A SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND HISTORY
OF
ANDREW PURLEY SHUMWAY

Andrew P. Shumway, son of Charles Shumway and Julia Ann Hooker, was born in the Town of Sutton, Worcester County, State of Massachusetts February 20, 1832.

When I was about five years of age my father moved my mother and myself to my grandfather's (Samuel's Hooker) near the Town of Sturbridge, Worcester County ,and there left us to go to the west to visit a brother of his who went to the west some years previous. He returned soon after and moved his little family consisting of only my mother and sister Mary besides myself. We located on a little stream of water called the Kill Buck near Rockford, State of  Illinois. This was an unsettled country, at least very thinly settled, our nearest neighbor living one mile from us. After erecting a hewed log house and opening up a large farm and living here a year or two, during which time we had considerable sickness, myself having the whooping cough, we then moved near to the Picatonic River about 40 miles from Galena. Here my father fenced a farm, bought a saw mill and by dint of perseverance and industry he accumulated a good deal of property. We lived here until about the year 1840, when Elder Elisha Groves came through that part of the country preaching the Gospel. My father and mother believed and received the truth and were baptized by Elder Groves. Shortly after he went to Nauvoo to see and visit the Prophet Joseph, he soon returned bringing Elder Amasa Lyman with him who preached there for some length of time.

At this time my father was confined to his bed through being beaten by one Joseph McConnel on account of his religion. However he was remarkably healed through the laying on of hands by Elder Lyman. After this he loaded a flat boat with materials for a frame house'and putting on the house furniture went down the river to Nauvoo (Find Shumway) and soon returned and settled up his business. He then took his family in a two horse wagon to Nauvoo.

We lived here in peace until the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith on the 27th day of June 1844, which circumstances I well remember as I attended their funeral.

I was baptized in the Baptismal Font in the Temple of Nauvoo in the year 1842. In the year 1845 the word of the Lord came to the Saints for them to prepare to move to the Rocky Mountains. My father being appointed captain of fifty erected a shop for the manufacture of wagons. During the winter I worked with a team of mules hauling corn and provisions from the country for the hands and hauling wood for their families to burn. I also hauled timber and etc., to the shop.

All things being ready in February 1846 my father with his company crossed the Mississippi River on flat boats and camped on the west bank of the river, his company being the first that crossed the river for the Rocky Mountains. After a day or two we moved and encamped at a place called Sugar Creek where there was plenty of timber and browse for our animals. We stopped here some three or four weeks waiting for the Saints to gather together, after which President Young organized the different companies and we rolled out of camp some time in March .

The pioneer camp arrived at Mount Pisgah May 16th. We arrived at the Missouri River too late in the season to proceed across the Rocky Mountains. Therefore the headquarters of the Saints were established on the west bank of the Missouri River. My father and some dozen families proceeded about 110 miles to the Pawnee Missionary Station on the Loup Fork about four miles from the Pawnee Village thinking we could procure corn from the Indians for our consumption through the winter. They thought they they could get it cheaper than from the whites in Missouri, which proved to be the case. At this place Abel Guar and myself herded the stock belonging to the company. Most of the time we lived on Indian corn ground in a hand mill, each family taking their turn at the mill, and by keeping the mill constantly at work all managed to get enough to sustain life.

Here my father was taken with chills and fever as also a good many others. Just before winter set in and very late one evening Jack Redding and Solomon Case rode in to the fort having come from the headquarters in great hurry bringing word from President Young for us to move back to Winter Quarters immediately as it was not safe for us to remain here. We therefore made everything ready and left sometime the next day. We had traveled about twelve miles when on looking back we saw that the Station and buildings we had just left were all on fire, this having been done by a war party of Sioux Indians. The Sioux and Pawnee Indians had been at war with each other for sometime and had they found us living at the Pawnee Station they would have massacred our whole company. Thus were we warned by the Lord through His servants in time to save ourselves from the hostile savages.

We continued our journey in peace although many of the company were very sick. My mother among the rest was hardly able to get out and into the wagon. By this time our family was all shaking with the ague. Those who were sick suffered much for want of proper food, having nothing but corn meal and dried buffalo meat. After arriving at Winter Quarters we managed to get a log house put up to live in during the winter. Our sickness increased until there was not one of the family able to hand a drink of water to another. My mother gradually grew worse until the 14th of November 1846 when she called her family around her and told them she was going to die. After some friendly admonitions to her family and tenderly embracing each one, her spirit took its departure for the spirit world. She died as she had lived, beloved and universally respected by all who knew her. She was buried along with 500 of the Saints that died during the winter from diseases of different kinds and through want of necessary food when sick. The fact that 500 of our most able bodied men were called by the U.S. Government to enlist in the War with Mexico to prove our loyalty to the government, left many families to look out for themselves, many of which would have suffered much only for the kindness of those who were left. However their labors were increased to the extent that many passed away through over-exertion in taking care of those who were sick. The privations of the Saints through the winter will ever be remembered by the Latter-day Saints.

In the spring of 1847 my father, with 143 others, was selected to start April the 14th to pioneer the way to the Rocky Mountains. When Father told me he was selected to go I burst into tears. My mother having just died, it seemed more than I could endure to be left alone. This affected by father very much and he went and told President Young how I felt and that I wished to go with him. The President said, "Let him go, it will be alright." This news gave me great joy. Brother John D. Lee furnished us a span of mules and a light wagon for the journey. Accordingly on the 14th of April we took our leave of my sister Mary and sister Harriet who was lying on her death bed at the time with the canker. We went out a couple of days journey to a suitable camping place, here we waited a few days for President Young and others to accompany us. While here we received information that my sister Harriet had died.

All things being ready we took up our line of march for the far off Rocky Mountains to seek a place where we could live in peace and be free from the persecution of our enemies. As a people we had for many years been subject to rank persecution, our Prophet and Patriarch slain in Carthage Jail for the testimony of Jesus, and being driven from our homes many times and robbed and plundered of all our possessions, many having died by the way through exposure, our leaders having suffered much through being falsely imprisoned and had many vexations, also law suits at a vast expense of time and money. We hailed the day of our deliverance with joy and felt to thank God for the privilege of seeking an asylum in the far west over a thousand miles from any mark of civilization and where the foot of white man had not trod for many hundred years.

Our wagons were loaded with provisions, some corn for our animals, farming implements, tools of different kinds and etc., Professor Orson Pratt with instruments for taking observations (latitude and longitude), one boat on a wagon to be used in crossing rivers, one cannon, and one Rodometer that we might measure the distance treveled each day. This we did by marking the distance on buffalo bones and skulls and sticking them up by the side of our trail for the benefit of those following after us later in the season. We lengthened out our provisions on the way by adding plenty of buffalo meat, along the Platt River and through the Black Hills there were buffalo in great abundance, so much so that we often were obliged to stop our wagons and wait for hours for them to get out of our way before we could proceed. We were forbidden to kill any more than we could consume as it was a sin to waste that which God has created for the good of man. When we started it was as much as my father and myself could both do to harness, drive and take care of one span of mules, owing to the sickness we had passed through. But our health improved so that in a short time we were quite strong and well.

I had been sickly in my childhood, once when an infant I was nigh unto death the effects of which can be seen on my body to this day. I was also very sick in Nauvoo and my life was despaired of for many weeks, but now I began to feel better and stronger than ever.

We proceeded on our journey without being molested by Indians although we saw many tribes and bands they injured us no more than to steal two or three horses. We often treveled two or three wagons abreast in order to consolidate our strength in case of an attack by the Indians. We used the utmost precautions at night to avoid surprise attacks. Thus we continued our journey from day to day and from week to week through a country none of us had any knowledge of, being led by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and our way pointed out by the finger of the Lord.

After traveling over plains and mountains and through mountain gorges a distance of 1100 miles we at length came to the valley of Salt Lake having had a difficult though prosperous journey. I was taken sick with mountain fever while encamped on the Big Sandy, but was healed through the prayer of faith and the laying on of hands by President Young.

We pitched our tents for the first time in the Salt Lake Valley on the 24th of July 1847, on what is now known as City Creek and just below where Emigration Street crosses the creek. After holding a meeting and rendering due thanks to the Almighty God for His blessings bestowed upon us on our journey, we unloaded our wagons and commenced work, stocking ploughs, making harrows, etc. We immediately went to work ploughing the ground and planting corn and a variety of vegetables, which owing to the lateness of the season did not amount to much. A fort was laid out which was commenced to be built of sun dried brick and logs. After staying here a few weeks President Young took a small company and started back to Winter Quarters. My father and myself went with them until we came to Rocky Ridge where we met the rest of our family in J. M. Grant's company. Here the Indians made a raid on our camp at night and succeeded in securing some few horses. Next morning we parted with President Young and Company and started again for the Valley where we arrived in due time without any accident and went to work preparing a place to secure ourselves from the inclemency of the weather by erecting a log house covering it with sticks, grass and dirt. Sometime during the winter a portion of the Mormon Battalion returned from California; as they brought no provisions with them we had to divide with them which made provisions scarce. Still we got along very well by mixing in plenty of wolves, foxes and killing a few poor cattle which we consumed even to the hides.

During this winter I assisted my father in a shop which he erected, being a carpenter, he earned a little money which came very useful. The next spring we put in grain and vegetables, commenced building and laying out farms and making preparations to establish ourselves permanently in the land which God had led us to by the power of His hand. We toiled and labored hard and accomplished after many years the desired object. We suffered much through the grasshoppers and crickets destroying our crops, thereby we were obliged to live on milk, roots, herbs or any thing that would sustain life. But God did strengthen and bless us exceedingly. Although we were subject to many trials and privations, we acknowledged the hand of God in them and He brought us safe through. In the summer of 1849 (a city having been laid out and we had moved on to a lot in the 12th Ward) my father took a company of nine men and went and established a ferry at Platt River and left me at home. 1 spent the summer in making adobies, herding cattle, etc. Early in the fall father returned, having done exceedingly well he brought home six yoke of oxen, a wagon loaded down with the necessaries of life.

President Young deeming it wisdom to establish a colony in San Pete Valley some 135 miles southeast of Salt Lake Valley, my father was selected as one of the number to repair thither. We accordingly made our arrangements for going and left late in the fall in company with 25 or 30 families and arrived in that valley without accident, pitched our tents at what is now known as Manti City in the South end of the valley. It being late in the fall we did not provide anything for our stock during the winter. We had understood from the Indians that the snow did not fall very deep during the winter and that our stock would do well on the range. But contrary to our hopes and expectations winter set in very early which prevented us from sending teams back to Salt Lake City for provisions to last us during the winter, for we could not take enough at first and take other things which were needed to establish a colony. The snow fell to the depth of three feet and laid on the ground for three or four months, the consequence was that many lost nearly all the cattle they had through cold and starvation. Some few (my father among the number) saved most of theirs by going every day and shoveling the snow off from the grass so that the cattle could get to it. We worked hard in that way for weeks and thereby saved many of our cattle, while many of the brethren left theirs in the hands of the Lord, saying if the Lord was a mind to send deep snows and cold weather to destroy their cattle, alright. But this was another instance to prove that faith and works go hand in hand together. During the winter we got a few houses built out of logs and rock. We hauled our wood on hand sleds for we could not work our cattle they had too little to eat. During this winter the war broke out between the Utah Indians and the Prove settlement which operated seriously against us. As we were surrounded with Indians within sight, but the Lord sent the measles among them which caused then to die off like rotten sheep and through our kindness in administering to them that were sickand burying their dead and feeding them they remained peaceable most of the time. Towards spring we found that our provisions were getting very scarce and something would have to be done and very soon we should suffer. Therefore a council was called of the whole of the Saints, the result of which was that my father should take a few of the brethren and go to the City and make known their circumstances. He accordingly selected 10 of the brethren myself included to undertake the journey. We went to work and prepared snow shoes and some light hand sleds to haul our blankets and provisions on. All things being ready we started on a bitter cold night about 12 o'clock and I think it was about the last of February, taking with us a friendly Indian as guide`and interpreter. The first 18 hours we traveled some thirty miles, while the snow becoming soft we had to put on our snow shoes. The first night we camped under some cedars clearing away the snow and making a hugh fire we passed a tolerable comfortable night, this place is near what is now known as Spring Town.

The next day we crossed over the divide into Salt Creek Canyon at the forks of which we found Daniel Henry, wife and two or three children who were living in their wagon. They having been snowed in from early winter. There were some few men with them as guards, they having been sent from San Pete Valley for that purpose when the news reached us of their being snowed in while on their way to San Pete Valley late in the fall. Here we stopped over night and proceeded next day down the canyon into Juab Valley. We found the snow mostly gone in the valley so we left our snow shoes hanging on a cedar tree and proceeded without any difficulty. We camped at what is now known as Santaquinton in Utah Valley over night and proceeded the next day but found it very muddy traveling. After crossing the Spanish Fork River on a fallen tree our Indian guide left us and went up the river to an Indian camp. We soon saw a train of them running after us, on their coming up we gave them a little johnny cake and tobacco and they returned leaving us to pursue our journey. We arrived at Spring Creek just at sundown, which we found much swollen on account of the melting of the snows and we stripped off our clothes and plunged in up to our chins, the water was very cold, but it freshened us up and made us feel like traveling for we were nearly exhausted and our johnny cake was all gone.

We trudged on till a little after dark when we arrived at Prove Fort near where Prove City now is. Here we were kindly entertained and the next morning my father and myself were provided with a couple of horses which we mounted and the next night found us in Salt Lake City. The next day being Sunday my father by Brigham Young's request represented the circumstances of the San Pete Colony at a public meeting. A large quantity of corn and some wheat was subscribed and teams to haul it, and men sufficient to bring back the teams to the City. After shelling the corn and getting it ground we loaded up the wagons and started back and traveled without being molested until we were crossing the Spanish Fork. Just before sundown when all of a sudden we heard the Indian war whoop, we then discovered about 50 Indians on the opposite side and about one forth of a mile from us, they charged up within a short distance of us firing their guns, the bullets flying over our heads. We crossed the stream as soon as possible, corraled our wagons and every man to his gun awaited at attack with orders from father not to fire till he gave the signal. The Indians soon came charging up on their horses with their guns cocked to within ten yards of us, but seemed unwilling to commence an attack which exactly suited us for they outnumbered us three to one. After an hours parley and our giving'them some provisions they lift us_and we proceeded next morning without further molestation. After a few more days we arrived at San Pete just as the last pound of provisions had been served out to the people. The next winter my father built a saw mill, the first ever built south of Prove City.

The Indians stole and killed many of our cattle during the first two years but we always avoided a collision, feeding them was a very heavy tax upon us but we found it cheaper to feed than to fight them.

In the year 1852 President Young requested my father to remove to Payson, Utah and build a saw mill for the benefit of that little settlement which he did. During this summer I worked on a farm at Payson making adobies, hauling rock and traveling to and fro moving us from San Pete. In the fall we built the first adobe house built in that place of any worth and lived in it during the winter. This winter I went to school while father was at work building a mill. I missed school while I was down sick with the mumps.

1853 we put in a crop as spring opened and commenced building a barn, when all of a sudden an Indian war broke out which put a stop to making improvements and also to farming operations. The first intimations we had of Indian hostilities were the Indians who were camped about two miles up Payson Canyon coming down to town (which was not an unusual thing) and on their way back to their camp killed one Robert Keel who was just outside of town just at dusk. It was on Sunday evening and I think on the 17th of July. The news spread like wildfire through the town and every man and boy was on hand with his gun, as it was known that there were a large number of Indians at their camp. We expected an attack before morning, orders were given for the people to leave homes and assemble at the school house, the women and children were put inside and the men on the outside and sent in detachment to various parts of the town, thus we watched all night but they did not come. The details of this war I shall not attempt to describe but suffice it to say that we had to pull down our houses and rebuild in the form of a fort, which had we built in that form in the first place as counseled to do by President Young we would have been alright and would have had no difficulty with the Indians. Here let me say that from the first of our intercourse with the Indians in the year 1847 to the present time of writing which is the year 1869 all of our troubles and difficulties (which have been considerable) have been occasioned by a neglect to obey the counsel and carry out the policy of President Young.

During this war, which lasted until winter set in, my time was spent inremoving our house and preparing for the winter, standing guard, hunting Indians and carrying express from one settlement to another. I was in one battle on
Salt Creek. The expedition was conducted by Colonel Stephen Markham of Palmyra. I also went to Fillmore with Demie Huntington to get the bodies of those of Captain Gunnison's party who were slain by the Indians. During this war eleven of our bretheren were slain and many wounded and thousands of dollars worth of property destroyed.

In the spring of 1853 my father moved to South Cottonwood 5 miles south of Salt Lake City. He bought a farm and here I worked on the farm during the summer and ran a threshing machine in the fall and winter and continued doing so summer and winter until about the 20th of November 1856 when I was called to take a mission to England. After receiving my endowments in the House of the Lord and being set apart by the servants of God I left home for Europe on the 13th of September. Brothers Wm. Brown, Thomas Terr, Orrin Lewis and myself each furnishing a horse traveled together in the same wagon across the plains. P. P. Pratt, president of the company (some 12 wagons), and E. T. Clark, captain. We traveled without any accident till we arrived at Loup Fork, this river being much swollen by heavy rains we were compelled to ferry our luggage over in a canoe and swim over on our horses, as well as our wagons. The last to cross the river was S. D. Huffaker, Charles Hubbard, Bernard Snow and myself, the canoe upset and split us all in the stream, we al came very near being drowned, but finally succeeded in getting to the shore. I lost my hat and went the rest of the journey to the Missouri River without one and until we had sold our ponies,
wagon, etc.

After remaining here a few days we took passage on board the Steamer A. C. Gordon for St. Louis and arrived there after a passage of eleven days. After staying here two or three days a few of us took cars for New York. Here we were kindly greeted by Elder John Taylor (one of the twelve). After a day or two I left for Massachusetts to visit the land which gave me birth and to see my relatives for the first time for some 18 years. I was kindly entertained by them and spent some two weeks visiting them, but soon began to feel as though I ought to be off for England according to previous arrangements. Bernard Snow and myself were to sail from Boston together but on arriving at Boston he not having got through visiting his relatives and not feeling disposed to remain there on expenses I paid $60.00 for a passage to Liverpool on board the Steam Ship Arrabia.

It was quite an undertaking for me to start across the mighty deep with no old friend along to chear or comfort me, being young and inexperienced and never being away for home before but I felt it was God that had called me to leave home and friends, to bear his message to the nations and in him I felt to put my trust. Therefore on a cold December morning I committed myself to his care and for the first time in my life put my foot on board a ship. Could I then have realized the perils of traversing the mighty deep I do almost believe I should have turned the other way instead of going ahead but that was wisely withheld from me for which I have ever felt thankful to the Lord. The noble ship cleared about noon on the -- of December stopping at Halifax to take in coal and provisions. I was sea sick for about 36 hours. We had very stormy rough voyage. In fact I could many times depict in the countenances of the officers a great degree of anxiety for our safety. Christmas eve I think the worst and roughest time I ever saw on the Atlantic Ocean and I have crossed it three times and hope to live to cross it once more.

After a voyage of eleven days we arrived at Liverpool, on the -- of the same month. I stepped on Terra firma and felt thankful to God for the opportunity, it being Sunday I put up at the railway hotel. I went on Monday morning to the
L.D.S. Millenial Star office at 42 Islington where I was kindly received by F. D. Richards and from him received an appointment to labor in the Cheltenham conference under the direction of Elder George Taylor. I took train next day and arrived at Cheltenham in the evening and was met by Robert F. Neslin at the station who conducted me to the conference house in Croft Street where I found E. T. Benson and brethren in council. I was appointed to travel in the Gloucester district and was shown around and introduced to the saints by Bro. H. L. Doremus. I labored here until January 16th when I was called to go home in connection with all the valley brethren in the mission on account of the U. S. Army being sent to Utah. I arrived in Liverpool on the evening of the 16th, and 22 of the valley boys at Mrs. Geettings, St. Crophall St. and great was out joy at meeting together again. We stayed in Liverpool until the 21st when we went on board of the Packet Ship, underwriter, Capt. Robinson. There were 24 of us and one sister. We had the end cabin to ourselves and enjoyed ourselves well on the journey altough we had a very rough passage and a very long one being forty eight days on the might deep but finally arrived at Castle gardens all well and without any serious accident of any kind.

On arriving at New York, James Wilkin, James Andrus and myself were selected to proceed without delay to Burlington, Iowa, to assist a few of the brethren who had proceeded us across the water and had been purchasing some horses, wagons, etc. for our outfit across the plains. We found the brethren a few miles up the river from Burlington. We went to work fitting up and soon left for the Missouri river, passing for emigrants bound for California. Many were the inquiries made of us if we were not afraid of the Mormons capturing us. As the
government was at war with them and had a large Army near Salt Lake City. Our reply was that our number would be considerably augmented when we got to the frontiers and being well armed we thought it possible for us to get through all right. On arriving at Crescent City I met my father who had been sent to Canada on a mission the next spring after my leaving in the fall. On arriving at Winter Quarters the rest of the Brethren met us, they having come up the river from Saint Louis and being joined by the returning missionaries from the states under the command of David Brintin and all things being in readiness we rolled out of camp on the 3rd of May for Utah with John Berry as captain and B. Snow as Sergeant of the guard. There being about 60 of us altogether and eight men to each wagon.
I drove the only six mule team there was in the train. When we got to Big Sandy we left the main road and took to the hills so as to avoid the Johnson's army who were supposed to be encamped near Fort Bridger. Bear River we found very high and our only way of crossing it was to take a couple of wagon boxes and cork them tight and use them for ferry boats and swim our horses. Here James Andrus came near being drowned but was fortunately rescued by some of the brethren.

Having arrived near the main road a short distance below Cache Cave we halted for the night and sent men to reconnoitre who returned and reported that all was right. We rolled out early next morning and after coming to the main road traveled but a short distance before we suddenly came upon a party of soldiers camped by the road side and a little farther on found plenty more. They seemed perfectly paralyzed and struck with amazement at our boldness and impudence in driving past them without saying a word, doubtlessly thinking we were only the advance of a large army.

We arrived in Salt Lake City on the 21st of June and found the city evacuated a few only being left as guards. We camped in the city over night and the next day started south and on the 23rd we arrived at Prove City where we met
Pres. Young. Our Company was disorganized and every one went on the hunt for his friends and family. My family were some at Shanghai, some at Prove and the rest at Payson. Thus I found myself once more in the valleys of my home after an absence of a little less than two years, having gained much experience and traveled many thousands miles by sea and by land and bore testimony to hundreds of the truths of the gospel.

Johnson's Army having passed through the city and from thence to Cedar Valley the word came for the Saints to move back to their homes. I spent some time in assisting in getting the family and effects moved back to South Cottonwood and with my father bought a threshing machine and worked with it during the fall and winter and in March (the 7th) 1859 I married Miss Amanda S. Graham, daughter of Thomas B. Graham and Sarah Ann Graham and in April we loaded up our effects and with my father and family started to locate in Cache Valley which valley heretofore had been settled only by a few families. We located at what is now known as the town of Mendon in company with some seven or eight families and on the 10th of May commenced ploughing and sowing grain and contiued so to do until the Ist day of June when the Indians began to show hostilities to the whites. And for the safety it was considered by P. Maughn, our Presiding Bishop, for us to move to Maughn Fort (now Wellsville) which we did and built a couple of houses in which to pass the winter, or to live in until such times as the Indians should get peaceable again so that we could return.

In August I took my wife with me and went back to Cottonwood. My wife lived with my brother-in-law Charles Westover and family whilest him and myself spent the best part of the fall and winter running a threshing machine. About midwinter I bought some furniture and went to housekeeping living under the same roof as my brother-in-law David Protor. In January I received information from Apostle E. T. Benson that himself and Orson Hyde (President of the Quorum of the Twelve) had organized a Stake of Zion in Cache County and that I had been appointed as Bishop of Mendon and I was requeste do call on him and receive my ordination. I therefore settled up my business and loading my effects into a wagon and started for Cache Valley on the 19th of February - calling on E, T. Benson on the same day, who took me to Pres. Young's office where I received my ordination under the hands of Pres. Young and E. T. Benson. I arrived in Cache Valley on the 22nd and put up with Bro, Charles Bird of Mendon for the night. Next day went to Wellsville where my father was living. I lived in the house with him the rest of the winter. Shortly after my arrival in Cache Valley, P. Maughn introduced me to the Saints of Mendon and I entered on the official discharge of my duties. I went to work and organized a quorum of teachers and appointed W, Fenley Jr. as President. Also appointing a committee to superintend the erection of a house for schools and public worship, also appointing other officers necessary for peace and good order. Also a choir with Isaac Sorrensen as President.

I built me a comfortable log house and in March I moved my wife to Mendon. Soon after she brought forth a daughter which we named Julia. During this spring we had our numbers increased by the arrival of a few more families. I spent my time during the spring in giving out farms and attending to the duties of my office putting in some grain etc. I can truly say that I was greatly blessed in securing a confidence of the saints and we were united in all our efforts to lay a foundation for a prosperous and happy settlement.
(Note -- The foregoing I have written while here at 26 Tenby St. Birmingham, England on a mission and this is the 15 of November 1869 and I find I must discontinue writing more of my history for the present as I cannot remember dates, but shah endeavor to commence again when I shall have the privilege of returning to my home in the far distant west to again enjoy the society of Family and friends which may God grant may be my happy lot in the name of Jesus -- Amen.)