Featherston Family, Erstwhile Emigrants

One of the frustrating things about tracking emigrating members is the increasing tendency towards mobility. In today's world we will drive or fly across the country for a wedding, or a funeral, or even a vacation. Some of us will do it without much thought, while for others it might be a considerable financial outlay. A hundred years ago the cost was much greater, when compared to average income, and so far fewer were able to take on such travel.

But that doesn't mean it didn't happen. Of course LDS missionaries traveled back and forth across the United States frequently. Though LDS members did so far less frequently, they still made the trip when the occasion called for it. Of course the question comes up about whether a trip from Tennessee to Utah is considered temporary or a genuine change of residence. In some cases the answer isn't so obvious.

The family of William S & Rosa Lee Featherston (sometimes spelled Featherstone, and no, there is no relation to the GA with the same last name) were stalwart members of the Memphis Tennessee branch. They filled positions in the presidency of the branch and its auxiliaries, ever since their baptism in 1907 & 1906, respectively. In 1918 the family felt the pull to head west to join the other saints in Utah. According to mission reports they left sometime between 21 March 1918 and 12 September 1918. Of course they had to have left on a specific day, but records don't always agree, so I'm left with a range. Of course, they may have left on different days, perhaps intentionally in stages.

And here is where their movement gets fuzzy. In one record a family member registers for the draft using the family's Memphis address as his permanent home address, while at the same time indicating he is working as a farm laborer in Cache County, Utah. Then just 3 weeks later he is back in Memphis, as the primary informant on the death certificate for his brother, using the same permanent address. It brings up so many questions that have no obvious answers.

Did they consider themselves only temporarily working in Utah and not really emigrants? Did the family return to Memphis just before this one son died from influenza? Or did they return because of it? Did the father stay in Utah? or were the family seperated, with only the working age men spending the summer in Utah with the rest of the family staying in Memphis?

Ultimately the whole family was back in Memphis in 1923 when they stood for a photograph of the Memphis Branch Sunday School. At least four of the family are in this photo.

Their full names are
William (Willie) Spencer Featherston (1869-1955)
Rosa Lee (nee Britton) Featherston (Note 1) (1879-1945)
William (Bill) Edward Featherston (1900-1974)
Harry D Featherston (1901-1918)
Minnie Margaret Featherston (Note 2) (1905-1904)
Etta May Featherston (1908-1929)
Herbert Leroy Featherston (1914-1973)

I have tried to pick out the faces in the crowd, but the missing names of the several children in the photo has made that difficult. Plus the lack of clears rows. I'll let y'all do that. One of the children was likely Herbert, even though he is not named.

After this photo they again appear to have headed west, this time for Salt Lake City (Sugar House) in November 1923. This time the family stayed in Utah, where each and every family member, except Harry, were eventually buried.

Note 1: Rosa Lee or Rosalie. Long time readers will find it interesting that Rosalie Britton was born in Shady Grove, Tennessee, a long standing enclave of Mormons at the time. Her father, Edward T Britton, joined the Church nearly a year before Rosalie. Although there does not appear to be any familial connection with other known members of the Church in Shady Grove, the possibility of the family having a friendship connection with one of the many LDS families in Shady Grove must be considered.

Note 2: Minnie married Johnie Means, the son of converts from Tennessee who had emigrated to Kelsy Texas. The Means family is deserving of their own post in the not too distant future. I personally get excited when Tennessee family history starts to mix like this. It is like bringing two stories together.

Katherine Alexander and Her Return from Gathering

There were a number of people who joined the LDS Church that decided to go west. Following the doctrine of gathering they moved their families to where the other Latter Day Saints were living. A few, for a variety of reasons decided that after having gathered that they wanted to return home. In the case of my research that meant coming back to Tennessee. In this project I have identified a handful of families, seven so far, that I will be trying to suss out why the decided to return. (See intro here) This post is about one of them: Katherine Alexander.

I have tweeted about Katherine Alexander before. She joined the LDS Church in Memphis, became a Relief Society President, and in 1916 took her family west. I knew she had "gathered to Zion" but I had not realized, until recently, that she was one of the returnees. My dream methodology would be to locate a journal or diary in which she reveals her thoughts. I know that is not likely so my backup methodology it to look over the public record to see what it suggests.

Katherine Pearl Cromer was born on 4 March 1883 in Walthall, Webster, Mississippi to Thomas H. Cromer and Willie P. McComb. Some sources use 1880, 1881, 1882, or 1884. All of them are estimates based on her age recorded in census or marriage records. The 1883 date was an exact figure written on her baptismal record, so I'll stick with that.

She married Edward R Alexander in Washington Co., Mississippi probably in 1899. I couldn't find a marriage record, but that happens a lot so no big deal. The 1910 census shows they had been married for 11 years, so 1899 is close enough.

They lived with her mother in Webster Co., Mississippi showing up in the 1900 US Census. Her father is not there. They weren't in the depths of poverty since her mother owned her home free of mortgage. Edward listed his occupation as a restaurant keeper and said that he was employed year round. The record shows they had no children at the time.

Their first child, William "Willie" Ray Alexander, was born in Washington Co., Mississippi. His death certificate says he was born 14 Oct 1900. His baptismal Record say 14 Oct 1901. I can find no source for the 14 Oct 1899 date on Family Search.

Their second child, Kathleen Alexander, was born in Slaughter, East Feliciana, Louisiana on 17 December 1903. As with most families who move to another state, it is likely they moved for employment, though other than restaurant keeper, which I wouldn't think would require moving to another state, I see no other hint of an occupation. At least not yet.

Their third child, Charles Edward "Edwin" Alexander, was born in Belzoni, Humphreys, Mississippi on 17 December 1907. I noticed the date, though not the year, was exactly the same as his older sister. A little alarm went off in my head to check that, but it appears to be correct. The person writing down the baptismal record even wrote the date for Kathleen wrong, then crossed it out and put in Dec 17th after realizing his mistake. At the very least the clerk looked the date twice, if not more. I could almost hear the the thought process of a little girl learning that her baby brother was born on her birthday. Did it bother her that this one day that was hers alone now had to shared with this crying smelly thing. Or did it create a special bond between them akin to how twins share something special that no one else will ever know? A four year old girl might adore having a newborn in the home. Sadly we probably will never know her reaction.

At the time of the 1910 US Census, they lived in Brown Co., Kansas. By then his occupation was listed as a Telegraph Operator for the railroad. A railroad worker might be required to move to where they were needed. By their nature Telegraph Operators would need to be spread out to send and receive telegraphs. Their frequent moves now have a specific explanation. They may have had even more, not revealed in a census taken only every 10 years.

Their fourth child, Ruth, was born in Kansas in 1910. She does not appear on the Middle Tennessee Baptismal Record since she was too young to get baptized. But we can infer her birth because she appears in the 1920 census with Kansas as the place of birth. Her death certificate is more specific listing her birthplace as Horton, Kansas. Both match where the family was living at the time. She was also not in Family Search. My guess is that the original entries in Family Search were based on the baptismal record. It is a hint that perhaps the family did not stay affiliated with the LDS Church.

Sometime between 1911 and before 1915, Katherine moved the family to Memphis and it appears she did so without her husband. The record does not say why. A Family Search user added a death location in Kansas, but without a date or supporting documentation. There wasn't even a note saying "I know this because that's what grandma Kate told me and she would know first hand." Come on people! We can't read your mind.

In Memphis Katherine met either missionaries or members of the church and became interested. The story of her conversion has eluded me so far, but on March 28th, 1915 there was a conference held in Memphis. Charles Callis spoke and in all likelihood Katherine was in attendance because the very next day March 29th, 1915, she and her oldest son, William, were baptized by Jim Hallman. Katherine was confirmed by Ira Gardner and William was confirmed by Louis Henry Laney.

Two days later, on Wednesday March 31, 1915 the Memphis Branch was re-organized. Katherine Alexander was set apart as the Organist. At this point I have to say organists don't grow on trees. This was a talent she had obviously learned and practiced over several years. Organs don't fit in your back pocket. She must have learned the organ by practicing and playing for other churches. Not earth shattering, but it does give you a hint of her life before joining Mormonism. She attended other churches and did so fairly regularly.

In May 1915, a Relief Society was organized in Memphis. Katherine Alexander was set apart as the President. Her counselors were Edna E. Stewart and Lulu B Maynard, both of whose husbands were in the branch presidency. Bessie Long was the secretary and Rosie Douglas was the assistant secretary. Sister Featherston replaced sister Alexander as the Organist.

Two of Katherine's younger children, Kathleen and Charles were baptized a couple months later on June 6th, 1915 by Henry LeRoy Stewart, First Counselor in the branch presidency. Ruth was not baptized because she was only five years old.

Katherine's name shows up a couple times in the mission newspaper. The first time as helping, probably in her capacity as Relief Society President of the nearest organized branch (Memphis), at a conference in Dyersburg in April 1916. Brother and Sister Stewart from the Memphis branch attended too. Her last mention in the mission newspaper was when she took her family to Preston, Idaho in October 1916. She was at the time serving as Relief Society President and Organist for the branch.

Once in Idaho Kathrine married Antoni P Nelson on 28 November 1917 at the Temple in Logan, Utah. Antoni was a 57 year old Danish immigrant also living in Preston Idaho. He was a widower since 1903 and still had a couple children living at home. Their blended family shows up in the 1920 US Census living in Preston, Idaho. All of their children show up with the last name Nelson.

In February tragedy struck. Katherine's third child, Charles Edward Alexander, came down with influenza on Feb 16th. The doctor treated him as best he could. But after eight days Charles developed pneumonia and died four days later on Feb 29th, 1920.

I don't know if this was a trigger moment for Katherine and her family, but the death of a family member has caused at least one other convert to return to Tennessee. And it may be the case here. The next recorded event in the family was the marriage of Katherine's second child, Kathleen, to Emmet Hamm in Memphis on 22 October 1922. Kathleen's baptismal record does show "Alexander" was crossed off and written above it is the name "Hamm" though there is no indication of a date or location, or even her husband's full name. I'm pretty sure this means that Kathleen was not actively involved in the Church since those that were had more details about their marriage recorded. A look at the marriage record shows it was officiated by Pastor C. W. Webdell, not a member of the Memphis branch leadership.

In 1925, there is a note in Katherine and William's baptismal record that the two had returned to Tennessee. Although the note says 1925, I believe it could easily mean that the clerk recording the information became aware of their return in 1925. This suggests that after their return to Memphis they did not re-initiate their participation with the local Memphis congregation.

It is telling that she did not return to Tennessee with her second husband, leading me to believe the marriage arrangement was somehow unsatisfactory. For his part Anton Nelson stayed in Idaho where he passed away in 1927.

On 29 May 1926, William married Rosa Rebecca Williamson in Escambia, Florida by the county judge. I'm not sure what that tells me. But there is more than meets the eye here. I can't find them on the 1930 US Census in Florida or Tennessee. In the 1940 US Census they are in Memphis where they have had three children. Joy (1928), Bill (1932), and Dennis (1935). The 1940 US Census also says that all of their children were born in Tennessee.

Ruth poisoned herself with cleaning fluid on 3 March 1929 in Memphis. Ruth worked as a clerk (sales lady) at the Bry's Department store. She never married and had no children. Mrs. R E Alexander (her mother?) was the informant on the death certificate living at 857 Poplar Ave.

In 1930, Katherine is living in a boarding house in Memphis. But in the same house is her daughter Kathleen and her husband Emmet, and their son Dexter (1924).

In 1940, Kathleen and her husband are renting an apartment on Washington Avenue in Memphis. But 16 year old Dexter is not on the schedule. Kathleen's mother Katherine, however has an apartment in the same building.

Kathleen's husband, Emmett Hamm, died in 1945. A Family Search user has suggested that Kathleen would marry again to Robert W McGregor. She would outlive her second husband too, who died in 1975. Kathleen herself died in 1990 in Memphis. The connection between Kathleen Alexander Hamm and Kathleen A McGregor is not a slam dunk. Without further evidence I have to say this identification is tentative, but possible.

In 1963 William died in Memphis from Lung Cancer. He had been diagnosed with seven months earlier and it had become metastatic.

Family Search shows that Katherine died in 1976, but I have not been able to verify the date or produce a location.

The wealth of evidence leads me to believe that Katherine probably returned to Tennessee disaffected from the LDS Church. At the very least her children did not continue their association with the Church. The reason, however is still speculation. Was the death of Charles a trigger? Was she unhappy in her marriage with Anthon Peter Nelson? While this exercise has helped me narrow in on some possible ideas, they will have to remain speculations for the time being.

The Conversion of John W Wilson

[Last week a new blog reader found an old post I wrote about her great grandfather, John Wilson. I began with only a reference to her great grandfather's baptism in Memphis, and was able to dig up more info from public records. Now great granddaughter Carrie has shared more information about his conversion. It comes from a partial document; a notebook which starts on page 29, found in the possession of John Wilson's daughter, Ruth Wilson Dana. But Carrie believes, and I agree, there is enough here to get a feel for what his conversion was like. It reads like it was written first person, so I am assuming it is autobiographical. Though without a complete document there is no guarantee. So without further delay I give the conversion story of John Wilson. - BAllen]

[Memphis, Tenn; Summer 1900]
I walked out again for recreation at about the same hour. These people were there at the same place again. I just paused a moment and learned that they were preaching but not long enough to determine what denomination they were representing. The following evening, I walked out at the usual hour for recreation. Something—I did not know what—induced me to sit down on the curbing, something I had never done before on such an occasion. Just as I sat down, the Elder that was speaking sat down and another one took his place and took for his text the Restoration of the Gospel and the Priesthood of God, and the authority given to man through the Prophet Joseph Smith to officiate in his name.

This was something I had been longing for and seeking for since I was a boy. As stated before, the like(sic) of ministers from my view point having this authority kept me from joining any of the churches. I had heard the greatest Evangelist in the U.S. preach, and had visited churches of many of the noted divines, but never did words fall from the lips of man penetrated my soul like those spoken by this humble Mormon Elder on this occasion. The spirit of God testified to me that he spoke the truth and I believed every work that he said.

I was converted to the truth of the Gospel, but it was Mormonism, the very last place that I would have gone to get the answer to my prayer. My heart almost ceased to function when I knew it was Mormonism. I, like a coward, got up and sneaked away, without saying a word to anyone, but I was surely pricked in my heart and could think of nothing else but the words of that Mormon boy, and was anxiously waiting for the next evening meeting. I went out early and was there on time.

I don't recall anything that was said in the second evening that had any bearing on my acceptance of the Gospel. I already was converted. I bought, “A Voice of Warning,” and went back to my hotel. I read, wept and prayed all night, and made up my mind that the next evening I would ask them to baptize me, yet I had not spoken to one of them.

I went out at the usual hour, but lo, there were no elders to be found, as they were not holding a meeting. Each evening for several evenings, I would look the city over at the places where I thought they might be holding a meeting, but I failed to contact them.

I was recovering from my illness, and felt like I was able to go to work. I placed an ad in the paper for employment. A gentleman living in the suburbs of the city phoned me to call at his home In the evening. I went and made an agreement with him to take the morning train and go to his mills in the state of Mississippi. It was very necessary both from an agreement and a financial standpoint that I leave on the morning train.

I took a streetcar back to the center of the city and just as the car pulled up to the corner of the square, I recognized the elders. The had apparently just dismissed their meeting and were leaving. I jumped off the card. I didn't walk, but I ran and overtook them. I introduced myself to them and said, “I have heard you preaching here on the street and I want to be baptized tonight, as I am leaving early in the morning. They said they had not baptized anyone there. I, like Eunic(sic) of old, told them that I would show them where there was water, that I knew several places where they could perform the ordinance, but they were not as charitable to me as Stephans(sic) was to the Eunic(sic); they did not ask me if I believed with all my heart that Jesus was the Christ. They positively refused to baptize me and gave me some pamphlets or tracts. I bought some books from them and I was told to report to them later.

I left on the morning train, went and fulfilled my engagement, but the predominating thought in my mind and heart was the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the longer I worked, on the job, the more anxious I was to be baptized. It seemed the longer I was postponed, the greater my desire was to have it done. Therefore, I resigned my position and went back to Memphis.

As soon as I arrived, I immediately looked up the Elders. They were willing to baptize me and took me down to the Mississippi River and baptized me. John T. Perkins of Pocatello, Idaho baptized me,
 and Ernest Fisher of the same place confirmed me. This was the 30th day of August, 1900. They administered the Sacrament and bore testimony to the truth of the established gospel of Jesus Christ and that Joseph Smith was and is a Prophet of the Living God.

I knew comparatively little about the Mormon church and had heard many derogatory things said relative to the church. There was one predominating thought came to my mind before I was baptized. I had read in some newspaper that Brigham Young would go to the fields of the member of the church, and take three-fourths of all they produced for the Church. This seemed to me to very hard to endure, if it were true. Nevertheless, I reasoned that these young men who were making such a great sacrifice to carry God's message to the world were clean, conscientious, truthful young men, and I said in my heart, if they can endure that, so can I. I asked them no questions because I knew that what they were preaching was the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that they were servants of the living God, and that God would be just in all things, and whatsoever was His will, was my will.

The answer to my prayer uttered in Louisville, Kentucky was literally fulfilled and I know and testify that God heard my prayer and through his spirit I was led to the place where I could be told what God wanted me to do. The spirit of God testified to me of the truth of the Gospel and caused it to bun in my heart that it was true. Before I was baptized, I wrote my mother, father and brothers and sisters, who were living at Rosine [Ohio county] Kentucky and told them what I was going to do, and that I was going to do it, though not one of them even spoke to me again, and I was not waiting for a reply. I gave all I had for the gospel position in life, friends, and relatives, and I think I got the best of the bargain.

John W Wilson

John Wilson's name from line six of page 174 in the Middle Tennessee Conference Baptismal Record. Edited to hide the names of those not related as per guidelines from LDS Church

Memphis Mormons in 1916

As a proselytizing destination Memphis had been comparatively ignored for the first 60 years of the LDS movement. Yes, Wilford Woodruff preached there in 1835 (part 1 & part 2). And Elders Head and Paden organized a branch somewhere in Shelby county in 1840. It was short lived. Before 1845 the branch was gone. But other than that the city was left alone. Several missionaries stopped there on their way to somewhere else. Being along the river meant every passenger boat passing had to stop there. But it was just a way station.

After the Civil War it wasn't much different. There was always some other place the missionaries were headed to. The latest example was in 1897 when some new missionaries arrived by train in Memphis, met mission president John Morgan at the station and received their assignment elsewhere in the Southern States. They toured the city, but didn't bother preaching.  Knowing President Morgan he probably picked Memphis just because that was where he had negotiated a cheaper train fare that month. Writing in 1903, Ben E. Rich said "Headquarters of the mission have been regularly established at Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia." so it may have been more than once.

But that would soon change. From 1900 to 1902 missionaries assigned to the North Alabama Conference would cover northern Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis was "obviously too far" from all the action in the Middle Tennessee Conference to send missionaries. So why not let the missionaries already working in north Mississippi go there. Out of sight, out of mind.

There were a few baptisms. John Wilson may have been the first. But just as efforts were picking up pace, the Southern States mission was split.  Tennessee (and some other states) was carved out from the Southern States Mission and put into the newly formed Middle States Mission. Never heard of the Middle States Mission? You're not alone. It didn't last long. A year later the new president of the Southern States Mission, Ephriam H. Nye, died from heart disease. Lacking a replacement the two missions were merged together again. But in the shuffle, Memphis was made the responsibility of the Tennessee missionaries again.

Funny thing though. Memphis was on fire!! Metaphorically. Yes, there were baptisms just like in other places, but people also moved there who had joined the Church elsewhere (see just one example here). Of all the places in the Middle Tennessee Conference, local members in Memphis began taking on responsibility for missionary work. Yes, that happened elsewhere too, but not in the numbers they did in Memphis. In other places there might be a local branch president, but he served for 20 years because there was no one else to pick from. In Memphis there were at least half a dozen. Today a branch needs 7 Melchizedek Priesthood holders to form. They had that many before 1916.

The Decatur St Church of Christ
(currently used by the Oxford Church
World Outreach) was sometimes loaned
to the LDS missionaries for services
including at least one baptism in 1916

The earliest hint of a modern branch at Memphis was in 1909. Baptisms had been performed for nine years, though it was in February of 1909 that a regular Sunday School began meeting. On March 31 1915 there was a re-organization of the branch presidency completely filled by local Elders. Later that year a full Relief Society presidency was organized with two secretaries made up of all local members which in 1916 began selling quilts to raise funds for the branch. In 1916 there were at least two dozen active hardworking members, not counting children of record, and certainly several more of varying activity levels.

In 1916 they had not yet built a chapel in which to meet, and so were using the facilities which other churches kindly shared. The Decatuer Street Christian Church was one I know of (today called the Decatur-Trinity Christian Church and in a new location since 1969). In later years they would raise funds for the building of a chapel.  The Memphis branch eventually grew into several wards in two different stakes and supports a temple.

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.

Featherstone Family Times Two

In 2010 when the census was being taken I had two homes. It isn't a situation I recommend, but there I was moving out of one and into the other, trying desperately to sell the old one. Like a lot of people at the time it didn't work out like I planned; that's a story for another day. As luck would have it I was approached at the new house by a census taker, and my wife met another census taker at the old one. Both of us gave the information we were asked to give. When we compared notes later that week we realized that we would end up in the census twice. As it turns out I'm pretty sure I'm not the first person to have that happen.

I was working on the family of William & Rosalie Featherstone who were diligent members of the Memphis Branch of the Church in about 1915. Featherstone isn't a common name, and I thought perhaps I might find a connection to a General Authority of the same name (no luck there).

William Samuel Featherstone was born on 7 February 1869 in Watseka, Illinois to Ralph Featherstone and Sarah R Young. On 26 January 1899 he married Rosalie Britton. Rosalie was born on 3 Auguest 1879 in Shady Grove Tennessee to Edward T. Britton and Elizabeth J Barnes. As fortue would  have it, Rosalie's mother had joined the Church on 30 October 1889[1] probably while she was living in Shady Grove, Tennessee.

The details of the Featherstones conversion are lost to history. Rosalie was baptized first on 3 June 1906, William was baptized on 10 February 1907. For both of them it was probably in Indiana. It appears that the family moved to Memphis in 1910, though perhaps in stages, with William going first and the others following once he had a place established.

And here is something you don't see every day. William is is two places at once. First he appears in the 1910 census (on the 15th of April) in Evansville, Indiana. He is there as the head of household with his wife, four children, his widowed mother-in-law, and his wife's divorced sister and her four children. He also appears in the same census five days later (on the 20th April) in Memphis as a boarder. All the details are the same. Same age, race, married (for the second time) the same number of years, born in Illinois, parents born in the same places. Even the trade is the same: slater (i.e. works with slate for roof tiles, etc.)

My first thought was that it was a coincidence. But the more I looked the more I found evidence that these two families were the same one.

• In 1918, a 17 year old boy named Harry Featherstone died in Memphis. His parents were William and Rosalie Featherstone. His death certificate lists Indiana as his place of birth.
• The 1920 census shows the whole family living in Memphis, with the exception of Harry, with the right ages and the right sex.

As for the Featherstone's activity in the branch I'll give these two samples from Church Newspapers.

On the 31st of March 1915, a branch of the LDS church organized at Memphis. The President is Connie P. Maynard, the second Counselor is H. L. Stewart, and the second counselor is William S Featherstone. Brother Featherstone served in several capacities including Sunday School Superintendant, and Branch Clerk. His wife Rosalie Featherstone served as an Organist, though not the only one.

"Brother W. S. Featherstone, clerk of the Memphis Branch, sends in the following report of the four local elders in that branch, for April. Meetings held, forty; non-members visited 112, members 105. Spent 16 hours tracting, 152 hours study of the Gospel, 180 hours gospel conversations, distributed 250 tracts and sold 1 Book of Mormon and two small books. This is a very good report when we consider that these brethren perform their labors after working hours."

[1] I don't trust the date, which comes from a transcribed record book. The missionaries' names were George H Carver and Martin Garn, whose service only overlapped between  June 1879 & February 1880. I think the date was transcribed incorrectly and that the right date should be 30 October 1879. In support of this I do find in the journal of Hyrum Belnap who a record of their visiting a Brother Britton in Shady Grove in May 1880

A Sailor Boy Writes His Branch President - 1943

Excerpts from a letter received by President Stanley J. Bennion of Independence, Mo. Branch from Elwood Sharp, 17 years old, enlisted with the navy, stationed in Memphis, Tenn.

I have really missed the Church services we used to have at home. But most of all I believe I have missed my Priesthood work. When I was at the training camp I was very fortunate in having the chance lo attend the only Mormon services in the armed forces there. Many is the talk I've had with Chaplain Richards concerning the Gospel. I believe he has done more to help me understand the Gospel than anyone I have ever come in contact with. I want to bear my testimony that I know the Gospel is true and Joseph Smith was the True prophet of God. Tell the boys at home lo lake every advantage of the Priesthood work that they can. We don't realize until we aren't active in it just how much it means Io us. I have found it easy to live a clean life in the navy because of the teachings of the Gospel and I owe a lot of it lo my mother and the way she has helped me with my 2 &1/2 minute talks and things like that, explaining and leaching the Gospel to me. It's funny but the little things I learned in Ihe Primary and Sunday School keep coming back to me — Things that I though I had forgotten long ago. When Mom sent me my Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Bible, I was so glad to get them I actually cried. Tell all the fellows to lake every advantage while They can. I am sending you this $10.00 for tithing.

[Clark Elwood Sharp Jr. Born February 26, 1926 Missouri. Died January 10, 2005 Missouri.]

Men in The Service from 1944

by Howard E. Salisbury, Lieutenant—USNR

It has been fifteen months since three of we returned missionaries started our weekly services at the Naval Training Center at Millington, near Memphis, Tennessee. The two seamen who were with me were sent away shortly after we started our meetings and I was left to carry on. In those fifteen months I have never lacked leaders to assist me, among them always a few returned missionaries; yet some of our most capable leaders and speakers have been the eighteen and nineteen year old boys who have made best use of the opportunities provided by the priesthood through the years. I will testify to this before priesthood quorums all my life.

Our numbers have grown from three or four to the record attendance of forty-five who were present to hear Apostle Ezra T. Benson and President Graham H. Doxey on their recent tour of the mission.

My tour of duty with the navy keeps me in Memphis at all times except on occasional trips to the Naval Training Center. On these visits I hold business meetings with five or six members whom I appoint to conduct the services and contact speakers, etc. In the Thursday evening service I regularly occupy the last portion of the time to counsel the brethren and instruct them in the principles of the gospel. The counsel is that which accumulates as a result of the many visits paid me by servicemen, sailors, marines, and soldiers at my office in the police station.

A volume could be written about our weekly meetings, because they are the most inspirational services of worship I have ever participated in, with the exception of a few notable meetings in the temple.

There is actually something reminiscent of a temple assembly in these Thursday evening gatherings. I sit at the end of the first bench where I can see the expression on the faces of thirty-five or forty men in white as they contemplate with the speakers the principles of the gospel. These boys are awakening to the fact that throughout their lives they have possessed a. way which is truly heavenly, and that by traveling that way they are progressing heavenward.

They are men, speaking generally, who have come from communities where contrasts in philosophies of life are not so evident as here in this heterogeneous society of servicemen. The views concerning life which were formerly taken for granted have ascended to the highest place in their estimate of values, because the contrast between their knowledge and convictions and the indifference of their associates is so evident, indeed astounding; a contrast which many of our Mormon boys have never before been in a position to observe.

They come to the meetings the first time wearing vestiges of homesickness which bewildered and humbled them in boot camp. They had learned in the preliminary training that the best palliative is the fellowship of men who hold the same beliefs and standards as they, and who have come from the Zion that now shines with a special glory in their imaginations. After that first meeting they return to gain inspiration and support for the variety of situations which insistently surprise them. Men without free agency seem so sensitive to surprise. Initiative and originality are perforce suspended, and it is with these resources that they are accustomed to arise and meet their problems.

Friendships built on eternal lines are formed among us. At almost every service we say good-bye to one or two of our members who, five months before, stood up and introduced themselves to the group. In their farewell these men, bear their testimonies concerning the values of our worship together. The nonmember friends whom they bring marvel at this. 

[Howard E. Salisbury, born February 4, 1911 in Utah. Died June 21, 1977 in California.]

A Conference in Memphis 1915

ELDERS OF THE SOUTHERN STATES MISSION.

Top Row from Left to Right:—Charles J. Housley. John H. Stevenson, Francis S.

Lundell. Henry Child. Harvey Dalton, Wm. S. Hamblin. Bottom Row:—Samuel S.

Whitehead, Conway Wilkes, John L. Cleave, Conference President, Ira Gardner, Mission

President- Charles A. Callis, Thomas Wilson, Clarence H. Yates.

The conference at Memphis, Sept. 25th and 26th, was a splendid success. Pres. Callis was with us, stopping over a couple of days before leaving for the West to attend the general conference. He delivered powerful discourses on the principles of the Gospel. The traveling elders spoke well and with convincing power. The priesthood meetings were spirited and all enjoyed the counsel and advice received. Elder Henry Child, of the Virginia Conference, was present at our conference. He has been assigned to labor with us and we welcome him as our companion.

[Although the caption on the photo doesn't say so, this is the Middle Tennessee Conference, held in Memphis Sept 25 & 26, 1915 and published on October 26, 1915.  - BAllen]

Mabel Jane Pettit NcNeill

[This is a continuation of my series on Early Sister Missionaries of Tennessee. This sister and her companion may have been the first Sister missionary companionship in Memphis. -Bruce]

Mabel Jane Pettit was born on March 24th, 1894 to John Edward Pettit and Emma Matilda Wilde at Almy Wyoming. Mabel's father was in the coal industry, a career which kept them moving periodically. Mabel's mother was from Coalville so when the opportunity came to run the Church's coal mine in Grass Creek Canyon near Coalville, they took it. During a lull in the Church mine's productivity due to flooding the family moved to Wyoming for work, but longed to be back home. So when the chance presented itself, they moved back to Grass Creek again to work at the Church's mine. Her father's skill and reputation gained him an appointment as the General mine Inspector for Utah. That position allowed him to live where he chose, and the decided on Coalville. It was in Coalville where Mable graduated from 8th grade in 1909. [1]

Sister Pettit served in the Southern States Mission from June 13th, 1915 to March 26th, 1917. She started in Atlanta in the Georgia Conference,[2] where she worked with Sisters Hamilton and Huber.[3] In Atlanta their work included creating positive links with other Churches. A report described one such effort “Sisters Pearl Hamilton and Mabel Pettit, previous to Sister Pettit's transfer to the Florida Conference, upon invitation, attended a social of the Lady Missionaries' Society of the Baptist Church. They were treated with every courtesy and invited to return and pay them another visit at any time.”[4]

She transferred to Jacksonville in the Florida Conference on September 7th, 1915 and worked with Sister Peterson and Rindlisbacher.[5] The President of the Florida Conference wrote that “One [Jacksonville] lady said to them, "I thank the Lord that He sent you dear girls here this morning." [6] They didn’t just stay in Jacksonville. They also extended their efforts to nearby St. Augustine, Florida.[7]

Then she transferred back to Atlanta on May 28th, 1916 with Sister Rindlisbacher. She was quickly transferred to South Carolina on July 25th 1916 and assigned to work in the Greenville Branch with Sister May Ricks.[8] There she also met Elder McNeill and his companion Elder Hammer. Their work in Greenville, South Carolina could be considered typical of the work they were expected to do everywhere. They tracted, selling Books of Mormon as well as other books and tracts. The ran the YLMIA (Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association), Sunday Schools, and Relief Societies, organizing them when necessary.[9] The sisters traveled more in South Carolina than perhaps in other Conferences. They visited the Indian Nation or Roddy Branch, as well as Seneca, and Liberty. [10]  They were expected to use any talents they possessed. Mission records indicate Mabel played the organ and she did so for a meetinghouse dedication in Sarah, Mississippi.

This photo of Sis Pettit and her South Carolina companion 

was published in the LDS Church’s missionary newsletter 

Liahona: The Elders Journal Volume 14 page 366

Mabel was transferred to Middle Tennessee, along with Nellie Rindlisbacher as the first two sister missionaries in the Conference on December 8th, 1916.[11] Although reports only indicate that they "canvassed", and held meetings.[12] It was likely they did many of the same things they did in other conferences.

This photo of Sis Pettit and her fellow Middle Tennessee 

missionaries was published in the LDS Church’s missionary 

newsletter Liahona: The Elders Journal Volume 15 page 126.

Missions don't last forever. For Sister Pettit it ended on March 26th, 1917.[13] Her return was noted in the local paper [14] which also referred to her father by the title of Bishop (Coalville Ward 1912-1918).  By June she had moved to Salt Lake City, and her visits home were mentioned in the papers. [15] She obtained a position beginning in the Fall of 1917 to teach school in Coalville. [16]

In February 1918, Henry "Elmer" McNeill began visiting Mabel in Coalville. [17] He also served in the Southern States Mission and spent his whole tenure in the South Carolina Conference from Oct 12th, 1915 to January 27th, 1918. Elmer was from New Mexico, not Utah, so it is likely they met for the first time on their mission in South Carolina. Mabel married Elmer on June 12th, 1918. The couple settled in American Fork, Utah. They had two children.

From there Mable disappears from the public record. Little was written about her, though she did write about her parents, from which I have gleaned some of this information. Mable died on December 23rd, 1985 in American Fork, Utah.

[1] Park Record 1909-05-29 Untitled
[2] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 13:63
[3] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 13:141 & 189
[4] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 13:286
[5] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 13:237 & 606
[6] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 13:286
[7] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 13:731
[8] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 14:236
[9] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 14:284
[10] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 14:349 & 399
[11] Southern States Mission Manuscript Index, Page 301.
[12] Liahona: The Elders Journal, 14:447
[13] Southern States Mission Mauscript Index, Page 301.
[14] Park Record 1917-04-06 Coalville Notes; Salt Lake Tribune, 1917-04-08, News of the Women's Clubs
[15] Park Record 1917-06-01 Coalville Notes; Park Record 1918-01-11; Park Record 1918-01-25 Coal Ville; Salt Lake Tribune, 1917-06-03, Social Nortes from Utah Towns.
[16] Salt Lake Tribune, 1917-05-20, Teachers Assigned for Ensuing Year
[17] Park Record 1918-02-08 Coalville
See also Emma Matilda Wilde Pettit Biography by Mabel Pettit McNeill

Was John W. Wilson Memphis Tennessee's first convert?

For some reason, we tend to like stories about firsts. Who was the first to do this? or the first to do that? I am certain there were other firsts for Memphis; The first LDS Missionary to preach there? Wilford Woodruff. The first LDS child of record? Moroni Woodruff Alexander (born in 1837). Perhaps there were converts in Memphis in 1840 and 1841 when Elders Head and Paden baptized "several" in Shelby County and formed a branch, though I have yet to identify any of their names. In fact, despite several visits from missionaries both before and after the Civil War, there was precious little preaching done in the city. That was, until November 1899. Elders Madsen and Fisher were assigned as the first to preach in Memphis in perhaps 60 years. It was August 1900 before the first baptism was recorded. Elder Perkins performed the baptism and Elder Fisher the confirmation. The convert was a 34 year old man named John Wilson.

As I read the name in one of the photocopied log books I have collected, I sighed a little in frustration. John Wilson?!! How am I going to sort that name out of the hundreds with names just like him. Yes, I have a birth date. And I have some other key data points but based on my other stories of the Church in Memphis, his name is never mentioned again. Would he be like so many other converts, baptized one day and gone the next?

I was lucky on one count. His baptism date was very close to the census date. Chances were that he would have been in Memphis for the Census a couple months earlier. And indeed he was. John Wilson, born in 1865 in Kentucky. No one else even came close. But he wasn't in the 1910 census. Not in Memphis, not anywhere. And the record gave a clue as to why. He was a railroad postal clerk living in a house full of single men all with the same job. I'm no expert of turn of the century labor market, but I felt like this was fleeting at best. I'd be lucky to track him anywhere.

Usually at this point I give the user submitted pedigrees a look. If his descendants remained in the Church they might have submitted something. But a note in his baptismal log book said "Lost Reptd Topt 09. Texas" Although I wasn't sure what that meant, I felt that he probably didn't stay in the Church. So instead of Family Search, I thought I would check Find a grave.

Surprisingly, there he was. In El Paso Texas, right birthdate and place, right next to his wife. But the best of all, their marriage date 17 May 1905 in Salt Lake City. Maybe I was too quick to discount the user submitted pedigrees.

A few steps later I had not just several more details from his life I had an explanation for why I couldn't find him in 1910. Shortly after his baptism, for some unknown reason, he made his way Colonia Juarez, one of the Mormon Colonies in Mexico. There he met 26 year old Charlotte Butler. It was Charlotte's biographer who picked up the story from there. Charlotte's parents had both died earlier that year, and as the oldest she felt it was her responsibility to care for her orphaned siblings. She moved from Richfield, Utah where she had been teaching school, and took a job at the Juarez Stake Academy. "A few months after arriving in Mexico, she met John W. Wilson, a convert to the church from Memphis, Tennessee." Which explained a little bit about how they met, but not quite enough.

Eventually (17 Mar 1905) they married in the Salt Lake.Temple and returned to Mexico to start their family. They suffered bandits and kidnapping before finally resettling in El Paso, Texas in 1915. John died from a heart attack on 21 September 1952.  Charlotte, already having broken her hip, had a series of strokes leaving her unable to care for herself. She spent the next 10 years under her daughter's care in Arizona. After she passed away on 31 March 1962, she was buried next to John in El Paso.

Nellie Rindlisbacher Anderson

[This is a continuation of my series on Early Sister Missionaries of Tennessee. This sister and her companion may have been the first two in Memphis. -Bruce]

Rosa "Nellie" Rindlisbacher was born on August 16th, 1894 to Christian Rindlisbacher and Anna Barfuss in Millville, Cache Co., Utah. Her parents were Swiss-German immigrants and Nellie was proud of where they came from. The Rindlisbacher family farmed land that they rented, and moved several times through Utah, Idaho, and Oregon before they settled in Millvale, Utah.

Sister Rindlisbacher arrived on her mission on November 29th, 1915 and was initially assigned to Jacksonville in the Florida Conference, and then in May 1916 to Atlanta in the Georgia Conference. She and her companions were not the first Sister missionaries in Florida. Nor were they the first in Georgia. But she and her companion were about to be pioneers in Tennessee.

On December 8th, 1916, Sister Rindlisbacher was transferred from Atlanta, Georgia to Memphis in the Middle Tennessee Conference with Mabel Pettit, with whom she had worked in Florida. In the words of the Conference President Henry M. Child "We are thankful for the assistance which has been given us through the assigning of Sisters Pettit and Rindlisbacher to the Memphis Branch. These are the first lady missionaries assigned to labor in this Conference" [1] Later that month, Elder Child noted that "The influence for good of our lady missionaries, Sisters Pettit and Rindlisbacher, is already being felt in Memphis. They are meeting with success in canvassing and the assistance in the branch is appreciated." [2] 

That assistance must have included work in the local Sunday School. At the Christmas program put on by the Memphis Branch Sunday School, "the time generally taken up in class work was used by Sister Pettit speaking upon the life of Christ and sister Rindlisbacher reading an appropriate Christmas story. "Arise, My Soul, Arise" was also beautifully rendered by Sisters Pettit and Rindlisbacher and Elders Barrus and Ipson." [3]

At the end of January Child wrote that the missionaries at Memphis, "Elders Barrus, Smith and Muir and Sister Pettit and Rindlisbacher are holding a number of good meeting each week. New openings for holding cottage meetings with strangers are increasing." [4] While frustratingly vague, it does imply that the sisters were essentially doing similar proselyting work to the Elders.

There appears to have been an understanding at the time that the lady missionaries were to bring more talents than the Elders. In these sisters' case it was musical talents. At the dedication of the meetinghouse in Sarah Mississippi, Sister Pettit played the Organ while Sister Rindlisbacher was the choir leader. [5]

Sister Pettit was released on March 26th, 1917 and Sister Forslund replaced her as Sister Rindlisbacher's companion. Conference President George W. Barrus made it clear that Sisiter Pettit had been replaced and that her replacement's tenure in Memphis was considered temporary. "Sister Anna Forslund, the stenographer from the office, is with us for a short time. She and Sister Rindlisbacher are having good success and are enjoying their labors" [6] He went on to say they were "doing good work in Memphis. One one occasion they were invited to go and sing to a sick lady" [7]

By May Sister Ridlesbacher had transferred to Chattanooga in the East Tennessee Conference with May Porritt as her companion where the two were "meeting with splendid success" [8] Sister Rindlisbacher was serving in the recently organized young women's Mutual Improvement association. Sister Forslund also transferred back to the mission office and resumed her role as stenographer.

At the August 19th meeting of the East Tennessee Conference, Sister Rindlesbacher, and Sister Porritt appeared in the group photo of the Missionaries of the Conference. The report in the Liahona noted that "Sisters Porritt, Rindlisbacher, and Forslund, lady missionaries, contributed to the success of the conference by singing several solos and duets."[9] Sister Forslund's primary role in the office as stenographer might explain why she was not in the photo with the other two sisters. At the end of the conference, Sister Porritt was released to go home.

This photo was taken from just before her release while she was serving in Chattanooga. Sister Rindlisbacher is on the far right of the middle row.

A month later, on September 10th 1917, Sister Rindlisbacher was also released to go home.

Nellie married Verl Anderson on June 26th, 1918. It is likely they knew each other before her mission. He served in the Central States Mission (1915-1918) at the same time she was serving in the Southern States Mission, and he returned home only a few months before they were married. They were the parents of seven children. Her 50th wedding announcement says she attended Utah State University and actively sang in many capacities. [10] She passed away September 1984 in Millville, Utah, and was buried in the Millville City Cemetery.

[1] Liahona 14: 429
[2] Liahona 14: 447
[3] Liahona 14: 478
[4] Liahona 14: 495
[5] Liahona 14: 605
[6] Liahona 14: 734
[7] Liahona 14: 766-768
[8] Liahona 14: 812
[9] Liahona 15: 367
[10] Ogden Standard Examiner 25 Jun 1968

Memphis Tennessee Sunday School 1923

Most of the earliest events of Church history if Tennessee were in middle Tennessee. But there were members in other parts of Tennessee. This photo reminds us just how many there were. A quick reading of the names doesn't spark any memories for me, but maybe they will for one of you.

Back row, reading from left to right: Mission Elder George M. Nelson, Sister Edwyna Stewart, Sister S. M. Grimes, Sister N. B. Patterson, Sister N. E. Jakes, Sister F. A. Guest, local Elder H. L. Stewart, Superintendent of Sunday School.

Second row: Sister M. B. Barrow, Local Elder C. M. Capel, Local Elder W. S. Featherston, 1st Asst. Superintendent and Secretary; Sisters D. A. Gibson, M .A. Barrow, Ora Barrow, and M. M. Featherston, Sunday School Organist; Sister A. Gulbransen, Primary Teacher; Sister H. O. Fulcher, Sister T. A. Conn, president of Relief Society.

Third row: Sister R. L. Featherston, A. B. Maynard, T. O. Mitchem, Sister M. B. Strickland, Sister B. L. Britt, Sister D. I. Maynard, H. B. Guest, O. V. Mitchem, Sister E. M Featherston.

Fourth row, kneeling. Local Elder W. T. Mitchem, Mission Elder H. V. Mendenhall, Local Elder C. P. Maynard, Second Assistant Superintendent and Theological Teacher, Mission Elder R. V. Christensen, and Mission Elder A. Christensen.

Published in the JI April 1923

Two Tennessee Mission Conferences

In 1910 and 1911, the LDS church made a list of the members living in Tennessee. Mission staff probably collected the information since it appears to be mostly written in the same hand writing as some other lists kept by missionary staff. I'd love to know who it was, but I'm not that good.

Lists of this type may have been collected elsewhere too, but Tennessee is what I know. The handwritten list is organized by mission conference and then by county. I have a microfilm copy and someday I will go through page by page and count the number of members named. Wikipedia says there were 841 members in 1906, though it says so without providing a source. That number could be about right. In Lewis County there are 11 members listed in 1910. But I know of at least 5 other members still living in Lewis County not on the list. It would be foolish to assume that the being on the list - or not being on the list - was an indicator anyones committment to the Church. But if it were, that would beat the activity rate in almost any unit today.

Although it is revealing to compare the list to the names of members I already knew about, the list could also be used as a description of which counties belong to the East Tennessee Conference based in Chattanooga, and which belong to the Middle Tennessee Conference based in Memphis. The results are shown above. I took the chance to outline how Tennessee is today divided into three missions: Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville (and a little bit of Birmingham, Alabama).

I couldn't find how many missionaries were assigned to each conference for 1910/1911, but from 1900 to 1905 there were between 12 to 18 in each conference. A far cry from the 200-300 there probably are today.

Wilford Woodruff & Warren Parrish

This is a continuation of Wilford Woodruff's mission to Tennessee

Wilford Woodruff did not stay in Memphis very long. Presumably he left on March 28^th, 1835, the day after he preached at the Josiah Jackson's Tavern. From there he followed the roads east to the town of Somerville in Fayette County and then to Bolivar in Hardeman County. From there Brother Woodruff turned north, arriving at Eagle Creek  in what is today Benton County. The trip from Memphis to Eagle Creek was about 140 miles and took about a week. Wilford appears to have been heading to meet two Elders already working in the area; David W. Patten and Warren Parrish. The two were probably the first to preach the restored gospel in Tennessee, having arrived in October 1834.

Wilford arrived at Eagle Creek on April 4^th 1835, a couple of months after Elder Patten had returned to Kirtland, Ohio. Brother Woodruff and Elder Parrish preached together for the next three and a half months. Their circuit included branches at Eagle Creek, Chalk Level, Cypress Branch, Blood River, Academy, Paris, and parts of Kentucky that were also along the Tennessee River.

Their companionship came to an end when they received a letter on June 23^rd from Oliver Cowdery asking Warren Parrish to return to Kirtland and leave Brother Woodruff in charge. The two spent the next four weeks putting things in order and preparing for elder Parrish's departure. On June 28^th, 1835, Elder Parrish ordains Wilford Woodruff an Elder.  He also ordains some Deacons over specific branches. Caswell Medlock over the Eagle Creek Branch and Able B Wilson over the Chalk Level Branch.

On July 23^rd, 1835, Warren Parrish departs  for Kirtland, Ohio. While serving together they baptized forty people, according to Elder Woodruff's estimate. From then until the following December Elder Wilford Woodruff would be the only LDS missionary in Tennessee.

Wilford Woodruff in Memphis part 2

Wilford Woodruff finally made it to Memphis Tennessee where he reached an agreement with Josiah Jackson, the owner of a large local tavern to preach in exchange for some food and a place to eat. In Woodruff's own words.....

"He took my valise and the landlady got me a good supper I sat down in a large hall to eat. Before I got through the room began to be filled by some of the rich and fashionable people of Memphis dressed in their broadcloth and silk while my appearance was such as you can imagine after traveling through the mud as I had done. When I had finished eating the table was carried out of the room over the heads of the people I was placed in the corner of the room with a stand having a Bible hymn book and candle on it hemmed in by a dozen men with the landlord in the center.

There were present some five hundreds persons who had come together not to hear a gospel sermon but to have some fun I read a hymn and asked them to sing. Not a soul would sing a word. I told them I had not the gift of singing but with the help of the Lord I would both pray and preach. I knelt down to pray and the men around me dropped on their knees. I prayed to the Lord to give me His spirit and to show me the hearts of the people. I promised the Lord in my prayer that I would deliver to that congregation whatever He would give to me. I arose and spoke one hour and a half and it was one of the best sermons of my life. The lives of the congregation were open to the vision of my mind and I told them of their wicked deeds and the reward they would obtain. The men who surrounded me dropped their heads. Three minutes after I closed I was the only person in the room.

Soon I was shown to a bed in a room adjoining a large one in which were assembled many of the men whom I had been preaching to. I could hear their conversation. One man said he would like to know how that Mormon boy knew of their past lives. In a little while they got to disputing about some doctrinal point. One suggested calling me to decide the point. The landlord said No we have had enough for once. In the morning I had a good breakfast. The landlord said if I came that way again to stop at his house and stay as long as I might choose.

Memphis was a young city at the time. It's founding in 1819, and incorporation in 1826, was funded by a group of investors which included Andrew Jackson, a general of the war of 1812. Coincidently, Jackson was President of the United States when Woddruff made his visit to Memphis in 1835. That there would have been a tavern large enough to hold 500 people is remarkanble since that number of people would fill an average LDS chapel. In addition, the population of Memphis in 1830 was only 663, and in 1840 was only 1,799. The number who lived there in 1835 would be just a guess, but was probably between the two figures. Since I don't hink the 500 number is realistic (though not impossible) I can only conclude that there was some understandable embellishment.

I did look  for a record of Josiah Jackson or this tavern at which Woodruff stayed but found nothing. I did find The Gayoso House Hotel was built a few years later in 1842 and was a large first class hotel included indoor plumbing with marble tubs, silver faucets and flush toilets. That there could have been a large tavern prior to it is certainly plausible.

Wilford Woodruff in Memphis part 1

Those of you who have been following Keepapitchinin will know Ardis has been posting a treasure. Comics about the first mission of Wilford Woodruff. Today should be the first episode about the part of his mission in Tennessee.

Wilford Woodruff was not the first missionary to Tennessee, but he was one of the earliest. It was the evening of March 27th, 1835 he crossed the Mississippi River and stayed in Memphis, Tennessee. Those familiar with the tales of his life will recognize the story. He described it in an article printed in the Millennial Star.

I went to the best tavern in the place, kept by Mr. Josiah Jackson. I told him I was a stranger, and had no money. I asked him if he would keep me over night. He asked me what my business was. I told him I was a preacher of the Gospel. He laughed, and said that I did not look much like a preacher. I did not blame him, as all the preachers he had ever been acquainted with rode on fine horses or in fine carriages, clothed in broadcloth, and had large salaries, and would see this whole world sink to perdition before they could wade through one hundred and seventy miles of mud to save the people.

“The landlord wanted a little fun, so he said he would keep me if I would preach. He wanted to see if I could preach. I must confess that by this time I became a little mischievous, and pled with him not to set me preaching. The more I pled to be excused, the more determined Mr. Jackson was that I should preach. [Millennial Star, June 20, 1881, 391]

In an earlier version of this story, Wilford Woodruff explained Mr Jackson's motivations a little differently. "I was suspected of being an impostor. Mr. Jackson believed I was one of Murril's clan, who were then murdering and stealing negroes" Woodruff believed that Mr. Jackson wanted to test him to prove whether he was indeed a preacher. [Millennial Star, April 15, 1865, 231]

At the time, in Tennessee, the interstate slave trade was proscribed by law. Slavers did an illegal but lucrative business along the Mississippi River. In fact, Tennessee was a hotbed of abolitionist sentiment at the time. It wasn't until cotton agriculture took hold in western Tennessee in the 1850's that public sentiment in the State turn pro-slavery.

I find it fascinating that Wilford was dressed so that he would have been mistaken for a slaver. I'm guessing his clothes were not very clean, and probably not very fine to start with.

to be continued.......

President Joseph F. Smith and Other General Authorities of the Church Visit Southern States Mission

Following the dedication of a chapel in Independence, Missouri, on Sunday November 22, 1914, President Joseph F. Smith and his party take a visit of the Souther States Mission.

711 Fairview Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee

From Left to Right.—Bishop C. W. Nibley, Elder Joseph F. Smith, Jr.,

Sister Rebecca N. Nibley, President Joseph F. Smith, Sister Julina Smith, President Charles W. 

Penrose, Sister Romania B. Penrose, Elder Chas. A. Callis, Sister Grace E. Callis,

Elder Geo. Albert Smith. Sister Emily Smith is standing behind her father and mother.

 

[The following description was written by President Charles A Calllis of the Southern States Mission. and Published int he Liahona on December 29, 1914.]

The visit of President Joseph F. Smith, President Chas. W. Penrose, Elders George Albert Smith and Joseph F. Smith, Jr., of the Council of the Twelve, and the Presiding Bishop, C. W. Nibley, to the Southern States Mission, is the greatest missionary event in the history of the Mission. President Smith is the first president of the Church who has visited this mission. He and his party were well received. They spoke to large audiences: they made hundreds of friends and they preached the Gospel in the power and demonstration of the Spirit.

Memphis.

The president and his party arrived in this city Tuesday, November 24th. During the day they visited places of interest. A priesthood meeting was held in the afternoon with the elders of the Middle Tennessee and Mississippi Conferences, at which good counsel was givien by President Smith and the other brethren. A public meeting was held in one of the largest halls in the city that evening. Several hundred people attended. President Smith, Bishop Nibley and President Penrose delivered excellent doctrinal discourses. A well trained choir, under the able leadership of Brother H. LeRoy Stewart, one of the local elders, accompanied by an orchestra of four violins, two cornets and a piano, rendered excellent singing. A vase of beautiful flowers was on the table in front of the speaker and the platform was decorated with palms. The Commercial Appeal, one of the leading papers of the South, made the following comment on President Smith: "Joseph F. Smith, head of the Mormon Church, visited Memphis yesterday. He spoke to a meeting of missionaries in the tabernacle in the Woman's Building in the afternoon, and at night addressed an audience of several hundred who filled the big hall. President Smith is positive in speech. He is a speaker of great force. Nothing he said last night could be construed as out of the ordinary at all. But as he voiced the plea it was not quite usual. He did not seem to be trying for an effect, but he did secure one. Several of the women who were present held their handkerchiefs to their eyes; several men almost seemed worried. There were plenty of unbelievers in the crowd, but all listened to him with great attention—even smiles were lacking."

Chattanooga.

Wednesday morning, after an all night ride, the visitors reached Chattanooga. They were taken to the Mission headquarters where ' they were welcome and honored guests. During the day historic places were visited. That evening a public meeting was held in the Lyric theater. A great audience assembled. Leading business and professional men were present. The speakers were President Smith, Bishop Nibley and President Penrose. Their discourses were able and convincing. President Smith was applauded at the close of his splendid address. The opening and closing prayers were offered by Elders Joseph F. Smith, Jr., and George Albert Smith, respectively. A quartet of elders sang very nicely a number of hymns. The Chattanooga Times, in its report of the meeting said:"President Smith made an interesting and attractive figure as he stood on the stage of the Lyric last night. More than six feet in height, massive, vigorous and apparently in the prime of life, he dominated the meeting. He commanded attention to every utterance. He grew eloquent through pure earnestness and enthusiasm in his subject.


Dressed in simple black, with a long gray beard that falls to the middle of his breast, he has the appearance of a prosperous, contented farmer, until he turns those great luminous eyes toward his hearer, and when looking into them it is not hard to believe that this man, standing at the head of a great religious denomination, is endeavoring to end his life-work by carrying his teachings to every part of the globe through a campaign of persuasion and education. After the meeting, President Callis introduced all in the audience who desired to meet President Smith, and for sometime he held an informal reception on the stage. He had a handshake and a kind word for everyone."


The Chattanooga News made the following comment: "We believe it is necessary for men to have faith in the Father of Christ and the Father of the children of men," declared Joseph F. Smith, President of the Mormon Church, in the course of an eloquent address delivered before a large audience at the Lyric theater Wednesday night. President Smith is a pleasing speaker and held the attention of his hearers throughout his remarks. He is a picturesque figure, tall, commanding with snow white hair and flowing beard. Despite the fact that the burdens of seventy-six years, sixty of which have been spent in advocating the principles of peace, union, love, good will and good works, as he stated in his address, he holds himself erect and the lines in his face suggest strength of character and gentleness.


In closing President Smith said: "I believe in Mormonism with all my heart. I know its principles are correct and true." "One of the interesting men who is traveling with President Smith is Charles W. Penrose, second counsellor to the president of the church. Mr. Penrose is eighty-two years of age. Within two months he will pass the eighty-third mile-stone in life, and he declares he is as active and hearty today as forty years ago. For twenty years Mr. Penrose was editor of the Deseret News, the largest paper in Salt Lake. He is one of the most faithful and enthusiastic of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, and has done much for the church."


President Smith and his party were entertained by prominent citizens while they were in Chattanooga. They had a pleasant visit with the mayor. They ate their Thanksgiving dinner at the Mission home, and they held a Priesthood meeting and Thanksgiving service with the elders of the East Tennessee, East Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio and Kentucky Conferences, and visiting members.

President Smith's party also made stops in Atlanta, Georgia and Jacksonville, Florida. The building in the photo is no longer standing.

Randolph & Myrza Alexander

One of the families that joined the Church in Tennessee was that of Randolph and Myrza Alexander.

Randolph Alexander was born on 22 March 1802 in South Carolina to Angus Alexander and Unity Murphy. He and Myrza Alexander (a distant cousin of Randolph's) were married on 11 June 1830 in Weakley Co, Tennessee. They had three children: Thomas in 1831, Susan in 1830, and Adaline in 1835.

While they were living in Weakley Co, Tennessee, they met Wilford Woodruff and David Patten. The missionaries were refused permission to preach at the Thompson Creek Baptist Church. Randolph, however, owned the land next to the Church and invited them to preach there. Soon afterwards Randolph and his family accepted the gospel and were baptized on 7 August 1836. Some of Randolph's cousins also joined the Mormon Church.

Randolph allowed missionaries to preach at his home and preached himself at least a little since he had been "run off for preaching Mormonism" in an unnamed town some twenty miles from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. At a conference in September 2-4, 1836 Randolph was ordained and Elder.

Although Myrza was pregnant, they decided to join the saints in Far West, Missouri. Along the way, in Memphis, their fourth child was born on 4 March 1837. They choose the name Moroni Woodruff Alexander, with an obvious reference to the Book of Mormon and to honor the missionary that taught them, Wilford Woodruff.

They were driven from Far West and moved to Quincy, Illinois, and later to Nauvoo. There they lived until the saints were driven out. After a year in Winter Quarters, the moved to Utah and eventually settled in Washington County. Randolph died 12 March 1879. Myrza died 23 July 1880.