Manuscripts

Life sketch of Simon Baker [microform]: 1952

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Description: Microfilm of the typed life history of Simon Baker by Melba Dolores Hogenson. The brief autobiography traces Baker's childhood, his conversion to Mormonism, the death of his wife and his marriage to Charlotte Leavitt in 1845, his move to Utah, his trade with gold miners in 1849-1850, his various mission and colonization trips in Utah and Nevada, and many notes on his personality and personal anecdotes. The autobiography is preceded by five manuscript pages identified as "journal before 1848" (it is not clear if these pages refer to Baker).
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1952
Call number: MSS MFilm 00398 item 01
Creator: Hogenson, Melba Dolores(Opens in new tab)

Life sketch of Mons Larson [microform]: 1935

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript biography of Mons Larson, written by his granddaughter Violet Elaine Alt in 1935. The biography traces Larson's early life his Sweden, his conversion to Mormonism, his decision to immigrate to the United States, his sailing to New York and traveling by train to Florence, Nebraska, his overland trip to Utah, his settlement in Tooele, his decision to enter into polygamy, his colonization of Snowflake, his moves to Pima and Mexico, and his death in Arizona in 1890. It also includes a long account of a return journey from Utah to Snowflake with the Silas S. Smith company, which took a difficult route near the Green River and got stuck near Hole-in-the-Rock. It also describes Larson's wife Olivia giving birth in a blizzard during the ordeal.

MSS MFilm 00223 item 02

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A sketch of Silas Harris's life, as written by himself [microform]: c.1880

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript of Silas Harris' autobiography, written in about 1880 and completed by his daughter Sarah F. Cutler sometime after Silas' death in 1897. In the autobiography Silas writes very briefly of his childhood and conversion to Mormonism, his experiences in the Mormon Battalion, his overland travels back to Council Bluffs from California, his return to Utah, his mission work, and notes on his children. The final few paragraphs were written by his daughter Sarah, and contain reminiscences of her father.

MSS MFilm 00132

Autobiography of Solomon Chamberlain [microform]: 1858

Manuscripts

Microfilm of a typescript of Solomon Chamberlain's brief autobiography, written in 1858. It covers his childhood in Connecticut, his living of a "very wicked life" following his father's death, his search for redemption in religion and joining of the Methodist Order around 1815, a long account of his conversion to Mormonism in 1830, his travels attempting to sell the Book of Mormon and his belief that he could convince the "Reformed Methodists" of its "truth," his move to Missouri in 1831 and departure following mob violence, his life in Nauvoo to 1847, his travels to and from Utah and Council Bluffs, his gold mining trip to Sacramento, and many references to his ill health.

MSS MFilm 00398 item 03

A short sketch of the life of Levi Jackman [microform]: c.1832-1848

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

Autobiography and diary of John Clark Dowdle, [microform] : c.1852-1894

Manuscripts

Microfilm of the diary and autobiography of John Clark Dowdle. The volume recounts his childhood and conversion to Mormonism, gives a detailed account of his journey across the plains to Utah in 1852-1853, and recounts his daily life in Utah. Some specific events he writes about include finding the body of Bailey Lake, who had apparently been killed by Bannock Indians, in 1858; his 1862 trip to St. George; his journey to Las Vegas in the mid-1860s; his involvement in Utah schools; and spending 1873 looking for work before settling in Willard City. The last entries were made in about 1894. The first few pages of the volume include a summary of each chapter.

MSS MFilm 00067

Autobiography and diary of William Athol McMaster [microform]: 1854-1887

Manuscripts

Microfilm of an autobiography and diary by William Athol McMaster. The autobiography recounts McMaster's life through 1854, including his early years in Scotland, conversion to Mormonism, proselytizing work in Scotland, voyage from Liverpool to New Orleans, and his overland travels to Utah. McMaster describes facing hardships during the journey, and while traveling to Utah endured illnesses, supply issues, and the death of one of his sons. The autobiography is followed by some miscellaneous notes dated 1855-1857, as well as a diary volume describing McMaster's life in Utah from 1882-1886. The diary volume also contains excerpts from "Brigham Young's Important Discourse on Priesthood," dated 1877.

MSS MFilm 00383

Life sketch of Simon Baker [microform]: 1952

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Life sketch of Mons Larson [microform]: 1935

A sketch of Silas Harris's life, as written by himself [microform]: c.1880

Autobiography of Solomon Chamberlain [microform]: 1858

A short sketch of the life of Levi Jackman [microform]: c.1832-1848

Autobiography and diary of John Clark Dowdle, [microform] : c.1852-1894

Autobiography and diary of William Athol McMaster [microform]: 1854-1887