Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Rare Books
The life and adventures of John Levy
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Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
![A short sketch of the life of Levi Jackman [microform]: c.1832-1848](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Frail.huntington.org%2FIIIF3%2FImage%2F22APN45XEVQK%2Ffull%2F%5E360%2C%2F0%2Fdefault.jpg&w=750&q=75)
Manuscripts
Microfilm of Levi Jackman's autobiography and diary, which begins with an account of his childhood and conversion to the Mormon faith. He also gives an extensive account of mob violence in Missouri in 1833 and of his journey to Kirtland by way of Louisiana. He describes his missionary work in Illinois from 1835-1836, writes of the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, and mentions his work on the temples at Kirtland and Nauvoo. Much of the volume is a detailed diary account of his overland travels to Utah with the first company of Mormon pioneers in 1847. He gives a daily account of scenery and landmarks passed, as well as an account of camp life. He specifically describes Pawnee Indians, passing through a prairie dog town, sighting buffalo, and meeting Sam Brannan on the trail near the Salt Lake Valley. Jackman also writes of his reaction to his first sighting of Utah, declaring that "like Moses on Pisgah's top we could see a part of the Salt Lake Valley, our long anticipated home. We did truly rejoice at the sight" (July 19, 1847). The remainder of the volume includes Jackman family genealogy and a brief continuation of the autobiography, in which Jackman describes his life in Utah from 1847-1848, including a mention of the Mormon Battalion. Portions of the text are very faint and may be partially illegible.
MSS MFilm 00071
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Manuscripts
Microfilm of Levi Mathers Savage's autobiography, begun in 1876 and finished shortly before his death in 1935. Savage opens with a brief history of the Mormon Church, and recounts his childhood in Holden, Round Valley, Kanab, and Toquerville, Utah. He particularly writes of his father's stock business and Indian raids around Long Valley. In 1871 he went to Salt Lake City to attend Morgan's Commercial College, which he left when he was called home by his ill father. He writes of being called to help colonize southern Arizona, but when the mission was delayed he worked on William W. Taylor's saw mill in Salt Lake City instead. Savage writes of the books he read during this time and of the "great financial crisis" of 1873 that prevented him from receiving his wages. He writes of taking a school at Coalville in 1874, and of a trip to Michigan to visit his mother's relatives (this section contains extensive genealogy on the Mathers family). He writes of finally starting on the Arizona mission in 1876 and of serving with Lot Smith's United Order at Yavapai. By 1878 he was teaching school in Sunset, Arizona. Savage writes of the completion of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad and accompanying telegraph lines in 1882 and of concurrent difficulties with the Apache Indians. In 1883 he began teaching school in Woodruff, Arizona, but by 1885 polygamy charges had forced him to flee to Chihuahua, Mexico. He helped settle Diaz and writes of an earthquake there on May 8, 1887. By 1891 he had returned to Woodruff, but in 1900 his first wife Sarah "Marintha" Wright had taken him to court with adultery charges (he had subsequently married plural wives Lydia "Nora" Hatch and Hannah Adeline Hatch). He was arrested and taken to Prescott, and he and Sarah ultimately divorced in 1901 (Savage mentions the difficult relations he had with his and Sarah's children). Much of the rest of the volume through 1919 covers Savage's life in Woodruff, including extensive notes on births, deaths, marriages, confirmations, blessings, and missions, as well as covering a 1902-1903 diphtheria outbreak and problems with the Woodruff Dam. Savage was released as Bishop of the Woodruff Ward in 1919 and writes of moving to Salt Lake City. He worked in the temple there and the volume includes various lists of endowments. He recalls a 1925-1926 trip to California, and most of the rest of the volume revolves around his family life in Salt Lake. Savage's final illness and death are noted in entries made by his wife Nora in 1935.
MSS MFilm 00116
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Manuscripts
HM 70719. The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
mssHM 70719
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Manuscripts
Diary kept by Civil War soldier serving in the 8th Regiment, Iowa Infantry.
mssHM 46347
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Manuscripts
Levi Eckley wrote these three letters to his family during his stay in California during the 1850s. Two of the letters (HM 49649, dated 1850, May 26 and HM 49650 (incomplete), dated 1851, November 13) were addressed to "George", possibly Levi's brother, and HM 49651 (dated 1853, May 3) was written to Helen Eckley, possibly his sister. In the letters to George, Levi Eckley writes of his experiences digging for gold outside Coloma and Ophir in California. He also suggests that George come out to California for six months while Levi goes back home, speculating they might make enough money in that time to open a small business in St. Louis or California. In the letter to Helen, Levi writes of plans to relocate his family to California.
mssHM 49649-49651