Brookbank, Thomas W., 1847-1939

File — Box: 7, Folder: 1

Identifier: VI

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

An autobiography in three parts, bound volume.

(I) "Travels and Threads of Experience." At nineteen years of age, Brookbank was teaching school and clerking in a store in Pennsylvania. A feeling of restlessness led him to Iowa in 1869 and to Illinois in 1870 where he enrolled in a biblical institute hoping to become a minister. Poor health drove him back to Pennsylvania. In 1876, after brief sojourns in Pennsylvania and Nebraska he made his home in Scipio, Utah, where he joined the Mormon church and taught school. In 1879, another flight took him, with a company of immigrants, to Arizona. While prospecting on the plateau of the Mogollon Mountains he became acquainted with some Mormons who had a settlement known as Mormon Dairy. He was impressed with the United Order and joined at Sunset. He served a mission with Indians in the Rio Grande Valley. In 1879-1880 he served as second counselor to President Lot Smith. He married Miss Susan Morilla Bates at St. George in 1887. He was called by Wilford Woodruff to go on a mission to England to become assistant editor of the Millennial Star (1889). In 1912 he was living at Dry Lake in northern Arizona, and in 1913 was called for another mission to England as associate editor of the Millennial Star. He was released from his mission in 1914 and returned to Salt Lake and bought a small farm in Sandy. His family was living in Flagstaff, and when he suggested they all move to Utah "there was no favorable response." In 1927 Brookbank visited his son, J. O., in Glendale. He returned to Salt Lake and lived there at the writing of this narrative in 1933.
(II) "A Soldier's Recollections." This portion of the autobiography relates his experiences in the army during the Civil War, 1864-1865.
(III) "Religious Experiences." Brookbank met a Mr. McLaughlin, a newspaper editor, on the train headed for Beaver. Brookbank was persuaded to go on to Beaver. He stopped over night at Scipio and learned that they needed a school teacher. He applied and got the job. After much examination, he joined the church in April of 1877 at Scipio. In the spring of 1879 a company of eighty persons was organized at Scipio to go to Arizona to settle somewhere in the White Mountains region. They went by way of Lee's Ferry. Conditions were very difficult and before they reached MoenKopi the teams and people were suffering. The land the group had planned to settle had been withdrawn by the government and so the members of the company disbanded and went to the other settlements. Brookbank went to Sunset where he became a member of the United Order under Lot Smith. He and others were detailed to go to the Meadows (land purchased by Tenney) to prevent the Mexicans from moving on the land. While at Sunset Brookbank married Edith Porter, April 4, 1883. They were divorced in 1888. Brookbank served a mission to the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico, then moved to Chihuahua where he remained only a short time. His companion, Brother Wilchen was ordered on to Mexico City. Brookbank returned to Albuquerque because of poor health. Until he was called by Wilford Woodruff to serve a mission in England, he wrote articles for publication in the Deseret News, Contributor, and Juvenile Instructor. His first mission to the British Isles was in 1889 when he received an urgent call to become associate editor of the Millennial Star. His finances were limited--while in Salt Lake waiting for his date to sail he met John W. Young who gave him 50.00 dollars to help on his mission. As associate editor of the Millennial Star he wrote many of the editorials. His editorials were signed simply "B." Again because of ill health Brookbank returned to Arizona in 1891. During the next few years he farmed and taught school at MoenAva, Tuba City, and Lee's Ferry. In 1913 he was called to fill another mission to the British Isles to work on the Millennial Star. Once again he returned because of ill health. 55 pages.

Dates

1847-1939

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.