Manuscripts

Journal of David Lewis [microform] : 1852-1857

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Description: Microfilm of David Lewis' notes while serving as an Indian agent for Brigham Young on the Parley P. Pratt exploring trip to Southern Utah and from an 1855 trip he was called on to search the mountains of northern and central Utah for minerals used in glazing. In both instances Lewis describes his travel and exploration, recording the ordinary occurrences of each day in addition to noting experiences with Native Americans. Of particular interest is Lewis' 22-page dictionary of an unidentified Native American language.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1852; 1853; 1854; 1855; 1856; 1857
Call number: MSS MFilm 00268
Creator: Lewis, David (-1855)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Microfilm of original loaned by Luella Dalton, October 6, 1958.
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Autobiography of David Lewis [microform]: 1854

Manuscripts

Microfilm of the autobiography of David Lewis, written in 1854. The front page includes an unidentified photograph. The text begins with an account of Lewis' birth and childhood in Kentucky, including his family history (with physical descriptions of family members), his family's agricultural pursuits, his knife fights with his brothers, and his working at spinning cotton from the age of 12. Most of the manuscript focuses on the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri and the events of the Haun's Mill Massacre, during which David's brother Benjamin Lewis was killed. Lewis thoroughly describes the event and its aftermath, including a latter meeting with James Campbell. He also writes of being captured by Missouri soldiers and interrogated about whether he was a Danite. Lewis also describes traveling to Illinois in 1838-1839, returning to Kentucky in 1839, and finally ending up back in Illinois in 1840. The account ends with a brief mention of the death of Joseph Smith. It also includes a patriarchal blessing for Lewis from 1839. The next portion of the volume begins with clippings from the Vernal Express on Sinley Lewis Sr. (1931). It is followed by a biography of David Lewis' son Siney Lewis Sr. (1848-1928) written by his daughter-in-law Crystal P. Lewis. It describes his birth in Council Bluffs, his father's work as a cooper, the death of his mother's father, who left her enough money to emigrate to Utah along with "one negro slave called Jerry" (who spent the rest of his life with the family), their journey to Utah in 1850, Siney's school days, and his leading emigrants to Utah in 1866 with a company of "bull whackers" (teamsters).

MSS MFilm 00157

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Diary of Thomas S. Terry [microform] : 1857-1860

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript of Thomas S. Terry's diary, kept from 1857-1860 while he was leading a company of Mormons across the plains to Utah following his eastern states mission (it is identified as "Book 4." Terry writes of the death of Parley P. Pratt, of his company's progression across the plains, of meeting Jesse B. Martin's company, of moving the Springville upon his return to Utah, and of the family's move back to Cottonwood in July 1858. The rest of the diary describes Terry's daily life in Utah.

MSS MFilm 00162

Journal no. 16 [microform]: 1857-1863

Manuscripts

Typescript of Amasa Lyman's journal, identified as Journal #16, with entries spanning the years from 1857-1863. The first part describes Lyman's travels from April 18, 1857, to July 2, 1857, along the California Road and Indian Trail from the Rio Virgin. It continues with his participation in an exploratory party that traveled south from Cedar City, Utah, to Las Vegas, the Vegas Fort, and the Mojave Desert from January-May 1858, and also charts its return to Salt Lake City. References are made to Hyatt's war with the Apaches and Lyman's encounters with an Indian chief he calls Oat-sen-a-wantz. The final section of the diary, kept from December 1862 to April 1863, describes Lyman's daily life near Farmington, Utah, including his attendance of the local theatre, a listing of the books he was reading, and his encounters with John Taylor. Includes a description of the original diary.

MSS MFilm 00030

Annals of the Southern Utah Mission [microform] : 1847-1869

Manuscripts

Microfilm of typescript abridgement of James G. Bleak's annals of the Southern Utah Mission, 1847-1869, Volume 1. The stated purpose of the ledger is "recording events of importance with reference to the founding, growth, and development of 'Utah's Dixie'," including Fort Harmony, Santa Clara, Washington, St. George, Virgin City, Toquerville, Clover Valley, Panaca (in modern day Nevada), Kanarra, St. Thomas, West Point, and Spring Valley. Included are lists of settlers; notes on irrigation, agriculture, and the construction of mills; records of local elections; accounts of various floods; records of local exploring expeditions; and descriptions of encounters, both peaceful and violent, with local Indians. Some specific events recounted include the coming of the Utah War (1857), the Mountain Meadows Massacre, the founding of the San Bernardino (California) ranch, and George A. Smith's expedition to Parowan. Individuals frequently mentioned include Parley P. Pratt, Brigham Young, John D. Lee, Erastus Snow, Heber Kimball, and Orson Pratt. Includes partial index.

MSS MFilm 00034

Diary of Lewis William Barry Wride [microform] : 1898-1901

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a diary probably kept by Lewis William Barry Wride from 1898-1901. The diary opens with Wride's departure from American Fork in November 1898 and records his travels to Mexico. The diary resumes in 1900 and traces Wride's daily life in Mexico and Utah until 1901.

MSS MFilm 00402 item 01

Diary of Walter S. Tolton [microform] : 1896-1934

Manuscripts

Microfilm of the diary of Walter Smith Tolton, covering the years 1896-1934. The diary opens when Tolton was leaving Beaver City for a mission to the Southern States, and briefly covers his experiences in Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina from 1896-1897. It then tracks his trek through Arizona and Mexico on his way to an exploring or missionary trip to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Colombia from 1900-1901. There are a also a variety of notes on the trip made after Tolton had returned to Utah, including lists of "some of the most important fruits we found." The remainder of the volume covers Tolton's daily life, primarily in Beaver City from 1925-1934. The last few frames of the microfilm include monthly records for the West Field Canal Co.

MSS MFilm 00056

Journal of David Lewis [microform] : 1852-1857

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Autobiography of David Lewis [microform]: 1854

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Journal no. 16 [microform]: 1857-1863

Annals of the Southern Utah Mission [microform] : 1847-1869

Diary of Lewis William Barry Wride [microform] : 1898-1901

Diary of Walter S. Tolton [microform] : 1896-1934