Elder James D Linnell's Death.

James David Linnell was born in Salt Lake City,Utah on September 30th, 1888 to Henry Linnell and Elizabeth Wagstaff. The Linnell family were immigrants from England. They had settled in Salt Lake and were living there in 1909 when James was called to serve a mission in the Southern States. He was immediately assigned to the Middle Tennessee Conference.

In April 1910, Elder Linnel and his companion Orson Erickson "felt impressed to go to Williamsport Tennessee, twenty miles away" from their current assignment. Upon arriving they found Mr Adam Love who had sent a letter to the missionaries requesting baptism. The letter had not reached them but it was provident that they had gone to Williamsport anyway. On April 2nd, Adam Love was baptized by Elder Erickson aand confirmed by Elder Linnell. Just five days later, on April 7th, Brother Love passed away. Had the Elders not followed the prompting, it was likely they would not have arrived before his death.

In August 1910, Elder Linnell attended a Branch Conference at Turkey Creek in Houston county. Six baptisms were performed on the 29th, two of which were performed by Elder Linnell: John W Beecham & James Sidney Beecham.

After the conference, Elder Linnell was assigned to work in Memphis. On October 1st, he fell ill with appendicitis and was taken by his companion,  Elder D. W. Archibald, to St. Joseph Hospital in Memphis. At first he was treated non surgically and he started to recover, but after a week the pain began to return. Surgery was then advised by the attending physicians which was performed on the 10th or 11th. This appeared to be successful, but by Thursday the 13th Linnell began to "sink rapidly." He died just before midnight.

President Charles A Callis reached Memphis Friday morning and arranged for the body to be returned home. Funeral service held in Memphis where "many saints and friends gathered to pay their respects to the departed brother and decorated the casket with beautiful wreaths of flowers."

Elders Samuel L. Smith and Barney A. Johnson, companions of Elder Linnell, were released to accompany Elder Linnell's remains home to Salt Lake City.

From the Liahona: Elder Linnell was but twenty-two years old, but so profitably had he used the time that he had become a most efficent missionary. He was diligent in his labors and a good companion. The saints, elders and friends who knew him loved him. With his loved ones at home his missionary companions mourn, but they pray that the loving All-wise Father, who doeth all things well, will bind up the wounds and comfort the hearts of his parents and dear ones. The young soldier of the Cross gave up. his life for the Gospel and great shall be his reward in heaven. "He that loseth his life shall find it." The Lord sent him forth to do a work and he finished it, and will receive the plaudit, "Well done—inherit the Kingdom prepared for you."  (Liahona: The Elders Journal, Nov 1, 1910 Page 315)

Funeral services were held in the Salt Lake City Sixth Ward meeting house on 23 Oct 1910. He was afterward buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

October 1899: A Missionary Month in Tennessee

A snapshot of Mission news across Tennessee.

October 1899

Rachel L Baird who for some six or seven years had been an invalid was instantly healed by the power of God through the administration of Elders Reeve and Stewart. This occurred in Pickett county Tennessee. The sister had been confined to her bed for these many years but she arose was baptized and came up out of the water exclaiming “I am well now!”

On the night of the 4th President J. Urban Allred and Elder J. A. Kirk were holding meeting in Nashville [Davidson County] when a minister interrupted them and vilely accused them of being guilty of defiling houses. The Rev gentleman was promptly challenged to there and then prove his accusations but he suddenly disappeared.

Elders C. H. Wentz and Thos Halls while laboring in Fayetteville, Tenn. had notice served on them by the Dough Society of that place to leave the city. The Elders did not leave and were not molested.

The Elders in Marshall county Tennessee upon entering Petersburg, [Tenn] were notified to leave at once. The notice was served by a colored boy who said he was acting in behalf of the city police. This was the result of an agitation started there by a local preacher who swung high in the anti-Mormon crusade.

The Elders in Houston county Tennessee were denied the right of laboring in Erin, the county seat and even prohibited from remaining there longer than the calling for their mail required. Some of the citizens remarked that if this injunction was violated that they would enforce it not beneath masks or blackened faces but in the full light of day and in the garb of citizens.

(Excerpt from Southern Star, Volume 2:367)

Louisa J. Beechum: Her Testimony

This letter was published in the Southern Star on December 23, 1899.

Magnolia, Tenn
Editor Southern Star

If you will give me space in your paper for a few lines I desire to say a few words in regard to what I have learned about the Mormons and their doctrine. It was in the month of December 1886 when two Mormon Elders called at our house to inform us that they would preach at the school house following Sunday. I went to hear them and to my surprise I heard the Gospel of Christ taught for the first time in my life. It cut me to the heart like a two edged sword. I was determined to follow the teachings of the Scriptures and investigate their doctrines. I soon became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and I am thankful to my Father in heaven that I have been permitted to live and partake of the Gospel of my blessed Savior. I have a testimony for myself that the Gospel which is taught by the Latter day Saints is the same as taught by the Savior and His Apostles and that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God and if we will live up to and obey the teachings of that Gospel it will lead us into the Kingdom of God while those who do not obey will come under condemnation. I now pray that the blessings of God may forever rest down upon the Church from the greatest unto the least and last ordained I remain your sister in the Gospel.

Mrs Louisa [J] Beechum

Louisa J. Beechum, who went by the nickname Eliza, was born on November 25th, 1861 to Nimrod Triplett and Amanda Busby. At the age of 18, she married Henry Harrison Beechum in neighboring Humphreys County. The two settled along Whiteoak Creek forty miles to the north. The nearest community was Magnolia in Houston County, Tennessee near the mouth of where Whiteoak Creek runs into the Tennessee River.  There in 1886, they first met the LDS missionaries. A couple of the people in the area joined the Church in 1887 and in 1888. But it would be 10 years, August 9th in 1896, before she along with a handful of her relatives accepted baptism at the hand of Elder Henry A. Grover. Eliza remained true to the faith until her death on February 2nd, 1914, in Houston County, Tennessee.

A letter from Joseph Bigham

While researching Elder Markham I found this letter in the LDS Southern Star printed on April 7th, 1900. Based on the content, it must be from Joseph Bigham, an early member of the Turkey Creek Branch.

Magnolia Tenn

Editor Southern Star:


If allowed a little space in your paper I would like to say a few words in regard to the “Mormons” and what I have learned about their doctrine.


In the year 1887, very late one evening two Elders D C Markham and Geo. W. Stranger, called at my father's house and asked for entertainment: informing us that they were traveling without purse or scrip. My father welcomed the Elders in and they soon were talking upon the gospel. I was a mere child, only years of age. The men and their doctrine were strange, yet their words seemed reasonable and satisfactory to my soul. Later I began to investigate the teachings, finding them to agree with the Bible. August 9, 1896, I, in company with my brother, S. A. Bigham, and Louisa J Beecham, were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints by Elder Henry A. Grover. I can say with an open heart and a truthful tongue that I have a testimony that the gospel is true, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God; Joseph Smith a true Prophet of God. How pleasing to me if every living soul could see the gospel in its true light, and be endowed with the Holy Spirit that leads into all truth. If they would but take upon themselves the cross of our Savior, for His yoke is easy and His burden light. It is true that the doctrine of Christ is not popular, yet we can rejoice when our name is cast out as evil: when we are scourged in the synagogues as I have been, only makes us more humble and prayerful. Yes, it makes us more tender-hearted and brings us to a unity of the saving faith.


Yours in the cause of Truth,


BRO. BIGHAM