Nielson, Frihoff Godfred

File — Box: 8, Volume: 4

Identifier: VI

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Extracts from the diaries (1876-1889). The notes from these thirty diaries have been made by George S. Tanner from the originals and are very brief with the subject of most entries listed in the margin. The original diaries are at Brigham Young University. Nielson left Morgan County, January 31, 1876, with three teams and six men. They arrived in Orderville on March 3 where he filled his bed tick with straw. On May 7 they reached Ballinger's camp and drove on over to Lot Smith's camp the same day. He gives an accounting of his provisions and turned them over to the commissary. Nielson records disagreements and discontent in the camps--"some work and some don't." June 16 he writes that there was quite a lot of opposition to signing the articles of association. Nielson becomes clerk of the company. July 6 the directors were chosen by ballot: Lot Smith, Edward E. Jones, James T. Woods, William Hayes, Dan David, F. G. Nielson, and Henry Hobbs. For the next three months he tells of digging water wells; building dams, forts, houses, and fences; setting up the sawmill sent them by Brigham Young; and planting crops. On January 1, 1877, he started back to Orderville for supplies. January 27, 1878, a stake of Zion was organized: Lot Smith, president; Jacob Hamblin and L. H. Hatch, first and second counselors; Jesse 0. Ballinger and _________ Gardner, members of the High Council; F. G. Nielson, clerk; L. M. Savage, bishop of Sunset; George Lake, bishop of St. Joseph; Jacob Hamblin, Ira Hatch, C. L. Christensen, William B. Gardner, Joseph B. Wakefield, and Charles Reidhead, missionaries to the Lamanites. John W. Young gave some instructions and made many pointed remarks. For the rest of this volume, Nielson records the activities of the settlements: making molasses, planting corn and melons, church activities, and general attitudes of the people many of whom are having trouble adjusting to the United Order. Nielson as clerk is responsible for keeping records of property coming with settlers and the final settlements if they leave the United Order. These extracts continue to July 1, 1889.

Dates

1857-1986

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.