LISTON, Perry Martindale b. 6 Jun 1850 Keg Creek, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States d. 5 Aug 1926 Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States

1850 - 1926 (76 years)

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Name	LISTON, Perry Martindale
Birth	6 Jun 1850	Keg Creek, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States
Christening	24 Sep 1876	Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States
Gender	Male
WAC	2 Nov 1910	MANTI
_TAG	Reviewed on FS
Death	5 Aug 1926	Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States
Burial	8 Aug 1926	Escalante Cemetery, Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States
Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
Person ID	I53854	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

Family ID F26528 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Family	SHIRTS, Emma Jean , b. 2 Apr 1861, Manti, Sanpete, Utah, United States Manti, Sanpete, Utah, United Statesd. 2 Feb 1933, Escalante, Garfield, Utah, United States (Age 71 years)
Marriage	20 May 1876	Escalante, Iron, Utah, United States
Family ID	F26527	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

Photos At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

Notes

This History is what I can remember that I heard my father Perry Martindale Liston state in his later life.
Perry Martindale Liston was born 6 June 1850 in Pottawottami (now Mills) Iowa.
At the age of two he with his family came to Utah, his parents were Commodore Perry Liston and Elizabeth Reeves.
C.P. Liston for short on the name of Commodore Perry from here on instead of the full name commodore Perry Liston.
The family they had just the three children at this time 1852, William Albert, Rufus Benson, and my father Perry Martindale Liston.
They the parents of my father brought with them the wife of Hyrum Smith, Laura Farnsworth and one son and Laura had been married a couple of times before coming to Utah with C.P. Liston. After they arrived in Salt Lake C.P. Liston had Laura Farnsworth sealed to Hyrum Smith for eternity and to C.P. Liston for time only. Laura with C.P. Liston and family soon being called by Brigham Young to help settle America Fork and Pleasant Grove. He helped with the first saw mill in American Fork. Laura was a school teacher in Pleasant Grove. She died and buried in Pleasant Grove Cem as I got the inf. From the sexton living in Pleasant Grove. Laura brought with her one son and the other son wouldn’t come to Utah.
Soon my grand parents were called to help settle the small towns down south of Salt Lake, American Fork, and Pleasant Grove, they moved to Beaver, Minersville, Cedar City, St. George, Santa Clara. Later he lived with his folks in Pinto and Daniel & myself saw the house that was still standing one trip when we went to a Liston Reunion in Caliente, where William Albert lived and we went through his old log house still standing. Dad also was in Pioche, I think C.P. Liston moved from one place to another helping get the towns settled.
In fathers early life he rode on horse back to House Rock Valley, and he mention several places in Arizona that he traveled on horse back and he covered a lot of country that seems a long time now in car as both Daniel and myself and Newell came through the area one trip from California.
At the age of 16 father served in the Black Hawk War but he never could get a pension for his service.
Father and uncle Rufus Benson and I suppose other brothers worked in the Silver Reef Mines just North of St. George.
Father must have been about 20 years of age when he with Rufus Benson, Joseph Smith, Uncle Jim as he was called moved to Panguitch and while there the Don Carlos Shirts family lived in Panguitch , and this the first time my father saw my mother Emma Jean Shirts, she was mixing bread while standing on a box to reach the pan and dad said then she was the one he wanted for his wife.
Both the Shirts and Liston boys moved to Escalante 1876 and here again my father and mother got better acquainted and they were married 1876 or 1878 but the Temple records states 1876 Manti, Temple.
The Liston brothers grazed their cattle in the upper valley and Ruffus Benson took up a place just west of the big oil tanks and father took up a ranch just the next hollow near the oil tanks and at one time we took pictures of the old chimney and the big ponda rosa tree where dad would string up his feef’s and at this time many years later the ring was still around a limb of the tree.
Now both the tree and the chimney are down but still remains there.
My parents were ranching here about 1900 as my sister Elizabeth or Lade as she was known said that was where she and Ammon Roundy did their courting and they were married in 1905.
Mother made cheese and butter and made a strong brain to keep the butter in and in the fall they would take a load of cheese and butter to Salt Lake City to trade for flour, sugar, canned gods, and some time a bolt of material, I have seen one hundred pound sacks of peanuts, large buckets of candy when I was old enough to learn these things and this kept on until they had a store in Escalante where goods could be brought in by wagon some times in the deep snow and these trips would take about a month up and back. Sometimes my mother would go along with other women and their husbands as they would usually go in a group and mother would drive the team and care for them.
The Liston brothers had a choise of the best land both in town and on ranches and at one time Rufus was in parteners until their boys all grew up and then they divided up and each went his way.
My brother Don Carlos stated that my parents had a ranch in Pine Creek called the Auger Hole and there they made cheese and butter for the winter.
Later father bought the old Moosman Ranch that is in the main canyon and they lived there around twenty years or more.
I was sixteen years old when they sold the ranch and that about killed me as dad always had many horses and I could ride any of them any time and this I did as I was the one to geather the cows and calves morning and night and I helped with the milking of the cows.
At one time father had about every part of land that could be used into either alfa, grain or potatoes but it surely is not like that any more.
I have seen the time when you could be on one side of the grain when the reels would go around when cutting the grain and you couldn’t see the reels, that small log grainery was full to the top with both wheat and oats when they would harvest in the fall.
Don said one time when he and Elizabeth or Lade were quite young they ran on to a band of sheep while living up in Pine Creek so they decided to run them off a cliff and they did killing all of them and they knew that when my parents found out they would catch it so they put willow branches in their trousers so it wouldn’t hurt when they got a whipping this did the trick until Uncle Perry Shirts mothers brother told on them and then they did get a good whipping.
Don said they would all get bucket and go geather all kinds of berries such as raspberries, goose berries, straw berries, Choke cherries and elder berries and mother would use sorgum malessas to sweeten them and make preserves and jelly.
I can remember the good thin jelly that was made from elder berry and choke cherries when she would make it on the main canyon ranch.
I can remember when the bull berries were ready there would be four kids one on a corner of a sheet to hold it up while dad would hit the limbs and knock them into the sheet. This I am sure I shall never forget as I hated to see the time of the year come.
She mother had a long row of goose berries full length of the garden and believe me that was a job to have to pick those berries by the bucket full and then she would sell the bull berries and goosed berries to people in town.
Going back to the early life here in Escalante dad sang in the choir, payed in the band her played a big brass horn, he helped haul all the brick for the old elementary school house, helped with the building material of the old white meeting house and he was an active man in helping build up Escalante.
From history states father was one for the first trustees when the elementary school house was made. He was in other public offices.
Father first owned two and a quarter acres of land here in town but when Alonzo got married he let him have a small part in the north cornor of the lot.
He first built a log house in the north cornor of the lot and I can remember fruit trees along the water ditch as a small child.
Later they said he built another long house just north of the barn then but the barn has since then burned down.
The first children were born in both these log homes and I can remember playing in the second log house as it was then used as a grainery or a place to store the coal and other tools.
Perry Martin, Elizabeth or Lade, Don Carlos, Marcy, Philo T, Riley were born in these lof houses and by 1890 Alonzo was the first to be born in this new brick home this was 1894 when he was born. Mother laid on a rug by the fire place and she was sick 36 hours as Alonzo just couldn’t be born for so long a time.
Don said he was only about 8 years old when he helped catch some of the brick from the North window up stairs and they would haul them up in a wheel borrow so it wasn’t so far to throw them to Don.
My father was known as Mart most of his life and especially here in Escalante. He told us a few of his young experiences and he stated one time he had been out riding in the rain storm all day driving cattle and when they camped for the night he was cold and wet so he stood near the fire to get warm and one of the men said to him (For heaven sakes jump in if your going to) as his buckskin trousers had gone in the shape of his knees being on the horse for so long.
Father was always saying something to make people laugh. He had dry wit. One day whils were living on the ranch my mother had gone to town and a drumer came by as every one stoped going and coming to Escalante over night , and this drummer man said to dad where is your wife and he said she just left him so the next day the man came to town and said how bad he felt that that old man was left with a young child on the ranch but some one set him straight that he was just fooling.
Another time I heard mother and dad say that she was making cheese that was when they lived in a log house on the ranch before they built the new one and dad had a squirt gun made of elder berry branch and he punched out the peth and made a sick to push out the water after it was filled and a man came around the corner of the house just in time to catch mother pulling his hair because he had shot her with water in her face and this tickled the man to see her pulling his hair.
He was always pulling things like that.
One time he brought the milk in and said to mother hurry and strain the dog pee out and she took all the milk and put it in the swill so that night when he wanted his bread and milk she told him well you said the dog wet in it so I poured it out so he never told her any thing like that again.
Dad went almost blind before he died at the age of 75 and he always wore a hat over his eyes to keep out the light, he died in the north east corner of the living room 5 Aug 1925, mother died about the center of the room age 72, 2 Feb 1933 so both lived and died in the house they both built.
Don stated that Johnny Bothman laid the brick for this house and the brick was made up near the race track where the sand was quite red, the rest was made over in or near the red rocks in Pine Creek.
Dad hauled all the wood work from Salt Lake City by wagon team. And we still have some of the door, mop boards, window caseings in the home, the house had four large rooms down stairs and three just the same size up stairs, two halls and a bath that was made later.
We still own the land that father bought 1876 except that which he let Alonzo have.
The barn caught fire and burned to the ground several years ago.
The grainery still stands and is used for storing vegetables in the cellar part.
Since the death of my parents the house has been remodeled a lot.
Told by Orilla and Don Carlos my brother

Perry Martindale Liston was born 6 June 1850, in Little Keg Creek, Pttwtt, Iowa the son of Commodre Perry Liston and Elizabeth Reeves, this area was once called Coon Ville. When he was very young age 2 he came to Utah in 1852 and his parents first settled in Pleasant Grove, Utah, they helped to settles this town, He was then called by Brigham Young to move farther South, He lived in Beaver, Minnersville, Parowan, Cedar and St. George, also Santa Clara Utah. He helped haul the rock and lumber for the St. George Temple, when it was finished he and his wife Elizabeth did many names in 1877.
Goning back to Perry Martindale Liston he lived with his parents in several places, such as Calante, Pioche, Panaca and when quite a young man he worked at the Silver Reef near St. George Utah, later on Perry Martindale with several of his brothers moved to Panguitch, and from there to Escalante. Joseph, Ruffes and Hyrum Liston brought cattle to Escalante in 1876 and they owned quite a lot of farming lands and soon had a large heard of cattle.
At the age of 16 he served in the Black Hawk War.
The Liston brothers grazed their cattle in the uppervalley and homesteaded the ranch that is now where the oil wells have their large tanks of oil, in the next valley north of the large tanks the old chimney of the Liston house still is in a heap and the tree that they used to hang their hogs and beef on the tree limb still shows the marks of where the roped were pulled, the tree still standing.
While they were living on this ranch they made cheese and butter in the summer time and in the fall of the year Emma Gean and Martindale would take it to Salt Lake City and buy their croceries for about 6 months at a time, she would buy bolts of cloth, flour, sugar, and every other thing that was needed. It took one month to make the round trip to Salt Lake City by team and wagon, they usually made the trip twicw a year. P.M. Liston hauled all the caseing for the come from Salt Lake City . by team. And wagon. This was done in about 1890.
He helped build Escalante’s first log school house and when they built the brick one he hauled brick and did all he could until it was built.
He helped build the South Ward Church house Chapel, He became a trustee of the school when the brick school was built and ready for use. He sang in the choir and played a big brass drum.
Soon after he came to Escalante, he married Emma Gean Shirts and he then bought the farm in the main canyon, he lived there for about 25 years and then he traded it for a large piece of ground down on the desert. He also owned land just south of where the reservoir now is. He owned many horses and cattle and was known as welthy man for those days. When they lived on the ranch in the main canyon the traveling salesmen would make it their plans to stop both coming to Escalante and going, and many of the cattle men would put their cattle in his corrells at night when they were taking them to Marysvalle for sale. They helped many a person with food and over night lodging. And gave many a good meal away to help others.
His first home in Escalante town was a small log house built on the North West corner of the two acre lot, He gave the part of the lot to Alonzo his son and he built the house that Jarreld Barney now owns, Alonzo sold the house to Jennings Allen and when Jennings wife died he sold it to Jareld Barney. He built a very nice born which was amony the best in Escalante, ift burned down in abut 1960.
While they were building the brick home 1890-93 they lived in the grainery that still stands just north of the brick home, this was one of the first good brick homes that was built in Escalante, This brick home is now owned by his daughter Orilla Cowles.
This couple raised 10 children with the exception of one child that died in 1887, the one child died when he was two months old, two of the sons filled a mission, one son filled two six months missions. He was a very good natured man and always told dry kokes which were funny. On the 5 Aug he died at the age of seventy five he died at his own home and was sick for two months flat on his back and suffered very much, so much that he wanted us to kill him so he could get out of the pain. He is buried in the Escalante Cemetary and so is his wife Emma Gean who died 2 Feb 1933. His family arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah 22 Aug 1852, they moved to Cedar City, Utah 1853. In 1859 settled Beaver, then to St. George. In his early life he traveled ove a lot of country, by horse back and by team and wagon, He was as far south as Phoenix Arzn, House Rock Valley, and Eli Nevada.
Being one of the oldest of the family he had to help support his mother and the rest of the family when his father Commodore Perry Liston was called to help settle Phoenix Arzn, by the Church callings. His parents built a small brick home in St. George and they stated many of the authorities stayed with them, such as Brigham Young, Willford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow and others, that small house still stands in St. George.
He told about some of his experiences, and ge said one day he had been riding a horse in the rain and he had on some buckskin trousers and they dried in the way his legs were bent while riding the horse. When they stoped for the night and built a fire, he stood by the firs and one of the other men that were with him kept, watching him and at last he said to Mart as he was called by nick name, “Well: if you are going to jump for heavens sake jump, but the man used the real words which I dare not write her.

Miscellaneous Information
-Perry Martindale Liston-
A patriarchal Blessing given to Perry Martindale Liston when he was just a baby and before coming to Utah in 1852, he could only have been 2 yrs old. “Perry Martindale Liston, born 6 June 1851 Pottawattamie Co, Iowa. We lay our hands upon the head and bless thee in the name of Jesus Christ, and say unto thee, thou shalt do a great work in the kingdom of God in bringing many of thy kin to the knowledge of the gospel, and thou shalt be mighty in the kingdom of God. We seal these blessings on thee in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This blessing was found in a film no. 2150. There were the blessings of William Albert, Rufus Benson both older brothers of dad, given in Iowa.

By Vera Liston
Commodore Perry Liston, the subject of this sketch, was born near the town of Portsmouth on the Ohio River, Sciota County, Ohio, March 31, 1821. My father, George Liston, was born Nov. 22, 1795 and married Elizabeth Nottingham July 20, 1816. Their issue was Nancy, Margaret, Mahala, Mary, John, Elizabeth Jane, Hannah and Susannah.
Susannah died in infancy, the others all grew to manhood and womanhood. In the year 1832, my father moved to Delaware County, Indiana, where he labored for a livelihood, he being a cabinet maker, wood turner, and painter by trade. He studied medicine as he grew older, and finally adopted that as his profession, turning his entire attention to that study and practice and becoming very proficient, having an extensive practice. I labored faithfully for my father until I was 19 years old, when I went to work with one, David Myers of Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana, who was a manufacturer of the “Fan Mill” for cleaning grain. I stayed with him and labored in this branch of industry for about one year, and then I returned to my father, laboring some on the farm, some at mill building, and painting in the winter. It was the custom during harvest time, for the young tradesmen to assist in taking care of the crops, and my first experience in this was in reaping and mowing, and I soon became the champion mower of the county. I learned how to make a grain cradle for myself, and with the use of it I became so skilled, that few could compete with me, and I soon became champion working against the best that could be found. I have cradled sometimes 5 or 6 acres of wheat in a day. At one time I cradled an acre of good wheat in one hour and twenty minutes. At another time I cut four acres in four hours and forty minutes, having three good binders following me. They were named Parks, Daken and Rogers. At one time I cut 82 ½ acres of grain in 22 ½ days. My average weight was 176 lbs. I stood 5 ft. 9 in. in height, being lithe and supple, turning hand springs and somersaults. I write this that my children’s children may know something of my early life. I am light complected, smooth face, sandy beard, and light hair. In the year 1843 I made a tour through the western states. I started from my home in Delaware County, Indiana and went through Illinois, thence to Iowa. I stayed several weeks on the Nishanebotany River, in the midst of the Pottawatamie Indians, the U.S Government having purchased their lands in 1841. I got employment with the Indian Agent who was appointed by the Government to that locality. His name was Cooper. I traveled much over this beautiful undulating country, wild in it’s nature abounding in game, the prairies dotted over with beautiful groves of timber. Many clear sparkling springs of pure water, with beautiful streams, giving diversity and beautifying nature. I traveled up the Missouri River on to the Bayou, the big and little Sioux Rivers. Here were large quantities of fowl, the swan, pelican, briant, goose, duck, snipe, sandhill crane, etc. There was game in abundance, grizzly bear, elk, deer, antelope, wolves, and beasts of prey. Here the wild Indian roamed at will, free as the air of morn, his wigwam stored with the choicest game, his children around him. His squaws to wait upon him, at peace with himself and his every want supplied from nature’s vast field. He was happy and contented before the white man came to take his land and drive off or destroy his wild food. Here dwelt the Otoes, Snakes, Crows, Root-Diggers, Sioux, Shells, and Poncas, and the Flatheads up near the Yellowstone. I then returned to the Nishanebotany where I tarried until 1844. I bought a cub bear of the Sioux Indians which they had caught. I built a cage and in company with Stephen Tate bought a flat boat and put my cage upon it. We floated down the Nishanebotany, into the Missouri river, and on to the town of St. Joseph, Mo. where we sold the flatboat. I put my cage and bear on a steamboat, one among the first that came so far up the Missouri River at that time, and started for St. Louis, Mo. Upon my arrival there I sold my bear for $50.00. I then took a steamboat for Cincinatti, Ohio and walked from there 110 miles to Muncie, Delaware Co., Ind. to my father’s house, where I arrived in May 1844 and went to work in my father’s cabinet shop. In harvest time, I went to help my Uncle Elijah Reeves, and on the 21 Jul 1844, just after the Prophet Joseph was killed, I married his daughter Elizabeth Reeves. He was a farmer and stock raiser, and I soon became tired of the shop, rented a farm, went to work and did well. Soon got a farm of my own and stack upon it. In 1846, I first heard the Gospel talked about a little. It suited me and I got the Spirit of Gathering before I knew where the gathering place was. I learned of the killing of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and of the mobbing, burning and plundering of the Saints in which the mobbers were sustained by the Government. The Saints began to flee to the Missouri River and were compelled to cross the Missouri into the Indian nation, beyond the confines of the United States jurisdiction. Their flight was in the winter, being deprived of nearly everything. Untold suffering was the result; cripple victims of sickness and distress. They halted on the Missouri River and built what they called Winter Quarters, now called Florence.
In the spring of 1847, they started the advance party to the Rocky Mountains, and founded the territory now called Utah. In 1848, I sold out my farm and started west to the Missouri River. I wintered with a Mr. Kisic, a Missourian who was kind to the saints. In the spring of 1849, we moved up to Little Keg Creek, Iowa where I bought a farm, went to work, did well, and had plenty. The mob spirit was fierce in this land. On the 14 Oct 1850, myself, wife, sisters, Elizabeth Jane and Hannah, and brother, John were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elder Wm Martindale. In the fall of 1851 the Prophet Brigham sent Apostle E.T. Benson back to the Missouri River, to gather up the scattered saints and gather them to Zion in Utah. At Keg Creek, I first became acquainted with Laura Farnsworth Smith who is the wife of Hyrum Smith the Patriarch, and brother of Joseph the prophet. In the winter of 1851, the Lord sent to me a messenger. He came in a circle of light that surpassed the light of the sun. This Messenger told me many beautiful things, he told me to take this Laura Farnsworth, with my wife Elizabeth Reeves, and go to Utah, and have them both sealed to me by the Prophet Brigham, and I should be greatly blessed. I was then living more than 1000 miles from Salt Lake City, and this messenger, showed me the city, and the temple that would be partly reared. I saw the corner stones of this temple laid. I saw myself pass through and receive my endowments, and had a new name given me. I saw the prophet sealing women to me and many other beautiful things too numerous to write on this sheet. All these things were imparted to me when a thousand miles away from where it was to take place. In the spring of 1852, I sold out and gathered up with the women Elizabeth and Laura, (she being a widow had lived with us through the winter). We fitted up 2 ox teams and crossed the plains, where we arrived in Salt Lake City on 22 Aug 1852. Here I saw the cornerstones of the temple laid. We received our endowments and sealings just the same as was shown to me in the vision at Keg Creek, thus my experience commenced in Utah. I wish to state that when Elder E.T. Benson came back to Iowa in 1851, the mob wishing to grace the top of their liberty pole with his head surrounded the house. He was in the house of Stephen M. Farnsworth, where I and my wife Elizabeth were on a visit when the mob about forty in number, surrounded the house. They were met at the door by Bro. Stephen M. Farnsworth who contended with them and while he was out his wife Julia Ann, my wife Elizabeth, and Sister Laura Farnsworth took Elder Benson and hid him in the potato cellar under the house. Then they rushed to the door to rescue Stephen, who however was not harmed. They invited the mob to come in and warm, it being very cold weather, which they did. They were finally persuaded he was not there, and at a late hour they departed for Kanesville. The Lord not permitting them to do any harm. A short time after that I had a dreadful combat, with one of the leaders of the mob, by the name of Roles. He was a large man about 6 ft. 2 in. in height and weighed over 200 lbs. My brother, and all thought I would be killed but he could not handle me nor hurt me. They swore they would kill me before I left the place, but the Lord sent a Messenger to tell me they would not harm a hair of my head, and many other things which I do not now write. I strictly minded my own business and when the time came to move, I sold out without molestation. During my residence there I was county supervisor and held the funds of the county to be expended in the various districts upon the roads. The mob was divided, some swore I was a good useful man and should not be hurt. They quarreled and shot one man and wounded two others, thus I was preserved by the Lord and permitted to gather to Zion. I must hasten with this short synopsis, as I have many other things written for another book. I commenced life in Utah by settling at Battle Creek, now called Pleasant Grove, where a hard fight had occurred between our people and the Piute Indians. Here my two brothers-in-law, Stephen and Philo Farnsworth and John G. Holman and myself opened the American Fork Canyon. We built a good saw mill and were getting a good start when I was called to settle in Cedar City nearly 300 miles south, to assist in the manufacture of iron, to learn the language of the Indians there, use my influence to tame them down, and overcome their wild and murderous disposition; however before I started south my wife Elizabeth was sealed to me for time and all eternity and Laura Farnsworth for time, and to Hyrum Smith for eternity on the 16th of Jan. 1853. We dwelt together for a little while very comfortably before being called south, and while here the Lord gave me another revelation showing me that the Indians would come upon us and cause us to fort up in accordance with the council of Pres. Brigham Young. I saw men, women and children running and crying. They were badly frightened but no one was hurt. This was shown to me soon after the Prophet Brigham Young preached to the people that we would have to fort up to save our lives. Early in the fall of 1853 the Indians came down upon us and all that the Lord had shown me was literally fulfilled. I moved my house into the fort first, knowing what was coming and I had just time to get it fit up when it took place. In November of the same year, I started with my wife Elizabeth and four children, all boys, viz. William Albert, aged 8, Rufus Benson, aged 6, Perry Martin, aged 3, and James Riley, aged 13 months, for Cedar City, leaving my wife Laura and her son William in possession of the home and property at Battle Creek. I had 2 cows and 3 yoke of oxen. A short time previous to this a mission was called to establish settlements south. The first after leaving Provo was Nephi, 43 miles, and from there to Fillmore, 65 miles. We saw no one excepting those in our company from there to Parowan, it is 97 miles.
While at Fillmore, my brother-in-law, Philo F. Farnsworth, lost his little boy who strayed away and laid out one day and night and most of the next day when he was found by an Indian nearly dead from fatigue and exhaustion. This changed our sorrowful felling to joy and rejoicing.
From Parowan to Cedar, a distance of 18 miles, where we settled in the midst of the Indians, we built a fort and here the first powder and iron were produced in Utah. I labored at my trade mostly making flasks for the moulders, houses, water wheels, etc. I was assisted by brothers, Wm. Carnes, Arthur Parks, Dacon Bladen, and others.
Isaac C. Haight was president of the company, the stake and the iron works. We fared hard , had poor living. There was nothing in the country to subsist upon until we produced it. We continued our labors and toil and accomplished much good. President Young still sent more men and means, until we got to be strong and the Indians did not kill many of our brethren so we grew contented and happy.
During my residence here I was called to fill many offices. First, to preside over the 1st ward, the city being divided into 4 parts. Also Deputy U.S. Marshall under Joseph L. Haywood of Salt Lake City; then City Marshall of Cedar, Assessor and Collector of the city, Pound Keeper, etc. I was also called and ordained a member of the High Council of this stake, when it was organized by Pres. B. Young. In all of these duties, I labored to the best of my ability, and gave good satisfaction. I also acquired the language of the natives rapidly so that I was called with several of my brethren to preach to them. We went forth two by two and baptized many and they began to love us and ceased to kill our people. They would kill more or less what they called “Mericats” meaning the Americans. We labored hard to prevent this and partly succeeded.
While here the Lord gave me many dreams and visions and a few revelations, showing me the future and adding much faith and strength to help me. One item I wish to mention is the following: I started to Salt Lake City on business, and while on the journey the Lord showed four women to me and also the place where to find them. He told me it was my privilege to take these women to wife. When I got to the city I went to where these women lived and I knew them without speaking to them, although I had never seen them in the flesh before. I told Pres. Brigham Young of these things and he said “bring them on,” and he would seal them to me, for I was the man he wanted to see go ahead. This was done 1 Dec. 1856. Their names were Mary Ann Bowers Snelus and Jane Snelus. We started back to Cedar City and got snow bound at Salt Creek. Here I had to leave Mary Ann and could only take Jane with me. We got home safe and after a few weeks I went back for my wife Mary Ann, and on our return to Ceada, we had a nice salute by the Brass Band, and our many warm friends, with pie, cake and all that was good especially the spirit of our friends in the harvest of 1857. This year I cradled 83 ½ acres of grain in 22 ½ days. This was the year the Government sent troops to destroy the Mormons. We received word just before harvest, so we were constrained to hurry up our harvest, thresh our grain, mill it and hide up the flour in obedience to council. In the fall of this year, a large company of emigrants partly from Missouri passed through our quiet settlement. They made threats and swore that Johnson’s Army was coming from the East, and they from the South and they would kill every Mormon in Utah. These words I heard myself—but there were some good people among them, consequently I did oppose killing them. So much so that I did not have anything to do with it, and my life was at stake for refusing, but the Lord showed me my way and I walked in it, and he preserved me. Late in the fall, I and Brother Zehiel McConnell were called to go to the Muddy or Ma-pat-pah river, (meaning Muddy River), here we labored to get the Indians to cease killing the Americans, for they had become much infuriated at the abuse of this emigrant company. They threatened our lives. They abused the Indians. They poisoned the water and some of the Indians died from using it. While thus enraged they sought our lives while upon our mission at the Muddy. The Lord gave me a revelation and showed me how he would deliver them into our hands. Three young men went out armed, and waylaid us. I told Brother McConnell to walk close behind me and I went direct to them, disarmed them and handed their arms to Brother McConnell and told them to march before us to camp. I told Brother McConnell to prepare them a good dinner that they must eat and be friends, for they were going to die. While dinner was being prepared I talked to them and told them many things about the Lord and his people. I ate dinner with them and told them to return home and tell their friends they would die, and many more too, if they did not cease to kill the Saints. Now there are but few of them left. We returned home in the Spring to our families in Cedar City. While we were wintering on the Muddy, Johnson’s Army wintered in the deep snow at Ft. Bridger. Many of our brethren were out in the snow watching the troops and their movements. My brother-in-law, M.F. Farnsworth was one that toiled in the north, while we toiled in the south doing all we could to preserve peace. The pressure was so great that the whole church started on the move south and they went as far as Provo. But the Lord overruled things, and they returned to their homes again to rest for a little season. During my residence in Cedar my wife, Elizabeth, bore me two sons and my wife, Jane, one daughter, but she died in childbearing. She was an amiable intelligent person, as well as the rest of my wives. In the fall of 1858, I removed to Beaver where I toiled and began to prosper. While here many changes took place that I cannot mention in this book; I will here state that in the summer of 1861 I begged the privilege of going to the Spirit World, this was while I was very sick. After I got better, though being very low in blood and no fever, the Lord granted this request. My spirit came out of my body at the opening of the head, at three motions, then the spirit went with a messenger that came after it. We ascended or descended at will. After we had ascended a short distance, we stopped for me to look back. I could see my family and all in the settlement, and could see who was living the nearest to the Lord. Then we moved on and came to a great city, where Joseph the Prophet was holding a council meeting to call delegates to go to the earth and ward off the blows of our enemies. Bro. Hyrum and many of the ancient worthies were there in the council. I cannot describe the building in which this council was held; it had three circles and should seat thousands, and everything was of the most beautiful order. I was introduced to my wife Jane who died in Cedar. When we returned to the place where we first stopped I took a good view of my body. I did not wish to go back to it because it looked too loathsome, but the messenger told me I must, that I had not finished my work. This caused a shudder in my feelings, but said he, “you shall come again.” At this I found the spirit and body struggling together, like a man trying to put on his coat. This caused great pain, but while absent from my body I was very happy. In a few hours I sang, shouted and wept for joy, so much so that my folks thought me crazy, but instead of that I never knew half so much before in my life; this happiness is more or less with me always. I often marvel how my body could look so loathsome, when I never use tobacco nor was I ever intoxicated with strong drink and never had much trouble with any one in business, etc. I saw many things unlawful to utter for they do not pertain to this life. In the fall of 1861 a mission was called to Dixie and I was invited to go by Elder George A. Smith, to which call I heartily responded, and took my wife Mary Ann with me, leaving Elizabeth for the present in Beaver. Here I labored some with the Indians, in 1863 I located Elizabeth at Pinto (40 miles from St. George), it being a good grazing country. My boys stayed with their mother and assisted in taking care of our stock. In these things they were faithful. Rosaltha Ovilia was born about this time.
In 1866 I was called to take a mission to Europe, but the previous fall and winter I mostly spent in traveling and preaching with Apostle and President E. Snow. In this I was greatly blessed, had great favor with the people, and I had manifestations often to direct me in the path of duty. I never was confounded while on the mission. In 1868, I was released to return home, which I did bringing a company of 682 Saints to the land of Zion. Many interesting items of this mission I must omit in this book. We had a safe voyage and no deaths at sea. On my return home, my labors were continued as usual. I was engaged in the home Missionary Service at intervals for 7 years. Soon after my return I removed Elizabeth from Pinto to St. George, by this time she brought me another girl, making eight children, six boys and two girls. I will here say I have been a brother-in-law to the Prophet Brigham for some years as he married my wife Laura’s sister. They are both intelligent women and very industrious and much beloved by many. The settlements south were nearly all located by Apostle George A. Smith assisted by Elder E. Snow, who is a father to the people. I have had the privilege of traveling and preaching with the Prophet many times and have had him sleep in my bed and eat at my table. So have nearly all the apostles.
Myself and family have had many great blessings, which we still enjoy.
St. George is located perhaps in the most sterile land in America. The Indians in this vicinity are most degraded and filthy, eating all kinds of animal life without much regard to its preparation for food. Many were naked, others having only a breech cloth. I have had great pleasure in my experience in this land, especially with my family. Though at times all was not clear sailing before me, but I and boldly say I never disobeyed any of my superiors in office in the church. Nor ever spoke a saucy word to any of them which is a great comfort to me. But I have seen others that have not been blest. Although I am hard on the disobedient and hard to handle as a man either physically or with words consequently the hypocrites do not like me and I have my enemies in common with the rest of my brethren. At the spring conference 1877, held in the Temple, I was called on a mission to the house of Jacob in New Mexico and Arizona. They are more intelligent and many of them well to do. They all, more or less, speak the Spanish language so the field opened for me to learn a new language. The distance is near 500 miles from here. I am called to labor under the direction of Elder Lorenzo H. Hatch. I am now, (Dec. 1877), in my 56th year and can dance with ease, run foot races, and play like a boy. I have never had the toothache and but very little headache, though I have been afflicted with some sickness. My own biography has been a marvel and a wonder to me; I dare not tell the truth without its appearing as flattery, but those who live with me and have traveled with me know these things are true and I know I have not written one tenth of the truth, but I intend to write them in my other book. God being my helper, I now leave my numerous friends, my wives and children to do the best they can. My children are mostly grown, and are working for themselves. My wife Elizabeth is good to help me and let me go when duty calls; so God bless them all, Amen.