Elder Albert Lorenzo Cullimore (an Index)

One of the things I try to do when I start studying a particular missionary or just about anyone else, is sort out the sequence of events. When I have the luxury of multiple sources, I line them up to see if they agree with each other. In this case, my subject was Elder Cullimore. I have several sources; his own mission recollections, along with newspaper articles and official church records. I don't do this with every person I research. But it helps when I have several sources of varying reliability. This also lets me compare stories. If I am lucky, I'll find somethings his companions wrote about him, though I am seldom that lucky.

1895 Sep 27 Set Apart
 Albert L. Cullimore Starts his Mission (part 1)
1895 Oct 2 Paired with Erastus Snow Larsen. Worked in Bedford County.
Albert L. Cullimore in Bedford County (part 2)
...the voice said "Leave," and our lives were spared - Elder Cullimore Part 6
The Wealthiest Man in Your Community - Elder Cullimore, Part 7
1896 Feb 8 Mentioned in Deseret News (DN) article. Working with James S. Farrell
1896 Apr 3 Mentioned in DN article. Working with Joseph D C Young.
1896 Apr 27 Paired with Robert George Archibald. Worked in Lawrence County
1896 May 4 Mentioned as working in Lawrence County with Archibald.
1896 May or Jun Traveled to Summertown (Lawrence County) with Elder Yardley.
"They All Know Me Around Here" - Elder Cullimore, Part 11
1896 Jun 27 Paired with John Jacklin. Worked in Lawrence County.
1896 Jun 28 Mentioned in DN article.
1896 Aug 5 Mentioned in DN article.
1896 Aug 15 Mentioned in DN article.
1896 Sep 18 Paired with Charles Collett Worked in Chester County.
1897 Jan 4 Mentioned in DN article.
1897 Jan 18 "Bring Them Outside" Elder Cullimore, Part 9
1897 Jan 31 Mentioned in the Southern Star as being "Mobbed"
"The Cyclone Came and Passed about 100 Yards from the House" - Elder Cullimore, Part 10
1897 Apr ?? Assigned as traveling/training Elder
1897 Apr 16 Mentioned by Elder Collett as his former companion.
The Unexpected Pin - Elder Cullimore Part 8
Albert L. Cullimore in Harden County (part 3)
1897 May 8 DN Article. Trained Isaac Ensign Freeman. Worked in Harden County.
1897 Dec 18 Mentioned
1897 Dec ?? Trained Milburn Benton Poole. Worked in Perry County.
Elder Cullimore and the Return of the Church to Cane Creek Part 4.
Elder Cullimore (Part 5)
1898 Feb 9 Additional baptisms at Cane Creek
1898 Mar ?? Cane Creek Branch re-organized
1898 Jul 24 Mentioned in DN article. Spoke at Mid Tenn Conf
1898 Aug 11 Released

"They All Know Me Around Here" - Elder Cullimore, Part 11

This is the final part of the Mission Recollections of Albert Lorenzo Cullimore. It includes a couple of odds and ends. There is little indication of where or when during his mission these events occurred, except as noted.

One evening we were taken in by a Mr. Cauls who didn't belong to any church.  He treated us very well, and after supper suggested we attend a big revival being held in the community church.  We told him we would be happy to go with him.  When we got there we noted that they had moved most of the benches out, and had straw on the floor.  There was only one bench in the center of the building for the mourners.  They were shouting and jumping around as we went in; but as soon as we were discovered sitting on a bench just inside the door, the shouting quieted down and the preacher couldn't get anyone to come to the mourners' bench.  The preacher announced that the servants of the devil were in the room.  Soon he came out with a great speech, saying,"You Mormons get out of here, we don't want you here."

We left with Mr. Cauls and went back to his home. About an hour later some men came to Mr. Cauls' yard and called him out of the house.  They told him to get rid of the Mormons or they would. Mr. Cauls sent word back to the church from which these men came, saying, "I am what you call a wicked man and you all know me, that I would not be bluffed.  Just tell the ones that come after these men that they are my guests and I am going to protect them, even with my life if necessary.  Tell them to come prepared to haul at least three or four dead men, as I have plenty of guns and they are all loaded."  After they had gone, he told us not to worry.  "They all know me around here, and they won't dare come." We spent a peaceful night, and in the morning we were invited back to stay anytime.

~~~~~~

From April 27th, 1896 to September 17th, 1896, Elder Cullimore was assigned to Lawrence County which borders on the Tennessee - Alabama State line.

We heard of a member of the Church living on the line of Tennessee and Alabama, so decided to canvass in that section and try to hold meetings.  We did a lot of tracting, but finally found the people.  We found most of the people in the area quite bitter.  The members helped us find a church to hold meetings in but told us it was not really safe as there were a number of moonshiners there, and they may think we were government men in disguise.  We went to our meeting place and were confronted by several tough-looking fellows who told us if we walked up on the platform we would have to be carried off.  The member told us to get out of the community if we wanted to avoid trouble.  He said he thought it best for us not to stay longer and said he wished he could sell his farm, but there were no buyers.  There had been many killings, and three were in the federal prison for making moonshine in the neighborhood.

~~~~~~

There were many interesting things of this sort which happened, but I won't take time to tell them.

"The Cyclone Came and Passed about 100 Yards from the House" - Elder Cullimore, Part 10

There was no indication from Elder Cullimore of where he was when this happened, but the cues in the story hint that it might have been in or near Henderson County. That would place the date between September 1896 and April 1897, and that his companion was Charles Collett. March and April is prime Tornado season for Tennessee with a small season in November,

After a hardy day of the usual tracting and gospel conversation, we started to think of a place to spend the night.  We were refused several times, and it was now dark.  We approached another house, and asked if we might have a bed for the night. After some persuasion, he finally consented to let us stay if we would not mention our religion.

They were very "cool" to us, but gave us our supper.  He (I think his name was Dees) asked us a number of questions about Utah, the climate, resources, such as mining, sheep industry, etc.  Then he brought up the subject of the pioneers, and finally he asked us a few questions about the Church.  We spent a much more pleasant evening than I had anticipated.  We retired about 10:00 p.m.

The house was quite large for only having one room.  There were four beds in the one room.  The man, his wife and their four daughters all slept in the one room.  At bedtime the wife and her four daughters went outside while we got ready for bed; then they came in, turned out the lights and got ready for bed.

During the night a heavy gale came up, and the man got out of bed and look[ed] out.  He was afraid of a cyclone, so he got his wife and daughters out of bed and prepared to enter the storm cellar.  He came to our bed and told us what he thought about the storm and told us to get up.  We did not get up.  He came the second time, but I told him to take his family back to bed, that nothing would harm them.  I promised him that his family would not be harmed, and that his property would not be destroyed.  I told him we were God's servants and he would be blessed and protected for taking care of us.  He didn't believe me and came the third time.  This time he was quite angry at us for not getting up.  I told him if we were going to be blown away I didn't know of a better way than to be blown away on a feather bed, so we still remained in bed.

During the night, the cyclone came and passed about 100 yards from the house.  Not a shingle was blown off the house, or a thing touched in his yard.  The storm passed through the timbers, leaving a clearing as though it had been mowed down.  All that were left were the small hickory, too small and tough to break.

The next morning he was like another man toward us.  He told us of a man who had some years ago preached the Mormon doctrine and caused quite a contention in their midst.  While he did not believe the preacher (Robert Edge), his attitude was changed toward us; and he accepted our tracts and wanted to talk the gospel with us before we left.

"Bring Them Outside" Elder Cullimore, Part 9

This is a continuation of the recollections of Elder Cullimore.

On the 18th of January, 1897, we  canvassed all day, leaving gospel tracts and talking on the gospel with the people.  We did not have a person who mistreated us or refused our tracts.  It was in the neighborhood called Mufflier.  At night we were invited by a Mr. W. A. Purser to spend the night with him, which we did.

[Elder Cullimore and his companion, Charles Collet had been laboring together since 18 September 1896, and had been working Chester County, Tennessee. Mission records indicate the following incident occurred in January 1897 in the northern part of the county. The only town in that part with a similar name was Mifflin. The only Purser family I could find in that area was Hugh & Alice Purser]

Sometime after supper, the customary "hello" came from someone outside.  Mr. Purser went to the door, and we could hear what the person calling had to say.  They said, "You have company tonight?"  He said, "Yes."  He then said, "Bring them outside." I heard their request and stepped out on the porch.  It was a bright moonlight night, and the sight that confronted me at first startled me.  There were twenty men on the outside of the picket fence with their guns resting on the top rail of the fence pointed toward us.  The fear soon left me.

They asked us if we had preached in the neighborhood.  I told them we had not been able to get a house to preach in.  They told us they would not stand for our preaching or being in the neighborhood.  I asked them why they came after two innocent men with all the guns.  I told them we had nothing but a leather-backed Bible to defend ourselves with.  I also told them we had visited in the neighborhood all day among them, and that not one of them had refused our reading material.  I said, "I hope you are not of the class we read about.  They love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil."

I said, "I would like to see your faces," and walked over to the fence, going in front of the guns.  Most of the men had their hats pulled down, but I recognized several of them as people we had visited during the day.

They opened the gate and told us to come out.  I told them we did not want to, as we were strangers to the neighborhood and could not travel at night.  They displayed two long ropes that we might see them.  I told them if they didn't want us to preach we certainly wouldn't force the issue.  Finally the leader said they would let us stay if we would promise to leave before daylight. I told them that was not much of a Christian act.  After some consultation among themselves, they said we could stay until after breakfast.  Then they turned around and fired twelve shots with their guns, cursed and shouted threats at us, swung their ropes again and then left.

We went to bed and were about to go to sleep when we were aroused by a noise.  There was a large oak tree right close to the part of the house in which we were sleeping.  Its branches came over the roof and apparently several chickens were roosting in the branches.  Something had aroused the chickens (and rooster) and they had begun to crow and cackle, etc.  My companion jumped right out of bed, thinking it was the mob again.  Mr. Purser heard us and came to the door to see what was wrong.

[Nothing further came of this incident. Sometime before April 1897 Elder Cullimore was assigned to work with Elder Isaac Ensign Freeman in Hardin County]

The Unexpected Pin - Elder Cullimore Part 8

A continuation of Elder Cullimore's mission Recollections...

After I had been in the mission field about eighteen months, President Kimball asked me how long I had been out.  He said, "You will be going home about October Conference".  In my wife's letter she asked me if I had heard anything about when I might be released.  After the conversation with President Kimball I told her what he had said.  Soon after this we received word that it was not a two-year mission, but a two or three-year mission, or as the Lord desired us to remain.  I had to tell my wife what I had learned.  The next letter from her was the most blue and disappointing one she had ever sent me.  Naturally it hurt me to know how blue she was.  I was very sad and blue myself over it. Her birthday was coming on the 30th of September, and how I wished I had something to send her for it.  I had no money and no way of getting her anything for her birthday.  I thought it might cheer her up if I could send her some little remembrance, and that it would also do something for my own morale.

I prayed earnestly that this desire could be accomplished. As I fasted, I would especially mention this in my prayers.

In our tracting White County, we had to visit a section on the Cumberland Mountains.  It was a flat section on top, very scarcely settled; and the people living there were very poor. The land was so very poor, they could scarcely make a living. The few houses were scattered about two miles apart, and there was very little travel in the area.  We were walking on one of these roads where it looked as though there hadn't been any traffic on it for months.  My companion walked in one track, and I walked in the other.   As we were going along I discovered a beautiful brooch or breast pin lying in the road.  My companion was as surprised as I was.  He said, "Where could it have come from, a new pin on a card just as it would have come from the manufacturer." And it looked as if there hadn't been anyone along there in months.  If there had been, no one in the area could have afforded a pin like it.

I told my companion how I had fasted and prayed for a present to send my wife on her birthday.  He said, "This is the answer to your prayers".  I kept the pin several days and asked the people in the area if they had lost it.   In each case they said, "No, we could not afford a pin like that".  So I secured a little box, and mailed it home to my wife for her birthday.  She was surprised upon receiving it, and wondered how I got the money to buy such a beautiful present.  She wore it until I came home; and when I told her how I got it, that it was given to me for her in answer to prayer, she stopped wearing it for fear she would lose it.  She still holds it as a dear possession.

The Wealthiest Man in Your Community - Elder Cullimore, Part 7

A continuation of Elder Cullimore's mission Recollections...

My companion, Elder Larsen, had been quite ill for a couple of weeks so we went to Nashville, our mission headquarters, so he could get medical care.  While there, the Conference President assigned me to labor with Elder J. S. Farrell.[1]  Our assignment was to visit saints in a number of the eastern counties of Tennessee before Elder Farrell was released to go home.

Our first stop was at George Gwyn's[2] at [Smyrna], Tennessee.  We found a direct fulfillment of a promise in the behalf of Brother Gwyn, made by B. H. Roberts while doing missionary work a few years earlier.  Elder B. H. Roberts had held a meeting in a school house in [Smyrna]; and after the meeting was over, everyone left and Elder Roberts was left alone.  A Mr. George Gwyn, a young man very poor and living in a one-room house, could not stand to see the preacher left alone; and he went back to ask him to go home with him.  He told Elder Roberts of his conditions at home and what he had, but said if he could put up with it he was welcome to come home with him.  Elder Roberts went with Mr. Gwyn. Mrs. Gwyn was rather put out at her husband's bringing the preacher home to their one room home.  They divided the bedding, putting part of it on the floor; then they invited Elder Roberts to take his choice of beds.  Mrs. Gwyn went outside while Elder Roberts went to bed; then she came in, blew out the lights and went to bed.

When they arose in the morning, Elder Roberts said to Mr. Gwyn, "You are now one of the poorest young men in [Smyrna].  I promise you that the Lord will bless you for what you have done, and I promise you in the Name of the Lord that you will live to be the wealthiest man in your community."

At our visit with him he surely was by far the wealthiest man in the community, and a good Latter-day Saint.

[1] Possibly James S. Ferrell of Alpine, Utah.

[2] George Washington Gwyn (1855-1917) was baptized on 19 April 1895 (His wife and several of his children were baptized in 1897) and in December of 1898 he and his wife Virginia "Jennie" Richardson Hager along with their youngest daughter (Fannie May Gwyn - age 7), made the trip to Utah  where they were family sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. George Gwyn was a farmer and, according to the 1900 census, the Gwyn family owned their farm free and clear, and had enough money to send (at least) his three youngest to school. (next week a letter from George Gwyn to the LDS Southern Star)

It is possible that this young man may have met B H Roberts in Wilson County, where Gwynn's family was from and where Roberts was actually preaching at the time Gwynn was a young man. Of course, this is Elder Cullimore's recollection and as such certainly isn't a primary source. Cullimore even misspelled Smyrna as Smyma. 

...the voice said "Leave," and our lives were spared - Elder Cullimore Part 6

A continuation of Elder Cullimore's mission Recollections...

Another incident that I remember well was the time that we went back to a town where we had been very well accepted at one time. We had a little trouble in finding a place to stay; however, a family said we could stay at their place if we could find a place to hold our meetings.

We went to the school trustee and arranged to hold our meetings in the building that was used for a church and school house.  We went back to the place we were going to stay to clean up a little and changed, and I sensed the feeling was different.  We went to the meeting place.  It was the custom for each person to bring an oil lamp with them, as there was no other way of lighting the place.  No one came but the preacher, and a blind woman led by a little boy.  We knew something was wrong, but we decided to go ahead with the services.  We put our books on a stand, and our cases and umbrellas on the platform.  There was a weed stove in the middle of the room, so we decided to put the lamp on it and hold the meeting there.

It was a long narrow building with three windows on each side and double doors in the front of the building.  There was a mob gathered around, and at a signal they began to throw rocks through the windows and doors.  I have never seen so many rocks being thrown.  They broke the benches, there was not a pane of glass left in the windows.  The sashes of the windows were even broken.  The preacher and the blind woman were pleading with the mob to let them out, but they replied that they were just as bad as we were or they wouldn't be there.

I was wondering what to do when a voice spoke to me, as plain as I am speaking to you now, and said but one word, "Leave."  I told my companion to follow me.  We ran out through the front of the building without the mob even seeing us.  We ran down the road through the trees until we came to the crossroads.  There was a big oak tree there; we hid behind the tree.  It was not long until the mob discovered we had left.  The strange thing was, however, we got out without them seeing us; but the voice said "Leave," and our lives were spared.

The mob took after us; and, as they came to the crossroads, they had a conference to decide which way to go.  It was decided that part would go one way, and the balance the other way.  Each took ropes and said they would hang one up and fill him with lead and let him down, and then string the other one up and do the same thing to him.  Here we were just a few feet away while all the plans were being made.

We went back to the building to get our belongings, but there were several of the mob still around the building; so we went back to the tree and stayed until after midnight.  We then went to Smithville, County Seat of Hickman County. [Smithville is the seat of DeKalb County]  We went to the proprietor of the hotel, got him up, and told him our story.  He furnished us with a bed.  I told my companion to stay in the room while I went back to the meeting house to get our belongings.  I went back and was successful in getting them.  When I went back to the meeting place, I found it would take three or four wheelbarrows to haul all the rocks out of the building which they had thrown at us.  When I got back to the hotel, Elder Larsen was on the corner telling the people of the incidents of the night before.  The Lord had again protected his elders.

Elder Cullimore (Part 5)

A continuation of Elder Cullimore's mission Recollections...

On this trip we stopped at the home of Mr. Nephi Patterson.  He was a Primitive Baptist (hard shelled).  We talked most of the night with him, but did not accomplish very much.  Our chief topic was pre-destination.  We had several conversations with him and then we were called back to Chester County.  A few days later a severe hail storm came and destroyed most of his crops.  He went out into the fields and stomped on the destroyed crops and cursed the Lord.  He was struck down with paralysis.

The first audible sounds he made were, "Cullimore, Cullimore." So they sent for me and I went to see him.  Mrs. Patterson wrote for me to come, at his request.  So I went.  He told me the difference between us was not as great as he had thought.  He told me that he would be baptized if he got well--but he waited too long.

In my missionary travels I did not have to sleep out in the woods at all, but sometimes we had very uncomfortable places to sleep. One night we slept just like a dog on a pile of cotton, just as it had been brought in from the field, husks and all.  It was not the most comfortable bed.  As we walked and walked, the soles of my shoes wore thin.  Soon there was a hole in the center.  I covered it with paper, but as it got larger I put cardboard in it.  We were good at mending our clothes.  We washed our shirts in big iron kettles and hit them with a board paddle to get the dirt out.  After one of these washings my shirt slit on each side of where my tie would go.  I sewed it up the best I could.  The dew and the sun turned my clothes red.  The band of my hat got ragged and dirty so I took it off.  While walking through the woods a stick ran through the top of my duffy hat, making a hole in it.  A lady gave me some flour and a piece of cloth, and I made a patch and pasted it in.  I tore my pants on a huckleberry bush.  I was very grateful for the mending bag my mother had made for me before I left home; it had a needle, thread, etc., in it. I took off my trousers and sewed up the eight-inch tear as best I could.

In one of the towns nearby we got permission from the judge to hold a meeting in the courthouse.  After our meeting, a Universalist preacher, Reverend Whittley, jumped up and said how Mormons belittled women.  He talked very degrading about the Mormon women and our teachings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. After he finished his declarations, he left before he could be refuted personally, but we were able to refute the things he had said to the congregation.

We stopped with three boys next who were quite wealthy.  Their parents were dead and they were living alone.  They had servants and all evidence of wealth.  We went on to the County Seat which was a distance of about five miles.   I was very discouraged about the condition of my clothes and conditions in general.  I thought I had prayed sincerely about the matter, but I suppose I had not.  At this time I prayed as I have never prayed before. I told the Lord I needed a pair of shoes, two shirts, a hat and a pair of trousers.  I asked that the way might be opened up that I might get them.

We went to the post office, and there were three letters for me; each contained money.  We went to Hendersons to get our tracts and books, which came by train.  When we got to the station, there sat Reverend Whittley, the Universalist preacher, who so insulted the women of the Church and my wife and mother.  I looked at him and said: "I at last have you where I want you. You must apologize for what you said about my wife and mother". Of course he refused, and we had a big argument.   He wanted to leave, but I would not let him go.  A crowd began to gather around us.   He finally gave me a dollar, and wished me God's speed and left.  It was the hardest thing I ever did to take the dollar from him, but I did.  It was an answer to prayer.

A young girl whom we had met before put a dollar in my hand, and told us their father had a letter for us which had been put with his mail.  He had opened it by mistake.  I received letters from two friends, one from Uncle Birdsell, and two from people I didn't know well.  Each letter contained money.  I went to a haberdasher across the street who was having a sale.  I bought two shirts, a pair of shoes, a pair of trousers and a hat.  When the items were all added up, I had just enough money to the penny to pay for them, after he had deducted the discount.  This was truly an answer to prayer.  I have often thought had I refused to take the dollar from the Reverend Whittley, which was so hard for me to accept, I probably would not have received the other money I had asked for.  We must humble ourselves and accept the ways of the Lord.

Albert L. Cullimore in Harden County (part 3)

This is a continuation of Albert Cullimore's mission recollections. You can see all the portions here.

After I had been in the Mission a year and eight-months, I was assigned by President Elias S. Kimball, the Mission President, to do special missionary work.  I was to help "break in" new elders and visit with them.  There were so many elders coming into the mission field at one time, there were not enough older elders to train them.  There were about 60 elders in the conference, and three conferences in Tennessee [1]  with a total of about 200 elders. There were four elders assigned to this particular responsibility.  We were to help the missionaries in any way we could, to train them, give inspiration, etc.

Soon after I was given this assignment, President Kimball had a letter from Elders Isaac Freeman and Ernest E. Brown, working in Harden County, Tennessee.  Elders Brown and Freeman got into a friendly county, and in every neighborhood they had opportunity to preach.  They had not been out long and had been asked to talk on many different subjects.  They did not feel qualified to accept the responsibility without a little help.  President Kimball wrote to Elder Don Carlos Young, Conference President, and asked that I be sent to work with them.  On arriving at where Elders Brown and Freeman were laboring, my companion went with Elder Brown; and I was to take Elder Freeman and go back through the county and hold a series of meetings in each neighborhood.

Elder Freeman was a wonderful elder, but was subjected to much ridicule because of a physical handicap.  He was extremely bow-legged, and as we walked down the street the people would shout at him, "Quack, Quack".

Elder Freeman wrote cards to friends to make appointments for meetings.  He notified them we would be there on Monday night to hold a series of meetings--one during the day and one at night. When the elders were there before, they held their meetings in the Community Church which had been opened for all denominations to use.  A friend who had received a card from Elder Freeman, telling of these meetings, announced it in Sunday School.  The minister became very angry and said that "the elders could not hold a meeting in that church.  Anyone could hold a meeting there, but not the Mormons".

Some of the congregation objected, and the minister and his son became very angry.  The son was so angry that he started foaming at the mouth and acted like a maniac.  In fact, he became so bad they had to carry him out of the meeting.  Then when they got him home they had to chain him to the old-fashioned lounge they had in their home; and his father, the minister, had to stay with him.

When we arrived there, we were told of the incident.  We went ahead and held our meeting undisturbed.  We had meetings all week as planned.  The son of the minister stayed in this bad condition all the time we were there, and the father had to stay with him because there was no one else who could do anything for him. After we had completed our meetings, friends wrote us telling us that he was alright.  They were able to release his chains and let him up to go about his activities.  The elders were protected from harm in this manner, and had the privilege of holding meetings in the church house.

President Elias S. Kimball was released as Mission President, and Ben E. Rich took his place.

[1] At the time these would have been East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and Chattanooga. East Tennessee would have included part of North Carolina, and Chattanooga would have included part of Georgia. Memphis would have been part of the North Mississippi Conference, and northwest Tennessee would have been part of the West Kentucky Conference.

Albert L. Cullimore in Bedford County (part 2)

This is part 2 of the missionary recollections of Albert L. Cullimore. He had just arrived in the mission and was assigned to work in Bedford County.

We were told to travel without purse or script as the missionaries of old had done.  We were in Chattanooga at the time.  I must confess my weakness, when I started out I took a five dollar gold piece with me.  As we would tell people we were traveling without purse and script, the gold piece got bigger and bigger, until I sent it back to the office.

One of the first thrills of my mission was when Elder Erastus Larsen, my companion from Cache County, took me to call on a convert to the Church, a Brother Collins.  Brother Collins [Francis U. Collins] had been baptized in the fall or winter [5 May 1895].  Elder Larsen said, "I promised Brother Collins that if he would faithfully pay his tithing and live the teachings of the gospel as he had been taught, he would prosper.  I told him if he paid his tithing and was a faithful member he would not lose a thing."  As we approached the home of Brother Collins, I noticed his crops of corn seemed to be double that of his neighbor's.  The soil was apparently the same quality, all other conditions seemed the same so far as material was concerned.  This was faith-promoting to me.

On December 15, I received word that my son, Lloyd, had been born December 10th.  This was indeed a wonderful message.

Elder Larsen and I were assigned to labor in Bedford County.  We started at once to tract.  We left a tract at one home, the lady was out raking the lawn.  She picked up the rake and told us to get out of the yard or she would hit us over the head with the rake.  The next place they turned their dogs on us, and the next place we were told to get off the place.  It was very discouraging and disheartening.   It was about time to stop for the day, finally we went to a home where the man of the house told us he would give us a bite to eat and a place to sleep. When we went to bed the man locked us in the room.  The next morning he awakened us at 3:00 a.m., we ate breakfast and he told us that he was going to work.  We told him not to let us detain him.  In a few minutes he repeated that he was going to work.  We again told him not to let us hinder him.  Then he said, "Before I go, you must leave this house."  It was 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. in October.  We were not familiar with the surroundings, but had to wander around in the cold and dark until daybreak.

We were very concerned about the unfriendly treatment that we were getting in this part of the county, so we worked to find the reason for the people reacting as they did.  Then we were told this story:  "A short distance away a Mormon missionary had stolen a Mrs. Shelton and taken her to Utah, so all the neighborhood had declared vengeance on the Mormons." My companion and I checked the story.  We went to talk with Mr. Shelton.  We found that his wife had joined the Church and gone to Colorado with his consent.  He said that she had left at the same time Elder Ezra Walker was released from his mission [in 1887].  She had gone with Elder Walker, not by force, but because she was going to Colorado to make her home and wanted company.  Elder Walker was innocent of any accusations.  Mrs. Shelton had gone to Colorado, and Elder Walker had gone to his home in Utah.  We were happy to get the story straight and refute the accusations.

[Elder Walker married twice: Laura Jane Brown in 1881, (she passed away in 1882, six days after their only child was born) and Annie Swensen in 1889. He certainly didn't marry Mrs Shelton. However, I have not been able to find Mrs.Shelton in Colorado, or locate her on the Tennessee baptism record. Plus there are lots of Shelton's in Bedford County in the 1880 census.]

Everything wasn't as easy as we had expected, however, very few believed us when we told them of Mr. Shelton's statement.  One person, after we told him of Mr. Shelton's statement, said it was not true.  He picked up two rocks and said, "D___ you, don't you call me a liar or I will kill both of you."  He ordered us off his place, calling us every vile name he could think of.  His neighbor lady treated us nearly as bad.  She said if she had known who we were we wouldn't have gotten through her gate.  She ordered us out, calling us thieves and robbers, and told us never to come back.

In the same neighborhood another man would not believe our statement about Mrs. Shelton, and came at us like a mad dog--threatened to shoot us and would not allow us to speak back, under threat of our lives.  He said if we ever came along that road again he'd kill us.

We had many similar experiences in this section of the County.

Albert L. Cullimore Starts his Mission (part 1)

The following, as well as all the parts to follow, were dictated in December 1952.

The Missionary Experiences of Albert Lorenzo Cullimore

I received my call for a mission in August of 1895, from President Wilford Woodruff, then President of the Church.  I left for the mission field on September 27, 1895.

The Bishop called together for interview, a group of men who he thought worthy to go on a mission.  On this occasion, there were seventeen of us in the group.  There was no question as to whether it was a convenient time, or whether one was able to go; he was expected to be ready to go at any time.  It was considered a divine call and was readily accepted.

After the interview by the Bishop, and the recommendation to the First Presidency, the call was issued.  We were again called into the bishop's meeting and given our call, and then assigned which month we should leave.  I was asked to leave the following month, September.

One of the chief problems in leaving was to see to it that my family was provided for while I was gone.  Merle was two years old when I was called; and my wife, Luella, was expecting another child in three months.  This made my concern about leaving even greater.

My brother, William, had just recently returned from his mission. While he was away, I managed his farm for him, getting the provisions for his family.  I cut and hauled their wood for fuel, took care of the cows, etc.  Of course all proceeds from the farm went to his wife and family.  There was no sharing in profits for running the farm.  It was a responsibility that I accepted for him.  Luella and I even moved in with Aunt Lizzie and her family for a short time while Will was gone.  It was while living with them that Merle was born.

When my call came to go on my mission, Will reciprocated.  This way we knew that our families would have the necessities of life while we were away, and someone would look after them.

After I had been interviewed by the Bishop and the month had been set for me to leave, I had an interesting and impressive dream. I dreamed I got on a train; we went a long distance some place, where I am not sure.  I was impressed by the sharp curve that the train went around and the loud whistle that it gave.  Just after going around the curve, the train came to a stop.  Two people were there to greet us.  We walked some distance through the timbers and came to a house.  The house was a log house with a chimney on the outside, built up with mortar.  As we approached the house there were people out to greet us.  They said they had been waiting for us.  We went into the house and had a big meal.

My dream impressed me so much that I told my brother, Will, about it.  He said, "Al, you will be assigned to the Southern States Mission.  The home as you described it was exactly as some of the homes in the South are built.  You described the house better than I could."  (My brother, Will, had been in the Southern States on his mission.)

When my call came, it was to the Southern States Mission. President Elias S. Kimball of the Southern States Mission assigned me to go to Bedford County, Tennessee.  As we were traveling along on the train we went around a sharp turn and the whistle blew, immediately the scene came back to my mind as vividly as it was in my dream.  (I had forgotten about the dream until the particular incident revived it.)

The train was late.  There were two missionaries at the station to meet us.  They told us that some members, the Durhams, had prepared dinner for us; and they knew that they would be waiting for us, so we would take a back path through the timber.  There in the clearing I saw the house just as natural and vivid as if I had lived there for years.  The people hurried out to greet us, and we enjoyed a big supper which they had prepared for us.  This dream and the incident that followed was very inspiring and important to my missionary experiences.

(To be continued...)

Elder Cullimore and the Return of the Church to Cane Creek

Much of the attached post was written by Grace G. Cullimore. Her father-in-law Albert Lorenzo Cullimore served a mission in the Southern States in the late 1890's and had been assigned to Middle Tennessee. After he came home, he delighted in telling his family stories about his mission. In 1952, during a visit from her in-laws, she persuaded her father-in-law to allow her to write the stories as he told them. He dictated and she wrote - long hand. Then he agreed to edit them and the result was wonderful. I have taken only a section covering two visits to Cane Creek. But there is so much more to share. For now, enjoy.

[December 1897]
We were told to go to Perry County; a new missionary was assigned to go with me.  There was an Elder Milburn [Benton] Poole [1871-1960], whom another elder had been assigned to go with; but he refused to be his companion.  So I was asked to take him.  He was a very determined individual who was always right.  As soon as we started on our travels, Elder Poole started to complain and talk on infidelity. He told me the only reason he had come on his mission was to please his mother.

[These two Elders were leaving a mission conference where they had been paired together and were going to their assigned area for the first time.]

We were told that Perryville was due west from Duck River about 30 miles away; there was a straight highway, and we could not miss the road.  As we walked, I told him that we were going more to the south than to the west; but he snubbed me and we continued as he insisted.  We traveled for miles and saw no homes. Finally, we came to a place where the railroad and the road intersected; and a negro man was walking down the track.  I asked him how far it was to the Lewis County line.  He told me that it was back down the road about two miles; we were already in Lewis County.

[Even today there are only two rail lines the enter Lewis County. One cuts through the south east corner at Summertown. The other enters from the north, runs through Kimmins and dead ends in downtown Hohenwald. Since they were heading from Duck River to Perryville, which would have taken them along the north side of Lewis County, these two must have come across the northern rail line.]

We had been told to stay out of Lewis County because of the mobbings.  It was in Lewis County that Elder John Gibbs and Elder William S. Berry, two Mormon missionaries, had been shot by the mob.  At the same time, two members of the Church were killed and several injured.  Mrs. Conder had part of her hip shot off, and it was her two sons who had been killed by the mob.  The leader of the mob was killed.  His name was Dave Henson.  Here we were in Lewis County and it was getting dark.  We went to a little town named [Kimmins]; there were about seventy families in the town.   We canvassed the town for a place to sleep.  We were refused at every home.

[Elders Cullimore and Poole were not the first back to Cane Creek. Willard W. Bean went in 1895 albeit in disguise as a lumber agent. And there were two missionaries - Nelson and Bench - who walked through Lewis County in about June 1897, 6 months earlier. The earlier missionaries did not try to find someone to put them up for the night, but they did talk to a few residents. They had no problems with any kind of mob, but they did not visit any of the members, or baptize anyone.]

We went to see the groceryman, James Cunningham, and explained to him that we were on the wrong road and were very sorry that we were in Lewis County.  He finally said he would give us entertainment.  He said, "I'm happy you didn't come any sooner; a man named John Henson, brother of the mob leader, just left the store.  He had his gun with him.  He has carried it with him ever since the shooting and swears he will shoot the first Mormon missionary he sees, on sight."

[A story very similar to this was told about David Hinson's little brother Babe Hinson, but I've not heard much about John.]

We had been instructed not to travel on Christmas.  It was the morning of December 24th.  The merchant with whom we had spent the night was also a peanut buyer and showed us through his plant.  He directed us to a family of Mormons in [Cane] Creek, by the name of [Elisha and Barbara] Talley.  We found the family, but found that they had been in Colorado and were very dissatisfied and had returned almost apostate.  After talking with us he finally agreed to let us stay with them over Christmas Day.  (Christmas Day then, was the day when there was excessive drinking and hilarious conduct; so we were not to be on the streets.)

[In 1884, after the massacre, the Talleys sold some of their land, to finance their move to Colorado, but had to lease out the balance with no hope of collecting on it. They stayed in Colorado perhaps only a year before they returned to Tennessee, frustrated with the weather, politics, poor economy, and the pervasive role the Church played in their lives, and took possession of their old home they had leased out on Cane Creek.]

We were taken by our host to the scene of the mobbings and killings of Elders Gibbs and Berry.  After a while, a messenger came to the house and told them that the mob had heard that my companion and I were in town, and they were assembling to run us out of town.  So Brother Talley and his son put us on mules, and took us out of town about eight or ten miles and left us.  It was three or four o'clock in the morning.

[Brother Talley probably took them northwest along Cane Creek into Perry County. The Conder's - Jim, Malinda and their oldest daughter Rachel, had moved to Perry County and by 1897 had not yet moved to Trace Creek next door to their younger married daughter, Vicie Haley.]

After they left us we traveled about 18 miles until we found the Conders.  As stated before, the Conder boys were killed by the mob; and Mrs. Conder had part of her hip shot off by the mob. This was August 10, 1884.  Since the killing, they had moved about 18 miles from the scene.  They had not seen any of the missionaries since, so they were pleased to see us, though it brought back memories of the killing.  They told us we could stay with them.  About six o' clock at night a rap came on the door. I had never seen anyone so frightened as they were.  They just shook, thinking it was the mob.  To their surprise it was some friends, a man and his two sons, who had come to see them.  The man's name was Brother [John Thomas] Carroll.  He was a member of the Church, but had not seen the elders since the killings either.  He said he was working out in the fields and something said to him to go to the Conders.  It impressed him so that he and his two sons left their work and came at once.  He said when he saw the elders he knew why they had come.  We held a meeting with them at night and another meeting after breakfast.  The sons were baptized by us in the morning before we left. 

[In addition to being a farmer, Brother Carroll was an amateur dentist and folk medicine practitioner. When he joined the church he surprised the missionaries by showing up at someone else's baptism and asked to be baptized on the spot. His wife Judy and mother Sarah were baptized the next day. They were the last two converts before the massacre in 1884. The two sons of his who were baptized on Dec 27, 1897 were Marshall age 21 and Warren Carroll age 13. Brother Carroll was Sister Conder's nephew.]

Brother Carroll, whose sons we baptized, asked us to come to his home in Lewis County on our way back to hold meetings as he had some people who were about ready to be baptized.  

On our way back, two weeks later, we had to pass through [Hohenwald, the] County Seat, where they were holding public auctions.  We were seen by many who had said Mormons could not come to Lewis County.

We hadn't been at the home long before a man came and told Brother Carroll to get rid of us as they were making up a mob to come and get us.  It was in early January and was very cold, so Brother Carroll took us up over a large hill into a hollow where he was clearing ground and burning the trees.  He kept coming to see if we were alright, and to report on the mob.

They did not come so about midnight we went to his home and held a meeting.  After the meeting we baptized two people and confirmed them members of the Church.  I lay down and had a short sleep.  The family was too worried to sleep.  They gave us our breakfast about 3:00 a.m. and a lunch to take with us and sent us on our way.  They were sorry to see us leave, but felt certain a mob would come and did not want to have any trouble befall us. 

[I can't find who the other two people were that they baptized. They don't appear in the baptism record book for the period. I know several names missing from book, but most are from before 1880. By 1897 the records  were getting pretty consistent. One might have been Bastian Talley, whose lived in the right area and at the right time, but whose baptism date I have not been able to find.]

Elder Poole had been very timid about taking any part in the discussions, and the next morning after the baptisms he would not take any breakfast.  We started to travel on west.  Noon came and Elder Poole still did not want to eat; as night came he would not eat.  So I inquired of him as to the reason.  He told me he was fasting.  He fasted two days and nights.  This was something to fast while traveling as hard as we did.  When we arrived at the place of our meeting, he bore a wonderful testimony.  The change in him was remarkable; he was a very enthusiastic missionary, and became one of the most outstanding missionaries in the conference.

Elder Cullimore and Elder Poole returned at least one more time to Lewis County. On 9 Feb 1898 they baptized Henrietta Carroll, age 18, a sister of the two Carroll brothers baptized six weeks earlier. By March 1898, a mission report indicated that the was a branch of 15 people in Lewis County. Six of them would have been the Carroll family. Two more were unnamed, and perhaps a few others left over from before the massacre.


Just for the record, I see no evidence that either Elder re-dedicated Lewis County for missionary work. Nor were either missionary related to Elder Gibbs or Elder Berry.

For a photo of Albert and his wife Luella, look here.