History of Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898) (3)

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

History of Wilford Woodruff (1807–1898) (3)

1838–1839. Maine and Fox Island mission. Apostasy of Warren Parrish. Boston jail. Baptizes parents, organizes branch. Daughter born. Call to the Twelve. Leads Fox Island company to Illinois. Meeting with Joseph. Move to Montrose, Iowa.
October–November 1837 Fox Islands	¶	—9.—I parted with Elder Hale, who returned to Kirtland. I continued preaching through various towns on the mainland until November 2, when I again returned to Fox Islands, accompanied by my wife.	MS Millennial Star 27, no. 19 (May 13, 1865): 294–296.
	¶	—15.—I visited the Isle of Holt, twelve miles east, and preached to an attentive congregation, leaving them the Book of Mormon, which they promised to read. I returned on the 16th.
People pro- or anti-Mormon	¶	I continued my labors during the winter of 1837–8, and nearly every person had attended my meetings, and taken sides for or against. Our enemies made attempts to break up our meetings.
Sailors join mob with weapon Gunfire		Jan. 15, 1838.—A company of sailors belonging to the United States revenue cutter, brought on shore a swivel and joined the mob, parading near the house where I was preaching, and discharged it several times, accompanied with small arms, with the intention of breaking up the meeting. Some of the mob gathered around to see what effect this would have.
Wilford shakes his clothes Gunfire	¶	I warned them in the name of the Lord, and proclaimed the judgments of God that awaited the wicked, and shook my garments in the presence of the people, and told them I was clear of their blood; but they only heard my voice intermingled with the roar of cannon and musketry. Before I closed speaking, the sailors went back on board the revenue cutter.
Baptist/Methodist mob Legal harrassment		At the close of the meeting I baptized two, also one next day, and while baptizing, the mob again commenced firing guns. The Baptists and Methodists got up the mob. Mr. Douglas, the Methodist priest, when argument failed him applied to all the magistrates for warrants against me; they refused to grant them as he had no cause of complaint.
Ordain James Townsend Maine	¶	Feb. 13.—I crossed in the mailboat to Hampden and ordained James Townsend. We walked together through deep snows and visited and preached in the towns of Searsmont, Belfast, Northport, Frankfort, Hampden, and twice in the city hall in Bangor, to large assemblies, and returned to Fox Islands via Casteem and the Isle of Holt. Arrived in Vinal Haven March 8. Elder Townsend returned home.
Clam dig	¶	March 22.—I accompanied brother Stirrat, at low tide, on to a bar some forty rods from shore, to dig some clams. We were soon joined by Mrs. Woodruff and sister Stone, who had a curiosity to see how clams were dug. The ground for about twelve rods nearer shore was several feet lower than the point we were on, but we were so busily engaged we did not observe the flowing tide until we were surrounded by water, and having no boat, our only alternative was to wade ashore and carry the women, which [296] we safely accomplished amid the reflection that time and tide waited for no man.
Warren Parrish letter of falsehoods	¶	April 4.—Mr. Kent, the postmaster, showed me a letter containing two sheets of foolscap, signed by Warren Parrish and several of the Twelve, who had apostatized and been cut off from the Church. The communication was full of slander and falsehoods against Joseph Smith and all that stood by him. It was sent with the intention of breaking up the work upon these islands.	April 5: "The worst difficulties in the saints warfare are perils among & from fals Brethren. I walked to Mr John Kents store & Post Office & he presented me with a letter containing two sheets from Mr Warren Parrish at Kirtland Ohio who had been an Elder in the Church of Latter Day Saints & had travled with me in the ministry many miles. He had now made ship reck of faith was cut of from the church & he with some others in like circumstances are now making every exertion against us & the cause, & the letter alluded to was teeming with [237] falshood against Joseph & the Church. "O Warren Parish how art thou fallen. Thy former letters will stare thee in the face make thee blush & pierce thy soul. The letter is believed by our opposers & causes persecution to rage." WWJ Wilford Woodruff's Journal, 9 vols., compiled by Scott G. Kenney (Midvale: Signature Books, 1981-1984). 1:236–237.
Elders Towsend and Holmes visit To Maine	¶	11.—I was visited by Elders Townsend and Milton Holmes, who attended conferences with me upon both islands, and bore their testimony to the people, but the spirit of opposition increased to a great height. I was warned by the Spirit of the Lord to leave for a season and take a western mission. After visiting the Saints from house to house, and praying with and encouraging them, I left on the 28th and went to the main land with Elders Townsend and Holmes. Mrs. Woodruff returned to her father's. We walked to Scarborough.
To Boston		I left May 7th, and walked to Bradford, where I left Elder Holmes, and proceeded to Boston.
Visits A. P. Rockwood in jail	¶	May 11.—I gave out an appointment to preach at sister Vose's room, and I went to Cambridgeport to visit Elder A. P. Rockwood, who had been imprisoned in jail on pretense of debt, but in reality out of religious persecution. The jailor locked me in until ten p.m.; but while it disappointed a congregation of people, it gave me a happy visit with Elder Rockwood, conversing upon the work of God. On my return to Boston the people were waiting to hear me; I spoke to them a short time.
To Holliston, Providence, New York	¶	May 14.—I left Boston, and walked some thirty miles to Holliston; stayed at Deacon Haven's, and preached. I walked to Providence, R. I., from thence took steamer to New York, and arrived on the 18th.	MS Millennial Star 27, no. 20 (May 20, 1865): 310–312.
Orson Pratt Father's home in Connecticut		Met and attended meetings with Brother O. Pratt until the 27th, when I went up the North river to Newburgh, and preached in several towns in New York and New Jersey, and walked across the country to Farmington, Connecticut, and arrived at my father's June 11, 1838.
Baptize parents, family	¶	I commenced preaching at my father's house. July 1st, I baptized six persons in Farmington river, including my father, stepmother and my only sister, Eunice; also cousin Seth Woodruff, aunt Anna Cossett and Dwight Webster, a Methodist class leader, who was boarding at my father's.
Fulfillment of patriarchal blessing	¶	When the Patriarch Joseph Smith, sen., gave me my blessing, he said I should bring my father's household into the kingdom of God, which words were fulfilled this day.
Organize branch	¶	I confirmed those baptized, and organized this small branch of the Church, consisting of nine members, eight of whom were relatives. I ordained Dwight Webster a priest, and administered the sacrament.
Scarborough, Maine	¶	July 3.—I started for the State of Maine, and arrived at Father Carter's, in Scarborough, on the 6th.
Daughter born	¶	—14.—My wife was delivered of a daughter at her father's house; we named her Sarah Emma.
	¶	22.—I wrote to Thomas B. Marsh (h), an account of my labors upon Fox Islands and the eastern country.
Fox Islands	¶	—30.—I left Scarborough and returned to the islands. I preached several times to large congregations in the Methodist meeting-house, in East Thomastown, and in the town hall in Camden, before crossing to the islands, where I arrived August 7th.
Appointment to Quorum of the Twelve	¶	August 9. [1838]—I received a letter from Thomas B. Marsh, informing me of my appointment to fill the place, in the Quorum of the Twelve, of one who had fallen, and I was requested to come to Far West as soon as possible, to prepare for a mission to England in the spring.
Encourage island Saints to go to Missouri Nathaniel Thomas generosity		I immediately visited all the Saints upon both islands, and earnestly exhorted them to sell their property and prepare to accompany me to Missouri. Several immediately sold, but many were poor. Brother Nathaniel Thomas said he would furnish means to help off all the poor Saints who desired to go, and for this purpose went with me to the mainland on the 13th, and I assisted him in purchasing two thousand dollars worth of horses, harness, wagons and tents for the company. He paid about $1500 of the expenses himself, $1000 of which went to furnish conveyance for the poor. After purchasing the outfit for the company, I urged the importance of their starting as soon as possible, not later than the 1st of September.
October 1, 1838	¶	August 19.—I left the town of Camden, where we had prepared our outfit, and returned to Scarborough to prepare my family for the journey, expecting to see the company in a few days; but here I remained in great suspense until October 1st, when Elder Townsend went to meet the company. They arrived in Scarborough on the 3rd, with their wagon covers flying.
Waterproof wagons	¶	The company stopped at the house of Sister Sarah B. Foss. We nailed down the covers and painted them, which made them waterproof.
Winter in Rochester, Illinois	¶	—4 [September].—We started upon our journey. My child was in the first stages of the whooping cough. Our company consisted of fifty-three persons; we had ten wagons, with a pair of horses to each. We had before us, at this late period, a gloomy land journey of two thousand miles, from Maine to Missouri. We continued to travel through rain, mud, cold, frost and snow, until we arrived in Rochester, Sangamon county, Illinois, Dec. 19th, where I stopped and settled my family and company for the winter, being unable to proceed further.
Phebe's brain fever, near-death Daughter very sick		My wife had passed through a severe course of the brain fever while upon the journey; her sufferings had been very great. The spirit had left her body twice to all human appearance, and only been called back through the prayer of faith and the power of God. Our child had also been very sick, and I had become so thoroughly chilled through my whole system, in crossing the bleak prairies, that it was two months after I stopped, before I got sufficiently warmed to feel natural.
Death and sickness	¶	Brother Thomas buried one child, and nearly all the company had been sick through exposure; some of them had stopped by the way.
	¶	I spent the winter laboring with my hands for the support of my family.
1839 Springfield conference	¶	March 8, 1839.—I attended a conference at Springfield, Illinois.
Quincy, Illinois Dines with Emma Suffering Saints	¶	—13.—I took my family and started for Quincy, where I arrived on the 16th. I dined with Emma Smith, at Judge Cleveland's. I then went on to the bank of the river near Quincy, and saw a great many of the Saints, old and young, lying in the mud and water, in a rainstorm, without tent or covering, which suffering was caused by the unhallowed persecution of the State of Missouri. The sight filled my eyes with tears, while my heart was made glad at the cheerfulness of the Saints in the midst of their affliction.
Brigham, John Taylor	¶	17 (Sunday).—I had an interview with President Brigham Young and John Taylor. We held a meeting with the Saints; $50 and a number [312] of teams were raised to bring out the remainder of the poor from Missouri. President Young counselled the Twelve to locate their families for the time being in Quincy.
Family to Quincy		I returned to Rochester for my effects. While at Springfield, I collected $70 for the relief of the Saints in Quincy, which I sent to them. I returned to Quincy on the 8th of April, where I left my family,
To Far West to begin mission Brigham ordains Wilford and George A. Smikth apostles		and went to Far West with the Twelve, and attended the Conference on the Temple block on the 26th, where I was ordained one of the Twelve Apostles, on the cornerstone of the Temple, under the hands of the Twelve, Elder Brigham Young being mouth. Elder Geo. A. Smith was also ordained at the same time.
Return to Quincy May 2, 1839		We returned to Quincy on the 2nd day of May.
Interview with Joseph	¶	On the 3rd, in company with five of the Twelve, I went to Judge Cleveland's, and had a happy interview with President Joseph Smith, who had just escaped out of the hands of his persecutors in Missouri; it was the first time I had seen him for more than two years, and it was a happy meeting.
May 15, 1830 move to Montrose Lives with Brigham		I attended the conference and meetings with the Saints in Quincy, until the 15th, when I moved my family to Montrose, and occupied a room in the barracks with President Young and family. I spent my time in attending the meetings, Councils and Conferences. I wrote in my journal the teachings, sayings and prophecies of Joseph from time to time, as I had opportunity.
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