Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-13

Lawson, Raleigh Co,
w. Va, Nov. 4, 1897,


To the Editor:
on March 81, 1896, babe farewell to
the beautiful valleys of the mountains
and after very pleasant journey
through country new to me,
arrived at Chattanooga, Tenn, March
&C. While at Chattanooga l had the
privilege OF visiting the famous Lookout
mountain, where, in the War of the
Rebellion, so many noble sons met
their doom. While here our colored
guide for such we had led us to
part of the mountain where the tops of
the trees were all gone. He informed us
that they had been cut off by cannon
balls in the time of the war In many
places could be seen large cannon balls
lodged in the trunks of the sturdy oak
From Lookout mountain | take the
electric car for the cemetery, where
those who met their fate in the great
civil war were laid to rest. Ana tne
name / should give that place Woulu
be the beautiful city of the deau. foi
IL Is indeed so. After copying IN my
diary some of the beautiful lnscrlptiohS
found on the marble head stones l re-
titrn TO the city when | receive my
appointment together with some Valu-
able instructions from Elder Ellas .
Kimhall president OF the mission l M9S
assigned to labor in the west ' lrbiIiia
conference which includes the eastern
mart of Kentucky. l travelled III euih-
nnnv with Elder Blackburn OF Brig
ham CITY to Lewis county, Kentucky,
1vbere we met Elders Burrows anu
yViIcox. After two weeks in Lewis
caunty l was called TO accoihpanS
Elder b. d. wilcox of Preston lut''
in opening up Letcher county, ~ ~"
situated in the eastern part OF Ken
tucky along the Black mountains On
ARRIVING in this county we went direct
IN the county seat. WhitesDurg, oD-
tanned the court house to preach IN
and stayed at the best hotel III tie
place. The people of Letcher county
are MS n rule poor, but a more hospita-
III, ne..r,a nne could not wish to meet.
After three months of successtul IA
bor there we returned to Lewis county
to attend conference where we hau u
spiritual as well as temporal teast
Conference over | am assigned 70 Ia
bor with Elder Curtis h. Smltn OF
Manassa, Colo, and our held OF lapot
is Mercer county West virginia.
We arrived in Mercer. Sept 18th ana
went TO the home of Samuel r. Crotty,
the only family of Saints IN mercer
county. Great credit is due brother
Crotty and family for their untirlns
efforts in making Il comfortable hoine
for the Elders. On beginning our IA
bors in Mercer county we found the
people very indifferent ana great
deal of prejudice existing among some
But by the help of the Lord, we sue
ceeded In Graduating from the minus
Of the people. some of the prejudice
that have so long existed. Churches
and school houses were thrown open
to us, and now n Mormon Elder VIII
he welcomed in almost any part OF
Mercer county.
From Merces county I was called to
go into Raleigh county, West Va, in
company with Elder Harry IL. Clun OF
Provo. At the latter place the writer
finds himself comfortably situated Mt
the present time. Since coming into
Raleigh county we have baptized eight
souls. There are now sixteen Saints in
this county We have just organized
Sunday school which is credit to
the place, and Il great benefit to all
Interested. We have at present forty
three names enrolled. People OF differ
ent denominations attend our Sunday
school and all seem very well pleased
with the way 1t is conducted. our
superintendent, Brother c. a. Thomp-
son. Is an exemplary young man, and
is Interested in the work. The Saints
in Raleigh county have shown them
selves worthy the blessings Of God.
Brother Lawson farrell and family
have never tired of making n plea
SAINT home for the Elders. I'm
Gle Jake Pettry, although not
member of the Church. has
dome much fnr the snreod of truth
I'm the comfy He Is n weel-to-dn
niantar and an influential man Tis
has ever haen a home for rho Mormon
ELDERS
ON Into confarerce was hold in this
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4. ,,,os 10 sj,ht g., ,i'e ,,l,,i - ~, ON
,arIn,, +be baii trbare am, co, Fcre,,"e
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