WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
WARREN FOOTE'S JOURNAL ENTRIES
related to his time in Washington County, Utah
TRIP FROM ROUND VALLEY TO THE MUDDY SETTLEMENTS
May 10th 1865 The weather is very cool,--wind from the north. We came to Kanarrah about noon. I stopped at Bro. Wm Willis' and took dinner. He formerly lived in Union. This place is on the top of the Rim of the Basin. From here the water flows south to the Rio Virgin River. Camped opposite Old Harmony Fort.May 11th 1865 The wind blowed very hard all night from the north. We drove to Ash Creek, where I found Sister Kelsey, (wife of Easton Kelsey) with her family keeping a sheep herd. I stopped and took dinner with her. Somewhere about Meadow Creek in Millard Co. Thomas Forsythe who was returning from Salt Lake City, got into our company with a heavy loaded wagon, and having some flour at Corn Creek, that he wanted to take with him, he came to me, to see if I would haul it for him. Having a light load for my team, I agreed to take it. He lives at Toquerville. He having went on home, sent his team to meet us at Ash Creek as we would not go through Toquerville. I went home with his son to get my pay for hauling the flour, where we arrived a little before noon.
This place is situated at the base of a high mountain near the mouth of Ash Creek. Fruit trees and grapevines looked very flourishing, although the peach blossoms had been killed by the late frosts. I took dinner with Forsythe and returned to the forks of the road 3 miles from Toquerville, where I arrived just as our teams were driving up. We camped here, and found several more wagons bound for the Muddy.
May 12th 1865 We learned by experience today that we had got into a warm country. Some parts of our road was very sandy, which with the heat made it hard for our oxen. We camped two miles west of Harrisburgh.
May 13th 1865 We arrived at Washington about noon; I stopped at Moses M. Sanders and took dinner. He was not at home. His wife, Mary Jane; wanted to trade some molasses for flour, I let her have 100 lbs for 5 gal of Molasses. I also traded 100 lbs flour for 22 lbs cotton in Washington to be paid when I returned, I done this to accommodate the family who seemed very much in need of flour. It was very scarce here.
May 14th 1865 We arrived in St George last night. I found many old neighbors and friends here. Among them John G. Smith, with whom I was acquainted in Ill. and at Kanesville. He came to me and said that he had not a dust of flour in his house, and nothing to buy with; but if I would let him have a hundred lbs. He would try to pay sometime. I told him he could have it if he never paid for it. I found that it was very hard times here for bread stuff. I disposed of what flour I had to spare for molasses, which I was to get when I returned home. John Ivie disposed of his load, and started for home very much disgusted with the country.
I drove to my Nephew's Darius Clement, who lived 1-1/2 miles north west of St George, and found them all well, and glad to see me.
Today is Sunday, and two weeks since we left home. We went to St George to meeting. I saw a great many old acquaintances, in fact, it seemed as though I knew all the folks, and for the time being, was transferred to Salt Lake. Having an invitation, I spoke a short time.
We found quite a large company here going to the Muddy, who had come from various places in the north, and had all arrived at this place about the same time. President E. Snow counseled the Company to take the old California road to the crossing of the Muddy, and if there was a place suitable, to locate above the road, but to consult Capt. T. Smith who had been appointed to preside over that country. Capt Thomas Smith was from Farmington Davis Co. and was called last fall to take a company and locate a settlement as near Call's Landing as the country would admit of. He accordingly went down to the Muddy arriving there Feb. 8th 1865, and the mouth of the Muddy being the nearest place available for a settlement, he stopped there, they named the place St Thomas.
We started on our journey about the 16th and drove up to where the road leaves the Santa Clara Creek, where we came up with our company that we had traveled with, namely, Alma H. Bennett and Bro. Rodolphus, George Tucker, David Holdaway. These all had their families with them, and were all from Mt Pleasant. The next day we drove to Camp Springs, about two miles from the Clara Creek, and stopped until 4 o' cock P.M. It is 25 miles from this place to the Beaver Dam Creek, and no water until we get there.
TRIP FROM THE MUDDY SETTLEMENTS TO ST. GEORGE AND BACK
March 6th 1868 0n the 6th of March 1868, I bought 2150 grape cuttings of Jacob Hamblin for which I paid him $57.50 in flour and cotton. Flour was 10 cents per lb.MOVING FROM THE MUDDY SETTLEMENTS TO LONG VALLEY
January 3, 1871 On the third day of January 1871 my son David started for St. George with a load of flour (730 lbs.) He had a span of mares and had two old horses. 0ne thousand pounds is about all that two span of common animals could haul up the Rio Virgin bottom as it is very sandy a great deal of the way. He deposited his load with Robert Gardner. On Feb. 3rd he started with another load of 1050 lbs.Also on this day I had a son born of my wife Artemisia. We named him Homer Clarence.
A number of teams were sent down from St. George to assist the brethren in moving.
February 18th 1871 I sent to St. George by one of these teams 315 lbs. flour, 1 bush corn, 1 bush barley, 1 bush of wheat and some salt.
About the 8th of February The Sheriff of Lincoln County had came down from Hico, and served a summons on all the brethren still living on the Muddy.
About the 16th of February I finished grinding about the 16th of Feb. and in two days Bro Leithead had the water wheel, stones, smutter, and bolt, with some other things that were moveable, towrn out and loaded on wagons ready to start for St. George. Several teams arrived from St. George to take all away.
My son David loaded what few things he had left and a few things of mine into my wagon and put both span of horses to it. A wagon was provided for my wife Artemisia whose babe was only two weeks old. We fixed her bed into it and made her as comfortable as we could. The rest of my goods were put in five different wagons, with other peoples goods. (I had but little either.) My wife Maria and I rode on another wagon, when I rode at all.
Feb 20th 1871 All things being in readiness we started out on Monday the 20th day of Feb. and drove up a little above where the old California road leaves the Rio Virgin. The next day we drove up to Mesqueet Flat. It began to rain in the evening. My wife Maria and children with myself had to sleep on the ground without shelter. The rain wet through our bedclothes somewhat and we were glad when morning came.
February 22nd 1871 We drove to the Beaver Dams, where we found Bro. Nelson with our cattle. I went and looked at my two cows and found one of them with a calf and very poor. I did not think that she would ever reach St. George.
February 23rd 1871 We drove to Camp Springs. The snow was about 6 inches deep over the divide, but there was but very little at the spring but the wind was cold, and we suffered considerably, after coming out of the warm country.
February 24th 1871 was clear, and as soon as we got down on the Santa Clara Creek it got warm and comfortable. We arrived in St. George about noon. Bro Finley had taken my wife Artemisia into his wagon before we crossed the divide. He lived at Santa Clara and as he came to his house he stopped and took my wife in to dinner. She was very weak but after partaking of a good dinner and some wine. She stood the ride to St. George very well. We stopped at Bro. Robert Gardner's, in a room that he had prepared for us.
February 26th 1871 The brother that my wife Maria rode with, sent his son with his team, and took her over to Washington to Joseph Sander's, her cousin. I also went over but returned to St. George with the boy.
February 28th 1871 David and I in company with Bro. Gardner's Son, and some others started out towards the Pine Valley mountain after wood. We got to the cedars before night and loaded up. In the morning which was the first day of March we started for St. George. I rode with Bro. Gardner's son. It was a very cold raw wind and David took a chill before we got to St. George, and was very bad when he arrived. He had had the Chills on the Muddy, but had not got very well over them. The next morning he was better and I think he had no more chills after that.
March 2nd 1871 my son David, and myself prepared to start on our journey for Long Valley. I had got a room of Bro. Gardner for my wife Artemisia, and her children to live in until I went to Long Valley, and got located. Nancy my oldest daughter who was married at St. Thomas on the 5th day of July 1869 to Homer A. Bouton was with us. The next day after he was married he started for Connecticut, and had not yet returned. So my first wife's family consisted of five children besides the baby. Notwithstanding her weak condition when we left St. Thomas she stood the journey very well.
I got a mule of Benj. Paddock to put with one of my horses to make out a team. David had a span of mares but only one was fit to work. So he put one of my horses with his. By doing this it made a span for each wagon. The poorly one he took along without working.
March 3rd 1871 we left St. George and drove to Washington. Here I took in my second wife and four children, and such articles as were actually necessary for the journey and on the 4th drove a short distance beyond Berry' Spring about 7 miles from Washington. Here we found Jesse Fuller and three or four other brethren. Just at night Bishop Leithead & A. V. Gibbons arrived at the spring with several other wagons. We now formed quite a company.
March 5th 1871 We drove to Gould's Ranch. We had quite a job getting up the Hurricane Hill, but no accident. I found Thomas Day at this Ranch herding sheep. He had left the Muddy some two or three years before. He was very much pleased to see me as we had been very intimate at St. Joseph. In the morning he brought us some mutton, and took breakfast with us.
It turned cool this morning and the wind blew pretty strongly from the north. We drove about 8 miles to the sheep troughs. This is a small spring on the side of the mountain which is conducted in troughs to the base and empties into larger ones for the purpose of watering stock. Here we found Bro. Nelson with our stock. He had left my poor cow with some others with Edwin Davis and two or three other Brethren who were traveling with ox teams from the Muddy. They barely made out to get my cow as far as Joseph Sander's and left her with him, a mere skeleton.
March 7th 1871 we drove to Short Creek. There are two roads from this place to Long Valley. One by Pipe Spring, and one by what is called the "Elephant." It was finally decided to take the "Elephant" road as it is much nearer. We drove about six miles and stopped to noon at the mouth of the hollow leading to the Pine Spring about 6 miles further on where we intended to camp at night. After nooning we started on and found the sand terrible. Our jaded animals could not pull over two rods without resting. Our chop feed that we had brought from the Muddy was about gone and there was but very little grass, and that was old and dry. The young grass was not yet started. We drove about two miles and stopped for the night at a place called Seep Spring. Here we had to melt snow for our animals to drink. There was plenty of snow in banks on the north side of hills.
March 9th 1871 We found the road very sandy. David and I concluded to put both spans on one wagon and take it two or three miles and then return and bring up the other. In this way we succeeded in getting to camp at Pine Springs. Here David's mare got at some snow and eat all she wanted which gave her the cholic. We were doctoring her nearly all night, and made out to save her but she was scarcely able to walk in the morning.
March 10th 1871 We took our wagons to the divide by taking one at a time. All our company had gone on, so we were alone that night.
March 11th 1871 We got to within about two miles of the Virgin river. We had had to melt snow for our animals and ourselves these three days. After we had camped, David and I concluded that we would go and see how far it was to water. Our chop feed was all gone and our animals had given out. We found our company camped at the virgin at the foot of the Elephant hill. They said that they would send two span of animals back in the morning and help us in, which they accordingly done so.
March 13th 1871 We made some bridges, and part of our company moved ahead bout two miles. David and I doubled teams again and took my wagon on, and in the morning brought his up. We made some bridges and succeeded in going up as far as the "Old Barracks." The day before, two young men passed us from Rockville, going to Long Valley. Bishop Leithead sent word by them for the Brethren at the lower settlement to send down a few teams and help us up. Bishop Starks and Company had arrived there about three weeks before. They went by way of Pipe Spring and Cottonwood Canon.
March 15th 1871 We all started on but David and one or two others. Their teams were done out. We soon met some teams from the settlement who had come to assist us, among whom was John Hyatt. He went on down to help David and brought him up to the settlement. We drove about three miles above and camped.
March 16th 1871 We arrived at our place of destination a little afternoon, where we found some two or three families from the Muddy, one of whom was Royal J. Cutler. When we arrived at the old Fort which consisted of Log cabins built in two parrallel lines, with cedar pickets between the cabins, We stopped our train and went and numbered the cabins, and then drew for them. After this was done, each man drove to his cabin and took possession. They were very filthy, and covered with dirt throwed on top of split cedars for roofs. We were very thankful for them as they would shelter us until we could do better. I drew a double cabin and David came up next day and occupied one of them. We were all glad to get to our journeys end. It was a very hard trip for ourselves and our poor animals. But the Lord brought us safely through at last. I soon cleaned out my cabin and moved in. It was very small and after getting up two beds there was not much room left, but we were quite comfortable.
MISCELLANEOUS VISITS TO WASHINGTON COUNTY
Spring of 1873 One year ago this spring I got fifty apple trees of John Oakly at Saint George, and set them out, part of them on my town lot and some on the west side of the creek where I intended to build a house for my wife Maria.December of 1873 The Temple was commenced last spring in St. George and Joseph W. Young had moved to that place.
January 1874 President Brigham Young and Councilor George A. Smith are in St. George spending the winter. They are preaching the necessity of entering into the United 0rder. The latter part of the winter they organized a United 0rder in Saint George with a constitution and bye laws, and advised all the settlements in Southern Utah to 0rganize also. Pres. Young authorized John R. Young to visit the settlements in Kanab and Long Valley and organize them. We organized in Glendale Ward under his directions.
April 1874 I went down to St. George in April in company with David my son and Homer A. Bouton, also James Watson went with his team. Homer was sent down to settle tithing with the General Tithing office in St. George, while I was in St. George I tried to find out how the order should be run but did not find any person who knowed anything more than myself. Presidents Young and Smith had returned to Salt Lake City, and I found that the board was in session very often and running up expenses without bringing any thing in to the order, causing considerable dissatisfaction with those who had to perform the manual labor. We left Homer in St. George and returned home. We had a cold disagreeable time coming home although it was the latter part of April.
December 1875 In December my son George and I went to St. George and came back by the Factory and got cloth for dresses, and jeans for myself and boys, which made us very comfortable for the winter.
1876 This being the Centenial year (1876) of the Declaration of American Independence, they are holding a Centenial Exibition in Philadelphia which is attracting the civilized nations of the Whole world. It is represented to be a grand affair. A great many hands are at work finishing the inside of the Temple in St. George.
April 1st 1877 About the first day of April my son David and I started for St. George, to attend the General Conference. We went by Joseph Sanders and took him some flour that I was owing him. We got to St. George the 5th and stopped with Charles Terry. Conference commenced on the 6th. President Brigham Young, and his son John W., John Taylor, Orson Hyde, Franklin D. Richards, Erastus Snow, Orson Pratt, and some others of the Twelve were there. Presiding Bishop Edward Hunter, and quite a number of my old friends from Salt Lake City and that part of the country were there. As I shook hands with Bishop Hunter, he wanted to know where I had been since I left the north. I told him that I had been down on the Muddy Mission. He replied "O. your salvation is sure if you have been on the Muddy Mission, your are all right." It seemed like old times to see so many from the north, especially President Young and Bishop Hunter and so many of the Twelve. It was a splendid conference, and every body felt well. Just before conference closed the last day, the wind blew terribly from the north raising a cloud of dust and sand. President Young continued the meeting a short time, thinking it would soon quit blowing, but it did not, and as they came out of the Temple, hats, &etc were flying and the owners chasing them. It blowed nearly all night and turned quite cold. The next day after conference, we started home and got in company with Bro. J. Leithead and others from Glendale. It was cold and windy.
December 31st 1877 I am trying to get ready to go down to St. George with my wife Artemisia S. to work in the Temple for our dead relatives. I have hired a room of Bishop Milne's folks to stay in while there. Thus ends another year. It has been full of trouble and anxiety to me. I have made very well in the mill--about 35O bus. wheat. The boys done middling well on the farm.
TRIP TO ST. GEORGE FOR TEMPLE WORK
January 14th 1878 We started for St. George with our sons David and George. David was going to Leeds with a load, and George was taking his mother and me with provisions to last us two months and some flour to sell. There had just been a light snow, but it was clear today and quite cold.January 15th 1878 It is a cold frosty morning. The weather moderated through the day and was quite pleasant. We arrived in St. George the 16th at night and unloaded our things. We found a very comfortable room with a little stove in it.
January 17th 1878 George started back home, and I fixed up things in our room. After I got the "Foote Genealogy" I wrote to Timothy Foote at Nephi, informing him of it and invited him or some of his family to meet me in St. George this winter and work with me in the Temple. Just before I left home I received a letter from his sister Lucia Foote informing me that she was in St. George and would be glad to join me in working for our dead relatives. I went to see her today, to let her know that I had come and would commence work next week. I found that she was several years older than myself and that she was one of Joseph Smith's wives.
January 19th 1878 Being Saturday, I went to the Temple to get some forms for drawing off names. I obtained a form of Bro. M. F. Farnsworth who seemed to be chief clerk. I found Bro. John Angus to be Door keeper. He was an old neighbor of mine at the Cottonwood Mill.
Sunday, January 20th 1878 I attended meeting in the Tabernacle. The following day I copied 28 names beginning with my ancestor Nathaniel Foote the Settler down to my Grandfather Ebenezer, which is five generations, and then commenced back again to the third generation. The names for all those for whom work is done will be found recorded in my large Book of Records. I also copied 29 names for my wife to be baptized for.
January 22nd 1878 We commenced our first work in the Temple for the dead, by being baptized for those I had copied. We feel very happy in our labors, and thankful that our lives have been spared to see this day. Tuesdays of each week is for baptisms and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for endowments and sealings. We have to be there at seven o'clock A. M.
January 23rd 1878 I was endowed for my father and Artemisia for my mother and had them sealed. We now have fulfilled my mother's request before she died 32 years ago. Also a commandment I received of my father in a dream I had about the same time. My wife and I were sealed over the Alter.
January 24th 1878 I was endowed for my son Warren who died in St. Thomas. As all the names and dates are recorded in the large Book of Records as I said before I shall give but few here.
February 1st 1878 I was endowed for father Jacob Myers, and Artemisia Sidnie was endowed for her mother Sarah Coleman Myers, and had them sealed the same day.
February 13th 1878 I had Mary E. Porter sealed to me for eternity. Also Harriet Elizabeth Foote, and Caroline Elizabeth Foote.
February 14th 1878 I had the following girls sealed to me. Taken from my Genealogy. Juliaette Jane Foote, Maria Foote, Clarissa Foote and Laura Ann Foote.
February 21st 1878 I received my second Anointing and my wife Artemisia Sidnie Myers Foote was anointed to me by Wilford Woodruff, and J. T. D. McAlister held the horn. Bro. James L. Bunting and wife were anointed at the same time.
My wife and I continued working in the Temple until the 8th day of March. During this time I had 510 baptized for, and 51 endowed and sealed.
George and Homer A. Bouton came down after us at this time. During my absence from Glendale, the brethren there took measures to homestead the farming land. They put my name to homestead three forties, because my house is located on one of them. I had to go home by the way of Toquerville to file on said land. We stopped over night with my cousin Moses Clauson. The last week I was in St. George I took a severe cold and I felt very bad while in Toquerville. I got better on the way home. Our little son Homer was very bad with a cold a week before we left St. George.
We enjoyed our work in the Temple very much, and visiting our old acquaintances. Sister Lucia Foote done considerable work with me for our ancestors. She is my fourth cousin a descendant of Robert Foote through his fourth son, John. I am descended through Robert Foote's first son Nathaniel, I left her in St. George still working in the Temple.
June 20th 1878 My son David and I started for St. George. We went by the way of Virgin City and took some flour to Joseph Sanders who lives six miles up North Creek. I had bought some apples of him the fall before. We went through Toquerville and Silver Reef, where I engaged for a two horse harness--price $50.00 We put up in St. George with Charles Terry.
When I was in St. George last winter working in the Temple, I engaged a secretary of Bro. Ephraim Wilson. I took some flour down for him to pay for it. We staid in St. George one day and two nights. It was very hot. We started home by the way of Silver Reef with my secretary. It commenced raining after we got to Harrisburg but stopped before we got to Silver Reef. I got my harness and drove to Toquerville and staid over night with cousin Moses Clauson. We arrived home the second day after leaving Toquerville, and found there had been considerable rain in Long Valley.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTE
November 16th 1879 The wind blows very cold from the north. Bro Jacob Hamblin and Charles S. Cram came and staid over night. The north mail came in about four o'clock. The carrier reports that the roads are very muddy.ANOTHER TRIP TO ST. GEORGE FOR TEMPLE WORK
February 9, 1880 We started on our journey for St. George. It is a fine day.February 10, 1880 It snowed a little all day. We camped in the cedars near the Seep Spring hollow. It is a disagreeable time.
February 11, 1880 The forenoon was clear and pleasant. Morton's horses out traveled ours and got to Short Creek before we did and stopped to noon. After we had nooned and started on again, there came up a furious snowstorm which lasted two hours. Snow fell five inches. It blew right in our faces and we had to stop a while, but Morton had got out of sight, and the snow obliterated his tracks, but when we came to the forms of the road, we saw that he had taken the road leading to the new road down the Hurricane hill, so we followed on and found him camped at the gap under the shelter of some rocks, with a good fire.
February 12, 1880 The snow was so deep we were fearful that it would be very dangerous to go down the Hurricane hill as the brakes would not hold, so we concluded to cut across to the old road and go by Virgin City and Toquerville. We drove to Workman's Ranch and stayed over night.
February 13, 1880 Last night it was very clear and cold. This morning when the sun got up a little it became very pleasant. We drove to Toquerville and put up with cousin Moses Clauson's widow. (Moses died about a year before). Morton went to Rockville to stay until Monday with some of his cousins.
February 14, 1880 It is very pleasant today. Got to St. George about sundown. I had hired a room of Bro. Hall near the Temple to stay in during our labors in the Temple.
Sunday, February 15, 1880 We kept our horses in Bro. Hall's corrall and bought hay of Wm. Lang to feed them. Hay cost $1.00 per horse.
February 16, 1880 Morton Cutler got here towards night.
February 17, 1880 This is the day for baptizing for the dead. I was baptized for 39 and Olive for 27. There was a large number of the dead baptized for.
February 18, 1880 Mary Irene and Artemisia were Endowed and Sealed. I was endowed for my mother's grandfather Ebenezer Lane, and my wife Artemisia for mother's grandmother, Berthia Shawl.
February 19, 1880 Our daughter Clarissa was Endowed, so all our baptisms, Endowments and Sealings for the dead are recorded in my Book of Records for the dead. I will pass them over in this book.
On the 19th day of February 1880 my father and mother received their second anointing by David H. Cannon, Moses F. Farnsworth, Recorder. This completes the ordinances of the gospel for them. As I have been unable to obtain the date of my son Warren's baptism, I wrote to my nephew Darius L. Clement who lived with me in Union to learn if he remembered anything about it. I received an answer at St. George as follows:
Fairview, Sanpete Co, Utah Feb. 17 1880 Dear Uncle: Your letter received. I have been looking over some scraps of paper on which I took items while at Union, but I can find nothing in relation to Warren's baptism, and cannot remember anything about his or David's either. . . . We are all well. The winter is fearful tough on us here. I have not heard from Thomas since I got your other letter. Respects to all, Your affectionate Nephew, D. L. ClementWe found John F. Landers and his brother David living in St. George. Their father had died in St. George about a year ago. John had sold out in Fairview and moved down to look after his father's property and take care of his mother.
He came often to see us at Hall's place, and we made a few visits to his mother's, and we enjoyed ourselves well. My old friend and fellow laborer Henry Hardy Wilson has gone to his rest, and seems odd not to see his face about. We visited several of our old neighbors during our stay in St. George.
Bro. Jacob Hamblin is stopping in one of Bro. Hall's rooms. I got him to be baptized for 150 of my dead relatives, and Homer A. Bouton was baptized for 79 for me. I was baptized for 78 and my daughter Eliza Olive was baptized for 152, and my daughter Clarissa was baptized for 95, and Mary Adelphia Bellows Larson was baptized for 36, Lucy Oakly was baptized for two and my wife, Artemesia Sidnie was baptized for her grandmother Hanah Coleman, and three of her (my wife's) sisters. I succeeded in getting thirty Endowed, and nine men with their wives sealed. We fed our team 1264 lbs of hay excepting what we put in the wagon to feed on the way home.
REFERENCES
Warren Foote was meticulous in maintaining his journals. The originals were donated to the Historical Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. Copies are available from the Stevenson Genealogy & Copy Center:Volume 1: 1817-1879:
Volume 2: 1880-1893:
Volume 3: 1894-1901: