History of Salt Lake City, Part 121

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company
Number of Pages: 1194

USA > Utah > Salt Lake County > Salt Lake > History of Salt Lake City > Part 121

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

" The day also was in perfect harmony. "The oppressive sultriness of the few preceding days gave way to a cooler atmosphere. Black clouds draped the skies, heaven's artillery roared, the wind moaned and swept along in fitful gusts, and as the appointed hour for the obsequies drew nigh, the rain, like tear drops from heaven, fell heavily, mingling with the tears of the mourners, and contin- uing almost without intervals of cessation during the ceremonies, although relieved toward evening by brief snatches of sunshine, to show the silver lining to a cloudy day, and to indicate the smiling Providence that rules and overrules all things for good. *

" While the masses congregated in the Tabernacle, Presidents Brigham Young and Daniel II. Wells, the Twelve Apostles, the First Presidents of the Seventies, the Presidents of the High Priests' quorum, the Presiding Bishop and his counselors, the President of this Stake of Zion, the High Council and Captain Croxall's band, with the pall-bearers and relatives, repaired to the late residence of President Kimball. Here was beheld the Chieftain of Zion, with whom the illustrious departed, for a full third of a century and more, had stood shoulder to shoulder when men's souls were tried, with more than fraternal interest personally overseeing even the minutest item of ar- rangement in those last solemn offices.

" To the 'Dead March in Saul,' by Croxall's band, the procession moved from the residence down North Temple Street,, turned south on West Temple Street, passed through the west gate of Temple Block, entered the Tabernacle at door No. 32. north side, and occupied the seats reserved for the purpose in front of the stand, the band still playing as the procession entered. When the band ceased, the powerful tones of the organ swelled forth in a selection from Beethoven.

" The remains were deposited upon a draped bier, raised from the middle aisle, so as to be plainly observable by all the vast audience. Seven elegant vases of roses and other beautiful flowers were placed upon the coffin.

" In consonance with the solemnity of the scene, the interior of the 'Tabernacle was also draped in mourning.

" The vast assemblege was called to order by President Young, and the choir sang a hymn composed by Miss E. R. Snow, after which Apostle Cannon offered up a prayer, and the choir sang ' Farewell all earthly honors.'

The assembly was then addressed by Ellers John Taylor, Geo. A. Smith, Geo. Q. Cannon, Presidents Daniel H. Wells, and Brigham Young, who said: "Brother Kimball was a man of as much integrity, I presume, as any man who ever lived on the earth I have been personally ac- quainted with him forty-three years, and I can testify that he has been a man of truth, a man of be- nevolence, a man that was to be trusted."

At the close of President Young's remarks, the choir sang " O my father, thou that dwellest," after which the procession reformed in its previous order, the band playing the Belgian dead march, and the remains of the deceased were escorted to a spot in his private burying ground, previously selected by himself, where they were laid by the side of Vilate, the partner and companion of his youth.

He was mourned by the whole Church, and principal men from all parts of the Territory honored by their presence the memory of the dead.

JOHN TAYLOR.

JOHN TAYLOR

President John Taylor was born in Winthrop, Westmoreland County, England, November Ist, 1808. He received a common school education, and remained in his native country until about the year 1832, when he rejoined his father's family in Canada, to which province they had emigrated two years previously. Before leaving England he joined the Methodist Church, and was made a local preacher in that body. Shortly after arriving in Canada, he made the acquaintance of, and married, Miss Leonora Cannon, who had left England for Canada as a companion to the wife of the Secretary of the Colony, but with the intention of returning. She was a God-fearing woman, a daughter of Captain Cannon of the Isle of Man, and sister of the father of George Q. Cannon. They settled in the city of Toronto and there they first heard the preaching of the Gospel of the Latter-day Church under the inspired ministry of Parley P. Pratt.

At this point,-illustrative of his history and character, -it is worthy of note that John Taylor had already made a distinguishing mark in the Methodist Church of Toronto as a religious reformer. He and another of the local ministers having boldly preached some apostolic doctrines very conso- nant with his subsequent Mormon faith, but which were deemed innovative and heretical by the regular Methodist ministry, John Taylor and his compeer were brought to trial before a ministerial body ; but they refused to recant their Gospel truths. This incident throws considerable light upon the transformation of President Taylor from a Methodist local minister to a Mormon Apostle. Parley P. Pratt in his autobiography speaks of a little congregation of Gospel truth-seekers in Toronto, among whom he found Mr. Taylor and his wife; and Mr. Taylor is brought into the Mormon Apostle's narrative as one of the ministerial leaders of this little congregation of Methodist reformers.

Soon after his entrance into the Mormon Church, John Taylor was called to the apostleship. Several of the Twelve had apostatized, and David Patten, one of the stanchest members of that quorum had fallen in battle against the anti-Mormon mob: this David is styled the first martyr of the Church. In a revelation given July 8th, 1836, is found the following passage :

" Let my servant John Taylor, and also my servant John E. Page, and also my servant Wil- ford Woodruff, and also my servant Willard Richards, be appointed to fill the place of those who have fallen, and be officially notified of their appointment."

John Taylor was duly notified of his call to the quorum of the Twelve, which brought him over from Canada into Missouri. On the 19th of December, 1838, the High Council of Zion met in Far West, on which occasion John Taylor and John E. Page were installed in the apostleship. 'Subse- quently, Wilford Woodruff and George A. Smith were' ordained to the quorum of the Twelve; and, in 1840, when nine ot that quorum were on missions to England, Willard Richards was or- dained, he having gone to England with Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde in 1837.

John Taylor was now a pillar of the Church, and he took his position as one born to it. His whole career since has fully justified his call. Never has he shown weakness of purpose, nor has he stumbled in the faith. Being naturally of a self-reliant and independent character, with much natural courage, he has sustained his quorum and the whole community in the most trying circumstances. Next to Brigham Young, he is, perhaps, not only the most astute, but the most self-sustained man that ever came into the Mormon Church. He has never been in any place or circumstances that he has not shown the power to fall back upon himself, and take the whole weight of responsibility of acting when it properly rested with him. This is the true test of the leader, and it undoubtedly at length made him President of the Mormon Church ; for after all, it is the law of fitness which brings man around to his destiny; and it is this same trait of character which will make John Taylor equal to the needs of the present hour as the leader of the Mormon people.

After the removal of the Latter-day Saints from Missouri to Illinois, the Twelve were called on a mission to Great Britain. postles Taylor and Wilford Woodruff started together from Nauvoo in the fall of 1839 They were both sick with fever and ague, and Elder Taylor came near to death on the way, the companions having to separate in consequence thereof; but they met again at New

HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.

York, and together embarked for Liverpool. The following interesting sketch of his mission he wrote for the Millennial Star before his return to America :

" We arrived in Liverpool, after a pleasant voyage, on the 11th of January, 1840, from which place we proceeded to Preston, where we met with many Saints, who rejoiced to see us-re- joicing before God that we had been thus far enabled to brave the storms and opposition, and that we had arrived in safety at the place of our destination

" After resting a few days, and visiting with our brethren, we held a council, at which I was ap- pointed to go to Liverpool, and Elders Woodruff and Turley to go into the Potteries, and from thence as their way might open. Elder Fielding accompanied me to Liverpool, and we commenced our labors in this place. We visited a chapel belonging to Mr. Aiken the first Sunday, and also a body of Baptists that met in the Music Hall, Bold Street. After a young man in the Hope Street Chapel had done preaching, having advanced many correct principles in his sermon, I arose after the meet- ing was concluded and stated that I was much interested in many things that I had heard, that I was a stranger, and should be pleased to make a few remarks, with their permission. I was im- mediately asked by one what society I belonged to, and another said that they would hear me in the vestry after the congregation was dismissed. Accordingly we repaired to the vestry, where 1 met with about twenty leaders and teachers, to whom I delivered my testimony, and while 1 was unfold- ing what God had done, and the message I had come on, sonie wept, and others exclaimed 'glory be to God ; ' others of them were hardened, and raged against us, stating that they had heard a very bad report of us from their pastor, Mr. Matthews.

" We took a room the next Sunday, and while I preached to the people and told them of the things that God had done, I asked them if it was not good news? They answered yes. Elder Fielding bore testimony to what I had said. Many came to me after the meeting and shook me by the hand, and many wept and rejoiced ; ten gave me their names to be baptized. We visited many of the leading ministers in Liverpool. I delivered our testimony to them, but we found them gen- erally so bigoted and wrapped up in sectarianism that there was very little room for the truth in their hearts ; the work, however, continued to roll on till the present. Prejudice is fast giving way. and upwards of two hundred Saints are now rejoicing in the truth ; while those people that I visited and delivered my testimony among, (many of whose preachers rejected and wickedly opposed it,) although there was at that time, as I have been informed, upwards of 1,200 members, they are all scattered, and not one left, and their chapel is turned into a church of England.

" I also visited Ireland on the 27th of July, 1840, in company with Elder M'Guffie, one that had been ordained in Liverpool, and a priest from Manchester by the name of Blake. We landed at Warren Point, and went from thence to Newry, where I preached in the Session House, it being the first time that ever this Gospel was declared in that land. From thence I went to a part of the country called the Four Towns of Bellinacrat, and preached, and baptized a farmer by the name of 'Taite, who was the first baptized in Ireland. From thence I proceeded to Lisburn, where 1 preached several times in the market place. From thence to Belfast, when I had an opportunity of preach- ing if I had time to stay, but as I had engagements in Scotland, I was prevented. Elder Curtis has since been laboring there, and there is now about thirty members in the Church. From thence I went to the City of Glasgow, in Scotland, where I preached, and also in Paisley, and then returned to Liverpool. Soon after I started to the Isle of Man, when I delivered my testimony for the first

time in that island. I met with much opposition. I held a debate with one minister, published three pamphlets in reply to another, and replied in the papers to certain falshoods and misrepresen- tations made in them, and answered another minister who lectured against me. I had much oppo- sition, but the truth has come off triumphant, and there is now in that place about one hundred members, two elders, four priests and two teachers; and the work of God is rolling on. I feel to rejoice before God that He has blessed my humble endeavors to promote His cause and Kingdom, and for all the blessings that I have received from this island ; for although I have traveled 5,000 miles without purse or scrip, besides traveling so far in this country on railroads, coaches, steam- boats, wagons, on horseback, and almost every way, and have been amongst strangers in strange lands, I have never for once been at a loss for either money or friends, or a home from that day until now ; neither have I ever asked any one for a farthing. Thus I have proved the Lord and found Him according to His word. And now, as I am going away, I bear testimony that this work is of God-that he has spoken from the heavens-that Joseph Smith is a prophet of the Lord-that the Book of Mormon is true; and I know that this work will roll on until ' the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdoms of our God and His Christ.' Even so, Amen."

JOHN TAYLOR.

After his return to Nauvoo, Apostle Taylor was editor of the Times and Seasons, a chief man in the city council, and a right-hand man to the Prophet, scarcely less than Brigham Young himself. But the great circumstance of that day, which has left him so strongly marked in the history of the Church, was the scene of the martyrdom, for he was in prison with the Prophet and his brother, and was himself wounded. It is not necessary to give the full chapter of those times, but the nar- rative of the tragedy itself, though often republished, is an historical link which could not well be left out of the sketch of President Taylor's life.

The following is extracted from President John Taylor's own minutes :

"June 26th. 9:57 A. M. The Governor, in company with Colonel Geddes arrived at the jail, when a lengthy conversation was entered into in relation to the existing difficulties.

" The Governor left [at 10:30 A. M.] after saying that the prisoners were under his protection, and again pledging himself that they should be protected from violence, and telling them that if the troops marched the next morning to Nauvoo, as he then expected, they should probably be taken along in order to insure their personal safety.

" While Joseph was writing at the jailor's desk, William Wall stepped up, wanting to deliver a verbal message to him from his uncle John Smith. He turned around to speak to Wall but the guard refused to allow them any communication.

" Joseph remarked, ' I have had a good deal of anxiety about my safety since I left Nauvoo, which I never had before when I was under arrest. I could not help those feelings, and they have depressed me. * *

" The Prophet, Patriarch and their friends took turns preaching to the guards, several of whom were relieved before their time was out because they admitted they were convinced of the innocence of the prisoners. They frequently admitted that they had been imposed upon, and more than once it was heard, 'Let us go home, boys, for I will not fight any longer against these men.'

"During the day Hyrum encouraged Joseph to think that the Lord, for His Church's sake, would release him from prison. Joseph replied, 'Could my brother Hyrum but be liberated, it would not matter so much about me.'

" 2:30. Constable Bettisworth came with Alexander Simpson and wanted to come in with an order to the jailor demanding the prisoners, but as Mr. Stigall the jailor, could find no law author- izing a justice of the peace to demand prisoners committed to his charge, he refused to give them up until discharged from his custody by due course of law. =

"20 minutes to 4. Upon the refusal of the jailor to give up the prisoners, the constable, with the company of Carthage Greys, under the command of Frank Worrell, marched to the jail and by intimidation and threats compelled the jailor, against his will and conviction of duty, to deliver Joseph and Hyrum to the constable, who forthwith and contrary to their wishes, compulsorily took them.

"Joseph, seeing the mob gathering and assuming a threatening aspect, concluded it best to go with them, and putting on his hat, walked boldly into the midst of a hollow square of the Carthage Greys, yet evidently expecting to be massacred in the streets before arriving at the court house, politely locked arms with the worst mobacrat he could see, and Hyrum locked arms with Joseph, followed by Dr. Richards, and escorted by a guard. Elders Taylor, Jones, Markham and Fullmer followed outside the hollow square, and accompanied them to the court room.

" On motion of counsel for the prisoners, examination was postponed till to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, noon, and subponas were granted to get witnesses froin Nauvoo, twenty miles distant, whereupon the prisoners were remanded to prison.

"5:30. Returned to jail, and Joseph and Hyrum were thrust into close confinement.

"8 P. M. Counselors Woods and Reid called with Elder J. P. Greene, and said that the Gov- ernor and military officers had held a council which had been called by the Governor, and they de- cided that the Governor and all the troops should march to Nauvoo at 8 o'clock to-morrow, except one company of about fifty men, in order to gratify the troops, and return next day, the com- pany of fifty men to be selected by the Governor from those of the troops whose fidelity he could most rely on to guard the prisoners, who should be left in Carthage jail, and that their trial be de- ferred until Saturday, the 29th.

" They retired to rest late. 5:30 A. M., arose. Joseph requested Daniel Jones to descend and inquire of the guard the cause of the intrusion in the night. Frank Worrell, the officer of the guard, in a very bitter spirit said : 'We have had too much trouble to bring old Joe here to ever let him escape alive, and unless you want to die with him, you had better leave before 4

HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.

sundown ; and you are not a d-d bit better than him for taking his part; and you'll see that I can prophesy better than old joc, for neither he nor his brother, nor anyone who will remain with them, will see the sun set to-day.'

" 1:30. Governor Ford went to Nauvoo sometime this afternoon, escorted by a portion of his troops, the most friendly to the prisoners, and leaving the known enemies to the Prophet (the Car- thage Greys), ostensibly to guard the jail, having previously disbanded the remainder. *

"3:15 l'. M. The guard began to be more severe in their operations, threatening among them- selves, and telling what they would do when the excitement was over.

"4 P. M. The guard was again changed, only eight men being stationed at the jail, while the main body of the Carthage Greys were in camp about a quarter of a mile distant, on the public squire.

"4:20 P. M. Jailor Stigall returned to the jail and said that Stephen Markham had been sur- rounded by a mob, who had driven him out of Carthage, and he had gone to Nauvoo. .

"Before the jailor came in, his boy brought in some water, and said the guard wanted some wine. Joseph gave Dr. Richards two dollars to give to the guard, but the guard said one was enough, and would take no more.

"The guard immediately sent for a bottle of wine, pipes, and two small papers of tobacco, and one of the guard brought them into the jail soon after the jailor went out. Dr. Richards uncorked the bottle and presented a glass to Joseph, who tasted, as also Brother Taylor and the Doctor, and the bottle was given to the guard, who turned to go out. When at the top of the stairs some one below called him two or three times and he went down.

"Immediately there was a little rustling at the outer door of the jail, and a cry of surrender. and also a discharge of three or four firearms followed instantly. The Doctor glanced an eye by the curtain of the window, and saw about a hundred armed men about the door."

The following statement by Willard Richards, one of the survivors of the tragedy that fol- lowed the events last stated, is probably the most trustworthy record of the matter extant. It is entitled "Two Minutes in Jail," and is as follows :

"CARTHAGE, June 27th, 1844.

"A shower of musket balls were thrown up the stairway against the door of the prison in the second story, followed by many rapid footsteps.

" While Generals Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Mr. Taylor and myself, who were in the front chamber, closed the door of our room against the entry at the head of the stairs, and placed our- selves against it, there being no lock on the door, and no eatch that was unsealable.

" The door is a common panel, and as soon as we heard the feet at the stairhead a ball was sent through the door, which passed between us, and showed that our enemies were desperadoes, and we must change our position.

"General Joseph Smith, Mr. Taylor and myself sprang back to the front part of the room, and General Hyrum Smith retreated two-thirds across the chamber, directly in front of and facing the door.

" A ball was sent through the door which hit Hyrum on the side of the nose, when he fell backwards, extended at length, without moving his feet.

" From the holes in his vest (the day was warm and no one had their coats on but myself ). pantaloons, drawers and shirt, it appeared evident that a ball must have been thrown from without through the window, which entered his back on the right side, and passed through, lodging against his watch, which was in his right vest pocket, completely pulverizing the crystal and face, tearing off the hands and mashing the whole body of the watch. At the same instant the ball from the door entered his nose.

"As he struck the floor he exclaimed emphatically. 'I am a dead man.' Joseph looked toward him and responded, 'Oh dear! Brother Hyrum,' and opened the door two or three inches with his left hand, discharged one harrel of a six-shooter (pistol) at random in the entry, from whence a ball grazed Hyrum's breast, and entering his throat passed into his head, while other muskets were aimed at him and some balls hit him.

" Joseph continued snapping his revolver around the casing of the door into the space as be- fore, three barrels of which missed fire, while Mr. Taylor, with a walking stick, stood by his side and knocked down the bayonets and muskets which were constantly discharging through the door- way, while I stood by him, ready to lend any assistance, with another stick, but could not come with striking distance without going directly before the muzzles of the guns.

JOHN TAYLOR.

" When the revolver failed we had no more firearms, and expected an immediate rush of the mob. and the doorway full of muskets, half-way in the room, and no hope but instant death from within.

"Mr. Taylor rushed into the window, which is some fifteen or twenty feet from the ground. When his body was nearly on a balance, a ball from the door within entered his leg, and a ball from without struck his watch, patent lever, in his vest pocket near the left breast and smashed it into " pi," leaving the hands standing at 5 o'clock, 16 minutes and 26 seconds, the force of which ball threw him back on the floor, and he rolled under the bed, which stood by his side, where he lay motionless, the mob from the door continuing to fire upon him, cutting away a piece of flesh from his left hip as large as a man's hand, and were hindered only by my knocking down their muzzles with a stick, while they continued to reach their guns into the room, probably left-handed, and aimed their discharge so far round as almost to reach us in the corner of the room to where we retreated and dodged, and then I recommenced the attack with my stick.

" Joseph attempted, as the last resort, to leap the same window from which Mr. Taylor fell, when two bullets pierced him from the door, and one entered his breast from without, and he fell outward, exclaiming, ' O, Lord, my God !' As his feet went out of the window my head went in, the balls whistling all around. He fell on his left side, a dead man.

"At this instant, the cry was raised, 'He's leaped the window !' and the mob on the stairs and in the entry ran out.

"I withdrew from the window, thinking it of no use to leap out on a hundred bayonets, then around General Smith's body.

" Not satisfied with this, I again reached my head out of the window and watched some seconds to see if there were any signs of life, regardless of my own, determined to see the end of him I loved. Being fully sati fied that he was dead, with a hundred men near the body, and more coming round the corner of the jail, and expecting a return to our room, I rushed towards the prison door at the head of the stairs, and through the entry from whence the firing had proceeded, to learn if the doors into the prison were open.

" When near the entry, Mr. Taylor cried out, "take me.' I pressed my way until I found all doors unbarred, and returning instantly, caught Mr. Taylor under my arm and rushed by the stairs into the dungeon, or inner prison, stretched him on the floor and covered him with a bed in such manner as not likely to be perceived, expecting an immediate return of the mob.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Salt Lake City, Part 121

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company Number of Pages: 1194

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company
Number of Pages: 1194