John Morgan Diary, December 15-18, 1888

December 15

Took train at 1:20 a.m. for LaJara where we arrived at 9 a.m. My team met me there and at 11 I landed back at home [Manassa, Conejos, Colorado]. Found all [Annie Smith Morgan who was six months pregnant, Annie Ray (4), and Myrtle (1)] well. Since I left on the 13th of November I have traveled about 5,000 miles. Held twenty-one public meetings, many private council meetings and visited four stakes of Zion located in Arizona. About 400 miles of our trip was made in wagons and we had a good time.


View Larger Map

December 16

Remained quietly at home during the day. The first Sunday that I have remained away from meeting for a long time. The weather is very fine.

December 17

Assisted in getting the teams ready and starting them across the river to the ditch and followed them during the forenoon on horseback, rode along the ditch two or three miles.

December 18

Wrote a number of letters last night and mailed them this a.m. Called on brother Jno. R. Holt and obtained some money. Paid President Smith $130 and William Christensen $93.60 on account of wagon, and account. Made a door for the cow stable.


Picture of the old Christensen barn in Manassa, Colorado, from http://www.flickr.com/photos/slv_co/422319255/ with accompanying text: "I'm quite certain that this barn in Manassa, Colorado is well over 100 years old. The property was owned by my great grandfather until he passed away in 1974. I didn't think the roof would make it through another winter with the snow we have had, but it is still standing!"

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.


View Larger Map


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.]


Photo from www.flickr.com/photos/peter576/2781560489/.

Henry Tanner to Ammon Tenney, July 13, 1885

I've been meaning to put up a scan of two letters written by Henry Martin Tanner to Ammon M. Tenney, and after the mention of Ammon Tenney the other day, here's one of them. It was written in 1885 when Tenney was serving time in the penitentiary for polygamy. Mentioned in the letter is the death of Sister Mary Bushman, a particularly close friend of Henry's wife Eliza Parkinson Tanner. Please contact me if you would like a copy of the other letter.

John Morgan Diary, December 9, 1888

December 9

Conference met at 10 a.m. and was addressed by President C.I. Robison [Charles Innes Robson (1837-1894)] and others, followed by myself. At 2 p.m. Sunday School Union Meeting, Superintendent George W. Lewis [possibly George William Lewis (1864-1933), who married Olena Dorthea Kempe, one of the six daughters of previously mentioned Christopher Jensen Kempe of Erastus (Concho)], and his two assistants spoke to the people, followed by counsellor Rogers [Henry Clay Rogers (1833-1902)]. Meeting convened at 7 p.m. and was addressed by Counsellor Hakes [Collins Rowe Hakes (1837-1916)], Brother Spry and myself. The meetings were well attended and a good spirit prevailed among the people generally.


Sources:

Mesa Cemetery Walking Tour Guide (pdf) (HTML)
Mormon Settlement in Arizona
New Family Search

John Morgan Diary, December 7-8, 1888

December 7

Had dinner and spent the day with brother C.I. Robison [Charles Robson] and A.M. Tenney [Ammon Meshach Tenney, at the time the President of the Mexican Mission], spent the day very pleasantly.

December 8

Brother William Spry [President of the Southern States Mission from 1888 to 1891 and Governor of Utah from 1909 to 1917] came in by the coach this morning and was warmly welcomed. Had a walk about town and at 2 p.m. opened our Seventies Conference with a fair attendance. I made some explanations relative to our visit after which brother George Passey, George F. Ellsworth, and George W. Lewis [that's a lot of Georges!] spoke to the people, after which brother Spry occupied some time. Attended a concert tonight.


[I can't find a biography of Ammon M. Tenney, which is a shame, since he was such a fascinating man. For tidbits of his life, see Mormon Settlement in Arizona. The picture of Tenney is from that book.]

John Morgan Diary, December 6, 1888

December 6

Rained this morning. In the afternoon, drove with President C.I. Robison [Charles I. Robson, president of the Maricopa Stake from December 4, 1887 until his death on February 24, 1894] to Papago Ward and attended a Relief Society Meeting of the Pima and Maricopa Indians. A number of them testified to the truth of the Gospel. A native choir furnished the music. After meeting, drove on to the Mesa and looked at an old ditch, evidently dug many long years ago. The depth in one place was twenty feet, and extended over a great extent of country. Rained tonight.

[John Morgan is talking about the Hohokam Canals. They are still visible in a number of places including the Park of the Canals. Click on this link and scroll down to the bottom to see a photo of part of the canals. When a new group of Mormon settlers arrived in the Valley and moved to the top of the mesa, they used some of the existing Hohokam canals as the basis for their irrigation system.

Additionally, a history of the city of Mesa, Arizona, explained the location of "Zenas" mentioned by John Morgan on December 5. Zenos was the name of the Mesa Post Office from 1886 to 1889.]

Sources:
See linked items.
Forty Years Among the Indians (Daniel Webster Jones) for his account of the Indian mission, see in particular Chapter 46 through 51.
The Planting of Mesa, a history of early Mesa based on McClintock's Mormon Settlement in Arizona


Photo of the prickly pear and fruits from www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/2735004962/.

John Morgan Diary, December 4-5, 1888

December 4

Started early in company with Brother Merrill and O.C. Wilson [Oliver Cowdery Wilson (1855-1896)], for Bowie Station, 44 miles distant. Had a hard days drive and arrived about dark. Had supper and at 7:30 bade our friends goodbye and took sleeper. Started to attend our appointments in Maricopa Stake.

December 5

Changed cars at Maricopa Junction at 4 a.m. and taking the Maricopa and Pheonix [sic] Train for Tempe where we arrived at 7 a.m. and were met by President Geo. Passey [at the time just released as Maricopa Stake Sunday School President] and Geo. F. Ellsworth [the first assistant superintendent of the Maricopa Stake Sunday School] who drove us to Zenas [Mesa], seven miles distant. Had breakfast at brother Passeys.

The weather is delightfully warm and pleasant, this being a semi-tropical climate. We gathered ripe figs and peaches from from the trees today and found the weather quite warm. Wrote a number of letters. Stayed tonight with President Talma Pomeroy [Talma Emerson Pomeroy (1863-1940)].


[I don't know who made the typescript of the journal that I'm working from, and how spelling or grammatical errors were handled (or created) by the typist.]

Source:
The Contributor
History and Genealogy of the Pomeroy Family
History of the Mexico Mexican Mission
Jubilee History of the Latter-day Saints Sunday Schools
New Family Search

Photo from www.flickr.com/photos/gem66/2539994049/.

John Morgan Diary, December 3, 1888

December 3

A number of the brethren came in early this a.m. and spent the day with us. Among the numbers, Patriarch P.C. Merrill, and Counsellor W.D. Johnson. At 3 p.m. we started for Layton Ward and stopped at brother William Packards [sic]*. An appointment was made and meeting held. A full house and good spirit prevailed.

*William Jefferson Packer has already shown up twice in Ancestral Files, once in the comments, once in a post. He was a missionary serving in the Southern States Mission during the early 1880s.

Photo of the Safford area from http://www.flickr.com/photos/7603557@N08/457282817/.

John Morgan Diary, December 2, 1888

December 2

Drove to Pima Ward and met a large crowd which was spoken to by several of the brethren. Had dinner at Ed Easts [probably Edward Martin East (1856-1930) and his wife Minnie Bassett East (1860-1947) and since her family remained in Salt Lake City, she could be the Sister East mentioned on December 1], a still larger crowd in the p.m. and an excellent spirit. This closed our conference meetings in this stake. Returned to President [Christopher] Laytons where we remained tonight.


Photo of the Pima area from www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/3444145412/.

John Morgan Diary, December 1, 1888

[Here I will note the purpose for this trip. A previous post on the Council mentioned that on October 7, 1884, John Morgan was called as one of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy. He was assigned the responsibility for overseeing the First District, a group of twenty-six quorums of seventies. In addition to making a living for his families, pursuing political and educational goals for the state of Utah, he would have travelled throughout the district, overseeing and reorganizing the quorums.]

December 1

Drove to Thatcher Ward where we found a large congregation assembled and met President C. Layton [Christoper Layton] and Counsellor [sic], also Patriarch P.C. Merrill [Philemon Christopher Merrill] and many others, among the rest, sister East, formerly of the 14th Ward. [This would be his ward in Salt Lake City.] Brother Merrill addressed the people, after which I spoke to them. A good spirit prevailed. Dinner at brother Laytons and an afternoon meeting addressed by J.R. Wilker [Welker], Oscar Wilsen, and J. East, President of the 89th Quorum of Seventies. All seemed to feel well and spoke briefly, but with a good spirit. In the evening, quite a company gathered at President Laytons and we had a most enjoyable time.


Photo of the view from Mount Graham from www.flickr.com/photos/steev/211809032/.