History of Wilford Woodruff. (From his own pen) In tracing the history of my fathers, I find it difficult to obtain a satisfactory account of the Woodruff family, for more than three generations. My ^Great^ Grandfather, Josiah Woodruff, lived nearly one hundred years, of age and possessed an strong iron constitution and performed a great amount of manual labor nearly up to the time of his death. His wife's name was Sarah; she bore to him nine children as follows;— Josiah, Appleton,

26 years, leaving me 15 months old. My Father's married for his second wife, Azup^b^ah Hart, was born July, 31, 1792; they were married Nov., 9, 1810; and ^they^ had six children,. vizt.:— Philo born Nov., 29, 1811;, and died by poison administered by a physician Nov., 25, 1827; aged 16 years; Asahil Hart born April, 11, 1814, and died in Terrahaute, Oct., 18, 1838; aged 24 Franklin born March 12, 1816, and died ...

subjects, although I never made an ^outward^ profession until 1830; I did not then join any church, for the reason that I could not find any denomination whose doctrines, faith or practice, agreed with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or the ordinances and gifts which the Apostles taught. Although the ministers of the day taught that the faith, gifts, graces, miracles ^& ordinances,^ which the ancient saints enjoyed were done away and no longer needed, I did not believe a word of it, to be true, only as they were done away ...

when we met, we both told our impressions, and it caused us to wonder and marvel and wonder, what the Lord wanted of us in Rhode Island; but as we had made preparations to move to the West, we let outward circumstances control us, and Jonah-like, instead of going to Rhode Island, we went to Richland, Oswego Co., New York, and there remained until the 29th day of Dec., ^29,^ 1833, before ^when^ I heard Elder Zerah Pulsiper and

: we had a precious time. He was upon an important mission to gather up a company to go up to redeem Zion. I accompanied brother Pratt to Jefferson Co., ^&^ I told him my circumstances; he said it was my duty to prepare myself to go to Kirtland, and join the camp of Zion. I immediately went to work with all my might and settled my business. ¶ April 11, 1834, I ^with my^ biad^e^ my friends farewell, and took a pair of horses and wagon, and ...

following winter. I had a great desire to t^pr^each the Gospel, which I did not reveal to any person ^name to my brethren^, but one Sunday evening I retired into the woods alone, and called upon the Lord in earnest prayer to open my way to go and preach the Gospel to the inhabitants of the Earth; the spirit of the Lord rested upon me and bore witness unto me that my prayer was heard, and should be answered. I walked arose from my knees happy, and walked some forty rods through a thick wood into an open ...

Wight, I certifying that I had faithfully performed my duties in Zions' camp. I took my On this day I took my valise in hand, weighing 15 lbs., mostly books of Mormon, and started in company with Elder Harry Brown, we ^&^ crossed the river into Jackson Co., and bowed our knees felt thankful. to God; we bowed our knees, and prayed that God "might protect us from the mob while going through the country, and that His judgements might rest upon the wicked who had shed ...

and entertained for the remainder of the night by Mr. Jerrew, who had an Osage squaw for a wife; she prepared us a good supper, but marvelled that we did not drink coffee; she pro- ffered us their best bed, which was highly ornamented, but we de- clined ^ her accepting her kind offer, as we were wet and muddy; she then made us a good bed of Mackinaw blankets before a large fire, and we slept comfortably. May the Lord reward both Mr. Jerrew and wife, and the Presbyterian minister accord- ing to their ...

and three young dogs, he lay stretched out upon the bare floor with his feet to a small fire, there was no door to the house, but a ragged quilt hung up in the door way; it was past 11 o'clock at night. I turned away the quilt, looked into the house, every thing was in sound sleep, I ^&^ spoke three times; no one stirred, not even a dog. I walked in and laid my hands upon the man's shoulders, and spoke to him; the moment he felt the weight of my hand, he leaped to his ...

followed by Elder Brown: during our preaching there was a hard snow storm. We arrived at Petty John Creek, in the Arkansas Territory, where Mr. Alexander Akeman resided with a large family of sons and one daughter, all of which who^m^ were settled around him, Mr Akeman, ^stet^ was a member of the church ^he^ and a part of his family, were members of the church in Jackson Co.; his wife died strong in the faith in Mo.; & his ...

lightning; he swelled & ^immediately^ turned black; this created a great wailing and mourning among his family. Brother Brown and myself assisted in laying him out, and burying him; he died Feby. 14th, 1835, and we buried him on the 16th., This singular dispensation of providence brought solemnity upon the people, and they began to reflect and wished to heare preaching; we held several meetings and preached to the people, and baptized Mr. Hubbel and his wife, aged people ...

On the 24th, while in the swamps, I had an attack of the Rheumatizm and could not travel fast. My companion, bro. Brown, had got in a hurry, and wished to hasten to the Mississippi, close up his mission, take boat and return to his family in Kirtland, and as I could not travel as fast as he wished, we parted; he left me sitting on a log in the mud and water; I was lame and unable to walk, without food, and 12 ...

remain and take charge of the Southern churches, and the Lord would bless me in so doing. June 28, Warren Parrish ordained me to the office of an Elder, we baptized some 40 persons while laboring together. July 23, Elder Parrish returned to Kirtland ^left^. I continued to traveled alone through the year, and extended my labors both in Kentucky and Tennessee. I baptized 43 persons during this season, 31 after bro. Parrish left me. Nov ...

izing new branches, & holding conferences. &c. Feby. 26, 1836, at a conference held at bro. B. L. Clapp's in Callaway Co., Ky., I ordained A. O. Smoot & Benj. Boydston E^e^lders and B. L. Clapp & Dan. Thomas priests. Bros. Smoot & Clapp both entered into the labors of the ministry. Elder Smoot frequently accompanied me on my mission. Elder D. W. Patten returned to Tennessee, in april, and ...

were baptized should receive the Holy Ghost in 24 hours, and that Christ should come the second time before this gen- eration passed away; the whole concern was a mob mock trial, contrary to law, justice, judgment or truth. On the 29th, I went to a baptist meeting house on Thompsons creek, to ^preach^ fulfil an previous appointment; the house was crowded with people, as I rose to speak in the pulpit a baptist priest, Mr. Browning, arrived at the door on horseback, & stepped in greatly agitated, and told ...

any kind of doctrine, no matter how false, the people will swallow it down, but let a stranger come and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which will save the people, as Mr. Woodruff has done, and the people are afraid of him. Mr. Alexander invited me home, bought a book of Mormon, and was soon baptized, and several others followed his example. I.SD July 14, I wrote a letter to Oliver Cowdery, and sent him a list of subscribers, and o for ...

119 members; Johnson F. Lane, Benj. L. Clapp and Randolph Alexander were ordained Elders, and Lindsey Bradey to the office of a priest by D. W. Patten, who baptized five at the close of the conference. ISD At this conference I was released from my labors in the South, and counselled to go to Kirtland and receive my endowments, as was also A. O. Smoot Sep. 19, I parted Elders

Dec. 20, 1836, I was present at the organization of the third Quorum of seventies; there was^ere^ 27 ordained. Jan. 3, 1837, I was set apart to be a member of the first quorum of Seventies. 6th, I visited the office of the Kirtland safety society, and saw the first paper that was issued from that institution, it was given to Jacob Bump in exchange for other notes, he was the first to circulate it. I heard Pres. Joseph Smith declare in the presence ...

until they were darkened in their minds and many were opposed to Joseph Smith, and some wished to appoint David Whitmer to lead the church in his stead; in the midst of this cloud of dark spirits, Joseph returned to Kirtland, and this morning arose in the stand, when he appeared as though he was much depressed, but soon the spirit of God rested upon hism men and he addressed the assembly in great plainness for about 3 hours, and put his enemies to silence. when he arose he ...

the Elders for three hours, clothed with the spirit and power of God, he unbosomed his feelings in the house of his friends,— gave much instruction, he urged upon us the absolute necessity of giving strict heed to his teachings and counsel, and the Revelations of the Lord to the church, and be wise in all things, that Zion and her stakes may be redeemed and established, no more to be thrown down, he said, that the kings of the earth would yet become to behold the glory of Zion ...