Eagle Creek Branch

Eagle Creek wasn't the first branch of the LDS Church in Tennessee, but it is close. The first was in Paris, Henry County formed in October 1834. Eagle Creek was formed sometime between November 1834 and January 1835. But the first reference wasn't until Wilford Woodruff arrived in April 1835 and preached in the meeting house for the Eagle Creek Branch on April 6th and 7th. It is unlikely the branch had built their meeting house already. They might have borrowed a meeting house belonging to another church, a common practice. Later on they are meeting in the Eagle Creek Academy, probably a school house.

On 28 Jun 1835, as Elder Warren Parrish was preparing to leave for Kirtland, he re-organized the Eagle Creek Branch, ordaining John "Caswell" Matlock to the office of a Deacon to preside over the branch. In addition Wilford Woodruff was ordained an Elder, and was given the responsibility to preside over the whole conference. In addition to the two missionaries already named was a mysterious figure noted only here: Elder Calvin H. Nicholson. It is unlikely he was a local member, since as an Elder he would have presided over the branch instead of Deacon Matlock. He does not show up in other missionary journals, nor in other church records.

On 2 Aug 1835, Elder Woodruff returned to Eagle Creek to preach again. This time he baptized two converts as well, though he did not name them.

On the 24th of December 1835, tragedy struck the nascent branch. Deacon J. Caswell Matlock unexpectedly died. His obituary was printed in the Messenger and Advocate published in Kirtland, Ohio on February 1836.

-At Eagle Creek, Benton co. Ten. Dec. 24, Deacon Caswell Matlock, Aged 27 years. He was a worthy member, and died in the hope of a glorious immortality. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord."

At the first meeting of the Tennessee Conference on 26 Feb 1836 (held in Kentucky which was part of the Tennessee Conference at the time) there were 15 members in good standing of the Eagle Creek Branch. I have only been able to identify seven names, but it is likely the others were relatives of these seven.

Br. Crawley (Grawley?)
Br. Joseph Frey
Br. Caswell Matlock (died in 1835)
Br. William Miles Malin
Br. Michael David Fry
Sis. Rachel Matlock Frey
Br. Bird B. Barnett

The second meeting of the Tennessee Conference was held at the Chalk Level Branch in Benton County Tennessee on 28-29 May 1836. This was only a short distance from Eagle Creek, less than one days ride. There were reported again 15 members in the Eagle Creek Branch in good standing.

There were notes Abraham O. Smoot's journal indicating four others were also members, but without baptism dates:

Br. Cutler
Sis. Mary Amanda Utley (1821- )
Sis. Lucy Ann Fry (1809- )
Sis. Barnett

From there Eagle Creek is quiet. Missionaries focus their energies elsewhere and as a result mission news is about other places. But eight years later, in preparation for Joseph Smith's campaign for U. S. President, a handful of meetings were scheduled in branches across the south and east, including one at Eagle Creek for 8-9 June 1844. The conference did not actually happen until 22 June 1844. At the meeting it was noted that there were 17 members of the branch. It appears that the nearby Chalk Level Branch (as well as probably every other branch in Benton County) had dissolved. Robert C. Petty was placed as Eagle Creek Branch President and Seth Utley (1789-1866) was ordained a priest. Both of them had been in the old Chalk Level Branch. Bird B. Barnett was ordained a teacher. Four were baptized at the conference: Samuel Little, Burwell L. Utley (1827-), Nancy Elizabeth Utley (1827-), and Adeline Utley (1831-).

Following the death of Joseph Smith, the remaining organization of the church in Tennessee began to dissolve. Some members probably left to join the saints. Others, like the Utleys, gave up on the Church and moved west to restart their lives.  Still others, like William M. Malin, drifted away to other churches. One we know remained true to the church even without any organized branch.  When missionaries finally returned in the 1870's, Michael Fry was still there and showed his treasured 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon. Though the Eagle Creek Branch was not formed again, missionaries stilled used Eagle Creek as a point of reference.

Today, Eagle Creek and all of Benton County is part of the Paris, Tennessee Branch in neighboring Henry County.

The first anti-Mormon Mob in Tennessee

In what is probably the first recorded incident of a mob assembling against the Mormons in Tennessee, Elder David W. Patten and Wilford Woodruff were holding a meeting at the home of Michael Fry, near Eagle Creek, Tennessee, when a mob gathered outside the home. It was May 1836. Wilford Woodruff wrote in his journal.

Sunday, 22nd, Brother Patten preached three times at the house of father Fry in Benton County, Tennessee, many hardened their hearts and a Mr. Rose rejected his testimony and asked him to raise the dead. Brother Patten rebuked him for his wickedness, when he and others came with their arms and threatened to mob us. At the close of the meeting, brother Patten walked out into the door yard and told the mob to shoot him if they wished. He had nothing but a walking stick in his hand: the mob fled and left him. (Wilford Woodruff’s journal)

Michael David Fry was born 27 August 1799 in Rowan, North Carolina, United States to Joseph Frey and Sarah Hartman. Some time prior to 1828, he and his family moved to Tennessee, where he married Rachel Matlock.

In 1834 he met missionaries from the Mormon Church; David W Patten and Wilford Woodruff. I don't have a baptism date yet. He stayed in Tennessee, choosing not to gather with the saints. But he remained faithful to Mormon Church. He entertained many missionaries as they passed through Tennessee; feeding them and providing shelter. To some, he proudly showed his 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon.

Later in life he was called Uncle Fry to all who knew him regardless of their relationship. He remained steadfast and true. He died on 19 January 1886 in Benton County, Tennessee and is buried in the Fry Cemetery; Eagle Creek, Benton County.

Seth Utley

Of course, you all know about Seth Utley, that early Tennessee Mormon Pioneer. What, you don't know who he is?

Seth Utley was born in Wake County, North Carolina on October 7, 1789. Following the tradition of his father, who fought in the American Revolution, Seth fought in the War of 1812.

After the war ended, he married Bathseba Woods in Wake County North Carolina in around 1816.

In 1817, he along with two of his brothers, Able and Burwell, emigrated to Reynoldsburg, Stewart County (later Humphreys County), Tennessee. They followed the Uncle Burwell Lashley (their mother’s brother) who settled in Reynoldsburg.

Seth and Bathseba began their family in Tennessee.
1. John Wesley Utley born 2 December 1817
2. Martha J. Utley born abt 1820

He sold his land in Reynoldsburg to John Cobb and moved across the Tennessee River. There he received a land grant on 9 February 1821, which eventually became part of the Third Civil District of Benton County, Tennessee.

Eight more children were born to Seth and Bathseba.
3. Mary Amanda Utley born 7 November 1821.
4. Margaret C. Utley born ca. 1824.
5. Russell Utley born ca. 1825.
6. Nancy Elizabeth Utley born 13 January 1827.
7. Burwell L. Utley born 27 December 1827.
8. Cale Utley born in 1830.
9. Adeline L. Utley born ca. 1831.
10. George W. Utley born ca. 1834

In 1835, Mormon missionaries (probably Patten and Parish) taught and baptized Seth, although the exact date and circumstances are lost to history, Seth became a pillar of the small Mormon community at Eagle Creek in Benton County, Tennessee.

Seth makes another appearance, this time in Wilford Woodruff's journal dated November 15, 1835. During that visit Seth was witness to a "sign in the heavens" recorded by Wilford Woodruff; "three clouds having the appearance of fire and blood." (November 17th 1835).

Another child was born to Seth and Bathseba. Perhaps named after someone they had recently come to admire.
11. Joseph Seth Utley born 16 February 1836.

On 19 June 1836, while Elders Patten and Parish and were staying at the home of Seth Utley, a mob of about 40 gathered around the Utley home. The sheriff produced a warrant for their arrest. The warrant was written on the urging of a local Methodist minister name Matthew Williams on the charge of making false prophesies. Seth Utley and Albert Petty (another local covert) put up the required bond of $2,000.

The details of the trial are subject for another post, but they were eventually released and only had to pay court costs. Afterwards they went back to Seth Utley’s home. When they arrived they heard that a mob had gathered again angry that the missionaries had been released. Mounting their mules, they took a back route to Albert Petty’s home where they went to bed. They had not been asleep long when Elder Patten woke up Elder Parrish, telling him that a heavenly messenger had warned him that the mob was near and that they should leave. When the mob arrived the Elders had already left. But it was morning before they found the mule tracks. By then the Elders were long gone.

Seth and Bathseba last child was perhaps also named after a church leader and witness of the Book of Mormon.
12. Martin Van Utley born 23 March 1840.

Sometime after the birth of Martin, Seth sold his land and moved to Arkansas. Seth appears on legal records in Tennessee in 1844, but he moved to Arkansas in time to be included on the 1850 Census. Most stories about him say he went to be with the other Mormons. The tone and misspellings make it clear they were not written by members of the LDS Church. So, I don't think he really went to be with the saints. Still I don’t know why Arkansas. But it is clear that he indeed went to Arkansas, along with several of his married children. It is possible that Seth joined one of the splinter groups formed after the death of Joseph Smith, though I don’t know of any based in Arkansas. It is more likely he joined some branch of his family I have yet to identify.

Seth died in Prairie County, Arkansas on 15 August 1866. A marker was provided by the Veterans Administration for the War of 1812.