From the Warren M. Johnson folder

Typed transcripts of correspondence from Warren M. Johnson, dated 1880 to 1884 and 1891, related to his work as the operator of Lee's Ferry in northern Arizona.

From the Warren r,1. Johnson Folder, . L,D,S. Church Historian's Office - Salt La~e City Verbatin copies made by P.T. & E.M. Reilly June J, 1969 President E Snow "Lee's Ferry Jan 28/60 Your letter of Nov JOth authorizing me to take charge of the Ferry and place bought of Sister Lee, was received in December. In reply I will state that I have no particular choise (sic) as regards my labor in this latter day work. If I can be made useful in any work, that ts the place I wish to labor. If it is thought best for me to labor here, I hope the Lord will give me wisdom in crossing the people over the river, and to this end I hope I may have the faith, prayers and confidence of the people who may cross over of all who feel an interest in this mission. Brd;Leithead, Broadbent & Co have bean here and put in the new boat but it is not completed yet as they did not have some of the irons necessary to finish it. Neither did they stretch the rope across the river. I suppose Bro. Leithead has written to you in reference to these things as he said he would as soon as he reached Kanab. The weather has been extremely cold this winter and we have just had about four inches of snow fall. There is very little travel at present. There has been nothing said about what we should charge for ferriage, only that we should charge about the same as we did before the purchase of the ferry. I would like to have you send a list of prices· that we should charge for ferriage, also should we have the same price for missionaries and non-missionaries and gentiles or should we have two prices as we did when Sister Lee owned the ferry? I will also suggest that there is no government title to the land bought of Sister Lee, as it has never been surveyed either by government officials or by the county surveyor, Any counsel or instructions you may fell to give us appreciated. duly be will Yours in the Gospel Colorado River Warren M. Johnson Watten M. Johnson" Fob 2)/80 - 2 - (f~om W,M.Johnson Letter Folder) Pahreah Ferry . May . 12/1880 L John Nuttall Sec'y of Council &c Dear Brother Your letter of it for answering deferred have I March 1st has been received. from ns instructio further get should a short time, thinking, I a£ter y medirectl to write to Bro, Woodruff as he promised reaching the City, in referencr to the Ferry. I have not, however, received any word from him. The river is on the rise, and we do n-0t use the flat boat, at present, but cross in the Skiff, taking wagons to pieces, swimming the animals &c. · Th~ river is within two (2) feet of being as high as it was when Bro. Rouindy was drownded. The rope has not yet been stretched across the river and the new boat is very awkward to handle with the oars we have to work with. In fact we have used it but very little since it was built, I presume it will be all right when the rope is stretched , which I hope will be attended to as soon as the river goes down so that it can be attended to in safety. We have but one skiff, which I think is not enough to · depend upon altogathe r during high wtter. The roads have been so bad during the winter and the feed is so scarce that we have had but very little travel, since I was appointed to take charge of the ferry, and I do hope we will not have much during the high water. We have to trust a good many that have crossed as some had nothing but stock, which to us is about the same as nothing, the way the feed is on our range. I think more than half of the Stock we have taken on ferriage has · died on the range. I will send you an account of' the business we have done to April JO. Please let me know how often you wish me to make a report, and I would like some counsel as regards the form of the report. Did you intend the rates of ferriage you sent me, to apply to cases in high water when we have to make four or five trips to get a wagon and team across? We used to charge more, and people that cross seem willing to pay more. Any suggestio ns you may make will be kindly received. Yours in the Gospel P.S. Who ahall I direct my letters to? Warren M Johnson You or President Taylor? WMJ " - 3 - " (XXM, Johns on lette rs) Pah-R eah Ferry July 1st/1 880 Presi dent John Taylo r Dear Broth er Inclo sed I send you a statem ent of the amount ,recei ved for f erria ge duri ng the months of f,1ay and June 1880. ruff I am to . Acco rding to instr uctio ns· recei ved from Bro Wood the farm. from make can I all reta in one ha lf of the ferria ge and the ferrWhat dispo sitio n shall I make with the one half of the hand on now have I t? iage belongi ng to the Trust ee-in -Trus st, n-Tru tee-i Trus the sum of $88,7 67100 in ca sh belonging to given by The order from J W Young is a part of a $25,0 0 order ferry on the ed cross him to AL Farns worth befor e Bro Woodru ff him, by ted his retur n to Salt Lake City and was accep Shal l we take capit al stock on the Canaan and Pipe Sprin gs coop- herds ? if so at what price ? All is well with us. The river is fallin g rapid ly and the Boats are all right Yours in the Gosp el Warre n M Johns on (encl osed sheet s "Stat emen t of Busin ess done at Fah-R eah Ferry from May 1st to June JO/ 1880 $97,1 0 Cash recei ved 8.60 Flour 9 • .5.5 Dried Peach es e.oo Order from J W Young 1.50 1 Axe .25 Cold chise l .5.20 Ind i an goods 9.50 WM Johns on assum es 24.oo Due Total \ ... 4 - Pres • .w. Woodruf f " (W r.1 Johnson letters) Lee's Ferry Dec 24/80 Dear Brother Inclosed I send you a stateme nt of business done at the ferry during the time Bro Foutz was in charge, exceptin g from May 18 to June 1st during ·which time Mrs Lee received one third of the income from the ferry accordin g to agreeme nt with John w. Young. Bros Freeman & Gardner s a/care included in the'Ord ers etc from John w. Youne . The ba lance of John w•s orders as given in the stateme nt of his a/c was applied on ferriage after I was placed in charge of the ferry. Some of the debts due the ferry when Bro Foutz left have been paid to me and will be included in my next stateme nt to the Trustee s in trus-t. You will also remember that r.Irs Lee's Ferriage until she moved away from here, was included in the price paid for the ferry. All is well with us at present . The new flat boat has been complete d and we are novl using it. It works well, and is just what we want for low water but we cannot run it during high water. We really need another boat large enough to take across a wagon & single team, and I thin1c such a boat could be used nearly all the time during high water, and we should use it conside rable during low water for crossing single teams, men horsebac k etc, The rope is not stretche d yet and really I have not much faith as regards it. It is a !.lanila rope and I do not think it would be safe in high water. We have but one skiff and it is about worn out. I did not consider it safe l a st summer, and surely it will not be safe during the next high water. I have -taken the liberty to employ Bro James Leithead to make a sldff and have it in readine ss for next summer' s work. It will probably cost about 75 dollars delivere d at the river. If I have taken too much liberty a nd you do not want it rnade please write me as soon as conveni ent and I will inform Bro Leithead . I also thi1u1~~ere is no need of using any more tithing towards fixing up the ferry. The proceeds of the ferry should certain ly be enough to kee p everyth ing in repair from this time on, and leave considerab le towards improvin g the roads or for some other good purpose . Please excus e me if I am too free in making suggest ions. We have neem very bus y for about two months. Have crossed since the fir s t of August J93 wagons. I think the rush is now over for the season. The weather has be en very mild and pleasan t during December this far. With kind regards for yoursel f and family, thanking you for all your kindness to me I remain Yours in the Gospel Warren M. Johnson " I - 5• (W.M. Johnson letters) Lee•s Ferry · Jan 1 Oth/81 President John Taylor Dear Brother I herewith send a Statement of the Business done at the Pahreah Ferry for the three months ending Dec. Jl 1880. Also a general statement of the business done for the year ,just closed. When Bro. Leithead came to finish the new boat, he him to get the cash from me that was then due told Snow E Fres•t said but he brought no order for it. I let him Trust, in to the Trustee ding that he was to hold the money till understan the with have it about it. you from got word could be If you do not wish him to have it he is to return it to me. If it is all right for him to keep it he will use it towards paying himself and the other Brethren that worked on the boat. If you have not already sent Bro. Leithead word about the matter please do so or send direct to me, I also boarded the hands while at work on the _ Bat & furnished supplies for them on their return hot1e which I cfiargcd the Trustee in Trust, as well as the freight on a coil of rope and a pump for the use of the BOat. The order from John W Young I showed Bro. Woodruff when he was here and he said for me to accept it. There is no travel to amount to anything now, Have crossed but one wagon this year thus far. We are using the new Boat and it works well. when there is np wind. If we had a smaller Flat Boat we should use it at least half o:f the time, and it would save a great deal of labor in crossing . We have but one Skiff and it is nearly worn out. I took the liberty to employ Bro. Leithead to make a new Skiff about 20 feet long, to be made in time for higlJ. water next Spring. If that is not right please let me know. If' you have any counsel to eive I shall be very glad to receive it. I feel well in my labors here, and hope I am y greatest desire is to assist in establish ing doing a little g ood. M the Kingdon of God on the earth. Yourn in the Gospel. Warren M Johnson (Warren M. Johnson Pariah Ferry March 4/81) n (W.M. Johnso n letters ) " Fahrea h Ferry April 1.5/81 Presid ent John Taylor Dear Brothe r Inclose d I send you a statement of Busine ss done at this Ferry for the three months ending r,Iarch 31st 1881. The order on you from B Young, (hereby inclose d) if not a cepted by you, I will be respon sible for. Anothe r high water is fast approa ching, and the ferry is in a very bad condit ion. The new Boat is too large to run with oars in high water, and the rope is not stretch ed, The Skiff which we have used in high water is not safe run to cross the river with, loaded , as it is so rotten that I canand my finger through it. I foresaw that we should want a skiff, in order to have one for use this spring I ordered one built by Bro, Leithe ad, and wrote to you, and Bro. Woodru ff also but have receive d no answer from either , so I suppos e you do not sanctio n what I have done. I certain ly do not unders tand why we are required to run the Ferry with so poor accomo dations . The River is now about '}5 four feet above low water mark, I suppos e Bro, Leithea d has about comple ted the Skiff, I would rather pay for it myself than run the old one. There is a party of R~ilro as survey ors here now. They have located a place for a Bridge about five miles below the Ferry, and have surveye d a line for the road from the river. on the South side to Willow Spring s and will now locate the line on this side of the river. This party expect to survey the route from he:rre, by way of ing Houser ock Valley to Johnso n where they will meet anothe r surveythey , tand unders I ad. -Railro party. They call it the Sevier Valley canyon the in also are gradin g on the same road in Salina Canyon below Marysv ale on the Sevier . Hoping to hear from you soon I remain Yours in the Gospel Warren Ji.1 Johnso n tt \ . - 7 - (WM Johnson letters) · "Pahreah Ferry Dec 21/81 President John Taylor Dear Brother Your letter of Dec 10th signed by L. John Nuttall Sec•ty is now before me, and I must confess that I am very much surprised in receiving such a letter, and do not know what it means, nor what course to pursue. SBE~x The facts of the case are as follows viz. I supposed Bro Erastus Snow had charge of affairs in this section of the country, unde~ the direction of the First Fresidency. I have repeatedly vn~itten to you but not attention has been paid to my letters. I have sent you hundreds of dollars in cash the receipt of which has not been acknowledged, but now when it looks as though you would loose (sic) a few dollars (which is not t - the case however) I am reminded of it sharply, but the letter treats of no other subject. President Erastus Snow called upon McNeill & Co to work upon a new road below the rapids, intending to move the Ferry nearly two miles below the old ferry, thereby avoiding what is known as Lee's Backbone which I presume you are aware is a very bad hill. McNeill & Co came here without supplies .whtich I at work on the road. while furnished them We also spent considerable time in getting supplies, Hay etc to them which we charged nothing for except the reeular ferry bill. At that time I had no instructions to settle with the men at wcrk on the road, but since then I have been instructed by Bro Snow to settle with all the hands and keep account of all means expended on the New Road. I have not yet settled with I-Ic Neil & Co but of course expect to retain of the money due them enough to cover their expenses for supplies etc received of me. Bro Snow instructed me to charge the whole account to the Trustee in Trust and when the Ferry was removed to charged 50 percent more ferriage;, the Jxtra 50 percent.to be turned over to the Trustee, to reimburse him for the means he furnished for maldng the . New Road. The New ftoad is now Bassable, the Ferry has been removed. and we are now running the Bat at the lower ferry. According to your letter all of this Road work will be charged to me. The question then arises, If I pay for making the New Road, who will own the lower Ferry? I have not labored here for my own benefit altogether but have tried to uccomodate the people who who (sic) have crossed the ferry. I have \-vri tten to Bro Snow in reference to the matter, I hope you will write to me again as I do not know wl1at to do as the cas e no\'1 stands. In conclusion I will say that a release from having anything to do with the Ferry will be very acceptable to me at any time when you see fit to grant it. Yours in the Gospel Warren M, Johnson ti -8- (Johns on letter s) " Pahrea h Firry April Jrd/82 Presid ent John Taylo r Dear Broth er Inclos ed I send a repor t of Busin ess done at this Ferry for the last three month s, which I hope will be satis factor y. I have just receiv ed a telegr am from Pres E Snow in answesr to my letter to you in refere nce to my going to the ~aste rn State to hunt up my Genea logy &c. He says that I may go if Bro. Brink erhoff will take charge of the ferry during my absen ce. He will do so. and proba bly in about J weeks I shall be ready to start . My family have a years supply of provis ions on hand and I a feel very thank ful that I have the privil ege of makin g my people visit and hope that I may do them good. We have but little trave l now. The River is rising if you slowly . Have every prosp ect of a good crop of Lucer n, andknow and us let season think you will want any to feed during the we will reserv e it for you. With kind regard s to all I remain Yours in the Gospe l Warre n M Johns on" "Pahr eah Ferry May 9th 188J Presid ent John Taylo r Dear Broth er Inclos ed I send you a statem ent of busin ess done at the Ferry for the month s of Jan.Fe b.& March 1883. There is but very little trave l now, althou gh we have a few to cross every week. The tiver is low for this time of year, but too high tos run and the Big Boat, and we are oblige d to take ,the wagons to piece far, thus Spring cross them in the small boat. We have had a cold but our crops look pretty well. My arm is impro ving slowly and I am in hopes that it will get entire ly well in course of time. We are in the enjoym ent of tolera bly good health , and are trying to do the best we can. We n§ver felt bette r in the Gospe l than now, and desire to lABor for the welfa re of Zion. Hoping that you and those yau are assoc iated with, are blesse d with health and streng thene d for your labors I remain Your Broth er in the Gospe l Warre n M Johnso n \ "Pahreah Ferry March 8/ 1884 President John Taylor Dear Brother Inclosed I send you a check for fortynine dollars, which you will please place to my credit on Pahreah Ferry Account. If the check is not good please return to me as soon as convenient. The river is higher than it has been for nine years at the upper this time of year and rising very fast. We now cross crossing. ferry as we cannot cross at the lower All is peace with us With kindest regards for yourself and associates I remain Yours in the Gospel Warren M Johnson at "Pahreah Ferrt A.T. - April J, 1884 President John Taylor Dear Brother Inclosed I send you a report of Business done at this Ferry for three months ending March Jl/1884. The New Road is now paid for and there is a fund in my h?lrnds for further improvements. Shall continue to charge the present price for Ferriage and app~ a portion of it on road work, or shall we lower the Ferry Bills L ?/ With kind regards to all I remain Yours in the Gospel Warren M. · Johnson i • i I i OI i I • i i i I i i I I I • i I • i i i i I I ¥ I I i I i i i i i i I " . I 4 I i i i i 4I I i i i i i I I i i "Fahreah Ferry A.T. 1st May 1884 President John Taylor Dear Brother I would like sometime during the present year to do some more work in the Temple and it is occasionally necessary to go to Kanab or some of t he near settlements on private business, attend the Quarterly Conference e t c. Will you give me the privilege of leavint the Ferry for a short time when occasi on seems to demand it, if I leave David Brinkerhoff or some other good zaan in charge of the Ferry? River rising very fast. Higher now than when Bro. Roundy was drowned. About 14 f eet above low water mark at lower ferry. J\11 is well with us. Very little travel, With kind regards to all I remain Yours in the Gospel Warren M. Johnson " I - 10 - (WM Johnson letters) "Pahrea h Ferry A.T. 2d June 1884 L John Nuttall Dear Brother Your letter of 9th May was received last evening . The river is now about four feet higher than it has been for nine years past, and is still rising. The roads are flooded so that it is allmost impossi ble to get to the Ferry, and the river is very roueh and dangerou s crossing . . . I have conside rable flour on hand, and you can issue orders for it, in addition to the order for 1000 lbs to Bro CL Christen sen, if you like, and they will be honored . I will keep you posted in referenc e to the river. Will you please send me a stateme nt of all the money you have received from me on Ferry a/c. I have sent-sev eral hundred dollars the receipt of which has not been acknowl edged, and I do not know whether you have received it or not. With kind regards to all I remain Your Brother Warren M Johnson " "Pahrea h Ferry 14 June 1884 Preside nt J. J. Nuttall Dear Brother The River is rising yet and is probably seven feet higher than I ever saw it before. Between the house and the Lower Ferry, the road is more than half of the way under water, and it is impossi ble to get here with a wagon without a great amount of work. The Boats are all right yet and we are trying to do the best we can. Yours in the Gospel Warren M. Johnson P.s. Bro c. L. Christen sen is here and he requests me to ask you to please send him the order for 1000· lbs ·o f flour you wrote to me about. · WMJ " "Pahreah Ferry 7 July 1884 L J Nuttall Dear Brother I have received two letters from you, one containi ng a stateme nt of r.Ioney paid the Trustee in Trust by me on Ferry a/c, and the other containi ng an order for Flour to be paid CL Christen sen. Thanks. Since I last wrote you the River came up so as to cover nearly all of the road from our field to the lower ferry, but it has fallen about 2½ feet, and I think the worst is over with. It is falling every day now, With kind wishes for yoursel f and associa tes I remain Yours in the Gospel Warren M Johnson " . - 11 \- (WM Johnson letters) "Pahreah Ferry JO July 1884 President John Taylor Dear Brother Inclosed I send you a statement of Business done at this Ferry for the three months ending JO June 1834. Some of the St John .Missionaries have complained quite bitterly in reference to the Ferry Bills. They think they should be crossed at reduced rates on account of having been called to go to that country.' Of course I had no authority to change the established prices. The River is falling fast and we are crossing at the Upper Ferry I presume it will be five or six weeks before we can run the large Boat at the lower Ferry. Yours in the Gospel Warren M. Johnson "Lees Ferry AT Le John Nuttell Salt Lake City Nov 16th 1884 Dear Bro We crossed on the Lower Ferry yesterday for the first time for the Beason. the Rivver is falling 1 in per Day it is Still 2 ft. higher than usualy this time of year Everything Right Side up with CarLe/ yours Truly w. M. Johnson per c. L, Christensen "Pahreah Ferry A.T. 25 Feb 1885 President John Taylor Dear Erother Inclosed I send you a Statement of Business done at this . Ferr;1, for the 4th quarter of 1884 and also for the entire year. 1884. XI.'f.~'lf/ I have also sent you some money which I hope you . have received. I shall continue to send you money by mail if you get this safely. We have not been troubled with visits from our "friends'' yet. Have you any counsel to give us in reference to them? With kind regards I remain Yours in the Gospel Warren N Johnson,. (added in pencil in another hand, ~60.00 r eceived by Bro J. Jack ER" and on other side of page, " Bro GW Please acknowledge yr receipt of the cash accompanyine & also tho reports hand the reports to Bro ~ ¥t--t"'f,JN " \ (WM Johnson letters) - 12 " Pahreah Ferry A.T. 21 April 188.5 President John Taylor Truntee in Trust Dear Brother Inclosed I send you the sum of Eighty dollars ($80.00) which amount please place to my credit on the Fahreah,Ferry account Yours in the Gospel Warren rn. Johnson" $80.00 handed to J.Jack , "Pahreah Ferry A.T. May 1885 . President John Taylor Dear Brother By this mail I send a Statement of Business done at this Ferry for Jan. Feb. & Uarch 1885. In high water tines we have been in the habit of charging for crossing the River as f ollows Viz. $2.50 for ferrying the wagon - and .50 cts each for towing each animal. A heavily loaded wagon we have charged a little more and a very light one a little less than t~c a bove rates . In other words, we have charged according to the number of trips we have to make. We have to take t he wag ons to pieces and cross\in the. Skiff and tow the animals behind the boat, making a trip for ~ach animal towed. Are the above prices satisfactory with you The River is not as high as it was last year at this time. But very little travel. All is peace with us Hoping for your welfare Yours in the Gospel P Warren M Johnson Lpenciled nota tion & signature: st quite satisfacttry to me E. Snow " "Refd by Pres t Taylor to Elder Snow~ (VI 111 Johnson letters) - 1; - Pahreah Ferry A.T. Nov ,.J0/1885 " President John Taylor Trustee in Trust Dear Brothei-Inclosed I send you a s-tatement of business done at this Ferry for duly Augus t and September 1885: (no caps) --..:2> There is r.ot AS MUCH TM VEL THIS FALL AS USUAL. All is peace with us / Hoping that you raay be enabled to keep out o:f the hands of our enemies. I remain Yours in the Gospel Warren M. Johnson " Pahreah Ferry 1 Nov 1886 A.T. James Jack Dear Brother Your letter of Huly 11 is before me, In reply I will s~y that I have v.rritten before to the President in reference to the price we charge for a ferriage during high water. but received no reply. For eight or ten weeks during high water, we are obliged to cross wagons with the skiff and tow each animal behind the skiff requiri ng a trip for each animal. r.rhe extra expense is in the labor of crossing , a nd we have alvrays chargecl more than the low water rates . The Pr esident ha s sanctione d the char ges for low water fe r riage, and I wou l d lik e his approval for our high v1ater charges if he f ee ls it is j us t. The labor in crossing is at least three times as much during high water. With kind regards I remain Your Brother Warren M. Johnso:i (not caps) 11 PAHREAH Ferry 1 Nov 1886 President John Taylor Dear Brother Inclos ed I send you my report for J"uly, August & September 1886. \'la h o.ve been blessed in our labors the past season, no accident having occurred a nd v1e still feel like doing the best we can. Trusting t hat you will be able to keep out of the hands of our enemies I reraai n your Brother Warren rn . Johnson P.S, Inclosed I s end you the sum of t wenty five dollars ($25,00) which amount please place to my credit on Ferry A/C. )~ I \ .. 14 "Pahreah or Lee 1 s Ferry A.T. Nov 22 1887 President Wilford Woodruff, Dear Brother I see by reading the Deseret i'!ews. that a receiver jas been appointed to take charge of all the church property, not only in Utah, but in other places as well. It is well understood who ow11s the property here and I ·want so!Tie counsel in reference to the matter. I have never had a settlement with the owners of the Ferry since it was purchased of Emma Lee and if it goes into the 1:ands of !'.1arshall EJNH Dyfyer (sic) I SI"1all probably have to go away from here on foot as my property at forced sale would r..ot bring enough to pay my debts. Will Mr D,fyer (sic) get possession of the Statements I have sent in reference to ferry business? Cannot you send me a receipt or fix it up in sone way so I will not be liable to him for the old account. Shall I send my reports to you in the future if the Ferry is not taken from me? If they come here on Ferry business, will they make any trouble for me in other respects? There is consider9.ble talk about the Ferry by outside p:1rties. Some are talking of jumping i·t because we are running it without a License &c. I think Bro. Jack has my accotmts up to the 1st of July 1887. Please counsel me in reference to the above and oblige Yours in the Gospel Warren !:I Johnson Lee•s Ferry Arizona Vis Kanab . Utah President w, •• " Woodruff Lee's Ferry Ariz Jan 28/1889 ·. Dear Brother Your letter of Jan Jrd has been received, In my former letter to you I stated that I was in debt to the owners of the '1 ha t debt has been incurred Ferry between 2 and 3 thousand by the proprietors no·t ma.king any ai--rangernent to receive the amount due them. . We have to take for f'erriar;c a considerable amount of' perishable articles, which is all charged against me. Now I do not :feel that it is rie;ht and just to have it run in this canner any longer, ,f[J( C-AfS as it will, if it has not aLREADY RUIH r.m FINA NCIALLY. I have some stock that I would like to-turn out on r;,;y indebtedness , I understand tha·t John W. Young ownes or has a considerable interest in the House \Rock Ranch and cannot you raake an arrangement with him to receive the ~:pµtock , as his is the nearest good ranc:'1 to the Ferry. If that is not /practicable , what arrangement can you make in reference to the matter.. Your Brother in tho Gospel Warren rn. J"ohnson $40. 00 Inclosed I send I•'orty dollars on account Yours etc Warren M. Johndon .. 1 r't:"~OFE""l) ~f',.. - 15 - \ (WM Johnson letters) " Lee's Ferry Ari~ July 19/1891 President Wilford Woodruff Dear Brother It has occurred to me that you ought to know how affairs are going at this place, which is my excuse f'or intrudi ng on your time, which I know is fully occupied with other affairs. Last S!)riri.g I divided my family, according to your counsel, a portion of t her.1 moving to Kz.nab for tho purpose of nchooling my children. In I.iay 1891 a family residing at Tuba City~ came here from Richfield ij tah, where they had spent the winter visi tinr; friends. At Panguitch they buried a child, and without disini'ecting the wagon or ther:iselvcs, not even stopping to wash the dead clothes, t 11ey came to our house, and remained overnight, mingling with my litt le children , and the consequence was in 4 days my oldest boy by my firct wife, was taken violently ill with fever and sore throat. We knew nothing o:f the nature of the disease, but had faith in God, as we are here on a very hard mission, and had tried as - . hard as we knev, how to obey the word of Wisdom, and attend. to the other duties of our religion, such as paying tything, family prayers &o &o, that our children would bG spared. But alass, in 4½ days he choked to death in my arms. Two more were taken dow:'1 with the disease and we fasted and prayed as much as we thoue;ht it wisdom . as we had many duties to perform here . We fasted some 24 hours and p once I fasted 40 hours, but all of no avail for both my little girls died also. About a week after their death my fifteen year old daughter I.1elinda \-'!8.S stricken down and we did all ·we conld for her but she followe d the others, and three of my dear e irls an one boy has been taken from us, and the end is not et. Uy oldest girl 19 years 019- is now :prostrate with the disease, and we are fasting and praying in her behalf today. We have become better acquainted with t he nature of the disease, than at first, and we are strongly in hopes she will recover, as two already have, that came down with it. I would ask :for your faith and prayers in our behalf however. What/have ·we done that the Lord has left us, and what can we do to gain his favor again. Yours in the gospel ·warren M Johnson " from Kanab r.1arch 21-i-/1897: W;IJ to WW, recalls accident in Dec 1895 acknov1lodges tithing order for $100. WMJ. in bed and his back has not healed. "'l1i1e lom~r brealc abou·t 8 inches long by 7 inches wide, sore unhealed." Asks if he should go to SLC or will it heal without help'? What is the Will of the Lord? & letter, Wr.1J to W'tl da tcd Kanab r.~ay 18, 1897: Advised to go to SLC and consult physicians. Anl:s about arrangements for quarters. latt0r, \'/I.1J to \'NI from near Panguitch non .r/l i July 5, 1897: Expects to take curs at Eloinorc & arrive sec Uon July 12. Letter, WI.1J to WW dated Kanab June J0/18,97: expects to start for SLC this afternoon. Letter, WNJ to WW dated Elsinore July 9, 18971 He is resting and his wife is cleaning upo Very tired: Will remain in Elsinore until he hears from ww.