Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-29

was lett an Orphan al tender age.
When was fourteen years old COM
menced to learn the art Of mill building,
fnd worked at il FIVE years. At nine
en- went to what was then called the
u ack Hawk purchase, now called Iowa,
became acquainted with the celebrated
war chief Black Hawk, and 1t was there
built the first known flour mill that
was built in Iowa.
In 1889 became acquainted with the
Prophet Joseph Smith, and heard him
expound the principles Of the true plan
of life and salvation. l believed it as
soon as heard it, and was baptized in
the early spring OF 1870, and with my
family took up our abode with the
Saints. After the massacre of the
Prophet and Patriarch, we left Nauvoo
at the time of the exodus Of the Saints,
and journeyed with them until we ar
rived at Mount Pisgah. Here we found
President Brigham Young with the main
body OF the Church. We travelled IN
President Young's company from
Psgah to Council Bluffs, arriving there
on the nth day OF June, 1886.
On the 18th of June President Young
called on me to build ferry boat.
selected some of the brethren to hep
me, and took them into the woods, where
we selected the best trees could find
that would at all suit the purpose, and
with the poor facilities and improvised
tools at our command we commenced
the work, and finished our boat on the
aeth of June. That night we ferried our
cannon (nick-named the "old sow") and
other pieces of artillery, with several
wagons, across the river. | kept at
work day and night, ierrying the hosts
OF Israel with their wagons and all their
belongings to a place of safety. We
ferried hundreds Of wagons across, and
at last had to rest; | was completely
tired out. had worked for weeks, day
and night, without money and without
price.
The majesty and greatness Of the
spirit that the Lord bestowed upon
President Brigham Young has not been
thoroughly understood or correctly est-
mated, nor fully appreciated even by
many of cur own people, especially
those Who were rot participants in the
mobbings and drivings, and who did
not know the distress OF the people in
consequence thereof. His genius and
ioreihought enabled him to grasp every
phase and prepare for every emergency.
The tender care and anxiety that he
manifested for every soul under his
wstchcare. and the skilliul way he
handled the vast bcdy of people and
met every d fiiculty that TRANSFERRED,
makes him greater hero than any gem
era that has ever lived. A general
over an army has his men well drilled
and disciplined. but here was a vast
body Of people fleeing from a relentless
foe, whose leader had been told blythe
President of this great nation, Gentle
msn, your cause is just, but we can do
nothing for YOU" After this their
leaders had been murdered, the people
robbed, and scattered; yet Brigham
Young, then president OF the quorum of
the Apostles, by his own voice
under the inspiration of the Lord, col
lected the people and directed every
their benefit and preservation.
In the midst OF our troubles alter we
had reached Council Bluffs, Captain
Allen came as an agent for the Unite d
States government and made demand
for five huncred men to fight against
Mexico. President Young called for
volunteers. went 10 him and gave my
name to 60, but he said, mo, want you
to stay here" In the exodus the people
could take with them only very few
things for their use. Some brought
hand mills, and coffee mills, which were
poor things to grind corn or flour.
President Young, knowing | was mill
wright, called on me to build mill for
the accommodation OF the people to grind
their corn, as very few had anything else
for food. at once went to work and
butt the mill as soon as it was possible
to accomplish it. 1t had one run OF
four feet burr stones.
Early in the spring of Is47 very many
went into Missouri and other places to
seek employment, whereby they could
earn means to fit themselves out for
crossing the plains. had no supplies
except one hundred OF -four, two sacks
OF corn meal, and some whole corn,
Q IT clothing was scant and needed re-
plenishing. went, as did many others,
to find work to earn fit out: obtained
work in Jackson county, Missouri. The
Lord blessed by labors SO that we could
come more comfortably. remained
there at work until the early spring of
1851. After had earned sufficient to
bring US through, although my PROS
poets financially were bright II remained
longer, no one could induce me to
stay one day after the spring. We left
Kansas City and travelled in our wagon
on the north side OF the Missouri river
until we arrived at Winter Quarters.
From Winter Quarters we journeyed
across the plains in Elder Orson Pratt
company and arrived in the Valley on
the first day OF October, 1851.
Alter being here some little time
thought OF going north to start business
for myself; but President Brigham
Young desired mel to stay here. and take
charge OF the mill building, and the
machinery for the Church. The first
work did was to put the water power
machinery in place for the public works.
1t was situated on the northeast corner
OF the Temple block.
In 1854 President Young organized
company that was known as the Big
Cottonwood Lumber Company. It was
composed OF six persons, the names
being as follows: Brigham Young.
Daniel II Wells, Abraham o. Smoot
John Sharp, Feramorz Little and
Frederick Kesler. P. esdent Young.
gave us instructions TO explore the
mountains and hills in the Big Cotton-
wood district and see II there was
suitable timber in sufficient quantity to
justify the vast expense that would
necessarily be incurred in procuring and
al. 4 E.l