John Hamilton Morgan Journal, something further about C. F. Christensen and $5

[Editor’s note: This August 14, 1885 journal entry answers the question Bruce Crow posed here. I’ve added the additional John Morgan journal entries about the Christensen case I found through the end of 1885.]

1885
August 14
Arrived at J. C. [Johnson City] at 5:30 a.m. Had my boot heels fixed by a red headed shoemaker and at 6:30 took train for Elizabethton. Arrived at 7:00 a.m. Had breakfast at the Snyder House. Met C. C. Collins and had a talk with him on the Christensen’s case. At my request he examined the court record and found that it read that C. F. Christensen is bound to the State of Tenn. in the sum of five dollars and Wm. Green in the sum of five. Met quite a number of friends and was introduced to a number of Mrs. Ingles. Had a very pleasant talk with Simmerly and others.
…
August 19
Started early this a.m. and accompanied by brother Rouche, walked to Roan Mt. station and came to Elizabethton on the cars. Had dinner at the Snyder House and a talk with Collins. Wrote quite a number of letters. Warm.

August 20
Met Collins and had quite a talk with him about the case. Afterwards walked to depot and took train to Johnson City. Had dinner at the Hoss House. Took train for Chattanooga and arrived at 10:20. Hot and dusty.
…
September 25
Went to Knoxville on the 10 a.m. train. Met and talked over the Christensen case with Gen. Thomburg and decided to try to stop prosecution by taking advantage of error in Court record. Returned to Chattanooga at 10 p.m.
…
October 12
Arose at 4:30 and went out to the Depot in an awful rain storm and at 5:37 took train for Chattanooga. Had breakfast at Round Mountain and dinner at Newport. Met Col. Thomburg at Knoxville and held a consultation on the Christensen case. Arrived in Nooga at 10:10 p.m. Tired.

[Note: This doesn’t look like it has ended yet. But my copy of this part of John Morgan’s journal ends on January 3, 1886. There is no further mention of the Christensen case through that date. I can tell I’ll need to return to the Marriott Library, which I really enjoy doing. When and if I discover further mention of this incident I’ll share it here.]

You can get a good look at, and a bit of history about, Col. Thornburg by reading about this incident at The Ancestor Files. John Morgan’s rn must have looked like an m to the typist who transcribed his journal.



It appears C.C. Collins was a local court official.

John Hamilton Morgan descendants gather.

Yesterday, October 11, 2009, descendants of John Hamilton and Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan gathered in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. They included 2 granddaughters, 2 great grandsons, 4 great granddaughters, and one great great great granddaughter. We had a perfect autumn afternoon to become acquainted and renew with one another. We visited the grave sites of John Morgan and his loved ones, paying tribute to them and reviewing their histories. Thank you Cousin Karen M. for your beautiful pictures and recollections, two hours sped by.


The Prophet Joseph Smith’s contemplations of his own father from last Sunday’s Teachings of Presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith, “Family: Sweetest Union for Time and for Eternity,” Lesson 42, pgs. 484-5 are applicable.

“I love my father and his memory; and the memory of his noble deeds
rests with ponderous weight upon my mind, and many of his kind and parental
words to me are written on the tablet of my heart.

“Sacred to me are the thoughts which I cherish of
the history of his life, that have rolled through my mind, and have been
implanted there by my own observation, since I was born. Sacred to me is his
dust, and the spot where he is laid. Sacred to me is the tomb I have made to
encircle o’er his head. Let the memory of my father eternally live.
…”

We visited the grave sites of John Hamilton Morgan, Helen Melvina Groesbeck Morgan, and children John, Elizabeth, Flora, Ruth, and Eliza; Mary Ann Linton Morgan and son Harold, his wife Jessie, and additional family members; Annie Smith Morgan, and children Annie Ray Morgan Heislet, Joseph Smith Morgan and their spouses. We visited Groesbeck grave sites; Nicholas and Elizabeth Thompson, and more children and descendants than I can number.

Grave sites of Nicholas G. Morgan Sr. and his wife Ethel brought to mind gratitude for their inclination to gather, preserve, and share John Morgan’s journal, papers, pictures, etc., and their descendants' inclination to do the same.

I took this picture in 2008.

Frank Union and Emily Rufi Frazier, Part 7.

Excerpts from Frank. U. Frazier 1947 Journal, continued . Original spelling and punctuation retrained. The last entry from this journal is posted here.

Fri., Sept 5--I help Emily wash this fore noon and raked this after noon. Elmer got through Mowing. We bought our peaches this morning from Mr. Hasting 7 bu peaches, ½ tomatoe, ½ concord grapes.

Sat., Sept 6—[No entry. I wonder if he helped Emily bottle fruit? Too tired to write?]

Sun., Sept 7--Went up and cut Francis lambs out. Went to Ogden and stayed all night.
Lambs weighed 92 fats
feeders- 74
743 head
got $25.35 for fats
$21.75 for feeders

Fri., Sept 12--Rich County Fair. Elmer took sheep down with Ray Cox’s truck. Jake, Bill went with Me in car- 1 Grand Champ, 4 First, 5 Seconds, 4 thirds. The parade was surely a dandy. Dell Adams was representing Jim Bridger.

Thurs., Sept 18--We came home today, roads was surely bad on the Mountain, got home to Night found All well.

Fri., Sept 19--Elmer, Francis went up to finish Nick with last heard and stayed all night. I cleaned the Coop and put some straw in. Shelby brough his car for Emily to use while our car is in hills.

Sat. Sep 20--I finished the Mowing third crop Lucurn over Creek and raked the hay in R.R.

Sun., Sept 28--The Folks all went to Sunday School but Me and Brenda Dee. Delora’s boy came down for a while. Afternoon Elmer, I, boys went to Randolph to look at some cows- Elmer sold two buck lambs to Tayle McKinnon for $100.00.

Sat., Oct 4--I went out and helped Lyn Huffaker thrash grain in afternoon. Fixed fences in the Morning. Verla folks came out and stayed all night.

Mon., Oct 13--Started to dig potatoes for Arthor Dean.

Fri., Oct 17--I went to Kemmer with Fredricks, Shelby, Will Rex and stayed with them to a banquet, got home at 15 to 12. Dr. Hawkins, Herald came last night, also Dale’s Boys.
Sat., Oct 18--I went with the Dr. up in Deanholler this Morning. Elmer sold 6 bucks to Charley Francis for $300.00. Quite a lot people had their treatments today.

Sun., Oct 19--I went to Union Meeting at Evanston, Gerli, Putman, Dorthy Dean went with me had a flat coming home, got home at 1 o’clock

Picture of Elmer Frank Frazier with dogs on Frank Union Frazier's farm truck in front of the "old yellow house' at the Frazier Woodruff Ranch, about the same time as the journal, from Glenn and Helen Rex Frazier collection. Frank Union Frazier 1947 journal in my possession.

Frank Union and Emily Rufi Frazier, Part 6.

Excerpts from Frank. U. Frazier 1947 Journal, continued here. Original spelling and punctuation retrained. The last entry from this journal is posted here.


Thurs., Jun 26--Leon. Loyal- Boy came about noon. Elmer, Verla, Harvey, Marry went to Coalvill for a check up- Marry stayed down. I raked all day over Creek got done about 6,30 didn’t get Milking done till 9,30.

Wed., Jul 9--Elmer & I went to Sam E. Chornius Funural at Tremonta Nick was sure glade to see us come. 202 miles. Nick has sure got a swell house.. didn’t have a bit of trouble with car run like a top.

Mon., Jul 14--Washed today- had quite a time with washer- Frankie, Mark finished J. Arthor Dean hay- and started Jake Rufi hay- I put the wheels under the derick and got ready to go up after the sheep in Francis heard- Frankie, I.

Tue., Jul 22--Emily Birthday- 61 years old- we all went up to Delora for supper- Gordon, Aunt Maud came their after supper. Elmer, boys went to show. Rain today. Arthor, I put a bridge across the little creek.

Sun., Aug 3--My birthday we had a dandy time togather. First I went to Sunday School and then came back to dinner. Aunt Maudie, Bruce, Delora was here when we came back, Elmer sold some cull ewes to Gale McKinnon for $12.00. 18 head

Wed., Aug 6--Elmer started to Mow the second crop on Island, over Creek, broke oil line on the tractor also three sections we started to put the hay up over creek. I finished Mowing the back south and Island North of the stackyard. Aunt Maude, Emily, Sherlay, Brent, Frankie and myself went to show, Mark came back with us.

Wed., Aug 20--Elmer took Verla to Coalville this Morning to stay. Glenn, Helen went with them, going to stay with Winnie place toNight. I sold three cows for $170.00 a piece or $510.00. May, Nick, Nola. I mowed some hay down in R.R. for Frankie.

Sat., Aug 23--We went up to see some cows of Rowlens Sims, they are Very good Cows. Fixed window in car. Glenn, Helen, children went to Randolph for a while.

Sun., Aug 31--We took Glenn, Helen, children up to Delora’s and had birthday dinner for Elmer and put them on “the train at 9,30” Sure had a swell time while he has been out. Dillon Terell came to see us this Morning.

Picture of Emily Rufi Frazier and daughter-in-law, Verla Madsen Frazier at the Frazier Woodruff Ranch, about the same time as the journal, from Glenn and Helen Rex Frazier collection. Frank Union Frazier 1947 journal in my possession. Are those dresses Emily and Verla wearing made from the same fabric. Who do you think made them?

John Morgan Journal, missionaries jailed, 1885; May 14-22.

Red Butte Garden trail, Salt Lake City, Utah, September, 2009

[Editor’s note: Motivated by these two very interesting posts at Amateur Mormon Historian and The Ancestor Files, I decided to add the following information from John Morgan’s Journal.

In an earlier post John Morgan and his wife, Annie Smith Morgan (married 1884) and their baby Annie Ray (born 14 Dec 1884), are making a second attempt (April 13, 1885) to travel East to the Southern States Mission.]

1885
May 14
[Chattanooga, Tennessee] Went out with Annie trading this a.m. During the day received a telegram from Elder C. F. Christensen stating that he had been arrested in Carter Co., Tenn. for preaching polygamy. Wired him in reply and wrote him and Gen. Jno. T. Wilder in regard to the matter. Mailed a circular letter to the Elders in the mission.

May 15 … Called on Maj. McGuffey and showed him Elder Christensen’s letter and had a talk with him on the subject.

May 16
Received a letter from Elder Christensen stating that they had been sent to jail at Elizabethtown, Carter Co. … I have now done all I can for the brethren here and leave tonight on the 7:10 p.m. train to go to them, trusting in the God of Isreal [sic, probably typo] to protect us.

From May 14-21, John Morgan details his course in his journal. He approaches one official to obtain a letter of introduction to the next, ultimately acquiring the needed introductions, letters and signatures to proceed. Satisfying each demand, President Morgan traveled from Chattanooga to Johnsons City, to Elizabethton. He returns to Chattanooga, then to Knoxville, and back to Johnsons City, and on to Elizabethton on May 21, accompanied by the needed authorities, signatures and papers to free his missionaries. In the following journal sample President Morgan describes meeting his jailed missionaries. (Click on the following image to enlarge. Hopefully you will be able to read this poor copy.)


May 18 … Bought the boys some lemon and sugar to make a drink.
…

May 21 [arrived Elizabethton] … at 7:55 a.m. I went directly to the jail and met the brethren. Both of them were quite well and feeling well and after a short interview, I went to the Hotel and met Mr. Collins on the way. Together we went to the Synder House and had quite a talk on the subject. Col. T. [Col. Jacob Thomburg, of Mess. Thomburg and Andrews of Knoxville] had gone out into town to make an impression and look around. About 11 he returned and the bond was shown to him and in a few moments it was presented to the jailor with Col. T. as security. It was accepted and the brethren were immediately released. All of us met at the Snyder House for dinner. Feeling splendid at the result of our labors which, through the blessing of the Lord, had results in their release. After dinner, we walked out to the spring above town and called on the jailer and wife and thanked them for courtesies extended. At 3:20 the Col. And myself took train for Johnsons leaving the Elders to return to their fields of labor tomorrow. Arrived at Johnsons at 4 p.m. and wrote a few letters. Afterwards went to bed to rest until the 1:55 a.m. train arrived.

May 22
Took train at Johnson at 1:55 and came to Chattanooga parting with Col. Thomburg at Knoxville. Found Annie and baby well. …

[Note: This section of my John Morgan Journal copy ends June 17, 1885. When the additional pages I’ve ordered from the Marriott Library, Special Collections, are available I will look for an entry that might answer the Amateur Mormon Historian’s query, “I wonder when President Morgan went back to eastern Tennessee and noticed the court records.”]

John Hamilton Morgan, Manassa, Colorado, fishing trip, visit from the First Presidency, August 7-17, 1890, Part 2 of 2.

John Morgan fields at Manassa, Colorado. This picture probably taken in 194o-50's.

1890
August 7
Bought a second hand buggy from Cutler to come and go from the ranch without stopping the team. Stayed tonight at the ranch.

August 8
Finished hoeing trees and garden. Have concluded to go fishing next week and have a four days out.

August 9
At ranch today, and night. In the afternoon drove to LaJara and met brother George Goddard who comes to attend our Sunday School Conference.

August 10
Conference convened at 10 a.m. A slim attendance owing to the failure of others schools to attend, for fear of the measles. Two sessions held during the day, and appointments made at Antonito and Sanford.

August 11
A party consisting of B. H. Roberts and family, William Spry and family, sister Josie [Josephine Groesbeck] Smith and family, myself and family, the three Vance boys, and J. [Joseph] F. Thomas started up the Conejos this a.m. Brother Goddard was also of the party. We drove thirty miles to McIntyre’s ranch and made camp. Caught enough fish for supper. Songs and recital of experiences occupied the evening.

August 12
Left the women and children in camp under the care of brother Goddard. The rest of us drove seven miles farther up and started fishing. Caught 130 fish and returned to camp by 3 p.m.

August 13
Drove up five miles this morning and started to fish. Had lunch at noon and most of us went to camp. The Vances remained to fish. At night it was found that we had caught 345 fine trout during the two days.

August 14
Started on our return home at 9 a.m. A part of the company went direct to Manassa, brother Goddard and I accompanied brother and sister Spry to Antonito. They to take the train for Utah while we remain and hold meeting to a big crowd at the school house. On our way home, called at brother Bradys whose little girl had just died from the effects of an accident, wherein she lost one of her feet in a mowing machine. Arrived home at 12:30 a.m.

August 15
Drove to Sanford today and held meeting at 4 p.m. with the Sunday School children. A fair attendance. Returned late in the evening.

August 16
At work about the corral hanging some gates, etc. President [Wilford] Woodruff, [George Q.]Cannon, and [Joseph F.] Smith accompanied by brother Wilkin and Winters arrived at 4 p.m. from the south to attend the Quarterly Conference which convened tomorrow. Brother [George] Goddard and I called and had a pleasant interview with brother W. [Wilford Woodruff] and C. [George Q. Cannon]

August 17
Sunday School met at 9 a.m. A fair attendance addressed by President Woodruff and Cannon. Conference met at 10 a.m. President Woodruff spoke a short time and was followed by President Cannon in good advice and counsel. At 2 p.m. a large crowd in attendance. Brother Smith spoke and I followed. President Cannon spoke briefly. A Priesthood meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. President Woodruff and Cannon.

Part 1

Sources:

B. H. Roberts biography

Scroll down here for information and a picture of the entire first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1889-98), President Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, and Joseph F. Smith.

Three Vance boys: There are 32 Vances listed in the Manassa, Colorado cemetery; perhaps Zebedee, Vance, and Abner.

John Morgan Journal and Manassa fields picture from the Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah. Hand drawn map from Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, September 2007 Lesson, Settlement of Colorado by Utah Pioneers, page 20.

John Hamilton Morgan, Manassa, Colorado, July 5-August 17, 1890, 1 of 2 parts.

John Hamilton and Annie Smith Morgan with their family; Annie Ray, Myrtle in front, and John Albemarle on his mother’s lap. This picture was taken June 19, 1890, at Marshall’s Gallery, Denver, Colorado.

Because of the John Morgan journal we know more about this 1890 picture of John Morgan’s family. His journal offers glimpses into family life such as this one, and the passing of Myrtle five weeks later. Perhaps they typify events, even pictures, with other family members that are yet to be discovered.

It is evident that John Morgan “catches up” at different times in his journal. These entries are exactly as they appear in the typed version of his journal at the Marriott Library, University of Utah. This 2 part post begins the day after John Morgan returned from a trip to the Manti Temple that is posted here.

1890
July 5
Have finished tearing down the old building and the men are getting out the cellar for the new rapidly. [The old building is the Morgan Commercial College. John Morgan will build the Morgan Hotel on the same site.]

July 6 to 22
Have been busy with my building work and other duties. On the 22 started for Colorado over the U. P. at 5 p.m.

July 23
Had breakfast at Rawlings. Changed cars at Cheyenne and arrived at Denver at 7:45 p.m. Left for Manassa at 11:30 p.m.

July 24
Arrived at the crossing at 12 m. Team met me and learned that little Myrtle had the measles and was quite sick. On arriving home found her very sick with pneumonia. Labored with her the rest of the day and night. She suffered severely but was very patient.

July 25
Continued nursing Myrtle who seemed satisfied only on my lap. She showed some better indications today.

July 26
No improvement in our little one’s condition. Still we are doing everything we can to help her.

July 27
Myrtle worse this a.m. and very seriously sick. Have had her administered to and doing everything in our power.

July 28
As the first rays of the sun shone through the window our darling died in my arms, quietly and peacefully falling asleep. A dear gentle good spirit, all too good for this world of sin and misery. The friends and neighbors came in and did all they could for us showing every kindness.

July 29
Funeral at 2 p.m. today. Brother [probably Brigham Henry] Roberts and [probably William] Spry were the speakers, having arrived on the noon train. A large attendance and everything that loving hands could do, done.

July 30
Rained and very wet so that it is almost impossible to do anything.

July 31
At work trying to get the weeds out of the trees and garden that are about to take everything.

August 1
Still at work with the weeds, and received a telegram notifying me of brother [probably George] Goddard coming.

August 2
Both the other children taking down with the measles, the baby breaking out heavy. Ray complaining.

August 3
Both children in bed with measles, but doing well.

August 4
Ray, up and about the house. Got the trees plowed out and trimmed.

August 5
At work about the corrall [sic] and making hayracks, preparatory to haying.

August 6
Plowed the potatoes and hoed them. The children much improved.

(To be continued.)

John Morgan Journal and picture from John Morgan collection at the Marriott Library, Special Collections, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.