Manuscripts
Wandle Mace autobiography
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Wandle Mace autobiography
Manuscripts
Manuscript of Wandle Mace's autobiography, a vivid and thorough firsthand account of the early days of the Mormon Church. Mace writes of the "extermination" of Mormons in Missouri, the order from Joseph Smith to purchase land in Illinois, the election of Brigham Young as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the arrests and trials of various Mormon leaders, the founding of Nauvoo, Smith's trips to Washington, the story of the seeing stones Urim and Thummin, a variety of Church conferences (including notes on charters, the organization of the Church, and doctrinal debates), Smith's death, a speech by Lucy Mack Smith to Mormons in Nauvoo after her son's death, the exodus from Nauvoo in 1846, the death of Parley Pratt, discord between Church members and Brigham Young, the arrival of Thomas B. Marsh in 1857, and many theological thoughts and quotations. Mace also recounts events in his personal life, including his early years as an apprentice, his invention of a portable mill and other mechanical devices, his observance of a meteor shower on November 8, 1833, his doubts about organized religion and impromptu preaching to the poor, his introduction to and acceptance of Mormonism, the deaths of his wife and nine of his children, and moves throughout New York, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah. The end of the volume includes handwritten copies of various essays, including Celestial Family Organization by Parley Pratt (1845); a funeral sermon preached by Joseph Smith on the death of Elder King Follett (1844); One Hundred Years Hence, 1845-1995: A Vision (published in the Millennial Star, 1845); Two Minutes in Jail, an account of the death of Joseph Smith by Willard Richards (published in the Nauvoo Neighbor); a discourse on priesthood by Joseph Smith (1839); The Origin, Object, and Destiny of Women by John Taylor (1857); and another discourse by Joseph Smith dated 1844. The final pages include genealogical notes on the Mace family that appear to have been added at a later date. The manuscript is in the handwriting of Mace's wife, Rebecca E. Howell Mace.
mssHM 26318
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David Osborne autobiography
Manuscripts
Typescript of an autobiography begun by David Osborne (also spelled Osborn) in February 1860. Osbourne recounts his childhood in Virginia, his conversion to Mormonism, persecutions against the Mormons, the Osbournes' travels throughout Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa, the deaths of his wife and several of their children, and his life in Utah. The autobiography covers the years from 1807 to 1870. A note written by David A. Osborne records the death of his father in 1893.
mssHM 27971
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Sophronia Moore Martin autobiography
Manuscripts
This typescript of Sophronia Moore Martin describes her family's relocation from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and then to Salt Lake City, Utah. It also depicts her life as a Mormon wife and mother living on the Utah frontier.
mssHM 66673
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Sarah Studevant Leavitt autobiography
Manuscripts
This autobiography is the original handwritten manuscript of Sarah Studevant Leavitt, dated April 19, 1875. It describes her life including her childhood days in New Hampshire; the many visions and spiritual manifestations that she experienced; her conversion to Mormonism; and frontier and pioneer life as she and her family traveled from New Hampshire to Kirtland, Ohio, to Nauvoo, Illinois, to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and to Pine Canyon, Utah. Additional topics that Leavitt covers are the murder of Joseph Smith (1805-1844), her opinion of polygamy, and the persecution of Mormons.
mssHM 66386
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Hosea Stout autobiography
Manuscripts
This is a typescript of the autobiography written by Hosea Stout in 1845 for the Eleventh Quorum of Seventies in Nauvoo, Illinois. In it he describes the early period of his life from his childhood to his service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He includes his move from Illinois to Missouri to join the Mormons in Caldwell County as well as providing details about his participation in the Battle of Crooked Creek, covering the attack, the death of David Wyman Patten (ca. 1800-1838), and the escape of the Mormons into Iowa
mssHM 66521
![Autobiography of Sarah D. Pea Rich [microform] : 1893](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Frail.huntington.org%2FIIIF3%2FImage%2F22APN4DJWNQY%2Ffull%2F%5E360%2C%2F0%2Fdefault.jpg&w=750&q=75)
Autobiography of Sarah D. Pea Rich [microform] : 1893
Manuscripts
Microfilm of a typescript of Sarah D. Pea Rich's autobiography, copied at the Church Historian's Office by A.M. Rich in 1933. Includes a brief forward by Sarah Rich dated 1885 (the autobiography was finished in 1893). It begins with stories about Sarah's family history and her childhood in Illinois and Tennessee, and goes on to describe her family's conversion to Mormonism in 1835, of her first meeting with Charles C. Rich, experiences during her early years of marriage, mob violence against Mormons in Missouri, living in Nauvoo, her positive reminiscences on polygamy, the family's 1847 travels to Iowa, living in Mount Pisgah, traveling overland to Utah, and life in Utah during her husband's seven year mission to California. Also includes some genealogy.
MSS MFilm 00340