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.

They Lost their Home to Fire

In addition to keeping an eye out for stories from LDS history in Tennessee, I like to keep my eyes open for stories from within my own Stake. Often I will meet people from all over the Stake and I get  to tell people who live near where the story happened about the rich history around them. One such story I'll quote here.


President James W Grant [1879-1938] of the Middle Tennessee Conference writing from White Oak, Tenn July 28, [1905] says Elder [Amasa Henry] Pierce [1882-1959, of Fruita, UT] and myself have met with good success in holding meetings having held seven this week. Being close to the line in Maury County we visited the Saints in the Greenfield Bend on Duck River. After a very successful cottage meeting held at Bro. Joel Love's [1839-1917] we were invited to spend the night with Gabriel [Thomas] Greenfield [1874-1954]. We went to bed at half past ten and to our surprise were awakened from our midnight slumber by the house burning, set on fire by miscreants who wanted to burn up the Mormon elders. We managed to save most of the things in the bedroom but I had to go without hat or umbrella the next morning on account of it. Mr. Greenfield's wife [Minnie Lucretia Love, 1878-1955, daughter of Joel Love] is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and they have taken care of many of our Elders. Their loss will be hard on them and to make it worse they had but two weeks before buried one of their little boys Andrew Jackson Greenfield [9 Sep 1903 - 3 Jul 1905]

There is so much here, from the death of a 22 month old boy, to the complete destruction of the home, to seeing the pain of families who would with other families become part of the future Hampshire Branch, and later the modern Columbia 1st Ward. Plus, I know people who live in Greenfield Bend today, and some of them are related to the Love family. I know they will appreciate this look into the past. Gabriel joined the LDS Church himself seven years later on July 10th, 1912.

Abraham O Smoot hears of the Prophet's Death

News traveled more slowly 167 years ago. It was in July 1844, that Elder Smoot finally hears the news of the prophet's death. He has stopped for a few days in the area of Shady Grove, at the home of Abraham Church whose son, Haden Wells Church, had joined the Church in Nauvoo in 1840 and was now serving a mission.

July 05, 1844
On the 5th, traveled 6 miles in the forenoon, arrived in Murry County, at Mr. Church's, where I met Elder H. W. Church, with whom I had been acquainted in Nauvoo, who have been also preaching in the South for 12 months, so I spent the day and night with Esquire Church.

[The Church family home at Shady Grove sat in Hickman County right over the line from Maury County, so it would be easy for Elder Smoot to have made the mistake of placing it in Maury County.]
 
July 08, 1844
Traveled 14 miles on the 8th, passed through Williams Port twice and returned to Esquire Church's and spent the night, but not without having burdens of trouble on my mind from the alarming story that I had been told and came to hand through the medium of several newspapers of the day that General Joseph Smith the prophet was dead_ murdered by a painted mob in Carthage jail, I labored to conceal from my brethren and friends the sad news, by saying we had no right to believe the report, as many like reports had proved to be false in days past concerning him.

[Williamsport is only 3 miles from Shady Grove along the Duck River. Although he does not specify where he picked up the papers, it was likely in Williamsport. A 14 mile round trip would have only allowed him to travel 4 miles from Williamsport, not enough to get to Columbia.]

July 12, 1844
On the 12th, sent to the Post Office early and obtained my letters. An important Erra in my Christian life. Great God! endow me with Christian fortitude, for my for my fears are more than I can realized. On the return of the messenger I received with my letters a "Nauvoo Neighbor Extra", dressed in deep mourning from which I learned the awful tragedy that had been committed on the persons of Presidents Joseph and Hyrum Smith, had been assassinated by a painted mob, in which the pledged faith of the State of Illinois was stained with inocent blood.
 
[After receiving confirmation that the news was indeed true, he immediately made preparations to return home to Nauvoo.]

History Tales at a Father and Son Outing

Last Friday night I had the opportunity to speak at a Father and Son outing. There were estimates of over 90 people there, but it sure seemed like a lot more than that. I would have guessed twice that. There were 12 from my ward that I know of (we are a small ward) and many many more from several other wards.

I was asked to speak about the history of the LDS Church in the area and specifically to include the events of the Cane Creek Massacre. Our campground was on theland of a local Bishop and was within a mile, as the crow flies, from Shady Grove. That town served as a headquarters for the missionaries in the Tennessee Conference for many years. Shady Grove was really more of a plantation of sorts. The home of Abraham Church, later owned by his son "Uncle Robbins" Church, was at the center and hosted missionaries whose names most members know even today; B. H. Roberts, J. Golden Kimball and John H. Gibbs There were others as well that only history geeks know but who were equally famous in their day: David W. Patten, Abraham O. Smoot, John W. Taylor, and many more.

Not everyone was keenly interested, and it didn't bother me. I try to keep my history fascination to myself most of the time. I know not everyone wants to hear what I have to say. But most people were at least polite enough to pretend to be interested. There were a couple of kids who wanted to know when we were going to eat (it started at 8:00 pm). So maybe if give a presentation to a captive audience, I'll suggest we have popcorn or let then roast marshmallows on the bonfire. Who knows.

The next day, we offered a driving tour of a couple of important spots. About a dozen opted to join us. About a dozen more said they wanted to come but that they had promised their sons they would take the fishing. Fishing is big here. My two sons - age 13 and 9 - fished with friends for 7 hours, and I was only gone for 3 hours of that. When I finally dragged them away for dinner, they still wanted to stay.

We stopped at the Church family Cemetery in Shady Grove, and by chance ran into the owner of the land around it. He was able to confirm for us where the original home stood.We also followed the same route we had used before, stopping at a couple fewer spots. We made sure to stop at the railroad trestle and ended up at the Coder Cemetery at Cane Creek. Having already told the story the night before we had the chance to discuss some of the side stories I picked pver the last couple of years, including what happened to the Conder sisters and the other members of the Early LDS Church buried in both cemeteries.

The most interest we got was from members of the Church who were new to the area. They really wanted to understand the history of the Church in Tennessee. It gave them the chance to connect to the members who had been here all their lives. This may not be where they were born, but it is their adopted home. I don't see why other areas could not do the same.

Elder Pratt Jr. Flees to .... Culleoka, Tenn.

[This is a continuation of a series on Parley P. Pratt Jr.]

Not to be dissuaded by a little persecution in Columbia, Elder Pratt and Stuart went on to the next town.

Passing on some eight miles south into the Cullecka [Culleoka] district, school-houses were opened to us and we were even invited to preach in their churches; but as soon as we began to get influence with the people, the wolves in sheep clothing began to howl. Doors were closed against us, and we had to resort to private houses, and to the open grove to hold our meetings. Even then they were not satisfied, for the Elders of the Cumberland church drove us from an eleven acre plot of ground and declared we should not have a chance to speak to the people.
Notwithstanding the many lying reports circulated against us, and the opposition, an intelligent and much respected young man by the name of Hamblen, and his wife, came forward on April 17, and received the ordinance of baptism. Several families are believing and the prospects are that some others will be added to the Church.

A couple of months later enough people at Culleoka joined the Church for a branch to be formed.

Since our last letter we have baptized four persons, ordained a Brother L.F. Hamblen to the office of an Elder, and organized a small branch of the Church at Culboke [Culleoka], consisting of six members.

Leander Franklin Hamblen and his wife Frances very shortly afterwards joined the saints who had gathered at Manassa, Colorado, showing up on the 1880 Federal Census with their three children.

Elders Pratt and Stuart also taught in Pulaski, TN and in a few towns across the Alabama state line. In Alabama they had the privilege of meeting someone unexpectedly.

We also, on June 13, visited J.J. Barclay, ex-United States minister to Turkey. His wife is the youngest daughter of the late noted Rev. Alexander Campbell. She is a generous and fine spirited woman. She sang and played for us several pieces of music, and in return we showed them a copy of the Book of Mormon, and left them some strong testimonies of its divine origin. They seemed to be deeply and favorably impressed.

Both Elder Pratt and Elder Stuart were released to return home and Elder Joseph Argyle became the next President of the Tennessee Conference.

Elder Pratt Jr: Preaching in Columbia, Tenn.

[This is a continuation of a series on Parley P. Pratt Jr.]

Returning to middle Tennessee, Elder Pratt notes a little bit of local history.

The Gospel trumpet was first sounded in this place [Shady Grove] over 45 years ago by David Patten and Warren Parish and the people in the immediate vicinity for many years past have had many strong testimonies of the truth of the great Latter-day work.

This was probably the oldest reference I have found to Patten and Parrish visiting this part of Tennessee. The two wrote letters to the Church indicating that they had worked in northern Tennessee along the banks of the Tennessee River, but made no mention of this area. The Church Family has a long tradition of their having been visited by David Patten in 1835. But the first convert from the Church family wasn’t until 1840, and that was in Nauvoo.

Elder Pratt does a much better job of recording his work in this area.

As a testimony to the truth of the Gospel and of the power of God, we will here mention a circumstance that occurred near Rock Springs. A Mr. Little, who is now in his 95th year had been confined to his lounge for some months on account of lameness and could not walk even to the table without one or two helping him. Learning that we were in the neighborhood, he sent some four miles for us to come and administer to him. We called to see him on the 23rd of March, and laying our hands upon him as the Apostle James directs, we asked the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ to strengthen him so that he might have the use of his limbs. The Lord heard and answered our prayers, and the old gentleman received strength so that he has not only been walking to and from the table without assistance since the above date, but has walked up and down the door steps and out into the garden, according to his will and pleasure. His daughter, Mrs. A.E. Dooley, is full of gratitude and remarked to us, some weeks after, that she had been relieved of a great burden by our administration to her father. Mr. Little is a member of the Cumberland Church. Some of his brethren called in soon after to see him, some of them rejoiced with him while others mocked.

[Next Time: If they persecute you in one city, flee to another]

Mr. Little gave some years ago, forty dollars towards building a church, which was located about one mile from his home. In said Church we had held, from time to time, some good meetings, but the Cumberland priests, in a fit of jealousy, denounced us as imposters, and closed their church doors right in our faces, locking out many of their own members and a large congregation who had assembled to hear.

You never know what you will find unless you ask

B. H. Roberts’ daughter, Georgia Roberts, served her mission in New York. While she was there she met Elder Ulner Morrow. Elder Morrow was from Tennessee, very near the spot of the Cane Creek Massacre.  Apparently knowing of her relation to B. H. Roberts, he invited sister Roberts to come visit. In 1951, Sister Roberts wrote about her visit, and a copy of the long account can be found at the Church History Library, but if you want to get a copy of it for yourself you will need to go to the BYU Library.

I have a paper copy, and I brought it to Church yesterday for a sister in our ward. Turns out that Ulner Morrow was her brother. She remembers the visit, but she was very young at the time and wasn’t asked to join them in their tour of the surrounding area. When I first met her I heard her say her maiden name was Morrow, I thought to myself “where have I heard that name?” In a rare lucid flash I knew, and asked if she was related to Ulner. The broad smile told me I was on to something.

So I brought a copy to Church yesterday and as I gave it to her, we talked some more about other visits she has made to the Conder cemetery to show missionaries. “You know I have a picture somewhere of Brother Horace Talley in front of a cabin with a dogtrot. I should dig it up and make a copy of it for you.” All the while I was thinking Oh! Bud Talley! The first baptism at Cane Creek in 65 years! That was probably the Talley cabin! I know what dogtrot is now! And yes! I would like copy of the photo! But what came out of my mouth was "I would really like that."

Putting Names to the Faces

[I posted this photo a few weeks back. It is a 1948 photo of the Hampshire Tennessee Branch. Recently I met some of the people in the photo and one of them gladly took the time to write down the names as far as she could recall.]

Front row: (left to right) girl unknown, Jean Travis, Kenneth Travis, Raymond Pennington Jr., Carolyn Pennington.

Second row: Helen Travis, Connie Alice Morrow, Rachel Morrow Massey holding her daughter Shorrell, Mildred Morrow (who gave me these names), Ovie Pennington holding her daughter Linda, President Eldridge Travis (who we have heard about before in an earlier post), Glenna Travis, Edna Morrow, Connie Morrow, Maybell Scott, Lidden Faye Morrow, and Robert Morrow.

Back Row: Betty Morrow, Elder Frank Wirig, Mary Morrow, Ruth Scott, Lorothe Rowland, and Eldridge Travis Jr.

Hampshire Branch

I love this photo. I know it is hard to read, but the inscription above the doorway reads "The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" I have not firmly identified the location of this church yet, or if it even still exists.

Frank Wirig, a missionary who severed in Hohenwald, Tennessee, took this photo in 1948. He identified two people in the photo: Branch President Eldridge Lee Travis in the front-center and Elder Deon Hubbard in the very back. I believe this chapel was in Hampshire, Tennessee, a small town 18 miles east of Hohenwald. A branch was meeting there in 1949 according to newspaper reports at the time. And interviews I've had with local members now living in Nashville indicate there was a chapel built there near a creek. Hampshire is in Maury county. Hohenwald is in Lewis County, just four miles south of Cane Creek.

Below is Elder Wirg's description of the photo.
If you have any information about this chapel or the people in the photo. I would be very interested to hear from you.

Brother Travis was Branch President of the Branch. There was a cement block chapel. The creek that went past the chapel had flooded and left about four inches of mud and sand on the floor of the church which had to be shoveled out and cleaned. And in the picture in front of the church, Elder Deon Hubbard (with the wavy hair) is standing on the top of the stairs in the back. President Travis is standing in front.

Two missionaries find a place to stay in Sawdust

When J. Golden Kimball was president of the Southern States Mission (1891-1894), Elder Charles A. Hickenlooper of Pleasant View, Utah and Elder W. T. Ogden were canvassing the smaller communities in Maury County, Tennessee. About halfway between Columbia and Shady Grove, they came to one community called Sawdust. Sawdust was settled in 1811. It is smaller now than it was then, only about 100 families, and was built up around the lumber industry. The two Elders were well received as they visited home after home for two days. They obtained permission from the trustees to use the schoolhouse for a meeting and invited everyone they met to attend. All seemed to be going well and after two days the Elders returned to Columbia, anxious for the scheduled meeting.

While they were gone, however, the local minister returned from his trip to Texas. After learning about the Elders’ visit he immediately set to undo all their work. He convinced the trustees to rescind their offer to use the schoolhouse. He visited every home and extracted a promise not to give food or shelter to the missionaries. He visited the men on their lunch hour and told them lies about how Mormons wanted only to convince their wives and daughters to leave their families and go to Utah to be slaves to Mormon men.

On the day of the meeting, the two Elders made their way back to Sawdust unsuspecting anything was amiss. As luck would have it, their first stop was at the post office. They noticed the postmaster’s demeanor had changed toward them and they inquired why. He confessed that he had been charged with letting the Elders know that they were no longer welcome in Sawdust. He told them about the efforts of the minister and that they should leave.

Instead Elder Ogden asked where the minister lived. Upon receiving directions, they headed straight there, about a quarter of mile, and proceeded through the front gate toward the house. Just as they were through the gate the minister rushed out his front door waving his arms like he was trying to chase away birds out of a cornfield. He yelled as he came, tell them to “Get off my place!” Elder Ogden tried to speak with him, but he would have nothing of it. “Get off my place, you fiends! I don’t want to have anything to do with you. I would rather have a man with smallpox or leprosy on my place than you devils. Get off!”

Realizing they were better off leaving they started back down the road. But by then it was getting late and would soon begin to rain. They didn’t stop at any of the homes they passed, knowing the minister had done his best to prevent them from getting any kind of aid. Before they reached the edge of town, the rain, lightning and thunder had started. So they knelt for a prayer and Elder Ogden pleaded for direction on where to go for food and shelter. When they rose, the impression was very faint, and almost casually they decided to take a side road leaving the highway exactly where they had knelt down. After going over a hill they saw a house in the distance. Upon seeing it, Elder Ogden said “There is where we stay tonight”

They knocked on the door and the man who answered interrupted the Elders as they tried to introduce themselves. “Oh, You needn’t spend your time telling me: I know who you are. Tell me, though, who sent you here?” Elder Ogden replied the no on had sent them, and that this was the first home at which they had stopped. Disbelieving the man shot back “That will do to tell someone who doesn’t know better.” He turned to Elder Hickenlooper and asked “Is this the first house you have called at?” Yes, he replied, which seem to make the man stop and think. After apparently making a decision he said “Well, wait a minute” and he turn back in the house. They two Elders waited for what seemed like nearly 15 minutes before the man came back telling them to come in.

After they settled down the man told them that earlier that day, the minister had come to meet him and other men during their noon meal. After telling a wild tale of Mormon wickedness, he got all the men to promise not to feed or shelter the Elders. But this man said he refused to make such a promise. He had been to Utah before, traveling on business to Oregon and Washington. On his way he stayed in Ogden, Utah and met many Mormons. He knew what Mormons were like and would not be convinced otherwise by the minister. The minister did convince his wife, however, so it took him a bit of talking to persuade her to change her mind. Of all the homes they could have stopped at to ask for shelter, this was the only one they would have been received