John Morgan Diary, December 10-14, 1888

December 10

Drove to the old ditch and about the country. At 12 bade the good folks of Zenas [Zenos or Mesa] goodbye and started for Temple [Tempe], taking train. At 1:30 p.m. changed cars at Maricopa Junction and took sleeper for Demming.

December 11

Arrived at Demming [Deming, New Mexico] at 7 a.m. Waited two hours. Had breakfast and looked at town and at 9 a.m. took train for Rincen [Rincon, New Mexico], where we arrived at 11:45. Waited for El Paso train on which we took sleeper for LaJunta, Colorado. The run during the afternoon was through a terribly desolate country. Was unwell all night.

December 12

Woke up near Las Vegas, New Mexico where the train waited for breakfast. Brother Spry and myself wrote a letter addressed to the Elders and saints in the south giving some information as to Southern Arizona country and advising them to locate there. At 4:45 p.m. we changed cars at LaJunta. At 10 p.m. took sleeper for Denver.

December 13

Arrived at Denver at 6:30 a.m. Had breakfast at a Restaurant and visited all the principal points of interest about the city, and at 4 p.m. took train for Colorado Springs where we changed cars and went to Manitou [Manitou Springs, Colorado]. Stopped at the Cliff House.

December 14

Drove up to Rainbow Falls in Utah Pass and from there by way of the Garden of the Gods and General Eynie to the station at Colorado Springs and took cars for Pueblo at which point I bid brother Spry goodbye, he going to Salt Lake and I to San Luis Valley. Spent the evening in making purchases and walking about.


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Note on William Spry and the Southern States Mission from the Southern Star

After the Saints were located in Colorado, President Spry visited Mesa, Arizona, for the purpose of studying the facilities of the country preparatory to sending some Saints there. He found an admirable country for the southern people, the climate being similar to their former homes. [Of course, he was there in December.] On his return to the office a circular was sent to Elders and Saints naming the facilities of the country and encouraging the people to make homes there. [Southern Star, Saturday, September 2, 1899, Vol. 1, No. 40, p 313.]


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