Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-07-21
NOTES OF EARLY DAYS.
Experiences Of Forty Yeas Ago Re.
lated BY Father John /. Smith.
called for Missionary work-uow
ParowAu was saved from In.
dIaus-various incidents.

on the tst oil January, 1894 fresiients
r. Young and II. C. Kimball came to
nv fathers house and set him apart as
Patriarch over the Church OF Jesus Christ
OF Latter day Saints
on the 18th we commenced moving
our log cabins from the Fort to the
lot appodioned us on the block west Of
the Temple block; and in two weeks We
had our four cabins on their respective
iots-ehinkcd aud pasiered so each was
quite comfortable. Among us we're no
oilers. II made US busy to keep good
fires. as the weather is very cold. On
April 9th, the nineteenth anniversary Of
the organization OF the Church, a mail
was sent to Winter Quarters and also to
California,
on May 15,h received word that the
Twelve had chosen myself and wife to
accompany Addison Pratt and family
with others upon mission to the
Society Islands; and to be prepared to
start by the ist Of July. Accordingly
had all prepared and ready to start.
ON the Sih OF lunc those called met aud
President Young informed them that
owing 10 the amount OF cmgtanis en-
route to California, Il was thought best
TO recall the mission, and they were re.
leased accordingly
on the 18th OF September, 1879, the
cctyices OF three young men or boys who
mad been found guilty Of then, were sold
ut auction to the highest bidder for the
term OF their sentence. Mcssrs kinkude
and Livingston opened new stock VI
goods in John Packs house Ia the Seven.
tccuth ward on the 2Sth.
In October | started back 10 meet
Bro. Geo. A. and company with a num-
her Of wagons aud teams and returned
with them, al well and IN excellent
spirits, on the 17lh.
In the pushing forward OF our build.
iugs in 1850 we found u very difficult to
obtain practical wurkmcn 10 put up
hrc places, chimneys, ilucs, etc. Ac.
cufdingy ! worked much ~ the bust.
'rss, learning al I could from our best
BRICK layers and masUns, and soon found
uysuti much employed IN this line,
which Increased continually
Al special conference held IN Sep.
ttmbcr, 1881, ! was called To strengthen
the settlements In Iron county. 400
miles south Of Salt Lake City, and started
ON the 9Th OF October for farowan with
my wife and two daugltc s.. We
reached pafowan ON the 7buh. aud
commented work the net day repairs
ing FRO, AS saw mill. On NOvcm.
icr gnd / ittendcd meeting OF the
Saints, where a letter from pfcst. b.
Young was read, appointing me TO pre-
side m Iron county Ia place Of l.. ~.
Graves, as he had been chosen Iron
cuunty's representative to the legislature
TO meet Al Salt Lake City during the
winter Being but a young and mex
pefienccd man, was considerably SUR
pflsrd, that when a vote OF the people
was called lor not a dissenting voice
was heard. Elders George A. Smith
aud l.. II. Graves set me apart TO pre-
side and / received much instruction
from them with regard 10 directing
affairs. With Bro. Geo. "A. | visited
Cedar City and other small settlements.
GA the 9TH OF November Bro. George
"A. and J.. II. Graves started for Salt
Lake City With several OF the broth.
rem ! spent some days exploring the
mountains for coal and saw timber, our
'Nploraton extending rs lar as the
Sewer River.
GA the 75rd OF December the dedIca'
ton of our new clOOl and meeting
house IN Pafowan having been set for
that day. We had a time long to be re-.
membered by all, and none regretted
being present Every face bore the
Impress OF happiness
January Slh 1881 with a number oI
invited guests ! visited Joel n. Johnson
and family NJ his place called johnson
Springs" and 'Johnson's Fort" abou
Ten miles on the road toward Cedal
City Fort. then united by feques
lanes II. Mariineau in marriage viii
Susan, daughter OF Joel II. Johnson
Ibis being the hrst ceremony Of the kline
had performed. We had an exctllcn
dinner and spent a pleasant day to
gcther and returned to paroyan.
One night while several Of IN,
brethren were engaged In prayer. III,
brethren asked me 70 tell Of Threatened
danger. My eyes and mouth wer,
opened simultaneously. said, "Ou
first danger Is in an Enclosed fort wall
we have got to enclose every cntranc,
within forty eight hours or the Indian
will be upon us" sat down so eN
hausted that Il was several minutes be
lore could speak again,
The morning alter, a. break OF day
the alarm bell rang and men and team
with axes and arms wendell speedll,
away to the hills for timber. In twenty
four hours every avenue to PaTowal
Fort was closed Two days alter this
Walker and his band OF Indians, re
turning from California, came to on
tort and demanded bread and meat Il
threatening manner, After a short con
sullation we told them to camp on
square north east Of ParOwan Fort, an
We would prepare feast aud NEE
Walker aud braves IN two hours.
called the brethren around and tot
them to 20 10 their homes and brin
each what bread and meat they ha
prepared and we would seat Wake
aud braves at a table IN one Of m
sabins and have "a talk with them.
also instructed our men TO arm then
selves as best they could, covering a
with a loose coat, so that we could us
1r show them at a word,
AZ the appointed time about twent
u our brethren, with about the sam
number OF Walkers band, each OF iher
With long bow aud arrow, came and
laid to them, 1--WE are your friends an
are ready TO divide with you, but wi
not be imposed upon, we are ready f
1ou and we want you TO keep yot
arrows out OF your bows or else IN
braves will fire." Each man threw ope
AIS coat, showing that we were armed
Chief Walker arose and said Ooh
D. Lee acting as interpreter): 81 am
Ii. a.N q 4. d. D a