Standifird, John Henry

File — Box: 9, Folder: 1

Identifier: VII

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Two bound volumes, 1862-1908. 659 pages. The first volume begins in 1862 and ends in 1890.

April 29, 1862: "Was selected to go as a soldier to protect the mail line. Arrived in Salt Lake City at 8 p.m."
May 2, 1862: Met at the mouth of Emigration Canyon by Brigham Young and the Twelve. Instructions given. Lot Smith in command.
May 11, 1862: Arrive at Fort Bridger.
May 14, 1862: Came to Green River, to L. Robinsen Ferry.
May 21, 1862: William S. Godbe is in camp. On his way to the States. The few pages that follow record the excursion which ends with their arrival in Salt Lake City, August 15, 1862. Except for a few entries in 1863, the journal Skips to 1872.
April 15, 1872: Start on a visit to the southern country to look for a home with a good range.
May 3, 1872: Panguitch Lake--bought, cleaned, and salted about 350 pounds of fish. Returned home.
April 10, 1873: Start to Arizona to fill a mission.
May 6, 1873: Arrive at Kanab where Bishop Levi Stewart, who had heard from Joseph W. Young, instructing the Colorado brethren to proceed to Houserock Springs, there to wait until twenty-five or thirty gather before crossing the Colorado.
May 7, 1873: Bought two hens at fifty cents each, one and a half bushels of potatoes at 1.00 dollar per bushel, and one pig(fourteen days old) for 4.00 dollars.
May 11, 1873: Elected chaplain of the company.
June 2, 1873: ". . . the horse teams have left us and gone to Moan Croppie [sic]."
June 8, 1873: "This morning some of the Brothers went to Tooby's [Tuba's] village or farm." Standifird examined some large petrified trees, five feet six inches in diameter. He also found fragments of broken pottery. " I believe the feelings of the brethren generally is to return home as they think that they cannot live in this country. I do not see any inducements for me to stay if I am released from any further duties of this mission, though I expect to make a home in this southern country."
June 21, 1873: Standifird is forty-two years old--still waiting for word from Brigham Young. The report has reached them that the ferry on the Colorado has been lost. Timber to replace it will have to be hauled one hundred miles.
June 23, 1873: A number of teams start for Navajo Springs. The rest, thirty-two, move and camp by Jacob Hamblin's place.
July 17, 1873: "Bishop Levi Steart arrived with instructions from the President for the Arizona missionaries to locate at Patharia [sic], Johnson or Kanab." July 18, 1873 Standifird feft for Kanab.
July 19, 1873: Arrive at Kanab at noon. July 24, 1873 Celebration held at the bowery.
August 9, 1873: Start for home.
August 28, 1873: Arrive in Salt Lake City. Found wife Mary and her children well. Wife Fanny was in Ogden Valley.
August 28-September 20, 1873: Worked for Brother Donelson [sic] and paid some of the debts incurred while in Arizona. Prepares for trip south again.
November 13, 1873: "At 10:00 a.m. I bid Mary and her children good day and commended them to the Lord of Hosts and took Fann and her children with me and started out to make a home in the south country according to the council of President Brigham Young."
December 3, 1873: Arrive in Panguitch and try to find a house to live in. Could find only a room.
January 5, 1874: Commence an evening school at James Henrie's house. Continue to work in the shop (lumber and building).
January 24, 1874: Receive letter from John L. Blythe inviting him to join his company at Moenkopi.
January 25, 1874: Standifird's reply from Panguitch was, in part: "I am here with a portion of my family, destitute of clothing and provisions for the expedition."
Spent the winter months at carpentering, painting, ect., in Panguitch.
April 12, 1874: Spoke in Sunday school on the curse of Cain and Ham. Talks of intermarriage of races.
May 15, 1874: Start for Long Valley with William Osbourn and O. Elmer.
May 16, 1874: Arrive at Glen Dale [sic] the upper settlement in Long Valley (thirty-two families and a gristmill). Most of the people have joined the United Order.
May 17, 1874: "Kanab--the settlement contains about 30 families, the most of them has joined the United Order."
May 23, 1874: Back to Panguitch,.
June 27, 1874: "Missionaries arrived in Panguitch. J. A. Young talked and read the articles of agreement of the St. George branch of the United Order."
July 11, 1874: Moved to co-op ranch about fourteen miles from Panguitch.
August 16, 1874: Concludes to live in Kanab.
September 9, 1874: Erastus Snow and George Q. Cannon preach in Kanab.
October 20, 1874: Start north to Bountiful to get the rest of his family.
November 5, 1874: Arrive in Bountiful.
November 9, 1874: Sold his place to Ben Noble. Selling off furniture and settling up his business.
December 12, 1874: Arrive in Kanab where his family are all together again.
January 5, 1875: Attend a meeting for the organization of the United Order of Kanab--Levi Stewart, president; J.H. Standifird, first vice-president; Taylor Crosbie, second vice-president; Standifird, Crosbie, and F. M. Hamblin, executive committee; F. M. Farnsworth, secretary.
March 29, 1875: Plant twenty apple trees, twenty plum trees, and beds of asparagus, strawberries, and rhubarb.
July 8, 1875: John A. Young and Lorenzo Young held meetings.
July 12, 1875: "Today the font and oxen leave salt Lake City for St. George temple."
July 16, 1875: "John D. Lee I understand has turned states evidence in the Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857."
November 21, 1875: James S. Brown preached this afternoon. He and his party on their way to Arizona to preach to the Indians.
January 1, 1876: Directors for the United Order for the year--L. John Nuttall, Levi Stewart, J. H. Standifird, James Lewis, Thomas Robertson, Taylor Crosby, A. A. DeWatt, James G. Brown, John Rider.
March 10, 1876: "For several days the brothers have been arriving and departing for Arizona . . . ."
March 29, 1876: Planting trees--almond, plum, peach, apple, and pear.
April 2, 1876: In the evening attended the organization of the Kanab Library and Literary Association.
April 24, 1876: Planting three hundred grape vines and dwarf cherry trees.
April 26, 1876: Planting lucerne and garden stuff.
June 7, 1876: "Spent most of the day branding stock for the Order."
June 21, 1876: Start work on the St. George Temple.
December 7, 1876: "This eveing in conversation with Bro. Truman O. Angel, sen. He said the Lord showed three witnesses the pattern for the Kirtland temple. F.G. Willian was one of the said witnesses who testified that the house was built in every particular after the pattern given."
December 19, 1876: "In conversation with President Young. He said he wished me to go to Lot Smith camp on the Little Colorado in Arizona."
Since June 21 has been at work on the St. George Temple and an office for Brigham Young.
January 1, 1877: Attends dedication of St. George Temple
January 30, 1877: Returns to his home in Kanab.
February 15, 1877: Went to the temple in St. George for endowments for his father and mother.
March 23, 1877: John D. Lee executed.
April 13, 1877: "I was adopted to Wilford Woodruff."
August 29, 1877: "This afternoon at four p.m. President Brigham Young departed this life. He has been a mighty man in Israel, kind, fatherly, and wise in his counsels."
January 26, 1878: "I dedicated my family to the Lord and took my leave of them and started to Arizona."
February 8, 1878: Reaches Moenkopi.
February 17, 1878: Arrives at Lot Smith's camp. Dined at the "big table." The people are living in the United Order. "In my judgement there is enough land here. . . to sustain many thousands of saints."
February 18, 1878: "I learned that there is no person to be admitted to the Order unless they consecrate everything and dine at one table."
March 11, 1878: Moves to Beaver Dell in Pleasant Valley on a ranch he bought.
April 7, 1878: Feeling lonesome--longs for the company of the Saints and would like to join the United Order "where I can have society and meetings. I desire the Lord to send a man to buy me out and let go where the Saints are."
May 4, 1878: Took a span of mules and starts to conference at Smith's camp. Daughter Ann with him.
May 9, 1878: Visits Lake's old fort on the return trip to Pleasant Valley.
May 21, 1878: Standifird is forty-seven years old. Made bee hives and divides his bees.
July 1, 1878: "This morning I started for Utah."
July 11, 1878: Arrives home (Kanab)--480 miles in eleven days.
July 30, 1878: Trades four colonies of bees for a wagon, turning lathe, and hand mill.
November 5, 1878: Starts from Kanab to Salt Lake City for goods. Arrives on the twelfth.
December 4, 1878: Arrives home. Absent for three months.
December 7, 1878: The population of the stake is 1,642--over one-third are children under eight years of age.
January 12, 1879
"I learned yesterday that the Supreme Court of the U. S. has decided against plural marriage."
January 17, 1879
"Gentiles flocking to the Parrea [sic] mines."
January 20, 1879
Trades a colony of bees to James H. Lewis.
February 6, 1879
"... brethren spoke on plural marriage and the efforts of the government of the U. S. to hinder the Saints from keeping the commandments of the Lord."
March 3, 1879
James Watson bought his place in Kanab for a span of work mares and colts, harness, wagon, one hundred bushels of grain, and a few bushels of potatoes.
May 6, 1879
Daniel H. Wells released from jail--a grand procession was seen in Salt Lake City.
June 29, 1879
Camps at the Orderville farm at Moccasin Springs with Brother Esplain.
Standifird lives and works at jobs and on his ranch in Kanab.
October 7, 1879
Third District Court has excluded all Mormons from the Grand Jury.
November 1, 1879
Trip to St. George to do temple work for the dead.
November 25, 1879
Starts for Arizona after settling his business in Kanab.
December 19, 1879
Arrives at Sunset.
December 26, 1879
"Moved up to my place on Silver Creek."
January 3, 1880
"I agreed to pay James Pear 150.00 dollars for his interest in the ranch."
January 19, 1880
"Went to St. Johns and done some business .... The Saints are locating about two miles from here. They have bot [sic] up the most of the water rights. In the afternoon went up the river about 12 miles. We find there are places suitable to build reservoirs."
February 1-November 15, 1880
Standifird busy with the business of farming. His entries mention planting, farming, fencing, ditching, plowing, and the weather.
November 15, 1880
"Surveyed the town of Milton."
November 16, 1880
"Drove to Fort Apache. Sold some vegetables, butter and eggs."
November 17, 1880
"Made a contract with the quartermaster to do some carpenter work for them. 125.00 dollars."
December 25, 1880
Attends the quarterly conference at Snowflake. J. N. Perkins and N. Brimhall appointed to act with a like committee of Snowflake to take into consideration the water question of Silver Creek.
January 1-February 1, 1881: Busy with church activities.
February 1, 1881: Sent Tithing Schedule, Balance Shhet, and Ledger Account by letter to President John Taylor. Asks for use of the tithing wheat, potatoes, and corn for seeding and bread "as there is a number of families who are in need of both seed and bread and are not able to buy."
February 7, 1881: "Agricultural meeting at my house at night."
March 11, 1881: Sold 1,108 pounds of barley to John W. Young for 60.94 dollars in merchandise.
March 28, 1881: Solomon, Allen, Thomas, and Standifird talked on the subject of the Co-operative Mercantile Institution which they were trying to start. Standifird appointed agent for the institution.
April 29, 1881: Building a bowery at the end of the meetinghouse.
April 30, 1881: Sabbath school outing. Eighteen wagons loaded with adults and children have gone on a picnic.
June 1, 1882: Indian depredations reported. Killing of N. B. Robinson by Indians reported.
July 4, 1882: Celebrates the Fourth of July "in a becoming manner. Dancing by juveniles in afternoon; in evening by adults."
September 12, 1882: Working on the tithing house.
September 17, 1882: President J. N. Smith, J. Fish, and J. Hunt visit. Wish the people to hold a caucus and appoint delegates to the St. Johns convention.
September 24, 1882: James Pearce charged with trespassing upon the rights of a Mexican.
December 4, 1882: Working on new meetinghouse.
December 7, 1882: Addresses the sisters on obedience and plural marriage.
December 30, 1882: Quarterly conference--Standifird reports the condition of the Taylor Ward.
February 4, 1883: J. N. Smith instructs Standifird to see about preempted or homesteads and look after certain water privilege in the interest of the Saints and call faithful brethren for this mission.
February 12, 1883: Smallpox in town.
February 17, 1883: Trying to make a hospital about one and a half miles to the south of town.
June 21, 1883: Standifird is fifty-two years old today.
December 4, 1884: Standifird indicted for polygamy and unlawful cohabitation. Edmund Ellsworth arrested on the same charge.
December 5, 1884: Asks Levi M. Shumway to assist his family during his absence. Standifird is going underground rather than face a polygamy charge.
December 6, 1884: ". . .I was expected to be on the move as we had information that I may be wanted at Prescott. Some of our brethren have been indicted for polygamy and unlawful cohabitation and been convicted on the flimsiest evidence . . . therefore I do not feel like submitting to so unjust proceedings. I left home about 4 p.m. ...."
December 7, 1884: At Sunset, dined with Lot Smith.
December 8, 1884: Start for Utah.
December 14, 1884: Arrives at Colorado River. Put up with David Brinkerhoff.
December 15, 1884: "Brother Henry Tanner is added to our party here."
December 19, 1884: "We learned today that J. Christoffersen, C. I. Kesorp, and A. M. Tenney have been sent to the Detroit House of Corrections for three years and six months and 500 dollars fine. . . . Also that W. J. Flake and P. M. Skousen were sentenced to 6 months and fined 500.00 dollars. There was no direct evidence against any of these brethren but merely circumstantial and furthermore their offences should of been barred by the Statute of limitations."
December 24, 1884: Back in Utah, dined with J. L. Heywood.
December 27, 1884: Monroe, Utah, stayed with Brother Christensen. Brothers Bushman and Hatch with Standifird.
January 10, 1883: Arrives in Salt Lake City. Brother Argyle (his father-in-law) sent one hundred pounds of dried fruit, etc., to his family in Arizona.
January 14, 1885: Visits the temple in Salt Lake.
January 15, 1885: Left Salt Lake City on the Utah Central Railroad, south. H. J. Grant on train. Arrives in Manti at 6 p.m. where he was to work on the temple.
January 16-February 26, 1885: Working on temple.
February 27, 1885: Receives letter from J. N. Smith in Arizona (by way of L. H. Hatch at Logan). Men are ready to leave for Mexico--Brothers Thatcher, L. P. Cardon, J. S. Cardon, S. H. Rodgen, Johnson, P. N. Skousen, E. L. Taylor, L. Hamblin, S. Jarvis, E. A. Noble, G. C. Williams, W. B. Maxwell, W. C. McClellan, Jacob Hamblin, Lot Smith, J. James, Isaac Turley, and J. H. Willis. Brother Udall in financial trouble--must raise 1,200 dollars to 1,400 dollars for fines. The ACMI is in serious trouble. Lot Smith has not helped from his stake. Credit has been allowed those leaving for Mexico. Judge Howard has been lecturing in Prescott on the Mountain Meadows Massacre--charging the whole responsibility to the church.
March 2, 1885: Letter to Presiding Bishopric in Salt Lake City from Standifird asking for help for Saints in Taylor, Arizona--the right to use the tithing grain. Letter from bishopric in Salt Lake City, February 28, 1885, granting the request of the Arizona Saints to use the tithing grain if it is paid back after the harvest (this year) with ten percent interest.
March 3, 1885: Standifird sent letter to W. H. Solomon to carry out loaning of wheat to Saints.
March 12, 1885: Standifird receives a temple order of 30.00 dollars for grain to help his family in Arizona. Still working on temple.
March 14, 1885: "May the Lord speedily remove the more bitter branches of our enemies, notably Sumner Howard, S. C. Zane, J. S. Boreman, Lawyers Marshall and other who acted so unjustly."
March 12, 1885: The following letter received by Standifird.
Office of Utah Commission
Salt Lake City, Utah
February 18, 1885: John James Esqr. St. George, Utah. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 13th instant, to the Honorable Chief Justice C. S. Zane which has been referred to me for attention. In reply I have to say that Section 6 of the Edmunds Act provides for amnesty; and the Attorney General requires that persons desiring amnesty should subscribe to the oath contained in the enclosed blank form of application, which you can do, provided you did not enter into bigamy or polygamy since March 22, 1882, and can otherwise take oath above said. By careful perusal of the blank form herewith you will readily understand your present status before the law. On receipt of your application in due form, I shall forward the same to Washington. Very respectfully, Arthur L. Thomas Sec. of Utah Territory. Form and oath included in the journal on page 256.
March 16, 1885: Working on the temple.
March 22, 1885: Letter from Standifird to W. H. Solomon. He is pleased that the brethren responded to the "defense fund." Notes the "rules laid down by the presidency of the Church for the government of dancing parties . . . ."
March 29, 1885: Sent order for the Orion Era published at St. Johns, Arizona.
April 29, 1885: "Quite a hot persecution in Idaho."
May 2, 1885: "Read the grievances of the Saints and a protest to the President and people of the U. S. against the present crusade of federal officials against the Saints--I signed the petition."
May 18, 1885: Erastus Snow informs Standifird that Apostles B. Young and Moses Thatcher had gone to Mexico City to see what could be done for the Saints. He warned the Saints "to keep out of the clutches of the officers and not plead guilty etc."
June 18, 1885: "It seems the Railroad Company has sold their lands along the Atlantic and Pacific R. R. in Arizona to a company of stockmen and by this means the Saints may be defrauded of their homes in that country."
June 21, 1885: Standifird is fifty-four years of age.
August 8, 1885: Memorial services for General Grant. . The citizens of Utah take quite an active part in the ceremonies.
August 23, 1885: "I learn through Bro. D. Milne by letter from St. George that Ammon M. Tenney has become demented. He was serving an unjust sentence in the Detroit House of Corrections."
November 30, 1885: "I hear today that a deputy Marshall shot Joseph McMurrin in Salt Lake City on Saturday without any cause, also that Judge Zane has made very unjust ruling in the Vanderhook case."
December 20, 1885: ". . . President George Q. Cannon has been arrested on a charge of polygamy and two charges of unlawful cohabitation. He was arrested in Nevada and on the way to Salt Lake City he fell from the rear platform of a car while the train was under way .... Quite a number of the brethren have been convicted in the Crusader's mill this week under the packed jury system and the 'Weather Cock' judge . . . ."
March 21, 1886: "Persecutions of the Saints continues by Federal officials. The president has removed E. H. Murray, Governor of Utah. President George Q. Cannon failed to appear in court on the 17th inst. and his bond of 2500 dollars has been forfeited by Judge Zane . . . ."
September 26, 1886: "Judge C. S. Zane continues his unjust rulings and the imposing of unjust sentences of fine and imprisonment upon the aged and poor who are brought before him for violations of the Edmunds law . . . ." Jacob Hamblin died.
October 17, 1886: President Cleveland pardoned Ammon H. Tenney, Peter J. Christofferson, and C. I. Kemp.
November 20, 1886: Goes to Moab hoping to move there. Moab settlers are Mormons, Gentiles, and apostate Mormons. ". . .I am quite pleased with the appearance and outlook of this place . . . ."
December 26, 1887: Arrived home in Taylor, Apache County, Arizona, after an absence of three years and twenty days.
January 10, 1888: Receives a report that a truss supporting the ceiling and floor above the garden in the temple at Manti had given way. The roof also leaking.
March 11, 1888: The Deseret News reports Elizabeth Ann Brown Argyle committed to the penitentiary for refusing to testify to the Grand Jury against her husband for unlawful cohabitation.
June 2, 1888: "Myself and family quite destitute for clothing."
September 23, 1888: George Q. Cannon surrendered to the U. S. marshal on two charges of unlawful cohabition.
February 6, 1890
". . . President Smith [Jesse N.] informed us that the Supreme Court of the U. S. has affirmed the decision of the Idaho Courts in the matter of the test oath which prohibits any Latter-Day Saint the franchise either to vote or sit on a jury or hold any civil office or teach in the public school etc. The thing is a damnable outrage!"

Dates

1857-1986

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