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Show OPPOSITION TO MR. H. March 20th-Sunday-Mr. Heywood left here last Thursday, 17th, having been with us full six weeks. The Sabbath previous to his leaving-13 inst.-held a conference for the purpose of taking a vote in reference to the officers of this place. Brothers Sly 1 and Foote voted against Mr. H. and Brother Bradley 2 and a few did not vote either way. Otherwise the voting for all the officers was unanimous. Bro. Sly's remarks were so much out of place and manifesting an opposition spirit to Mr. Heywood that it was voted and carried that he should be cut off from the church. The day before Mr. H. left here Bro. Foote called on him for the purpose of settling the matter with him and proposing to do better for the future. Mr. H. gave him to understand that he would not be satisfied without making the plaster as large as the wound which meant that he must make a public confession before and also make acknowledgements to Bros. Bradley and Bigler. March 27th-Sunday-Attended meeting where Bro. Foote made his public acknowledgement in regard to conduct to Bro. Heywood but did not include or refer to Brethren Bradley and Bigler. 1 This may have been James Calvin Sly, a member of the Mormon Battalion, who evidently lived in Juab County. He died at Chicken Creek in 1864. See Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 3:514. 2 George W. Bradley directed the Juab militia and built a grist mill. See McCune, History of Juab County, pp. 56, 73, 90. 91 MARTHA SPENCE HEYWOOD Bro. Sly on being asked if he wished to make any remarks attempted a confession which had more the spirit of justification of his course than contrition and was not accepted. I noticed that Brethren Bradley and Miller 3 had much power in their remarks. We had quite a severe snowstorm last Thursday but since then the weather has been fair but rather cold. The delinquency of the mail is truly vexatious. Last week came so far as Springville and returned altho there has been quite a number of wagons bound for California along during the last week. April 3rd-Sunday-Spring now appears. Had no storm during the last week but yet the air is cold. Spring work has hardly commenced in this place. Quite a number of our folks are now on their way to Conference. Had a letter from Mr. H. last Wednesday which intimated that his and all the rest of the family's health was good. Nealy started to walk on his own accord last Monday and has progressed well since. Is cutting his eye teeth at present; his health is right good. Attended meeting which was well attended considering the absence of so many. April 24th-Sunday-Left this place for the city on Wednesday morning the 6th to attend conference by message from Mr. Heywood given me by mail driver. Arrived at Provo that night and put up to Bro. G. A. Smith's and found his wife Lucy there rather indisposed- had a good visit with her. Next day drove to Willow Creek and stayed over night to Gernsy Brown's.4 His wife with whom I was well acquainted when Harriet Young, was from home which was some disappointment to me but I was much pleased to find her possessed of so good a home. Next day arrived in the city about noon and found all the folks in good health. Attended meeting that afternoon and heard Elder John Taylor preach. His text was- "As it was in the beginning, etc." I was interested in his remarks but felt very tired and oppressed before meeting was closed. On leaving the Tabernacle Mr. H. proposed calling on Sister Hyde " to which I gladly assented and enjoyed the interview so well that with the previous fatigue of sitting in meeting and the travelling prostrated me to that degree that I suffered all the time I remained there. :l Josiah Miller, one of the first Nephi settlers, was to be elected mayor of the town in May 1852. Miles Miller was a town councilor. Ibid., pp. 56, 61. 4 Gurnsey Brown and many other Browns were settlers at Willow Creek (Draper). See Kirkham and Lundstrom, Tales of a Triumphant People, p. 229. 5 Probably a wife of Apostle Orson Hyde. 92 OPPOSITION TO MR. H. Started from the city on Monday morning 18th for home by mail, as also Mr. H. with his own team taking Bro. and Sister Barber * with all their appertenances to move them to Nephi, and supposing it would be so much more comfortable for me to travel by mail, I started according, but found out our mistake before night. We stopped at Dry Creek that night with Sister Barber's brother and were well entertained.7 Next day we traveled to Provo by noon and had good refreshments to Bro. Bean's and from thence by evening to Springville where we had the best kind of accommodations to Bro. Humphrey's.8 Dined next day to Bro. Shumway's 9 Petit Neat and expected to have stayed to Bro. Johnson's but Mary Anne was just taken in labor and we have learned since that the result was a fine boy. (Mr. H. had a letter from Benjamin which he has answered and I added a few lines.) This circumstance prevented us from stopping there so we made for Clover Creek and put up to Bro. Bigelow's and found ourselves home by noon next day. Amelia Fellows who came to live with me two days before I started for the city did as well in charge of my affairs as I could expect.10 May 8th-Sunday-The Presidential company arrived here on Monday afternoon, April 25th about three o'clock.11 We had the pleasure of entertaining to supper, Bro. Brigham Young and wife Margaret,12 Bro. Heber Kimball and wife Vilate, Bro. John Taylor and wife Leonora 13 and Judge Snow. Many of the brethren called. Sister Vilate stayed over night and nearly all who supped breakfasted with us. They left here for Manti about 9 o'clock and returned "This may have been Luke and Susan Barber who are listed in the 1850 Census in Salt Lake City. 1 Dry Creek was renamed Lehi. " Smith Humphrey is listed in the 1850 Census in Utah County. 'Charles Shumway and his son Andrew were pioneers of 1847 and early settlers at Manti. They may have had interests in the Payson area as well. 10 Amelia Fellows, listed as age thirteen in the 1850 Census, would seem to have been another of the young girls whom Martha found more troublesome than helpful to have in her household. "Brigham Young and his party left Salt Lake City April 20, 1853, to visit Indians in the southern settlements, partly as a result of information from Iron County that seemed to portend trouble from Indians. At Provo on April 23, Young in his dual role as governor and superintendent of Indian affairs issued a proclamation accusing "a horde of Mexicans, or outlandish men," of stirring up the Indians and selling them arms and ammunition contrary to territorial and federal law. Officers of the territory were to place the Mexicans in "safe custody." See Deseret News, April 30, 1853. 12 Margaret Pierce. Another wife of that first name, Margaret Maria Alley, had died the previous year. 13 Leonora Cannon was Taylor's first wife and a sister of George Cannon, father of George Q. Cannon. 93 MARTHA SPENCE HEYWOOD from there on Friday evening the 30th. We had a change of company. Those that we had before went to Bishop Bigler's and in return we were honored with Bro. G. A. and wife Bathsheba,14 Sister Amanda Kimball, Brethren Hunter, Blair, Ezra T. Benson, etc. Sister Vilate would stay with [us] in spite of counsel about the same company breakfasting in the morning. They all seemed to enjoy themselves remarkably well and none more than Bro. Brigham. They started from here about 9 o'clock Saturday morning for the city. I had a delightful visit with Sisters Taylor and Kimball the first evening. It would seem as if the President's life was somewhat in danger by a peculiar circumstance happening to him on his way from the city.15 Today (the 8th) attended forenoon meeting during which time Brother Lewis Robinson with a Brother Whalock [?] arrived in our settlement on his way to hunt up some horse thieves, one of which had wintered in this place, boarding with Father Gifford, named Llingerline.16 Quite a number of our folks were baptized today and confirmed. Last Sabbath Mr. H. was baptized for his health, also Bro. Sly who was cut off the Church about two months ago. Mr. H. went to San Pete last Monday morning and returned on Thursday night. The trip helped his health some. Weather is rather dry for this time of the year and also rather cold. Considerable ploughing and seeding has been done and is going on briskly. Last week's Deseret [News] brought news from the eastern papers regarding Orson Pratt's movements in Washington.17 Their 14 Bathsheba W. Bigler was George A. Smith's first wife. 15 While at Provo the president was accosted by an unknown man who carried arms on his person. The stranger said he had "400 Mexicans awaiting my orders" and as many more as he wanted plus Indians. This circumstance apparently led to Young's issuance of a proclamation that called for Mexicans to be put in "safe custody." Young described his southern journey at a meeting in the tabernacle May 8; his address was published in the Deseret News of May 14, 1853. M Robinson's traveling companion was probably Cyrus H. Wheelock, a gifted orator who later became president of the Northern States Mission of the LDS church. See Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, 4:363. When complaints of horse thieves reached the ears of Brigham Young, the sage leader said he seldom lost any of his possessions because he watched them or set others to watch them. See Deseret News, May 14, 1853. Nothing is known of accused horse thieves Llingerline or Vaughan who is mentioned in the next entry. " Apostle Orson Pratt had been sent to Washington in 1852 to take charge of all the branches of the LDS church east of the Rocky Mountains, including those in the British provinces. There he published The Seer, the first issues of which devoted themselves to the defense of celestial marriage. See Thomas Edgar Lyon, "Orson Pratt-Early Mormon Leader" (M.A. thesis, University of Chicago, 1932), pp. 62-64. 94 OPPOSITION TO MR. H. opinion amounts to this, that it is best to let us as a people alone and we will soon become extinct. May 15th-Sunday-On Tuesday evening the mail came in and brought me two very agreeable letters, one from my brother and the other from my old friend Mrs. Hayes in Rochester. By the same mail Mr. Heywood had news from the city concerning court matters that first took him to San Pete and then to the city very unexpectedly. Next morning by daylight Bro. Hoyt (who is marshall) called on Mr. H. to let him know that one of the horse thieves, Vaughan, was in the place. Orders for his capture were immediately given. Mr. H. returnfed] from San Pete on Thursday evening and started by mail on Friday morning for the city. May 27th-Friday-May 27th Mr. H. in company with Bro. Hiram Kimball arrived here very unexpectedly.18 Mr. H. after his horses and wheat and the latter after tithing wheat. They came by the new route on the west side of the Jordan in accordance with Bro. Brigham's request. They found the road much better than might be anticipated but yet rough enough to require some labor to make it tolerable. They returned the same way the next day at noon with their teams and a number of our brethren started with them to escort them about twenty miles to make the road some better. One great advantage of this new road will be in time of high water and also when there is considerable snow on the old route. June 5th-Sabbath-I was startled with the intelligence of the death of Mr. H.'s little girl and continued some days not knowing the particulars, not even which child. Since then I have had a letter from Mr. H. giving them, 48 hours before she died (Alice Grafton) she complained of a pain in her head and the morning of the day she died she was dressing by her mother who did not perceive anything very alarming in her symptoms till about 11 o'clock when she was taken with spasms and at five in the afternoon died.19 The endearing and remarkably interesting little Ally, the love of all who knew her; being about the hour that her father and his friend Hiram Kimball sat down to supper in this house, being Friday the 27th day of May. The grief of the family in the City must be intense and her poor mother consequently the most stricken. Oh, that she may be blessed and preserved in this her hour of affliction, and that ,s Hiram S. Kimball, a son of Phineas and Abigail, was a pioneer of 1850. "Alice Grafton (Ally) Heywood died on May 27, 1853, at age five years and six months. Eliza R. Snow wrote a memorial poem on the sad occasion. See Deseret News, June 18, 1853. 95 MARTHA SPENCE HEYWOOD we all as a family may be profited thereby. My health is but poorly and I realize that this stroke of affliction affects me and as I again draw nearer to the period of again becoming a mother I feel more weakly and quite unable to perform any labor. My sweet little boy seems to gain day by day in health and strength for which I bless thee, my heavely father, as long as he lives he will be the living likeness of his dear sister Alice who loved him very very much. But she is now gone to the spirit world to see, be with and make acquaintance with infant brother, the first bom of the children.20 June 8th-Wednesday-Sister Melissa Johnson who lost her babe in the winter and Sister Harriet with her babe, a very large fine boy 5 months old, took a ride and stayed over night. Received a letter from Mr. H. bearing date of June 14th, referring to the high water of City Creek doing great damage to property in the city 21 and also at Provo where three persons have been drowned during the past week and also of the conviction of Wm. May for the murder of Gochu [?].22 The testimony of Joseph Town-drow was the principal evidence of his guilt. July 15th, 1853-Mr. and Mrs. Heywood arrived here about 1 o'clock Friday night accompanied by Bro. Johnson and Archy Bell and without any protections. Monday evening following Bros. George A. Smith and Stewart arrived with a guard bringing intelligence of a man on guard being shot at Petit Neat.23 Brother Stewart the next day realized the loss of a very fine span of horses, put into Bro. Foote's stable and taken away during the night with a horse belonging to one of our brethren here. January 1st, 1854-Mr. Heywood left here for the city Monday morning, November 28th in his own team, Brother George and his wife going up to the city with him and by his leaving and George having a house built for himself I got possession of our other room for the first time. Mr. H. told me on leaving that I might make what improvements I had a mind to and he would realter what did w Evidently Sarepta's first child, a boy, had died as an infant. 21 Heavy runoffs did considerable damage in Salt Lake City, especially in Heywood's Seventeenth Ward where City Creek cut a deep channel and threatened homes. See Jenson, Church Chronology, p. 84. 22 William May was convicted of first degree murder on June 8, 1853, and sentenced to be executed on January 13, 1854. The day before the sentence was to have been carried out, Brigham Young issued a reprieve. See Utah Territory, Executive Papers, 1850-55, Utah State Archives, State Capitol, Salt Lake City. 21 Alexander Keel was killed July 18, 1853. 96 OPPOSITION TO MR. H. not suit him when he returned. The first thing I had done was the doorway made between the rooms and a window place put on the east end, the floors refilled and nailed down; and when I accomplished all this I had a family of the name of Bennett to come in and enjoy the fruits of my labor. My little daughter was born August 8th, a very healthy child. Mr. H. was not here at the time but arrived two days after her birth. I did not suffer quite so much as I did with my boy. From taking cold in changing me 24 hours after her birth I had quite an ill turn the third night and it might have proved serious if it had not been for the unwearied attention of Sister Gifford. And another great advantage I devised was having my breasts drawn by a little girl named Josephine Sperry. We named our little one Sarepta Maria after Mrs. Heywood and my mother. She had the honor of being born in the midst of Indian difficulties, when there were express running all over the country and martial law pervading in all the settlements.24 Mr. H. again left me when she was about three weeks old. I felt very bad the morning he left me; it seemed I could not bear to be left alone and also what might happen to him on the way. The Saturday after he left the San Pete brethren arrived here on their way to the city to attend conference and brought with them the bodies of three murdered brethren, by the Indians, out of four who started from the San Pete the day before the company did. They had not obeyed counsel in camping where they did that night. They were very much mutilated and the other one was found and brought in the next day. This barbarous circumstance actuated our brethren, counselled by Father Morley of San Pete (who no doubt was much excited in the time of it) and President Call of Filmore, to do quite as barbarous an act the following morning, being the Sabbath. Nine Indians coming into our Camp looking for protection and bread with us, because we promised it to them and without knowing they did the first evil act in that affair or any other, were shot down without one minute's notice. I felt satisfied in my own mind that if Mr. Heywood had been here they would not have been dealt with so un-humanly. It cast considerable gloom over my mind. Mr. H. has told me on leaving to do all I could to encourage them by employing them to work for me.25 21 The Walker War had erupted in July 1853. 23 This incident of the Walker War is told in different terms by Gottfredson in Indian Depredations, pp. 74-75. According to that work, William Luke, 97 MARTHA SPENCE HEYWOOD April 9th, 1854-Sunday-My little girl was eight months old yesterday and from the time of her birth she has been very healthy indeed. I have been to the city and spent four weeks there and one week in travelling there and returning making just five weeks from home and while there Mr. H. was here in company with Bros. Pack and Fosgreen. I left the house and concerns with Bro. and Sister Broadhead who took good care of everything in my house. Reflections-The winter has passed and brought and left its several changes. Our settlement has undergone many changes. One year ago three families stood here on the fort ground and right in sight westward was Bro. Foote's good two story adobe house and about 40 houses scatter around. And now we are all brought together on this very same fort ground to the amount of about 125 houses, or at least that number of families.2" Indian hostilities seem to be suspended for the present and ploughing and seeding time is the present excitement amongst our people but there is considerable of a change with the Indians. They appear not to want to work as much as they did before.27 While in the city I had the pleasure of seeing some of my friends there whom I very much esteem. For the first two weeks the weather was unusually stormy which prevented my going out on any account. I made a visit to Bro. Rose's in company with Mrs. H. (Mr. H. being absent) and there met quite a company of interesting brethren and sisters-the Ive's family from Philadelphia and Sister Streper that I knew in St. Louis with others. I was much pleased with Sister Rose. William Reed, James Nelson, and Thomas Clark left Manti on September 30, 1853, with a load of wheat. Isaac Morley and a horse company were to overtake the four men and go together through Salt Creek Canyon. Instead of camping near present-day Moroni, as agreed, the four men went on to Uintah Springs (Fountain Green). When Morley's party came upon the camp they found three dead men. Clark's body was found later under the wheat. Morley and the others "skirmished" with some Indians near Nephi, killing eight of them. A similar, less detailed account was published in the Deseret News of October 15, 1853. Martha implies that the Indians were shot in cold blood as revenge rather than as part of any "skirmish." 20 The idea of having every settlement "fort up" became almost an obsession with Brigham Young during this unsettled period. All through the southern part of the territory, outlying ranchers and people in the smaller settlements were ordered to abandon their homes and move to larger centers. Settlements such as Nephi were built up. At the LDS church conference in October 1853, Heywood had been told to take fifty new families to Nephi to strengthen that town. In the Deseret News of December 1, 1853, George A. Smith could report that "Nephi musters about 100 men, and their fort is nearer completion than any other. They have a grist mill in operation, and a new school-house 20 by 40, nearly completed." 27 The Walker War was over by May 1854. 98 OPPOSITION TO MR. H. I called over to Sister Vilate Kimball's and was much surprised to see the change in her. She is growing old fast.28 Attended the Council house one day as visitor and heard a lecture from Bro. Kimball and was renewed in my mind in reference to the ordinances that I passed through three years ago. One thing pleased me, it was that all Bro. Kimball's wives were dressed in home made flannel and one other circumstance grieved me. Sister Vilate Kimball had received a letter from her Brother and his wife in Rochester denouncing the heads of this Church as wicked men, fearing lest my friends should feel the same. April 16, 1854-Sunday-News from conference is of an interesting nature. Many of our brethren are nominated for various missions to the States, Canada and other countries. Erastus Snow to St. Louis to reside, Orson Pratt and Orson Spencer to Cincinnati, James Ferguson to Ireland, Brothers Sly and Gustin of this place to Canada and right to the town where my brother lives and also Bro. Sly expects to visit Rochester and I have given him letters accordingly. 29 Brother Jeremiah Hatch has located with us to supervise the Indian Farm by appointment. He is a young man that I have much respected for his intellectuality and I have faith to believe he will be a blessing to this settlement. April 23-Sunday-Mr. Heywood arrived here on Thursday afternoon-20th-on which day Bro. Rist commenced plastering our rooms which will add much to our comfort and at the same time commenced a steady rain such as we have not had since we settled in this place and to all appearance will save much labor in irrigating. I did not attend the forenoon meeting at which time Mr. H. lectured the people pretty thoroughly on cleanliness, etc. etc. April 24th-Monday-Rain continued very steady all day and night which prevented our men working in the field and instead thereof worked heartily in clearing away our chip piles and filth from out the Fort and will give the people a start to keep their door yards in better order. There is a disposition on the part of the peo- 23 She would be forty-eight on June 1, 1854, not too many years older than Martha. 29 James C. Sly, who had been cut off from the Mormon church for opposing Heywood so vigorously a year earlier, was back in the fold and presumably living in harmony with the Heywoods. 99 MARTHA SPENCE HEYWOOD pie to have me teach school. Mr. H.'s health is not very good. I also begin to feel the influence of the weather and the damp of our rooms. Bro. Siler [?] passed through and preached here on his way to the States where [he] is to fill his appointed mission. He is filled with a good spirit and his preaching was remarkably adapted to the wants of our people at this time. Our gates were made and put up today which helps to prepare for Indian difficulties. May 1st-Monday-Election of the city officers took place today and was a means to try the spirits of our people in regard to obeying council. Mr. Heywood as the president of this settlement filled the ticket but the people did not honor it. They took it upon themselves to make one to suit their notions and they carried the day. The most important change in the tickets was Bro. Foote for Mayor on the opposition ticket instead of Bro. Baxter and was what made the difficulty. Our girls had their May walk and their picnic refreshment on their return to Sister Gifford's house as the Council House was used for election purposes. Amelia Fellows has been working for me for a few days. May 4th-Thursday-This being the first Thursday in the month was set apart for fasting and prayer. I attended the forenoon and afternoon meetings and felt much benefited thereby. There was quite a good attendance of females and Bro. Bigler presided, who with Bros. R. Carpenter and Nugent were the only brethren that attended.30 We had a special prayer in behalf of Bro. Heywood's health and when he returned home I found him considerably better. Yesterday had Patriarchal blessings from Bro. Cazier to whom we made a visit and enjoyed ourselves very much.31 May 7th-Sunday-Yesterday Walker, the Indian Chief of the Utes made his appearance and put up to Brother Bradley's where Mr. Heywood met him with the brethren who are in authority in this place. Walker had six Indians with him. They partook of an entertainment got up for them and appeared to have a very good spirit indeed. Walker professed to be decidedly for peace. He had his patriarchal blessing from Father Cazier and a very good one it 30 Jacob G. Bigler presided as bishop. The other two men, who have not been identified, may have been relative newcomers to the town. 31 William and John Cazier were among the first Nephi settlers and were early town officials, councilor and treasurer respectively. See McCune, History of Juab County, pp. 56, 61. 100 OPPOSITION TO MR. H. was, provided he learned of the Mormons, to do as they do, to cultivate the earth, etc. etc. A blessing was put upon the Indian Farm by Father Cazier on Wednesday, May 3rd.32 May 14th, 1854-Sunday-Wednesday afternoon Brother Brigham Young and his company arrived in our midst and in a little while entered our dwelling to refresh themselves.33 Brother Young and wife Emeline; Kimball and wife, Lucy; Lorenzo Young and wife; Joseph and Phineas Young and others supped and breakfasted with us and seemed to enjoy themselves right well.34 Had a meeting in the school house. Brother Brigham spoke and one of his remarks was that if the people did not obey counsel in building their Fort and wall and securing themselves they could get their throats cut. Parley Pratt and his company were in the crowd on their way to their mission ground. After Bro. Brigham left here the spirit of the people was made manifest by their strenuously opposing Mr. Heywood in his counsel (if any) in reference to the building of the wall and insisted that Brigham's counsel (if any) was to build a fort. There was much hard feeling expressed on the subject towards Mr. H. and went so far as to say he was on the eve of apostacy. Mr. Heywood's health was poor from the time he arrived here until this spirit manifested itself and then he felt somewhat better. Commenced my school on Monday, May 15th with 27 scholars and in the afternoon of the same day Sisters Julia Leroy and Hen-ricks [?] arrived which was a great advantage to me as I hardly knew what to do for help. May 26th-Friday-Brother Brigham and his company arrived here on their way home from visiting the southern settlements. 32 A list of names was entered in the diary at this point with no explanation. Perhaps they were the ones who opposed-or supported-Heywood. The names were: Bradley, Baxter, Bentley, Hart or Hayes, Hatch, Mangum, Spencer, Udall, T. Adair, E. Adair, Barber, Broadhead, Scofield, Carter, Finly, Henroid, Vickars and wife', John Wygle, Nutte, Sister LeRoy, Henroid, Scriggins, Micks, Harry Micks, Henry , David Cook, Rice, Bennett, William Cazier, Susanna Sly. 33 Young and his party were on a four-week round trip from Salt Lake City to Harmony. At Chicken Creek (Levan) on May 11, Walker and other chiefs joined the tour While Young was still urging caution and the building of forts and walls, the Walker War had come to a close; Indian missions and farms were planned, and "all the talks were favorable to a good peace. . . . See Deseret News, May 25 and June 8, 1854. 34 Members of the party included Emmeline Free Young, Lucy Walker Kimball, and the younger and two older brothers of Brigham Young: Lorenzo, Joseph, and Phineas. 101 MARTHA SPENCE HEYWOOD They arrived in a storm of rain and continued to rain hard on the evening and night. They held a meeting. Brothers Hunter, Taylor and others spoke to the people. Brothers Brigham, Kimball and wives ate supper with us and remained all evening and night. They held a meeting. Next morning the company started taking for their route, the other side of the western mountains. Mr. Heywood started with them for the city, leaving me to take care of quite a family. The enjoyment of the President and those of his company that accepted the hospitality that this humble roof afforded was truly gratifying to me. Sabbath after the Presidency started, attended meeting in the afternoon, Bro. Kendall was the principal speaker.35 The brethren who accompanied the Presidency party to help to improve the road returned about noon, bringing the word that the wall was to be built and to be completed in three months, twelve feet high, 6 feet at the base to taper to two feet at the top. June 15, 1854-Monday-On this day the brethren commenced the wall with vigor and unity and by their so doing my mind was exercised in reference to the similarity of our situation to that of the ancient Jews and I thought several times I would get the Bible and read the portion and see for myself the application to our circumstances and I was yet more interested on reading at its adapt-ness. Walker on seeing the wall go up demanded what it was for and on being told it was to preserve ourselves from the Americans who were displeased with us for having more wives than one, he appeared satisfied with the explanation and Batiste desired that there would be a gate left for his special use on the southeast corner so that he might come in and out as he pleased. On Saturday evening, June 10th. Walker3C went to Bro. Bradley and told him the wall should not go up that it was not as he had told him to keep the Americans out, it was to keep him and his party out, that it was made known by a Mormon white boy to one of the Indian boys and that Brigham was coming here by and by to decoy him into our midst and cut off his head. He told him that if the wall went up our people would not gather their crops, that they would be destroyed. In consequence the wall had to be stopped and an express sent to Brigham. M George Kendall, a seventy. See Deseret News, April 13, 1854. 30 That the Mormons continued to "fort up" despite the recent peace settlement may have confused the wily Walker. 102 OPPOSITION TO MR. H. June 22nd-Thursday-We had a very good prayer meeting. July 14th-Friday-Mr. Heywood accompanied by Sister Vary and Mary Bell arrived here, a few days previous Gustavus Henroid. July 16th-Sabbath-We all attended meeting and Mr. H. was in good spirits and spoke as the spirit moved him and in the winding up of his remarks said he felt pretty well himself and asked the folks how they were-an expression that some took exception to. In the afternoon Father Miller37 made a general confession which Mr. H. backed and this made matters worse. During the week there was considerable excitement and Mr. H. was very much prostrated in strength of body. Also on Monday morning the school hour was missed which called out some remarks from Bro. Bryan as one of the trustees, that caused me to speak to him at noon time when I learned that there was considerably hard feelings against me as a school teacher. On my reporting to Mr. H. he desired me to ask them to liberate me which I did and closed the school, being about eight weeks of the quarter. July 23rd-Sabbath-This Sabbath strength was given to Mr. H. to attend meeting and perform his duties as president of this place. It was not very well attended and on Tuesday morning following he left. When the excitement grew stronger and stronger and resulted in a petition been got up to remove Mr. H. from his office and while this was going on there was a remonstrance got up at the same time to the petition-the latter going a week ahead of the other and the answer being brought here by Bro. Bradley while the petition was on its way. The message was that Mr. H. was to rest and the people were to choose a president in whom they could be suited and when Father Miller and Bro. Foote returned they found the message was ahead of them.38 July 30th-Sabbath-I commenced to wean my girl without sufficient reflection. She took the weaning very well till about the fourth day when she was taken with diarrhea which I checked but she continued growing worse in a most astonishing manner. She was progressing in the cutting of a tooth which she brought through when I realized how hard it was going with her. I put her to the 37 Probably Josiah Miller. x How typical this is of a small settlement divided-bitter medicine for Martha. 103 MARTHA SPENCE HEYWOOD breast again at which time she suffered herself so much that she would not touch it for two days. On Tuesday, August 8th, the first return of her natal day I was very much concerned for her as she was very low indeed and when I wrote on Thursday, 10th, I had no encouragement for my self or her father. About two hours after the letter had gone I perceived a change for the better that grew brighter, slowly but steadily. Saturday the 5th, Sister Vickars buried her little girl that was born about the same time as mine.39 August 13th-Sabbath was appointed to elect a President and Bro. Kendall devised the plan which was to have all the candidates on paper and to get the marks of the people for 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice. Bishop Bigler received the majority of eight votes over Bro. Foote and was accordingly held up to the people to sustain which was done, but far from being unamimous. Mr. Heywood was presented previous and nearly a third voted for him. Bro. George Spencer demanded to know what Bro. H. had done, since Bro. Benson had settled the difficulty. Father Miller said he could tell and satisfy the people of the right of removing him which was hoped no dirty dog would unbury the hatchet. Bro. Carpenter was the first,40 Bro. Bradley next and Bro. Heywood capped the climax by doing as he did the first Sabbath of his return. Bro. Spencer rose again and said Mr. Carpenter was opposed to Mr. H. when he did so and the last item called capping the climax was Bro. H. bearing testimony to Father Miller's confession. Bro. Bigler rose up and said that they had not come there to find fault with either party but the business of the day was to elect a President. So they accordingly attended to that business and when Bishop Bigler was duly pronounced President he rose up very smilingly and thanked the people for making him twice president in one day. The subject of his required two counselors extra of the two he had in the Bishopric-and he gave it as his opinion that he needed them not, that the two offices were so intimately connected that except presiding at the meetings his duties would be as usual. He could not see that there was one hairs difference between the offices -he would even split the hair and say there was not that much difference. Bro. Bryan was voted in unanimously as first counselor "' John Vickers and his family had settled in Nephi during the summer of 1852. McCune, History of Juab County, p. 59. 40 William H. Carpenter, a seventy. See Deseret News, April 13, 1854. 104 OPPOSITION TO MR. H. but Bro. Bently was questioned in regard to his office as clerk which called out some remarks from him. That he never sought the office but when it was given him he filled it to the best of his ability, not because he wanted it but because it was put upon him and he had always made it a principal to obey those who were set in authority over him and when he got ready to do otherwise than that he wanted to leave Mormonism. 105 |
