck.

It was known that the Nicholas Groesbeck family was leaving Springfield in the spring. Nicholas had sold his home and other holdings, purchased cattle, horses, wagons and a carriage. He was moving his family to Salt Lake. McGinnes’ attorney had the Marshal arrest Nicholas Harmon and put him in jail, for the law permitted imprisonment until the debt was paid. Nicholas acquired the services of his friend and attorney, Abraham Lincoln.

Working off the debt at $1.50 for every day that Harmon was confined, would have taken about five years to liquidate. And his board bill would have been paid by Mr. McGinnes. The fourth day of his confinement his Uncle Cornelius was imprisoned. But when Mr. McGinnes realized he would have to pay Cornelius’ board costs, and that of his family as well, Cornelius was released.

Nicholas Harmon wrote in his autobiography , “…leaving me there alone to work out the bill.

“It was here that I first got my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, having asked the Father in humble prayer in my cell in prison to show me how I should be liberated from that place. I did this in humble simplicity, having faith that the Lord would hear my prayer which he did, showing me that through a compromise between my father and Mr. McGinnes that I would be liberated shortly. When I told mother this she said father would never compromise for it was an unjust debt and that I would have to stay until I had worked it out. I told her that such would not be the case, that father would compromise for the Lord had shown me in a dream that it would be so. After I had been there nearly three weeks, father and Abraham Lincoln came one Sunday afternoon and told me that they did expect to make a compromise with Mr. McGinnes for about $300.00 which would liberate me and liquidate the entire indebtedness, thereby setting Uncle Cornelius as well as myself free of all incumbrances [sic] of that unfortunate fire. The next morning I was liberated.”

On June 3, 1856 their family started on their journey to Utah.

Nicholas Harmon Groesbeck’s August 1916 autobiography, Pamphlet Nicholas Groesbeck, by Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan, not dated, Pamphlet Our Groesbeck Ancestors in America, compiled and published by Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan, Sr., Salt Lake City, Utah, 1963.

April 6, 1841, Elizabeth Thompson Groesbecks' baptism in Nauvoo.

Earlier Elizabeth Groesbeck posts are here and here.

Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck’s 1883 obituary (bottom of this post) states she was baptized by William Smith in Nauvoo, Illinois on April 6, 1841, two weeks following her marriage to Nicholas Groesbeck in Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois on March 24, 1841.

April 6, 1841. --"The first day of the twelfth year of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! At an early hour the several companies comprising the 'Nauvoo Legion,' with two volunteer companies from Iowa Territory, making sixteen companies in all, assembled at their several places of rendezvous, and were conducted in due order to the ground assigned for general review. The appearance, order and movements of the Legion, were chaste, grand and imposing, and reflected great credit upon the taste, skill and tact of the men comprising said legion." [1]

Joseph Smith later led the legion, accompanied by “ladies” and “gentlemen” walking eight abreast, to the temple block, for impressive ceremonies; four cornerstones were laid for the Nauvoo Temple, hymns were sung, Joseph Smith and others addressed the group. Approximately 10,000 persons attended the services. “The assembly then separated with cheerful hearts.” [2] It is presumed that Nicholas and Elizabeth Groesbeck were among the people in Nauvoo that day, because that is the day and place it is reported Elizabeth was baptized.

Fast forward a lifetime to son-in-law John Hamilton Morgan's journal for December 28, 1883. [John Morgan and family had been keeping vigil at Nicholas and Elizabeth Groesbeck's home for weeks.] Came down home early and had breakfast, afterwards laid down and had a sleep. About 10:30 went to sister Groesbecks and found her dying, lying in an unconscious state. She lived only 20 to 25 minutes after I arrived, passing away quietly and peacefully as a tired child going to sleep. Thus died one of my best friends and one of God’s noblest women. After her death I wrote an obituary and had it inserted in the “Des. News.” … [3]

Born August 16, 1820-[written in ink on top of obituary]

Death of Sister Groesbeck--Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck , the beloved wife of Nicholas Groesbeck, departed this life December 28^th, 1883, aged 63 years, 4 months and 12 days. She was baptized in to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the 6^th day of April, 1841, by Elder William Smith, at Nauvoo; emigrated to the gathering place of the Saints in the year 1856. She leaves a husband and eight children—six sons and two daughters—to mourn her loss, all of whom were present at her death, except one daughter, Sister Josephine Smith, who is with her husband on a mission to Europe.

She died in full faith of the Gospel, and in anticipation of coming forth in the morning of the first resurrection, and with her latest breath urging upon her children to keep the faith, and live lives worthy of Latter-day Saints.

She has passed away a mother in Israel, whose hand was ever open to bless and succor the needy, whose heart was singularly free from guile, and whose memory will ever be held in sacred remembrance by her devoted husband and loving children.

Funeral services at the Seventeenth Ward Meeting house at 11 a.m., Sunday, December 30^th. Friends of the family are invited to attend.

Dec. 28, 1883 [written in ink on bottom)

1. History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Period I. History of Joseph Smith, the prophet by himself, Volume IV, published for the Church, 1978, The Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, pg. 326.

2. http://users.marshall.edu/~brown/nauvoo/chrono.html

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

Nauvoo picture from Wikipedia, obituary from cousin Karen M.

Nicholas and Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck. Lost sheep...

Earlier posts here about Nicholas [1819-1884] and Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck [1820-1883] are from histories my mother (Helen Rex Frazier) collected, and from DUP histories written by the Groesbeck’s granddaughters. Cousin Karen sent me a copy of their oldest son, Nicholas Harmon Groesbeck’s, autobiography. That, and an 1855 St. Louis, Missouri newspaper article I found online, clarified the ten-fifteen years they lived in Illinois.

While living in New York, Nicholas Groesbeck, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839. He then moved to Springfield, Illinois to be nearer the prophet Joseph Smith. In Springfield he met Elizabeth Thompson, who worked as a maid, and they were married on March 25, 1841. Seven of their ten children were born in Springfield. Son Nicholas Harmon, who was born April 27, 1842, wrote in his autobiography,

“From the time of 1844 to 1855 mother had opposed plural marriages and had investigated nearly every other religion, including spiritualism, but never could find anything to satisfy her. In the meantime she made it a matter of prayer and many times along with her children she would go into her room and there ask God to direct her in the right way, for she was sincerely seeking salvation for herself and her children’s souls; so that when Elder James Case came to her home and explained to her the principles of plural marriage in its true sense, she was thoroughly converted to it and in the latter part of May 1855, she and father were rebaptized, having previously been baptized into the Mormon Church. Elder Case taught them the principles of having their children baptized at eight years of age, and as myself and brother, William, were past eight years they immediately had us baptized. “

From letters written by Missionary Thomas Colburn and published in the May 2, and May 31, 1855, St. Louis Luminary found online here, I learned that missionaries were called in an earlier St. Louis conference to search out the lost sheep in the northeast. It was during that course that Elder James Case found himself at the Nicholas Groesbeck home in Springfield, Illinois. Elizabeth Groesbeck was listed among the members who were rebaptized.

Thomas Colburn’s report of Elder Case’s missionary experiences and visit to the Groesbecks published in the St. Louis Luminary is well worth the few minutes it takes to read through it. Search for Groesbeck after following the link above.

Picture of Elizabeth Thompson Groesbeck dress and shawl on display at recent DUP gathering.

1890 Morgan Hotel progress. Linton's birth September 21, 1890.

Continued from here.

Several buildings being built in Salt Lake City about the same time John Morgan built the Morgan Hotel 1890-1891 are pictured here. The Odd Fellows Hall is in this earlier post. And a picture of ZCMI, circa 1889 is here. The Templeton Building, circa 1890 is here.

Like his father-in-law and brothers-in-law, John Morgan is listed in the “Utah directory and gazetteer for 1879-80” as being in the real estate business.

On August 27, 1890, John Morgan was in Salt Lake City, after returning from Manassa, Colorado.

1890

August 28
Met Grow and talked over plans and specifications of building. At 11 a.m. attended Council Meeting …

August 29
At work about the building and other work about town.

August 30
Settled with the men for work done and got settled up with Grow …

September 1
Secured bids for the building and got affairs into shape to push the building.

September 2
At work piling lumber this forenoon. Assisted in setting some 25 or 30 Missionaries apart to go to various parts of the earth. At 5 p.m. left for Idaho.

September 3

Arrived at Preston at 12 M. Have spent the day quietly resting and visiting.

September 4
Wrote some letters this a.m. Had a visit from brother and sister Hale. Cool.

September 5
Left on the 5:30 a.m. train for home. Arrived at 12 m., busy about the building during the afternoon.

September 6
Payed [sic] the men off and got back accounts fixed up. Met Auntie Udall and accompanied her to Preston.

September 7
Remained quiet at home all day. Weather turned quite cold. Brought the stove in and fixed it up …

September 9

[back in Salt Lake] At work about the building and arranged with Saville and Baker to start the brick work. Left on the 5 p.m. train for Preston. Arrived at 11:30 p.m.

[Note: During this month John made six trips to Preston, Idaho to be with Mary Ann Linton Morgan, his 3rd wife. He would return to Salt Lake on a morning train a day or two later to work on his building and attend to Salt Lake affairs. He repeated that trip pattern until September 21, 1890, when Mary Ann, gave birth to their first child.]

September 20
At work about the building. Today our expense account was nearly $1,500, the heaviest weeks expense yet. Left on the 5 p.m. train for Idaho, arriving at 11:30 p.m.

September 21, 1890
Mary was delivered of a fine boy at 4:20 p.m. today. Got along very nicely for the first one.

September 22
Left on the 5:30 a.m. train for home and arrived at 11 a.m. and busy about the building during the p.m. The work went slowly owing to lack of men.

September 23
At work about the building and other matters about home.

September 24
Endeavoring to get money matters fixed up so that I can start to Colorado, but failed …

September 28
Returned to Logan ... returned to Idaho on the 10 p.m. train.

September 29
Remained quiet all day. A number of visitors called. In the afternoon blessed the baby giving it the name of Linton.

John Morgan Journal, Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah. Picture of Morgan Hotel from descendant Karen M. Thank you so very much!

John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan. Part 16.

Continued from here.

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

1884
On June 15 John Morgan left on the 7:30 a.m. train for Ogden to attend a Sunday School Conference, returning to Salt Lake that night. The following two days 16-17th he met with teachers in Salt Lake at a Co. [County] Institute. Following the last meeting … we went to the Ice Cream Saloon and had some ice cream …

June 18
Irrigating the lots during the most of the day, having to dig quite an amount of ditch to get the water down … June 22 Brought a bucket of Berries down to Mellie and was at home during the a.m. …Attended service at the 14th Ward and spoke to the people …

June 24
Irrigating the lots all afternoon. Quite hot. Brother Groesbeck taken seriously sick at Johns about 3 p.m. today …

Through the 28th John Morgan sat up with his brothers-in-law, Will, Harmon, and Hyrum Groesbeck, through night vigils with their father.

June 29
At home and asleep this forenoon. At Annies this p.m. quite warm. Late in the evening Mellie drove up for me, as brother G. [Groesbeck] was reported dying, came down with her and found him unconscious in which condition he remained until 7:35 when he peacefully passed away. I went to the Sextons and made some arrangements to care for the body…

June 30
Went up early this a.m. and had a talk with Harmon and John about the Funeral. At their request called at the “News” Office and gave the Reporter some prints about brother G’s life. Met Pres. Cannon and asked him to attend the funeral. Arranged for the choir, etc. Found brother and sister Salisbury at Annies.

July 1
Came down to Mellies early and was busy during the morning … at 3 p.m. getting ready for the funeral. Met at John’s house and followed brother G’s remains to the 17th Ward School house where a large congregation had assembled. Bishop Jno. Tingey presided and after prayer by Bishop F. Kesler, Counsellor Jno. W. Young, and pres. Geo. Q. Cannon addressed the people. Pres. A. M. Cannon dismissed. A lengthy procession was formed and followed the remains to the Cemetery where his body was laid away alongside of sister Groesbeck.

[Editor’s note: In the last six months, Mellie buried her mother, watched over her widowed father, her husband married a second wife, her father passed away, and baby Flora continued sick. ]

July 2
Attended to the settlement of some account and other business about town. In the evening, met with the Trustees and clerk of the District at my house and talked over business connected with school matters.

Wrote some letters and made some Sunday School meeting appointments. Weather very hot and dry, dusty. Was called on to administer to sister Case.

July 3
Wrote some today. Got a pass for Annie to go to Ogden on a visit. … July 4 … walked into town and saw the procession and crowd. Beer wagons and 2nd class advertisements made the most of the crowd. At home during the day. Went with Mellie and the children to see the fireworks at night which were good.

July 5-12 John Morgan obtained several railroad passes, attended D. O. Calder's funeral at the Tabernacle, and put down some carpet [its unclear in which home]. Looked after the work going on at the school house, got an estimate from Midgley on heating rooms, and looked over roll of assessments for the 14th District …

On July 13 John and Mellie attended the Morgan, Utah Jubilee together, returning home that evening on the p. m. train. ...15th Attended to irrigation of lots in the afternoon.

Annie accompanied John to a conference in Tooele on the 19-20th. Upon their return to Salt Lake … he walked around to pres. Jos. F. Smiths to see him about a trip to the San Juan.

July 21
Went out to the 10th Ward this a.m. and again in the p.m. Wrote some letters and attended to some business about town. …

August 1-9
Was taken up in attending the settling of Groesbeck’s Estate, Working with Hyrum most of the time in the office. This evening, accompanied by Mellie, I went to Springville.

“In the first eight years after the death of the Groesbecks, the extensive
estate was being distributed and the heirs were living well. John Morgan,
emulating his father-in-law, attempted to make real estate work for him and his
family.”

August 10

In company with ?. Groesbeck, drove up to Provo to attend the session of the S. S. Supts. We had an interesting session, Pres. W. Woodruff being present, with a goodly attendance from the various wards. At 4:30 p.m. took train in company with Elder Marks and Parry for Salt Lake. Arriving at 6:30 p.m.

August 11
In the office part of the day, and attended to some business connected with schools.

August 12
While walking along the street in front of Z. C. M. I. Hampton Beatie came out and enquired about the death of some Elders in Tenn. which was the First I had heard of the matter.

On going to the “News” office, I found an Associated Press dispatch giving an account of the killing of four Elders in Cane Creek, Lewis Co., Tenn. Late in the evening, I wired Elder Roberts to learn particulars. Called on and had and interview with Pres. Jos. F. Smith on the subject of the Tenn. murder.

The August 12-30th journal entries are primarily related to this tragedy. The event is best explained by The Amateur Mormon Historian and The Ancestor Files blogs posted here: Cane Creek Massacre, Visit to Lewis County, and History of the Southern States Mission.

(To be continued.)
The Man Who Moved City Hall; Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan, by Jean R. Paulson, Copyright 1979, by Marjorie Morgan Gray, pgs 6-9. This picture of the old City Hall is from that book cover. John Morgan worked in city hall for some time. It was moved and preserved on Capitol Hill, in Salt Lake City, by his son, Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan's, efforts.

John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan. Part 14.

Continued from here.

Thirteen years after John and Helen Melvina (Mellie) Groesbeck Morgan’s 1868 marriage, and with four of their then six children still living, they entered into polygamy. John Morgan took a second wife. According to family history Mellie agreed.

From the John Morgan Journal, Marriott Library, University of Utah.
1884
January 9
… While in company with John Houston and R. T. Clark, met Pres. A. M. [presumably Angus Mumm] Cannon who gave us quite a talking about our failure to obey the Law of Celestial Marriage. …

January 12
Attended to some business about town and called at brother Groesbecks to see Mellie … Mellie came down tonight and attended to washing, cleaning up the children. After going to bed we had a long talk about our family affairs and other matters that needed to be talked over.

January 13
At home with Mellie until 11 a.m. when I went up to the 14th Ward Sunday School for a short time … Attended meeting in the Assembly Hall at 2 p.m. and listened to Pres. W. B. Preston and Apostle Geo. Teasdale preach, the latter delivering a fine discourse treating on a variety of topics, bearing a faithful and strong testimony to the Gospel and its many principles. Had dinner at brother Groesbecks and returned home with Mellie and Eliza [presumably his daughters]. Went to the depot and met sister Smith who has come to attend to the housework. [I wonder if this is the Sister Smith, John will marry?]

January 14
Met the members of the Legislature in the meeting at the City Hall and canvassed the question of officers for the Assembly… Adjourned at 4 p.m. and came home and had a most unpleasant talk with Mellie and both felt very bad. Attended meeting at 7 p.m. where a variety of topics were canvassed. Returned home at 10 p.m. and Mellie and I had a talk that lasted until after 11 with a very good result and a much better understanding about many matters.

Mellie continues to watch over her widowed father. On the 15th John recorded … Brother Groesbeck and Mrs. Marsh were with us for dinner. … Mellie went up to her mothers tonight …

January 18 … in the evening attended a party at the Social Hall and enjoyed myself very much, returning and stayed all night at brother Groesbecks. 19th …Mellie and the children came down tonight. January 20 … Had dinner at brother Groesbecks and attended the 16th Ward again in the evening. … January 21, Came down from brother Groesbecks where I stayed last night and attended to some matters connected with the Legislature. Attended the 2 p.m. session and caucus (?) At 7 p.m. also a birthday reception party to sister E.R.S. [Eliza Roxcy Snow] Smith on her 80th birthday given at the Social Hall. …

January 24
Endeavored to see A. M. Cannon, but failed. Came up to the Hall and wrote a while. Attended p.m. session and caucus in the evening, took part in the discussion of the labors of the committee on Revision and Compelation [sic]. Rose Stratton called to be administered to, but we failed to see pres. Cannon.

January 25
Called on A. M. Cannon this a.m. relative to administering to sister Stratton [Sister Rose Stratton has not been mentioned before or since.] Went to the pres. Office with Victor Cram to obtain a small appropriation for him. In the Legislature during the p.m. A number of visitors at our house this p.m.

[According to FamilySearch, Adalina Annie Mildred Gwenolin Smith was sealed to John Morgan in the Endowment House on January 25, 1884. What a beautiful string of names. Some of them have been omitted in the Conejos County Church Records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Members List 1909 (Book 1-M). See Amy’s post at The Ancestor Files for further informtion about their family.]

On February 2 … Made our arrangements and at 4:42 p.m. took train for Springville in company with my wife [Mellie] and two youngest children. Arrived at 7 p.m. and went to N. H. Groesbecks for the night. … Back in Salt Lake by February 11, … Walked up to brother Groesbecks and saw Mellie and children. Sent back up and brought them home. Storming during the entire day.

February 12
Attended to quite a variety of business this a.m. and attended session at 2 p.m. and met with the special committee on a school law for Salt Lake City, Weather very cold. Flora quite sick. …February 14 … Attended Theatre at night.

February 15
Attended session at 10 a.m. The School Bill up for discussion. At 1 p.m. accompanied the Wyoming and Utah Legislatures to Camp Douglas where Gen. McCook tendered a reception. At night took Mellie to a Grand Ball at the Theatre, remaining until 1 a.m.

February 16
Attended session at 10 a.m. … At 2 p.m. took train to Ogden in company with other visitors... Had a pleasant chat and a number of speeches on the platform at the depot. Storming terrible during the p.m. Walked out to Annies and stayed all night. Spent a pleasant evening, very tired.

February 17
At Annie’s all day. Storming some. Left at 3:30 p.m. and walked down to the Depot. Fell a very hard fall on the way. Took the 5:15 train and arrived at home at 7 p.m. Found Mellie quite unwell and administered to her. Terribly stormy tonight.

… February 20, Came up to the hall and wrote a number of letters … Attended a party at the Social Hall and took Mrs. M. [presumably Morgan] and Mrs. Homer Clayton. Elders Wiles, Hunter, and Davidsen just returned from a mission to the southern states and stayed all night with me.

With the help of Mattie Cowley, John located a house in the 10th Ward in Salt Lake. By March 26th, he’d arranged for a kitchen range, carpets, and hot water to be hooked up there. Annie resided in the 10th Ward throughout the year.

March 28
Attended some business about town. Wrote some and in the evening took Mellie and daughters to the 14th Ward Hall to a party got up by the Relief Society. ...

General Conference brought many visitors to town. Apr. 2, Cornelia and Katie Groesbeck with brother G. [Groesbeck] came to dinner with us. Apr. 3, Attended the Theatre tonight with Mellie and Katie G. … on April 6th … At meeting all day and at Priesthood meeting at night. During the day Pres. Cannon, Smith, and Taylor spoke to the people and at night the same ones spoke in great plainness at the question of Celestial Marriage and urged the saints and especially the Presiding Priesthood to obey the commandment.

April 7
Attended the setting apart of the missionaries and gave those going to the south instructions as to the journey. Attended Stephen Concert at the Tabernacle and heard some good singing, but it was too long and drawn out.

April 8
Did some writing and some business about town. Got Sam. To do some spading in the 10th Ward. Went out with Mattie Cowley and rode through Liberty Park with Annie.
(To be continued.)

1893 Playbill and The Wards of Salt Lake Map from Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan's collection at Special Collections, Marriott Library, University of Utah.