Volney King papers

Collection

Identifier: MS 0638

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Volney King papers (1873-1924) consist of materials documenting the lives of early settlers in southern Utah and Idaho. Included are a typescript of Volney King's diary; a history of Millard County, Utah, handwritten by King, titled "Twenty-five Years in Millard County"; and a name record. The collection also includes a microfilm copy of King's diary, located in the Manuscripts Division's microfilm cabinet.

The first box in the collection contains the typescript of Volney King's diary (1873-1924). The typescript has been separated into two volumes by the transcriptionist. It is possible there were two volumes in the original diary. Unfortunately, donation history for this collection is unknown, though the original diaries, in eleven volumes, are located at the Utah State Historical Society in Salt Lake City. The typescript begins with a short history of King's birth and childhood up until the early 1870s when he starts his day-to-day writing. He writes about family, the weather, hardships, relationships, farming, herding, working conditions, births, deaths, world events, and activities within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). King also used his diary to record business dealings and daily work tallies. There are a few instances of inconsistent page numbers in the diary, but the chronology of it remains consistent. Folder 4 does contain a half page numbered 386a that remains there due to original placement but does not fit within the chronology of the surrounding pages. Also, although there is not a page number 278, the chronology from page 277 to 279 is consistent.

The second box in the collection contains King's history of Millard County, Utah (circa 1875), and an undated name record. The history of Millard County covers the years 1851 to 1875 and includes both the original handwritten document, as well as three typescript drafts. The history was published in 1947 in the Utah Humanities Review (vol. 1), a quarterly publication by the Utah Humanities Research Foundation. The name record consists of a single sheet of paper listing individuals and whether they were alive or deceased at the time the record was written. On one side, there is also a short diary account.

Digitized materials from the Volney King papers.

Dates

1873-1924

Creator

King, Volney Leroy, 1847-1925 (Person)

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.

Access to holograph manuscript restricted due to condition. Patrons must use typed typescripts or view digital copy.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Sketch

Volney King was born to Thomas Rice and Matilda Robison King at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, on 11 March 1847. His family emigrated to Fillmore, Utah, in 1851 where he spent most of his childhood and adolescent years working the family farm. He also spent time learning telegraphy in Salt Lake City and tended the telegraph office in Cove Creek. King's adult years were dedicated to his family, his church, and his civic responsibilities.

King was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1856. His service to his church began at an early age. He was ordained a seventy of the 42nd Quorum on 22 December 1866. Just over a year later, he was selected to help lead a group of LDS pioneers from Laramie to Utah. He had married his first wife, Carlie Lyman, on 15 May 1871, but it ended in divorce just days later. King relates in his diary that she was "dissatisfied at what I knew not. I asked her reasons. She said nothing. A few days more and she had rejected the house I had prepared for her." He also served a mission to England from 1873-1874. He met his second wife, Eliza Syrett, while on his mission, and married her in Salt Lake City after being released from his missionary duties.

Throughout his life, King was very much involved in the LDS Church's practice of living the United Order, a cooperative order to establish community economic self-sufficiency. His diary discusses the successes and fall-backs of establishing and living this lifestyle, as well as records the transactions between those involved in it.

King was involved in may other aspects of community life, including the Young Men's and Young Women's Mutual Improvement Society and the Sabbath School. He was a favorite speaker at various functions and was called several times to manage tithing for his area. King was called many times to be a witness in court and to settle disagreements between individuals. On several occasions he was elected to civic positions within his county. He was also an avid genealogist.

King lived with his family in Southern Utah for most of his life, although they moved to Idaho in 1903 for a period of time, then returned to Utah. He and Eliza had ten children: Eliza Rosetta, Volney Emery, Susan May, Edmund Rice, Leland, Clarence, Warren, Ada Delilah, Claudius Melvin, and Lawrence. All but Clarence, Warren, and Claudius survived to adulthood. Volney King died on 30 January 1925 in Teasdale, Utah.