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Manuscripts

Autobiography of Edward Walker Clark [microform] : c.1820-1904

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

    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

  • Volumes of Joshua Reuben Clark [microform] : 1865-1889

    Volumes of Joshua Reuben Clark [microform] : 1865-1889

    Manuscripts

    Microfilm of various volumes kept by Joshua Reuben Clark from 1865-1889. The reel includes a book of lot claims (1865); an 1867 diary that records Clark's travels overland to Montana, his impressions of Salt Lake City and the Mormons, his conversion to Mormonism, and living in Utah through 1869; a volume that opens with a list of names and dates of enlistment for soliders at Green Township, St. Joseph County, and is followed by Clark's Civil War diary for 1862; a volume with records of the School District No.1, Grantsville City, dated 1871-1889; and a volume labeled Rochester, Minnesota, 1863, and which includes various lists and reminiscences including "Latin and English Names of Plants and Medicines," "Montana as it Was," recalling Clark's 1866 visit, "History of Daily Occurrences from Sauk Center, Minnesota, to Fort Bridger, Utah Territory" dated 1864, assorted notes, and some family history. The reel also contains a few notes and letters related to Grantsville schools, certificates for mining claims in Montana (1865-1866), a typed family record, an autobiography entitled "History of the Early Life of Joshua Reuben Clark, Sr.", and a teaching license for Clark from the General Board of Education of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1898).

    MSS MFilm 00372

  • Diary and autobiography of John Clark Dowdle [microform] : approximately 1845-1894

    Diary and autobiography of John Clark Dowdle [microform] : approximately 1845-1894

    Manuscripts

    Microfilm of an autobiography and diary kept by John Clark Dowdle and identified as Nampa, Idaho. The autobiography begins in approximately 1845, and in a mix of reminiscences and diary entries describes Dowdle's family background, traveling overland in 1852, an 1864 trip to California, his mission to aid emigrants traveling overland from Missouri in 1866, and his daily activities in Utah, including school supervision in and around Logan and Willard, through 1894.

    MSS MFilm 00122

  • The family record book and autobiography of William Leany [microform] : c.1891

    The family record book and autobiography of William Leany [microform] : c.1891

    Manuscripts

    Microfilm of the Family Record of William Leany (filled in printed family history book, published in Salt Lake City in 1877). The first twelve pages consist of genealogical information. The rest of the volume contains Leany's autobiography, begun January 1, 1888. Leany begins with more genealogical and family history (including the Revolutionary War service of his relatives), and then recounts his early life in Kentucky. His family left tailoring to begin raisin tobacco, and, according to Leany, "thereby sold ourselves to the merchants." During his childhood in Kentucky Leany "toiled under all the disadvantages of frontier life," and he and his twin brother Isaac traveled to Missouri in 1836. While on the way they converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Leany writes that his father belonged to no specific church, his mother was a "Republican Baptist," and his stepmother a "Hell Redemptionist"). Debts and various health issues kept Leany from traveling to Nauvoo until 1843, and in the meantime he was present when Isaac was shot during the Haun's Mill Massacre in 1838 (Isaac survived). After finally arriving in Illinois, Leany describes hearing Joseph Smith preach and deciding to go west to Utah in 1846. In 1850 he was part of the company sent to Little Salt Lake and settled near what is now Parowan. He describes troubles with the Walkers Band of Ute Indians and his later moves to Cedar City and finally Harrisburg. William Leany's account ends with a letter to his "Dear Children and Grandchildren," written at Harrisburg on May 5, 1891. In it Leany describes his spiritual beliefs and what he believes to be the religious and temporal obligations of his descendants. The final pages of the film contain a brief autobiography entitled Struggles of an 1847 Pioneer by I.C. Leany. Leany gives an in-depth account of Isaac Leany's experiences at Haun's Mill and describes traveling to Utah with Edward Hunter's company in 1847.

    MSS MFilm 00036

  • Autobiography of John Powell [microform]: c.1849-1901

    Autobiography of John Powell [microform]: c.1849-1901

    Manuscripts

    Microfilm of the autobiography of John Powell. Powell begins by recalling his early life in England, including his conversion to Mormonism and his mission to Stratford in 1849. He then describes his family's immigration to the United States, sailing from Liverpool to New Orleans on the ship Ellen. The family rented a room in St. Louis, and Powell describes the sickness and poverty that prevented them from starting for Salt Lake City until 1856 (in the interim he mentions his mission to Calhoun County in 1855). He describes the family's overland journey to Utah, including meeting with Indians near the Platte River. Once in Utah Powell joined the Utah Territorial Mormon Militia, and he briefly describes his experiences in Echo Canyon in 1857. The rest of the autobiography focuses on Powell's life in Fillmore, Utah, and includes references to his work on the settlement at Deseret, his furniture store in Fillmore, his trips to St. George in 1877 and 1884, and his time in the Utah Penitentiary after pleading guilty to unlawful cohabitation in 1889. Also included in the volume are descriptions of Powell's visions and dreams; copies of letters; transcriptions of blessings and articles from the Deseret News; and transcribed texts of the Constitution of the State of Utah, The Edmunds Bill (also known as the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Act of 1882), the Declaration of Principles from the People's Convention (1882), and the Origin and Destiny of Women by John Taylor (1897). The volume ends with lists of local births, deaths, and blessings given; some Powell family genealogy; and a list of the residents of Fillmore in 1858.

    MSS MFilm 00066 item 02

  • Autobiography of William Henry Solomon [microform] : 1895

    Autobiography of William Henry Solomon [microform] : 1895

    Manuscripts

    Microfilm of the autobiography of William Henry Solomon, written in 1895. The account begins with Solomon's birth in England and his school days, including receiving academic merits and prizes. Solomon gives a brief family genealogy and notes being the son of a shoemaker (his mother sold the shoes in mining towns). He then writes of his conversion to Mormonism, his marriage and career in carpentry and shoemaking, and of sailing to New York in 1861. He also recalls traveling across the plains to Utah, being called to settle Arizona in 1873, and of his various travels to and from Utah and Arizona. Solomon also writes of his life in Taylor, Arizona, and Kanab, Utah, including notes on the births and baptisms of his children.

    MSS MFilm 00191