Jonathan and Eliza (Topham)

Grimshaw, Mormon Immigrants to Salt Lake City and then Missouri

Jonathan Grimshaw

Source: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/30609199/person/12529124149 

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Jonathan Grimshaw was born in 1818 at Yeadon, near Leeds, Yorkshire, England. He and Eliza Topham were married in 1839 and converted to Mormonism in 1849. The family emigrated to the U.S. in January 1851, passing through Missouri and arriving in Salt Lake City in June or July of that year.  

Jonathan kept a detailed journal¹ of the trip, which included a brief biography in the first portion. The journal takes in the period from January 9 to June 14, 1851, beginning with the departure from Liverpool and ending when the Mormon party arrived close to the Winter Quarters location, near Omaha, Nebraska. The family departed from Winter Quarters on June 22, 1851. This journal is undoubtedly one of the most well known documents to beginning Grimshaw researchers. Copies were transcribed from the original manuscript in 1951, when it was in the possession of a descendant, Carol Binder. A transcription of the journal is provided near the bottom of this webpage. 

While in Salt Lake City, Jonathan had important responsibilities as a clerk to the Church Historian, George A. Smith. He made reports of Joseph Smith's sermons in Nauvoo and edited them into a readable form. His work was subsequently incorporated in the historical documentation of the Mormon church. However, Jonathan had a crisis of faith and economics that caused him to decide to leave Salt Lake City and return to England. He and at least a portion of his family departed Salt Lake City in August 1856, but ran out of funds before completing the journey. 

The family lived first in St. Louis and then Jefferson City, where Jonathan and his sons apparently became prominent citizens. Jonathan was mayor of the city once (1868), and his son, Arthur, held that office twice (1891 and 1899). Eliza Grimshaw died in 1876 and Jonathan in 1897, both in Jefferson City. Photos of the gravesite at that location are included in this webpage. 

A grandson of Jonathan and Eliza Grimshaw, Edwin Grimshaw, created a lake in Inyo County, California that now bears his name - Grimshaw Lake (see companion webpage).

Contents

Webpage Credits

Photo of Jonathan Grimshaw with Sons and Sons-in-Law

Descendant Chart of Jonathan and Eliza Grimshaw

Connection to Edward and Dorytye (Raner) Grimshaw Line

Jonathan Grimshaw's Emigration Journal

Jonathan and Family Made it to Salt Lake City As Planned

Jonathan Grimshaw Information from Book of Abraham Website

Family History Information from George Faulhaber Biography

Why Did the Jonathan Grimshaw Family Return to Missouri from Utah?

The Advemtures of Jonathan Grimshaw and Family on the Trip from Salt Lake City to St Louis

Arthur Pickersgill Grimshaw Biography

Jefferson City Street Scenes in the Late 1800s

Jonathan Grimshaw Received a Christmas Missive from Family Members in 1891

Jonathan Topham Grimshaw, Cripple Creek, Colorado Grocery Store Proprieter - and Train Robbery Foiler

Jonathan and Eliza Grimshaw Final Resting Place in Jefferson City, Missouri

References

Thanks go to Cassandra Mattice for providing photos and a Christmas missive document for this webpage as well as information on Jonathan T Grimshaw's experience in Cripple Creek, Colorado.

The excellent photo of Jonathan with his sons and husbands of his daughters is from one of several websites on Ancestry.com having the picture:

Cassandra Mattis Family Tree

http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/30609199/person/12529124149

Top Row, Left to Right: Arthur Grimshaw, Charles Seip, Jonathan T. Grimshaw 

Bottom Row, Left to Right: George Faulhafer, Jonathan Grimshaw, Benton Ingram

Arthur and Jonathan were the 7th and 9th children of Jonathan Grimshaw. Charles Seip, George Faulhaber, and Benton Ingram were sons-in-law (married Fanny, Elizabeth and Maria Grimshaw, respectively).

Source: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/30609199/person/12529124149 

Photo Identifications from the website.

Copies of Jonathan's 1851 journal have made their way into the New York Public Library, the Library of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, D.C. and the Latter Day Saints Family History Library in Salt Lake City (fiche copy.) The version at the NSDAR Library has excellent, detailed information on the siblings of Jonathan, as well as the descendants of Jonathan and Maria (Topham) Grimshaw. This information is summarized below.

William Grimshaw & Theodosia unknown

|---Jonathan Grimshaw (20 Jul 1783 - 6 Nov 1844) & Sarah Pickersgill (2 Mar 1781 - )

|---|---John Grimshaw (9 Dec 1808 - 14 Feb 1849)

|---|---David Grimshaw (11 Apr 1811 - )

|---|---Theodosia Grimshaw (3 Jan 1814 - )

|---|---Sarah Grimshaw (31 Dec 1815 - )

|---|---Jonathan Grimshaw (24 Jan 1818 - 31 Aug 1897) & Eliza Maria Topham (2 May 1818 - 6 Feb 1876)

|---|---|---Elizabeth Grimshaw (23 Apr 1842 - ) & George Ludwig Faulhaber (6 Apr 1838 - )

|---|---|---|---Katherine Enid Faulhaber (2 Dec 1861 - ) & Edward H Haux or Houx ( - 8 Sep 1889)

|---|---|---|---|---Ernest Shapheigh Haux (7 Dec 1887 - )

|---|---|---|---George Grimshaw Faulhaber (2 Dec 1861 - 15 Aug 1864)

|---|---|---|---Gertrude Faulhaber (6 Jul 1866 - )

|---|---|---|---Ernest Arthur Faulhaber (10 Jul 1868 - )

|---|---|---|---Eda Margurite Faulhaber (6 Dec 1874 - )

|---|---|---|---Blanche Lillian Faulhaber (29 Dec 1876 - )

|---|---|---Emma Grimshaw (24 Aug 1843 - ) & John Peter Fromme Jr. (22 Oct 1840 - 11 Mar 1877)

|---|---|---|---Louis Fromme (20 Dec 1865 - 25 Jun 1866)

|---|---|---Jane Eliza Grimshaw (31 Jan 1845 - Circa 10 Sep 1845)

|---|---|---Eliza Lovesey Grimshaw (31 Jan 1845 - )

|---|---|---Maria Grimshaw (25 Jan 1847 - ) & Benton Hart (or Howard) Ingram (24 Nov 1838 - )

|---|---|---|---Nellie Allan Ingram (24 Jul 1866 - ) & Edmund George Walton

|---|---|---|---|---Audrey Walton (1 Nov 1890 - )

|---|---|---|---|---Dorothy Walton (18 Feb 1894 - ) & Carroll Binder

|---|---|---|---|---|---Caroll Binder Jr (23 Jun 1921 - )

|---|---|---|---|---|---Mary Kelsey Binder (17 Feb 1923 - )

|---|---|---|---|---|---David Binder (22 Feb 1931 - )

|---|---|---|---|---|---Deborah Binder (22 Feb 1931 - )

|---|---|---|---|---Grace Sophia Walton (16 Apr 1897 - ) & Philip Cyrus Gunion ( - 4 Nov 1935)

|---|---|---|---Martin Grimshaw Ingram (19 Sep 1869 - )

|---|---|---|---Charles Howard Ingram (16 Sep 1872 - )

|---|---|---|---Juliet Blance Ingram (3 Apr 1875 - )

|---|---|---|---Bessie Hilda Ingram (10 Jul 1879 - )

|---|---|---Caroline Grimshaw (4 Jan 1848 - )

|---|---|---Arthur Pickersgill Grimshaw (20 Jan 1849, Nottingham, England - 25 Apr 1914) & Julia E Carter (14 Nov 1850 - 17 Jan 1926). Married 20 Sep 1870, Huntsville, Logan Co., Ohio

|---|---|---|---Kemp Goodlow Grimshaw (6 Sep 1871 - 5 Aug 1921) & Gertrude Price?

|---|---|---|---Arthur Perry Grimshaw (17 Jun 1878 - 25 Apr 1914, Jefferson City, MO) & ?

|---|---|---Fanny Cummings Grimshaw (21 Sep 1850 - 25 Sep 1916 ) & Charles Norton Seip (22 Oct 1849, Reading, Pa - 11 Jan 1916, Atchison, KS). Mar 22 Apr 1872, Jefferson City, MO.

|---|---|---|---Perry W Seip (1873 - ?)

|---|---|---|---Charles Norton Seip (1881 - 1922)

|---|---|---|---Juliet Isabelle Seip (1886 - ?)

|---|---|---Jonathan Topham Grimshaw (28 Nov 1852 - ) & Nannie G Major (14 Sep 1856 - )

|---|---|---|---Thomas Topham Grimshaw (12 Apr 1879 - )

|---|---|---|---Lelia Fannie Grimshaw (15 Nov 1880 - )

|---|---|---|---Guy Vivion Grimshaw (16 Mar 1889 - )

|---|---|---|---Edwin Lewis Grimshaw (18 May 1892 or 1893 - 24 Apr 1969 ) & Minnie (Bacon) McQueary (1884 - 1964)

|---|---|---Sarah Lovesey Annette Grimshaw (22 Nov 1855 - 15 Jul 1904) & Herman J Rodman

|---|---Josiah Grimshaw (10 Dec 1819 - 13 Aug 1870)

|---|---Elizabeth Grimshaw (12 Dec 1822 - )

Additions to the descendant chart were made after a visit to the Missouri State Library in February 2012. The changes are indicated in italics. Additional changes are the result of research on Ancestry.com.

Jonathan is descended the Yorkshire line of Grimshaws, with Edward and Dorothy (Raner) Grimshaw as progenitors. This line is described in considerable detail in a companion webpage. Jonathan was named after his father; this given name was one of the most common (with John) for this line of Grimshaws. As shown in the descendant chart below (his name is in boldface type), Jonathan is in the subline of Jeremiah Grimshaw, one of four principle lines of the Yorkshire branch.

Edward Grimshaw (About 1559 - 22 Jun 1635) & Dorotye Raner

|--Abraham Grimshaw (1603 - 1670) & Sarah ( - 21 Sep 1695)

|--|--Jeremy\Jeremiah Grimshaw* (21 Jul 1653 - 12 Aug 1721) & Mary Stockton ( - 6 Jan 1692/1693)

|--|--|--Joshua Grimshaw (12 Apr 1687 - 8 Jan 1764) & Jane Oddy (1686 - 1771)

|--|--|--|--John Grimshaw (5 Dec 1723 - ) & Hannah Fieldhouse

|--|--|--|--|--John Grimshaw (20 Jan 1760 - )

|--|--|--|--|--Mary Grimshaw (27 Sep 1761 - 5 Jul 1784)

|--|--|--|--|--William Grimshaw* (1764 - 5 Sep 1829) & Ann Grainger (1768 - 1805)

|--|--|--|--|--|--Jonathan Grimshaw (20 Jul 1784 - ) & Sarah Pickersgill

|--|--|--|--|--|--|--John Grimshaw (9 Dec 1808 - )

|--|--|--|--|--|--|--David Grimshaw (11 Apr 1811 - ) & Mary Atkinson (About 1811 - 19 Apr 1889)

|--|--|--|--|--|--|--|--John Atkinson Grimshaw (6 Sep 1836 - 31 Oct 1893) & Francis Theodosia Hubbarde

|--|--|--|--|--|--|--Theodosia Grimshaw (3 Jul 1814 - )

|--|--|--|--|--|--|--Sarah Grimshaw (31 Dec 1815 - )

 

|--|--|--|--|--|--|--Jonathan Grimshaw (24 Jan 1818 - )

 

|--|--|--|--|--|--|--Josiah Grimshaw (9 Dec 1819 - 14 Aug 1870) & Sarah Clark (About 1825 - )

|--|--|--|--|--|--Hannah Grimshaw (8 Apr 1786 - ) & Joseph Marshall

|--|--|--|--|--|--John Grimshaw (1789 - )

|--|--|--|--|--|--Samuel Grimshaw (1796 - )

|--|--|--|--|--|--Abraham Grimshaw (2 Nov 1797 - 1 May 1874) & Mercy Halliday (4 Jun 1809 - 15 Dec 1877)

|--|--|--|--|--|--Ruth Grimshaw (1799 - )

|--|--|--|--|--|--Ruth Grimshaw (3 Mar 1802 - ) & Joseph Clapham

|--|--|--|--|--|--Benjamin Grimshaw (30 Oct 1803 - ) & Nanny Roundhill

|--|--|--|--|--William Grimshaw* (1764 - 5 Sep 1829) & Sarah

|--|--|--|--Jeremiah Grimshaw (30 May 1721 - )

|--|--Jeremy\Jeremiah Grimshaw* (21 Jul 1653 - 12 Aug 1721) & Sarah Overend ( - 16 May 1699)

|--|--Jeremy\Jeremiah Grimshaw* (21 Jul 1653 - 12 Aug 1721) & Rebecca Jowett ( - 12 Dec 1736)

It is interesting to note that Jonathan's grandmother, shown as Theodosia (unknown) in the information accompanying his 1851 journal, is indicated to be Ann Grainger in the records of the Yorkshire line from England. Jonathan also had a sister named Theodosia.

Jonathan was the uncle of Atkinson Grimshaw, the noted painter Yorkshire painter in the mid to late 1800s, who is described on a companion webpage (shown in italics in the above descendant chart).

As noted above, Jonathan's journal¹ describes the emigration trip of 1851. The back of the journal also provides a great deal of family background information. The text of the journal is reproduced below. 

In December 2010, a visit was made to the Minnesota Historical Society Library in St. Paul, and the original transcribed document from Carroll Binder with a date of 1951 was copied and imaged. Click here to see the original publication from 1951. And click here to see the summary of family history information contained at the back of the 1951 journal.

THE JOURNAL OF

 

JONATHAN GRIMSHAW

(1818-1889)

 

with

THE GRIMSHAW FAMILY RECORDS.

 

Copied from the

Original manuscript

In the possession of

-Mrs. Carroll Binder.

 

MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA

1951

 

THE JOURNAL OF

JONATHAN GRIMSHAW

 

Commenced on the 5 December,

1850.

 

I was born on the 24^th January, 1818, 3 P.M. at Yeadon, a village distant about 7 miles northwest from Leeds in Yorkshire, England. My father (after whom I was named) was a member of the particular Baptist Church and a cloth weaver by trade. My mother's maiden name was Sarah Pickersgill. They were both very steady and industrious individuals, and endeavoured to bring up their family in decency, honesty and comfort.

When I was about 3 or 4 years old my father was visited with a severe affliction which resulted in the almost total deprivation of his sight, so that he could no longer work at his trade. During his affliction he became a patient in the Leeds General Infirmary, and several kind and benevolently disposed individuals took an interest in his welfare, amongst whom was Mr. Jones who employed my father to canvass for orders in the brush trade, giving him a percentage in the amount of his sales. Up to this time my mother had struggled to support herself and family by weaving broad cloth, which is always considered to be work exclusively belonging to the other sex. My father's new business however now required us to remove to Leeds, which we did.

Although I was only about four years old, I distinctly remember the journey from Yeadon to Leeds along with our household goods in the same wagon. I could not bear the shaking of the vehicle, and was therefore obliged to be put down and walked alongside the driver. This was only a journey of 7 miles. Little did I then think of the hundreds of thousands or miles I should traverse hereafter.

Shortly after our arrival in Leeds I was sent to a cheap school in the neighborhood of our dwelling kept by a person who went by the name of Dr. Brayshaw. All that I remember of him was his shewing us as a treat one day how to make a needle swim on water in any direction we pleased by means of a magnet. Young as I was, I thought the experiment very wonderful. I was soon removed from this school to the Lancasterian Free School where under the tuition or Mr. James Hemseley Pell I learned the rudiments of Arithmetic. Geography and Grammar were not taught in that school during the time I attended there, but I understand they were introduced soon after I left which was in 1829, when at the age 11 years I was put apprentice to a boot and shoemaker. My indentures were executed on the 16 March, 1829, I having served one month previously on trial. About 4 years after this my master (Wm. Clag) began to deal in leather too, and found it to answer so well that he determined to give up the shoemaking business and wanted to turn me over to another person in that trade for remaining term of my apprenticeship. I had found out however that this business did not agree with my health, and moreover I had been for some time devoting my leisure hours after work to improving myself in writing, arithmetic etc, and now that my master was giving up that part of the business to learn which I had been put apprentice, I considered it was a favorable opportunity to give it up myself and look out for something more congenial to my tastes and inclination.

I therefore requested my father to mention my views to his friends and perhaps some one of them would be hearing of a situation that would suit me. Such an opportunity was not long in presenting itself. The postman (Newton) happened to be delivering letters one morning to a friend of my father's of the name of Mr. Haigh, and told him he had just heard of a situation for a young man in a Carrier's warehouse where he had just previously been delivering letters. Mr. Haigh immediately waited upon Mr. Wm. Rolland, the principal of the Carrying establishment, and recommended me to him. I was sent for the same day (Saturday the 17 Aug, 1833) and was engaged. I commenced my new duties on Monday morning the 19 Aug 1833 on the evening of which day my indentures of apprenticeship with my old master (Clag) were cancelled. I agreed with Mr. Rolland to serve him for 3 years at twenty pounds per annum and the fourth year for thirty. On the first of January 1836, however, after I had served him two years and four months only he had raised by salary to 40 pounds per annum as a reward for my diligence and faithfulness to his interests. He kept advancing me time after time until I reached ninety pounds per annum.

Mr. Rolland was a partner in the firm of Deacon of the well known and eminent Carriers to and from the North of England and London. During the greater part of the time I was with them as above, the railway was forming from the town of Leeds to Derby and others in connection with that on to London. This was completed in 1840 and as it was feared at that time that the private carrying business would soon be at an end, Mr. Holland advised me to apply for a situation on the railway. I did so, and with his recommendation succeeded in obtaining one at one hundred pounds per annum. This was about Sept 1840. A little farther on in the same year Mr. Rolland entered into partnership with Mr. Perrins (?) proprietor of the Leeds Intelligence Newspaper. He was now anxious to dispose of his carrying business or at all events to give up the management or it to some responsible party that he could trust. The report that the Railway Co. would not allow private Carriers on the line having proved to be unfounded he at once offered to make me his partner.

I accepted the offer and took to the concern on the lst Jan,1841. It turned out a tolerably profitable business so from that time up to April 30, l847 my income was very near three hundred pounds per annum. Then however, the Railway Company made the arrangement which had been long talked about and took the carrying business in their own hands, and I was ob1iged to apply to the Co. again for a situation. I obtained one for 125 pounds per annum and was removed to Nottingham Station to manage the goods department in the month of July 1847. From thence in Sept. of the same year was removed to Derby Station and again on the 1 February 1848 back to Nottingham Station to have in addition to my salary of 125 pounds a house at the Station rent free. On the 1 Aug 1850 I had advanced to one hundred fifty pounds and house rent free, being as good as 175 per annum. This was occasioned by my being apprenticed as a district Goods Manager. That is, I had to superintend the goods traffic between Derby and Lincoln with the Crenash (?) Valley branch the branch to Mansfield, and that to Southwich.

In November 1835 or 1836 I became a member of the particular baptist church, Leeds, of which the Rev. John Eustace Giles was then pastor, and by whom I was baptized my parents being members of the same church. I had previously joined myself to the choir of singers at that place, having for several years practiced singing and instrumenta1 music to which I was partial, and am indeed so yet.

In the latter part of 1839 a Miss E1iza Maria Topham was baptized into the same church and she also joined the choir, being a professional singer, the then leader being about to retire she was engaged to lead the choir. I became intimately acquainted with her and to make a long story short (if indeed a long story could be spun out of a six week courtship!) I married her on the 17 June 1841 and have up to this time lived very happily together. In fact no couple could be more agreeable or happy. The fruit of our union up to this time has been 7 daughters and one son. 3 of my daughters died in infancy and so we have therefore living 4 daughters and one son. Names in the order of birth as in the family register in the bible, Elizabeth, Emma, Maria, Arthur Pickersgill and Fanny Cummings (after Elder Cummings).

In November 1844 my father died. In the early part of 1844 my attention had been drawn to the Second Advent Doctrine originated by Mr. Miller of America. I became a believer of it, but did not leave the baptist church as long as I staid in Leeds, but when I finally removed to Nottingham I joined myself to n Second Advent church which had been previously formed in Denman Street chapel, New Radford. After I had met with them for about a year a great excitement arose in consequence of the Latter Day Saints coming to preach in Nottingham. Without at all understanding their principles I joined in the general cry of importure Joe Smith and the like. and for some time resisted every temptation (if I may so call it) of going to hear them. I at last, however, broke through my resolution and went to hear for myself, found I could not overturn their doctrines or principles.

I called for the Elders to lay their hands upon my wife who was afflicted with bad breasts so that she could not suckle her children. I did not do this for a syn (sic) but said I would examine the principles whether she was healed or not. My little son Arthur Pickersgill was then three months old and had been fed that time with the bottle. Brethren Lees, Clayton and Selby administered the ordinance of laying on or hands to her, and the blessing followed. Her breasts were healed and she got her milk. To God be all the Glory!

I and my wife became believers in the everlasting Gospel and were baptized on the 23 April 1849 by Elder Clayton and confirmed by Elder Crandall Dunn on the 29th of the same month. I was ordained priest on the 4 August of that year by Elder Crandall Dunn; and an Elder on the 12 May, 1850 by Elder J.W. Cummings. On the 12 November same year gave notice to the Railway Company that I should leave their service on the 31 of Dec. next as I was about to emigrate to America. I sent off my deposit to Bro. Pratt and received a notification to be in Liverpool on the 1 Jan, 1851. as the ship would sail on the 4th. I arranged for selling off my furniture by Auction thru Miss Peet who fixed the sale for the 19th Dec on which day it took place and realized rather more than my expectations. As may be imagined we experienced inconveniences to the end of the year in a house without furniture, nevertheless we were very happy, and longed for the lst of Jan'y to arrive, when we started for Liverpool along with several other families of Saints. The Railway station was crowded with Saints to see us off - the farewell hymn composed – by Elder Wyley of Nottingham was sung on the platform. It consisted of the following stanzas set to suitable music by Bro. Davis and his three helpmates in glee singing:

"Farewell my brothers in the Lord

And Sisters too, with one accord

And when in secret solemn prayer

We will (indecipherable) our father's care

That with you his blessing may extend

And guard you safe unto the promised land."

It was an affecting and yet a joyful sight. I should have mentioned that on Monday, the 30 Dec the clerks over whom I have superintended invited me to dinner and there presented me with a beautiful purse embroidered with Gold and containing 13 pounds 10 as a token of their esteem. I also received a letter on the 31st from Jos. Sanders, Esq. the General Manager, to the effect that it was entirely thru my own desire that the connexion betwixt myself and the Co. was severed, and that I left them with the approval by the Board of Directors of the manner in which I have conducted their business.

I left Nottingham with about 133 pounds in money, and perhaps luggage to about the same amount.

We left the dock at Liverpool on Monday the 5th of Jan'y in the ship Ellen of 1000 ntons burthen, and containing about 470 individuals, chiefly saints and their families. We anchored in the river Mersey (?) and laid there until Wednesday morning the 8th of Jan'y when we set sail about 9:30 A.M. We had a fair wind during the day, but it came in very strong during the night. We very nearly ran foul of a steamer about 6 P.M. escaping it but within a yard or two. Sometime during the night we actually run foul of a small schooner which with a loud crash carried away our mainyard and part of our jib boom. Very few on board however, although dreadfully sick, had the least fear of our safety. They felt they were in the hands of the Lord who had promised in a vision of a brother in Liverpool that he would protect us.

Thursday, Jan 9, 1851

4 P.M. we anchored near Pwllhoch (?} Harbor in Wales for repairs. The emigrants recovered from their sickness and good spirits generally prevailed.

Friday, 10 Jan, 1851

Staid in Studdwell Roads, near Pwllhock Harbour Cardigan, repairing the damage - contrary winds. We held the fellowship meeting in the second cabin in the evening and received some very good instructions from Bro; Samuel Lees and others. A good reeling prevailed, and the Spirit or God was felt to be present inclining the Saints to be kind to each other and to bear each other's burdens whilst experiencing the inconveniences necessarily attending our crossing the mighty deep. Saw some Boa porpoises this morning.

Saturday, 11 Jan, 1851

Still repairing - winds contrary, so that we are not losing much time. A sailor fell overboard, but was saved with the loss of his cap.

Sunday, 12 Jan, 1851

Elder Cummings prayed yesterday that the weather might be propitious so that we could have a general mooting on Deck and truly his prayer was answered. We have had a splendid day, a1though the previous night was very rough. We hold a meeting in the morning on quarter-deck when Elder Cummings and Dunn gave some excellent instructions chiefly respecting the conduct of the Saints while on their voyage. In the afternoon another meeting was hold when Elder Lees from Sheffield addressed the Company. The day was so clear we could see the Welch Mountains and villages on either side of us which sight everyone seemed to enjoy. The appointment of Bro. Cummings as president of the Co. and brethren Dunn and Moss (?} as his councellors were this day accepted. I was elected clerk.

Monday, 13 Jan, 1851.

I was occupied in the morning bookkeeping the provisions delivered out to each family. The weather was vary rough this afternoon, and the Captain, who went on shore this morning, returned at night with the statement that he had heard of two ships being driven ashore in the Irish Channel. I felt certain that our accident arose from the good hand of God being over us for good. If our yards had not been broken, we should have prosecuted our voyage, and perhaps have mot with something more serious. --The winds are still contrary.

Tuesday, Jan'y 14, 1851

Winds still contrary -wrote another letter to Leeds. The mainyard which was made on shore was this day brought on board. We are now waiting entirely for a fair wind. We held a prayer meeting this morning that sickness might be banished from the ship. and that the winds might be controlled in our favor.

Wednesday 15 Jan. 1851

The wind is somewhat changing but not sufficiently for our purpose. I have felt very dull and heavy all day. Went to bed at dusk. Family all pretty well.

Thursday, 16 Jan, 185l

Winds still contrary. Intelligence was brought into our cabin this morning that an infant which had been ill ever since we came on board had died during the night. Our infant very poorly - has the appearance of measles, but think it is the severe cold. Winds still contrary.

Friday, 17 Jan, l851

Eclipse of the moon. Had a view of it near 6 P.M. when it was nearly over. The moon came to the full during the eclipse. It was hoped it would produce a favorable change in the wind - the long boat was sent .to shore for water.

Saturday, 18 Jan, 1851

The wind was rather more favorable this morning, but changed again for the worse during the day. A steamer came into the harbour thru stress of weather. I feel that we have been placed here for our good.

Sunday, 19 Jan 1851

The wind is unfavorable for our starting and our captain being very cautious seems disposed to remain here until there is a more settled weather. Meetings have been held in the steerage and cabin during the day. I feel to resign myself in the hands of the Lord, having taken this voyage to keep his Commandments. – We have had several bad nights with the infant, but it is somewhat better today.

Monday, 20 Jan 1851

Winds still contrary. All my family in pretty good health but we feel anxious to proceed on our voyage. Arthur's birthday - two years old.

Tuesday, 21 Jan 1851

I assisted today in giving out the provisions to the passengers. Winds rather more favorable. We have this day got some extra coal on board, it having been discovered we had not a sufficient quantity for the voyage, the expense (36) was collected by subscription amongst the Saints.

Wednesday 22 Jan 1851

The winds being still contrary, Elder Cummings called the presidents of the various companies together th1s evening and organized a prayer meeting. He also suggested that we should fast and pray to the Lord to grant us a safe and speedy voyage to the port of our destination. It was therefore resolved that a general fast be held Friday for that purpose.

Thursday 23 Jan 1851

This morning had the appearance of settled weather, but the wind was not favorable, nevertheless the Captain ordered the vessel to be put under weigh, and toward noon we proceeded on our voyage. Vie had a great many tacks to make before we could weather Bardsey (?) Island. This Island is distant from the mainland about 3 miles and itself is about 3 miles in length. There is a lighthouse upon it and 17 farmhouses which with their farms pay about 40 pounds per annum rent each, the occupiers have no tithes or taxes of any description today. The island belongs to Lord Newbury.

Friday 24 Jan, 1851

This was my birthday. I am now 33 years old. I was sick in bed nearly the whole of the day owing to the sea being so rough, and for the latter reason the fast was put off it being considered no sacrifice to fast when we are not inclined for eating and a great many of the Saints were sea-sick.

Saturday, 25 Jan. 1851

This morning we could see part or the coast of South Wales and also part of the East Coast of Ireland. The wind is unfavorable, but the weather somewhat calmer. This morning one of Sister Miriam's 3 twins (?) died and was committed to the deep in the evening by Bro. Cummings. Arthur has had the measles within this day or two back, and was blind nearly two days. Thank God ho came through them nicely.

Sunday 26 Jan. 1851

The night has been very rough, and we were driven back until this morning we could see Bardsey Island and even the place of refuge where we sailed from last Thursday. This was a great disappointment, nevertheless we are in the Lord's hands and he knows what is best. I was sick in bed nearly all day.

Monday 27 Jan to Thursday 30 Jan. 1851

During the above period we were tost (sic) about on the Irish channel backwards and forwards, stormy weather and winds unfavorable. I was sick in bed nearly the whole time.

Friday 31 Jan 1851

This day a little girl about 7 years old of the name of Ward (parents not in the Church) died of the measles, they turning to inflammation. She was committed to the mighty deep in the evening by Bro Cummings who offered up an appropriate prayer on the occasion, that the destroyer might not be permitted to take another inroad on the ship's company. The wind is more favorable, and the sea rather calmer. I was not well but was up and about part of the day. Past Cape Clear this morning.

Sunday, 1 Feb. 1851

The wind has boon vary favorable to us during the night but the sea somewhat rough. I was very sick all day and kept my berth. In the afternoon I was very ill and felt perfectly miserable. It is vary hard at such a time to give oneself to prayer, nevertheless I humbled myself, lifted up my heart unto the Lord and felt better after. We made pretty fair progress during this day. New moon this morning at 6:12 A.M.

Sunday, 2 Feb 1851

The weather is quite calm this morning, and the wind pretty favorable. I and my family are pretty well in health for which I feel thankful to my Heavenly Father, and also for the protecting care which he has exorcized over this ship to the present time. I am certain his band has been over us for good, and his angels have been round about us. During last Thursday night the officers of the vessel were quite uncertain as to our whereabouts, and seemed surprised next morning that we were in sight of Cape Clear. Thus we were preserved through the watchful care of our Heavenly Father over us. We had meetings during the day one on deck and another in the steerage. A good feeling prevailed, The weather being fine, the company generally seemed refreshed in spirits. Spotted a Dutch vessel.

Monday 3 Feb, 1851

The weather is still fine and wind pretty favorable. We are nicely making up for lost time. We are in the 44 latitude and about 15 degrees west longitude. I and family are pretty well.

Tuesday 4 Feb, 1851

Sea quit calm and it is altogether a beautiful day. About ten o'clock this morning we fell in with the ship Appollo bound from Bemcrara (?} to London. She had lost her rudder in a violent gale on the 6 of Jan and had been tost about at the mercy or the wind and waves ever since. Our Captain proffered any assistance in his power but was told he could do nothing for it but speak to homeward bound vessels respecting her, which he promised to do. We are still pretty well in health for which I feel truly thankful. Previous to leaving Liverpool Bro. Abner Taylor received a copy or the Nottingham Review newspaper of the 3 Jan in which was found the following paragraph:

"On Monday last a complimentary dinner .as given by the clerks and other employees at the goods station, to Mr. Grimshaw, late manager of the Goods Department of the Railway Station in this town, who is about leaving this country for the Great Salt Lake City, Deseret, California, at Mr. Starkey's, the Victoria Hotel, Station Street Queen's Road, on which occasion a beautifully embroidered purse containing 15 pounds with the inscription 'J. Grimshaw, Nottingham, 1850' on each side, was presented to him. M.G. left Nottingham by the 10:30 A.M. train for Liverpool on Wednesday accompanied by about thirty friends who are bound for the same destination, Deseret, the Mormon settlement in North America. Along with him wont Mr. Abraham Taylor, book-vendor, of this town, Mr. Kirk, and Mr. Hazzledine or Basford, and some others."

Saturday, Feb 8, 1851

We had some very fine weather all the week, and the winds pretty favorable. We are in about 35 latitude and 16 west longitude. I and my family are back in health which I ascribe to the goodness and mercy or God and thank him for it. I confess I am rather land sick, but am content to wait the time of my Heavenly Father, and the longer I am confined here the sweeter will be the deliverance.

Sunday, Feb 9, 1851

This was a very fine day and we had two meetings on deck and in the afternoon the saints partook of the ordinance of the Lord's supper. The fast was very generally observed and a very good fooling prevailed. In bearing my testimony at the sacrament in the afternoon my heart was full when I alluded to similar scenes on land with brethren and sisters whom I felt by the Spirit of God were praying for us at that time. My family are pretty well in health.

Friday, Feb 14, 1851

The weather has been very fine all the week until today when it was rather rough, and I was very sick. A young brother of the name of James Wright from Skellon Branch aged about 17 who had been sick for some time and who had been brought into our cabin as being more airy, died at 10:25 A.M. this morning, and was buried in North Latitude 24 degrees 28 minutes and west longitude 31 degrees twenty minutes at 12:54 this noon. I led the singing of hymns on page 184, and Elder Cummings engaged in prayer on the occasion.

Saturday Feb 15, 1851

We are nearly becalmed today in latitude 22 degrees 23 min. and longitude 33 degrees which appears to me to be about half way between Liverpool and New Orleans. If it be in consonance (sic) with His Will, I pray my God to send us a North East wind so that we may be speeded over the rest of our voyage as I am anxious to be delivered from this prison when the Lord sees fit. E1dor Samuel Lees preached on dock tonight on 'they shall cast out devils.'

Sunday, February 16, 1851

This morning Elder Cummings preached on deck on the resurrection in improvement of the death of Bro. Wright who died on Friday last. He remarked that Bro. Wright was sure to have a part in the first resurrection as though he had already received an immortal body. In the afternoon we partook of the sacrament of the Lord's supper. I felt to rejoice when hearing my testimony that I had a standing in this Church and kingdom, and looked back with satisfaction to the day on which I was baptized for the remission or my sins and had hands laid upon me for the gift or the Holy Ghost.

Monday, Feb 17,1851

We have had a good wind all night and all this day. We are within the tropics and the weather is very oppressively warm. We are in 20 degrees 15 min latitude and 38 degrees longitude. Of eatables, ro1l'd preserve puddings seem to relish the best. It is amazing to see what large puddings one family can put out of sight. We have eaten a fine one today. I and family in pretty good health, thank God.

Tuesday Feb 18, 1851

I got up with a headache this morning which I think was owing to the great heat of the atmosphere and the closeness of our cabin. I got my hair cut during the day and kept out on deck pretty much. I felt better towards night. We are in latitude 19 degrees 35 min and west longitude 45 degrees 3 min. It was a beautiful night. The moon shown serenely we and a violin out on dock and my dear wife being in good health and spirit joined in the dance.

Wednesday, Feb 19, 185l

We are in 19 degrees 38 min latitude and 46 degrees longitude. A large fish generally known by the name of a "bottle-nose" (a species of whale) followed us and swam around about us for several hours. It was about 15 feet long, brown back, and its belly was of a beautiful light green color. I saw it several times. We had a meeting on deck in the evening. Elder Lees preached from the text ' If Jesus had given them rest, then would he not have spoken of another day. There remained therefore a rest for the people of God.'

Thursday, Feb 20, 1851

Latitude 19-11, Longitude 48-15. Weather very hot. We had our water curtailed in Cardigan Bay to two quarts a day for each adult, but last Tuesday we had the full quantity of three quarts each adult put on again. I don't know what we should have done this hot weather with the diminished quantity. The full measure is too little.

Friday 21 Feb 1851

Latitude 18-45, Longitude 50-40. A small Whale was seen today. Brother Dunn preached on deck in the evening on election and free salvation. The captain (Phillips) interrupted him by a remark on the same subject but was sorry for it afterwards.

Saturday 22 Feb 185l

Latitude 18-5, Longitude 54-2. A meeting of the priesthood was held on deck for the purpose of raising questions on doctrine or discipline and answering them in discussing them. It was a very interesting session. My family is pretty wel1 in health, Thank God.

Sunday 23 Feb 1851

Lattitude 17-45, longitude 56-50. Heat in the sun 110 degrees and in the shade 84 degrees. Bro. Kirk preached in the morning or rather gave us a lecture on the history of the bible showing the corrupted channel through which it had descended to us and the various trans1ations it had passed through in order rather to suit the tastes of the rulers of the age than to preserve it in its purity. Sacrament in the afternoon and preaching in the evening by Rev. Cummings on predestination. My sister-in-law, Hannah Topham, whom we had brought with us is rather poorly today, but the rest of my family pretty well, the heat is vary oppressive and we are nearly becalmed.

Monday, 24 Feb 1851

Latitude 17-21, Longitude 58. The heat is excessive and There is very little wind. Bro. Grace's female infant died this day at 12:15 noon and was committed to the deep at 4:30 P.M. Its sickness commenced with the measles. A meeting of the priesthood was held in the evening. Addresses were delivered by Brethren Patterson, Allen, Wheeler and Lowe, after which questions were raised on points referred to in the discourses. Amongst others the true character of Mahomet was discussed. My sister-in-law is better today, and I am truly thankful to say that I and family are pretty well.

Tuesday, 25 Feb 1851

Latitude 16-57, longitude 59.50. Weather excessively hot and scarcely any breeze. We had a dance on deck in the evening in which I joined.

Wednesday 26 Feb 1851

We have made but little longitude since yesterday. This morning Sister Allen who had been ill died about 3 A.M. and was committed to the deep about 6 A.M. Her child is also very poorly and scorns to be wasting away. Land was seen from the masthead about 1 P.M. and about 3 P.M. we could see it with the naked eye from the deck. It was the island of Guadaloupe. This was such a refreshing sight, and I feel thankful that, we are so far on our voyage, although we are going very slowly.

Thursday, 27 Feb, 1851

Last night about 12 oclock we came in sight of the island of Montsona1 and lost sight of it again this morning about 10. A good breeze sprung up during the day which wafted us pretty speedily on our voyage. The sea rather rough and hard for the sickly. Saw a vessel bound North Coast.

Friday, 28 Feb, 1851

We had a strong wind all night and the sailors had to work at the pumps all night. I was looking over the shipside this morning and the wind took away my new straw hat which was made and trimmed for me this week. Never mind - if I happen naught no worse than this I shall be thankful. Elder Allen's child died this day.

Sunday, 2 March, 1851

Elder Samuel Lees infant daughter, which had been ill some time died this noon about one oclock and was committed at 3:30 P.M. to the deep in latitude 17-15, longitude 73-0. We sang the hymn commencing with "The Morning flowers display their sweets". Elder Crandall Dunn engaged in prayer on the occasion. This is a great blow to Rev. and Sister Lees as they were devotedly fond of the child, which was their first-born and about 7 months old. Elder Cummings preached on deck in the morning and gave the same instructions and cautions as to their duty and conduct on landing at New Orleans. Elder Dunn followed on the same subject, also Elder Moss. Sacrament was partook of in the afternoon, and preaching again in the evening by Elder Cummings principally on the duties of husbands toward their wives, parents toward their children, and children toward their parents. Elder Dunn followed on the same subject, and then Elder Moss gave the Saints some information on the manners and customs of the Americans, and gave some excellent advice, one item of which was that we were to be very careful of our money, and purchase nothing but what we absolutely want and stand, in need of .

Monday 3 March, 1851

This morning we came in sight of the Island of St. Domingo or Haiti, namely the westernmost part of it. The nigger emperor Soloqua (?) did not come to pay his respects to us. A shabby fellow. Toward evening we came in sight of the Island of Jamaica. The priesthood held a fellowship meeting in the evening.

Tuesday 4 March 1851

We can see the Island of Jamaica very plain to the left this morning, and can just discern the Island of Cuba to the right. Latitude 18-43 off Monteso Bay.

Wednesday 5 Mar 1851

Latitude 19-4, Longitude 80-0. Weather exceedingly hot and sultry.

Thursday 6 March, 1851

Latitude 20-2 Longitude about 82½ meeting of the priesthood was held at which complimentary resolutions were passed respecting the various officers, viz, "the president, his councellers, president, of Elders and his councellers etc" after which a general meeting was held at which Bro. Lowe preached. Last night at about 12 oclock another of' Sister Morris's (ed. note, see page 8) three twins, the male infant, died and was committed to the deep at 2:30 in the morning by Elder Kasson (?). Baby very poorly.

Friday 7 March 1851

Latitude 21-12 Longitude 84-15. Not much wind. Baby appears rather better. Commenced a letter to Leeds giving a brief sketch of the voyage.

Saturday 8 Mar 1851

This morning at 9:50 A.M. Sister Whelderd's infant boy died and was committed to the deep at 11:30 A.M. by E1dor Cummings. Our baby is worse this morning, and the ordinance of the church for the restoration of the sick was administered to it by E1der Cummings, Wheeler and Stones. There was almost dead calm this morning, which makes us fee1 a little disappointed, but we must be patient and await the Lord's time for us to be delivered from this vessel. Latitude 1-23, longitude 86-42.

Sunday, 9 March, 1851

Latitude 23-22, longitude 87-20. A meeting of the priesthood was held to take into consideration the subject of presenting Elder Cummings, Dunn and Moss with a token of respect and gratitude, each for their unwearied exertions to promote the health and comfort of the Company on Board, which subject had been meeted (sic) at the meeting on Thursday night last. It was decided that Elder Cummings should be presented with a gold Albert guard (?) and Elders Dunn and Moss with a handsome bowie knife each, the money having been previously raised by subscription and the articles having been brought on board by Bro Lees to dispose of. Accordingly these presentations were made at the general meeting of the Saints on deck this morning, preceded by appropriate remarks from Elder Albert Taylor and Sam'l Lees, and followed by addresses from the presentees. The various votes of thanks to the officers as per record of the 6th inst. were put to the Saints and carried unanimously. A fellowship meeting was held on deck this afternoon and preaching in the evening by #Elder Lees. Winds contrary.

Monday March 10, 1851

This morning at 3 A.M. Sister (left blank) gave birth to a female child, both are doing well. Latitude 23-46 Long 88-50. A meeting of the priesthood was held this afternoon to pray espacial1y that the wind might be changed that we might be wafted speedily to the port of New Orleans. Our prayers were heard and answered as the wind immediately took a more favorable turn. A fellowship meeting of the priesthood was held at night at which great freedom was enjoyed.

Tuesday, March 11, 1851

Latitude 25-52 Long 89-30. We are now drawing very near the mouth of the Great Mississippi and this rejoices my heart. Our baby much better this morning. Thus through the goodness of God all my family has been so far preserved.

Wednesday March 12, 1851

Latitude 27-17 and in a direct line of longitude for the mouth of the Mississippi. A meeting of the priesthood was held at which Jas Orwin (?) was cut off for conduct not becoming a Saint. A vote of thanks was also passed to the Captain, officers and crew of the vessel. Also that the spare provisions shall be placed at the disposal of Bro. Cummings and his councellors in order to help the worthy poor up the river. These votes were afterwards sanctioned by the Saints at a general meeting on deck.

Thursday March 13, 1851

This morning at 5 o'clock the lighthouse at the Relize (?) was seen and about 8 oclock the pilot came on board. Several steamers came in sight, viz, the "persian", the "F.M.T." and the "Conqueror" Finally about 11:20 A.M. we were put in tow by the latter. Then were immediately taken forward by the steamer Mississippi along with the brigs viz the "Abbott" and the "Creaole", and proceeded up the river.

Friday March 14,1851

We had a most delightful day, and the ride up the river is first rate. Toward evening a fog came on and we cast anchor just off New Orleans about 11:30 P.M.

Saturday, March 15, 1851

We weighed anchor this morning about 7:30 A.M. and was towed into the port of New Orleans which we reached about 9 o'clock A.M. soon after which I first set my foot on American soil, and I felt truly to rejoice at the privilege, knowing that this is the Land of Promise to the Seed of Joseph. I made a few markets, such as bread, lettuce and radishes which we much enjoyed, having been barred from anything green for so long a time. We can't buy anything less than a picayune's worth of an article at New Orleans which in English money is 2½, or 5 cents American.

Sunday, March 16, 1851

I rose soon after four oclock this morning and went on shore and was surprised to find the people all alive and stirring attending the market which commences at 4 oclock A.M. every day, and lasts till 12 noon, Sunday being the principle market day! The various markets for meat, vegetables and flowers were crowded by well dressed and even fashionable people who were purchasing with avidity all kinds of articles which can be mentioned. The drapery, clothes and shoe shops were a1so open, and in fact there was nothing to distinguish it from a working day. Toward noon I went out to the slave Market, and I saw negroes of both sexes exposed for sale, and parties claiming them and bargaining for them as if they were so many cattle. I walked out in the evening with my wife and baby and Sister Burch (?) and saw the large hotel lately burned down - it had. occupied a very large space of ground. We found the theatre and circuses open. We called at an oyster saloon and got some oysters soup and wine. I could not realize all day that it was the Sabbath.

Wednesday March 17, 1851

The custom house officers came on board and commenced examining our luggage. In the afternoon I went out to purchase a few provisions, and sought out the post-office to send a Newspaper off to Leeds. On my way back to the ship I called to see the packet "Aleck Scott", which Bro. Cummings had chartered to take the Saints to St. Louis. It is a very fine, large steamer.

Tuesday, March 18, 1851

This morning I took my family down to the steamer, and went back to the ship to attend to our luggage, for which a small steamer was sent to remove it to the "Aleck Scott". It was a very tiresome job having to handle all the luggage twice over, and many of the boxes got broken, but upon the whole I think we managed pretty well. I went out the last thing to buy a few provisions, being thirsty and weary with the fatiguing business of the day, I took ~a little brandy which was offered me at Mr. Fisher's store, and it flew into my head and set my tongue a-going like the clapper of a bell. I was as merry as a lark. To speak the truth right out I was regularly fuddled. I have recorded my fault and think now I have a right to record. something in my praise. I remembered in going back to the steamer that I was bringing a dollar's worth of sugar away unpaid for, and I ran back to Mr. Fisher's as fast as my legs would carry me and made the matter right.

Wednesday, 19 March, 1851

On getting up this morning I found my head suffering from the effects of the brandy I had taken the night before. Let me state, however, that I did not drink immediately of the brandy. I didn't think I took above 1/8 of a pint, but I was weak thru fatigue and it therefore took affect upon me. My headache went off during the day, expecial1y after I had got shaved, and washed, but my limbs were sore at lifting and tugging at the luggage. My family is all pretty well, baby being much better. My dear wife appears to carry on first, last, and enjoy pretty good health. The Mississippi is truly a splendid river.

Thursday, March 20, 1851

The steamer stopped this morning to gather in wood and I had a short stroll on shore. Saw some negroes of both sexes plowing. The land seems vary light and quite free from stones. The ploughs never want sharpening. About noon we stopped at Natchez to exchange the mails and it gave us a chance to purchase a few provisions. Soon after we stopped again to take in wood, and I went on shore and cut same willow sticks for the children.

Friday, March 2l, 1851

This morning about three oclock we were called up for the purpose of informing us that if we wanted to purchase provisions, now was the time, as we were very near Vicksburg. I got up, but found the charges so extravagantly high that I contented myself with merely purchasing a dozen eggs for 20 cents. The natives appear to take all the advantage they can of parties travel1ing and being in need of provisions. This is very wrong.

Saturday, March 22, 1851

to Tuesday March 25, 1851

We have had a pleasant time of it during the above interval. We had, however, two deaths, viz, Bro. Geeson's and Rev. Hazzeldine's infant daughters. They were both ill previous to leaving home. This day the 25th inst. at half-past twelve noon we came in sight of St. Louis. I finished my letters to Nottingham and Leeds and took them out to the post office. We staid on the packet that night, but slept uncomfortably owing to the general bustle which was going on all night.

Wednesday, 26 March, 1851

This day we removed to a house in Tenth on Spring Street. Most of the luggage I have taken to Wall and Scott's Warehouse on the levee. I had a very hard day, in fact, I don't remember ever having been so fagged. I was thankful however to lay down again in a house on the land, although we only had the floor to spread the beds on. I know that we were likely to remain here some 12 or 14 days owing to the water in the river being so low.

Sunday 30 March 1851

For the last few days I have bean busy buying in spades, etc, needful to take along with us to the Valley. I attended the meeting of the Saints here this afternoon. Elder Alexander Robbins resigned the presidency of the St. Louis Conference in consequence of his being about to go to the Valley. Elder Myley has appointed to succeed him in the presidency. The meeting was addressed by Bro. A. Robbins, Myley, Cummings, Gibson and Moss.

Sunday 13 April, 1851

Our stay at St. Louis was prolonged until this day, and the time was pretty well spent in purchasing provisions for the journey across the plains. I also bought a wagon for $56.00 St. Louis is a very large and flourishing city. It is astonishing how so large a city should spring up in the course of but 20 years. It is however to be severely chastised by the judgements of a Righteous God on account of its exceeding wickedness and contempt of the Saints of the most High. During our stay, I and my wife went one evening went to Baxter's theatre to see Miss Cushman perform the part of Meg Merridee in Guy Mannering. We were much pleased with her acting. This morning we started on Sacramento steamer for Council Bluffs on our route to the Valley. Thank our gracious heavenly parent we were all in good health and strength. I ought to have mentioned previously that my wife's sister Hannah Topham, owing to some differences which arose on board the ship Ellen, left the Company of my family. I consider she was much to blame after putting me to the expense of her passage, however I am content to let things work round and we may hereafter see good oven in this circumstance.

May 2, 1851, Friday

This day after somewhat tedious trip we arrived at the landing for Kanesville (?} the principal settlement or the Saints in this quarter. The trip was rendered tedious on account of the low state of the water and the numerous snags and sand bars to meet with. Were stuck on one of the latter for about three days and nights. There is most splendid scenery however along the river which somewhat made up for the loss of time. We stopped at various places on the way too numerous to mention, and indeed, having no help owing to my wife's sister leaving us I had very little time to spare so that I didn't note down the various stoppings. I may mention a few, viz, Jefferson City, saw the senate house for the state of Missouri. It is a noble looking building of stone and stands on an eminence commanding an extensive view of the river. We also stoppt at the landing for Independence, Savannah, St. Joseph, Weston, Bethlehem, Liberty, etc.

The 23rd of April was my eldest daughter's birthday. My wife made an excellent plum pudding for dinner but alack! all the men were ordered off the boat in order to enable the vessel to got off a sandbar. I went off amongst the rest, and we were kept on shore all day so that I was deprived of the treat. That day two years back was also the date of our baptism into this church. We had two deaths during the trip. One was a boy by the name of Henry Thorn who by some means fell overboard and was not found. The other was Brother Bladen's little girl after much suffering. I and family continued in good health thank God. On arriving at the landing I proceeded toward (name of town indecipherable) leaving my family on board, and went as far as the Welsh Tabernacle, when I agreed with a Brother by the name of William Rowlands for lodgings I went back to the steamer the same night.

Saturday, May 3, 1851

This day our luggage was landed, and a most uncomfortable dusty day it was, and I really had some vary hard tugging for the the whole of the day. The expense for my family with luggage and the waggon I bought at St. Louis was 45 dollars.

Sunday, June 22, 1851

After getting settled at my own lodgings, I began to look out for oxen to form my team. I bought a yoke (Buck and Barry) for 72 dollars, another yoke for 50 dollars, another for $55, a yoke of cows for $24 and another yoke of cows for $29. I also purchased another light waggon, and agreed with a sister from Birmingham of the name of Fannon to take her to the Valley, and 2 cwt of luggage, for $50. After being about a fortnight at lodgings we moved with the waggon, and camped first in Rowland's yard, then in Stayes Hollow, than in Manesville, then at or near little Pigeon, than at Ferrysville opposite Winter Quarters" and finally this day we were safely ferried over the river Missouri with my waggons and oxen, and went as far as Mill Creek, just below winter quarters

*****With the entry, Tuesday, June 24, 1851, the Journal of Jonathan Grimshaw ceases.****

It is apparent from Jonathan's journal that he and Eliza intended to join the Mormon community in the U.S. It is also apparent that the family did indeed made it to Salt Lake City, as indicated by a number of records in that area (see, for example, Figure 1). For unknown reasons, Jonathan, probably Eliza, and a portion of his family subsequently returned to Missouri. However, some of the family members, including their son Jonathan, apparently remained in Salt Lake City.

Figure 1. Compilation of Joseph Smith's "History of the Church²," showing Jonathan Grimshaw as author of first 150 pages of volume F-1. 

The following excerpt was found on a website on Book of Abraham commentary by Joseph Smith.

Jonathan Grimshaw (1818-1897). Grimshaw as born January 24,1818, at Yeadon, Leeds, Yorkshire, England to Jonathan Grimshaw and Sarah Pickersgill. M. Eliza Maria Topham June 17, 1841, Leeds, Eng- land. Shoemaker, private carrier, railway goods manager. Mostly self-taught writer, bookkeeper. Joined Baptists, about 1836, the Millerite Adventists, 1844. Baptized LDS April 23, 1849, ordained elder May 12, 1850. Sailed from Liverpool, England to New Orleans, Louisiana, arrived March 15, 1851. Took steamer up river to St. Louis. Left St. Louis by steamer, landed in Missouri May 2, 1851; paid $45 for the trip. Favorably impressed by Jefferson City. Traveled by ox team to Salt Lake Valley, arrived sometime near August 1851. Secretary to the Deseret Philosophical Society. Employed by the Church in the historians office by June 1853 until August 10, 1856 when he and his family left Utah for the east (the states). Grimshaw was in a difficult position economically and the hard times, lack of food stuffs, etc., together with his wavering faith in Mormonism led to a decision to return to England. However economic circumstances kept him in the US. Spent a number of years living in St. Louis, MO including the war years. A son graduated from college in St. Louse in 1861. Moved to Jefferson City, MO and was elected mayor in 1868. Son, Arthur P. Grimshaw also served as mayor, 1890. By 1880 Jonathan was a widower, employed as an express agent in Jefferson City and living with a 24 year-old daughter, Sarah A. Grimshaw (born in Utah). Grimshaw received the LDS temple endowment March 13, 1852 and was sealed to Eliza on the same day in the Salt Lake City "Council House." Grimshaw played a major role in the revision JS's sermons for the ms history. Died August 13, 1897, Jefferson City, MO. [Grimshaw 1851 travel journal, Church historian's office journal, LDS temple index records, U.S. census records, Jefferson City history, family records, Wilford Woodruff's Journal.]

Source: http://www.boap.org/CJSF-texts.html

A biography⁵ of Jonathan and Eliza Grimshaw's son-in-law, George Faulhaber provides quite a bit of detail on the family's history in Missouri. No mention is made of the preceding circuit to Salt Lake City. The biography is shown below with the paragraph referencing the Grimshaw family shown in bold. Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan and Eliza is referred to as "Lillie" in the biography.

"Hon. George L. Faulhaber, one of the most prominent citizens of Sedalia, is now serving as Treasurer of the Missouri Trust Company. He is public spirited, enterprising and progressive, and has done much for the advancement of the city where he now makes his home. He was born in Kirch Brombach, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 6th day of April, 1838, and is a son of John H. Faulhaber, who was a native of the same place. His grandfather, Karl August Faulhaber, was also born in the same province, and there he had charge of the Grand Duke's forest. The family came originally from the French side of the Rhine, and were Lutherans in religious belief.

The father of our subject was engaged in the manufacture of furniture in Kirch Brombach, and the business there established is still conducted by a member of the family. His eldest brother was also a cabinet-maker by trade. Mr. Faulhaber wedded Catherine Zimmer, who was born near Offenthal, and a daughter of John M. and Susanna (Zeigel) Zimmer. Her father was also a native of Offenthal, where he engaged in the manufacture of plush. To Mr. and Mrs. Faulhaber were born ten children, nine of whom grew to man and womanhood: Fritz, who died in Germany; Ernst and Catherine, who both passed away in Pittsburg, Pa.; Ernstine, now Mrs. Hoffman, of Mt. Carroll, Ill.; Lotta, Lizzette and Margaret, who all died in Allegheny, Pa.; Fredericka, a resident of that city; and George L., the youngest of the family. The father departed this life in his native land in 1846, at the age of fifty-four years, and the mother's death occurred in May, 1851, at the age of fifty-six years.

The gentleman whose name heads this record graduated from the public schools of Germany at the age of twelve years, after which he came to America with a sister, in 1851. They left Meintz for Rotterdam and thence went to London. For ten weeks they were on the Atlantic, during which time they were lost in an ice-field, and as the water and provisions gave out they were nearly starved. At length they arrived safely in New York, whence they proceeded at once to Pittsburg, Pa., where Mr. Faulhaber worked with his brother until 1855, when he went to Chambersburg, Pa., and apprenticed himself to a chairmaker, with whom he remained twelve months, but during that time the man nearly starved him to death. He then boarded a schooner going down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, and remained there until June, 1857, when he went to St. Louis. In the following September, however, he secured a position with the United States Express Company at Jefferson City, MO., remaining with them for two years. He was then messenger on the stage lines from Tipton to Kansas City, Mo., and Leavenworth to Junction City, Kan. In April, 1862, he returned to Missouri and ran between Sedalia and St. Louis, and also between St. Louis and Macon City. He then became agent for the United States Express Company at Sedalia, but resigned the following year and removed to Pleasant Gap, Bates County, where for two years he engaged in merchandising. At the end of that time he sold out and engaged in the express business, and was also Route Agent in north Missouri for the same company, with the headquarters at St. Louis. Later, in 1867, he organized an express company of his own, known as the Southern Express Company, of which he became proprietor and Superintendent, it having the stage lines in southwestern Missouri. The principal shipping lines were Sedalia, Springfield, Carthage and Neosho, and he carried on the business until 1868, when the railroads encroached on his territory.

In that year we again find Mr. Faulhaber back in the office of the United States Express Company at Sedalia, he remaining with them until 1891, when the Pacific Express Company came into control. With the latter firm he remained until the 1st of September, 1884, when he resigned to become Treasurer of the Missouri Trust Company, being the first to fill that office, and he has held the position ever since. The company was organized in 1880, with a capital stock of $10,000, and is now doing the largest business of the kind in the state. The capital stock has been increased to $500,000, with $200,000 paid up; there is a surplus of $50,000, and undivided profits to the amount of $10,000. The company issue debentures and sell them anywhere, and also have a saving department, and any sum from $1 draws five per cent interest. Their present fine building was erected in 1887. Besides holding the office of Treasurer of this company, our subject is also a stockholder and Director.

On the 2d of January, 1861, in Jefferson City, Mo., Mr. Faulhaber married Miss Lillie Grimshaw, a native of Leeds, England, and daughter of Jonathan Grimshaw, who was Division Superintendent of the Midland Railroad in England. After coming to America her father located at St. Louis, where he became connected with the United States Express Company, and from 1858 to 1892 was agent at Jefferson City, when he resigned and his son Arthur became his successor. He then came to Sedalia, and is now connected with the Missouri Trust Company. His wife, who was formerly Eliza M. Topham, died in Jefferson City in 1876. Mrs. Faulhaber was educated in St. Louis, and by her marriage has become the mother of six children. Katherine E., now Mrs. Houx, is a widow and resides with her father; George G. died in St. Louis; Gertrude is at home; Ernest A. is in the purchasing department of the Northern Pacific Railroad at St. Paul, Minn.; and Eda Margaret and Blanche Lillian, whom are at home, complete the family.

In 1878 Mr. Faulhaber was elected Mayor of Sedalia on the Republican ticket, and the following year was re-elected, holding the office for two terms to the satisfaction of all. He became a member of the School Board in 1882, serving for the first year as President, but he preferred the office of Secretary, which he filled for the two succeeding years. He was made City Treasurer in April, 1888, and remained in office for two years, Public affairs always receive his hearty recognition, and he encourages all enterprises for the city's advancement. He was in Sedalia in1864, at the time when Jeff Thompson was captured there, and during the war served in a company of Citizens' Guard as Sergeant. He takes considerable interest in civic societies, being a member of Sedalia Lodge No. 236, A. F. & A. M., in which he served for five consecutive years as Master, and for eight years as Secretary, from which office he resigned; he is also a member of Sedalia Chapter No.18, R. A. M., where he was also Secretary for fifteen years; and St. Omar Commandery No. 11, K.T., in which he filled the same office for seven years, but some three years ago resigned all of those offices, though he is now serving as Eminent Commander. He has been a member of the Masonic Board of Relief since 1885; and also belonged to Fern Leaf Chapter of the Eastern Star until it gave up its charter, and in that order filled the chairs of Worthy Patron and Grand Marshal. For two years he was Grand Junior Deacon of the State Lodge, and Treasurer of both the Royal Tribe of Joseph and the Royal Arcanum. With the Calvary Episcopal Church he holds membership, and is Vestryman and Clerk of the Board. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and has served as delegate to the county and state conventions. No man in Sedalia is more widely or favorably known, and the name of George L. Faulhaber deserves an honored place in this volume."

By 1868 Jonathan Grimshaw and his family were back in Missouri, as indicated by the fact that Jonathan served as Mayor of Jefferson City starting in that year. A list of Jefferson City mayors is shown below. Interestingly, Jonathan's son, Arthur also served as mayor, not once but twice. 

It was previously unknown why a portion of the family decided to return to Missouri. However, in an e-mail exchange in June 2009, William Smith provided the following interesting explanation.

Jonathan Sr. did indeed have a crisis of faith as well as economics and left Utah ostensibly for England, but seems to have run out of funds. What profession he pursued until 1868 is unknown to me, but it probably involved clerking. Where he spent the war years would be interesting to know, I can only determine that he may have spent time in both St. Louis and Jefferson City. By 1880 he was a widower living with his youngest daughter, aged 24, who was born in Utah.

List of Jefferson City, Missouri Mayors

Updated information on Jonathan Grimshaw's disillusionment with Mormonism and his departure from Salt Lake City to Missouri are described on a website called the "Book of Abraham", which is by W.V. Smith of Brigham Young University. The information is shown below in four parts.

Jonathan Grimshaw Redux (starting page)

http://boaporg.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/jonathan-grimshaw-redux/

MAY 31, 2010

The first of the review posts.

An unsung hero of Mormon history: Jon Grimshaw. Grimshaw was born in England and converted to Mormonism in the early 1850s. Honest, respected by the people who knew him best for his solid integrity, he embraced Mormonism with the typical enthusiasm we all hear about in oft repeated conversion stories of the period. For our purposes, his story is important because of the research time I put into it, just to have the proper glossary entry in the book! No, seriously, he is a fascinating man and I believe the same is true for his wife, though as usual, we know less about her.

Grimshaw made the trip to Utah and became employed as a clerk for the Church Historian (George A. Smith). One of Grimshaw’s duties was to take contemporary reports of Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo sermons and forge them into readable narrative. The results were sometimes great, sometimes awful, sometimes just odd. But without this work, our history would read differently than it does. Grimshaw’s work was written into the manuscript history of the church. His work was essential to that monumental effort. Grimshaw was not your standard success story. He left Utah and Mormonism. But not bitterly and with honor. He just had doubts.

Anyway the following three posts represent some of my early and somewhat hastily written impressions of him:

Jonathan Grimshaw and Honorable Doubts – Part I

Part II

Part III

Enjoy!

 

Jonathan Grimshaw and Honorable Doubts, Part I.

http://boaporg.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/jonathan-grimshaw-and-honorable-doubts-part-1/#more-14

JUNE 18, 2009

In tracking how JS’s sermon-texts have been treated over the last 170 odd years, more than one mysterious personality surfaces. One of these was Jonathan Grimshaw. Grimshaw was an English convert to Mormonism who had tried more than one religion prior to his contact with the Mormons. He was a seeker, moving from the “Particular Baptists”[1] of his parents to the Millerite Adventists[2] in 1844 (they did have a presence in England). Born in 1818, Grimshaw experienced Dickensian England, at the height of the industrial revolution.

From a middle class family, Grimshaw learned the shoemaking trade but had some ambition and eventually became involved in the railway business. It was a profession he would fall back on in later life. Jonathan had a strong intellect though little access to the educational system of the time. He stopped formal schooling at 11 (1829) but continued self-education in writing and arithmetic after his apprentice hours as a shoemaker.[3]

When his master decided to go into the leather business and move Grimshaw to another master, Jonathan decided to leave the business himself. Through contacts from his father, he found a position with a “carrying” firm, and freight transport became his profession. But the coming of the railroad would alter his life. He notes in his journal [4]:

“Mr. Rolland was a partner in the firm of Deacon of the well known and eminent Carriers to and from the North of England and London. During the greater part of the time I was with them, the railway was forming from the town of Leeds to Derby and others in connection with that on to London. This was completed in 1840 and as it was feared at that time that the private carrying business would soon be at an end, Mr. Holland advised me to apply for a situation on the railway. I did so, and with his recommendation succeeded in obtaining one at one hundred pounds per annum. This was about Sept. 1840. A little farther on in the same year Mr. Rolland entered into partnership with Mr. Perrins proprietor of the Leeds Intelligence Newspaper. He was now anxious to dispose of his carrying business or at all events to give up the management of it to some responsible party that he could trust. The report that the Railway Co. would not allow private Carriers on the line having proved to be unfounded he at once offered to make me his partner.”[5]

Grimshaw’s salary took a jump to 300 pounds/year. The good fortune did not last: the railway decided to bar private carriers from the road. Grimshaw went back to his apprentice condition, this time as district “goods manager.”

Jonathan was a musician/singer and met his wife when she was engaged to become the church choir director. They were married in 1841.

Grimshaw narrates his conversion to Mormonism:

“In the early part of 1844 my attention had been drawn to the Second Advent Doctrine originated by Mr. Miller of America. I became a believer of it, but did not leave the baptist church as long as I staid in Leeds, but when I finally removed to Nottingham I joined myself to the Second Advent church which had been previously formed in Denman Street chapel, New Radford. After I had met with them for about a year a great excitement arose in consequence of the Latter Day Saints coming to preach in Nottingham. Without at all understanding their principles I joined in the general cry of importure Joe Smith and the like. and for some time resisted every temptation (if I may so call it) of going to hear them. I at last, however, broke through my resolution and went to hear for myself, found I could not overturn their doctrines or principles.”

When Grimshaw became aware that the traveling elders might bless the sick, he invited them to bless his wife. She was healed. Grimshaw and his wife were baptized April 23, 1849 by an Elder Clayton. Grimshaw was ordained a priest August 4, 1849 and then an elder May 12, 1850.

The gathering was in high gear and Grimshaw and his wife were ready to move to America. They sold their furniture (their home was provided by the railroad) and left Nottingham, December 31, 1850 with 133 pounds and about the same amount in possessions they carried. The Nottingham Review of January 3 wrote:

“On Monday last a complimentary dinner .as given by the clerks and other employees at the goods station, to Mr. Grimshaw, late manager of the Goods Department of the Railway Station in this town, who is about leaving this country for the Great Salt Lake City, Deseret, California, at Mr. Starkey’s, the Victoria Hotel, Station Street Queen’s Road, on which occasion a beautifully embroidered purse containing 15 pounds with the inscription ‘J. Grimshaw, Nottingham, 1850′ on each side, was presented to him. J.G. left Nottingham by the 10:30 A.M. train for Liverpool on Wednesday accompanied by about thirty friends who are bound for the same destination, Deseret, the Mormon settlement in North America. Along with him went Mr. Abraham Taylor, book-vendor, of this town, Mr. Kirk, and Mr. Hazzledine or Basford, and some others.”

The Grimshaw’s sailed January 8, 1851 from Liverpool on the “Ellen” with about 450 Latter-day Saints. Sea sickness prevailed among the passengers until a collision with a small schooner caused them to put into a Welsh harbor for minor repairs. Rough weather continued when the ship finally put out to sea and measles ran through the ships company. Grimshaw’s son Arthur was seriously ill but survived.

A typical entry from Grimshaw’s journal for the journey reads:

“Monday March 10, 1851. This morning at 3 A.M. Sister (left blank) gave birth to a female child, both are doing well. Latitude 23-46 Long 88-50. A meeting of the priesthood was held this afternoon to pray espacial1y that the wind might be changed that we might be wafted speedily to the port of New Orleans. Our prayers were heard and answered as the wind immediately took a more favorable turn. A fellowship meeting of the priesthood was held at night at which great freedom was enjoyed.”

The ship arrived in New Orleans harbor March 15 and Grimshaw wrote: “I felt truly to rejoice at the privilege [of setting foot on American soil] knowing that this is the Land of Promise to the Seed of Joseph” although he found the prices high in the city. Jonathan was stunned at the lack of Sabbath observance in New Orleans.

The Saints on the Ellen had chartered a steamer, the Alec Scott for the trip up river. Grimshaw notes an incident that reveals his moral principles:

“It was a very tiresome job having to handle all the luggage twice over, and many of the boxes got broken, but upon the whole I think we managed pretty well. I went out the last thing to buy a few provisions, being thirsty and weary with the fatiguing business of the day, I took ~a little brandy which was offered me at Mr. Fisher’s store, and it flew into my head and set my tongue a-going like the clapper of a bell. I was as merry as a lark. To speak the truth right out I was regularly fuddled. I have recorded my fault and think now I have a right to record. something in my praise. I remembered in going back to the steamer that I was bringing a dollar’s worth of sugar away unpaid for, and I ran back to Mr. Fisher’s as fast as my legs would carry me and made the matter right.”

He paid for the brandy with a hangover in the morning.

The steamer arrived in St. Louis March 25, 1851 and the Grimshaw’s began to prepare for the journey to Salt Lake City. They finally departed in mid April by steamer for Council Bluffs, Iowa. Grimshaw bought 6 oxen, 4 cows two wagons and took on a boarder for the trip to Utah and departed from Winter Quarters June 22, 1851.

—WVS

——————-

[1] Particular Baptists as opposed to General Baptists, were strict Calvinists.

[2] Jonathan was indentured though the indenture system had ended as a rule by that time.

[3] JS remarked on William Miller’s predictions in a discourse of March 10, 1844.

[4] Grimshaw’s short journal is currently held by unidentified descendants. A typescript is found in the archives of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington, D.C.

[5] Railroads in Britain began as private mining enterprises. Mostly horse drawn they began to convert to steam by the time Grimshaw was involved. See for example, P. J. G. Ransom, The Victorian Railway and How it Evolved. (London: Heinemann, 1989).

 

Jonathan Grimshaw and Honorable Doubts, Part 2

http://boaporg.wordpress.com/2009/06/25/jonathan-grimshaw-and-honorable-doubts-part-2/

JUNE 25, 2009

The Grimshaws arrived in Salt Lake City sometime near the latter part of August, 1851. Little money existed in the valley. Early American barter schemes prevailed. Wilford Woodruff’s store ran on credit, but the credit was for exchanged goods mostly. Land was “sold” on a consecration basis and Grimshaw obtained his lot by this means. He had cash, a rather unusual thing and it was a coveted situation. Thievery was not unusual during this period, but it wasn’t for profit, it was for survival, mostly. Woodruff’s store was robbed of a bag of flour, a fact he advertised in the church newspaper, asking that if the thief had needed something to eat, then please give him back the bag. The bag showed up a day or so later draped over a fence I think.

Jonathan had a family and he tried to fit into the prevailing economy. But he was no farmer and in any case, farming in the valley required irrigation water. The Grimshaws made a go of it nevertheless. Jonathan began clerking for church/civic interests in the infant county and territorial government as well as the court system.

Willard Richards (church historian and counselor of Brigham Young) wished to establish the church historian’s work as soon as possible, but his time was mostly absorbed by the Deseret News. A press had been purchased in 1847 in Boston by W. W. Phelps and shipped to Council Bluffs where it sat in its box until 1849 when it made it to Salt Lake City. The Times and Seasons press had stayed in Nauvoo and was sold there. Phelps’ press was a Ramage Philadelphia press and was capable of printing a three column sheet of reasonably sized print. The first item printed on the Ramage was a booklet sized letter (10 pages) from the church presidency. In June 1853, Jonathan’s talents as a clerk[1] were put to use by Richards in the Church Historian’s Office.

As a part of the crew in the Historian’s office Grimshaw was called into service in taking minutes of the legislature which did business in the mid-winter. He traveled to Fillmore when the state did its business there. Grimshaw took his turn with keeping the Historian’s Office journal, which was used to keep track of the work done by the staff like a time-clock as well as to indicate the projects then underway. Sometimes a clerk felt he was under or misrepresented in the journal and made notations himself. Thomas Bullock frequently did this. One of Richards’ projects was to publish the manuscript history of JS which was in fact mostly his effort in plan and much in writing. By November 15, 1851, the News had moved its premises to the northeast corner of South Temple and Main streets and had a new press, an “Imperial” which produced a six-column page. Beginning with this issue, Richards took up where he left off in Nauvoo’s Times and Seasons with JS’s history, now titled for the time being “Life of Joseph Smith.” His staff edited the copy of these articles and George A. Smith continued the practice even though not the editor of the News after Richards death in 1854.

Many Utah immigrants were partially or wholly ignorant of the life-style of polygamy, still not publically announced. Some, like James Harwood, a teenager who came to Utah about the same time as Grimshaw were stunned and a bit overwhelmed by it. That and the rough and tumble law-and-order of outlying communities pushed Harwood out of the church, but not out of Utah.[2] Grimshaw accepted polygamy, but was not prepared or required to participate. He did however, with his wife Eliza receive the (Nauvoo) temple ceremonies in the Council House, which doubled for a number purposes at the time.

One of Grimshaw’s more important contributions to the Historian’s Office effort was perhaps his copying the church’s history into some of the large blank manuscript books, numbered A-1, B-1, C-1, D-1, E-1, F-1. The effort involved copying and connecting already existing reports, journal entries and other records into a first person narrative in the voice of Joseph Smith.[3]

However, Jonathan had a unique assignment. This was to take reports of the sermons of Joseph Smith, (in some cases several reports of the same sermon were available to the historians) and fuse them into a more or less grammatically correct smooth read. Grimshaw worked on a number of these sermons and left some rough drafts of his work, sometimes edited by Thomas Bullock and/or George A. Smith the church historian who gave Grimshaw the assignment. Grimshaw’s longest effort was the so-called King Follett Sermon, a funeral address by Joseph Smith given April 7, 1844. Grimshaw fused, with the help of Smith, and after-the-fact editing by the church presidency, in particular Brigham Young, reports of Thomas Bullock, William Clayton, Wilford Woodruff and Willard Richards.[4] Grimshaw’s first draft was modified by Smith/Bullock but the effort was finally approved for the history narrative.[5]

In the meantime however, Grimshaw and Eliza were experiencing the beginnings of the Mormon Reformation, Indian troubles and a severe drought. The winter of 1855-6 was a breaking point for some of the Saints.

-WVS

——————–

[1] Grimshaw’s handwriting was quite readable but not fancy, for example like that of his compatriot Leo Hawkins who sometimes wrote in a script so adorned it could be almost unreadable. But it was serviceable and consistent when he was not under pressure.

[2] Harwood observed the lynching of an accused rapist in Lehi, Utah and couldn’t get by it. One of his children was well-known Utah (but non-Mormon) artist J. T. Harwood whose painting of Christ on the shore beckoning to fishermen-apostles is still very widely displayed in modern church venues.

[3] Grimshaw’s handwriting is scattered through some of these, but mostly confined to F-1. The effort required close work by the clerks, and was often modified or eliminated by the historian who often dictated copy himself (George A. Smith had taken over from Richards in 1854), often in consultation with members of the church presidency. Corrective addenda were not too rare, and at times sermons were added at the end of volumes when reports were discovered after the text had passed the date by.

[4] He worked under some constraints apparently, and perhaps in order not to slight Woodruff, a living apostle connected with the office, included a fair amount of redundant glosses from Woodruff’s journal account in his King Follett work. Moreover, some language was added which seems to reflect Young’s expression. You’ll have to wait for the book to see some of this.

[5] The Grimshaw/Smith/Young version actually replaced an earlier version already copied into the history from copy done by Thomas Bullock for the Nauvoo magazine, Times and Seasons (appeared in the August 15, 1844 issue). Bullock took his own report and added segments from William Clayton’s report, another official reporter for the conference of April 1844. Ironically, Bullock’s effort is in most ways perhaps closer to the original. The critical texts can be used to show this (but that will be a left-to-the-reader exercise). In saying Grimshaw’s assignment was unique, I did not mean it was unique on the staff. Several clerks did this sort of thing including Hawkins and Bullock.

 

Jonathan Grimshaw and Honorable Doubts, Part 3

http://boaporg.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/jonathan-grimshaw-and-honorable-doubts-part-3/

JULY 8, 2009

By 1855, Jonathan had been involved in all the activities of the LDS Church Historian’s Office. He spent considerable time copying Joseph Smith’s (JS) sermons from diaries or other records. The complete list of sermons with which he was involved in some way is unknown because the clerks failed to give those details in many instances. As far as our book (Funeral Sermons of JS) goes, Grimshaw was involved with the March 10, 1844 sermon, the April 7, 1844 sermon and perhaps others in the string of “Follett” sermons (April 8, May 12 and June 16, 1844) and possibly earlier ones. The methods of the clerks and historians were reasonable for the times but by modern standards suspect. Copy-texts, as we might call them, were often previous printings of versions of the sermons which in some cases were rather imperfect representations of the primary sources.

By November 1855 the Grimshaw family consisted of Jonathan, Eliza and their children Elizabeth (13), Emma (12), Eliza (10), Maria (8), Caroline (7), Arthur P. (6), Fanny (5), Jonathan T. (3) and Sarah (born Nov. 1855). Jane, twin to Eliza, died at age 8 months. Given Grimshaw’s in-kind pay at the Historian’s Office the family was pinched for food and clothing. The clerks drew items from the Tithing Office, but occasional disputes with Tithing Office personnel sometimes shocked expectations.[1]

By September 1855, with Eliza pregnant, the possibility of leaving Utah for easier circumstances crossed Grimshaw’s mind. While visiting the new digs for the Historian’s Office then under construction, Grimshaw took the opportunity to speak to Brigham Young about the disposal of personal property. The President told him

the party selling consecrated property must bring the transfer to him and he would sign it, and as for property which requires no transfer, so long as a man pays tithing on the increase he is absolute steward over it and can do what he pleases with it

From time to time generous Saints would drop by the office with fresh fruit or other items to help with work that they held in high regard. But this could do little to alleviate family conditions. The other clerks had more luck with their family gardens it seems.

Under these circumstances, Grimshaw found work as a store clerk with a cash salary. But the work seems to have lasted only until the hot summer of 1856. Everybody was strapped. Grimshaw was back with the Historian in July.[2]

Jonathan was a relatively accomplished muscian and found a place in the Nauvoo Brass Band who did some musical touring around the territory. These methods of augmenting income (the band was paid in vegetables usually) had dried up by the summer of 1856. Cricket problems, fiery reformation sermons, deep doctrines of JS’s sermons, polygamy and ongoing drought, seem to have weighed on the family to the point that Jonathan’s faith was tried. Grimshaw seems to have made a decision to leave Utah and return to England by July 1856. He quietly wrapped up his affairs and organized transport while still working at the Historian’s Office. His last day was August 2nd when he spent all day copying minutes of Bishop’s meetings.

On August 10th the family left Utah for Council Bluffs, Iowa.[3]

Wilford Woodruff, who was now acting Church Historian in the temporary absence of George A. Smith in the East, observed that Jonathan had spoken about his circumstances both economic and religious. His assessment of Grimshaw, while disappointed for losing his services in the office was a rather positive one: “honorable” in all his associations in the territory and church. But it was a life he was unprepared to live.[4]

Grimshaw departed on good terms, and remained a Mormon on the books if not in active association, for the rest of his life. Grimshaw never spoke badly of the Saints or his time with them, indeed he seems to have buried his Utah experience in the deeps of memory. His children eventually became associated with various Protestant sects.

The intention to go to England, never materialized. Stopping in St. Louis for a short time, the family took what cash they had and settled in the Jefferson City, MO area. Cole County property records show Grimshaw living there by 1860. Arthur stayed in school in St. Louis, graduating in 1861. The war years must have seemed lean, but the family survived in this area that Grimshaw was enchanted with during his trip out to Utah.

Jonathan was active civically and served a year term as mayor of Jefferson City in 1868. In 1873 he was part of a committee to incorporate the library system. It was typical of him. Eliza, the love of his life, died in 1876. Grimshaw said they were compatible in every way.

As noted, the Grimshaw’s kept their association with Mormonism a family secret, and probably for good reason, considering the cultural memories of the area, but at least some of their descendants returned to the faith decades later.

With the building of western railroads, Jonathan took advantage of his long experience in the area and once again became a freight agent. By age 64 (1880) he was living with his youngest child (Sarah, age 24 by then) still in Jefferson City.[5]

Jonathan died in 1897. His life was honorable, and despite his doubts, he has had an impact on the way Mormons read their history and the sermons of Joseph Smith for more than 150 years.[6]

—————-

[1] The Tithing Office became very careful in releasing foodstuffs as near famine conditions prevailed in the winter of 1855-56. The bookkeeping in the tithing office was a little ragged. Sometimes they appeared to have been altered in the sense that people who were to receive distributions, were charged with them, but never got them.

[2] In spite of drought conditions, weather could be mercurial. Once the sky clouded up with very tall thunder heads. Rain came down and then hail to a depth of 2 feet in some spots over a very short period. City Creek, which ran through the center of Salt Lake City, funneled a wall of water down into town, blasting through adobe walls, wiping out fences, filling up homes with mud and generally creating havoc. The cleanup was immense.

[3] One of his former colleagues in the office penned a short note at the bottom of the August 10 entry in the Historian’s office journal: “JG left for the states.” Grimshaw was certainly not alone in his reasons for leaving the valley. A fair number of Saints felt pressed beyond their abilities or sensibilities and if and when they had the means, left Utah for the east, or California. Grimshaw had no debt to the PEF. That and consecrated property could be a sticking point in getting out of the valley. (Indeed, some disgruntled Saints viewed their PEF debt as unfair – probably because they felt the bang for the buck was a bit low at the end of the journey.) As the reformation really got in gear (after Grimshaw’s departure) dissenters, or simply those with flagging commitment could receive harsh treatment and threats. Departing Saints (or former Saints) would travel in groups/trains as they had when coming to Utah. For several case studies of disillusioned Mormons leaving Utah, see Polly Aird, “You Nasty Apostates, Clear Out: Reasons for Disaffection in the Late 1850s” Journal of Mormon History 30/2 (2004): 129-207.

[4] Woodruff wrote in an August 4 diary entry “… We learned soon after ariving at the office that one of our clerks viz that Jonathan Grimshaw was about to leave us for England. Could not stand the hard times & did not know whether Mormonism was true or not. So he is going home but he has taken a very honorable course in all his business & dealings.”

[5] Jonathan’s son, Arthur followed in his father’s footsteps both politically and economically. He served as mayor of Jefferson City twice and was a railroad freight agent. Perhaps with a bit of irony, several of Grimshaw’s descendants and relatives have been avid genealogists. See one of their webpages.

[6] Grimshaw’s work on JS’s sermons, at least those that make it into the book, will be treated with some detail. You’ll have to wait until then.

Jonathan and his family did not have a particularly easy journey to St Louis after their decision to leave Salt Lake City, as described in the Salt Lake Tribune in an article by Ardis Parshall on September 16, 2012 as shown below.

Living History: Intertribal war imperils Mormon settlers

BY ARDIS E. PARSHALL THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 16, 2012 6:35 PM

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

By the summer of 1856, after five years in the Salt Lake Valley, Jonathan Grimshaw had had enough of Utah. Even with steady employment in the office of the LDS Church historian, it was hard to find sufficient food and clothing for his wife and seven children.

"I have nothing to say against the church or its authorities," Grimshaw told his boss, "but I think Utah is too hard a place to live."

With two other families,the Grimshaws prepared to go to St. Louis and work until they could return to their native England. Grimshaw regretted that he could not travel with his friends Thomas Margetts and James Cowdy, who were leaving Utah with horses and a light wagon for a speedy passage over the Plains. The Grimshaws, though, could afford only a heavy ox-pulled wagon.

Grimshaw's own three-wagon company, with eight men, three women and 16 children, followed four days later.

They reached Fort Laramie without incident, rested a day or two, then resumed their travels on the morning of Sept. 10. Three days from Laramie, a lone Indian came in to their evening camp and spent the night with them.

"He certainly did try to make us understand something of importance," Grimshaw wrote to a brother, "but was unable, because of our utter ignorance of one word of his language."

The next day, the Indian continued westward, while the Grimshaws pushed on toward the east.

Two days later, they encountered another westbound train, this time merchants headed toward Salt Lake City. The merchants were appalled to see the small Grimshaw company, with so many children and so few men, "only mustering three guns and a worthless pistol among us."

The freighters told Grimshaw that they were traveling in the midst of a war between the Cheyenne and the Sioux. The freighters had been attacked a few miles back and a woman traveling with them had been killed.

A few days earlier, the secretary of the Utah Territory, Almon Babbitt, had been killed on his way to Utah, along with two traveling companions — one of whom, Thomas Sutherland, had been a close friend of Grimshaw's. Even more terrifying, the Cowdy-Margetts company with whom they might have traveled had been slain.

"And we were traveling unconcernedly, because unaware of our imminent peril, right into the very thick of the danger," Grimshaw wrote.

The Grimshaws turned back to Laramie. There they found others in much the same circumstances as they were, fearful to proceed. They also learned that their Indian guest was a son of the Sioux leader Black Heart, who, through an interpreter, had told of the Cheyenne attacks — and Grimshaw finally realized that his guest had been trying to warn him of their own danger.

Col. William Hoffman, commanding the troops at Laramie, informed the stranded emigrants that a party of army dragoons was expected there within a few days. If the emigrants would push toward Leavenworth with all possible speed, he would assign the soldiers to accompany them out of the danger zone.

"We accordingly waited," wrote Grimshaw, "and everything turned out as the colonel anticipated. It was the 1st Regiment of U.S. Cavalry, under Captain Stuart [actually, Lieut. J.E.B. Stuart, who would become one of the Confederacy's greatest generals], a perfect gentleman. He behaved very kindly, often relieving the necessities of some of our company, who were destitute.

"When we came to Ash Hollow, where there is a mountain to ascend nearly as steep as a house side, he ordered his men to dismount, and assist us with ropes, and even, literally put his own shoulder to the wheels. The troops traveled with us about 450 miles, warded off the Indians, and brought us through all danger."

The Grimshaws reached St. Louis in November. Instead of returning to England as planned, they eventually settled in Jefferson City, Mo., where Grimshaw and his son, Arthur, served terms as mayor. Jonathan Grimshaw died in Jefferson City in 1897.

Ardis E. Parshall is a Utah historian who welcomes feedback from readers. Reach her at AEParshall@aol.com. —

A biography³ (p. 455-456) of the only son of Jonathan and Eliza, Arthur Pickersgill Grimshaw, provides further evidence that the family returned in Missouri, moving to Jefferson City after remaining in St. Louis for about six years. The biography is shown below.

Arthur P. Grimshaw, agent, Pacific Express Company of Jefferson City, was born in Nottingham, England, January 20, 1849. His parents, Jonathan and Eliza Maria (Topham) Grimshaw, came to this country when he was an infant, stopping in St. Louis, after six years removing to Jefferson City. Here the subject of this sketch received the educational advantages afforded by the city schools, after which he attended Wyman's University of St. Louis, where he graduated, in 1861. He then accepted a position with the United States Express Company as messenger. on the Missouri Pacific, between St. Louis and Atchison, Kans., in which capacity he served eighteen years, and was then made cashier of the United States Express office at Atchison. Resigning this position, he was appointed assistant postmaster of Jefferson City under Captain Steininger during President Harrison's administration, serving one year. He was elected county clerk, in 1884, to fill an unexpired term of two years, and again elected, in 1886, for full term. He was appointed joint agent for tile Pacific and United States Express Companies to succeed his father, Jonathan Grimshaw, in 1890, in connection with which he is ticket agent for the Chicago and Alton Railroad at Jefferson City. In 1891 he was elected mayor of the city, serving two terms of two years each, and after an interval of four years, the citizens feeling the need of his efficient service, he was again elected to this important office. He was the first president of the Commercial Club of Jefferson City, and was one of the leading spirits in its organization; was the first superintendent of the Jefferson City Bridge and Transit Company, serving two years.

He is a Mason, member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commander. Is an active member of the Grace Episcopal Church, of which he is treasurer. Mr. Grimshaw was married September 20, 1870, in Huntsville, O., to Miss Juliette, daughter of Kemp Goodlow Carter, a native of Richmond, Va. Their two sons, Kemp Goodlow and Arthur Perry, are owners and proprietors of the Grimshaw Brothers Grocery, of Jefferson City.

Mr. Grimshaw is a broad, practical business man, whose worth is appreciated and recognized by the Capital City, of which he is now the official head. His recent message to the council is one of the cleanest, most practical documents which has come under our observation. His home is 816 E. High street, Jefferson City, Missouri.

It is interesting that this biography makes no mention of the portion of this family's life spent among the Mormon community in Salt Lake City.

The Cole County History Society has published the following version of the above biography along with a picture of Arthur P Grimshaw.

Source: http://www.colecohistsoc.org/bios/bio_g.html 

Another biography⁴ for Arthur Grimshaw (p. 853-854) provides additional detail on Arthur's history and life in Missouri; again, no mention is made of the family's Mormon sojourn.

As noted in the above biography,  the Grimshaw Brothers Grocery was at 212 High Street in Jefferson City. A map showing the location of this address (see below) indicates that it is on the corner of High Street and Madison Street.

An 1898 map of the same general area is shown below:

Source: http://www.colecohistsoc.org/jcmap1889.html 

The following photos from the Cole County History Society website are of this intersection as it existed in the late 1800s. Note that the Grimshaw Brothers Grocery, at 212 High Street, would have been across the street from the brown building in the middle of the photo (at 201 High Streed) in the photo below. That is, the business would have been in the row of buildings on the right side of the photo.

High & Madison Streets - 1890's

Looking East on High Street at the intersection of High and Madison The large white building at the upper left of the picture was torn down and replaced by the Central Bank building in 1915-1916. When this photograph was taken, the bank occupied the Hope Building at 201 East High Street, across Madison near the top center of the picture. The Hope Building is one of the oldest buildings in Jefferson City, built around 1833-1843 and has served a number of retail businesses over the years. The building has been nicely restored and is presently occupied by Cook, Vetter, Doerhoff & Landwehr, Attorneys.

Looking West on High Street at the intersection of High & Madison circa 1890.

Source: http://www.colecohistsoc.org/streetscenes_02.html 

In the lower photo above, Grimshaw Grocery would have been on the left side of the photo, just this side of the street.

In the photo below, taken looking west on High Street from the Monroe Street intersection, Grimshaw Grocery would have been on the left side of the street near the next intersection (Madison Streeet)

Looking west on High Street from the intersection of High and Monroe

The corner building on the north side of the street is the Monroe House Hotel and Saloon, built in the 1870s and remodeled in 1884. The building on the opposite corner housed the old City Hall and was known as Bragg Hall. It was built in the 1870s and was surmounted by a "fire bell" which called volunteer fire-fighters.

The George Porth Jewelry House, at 206-208 High Street, would have been almost next door to Grimshaw Grocery, at 212 High Street (just to the left the the building shown).

Source: http://www.colecohistsoc.org/home.html 

While on a trip to England in 1891, Jonathan received a collection of Christmas well wishes from family members in Jefferson City. This document is now in the possession of Cassandra Mattice, who kindly provided it to the website author. One of the entries at the front of the document is shown below. The entire document may be viewed by clicking here.

The Christmas missive included notes from seven of Jonathan's children and their spouses (entries in parentheses are not included in the document):

G.L. Faulhaber

Liby Faulhaber

 

Emma Miller

Louis Miller

 

Ida & Benton (Hart)

 

Arthur and Judith (Grimshaw)

 

Charles N. Seip

Fannie C. Seip

 

Jonathan T. Grimshaw

(Nannie G Major)

 

Henry J Rodman

Netti S. Rodman

Jonathan and Eliza Grimshaw's son, Jonathan Topham Grimshaw, operated a grocery store in Cripple Creek, Colorado from about 1881 to 1883. Cassandra Mattice provided the following photo of the store, which was located at 616 Bennet Avenue. The second picture is a view of Bennett Avenue. 

Jonathan is recorded in the Sedalia Daily Bazoo as returning to Sedalia, Missouri, from Cripple Creek, Colorado in July 1883 after having gone for two years. Jonathan accepted a position as Pacific express messenger for a run between Sedalia and Denison, Texas. An image of the newspaper clip is shown below. 

Source: Sedalia Daily Bazoo, July 17, 1883, page 8

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90061066/1883-07-17/ed-1/seq-8/#date1=
1883&index=0&rows=20&words=Grimshaw&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=
Missouri&date2=1883&proxtext=Grimshaw&y=15&x=8&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1

The New York Times published an article from Dennison, Texas on December 25, 1887 about John Grimshaw, "Pacific Express Messenger", who foiled a train robbery in Atoka, Indian Territory. An image of the article is shown below. 

The Grimshaw plot in Woodland Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri has been located and photographed. The graves in the cemetery were transcribed by Mrs. Ross Geary and published in 1976⁶, and the graves of four individuals were recorded in Lot 67 of Row 1a, which is the Grimshaw plot. Three of the four graves were identified during a visit in February 2012. A photo of the plot is shown below with the plot marker and the three gravestones. The view of the plot is to the southwest in Woodland Cemetery. Although not located and transcribed in 1975 (or found in 2012), it is likely that Jonathan Grimshaw's grafe is somewhere in this plot.

The stone marker for the Grimshaw plot is depicted below.

Mrs. Ross Geary's Woodland Cemetery transcription for the Grimshaw Plot is as follows:

Two closer views of Eliza's gravestone are shown below.

The upper half of the baby's grave appears as follows.

J. Peter Frommer's headstone appears below.

The entrance to Woodland Cemetery at 1000-1022 McCarty Street in Jefferson City is shown below.

¹Grimshaw, Jonathan, date unknown, The Journal of Jonathan Grimshaw (1819-1889), with the Grimshaw Family Records: Minneapolis, Copied from the original manuscript in the possession of Mrs. Carroll Binder, 1951, 19 + 5 p. 

²Jessee, Dean C., 1984, The Writing of Joseph Smith's History: Sandy, UT, Mormon Miscellaneous Reprint Series, no. 2 (Reprinted from BYU studies, Summer 1971, v. 11, no. 4., p. 439-473), 35 p.

³Van Nada, M.L., ed., 1906, The Book of Missourians - the Achievements and Personnel of Notable Living Men and Women of Missouri in the Opening Decade of the Twentieth Century: Chicago and Saint Louis, 480 p. 

⁴The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889, History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage Counties, Missouri – from the earliest time to the present, including a department devoted to the preservation of sundry personal, business, professional and private records; besides a valuable fund of notes, original observations, etc., etc.: Chicago, Illinois, The Goodspeed Publishing Co.  

⁵Chapman Publishing Co., 1895, Portrait & Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis Counties, Missouri: Chicago, IL, Chapman Publishing Co., 670 p. (p. 160-162).

⁶Geary, Mrs. Ross, 1976, Cemetery Record of Woodland Cemetery and (Old) City Cemetery, Jefferson City, Cole County, Missouri: National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, p. 2-3.

Home Page

Webpage posted April  2001. Updated May 2005 with addition of information on Jefferson City, Missouri. Updated March 2007 with addition of New York Times article on John Grimshaw and of Jonathan's ancestor chart. Updated December 2007 with addition of image of biography and photo of Arthur P. Grimshaw from Cole County Historical Society website. Updated June 2009 with information from William Smith on the reasons for Jonathan Grimshaw's departure from Salt Lake City. Updated December 2010 with addition of images of the transcription of Jonathan Grimshaw's journal and associated family history information and with biographical information on the family contained in the Portrait & Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis Counties, Missouri. Updated February 2012 with addition of information from "Book of Abraham" by W.V. Smith. Updated February 2012 with addition of grave photos from Jefferson City, Missouri and information from the Missouri State Library in Jefferson City. Updated March 2013 with addition of Jonathan Grimshaw photo with sons and sons-in-law. Updated June 2013 with addition of article from Salt Lake Tribune on the return journey from Salt Lake City to St Louis. Updated November 2013 with addition of Christmas missive and Jonathan T Grimshaw's grocery store in Cripple Creek, Colorado (with information provided by Cassandra Mattice).