Extra Journal of Ralph Smith's Page 2
October 6, 1857: Came home from the canyon and was kindly received by my wife to my neat little home. She had such news to relate.
October 7, 1857: Fine rain in the night, cloudy morning but fine. Went and saw some of our neighbors, then rested myself until 10 o'clock a.m. for I was very tired and sore with traveling home. Went to conference which seemed good to have the privilege. Brother Brigham gave an excellent discourse and prophesied that if this people would live their religion as far as they knew, that this people were free and would so remain, and the stand that this people had taken before another generation would pass would bring honor to this people and many other glorious things to encourage the saints to live their religion. I spoke to Brother George Grant at the close of the meeting and told him of my gun and ammunition belt and Bowie knife and scabbard had been taken while I was away, and he told me to call if I had to go out, and they would see what they could do for me.
October 8, fine raininthe night,snow all around on the mountains, went up to the city and bought me a pair of boots and socks. Did some other little business and came home, read some to my wife.
October 9: Fine morning, but cold. Went up to the city, heard that our boys had burnt 51 wagons and their contents belonging to Uncle Sam and took six more with the cattle.
October 10: Very cold, cut some weed and put some dirt on the house top and fixed it up a bit and did the same for an old Danish lady, went up to the city and saw some cattle come in belonging to Uncle Same and heard that the boys had burnt other 25 wagons and took 250 head of cattle.
October 11, Sunday , went to the Tabernacle with my wife. I heard the large organ performed on by Orson Pratt, Jr. along with the choir which I think is a great improvement to the Tabernacle.
October 12, early in the morning, I was going to the tithing office, passing brother Sharp and his son, John" tole me that Martin Louis had come in from his father in Echo Canyon, and that he had sent for me and four other boys to go out to him in Echo Canyon. Went to the tithing office, saw Brother Hill and told him that I was called on to go to Echo Canyon, and he said he expected it was alright. So I came home to get myself ready and told my wife, and she commenced to get my things ready. About 10 o'clock, I saw William Kimball. He told me to be ready in an hour's time. I went and got ready as quick as possible and went up to the tithing office with my things and had to wait quite a spell before the team was ready. Near 4 o'clock we started from the city, go to the hillions at the foot of the little mountain a little after dark and camped for the night.
Oct. 13, 3 o'clock in the morning, we got up and fixed to start and traveled by moonlight, got to the top of the little mountain by daybreak, had a hard time to get up to the top of the big mountain, at night camped at Cornel Little Camp.
October 14, after sunup left Little's camp and proceeded to Echo Canyon, to Major Sharp's camp, got there about noon, was kindly received by the brethren for I was acquainted with most of them, wrote to my wife and notes for two of the brethren. I was formed in with Bro. Nesbate's company by order of Captain Andrew Burt.
Oct. 15: Major Sharp gave me charge of Brother Nesbate's company while at work for he had other dutires for Brother Nesbate. After breakfast and prayer, went to work to make fortifications, and boys have got a great deal of breast work done with port holes and stones to roll off the mountain. From Oct. 15 to Dec. 4, 1857, I here would say I have kept a journal while out on campaign, but it being so long and my time so limited, I have thought to abridge it, but what to leave out,I do not know, so I think I will leave out the whole and write a little from my mind. I have been out on campaign fifty-two days and have acted as Captain of ten and have enjoyed myself with the one exception (and) that was news received from my wife that Brother McMaster Joseph and Moore had turned her out of the house with any reason to her. She went to Sister Bates' to live, so I soon got over that for I determined not to trouble myself until I got home - but she was only four days out of the house - and then I would see it righted. I confess this campaign has taught me a great lesson in every branch thereof, and I feel to thank my Heavenly Father that I am spared to return, and we have fought a bloodless battle by His divine assistance. I have no doubt that if I had time to have copied the notes I have kept while out, it would be interesting in my journal. But it must be as it is.
Dec. 3: Attended meeting with my wife. At 3 p.m. , Attended battalion meeting held in the 11th ward school house relating to the firearms and ammunition. Found some of the boys to go out with, and I was put on the captains of tend to gather them together and take them to Major Sharp's house and to furnish a report of eachman of the days of campaign and his real expenditure while out. Attended evening meeting with my wife and Miss Harriet Baker who had and is living in at our house.
Dec. 4: Gathered the stake arms given to my charge and then gave a report of the men under my charge, days out and expenditure of each.
Dec 5: Peacock and I went and finished a well he had been sinking before he went out on campaign and moved our tools to Brother Bell's for to clean having to do with a mare was reprieved from death by the Governor but was to be cut. And that the salt sent to the soldiers by the Governor was rejected, and they asked no favors of the Mormons. After dark a little, General Wells came home and was met by a brass band.
Dec. 6: Saw the tailor, and he promised to have my military coat ready soon. Spoke to McMasters about the circumstances of my family being turned out of the house while I was away. He said it was done through misunderstanding.
Dec. 13: Went to Church in the afternoon, wrote a letter for Miss Harriet Baker to her mother and spent the evening at home.
Dec. 14: Worked some and went to the city.
Dec. 15: Hard frost, went to work, day pleasant. Just before sunset, I let the windless slip and the handle struck me in the face, but it did not keep me from working. When I got home, Miss Emma Girdlestone (my great-great grandmother) was there, and I had only got myself washed when a rattle scalp fellow came to see her and was an abrupt a fellow as I ever saw. He said he was a Mormon, and his name was James Miller, and he had been at California for five years, and I think he had liquor and chattered away about his money and means, but he made us all think he was a fool.
Dec 16: Morning cloudy. Finished Bro. Jennings' well.
Dec. 17: Moved our apparatus to Brother Elias' well.
Dec. 18: Finished Brother Elias' well and moved our
apparatus to Brother Calder's new place.
Dec. 19: Hard frost, went to the city. Saw Sgt. Wells. Got an order on Hoopier store, likewise an order on the Deseret News office to pay for my paper. In the afternoon, went up to the city with my wife. Did some trading.
Dec. 20: Went to church.
Dec 21: Clear and cold. Went up to the city first thing.Saw Sgt. Wells and asked him for an over shirt, and he went to the tithing office and told Brother Hill to let me have one, which I received.
Dec. 23: Went to work at noon, got water at 24 feet and was obliged to quit on account of more curbing. Cut some wood in the afternoon.
Dec. 24: Brother Dobies brought me a load of wood at least maple brush. I took 75 lbs. of wheat and chored around the house. Bro. Dobies brought me another load of brush.
Dec. 26: Finished Bro. Calder'swell. Came home, had a good wash. Brother Dobies brought me a good half cord of dry pine wood.
Dec. 27: Went to the Tabernacle with my wife.
Dec.30: Very cloudy; went to work dug until we got water Quit for the want of curbing, went and helped my wife fetch her things from the tithing store.
Jan. 1, 1858: Day pleasant.
Jan. 6: Morning stormy, cleared off at night, went to the theater, accompanied by my wife and Miss Emma Girdlestone , and we enjoyed ourselves.
Jan. 9: Work in the morning , afternoon at home, night at the theater accompanied by Miss Emma Girdlestone.
Jan. 10: Sunday morning, about 3 o'clock, had to go for Mrs. Bowman for my wife was sick. Near 10 o'clock , my wife got through her labor and presented me with a fine son in healthy condition and weighing 9 lbs. I got SisterBlack to come and take care of my wife and child until she could do her own work.
Jan. 12: Work today. Saw Sgt. Wells. Got a little order on Godbes Drug Store and got some medicine for my woman.
Jan 16: Went to a mass meeting at night, addressed a note to Miss Girdlestone.
Jan. 17: Sunday saw Miss Girdlestone, gave her the note, attended the Tabernacle meeting.
Jan. 18: Received a load of wood sent from the tithing office by Brother Hill.
Jan 23: Morning stormy. Went to the tithing office. Brought home our week's things and went to work on the canal. I had to take charge of the work.
Jan 27: A little snow fell. Morning fine at work on the canal. At night, attended ward dance accompanied by Miss Fanny Coleman and Meria Taylor and enjoyed myself very much. Our party did not break up until a little after 4 o'clock in the morning.
Jan. 28: Fine day. Work on the canal.
Jan 30: Went to the tithing store and got was for me, then got a receipt from bishop s'harp certifying that my tithing was paid up to Jan. 1 1858 and $4.50 still to my good for the year 1857.
Jan 31: My wife sick last day with her right breast.
Feb. 3: At work with Brother Peacock. My wife sore down with her sore breast and the little boy not very well.
Feb. 5: My wife still worse.The child no better.
Feb.6: Did some business, and did all I could to comfort my wife and cheer her up, but she suffered much with her breast, the boy the same.
Feb. 7: My wife's breast burst, at home all day with her.
Feb. 9: Her breast burst in another place, but Mrs. Crockston came and attended to her.
Feb. 11: My wife's breast burst, third place, and she is very weak.
Feb. 12: Work on the canal. Wife a little better.
Feb. 18: At work on the canal, My wife's breast broke in the fourth place this morning.
Feb. 25: Cleared the weeds off the lot.
Feb. 26: At home, had about two thirds of the lot put in wheat.
March 2: Went to the city. Saw Sgt. Wells. Got $1.00 of paper currency and posted two letters.
March 14: Very stormy. Home all day. My wife a good deal better, and the child doing well.
March 21: Attended special conference at Tabernacle, and we had a good deal of good instruction from the President and a call give for five hundred families to go into the wilderness or desert. Evening attended ward meeting accompanied by my wife, and we had the child blessed and named Thomas Hodgetts Smith.
March 25th: At home and fixing to clear out of the city.
April 1: Early in the morning, started my family and clothing provisions for Payson south and had to remain myself for any call. Then went to work April 3 at home and sent a letter to my wife with a dollar in it.
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April 5: At work. At evening, received an order to warn my ten to meet our Major.
April 7-10: Worked digging ashes for the Church.
April 21: Was called on by Brother John Sharp to drive a team for the Church.
April 22: Started for Box Elder and got back on the 28th loading with wheat, stayed in the city two days and stood guard with three more of the boys over a prisoner the second day.
May 1: Started back to Box Elder. Got back to the city on the 7th loading with wheat, rested, and at the end, meeting in the Tabernacle.
May 13: We started with the train to Provo loading with wheat.
May 15: Got to Provo.
May 16: Wrote a note to my wife in Payson City.
May 17: Started back to the lake, got there on the 18th,on the 20th started back to Provo, got there on the 22nd, on the 23rd, went to Payson and saw my wife and little boy and found them enjoying good health. Went to Salt Lake, helped to load the train. Three of us left for Box Elder with teams to fetch the mill, loaded up and started back (on the) 31st while passing Miller Creek, my hind axle broke down in ditch, got to the city on the 7th, on the 8th left for John Sharp's camp on the point of the mountain with a load of poles and my wagon broke down on the road. Stayed there three days. Went to Salt Lake. Got an order for a cow and a calf. Went out to the herd and got my cow and calf. Helped to load up the train and went to Provo. Unloaded and went on to Payson to my family. Took the cow and the heifer calf. Went back to the city, attended some meetings and was much edified at Provo. Worked in Provo Canyon until July 3, came back to Provo City and received our pay and met my wife there who had been waiting since Sunday for me.
July 4: I and my wife went to Payson to bring our things.
July 8: Started back with my family and contents.
July 11: Got back home to Greater Salt Lake City and fixed up things. Made another trip to Provo.
July 19: Got home again. Stood guard at the President's barn that night.
July 20: Got a letter from mother and brother in the states (possibly in New Orleans). Made another trip to Provo.
July 28: Home again.
July 30: Went to the canyon to help get wood for the Sharps.
Aug. 4: Returned home.
Aug. 10: Went to get wood again.
Aug. 16: Returned home and saw some more soldiers pass through the city. Teamed for the Sharpes hauling material and lumber to the soldiers' camp. Returned home on the 23 Sept. 1858.
Sept. 24: Got a letter from mother and brothers and wrote an answer.
October 24: Went to Red Butte, brought my cow back.
Nov. 9: Still working in the city digging wells with Brother Peacock.
Dec. 2: The severest coldest day that I have seen in the valleys.
Dec. 7: More snow
Jan 31, 1859: got my cow home off the range by Oris Newel.
Feb 1: my cow calved a bull calf.
March 6: I am through well digging for this season. I bought a wagon, gave $48 for it.
March 21: Making ready to go to the country.
April 20: I had a large yoke of cattle from the Church and about the 25th of April , we left for Cache Valley and the Church lent me, and Bro. G.M. Peacock two yoke of cattle eachto go there with.
About May 1, we got to Maughan Fort.
May 2, we built a bridge over the Muddy of the Little Bear River.
May 6: We crossed Blacksmith Fork River on the Indian Trail and came on and crossed Logan River.
May 7: Started for Summit Creek.
May 9: Surveyed 10 acre plots, finished nearly 40 of them.
May 11: Started plowing and sowing.
May 25: Brother Maughan sent word that we would be better off at the fort, and we all bundled up and started back the same evening. Most of the families were left at the fort and some went to Summit Creek to finish putting in the crops.
Then we went to the mountains for to get out log house logs.
July 3: Sunday morning, President Maughan came here, and we got our bowery put up and called a meeting and made a temporary organization for Logan Ward.
July 10 in Logan: The brethren met and attended to some business. It was moved that the precincts stake be stuck commending on the North line, opposite Cedar Bluffs, thence due west to the bank of the Little Bear River and Little Bear River the west line: South Line Main Stream of Logan, East Line range of mountains. It was then moved that R. Smith be clerk for Logan and that he make a synopsis of our travels in Cache Valley.
Sept. 6: My three brothers (George, Edward and Thomas) and my mother (Mary Usher Smith) came here who had crossed the plains that season. All were healthy but tired from their journey. My sister (Anne) crossed the plains at the same time but stayed in Salt Lake City, this being harvest time we are up to our necks in work.
Jan. 1: Now 1859 has fled and gone, been spent by me with hard labor seeking to make a home and get a little farm.
Jan.10: Near 1 o'clock a.m., my wife was put to bed or confined, and had a fine boy. My mother acted as mid-wife for her.
Jan. 17: Our place now numbered between 40-50 log cabins and near three hundred inhabitants and a large school house 20 feet by 24 feet.
March 10: I take my pen in hand to scribe a bit in my journal. On Jan. 25, about nine in the morning,I cut my leg very severely with my axe while falling timber in the canyon. Inflammation set in and for eight days, Isuffered very near death, but I am spared. I can now walk without crutches on April 3. April 5: I attended fast meeting with my wife, and we had our second son blessed and named him Ralph Hodgetts Smith.
March 19: My old cow had a bull calf, and our heifer Polly came in and had a heifer calf. I dug my portion of the ditch, planted grain and my garden, brought another bull calf and did a lot of work for Brother Benson and Brother Thatcher on their mill race. Got my hay, hired my harvesting done, when thrashed only had fifty bushels of wheat and had to pay 18 bushels to pay for harvesting and five more for the machine thrashing. Attended the October conferences in the Greater Salt Lake City when we returned home. Nearly 60 chickens were gone with foxes or wolves, gathered in the rest of the products and went to work to finish my house which I had moved this summer on account of the new survey in the city, dragged in five acres of wheat, then went to work digging wells and about the middle of December, I hired my brother George to work for me for one month. On Christmas Day, went to Providence to Brother Lane's party and then a dance in the school house. With the new year, we enjoyed ourselves at the City of Logan and since the new year, I have received 12-1/2 bushels of wheat for improvements at Smithsfield, formerly Summit Creek. We have had an increase in the cows. I bought a cow and a calf from Brother Thatccher for a show and pigs. I have raised all kinds of grain and about 1/2 acre of sugar cane. In September, my brother Edward and I were called on to make four thousand dobies (adobies), and on Friday, October 25, 1861, we went through the endowment house, received our endowment and sealing done and while in the city sold a cow to Robert Watson for a Colts Dragoon Pistol #13249.
Jan. 31, 1862: About 10 p.m. , my wife brought forth a fine girl, and we named her Mary Ann.
Dec. 13, 1862: I had Msiss Emma Girdlestone sealed to me or in other words we were married.
On the 19th of September 1863, my second wife bore a fine son whose name is Frederick, and my first wife bore a fine daughter on the 5th of February 1864 and is named Hannah. My wife (Hannah) had passed through many trials with me for this work and came with the first handcarts in the second company and was married to me in the same fall, and her being a wife over seven years and three months, she departed this life Feb. 13 1864 leaving her infant babe eight days and a few hours old. She had been a kind affectionate wife and a loving mother of two sons and two daughters. She strove hard to get comforts for her family and a bad cold turned to a fever which took her from our embrace which has been a great trial to myself.
July 3 1864: I was rebaptized by James Harmison and confirmed with all former ordinations as a 70 in the Church.
Feb. 21, 1865: My daughter, Hannah Hodgetts Smith, died at 7 o'clock in the morning and was buried beside her mother. She was sick over five months and then measles proved too much for her weak condition, as the other children are better.
Jan 13, 1866: I take my pen to put down a few more items in my journal. Another year being fled and gone, and I have done the best of my ability for the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God, my own good and the comforts of my family. I have built me a house 27 feet by 36 feet of 'dobies and a good porch in front and have got it nicely covered in.
May 18, 1865: My wife was put to bed and bore a girl child whose name is Emma. In August, I was appointed a trustee for the Second Ward School District.
May 27, 1866: I baptized my son Thomas Hodgetts Smith. On the 6th November, my Emma was put to bed and bore a son who is named Joseph (affectionately referred to as Curley Joey due to his Curley hair)
March 30, 1867: I married Susannah Jolley and was sealed to her by George Q. Cannon.
Aug. 23, 1868: My wife Emma bore a fine son.
March 4, 1869: I blessed him and named him Albert Cannon.
Oct. 11, 1869: My youngest son, Albert, died of cancer.
Nov. 22, 1869: I took mother (Mary Usher Smith) to the city to get her endowments and had her sealed to father (Thomas Smith)
April 17, 1870: My Emma bore another son , and we named him Edward.
In 1871, spent 14 weeks in the engineering department for the Utah Northern R. R.
Jan. 27, 1874: In Logan, for two years I have labored to bring Utah Northern R. R. to this place and last fall, Brother Watson and myself and last fall Brother Watson and myself took the contract to lay down the iron to Smithfield which we did, got our pay and paid off our men. Since then I have been sick with inflammatory rheumatism.
March 28, 1872: My Emma bore William Girdlestone Smith. (All of Ralph and Emma's children had the middle name of "Girdlestone") I assisted to lay UNRR track to Franklin, Idaho, and attended the Franklin Warehouse until 15 June 1874. In July, I was called to work on the Logan Tabernacle. I worked 81 days, next I built mother a house on my city lot. Her son (Ralph's brother) furnishing a set of logs.
Dec. 28, 1874: I had sealed to me at the Endowment House by Wilford Woodruff, Mary Ann Stuart Routledge, daughter of John Brown and Hannah Routledge. Her adopted father's name is John Jolley.
May 5, 1875: I baptized brother George's son,Thomas, who was confirmed by Thomas Morrellsen. Took a contract to make 40 thousand dobies for Moses Thatcher. In November, I started to make a house for my wife Mary Ann to live in. It was 15 feet, three inches by 16 feet. Up to this year 1875, I have paid $1,387.77 for twenty years in tithing.
January 23, 1876: My wife Mary Ann bore a son. My wife , Emma, bore unto me a daughter on the 3rd July 1876. During the last three years, (I paid) $382.33 to widows and missionaries.
May 20,1877: President and party have been here and dedicated the Temple grounds and held three days meetings.
May 24,1877: Bishop Henry Ballard called on me to go and supintend the excavation of the Temple foundation. I commented on the 28th.
Aug. 29, 1877: President Brigham Young died. Buried Sept. 2.
Sept. 17,1877: Brother John Taylor, the President of the Twelve Apostles with the rest of the Quorum of the Twelve that were at home, came and laid the cornerstone of the Logan Utah Temple.
Sept. 28, 1877: I have labored for the Temple 105 days and seems as though I have just began.
Oct. 2, 1877: My son Ralph came home last night with his foot hurt who had been working with his Uncle George.
Oct. 10, 1877: I have read the conference news. Last week, I assisted the Bishop to get up a historical account of Logan City from it's early settlement, still working on the Temple.
Nov. 22, 1877: The Mason got through with his work on the Temple for this season. We are progressing with the road to Green Canyon for to haul the rock for the Temple this winter.
Oct. 1878: Called to go on a mission to Southern States and Great Britain.
Nov. 10 1878: Labor in Alabama, Georgia and presided over the Georgia conference until 14 April 1879,met George Matsonand go to New York by railroad, then steamer for Great Britain.
May 3, 1879: Landed at Liverpool, England, given the privilege to visit friends, then to Labor in the Liverpool conference, but I have the Masked Ague (possibly a form of Malaria) brought with me from the states and causes much distress at times and was released at conference by President Budge.
17 August 1879: I left Great Britain.
Sept 6: And arrive home 10:30 p.m.
Sept. 24, 1879: After a long and severe spell of sickness, called to Labor at the Temple office by President C.O. Card.
Nov. 3, 1879: Although still very poor in health, try to fill the position with due diligence.
Jan 3, 1880: Elected secretary off the Logan and Smithfield Irrigation District. Still work at the Temple.
May 4, 1880: Appointed superintendent Franklin Stone Quarry for the interest of the Logan Temple, so they be kept in cut stone.
Dec. 8, 1880: Settle up quarry business for the season, having given great satisfaction to the Temple superintendent and master Mason.
Dec. 28,1880: Elected director of the canal company.
May 23, 1884: Attended the Logan Temple dedication
Sept. 10,1884: Brothers Edward and George and sister Ann and myself sealed to parents in the Temple.
March 15, 1884: As a contractor 1886 go to Pocatello with man and teams to work on railroad and return home.
July 11, 1886: Much sorrow now for us and some of the saints.
March 14, 1887: Before daylight I am in Deputy Marshall Westone Cafe in poor health, caused by trying to keep out of the way and placed under a $2,500 Bond. (Ralph was apparently arrested for practicing poligamy or plural marriage). Commence one more new house for my family.
Nov. 21, 1867: Sentenced at Ogden to the pen for six months and fined $140
Feb. 26:
April 21, 1888: Fine paid and released. Go home to Logan on 24 April, go to Canada, Cardston Lees Creek, Alberta.
Oct. 16, 1888: My wife Suzannah Jolley and four boys come to me, returnhom to Logan Bench Farm.
Sept. 25, 1889, next summer drawn to court again under bonds for several years.
(This history was read at the September 1976 meeting of theIrfredPark Camp of DUP, Bountiful, Utah, 16 September 1976 by Cheri R. Smith.
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