THE
DESERET NEWS.
TRUTH AND LIBERTY.
No. 18. FILLMORE CITY, WEDNESDAY, . VOL. VIII.
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 gen-
erations.
My great grandfather, Josiah Woodruff,
lived nearly one hundred years, and possessed
an 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, Eldad, Elisha, Joseph, Rhoda,
Phebe, and two names not given.
My grandfather, Eldad Woodruff, was the
third son of Josiah. He was born in Farming-
ton, Hartford Co., Connecticut, in 1751; he
also possessed a strong constitution; it was
said that he performed the most labor for
several years of any man in Hartford Co., and
from over exertion in hewing timber he was
attacked with rheumatism in his right hip,
which caused severe lameness for several
years before his death. He married Dinah
Woodford, by whom he had seven children,
viz.:—Eldad, Elizabeth, Samuel, Aphek, Titus,
Hellen, and Ozem.
Eldad married Lewey Woodford; Elizabeth,
Amasa Frisby; Samuel, Miss Case; Aphek,
Beulah Thompson and Azubah Hart; Titus,
Louisa Allen; Hellen, Amos Wheeler; and
Ozem, Acksah Merrill and Hannah Hart; all
of whom had large families.
My grandfather died in Farmington, with
the spotted fever in 1806, aged 55 years. My
grandmother, Dinah, died in 1824, in the same
place, with a cancer in the left breast: her
sufferings were very great.
My father, Aphek Woodruff, was born in
Farmington, ; he married Beulah
Thompson, who was born in 1782, .
She bore three sons, namely:—Azmon, born
; Ozen Thompson, born ; myself born .
My mother died with the spotted fever, , aged 26 years, leaving me fifteen
months old. My father's second wife, Azu-
bah Hart, was born ; they were
married ; they had six children,
viz.: Philo, born , and died by
poison administered by a physician ; Asahel Hart, born , and
died in Terrahaute, ; Franklin,
born , and died ; Newton,
born , drowned Sept., 1820; Ju-
lius, born , and died in infancy;
Eunice, born . I married her to
Dwight Webster in Farmington, Conn., [.]
My father was a strong constitutioned man,
and has done a great amount of labor. At
eighteen years of age, he commenced attending
a flouring and saw mill, and continued about
[Column 2]
50 years; most of this time he labored eight-
een hours a day.
He never made any profession of religion,
until I baptized him with all his household
into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints on the . He was
a man of great charity, honesty, integrity and
truth, and made himself poor by giving to the
poor, and accommodating his fellow men by
loaning money and becoming surety for his
neighbors, and always saying yes, to every
man who asked a favor at his hand.
I was born in the north part of the town of
Farmington, now called Avon, Hartford Co.,
Conn., . I assisted my father
in attending the Farmington Mills, until I was
twenty years of age.
In April, 1827, I took the flouring mill of my
aunt, Hellen Wheeler, which I attended three
years. In May, 1830, I took charge of the
flouring mill of Mr. Collins, the ax manufac-
turer, in South Canton, Conn. At the end of
one year it was demolished to make way for
other machinery. In March, 1831, I took
charge of the flouring mill owned by Mr. Rich-
ard B. Cowles of New Hartford, Conn. In
the spring of 1832, in company with my oldest
brother, Azmon, I went to Richland, Oswego
Co., New York, and purchased a farm and
saw mill, and settled in business.
At an early age my mind was exercised upon
religious subjects, although I never made a
profession until 1830. I did not then join any
church, for the reason that I could not find any
denomination whose doctrines, faith or prac-
tice, 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
and ordinances, which the ancient saints en-
joyed, were done away and no longer needed,
I did not believe it to be true, only as they
were done away through the unbelief of the
children of men. I believed the same gifts,
graces, miracles and power would be manifest
in one age of the world as in another, when
God had a church upon the earth, and that
the church of God would be re-established
upon the earth, and that I should live to
see it. These principles were rivetted
upon my mind from the perusal of the Old
and New Testament, with fervent prayer
that the Lord would show me what was right
and wrong, and lead me in the path of salva-
tion, without any regard to the opinions of
man, and the whisperings of the Spirit of the
Lord for the space of three years, taught me
that he was about to set up his church and
kingdom upon the earth in the last days. I
was taught these things from my youth by
Robert Mason, an aged man, who lived in
Simsbury, Conn., who was frequently called
the old prophet Mason: he taught me many
things which are now coming to pass. He did
not believe that any man had authority to ad-
minister in the ordinances of the gospel, but
believed it was our privilege through faith,
prayer and fasting, to heal the sick, and cast
out devils by the laying on of hands, which
was the case under his administration, as
many could testify.
In 1832, I was inspired to go to Rhode Is-
land; my brother, Asahel, was also directed
by the Spirit of God to go to the same place.
When we met, we both told our impressions,
and it caused us to 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 Is-
land, we went to Richland, Oswego Co., New
York, and there remained until ,
when I heard Elders Zerah Pulsipher and
Elijah Cheeny preach. My brother Azmon
and I believed their testimony, entertained the
elders and offered ourselves for baptism the
first sermon we heard. We read the Book of
Mormon, and I received a testimony that it
was true.
We soon learned what the Lord wanted of
us in Rhode Island, for at the time we were
warned to go there, two of the elders were
[Column 3]
preaching there, and had we gone, we should
have embraced the work at that time.
—I was baptized by Elder Zerah
Pulsipher; he confirmed me the same evening.
—I was ordained a teacher, and
my brother Azmon, an elder, and a small
branch organized of 12 members by Elder Pul-
sipher.
In February following, in company with
Elder Holton, I walked some 60 miles to the
town of Fabius, to attend an evening meeting
of the Saints in that place, where Elder Pulsi-
pher was presiding; I saw the book of com-
mandments or revelations given through Joseph
Smith, Jr., and I believed them with all my heart
and rejoiced therein; and after spending sev-
eral days, and holding several meetings, we
returned home rejoicing.
During the winter, we were visited by sev-
eral of the elders. , Elder Parley P.
Pratt called upon us and instructed the branch
till midnight: we had a precious time. I ac-
companied brother Pratt to Jefferson Co., and
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 settled
my business.
—With my horses and wagon
I took brs. Harry Brown and Warren Ingles,
and started for Zion. I met with Orson Pratt,
John Murdoch and other Elders on the way,
and arrived in Kirtland on the .
The Prophet Joseph invited me to make his
house my home; I accepted his offer, and staid
with him about one week. I became acquaint-
ed with many of the High Priests, Elders and
Saints. I spent one Sabbath in Kirtland and
heard many of the Elders speak, and I felt to
rejoice before God for the light and knowledge
which was manifested to me during that day.
—I started from Kirtland, and went
to New Portage, and remained till all the com-
pany joined us, when we were organized.
—We took up our line of march,
pitching our tents by the way, and traveled to
Missouri.
After we had pitched our tents in Clay coun-
ty (our numbers being 205) and many of the
brethren had taken sick, and some had died,
Joseph requested the camp to disperse, except
enough to take care of the sick; all who had
teams were required to leave the ground and
go among the brethren. I went to br. Ly-
man Wight's, in company with Heman Hyde
and Milton Holmes. Shortly, Joseph called
the brethren together at Lyman Wight's, and
told them if they would humble themselves be-
fore the Lord, and covenant to keep His com-
mandments and obey His counsel, the plague
should be stayed from that hour, and there
should not be another case of cholera in the
camp. The brethren covenanted to do do this
and the plague was stayed and there was not
another case in camp.
Prest. Joseph Smith returned to Kirtland
with many of the brethren, I remained with
Lyman Wight, laboring with my hands till the
following winter.
I had a great desire to preach the gospel,
which I did not 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 bore witness that my prayer was heard,
and should be answered. I arose from my
knees happy, and walked some forty rods and
met Elias Higbee, a High Priest, with whom
I had staid a number of months. As I ap-
proached him, he said "Br. Wilford, the Spirit
of the Lord tells me that you should be or-
dained and go on a mission." I replied, "I
am ready."
At a meeting of the High Council at Lyman
Wight's, Clay county, Missouri, , I was
ordained a Priest by Elder Simeon Carter;
Stephen Winchester and Heman T. Hyde were
also ordained Priests.
Bishop Partridge said he would like to have
me go into the Southern States, through Ar-
kansas, Tennessee and Kentucky, and if I
[Column 4]
could find any body who had faith enough to
go with me, for it would be a dangerous coun-
try to travel in, in consequence of the Missou-
ri persecution, to take him. I told him I was
as ready to go South as any where; and asked
if I should go through Jackson county, as it
lay in our route. He replied, it would be at
the risk of life, and he had not faith enough
to undertake it; if I had, I might try it. I also
asked him, if I went through Jackson county,
if I should start without purse or scrip accord-
ing to the law of God. He answered, that he
had not got faith enough to start on a mission
through Jackson county without money, and
if I did it, I must do it on my own faith. I
felt strenuous to keep the commandments, so
I started without money. I called upon Elder
Harry Brown, and asked him to accompany
me; he consented, and Bishop Partridge ap-
pointed him to go with me.
—I received an honorable dis-
charge from Lyman Wight, certifying that I
had faithfully performed my duties in Zion's
camp.
I took my valise in hand, weighing 15lbs,
mostly books of Mormon, and started in com-
pany with Elder Harry Brown, crossed the
river into Jackson county, and felt thankful.
We bowed our knees, and prayed that God
might protect us from the mob while going
through the country, and that His judgments
might rest upon the wicked who had shed the
blood of the Saints in that land, that the land
might be cleansed from sin. I had a petition
to the Governor of Missouri, for redress of
wrongs perpetrated upon us in Jackson county,
for the purpose of obtaining signatures. We
bent our way south, through Jackson county,
without any molestation; yet, in one instance,
we were preserved from a mob of about sixty,
assembled at a grog shop which we had to
pass.
—We called at the Harmony mis-
sion and had an interview with the President,
a Presbyterian minister. Although it was
near sundown he would neither give us any-
thing to eat, nor lodge us, because we were
Mormons. It was fifteen miles to the nearest
house, which was Jerrew's Indian trading
house. We asked the minister to direct us
there. He gave us directions, but the Spirit
said to me he was deceiving us. I asked him
three times, and he declared he was telling us
the truth. We followed his directions and we
came to the Osage river swamp, where we
were lost in darkness of the night. We
followed the river, but as it is very crooked,
we made but little progress. After traveling
through mud and water for one hour, we con-
cluded to go out on the open prairie and lie
down in the grass until morning, but when we
got out into the prairie we heard the Osage In-
dians' drum and shout at the trading house
as they were having a pow-wow. As we ap-
proached, we were met by a dozen large savage
looking dogs; they smelt us in a friendly man-
ner, but did not attempt to bite nor bark. We
arrived about midnight, covered with mud,
hungry and weary, and were kindly received
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
proffered us their best bed, which was highly
ornamented, but we declined her kind offer, as
we were wet and muddy; she made us a good
bed of mackinaw blankets before a large fire,
and we slept comfortably. May the Lord re-
ward both Mr. Jerrew and wife, and the Pres-
byterian minister according to their deserts.
——Mr. Jerrew gave us a good breakfast,
put us across the Osage river in a canoe, and
we started upon our long day's walk, it being
sixty miles to the nearest house; we had not
anything with us to eat. Most of our travels
through the day was through prairie; before
dark we entered timbered land; as we ap-
proached the timber a large black bear met
us; we had no weapons. When the bear got
within about six rods of us, he rose upon hi[s]
hind feet and examined us a short time, an[d]
went off. We were soon enveloped in su[ch] [page folded]
THE
DESERET NEWS.
TRUTH AND LIBERTY.
No. 19. FILLMORE CITY, WEDNESDAY, . VOL VIII.
HISTORY
OF
WILFORD WOODRUFF.
(FROM HIS OWN PEN.)
-[CONTINUED.]-
—We cut down a large cotton wood
tree, and in two days dug out a canoe four feet
wide and twelve long, put on a pair of oars
and then rowed down the Arkansas river, 125
miles to Little Rock, begging our food by the
way, a meal at a time, as we had opportunity.
After visiting Little Rock we traveled down
the river ten miles, and tied up our canoe on
the east bank and stopped with Mr. Jones. I
preached next day at his house. On the 16th
we left our canoe with Mr. Jones and walked
back up the river ten miles, opposite Little
Rock, and took the old military road, and
started to wade the Mississippi swamp, which
was mostly covered with water from Little
Rock, Arkansas, to Memphis, Tennessee, a
distance of about 175 miles. We waded through
mud and water knee deep, day after day, and
in some instances forty miles per day, before
we could get a stopping place.
On the , while in the swamps, I had an
attack of the rheumatism and could not travel
fast. My companion, br. Brown, had got in a
hurry, and wished to 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 un-
able to walk, without food, and twelve miles
from the nearest house on the road; he went
out of sight in great haste. I then knelt down
in the water and prayed to the Lord to heal
me. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon me,
and I was healed; the pain left me; I arose and
went my way. Whenever I met with one or
more families, I preached and bore testimony
to them.
I crossed the Mississippi river in the even-
ing of the , and staid at a pub-
lic house kept by Mr. Josiah Jackson. I was
suspected of being an impostor. Mr. Jackson
believed I was one of Murrill's clan, who were
then murdering and stealing negroes, and to
test me, he gathered together a large house
full of the most wicked and corrupt people in
the city, and set me to preaching, to see
whether I could preach or not.
I do not think that Mr. Jackson or the same
company of men and women will ever meet
together again for the same purpose, for they
would not like again to have their sins and
abominations revealed to each other as point-
edly as I told them that night, through the in-
spiration of the Holy Ghost; they were glad
to get rid of me upon almost any terms.
I traveled from Memphis to Middle Tennes-
see.
—I met with Elder Warren Parrish
in Benton county. He and David W. Patten
had labored together through the winter in
Tennessee, and baptized twenty persons. El-
der Patten had returned to Kirtland. I joined
Elder Parrish and we labored together over
three months, traveling and preaching daily,
baptizing such as would receive our testimony,
extending our labors in Tennessee and Ken-
tucky.
—We received a letter from Oliver
Cowdery, requesting Elder Parrish to come to
Kirtland, and for me to remain and take
charge of the southern churches, and the Lord
would bless me in so doing.
—Warren Parrish ordained me an
Elder. We baptized some forty persons while
laboring together.
—Elder Parrish left. I traveled
alone through the year, and extended my labors
both in Kentucky and Tennessee. I baptized
forty-three persons during this season, thirty-
one after br. Parrish left.
—While traveling in the night with
br. Benjamin L. Clapp and others, a tremend-
ous storm of wind and rain overtook us. We
came to a creek which had swollen to such an
extent by the rain that we could not cross
without swimming our horses; several of the
company were females. We undertook to head
[Column 2]
the stream, to ford it, but in the attempt, in
the midst of the darkness and the raging of
the wind and rain, we were lost in the thick
woods, amidst the rain, wind, creeks and fal-
len tree tops; we crossed streams nearly twen-
ty times. I was reminded of Paul's perils by
water; but the Lord was merciful unto us in
the midst of our troubles, for while we were
groping in the dark, running the risk of killing
both ourselves and animals by riding off pre-
cipitous bluffs, a bright light suddenly shone
round about us, and revealed our perilous situ-
ation as were upon the edge of a deep gulf.
The light continued with us until we found a
house and learned the right road; then the
light disappeared, and we were enabled to
reach the house of br. Henry Thomas at nine
o'clock, all safe, having rode twenty miles,
five hours in the storm, and we felt to thank
the Lord for our preservation.
During the winter and spring I continued to
labor mostly alone, through Kentucky and
Tennessee, opening new places, preaching
daily, baptizing, confirming and organizing
new branches.
—At a conference held at br.
B. L. Clapp's, in Callaway county, Kentucky,
I ordained A. O. Smoot and Benjamin Boyd-
ston Elders, and B. L. Clapp and Daniel Thomas
Priests.
Brs. Smoot and Clapp both entered into the
labors of the ministry. Elder Smoot frequent-
ly accompanied me on my mission. Elder D.
W. Patten returned to Tennessee in April, and
joined us in our labors, accompanied by his
wife. It was a happy meeting. He related
to me the blessings he had received in Kirtland
during the endowments. We traveled and la-
bored together; persecution raged against us.
Elder Patten bore a strong and forcible testi-
mony of the work of God, and when we were
opposed by mobs he would rebuke them in
great plainness; we were threatened, but not
injured. The sick were healed under our ad-
ministrations.
—Elder Warren Parrish arrived
from Kirtland. We held a conference on the
, at br. Seth Utley's. Seven branches were
represented containing 116 members. Abel
Wilson and Jesse Turpin were ordained Priests
and Albert Petty a Teacher.
——I was ordained by David W. Patten
a member of the second quorum of Seventies.
We labored over a circuit of several hundred
miles; br. Smoot labored with us, and br. Clapp
frequently. We traveled two by two, and all
met together to hold conferences.
—A States warrant was issued
against D. W. Patten, Warren Parrish and
Wilford Woodruff, sworn out by Matthew
Williams, a Methodist priest, and served by
the sheriff, Robert C Petty. Elders Patten
and Parrish were taken by an armed mob of
about fifty, under pretence of law, led by the
sheriff, a colonel, first and second major, with
other officers, and a Methodist priest with a
gun upon his shoulder. I was in another coun-
ty and therefore not taken. We were accused
of prophesying falsely, by saying that four
persons who were baptized should receive the
Holy Ghost in twenty-four hours, and that
Christ should come the second time before this
generation passed away. The whole concern
was a mob mock trial, contrary to law, justice,
judgment or truth.
On the , I went to a Baptist meeting
house, on Thompson's creek, to preach; the
house was crowded. As I rose to speak, a
Baptist priest, Mr. Browning, arrived at the
door on horseback, and stepped in greatly agi-
tated, and told the deacon to forbid my preach-
ing in the house; at the same time commenced
a tirade of abuse against the Mormons, telling
several lies, which I corrected before the peo-
ple, which increased his rage. As I was for-
bidden to preach in the house, and had been
invited, and traveled many miles to fulfil my
appointment, I told the people I would like to
preach and was willing to stand on a wood
pile, a fence, a cart, or any place they would
appoint. A man rose and said he owned the
land in front of the meeting house, and I might
[Column 3]
stand and preach on that, and welcome. All
the congregation, with the exception of the
minister and one deacon, arose and left the
house, walked across the street and formed
seats of a worm fence, and gave good attention
while I preached for an hour and a half on the
principles of the gospel.
When I closed, Mr. Randolph Alexander,
who had never heard a Mormon Elder speak
before, said, the people of the present day
made him think of a pen of hogs; the keeper
would make a trough, and pour into it hot or
cold water, dish water or anything else, and
they would drink it; but let a stranger come
along and pour over a basket of corn on the
back side of the pen, and the hogs would be
frightened and run and snort all over the pen.
He said it was so with the people; the priests
would feed them with 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 wrote a letter to Oliver Cowdery,
and sent him a list of subscribers for the Mes-
senger and Advocate, and a detail of my mission
in the South.
—18—I rode in company with A. O. Smoot
to a ferry on the Tennessee River. The fer-
ryman was absent. We were offered the use
of the boat, and ferried ourselves; but not
being much used to the business, and losing
one oar in the river, and having to row with a
broken oar, we landed a great distance below
the usual place with a high circulation of
blood and blistered hands; but our horses leapt
the bank, and we went on our way to the
Sandy, which we swam, and spent the night at
Thomas Frazer's.
——We preached at Mr. David Crider's,
also on Sunday, the , where we were
threatened by a mob. I baptized Mr. Crider
amid the scoffs of the rabble, who went in the
night and poisoned both of our horses; the one
which I rode, belonging to bro. Samuel West,
died in two days afterwards; brother Smoot's
recovered; the swine that eat of the horse
flesh also died.
—I met with D. W. Patten and
wife; he and bro. Parrish had been driven out
of Benton into Henry Co., and Elder Parrish
had left for Kirtland.
——We were visited by Elders T. B.
Marsh and E. H. Groves, from Caldwell Co.,
Mo.
—We held a conference at Damon's
Creek, Callaway Co., Kentucky; several
branches were represented, containing 119
members; Johnson F. Lane, Benj. L. Clapp
and Randolph Alexander were ordained elders,
and Lindsey Bradey a priest by D. W. Patten,
who baptized five at the close of the confer-
ence.
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.
—Elders Marsh and D. W. Patten
and wife, and E. H. Groves, started for Far
West. I organized the first company of Saints,
who emigrated from the Southern States, which
numbered twenty-two souls. I appointed El-
der Boydston president of the company, and
counselled them to be united, and to remember
their prayers night and day before the Lord.
——The camp started. I spent a few
days visiting the branches; baptized and con-
firmed eight, and obtained thirty subscribers
for the Messenger and Advocate.
—In company with A. O. Smoot and
Jesse Turpin, I started for Kirtland; this was
the first time I had ever traveled on a steam-
boat. We left the steamer at Louisville on
the , and spent nineteen days visiting El-
der Smoot's relations and preaching among the
people; we visited the Big Bone Lick. We ar-
rived in Cincinnati , where we saw
thirteen persons dead and wounded taken from
the steamer Flora, which had burst her pipes
[Column 4]
while running a race; arrived in Kirtland on
the , and had the happy privilege of meet-
ing the Prophet Joseph, and many elders, with
whom I was acquainted in the camp of Zion.
, I heard Joseph preach in the Temple.
In the afternoon I was called to speak and
read the 56th chap. of Isaiah, and made some
remarks, and gave an account of my mission
in the South; Elder Smoot also addressed the
Saints.
I was counselled by the Presidency to at-
tend the school in the Temple, taught by Prof.
Haws. I studied the Latin language and Eng-
lish Grammar, and boarded with bro. Ira
Bond.
I attended meetings with the Seventies and
other quorums during the winter of 1836-7, and
received much valuable instruction.
—I was present at the organ-
ization of the third quorum of Seventies; there
were twenty-seven ordained.
—I was set apart to be a mem-
ber of the first quorum of Seventies.
——At early candle light, a cloud began
to arise in the north east and reached to the
north west, having the appearance of fire, and
it soon spread over the whole horizon. The
reflection of the clouds upon the earth, which
was covered with snow, had a blood red ap-
pearance. It commenced at about 6 o'clock,
and lasted till past 10 p.m.
——Prests. Joseph Smith and O. Cow-
dery addressed the Saints in the Temple. Jo-
seph blessed the people in the name of the
Lord, and said, if we would be faithful, we
should arise above our embarrassments and be
delivered from the hands of our enemies.
——I wrote an article on faith, which
was published in the Messenger and Advocate.
—I attended meeting at the Temple.
Prest. Joseph Smith had been absent on busi-
ness for the church, but not half as long as
Moses was in the mount away from Israel;
yet many of the people in Kirtland, if they
did not make a calf to worship as did the
Israelites, turned their hearts away from the
Lord and from his servant Joseph, and had
engaged in speculation and given away to
false spirits, 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. He appeared much depressed;
but soon the Spirit of God rested upon him,
and he addressed the assembly in great plain-
ness for about three hours, and put his enemies
to silence. When he arose he said, "I am still
the President, Prophet, Seer, Revelator and
Leader of the church of Jesus Christ. God,
and not man, has appointed and placed me
in this position, and no man or set of men
have power to remove me or appoint another
in my stead, and those who undertake this, if
they do not speedily repent, will burn their
fingers and go to hell.["] He reproved the people
sharply for their sins, darkness and unbelief;
the power of God rested upon him, and bore
testimony that his sayings were true.
, was spent in the Temple by the
Saints in Kirtland in fasting and prayer. Pat-
riarch Joseph Smith, sen., presided. The
Spirit of the Lord was poured out upon the
people; a contribution was taken up for the
poor.
—I received my washings and an-
ointings in the house of the Lord. I spent the
whole night in the Temple, with others of the
Seventies, in prayer and fasting, the Spirit of
the Lord rested upon us. After twenty-four
hours I partook of food.
——The Presidency of the Church, the
Twelve Apostles, and other quorums, met in
solemn assembly, and sealed upon our heads,
our washings, anointings and blessings with a
loud shout of hosannah to God and the Lamb;
the Spirit of the Lord rested upon us. After
spending three hours in the upper room, the
quorums repaired to the lower court; the vails
were lowered, and the ordinance of washing
of feet was administered. Elder H. C. Kim-
THE
DESERET NEWS.
TRUTH AND LIBERTY.
No. 20. FILLMORE CITY, WEDNESDAY, . VOL VIII.
HISTORY
OF
WILFORD WOODRUFF.
(FROM HIS OWN PEN.)
-[CONTINUED.]-
—I left my wife and friends in Kirt-
land, and walked to Fairport with bro. Hale;
we were joined by Milton Holmes, and took
the steamer Sandusky and arrived in Buffalo
, and Syracuse on the ; walked 36
miles to Richland, Oswego Co., N. Y., and
called upon my two brothers, Azmon and
Thompson, whom I had not seen for several
years. We visited the churches as far as
Sackett's Harbor, called upon Archibald Pat-
ten, and delivered to him some letters from
Warren Parrish, in which were enclosed many
one hundred dollar bills, which he had taken
from the Kirtland Bank.
We crossed Lake Ontario, visited Upper
Canada, and attended a conference, ,
with Elders John E. Page and James Blakesly,
in the township of Bastard, Leeds Co. There
were eight branches represented, containing
300 members, 13 elders, 5 priests, 8 teachers
and 6 deacons. Elder Wm. Draper and my-
self ordained 7 elders, 9 priests, 11 teachers
and 5 deacons: five were baptized by Elder
Page at the close of the conference.
A woman was possessed of the devil and
greatly afflicted, much of the time was dumb;
four of us laid hands upon her, and cast the
devil out in the name of Jesus Christ, and she
was made whole, and gave thanks unto God,
and went on her way rejoicing.
We visited several other branches and
preached the word of God, and several of the
sick were healed.
We returned to Kingston, took steamer for
Oswego, and canal for Albany; bros. John
Goodson, Isaac Russell and John Snider ac-
companied us from Canada, and left us at
Schenectady, to join Elders Kimball, Hyde
and Richards at New York, to go to England.
We walked from Albany to Farmington,
Conn.; attended a conference of the Saints in
Canaan; arrived at my father's house July
6th. This was the first time I had seen my
father or relatives in Conn., since I joined the
church; they received me kindly. On the 10th,
I preached in the City Hall in Colinsville, and
a mob gathered and attempted to break up the
meeting, with fife and drum, hollowing and
yelling; they were urged on by a Presbyterian
priest. At the close of the meeting the priest
came to me with his rabble, and asked many
questions; he said I had no right to my opinion,
and no man had a right to preach the gospel
unless he had a collegiate education. I told
him I would admit that point when he would
tell me at what college Jesus Christ and his
apostles obtained their education: the priest
and rabble then left.
——I preached in a schoolhouse in West
Avon to an attentive congregation; after meet-
ing I baptized my uncle, Ozem Woodruff, his
wife and son, John, in fulfillment of a dream
which I had at ten years of age.
I visited most of my relatives in Conn., and
preached the gospel to them.
——I preached at Adna Hart's in Avon,
where I was met by my step-mother and sis-
ter, also by my wife, who had travelled alone
from Kirtland, and was on her way to visit
her father in Maine.
——Elder Hale went to New Rowley,
Mass., to visit his friends. I had been soli-
cited to preach to the citizens of Farmington
by many prominent men, but every room which
was offered me, including the town hall, was
closed against me by the Rev. Noah Porter,
pastor of the Presbyterian church, until the
Methodist church was offered me, which he
had not influence to close. Two hours after I
gave out the appointment, the house was filled,
and I preached to a very attentive congrega-
tion, including my father and his household,
for an hour and a half, upon the first princi-
ples of the gospel; I gave liberty to the assem-
bly to ask any questions, or find any fault with
what I had said, but I met with no opposition.
——I left my father's house, and, with
my wife, rode by stage to Hartford.
——Not having money to pay the fare
for us both, I paid her fare in the stage to New
Rowley, Mass., and I walked through a hot
sultry day fifteen hours, averaging three and
a half miles per hour, making 52 miles.
——I walked 48 miles.
——I walked 36 miles, and arrived at
Elder Nathaniel Holmes', in New Rowley, at
2 o'clock, p.m., making 136 miles in a little
over two days and a half. I met with my
wife and Elder Milton Holmes, at his father's
house: I spent several days in preaching to the
Saints in that region.
—We left New Rowley, and was
joined by Elder Hale, who accompanied us to
Saco, Maine.
——I accompanied my wife to her father's,
in Scarborough, Maine. We were kindly re-
ceived: it was the first time I had seen any of
her relations. We found mother Carter very
sick. I spent several days visiting the Saints
in that region.
——I accompanied Ezra and Fabien
Carter, my brothers-in-law, on a fishing excur-
sion; we caught with hooks 250 cod fish, had-
dock, and hake, and saw four whales; it being
the first time I had ever seen that class of fish
that swallowed Jonah.
——With Elder Hale, I started to fill my
mission on Fox Islands; we walked to Port-
land, and spent the night at Mr. Samuel
Hale's.
——We took the steamer Bangor 85
miles to Owl's Head, where we arrived at sun-
set, without means to prosecute our journey
further. We retired to a high hill, and bowed
before the Lord, and prayed that he would
open our way; the Spirit of the Lord rested
upon us, and testified unto us that our prayers
would be answered. As we arose from our
knees, a sloop came into the harbor; we went
to the captain, and enquired where he was
going; he replied, through the channel of
Vinal Haven; he took us on board and landed
us on North Fox Islands, at 2 a.m. on the
20th. We wandered in the dark about an
hour, rambling over rocks and bushes, found the
house of Mr. Nathaniel Dyer, and were enter-
tained. It being Sunday morning, Mr. Benj.
Kent piloted us to the Baptist meeting-house,
occupied by Elder Gideon J. Newton, pastor
of the only religious denomination upon the
island. At the door, I sent for the deacon,
and told him I wished him to inform the min-
ister that we were servants of God, and wish-
ed to deliver a message to that people. The
minister sent word for us to come into the pul-
pit; accordingly, with valize in hand, we walk-
ed up into the pulpit, and took a seat on each
side of him. When he closed his discourse,
he asked me what hour we would like to
speak; I told him at five; he gave out our ap-
pointment, and invited us to his house. I
asked him how many school houses were on
the island; he said four, and gave me their
names. I asked him if they were free for any
one to preach in; he answered in the affirma-
tive. I took out my Bible, Book of Mormon,
and Doctrine and Covenants, and laid them all
upon his stand; he promised to read them.
The hour of meeting arrived, and I preached
to a full house upon the first principles of the
gospel, and bore testimony that the Lord had
raised up a prophet, and had commenced to
establish his church and kingdom again upon
the earth, in fulfillment of his word, as spoken
through the ancient prophets and apostles.
This was the first discourse ever delivered by
any Latter-day Saint upon this chain of is-
lands; Elder Hale bore testimony. I gave out
appointments for preaching in the four school
houses. The people came out en masse to in-
vestigate the principles which we taught. In
fourteen days we preached nineteen discourses.
Capt. Justice Ames and wife were baptized
by Elder Hale. Elder Newton, the Baptist
minister, with his family, attended twelve of
our meetings, read the books, and was con-
vinced by the Spirit of the Lord that our doc-
trine was true, and he had a hard struggle in
[Column 3]
his mind to know which to do, receive it or re-
ject it; he finally resolved to reject it, and
commenced preaching against us. He sent for
Mr. Douglass, Methodist minister, on the
South Island, to come and help him; he had
been long at variance with Mr. Douglass, but
they became very friendly and united in a war
against us. We continued preaching daily
until we baptized most of the members of Mr.
Newton's church, and those who owned the
meeting house.
I followed Mr. Douglas to his own island,
and commenced preaching to his church, and
baptized a good share of his members, among
whom were several sea captains. Ministers
from the main land were sent for, who came
over and tried to put a stop to the work by
preaching and lying about us; but the work
continued to roll on. They wished me to work
a miracle to convince them that my doctrine
was true. I told them they had rejected the
truth, and they would see signs, but not unto
salvation.
Vinal Haven, which includes both north and
south Fox Island, is in lat. 44°, long. 69° 10'.
The inhabitants are generally healthy and in-
dustrious, and hospitable to strangers. The peo-
ple obtain most of their wealth by fishing, and
fit out annually over one hundred licensed ves-
sels, beside many smaller crafts. The north
island is nine miles long and two wide; popu-
lation 800, and contains a post office, a store, a
grist mill, four school houses, and a Baptist
church. The land is rocky and rough, yet
there are farms which produce good wheat,
barley, oats, potatoes and grass; the principal
timber is fir, spruce, hemlock and birch. The
rasp and gooseberry grow in great abundance.
Sheep are the principal stock.
South Fox island is about ten miles long and
five wide, and is a mass of rocks, principally
granite, formed into shelves, hills, hollows,
and cut up into nooks, points and ravines by
coves and harbors; population, 1000. There
are some small patches under cultivation, at
the expense of great labor and toil. Many
resident fishermen fish at Newfoundland, and
bring them home, and dry them upon flakes;
they annually supply the market with a great
amount of cod fish, mackerel and boxed her-
ring. The latter island contains two stores,
three tide saw mills, six school houses, a small
branch of the Methodist church and a priest.
The timber is pine, fir, spruce, hemlock and
birch, also gooseberries, raspberries, whortle-
berries and upland cranberries; bushes and
timber grow out of the crevices of the rocks.
There is a great amount and variety of fish
in the waters around these islands, viz.: whale,
black fish, shark, ground shark, pilot fish,
horse mackerel, sturgeon, salmon, halibut,
cod, pollock, tom cod, hake, haddock, macker-
el, shad, bass, alewives, herring, pohagen,
dolphin, whiting, frost fish, flounders, smelt,
skate, shrimp, shad, cusk, bluebacks, scollop,
dogfish, muttonfish, lumpfish, squid, five fin-
gers, monkfish, nursefish, sunfish, swordfish,
thrasher, cat, scuppog, twotog, eyefish, cunner,
ling eels, lobsters, clams, mussels, winkles,
porpoises, seals, &c. &c.
—The harbor was filled with a
school of mackerel, which were caught in
great numbers by the people standing upon the
wharf.
While standing upon the farm of Eleazar
Carver on the north island I counted fifty five
islands, many of which were inhabited.
—I left the island with Elder Hale;
Capt. Ames took us to Thomastown in a sloop.
——We walked forty six miles to Bath.
——We attended a Baptist convention,
and preached to a large congregation in the
evening in Pierce's hall; the people listened
attentively.
——We walked thirty six miles to Port-
land.
——Walked ten miles to father Carter's
in Scarborough, where I found my wife and
friends well.
——I parted with Elder Hale, who re-
turned to Kirtland. I continued preaching
through various towns on the main land until
[Column 4]
, when I again returned to Fox Islands,
accompanied by my wife.
——I visited the Isle of Holt, twelve
miles east, and preached to an attentive con-
gregation, leaving them the Book of Mormon,
which they promised to read. I returned on
the .
I continued my labors during the winter of
1837-8, and nearly every person had attended
my meetings, and taken sides for or against.
Our enemies made attempts to break up our
meetings.
—A company of sailors be-
longing to the United States revenue cutter,
brought on shore a swivel and joined the mob,
parading near the house where I was preach-
ing, and discharged it several times, accom-
panied with small arms, with the intention of
breaking up the meeting. Some of the mob
gathered around to see what effect this would
have. I warned them in the name of the Lord,
and proclaimed the judgments of God that
awaited the wicked, and shook my garments
in the presence of the people, and told them I
was clear of their blood; but they only heard
my voice intermingled with the roar of cannon
and musketry. Before I closed speaking, the
sailors went back on board the revenue cutter.
At the close of the meeting I baptized two,
also one next day, and while baptizing, the
mob again commenced firing guns. The Bap-
tists and Methodists got up the mob. Mr.
Douglas, the Methodist priest, when argument
failed him, applied to all the magistrates for
warrants against me; they refused to grant
them as he had no cause of complaint.
—I crossed in the mail boat to
Hampden and ordained James Townsend; we
walked together through deep snows, and
visited and preached in the towns of Sears-
mont, Belfast, Northport, Frankfort, Hamp-
den, and twice in the city hall in Bangor, to
large assemblies, and returned to Fox Islands
via Casteem and the Isle of Holt. Arrived in
Vinal Haven . Elder Townsend re-
turned home.
—I accompanied br. Stirrat, at
low tide, on to a bar some forty rods from
shore, to dig some clams. We were soon join-
ed by Mrs. Woodruff and sister Stone, who
had a curiosity to see how clams were dug.
The ground for about twelve rods nearer shore
was several feet lower than the point we were
on, but we were so busily engaged we did not
observe the flowing tide until we were sur-
rounded by water, and having no boat, our only
alternative was to wade ashore and carry the
women, which we safely accomplished amid
the reflection that tide nor time waited for no
man.
—Mr. Kent, the postmaster, showed
me a letter containing two sheets of foolscap
signed by Warren Parrish and several of the
Twelve, who had apostatized and been cut off
from the church. The communication was
full of slander and falsehoods against Joseph
Smith and all that stood by him. It was sent
with the intention of breaking up the work
upon these islands.
——I was visited by Elders Townsend
and Milton Holmes, who attended conferences
with me upon both islands, and bore their tes-
timony to the people, but the spirit of oppo-
sition increased to a great height. I was
warned by the Spirit of the Lord to leave for a
season and take a western mission. After
visiting the Saints from house to house, and
praying with and encouraging them, I left on
the and went to the main land with Elders
Townsend and Holmes. Mrs. Woodruff re-
turned to her father's. We walked to Scar-
borough. I left , and walked to Brad-
ford, where I left Elder Holmes, and proceed-
ed to Boston.
—I gave out an appointment to preach
at sister Vose's room, and I went to Cambridge-
port to visit Elder A. P. Rockwood, who had
been imprisoned in jail on pretence of debt,
but in reality out of religious persecution.
The jailor locked me in until ten p.m.; but
while it disappointed a congregation of people,
it gave me a happy visit with Elder Rockwood,
THE
DESERET NEWS.
TRUTH AND LIBERTY.
No. 21. FILLMORE CITY, WEDNESDAY, . VOL. VIII.
HISTORY
OF
WILFORD WOODRUFF.
(FROM HIS OWN PEN.)
-[CONTINUED.]-
—I attended a conference at
Springfield, Illinois.
——I took my family and started for
Quincy, where I arrived on the . I dined
with Emma Smith at Judge Cleveland's. I
then went on to the bank of the river near
Quincy, and saw a great many of the Saints,
old and young, lying in the mud and water, in
a rain storm, without tent or covering, which
suffering was caused by the unhallowed perse-
cution of the State of Missouri. The sight
filled my eyes with tears, while my heart was
made glad at the cheerfulness of the Saints in
the midst of their affliction.
— (Sunday) —I had an interview with
President Brigham Young and John Taylor.
We held a meeting with the Saints; $50 and a
number of teams were raised to bring out the
remainder of the poor from Missouri. Prest.
Young counseled the Twelve to locate their
families for the time being in Quincy. I re-
turned to Rochester for my effects. While at
Springfield I collected $70 for the relief of the
Saints in Quincy, which I sent to them. I re-
turned to Quincy on the , where I
left my family, and went to Far West with the
Twelve and attended the conference on the
Temple block on the , where I was or-
dained one of the Twelve Apostles, on the
corner stone of the Temple, under the hands
of the Twelve, Elder Brigham Young being
mouth. Elder G. A. Smith was also ordained
at the same time. We returned to Quincy on
the .
On the , in company with five of the
Twelve, I went to Judge Cleveland's, and had
a happy interview with Prest. Joseph Smith,
who had just escaped out of the hands of his
persecutors in Missouri; it was the first time
I had seen him for more than two years, and it
was a happy meeting. I attended the confer-
ence and meetings with the Saints in Quincy
until the , when I moved my family to
Montrose, and occupied a room in the barracks
with Prest. Young and family. I spent my
time in attending the meetings, councils and
conferences. I wrote in my journal the teach-
[Column 2]
ings, sayings and prophecies of Joseph from
time to time, as I had opportunity.
—I was with Prest. Joseph Smith
and his council and the Twelve: it was a |day
of God's power with the Prophet. He healed
many who were sick nigh unto death, among
whom were Elijah Fordham and Joseph B.
Nobles; even the wicked rabble followed to
see the sick healed. As Joseph was about to
cross the river a man came to him and asked
him if he would go about three miles and heal
two of his small children, who were twins,
about three months old, and were sick nigh
unto death. He was a man of the world; he
had never heard a sermon preached by a Latter-
day Saint. Joseph said he could not go, but
he would send a man. After hesitating a mo-
ment, he turned to me and said, "You go with
this man and heal his children"—at the same
time giving me a red silk handkerchief, and
said, "After you lay hands upon them, wipe
their faces with it, and they shall be healed;
and as long as you will keep that handkerchief
it shall ever remain as a league between you
and me." I went and did as I was command-
ed, and the children were healed.
On the , I was attacked with chills and
fever. I had a chill every other day and was
very sick.
—I laid my hands upon my wife and
children, blessed them, committed them into
the hands of God, and started upon my Eng-
lish mission, leaving my family sick, and with
not more than four days' provisions. Br. Brig-
ham Young rowed me across the Mississippi
in a boat; I was sick and feeble. When I
landed I laid down upon the bank of the river
on a side of sole leather. The Prophet Joseph
came along and looked at me and said, "You
are starting on your mission." I said yes, but
I look like a poor instrument for a missionary;
I look more fit for a hospital or dissecting room
than a mission. He replied, "What do you
say that for? Go ahead in the name of the
Lord, and you shall be healed and blessed on
your mission." I thanked him. A brother
came along with a wagon and carried me a
few miles on my road. I started without purse
or scrip, and passed by Parley P. Pratt, who
was hewing logs for a house; he was bare-
footed, bare-headed, without coat or vest on.
He said, "I have no money, but I have an
empty purse; I will give you that." I went a
few rods and found Elder H. C. Kimball build-
ing a log cabin; he said, "I have one dollar; I
will give you that to put in your purse." He
blessed me and I went my way, accompanied
by Elder John Taylor. I had a shake of the
ague every other day and lay on the bottom of
the wagon while I traveled.
We staid with Samuel H. and Don Carlos
Smith at Macomb, and held a meeting with
the Saints, who contributed $9 to our neces-
sities, and George Miller gave us a horse.
Father Coltrin was going east; he took us into
his wagon to help up us along. We spent five
days in Springfield, where Elder Taylor print-
ed fifteen hundred copies of a pamphlet upon
the Missouri persecution. We sold our horse,
and left on the and continued our journey.
We spent the night of the with Dr. Modi-
sett, of Terrehaute.
On the , while traveling, Elder Taylor
fell to the ground as though he had been
knocked down. We administered to him, and
he revived. On the following day he fell again,
and fainted several times; it seemed as though
the destroyer would take his life; we traveled
with him four days after he was taken sick.
His sickness proved to be bilious fever. We
stopped with him two days, at a German
tavern, in Germantown, Wayne county, In-
diana, with a kind family, with whom he was
acquainted. Father Coltrin would stay no
longer; I proposed to remain with br. Taylor,
but as I was sick with fever and ague, and not
able to take care of myself, br. Taylor advised
me to continue my journey with Father Coltrin,
saying, "it is easier to take care of one sick
man than two." I committed him into the
hands of God; and the family promised to do
[Column 3]
all in their power to make him comfortable.
I parted from him with a heavy heart.
—I continued my journey with Father
Coltrin to Cleveland, Ohio. I there took
steamer on the for Buffalo; had a severe
gale, and did not reach Buffalo until the .
I traveled to Albany on a canal boat; had the
ague daily, was very sick; had no companion
except sectarian priests, who were daily lying
about the Mormons. I took stage at Albany
for Farmington, Connecticut, on the night of
the , and rode all night and the following
day; suffered severely with fever and ague. I
arrived at my father's house in Farmington on
the , quite sick. I found my father and
family well.
On the , my maternal grand-
mother, Anna Thompson, died, aged 84; I was
too sick to attend her funeral. It is a singular
incident that my grandfather, Lot Thompson,
and Anna Thompson, his wife, Samuel Thomp-
son and Mercy Thompson, all of one family,
died in their 84th year.
On the , Adner Hart, brother to
my step-mother, died, aged 43. He requested
me to preach his funeral sermon. I had been
sick at my father's house with the ague for
fifteen days, attended with a severe cough,
and the hour appointed for the funeral was the
time for my ague, yet I attended the funeral
and preached, and I had no more ague for
many days. I left on the , and visited
New York, Long Island, and New Jersey, in
very poor health.
—I assisted Elders Clark, Wright
and Mulliner to set sail for England. Elder
John Taylor had recovered from his sickness,
and arrived in New York on the
—In company with Elders John
Taylor and Theodore Turley, I went on board
the packet ship Oxford, and sailed for Liver-
pool, where I landed , in good
health and spirits. When I left my father, he
gave me some money to assist in paying my
passage; also gave me five dollars which he re-
quested me to keep until I arrived in Liverpool,
saying, I would there need it. This I found to
be true after landing; that money was all we
had to pay our expenses to Preston, and we
had twopence left.
We arrived in Preston on the . Had a
happy interview with br. Willard Richards;
held a council, and agreed that Elder Taylor
go to Liverpool, Turley to Birmingham, and I
to Staffordshire Potteries.
—I arrived in Manchester; met Elder
Wm. Clayton, who presided over that branch,
numbering 164 members. I was immediately
called upon to visit a woman possessed with
the devil; she was raging and foaming and had
to be held by four men. The more we rebuked
the devil the worse she raged. We continued
to pray and administer until we cast the devil
out. She arose and gave thanks to the Lord.
The devil then entered into a young child, and
we cast him out. I preached several times,
and laid hands on twenty-eight persons. I
went to Burslem on the and met with
Elder Alfred Cordon, president of the Burslem
branch, which numbered 66. I commenced
preaching in the Staffordshire Potteries. El-
der Turley left for Birmingham on the .
I remained in the Potteries some forty days,
preaching, baptizing and confirming, and bless-
ing children.
—As I met in the evening with a
large assembly in Hanley, the Lord revealed
unto me that it would be the last meeting that
I would hold with the Saints in the Potteries
for many days; I told the people it was the
last meeting I should hold with them for a
season; it created much excitement. I had
appointments out for a week, which I got bro.
Cordon to fill. I went before the Lord in pray-
er, and asked him where I should go; the
Spirit said, "Go to the south." According to
the directions of the Spirit, on the , I went
to Herefordshire, and called upon John Ben-
bow at Castlefroom; I found a people prepared
for the gospel. I preached twice at his house.
On the , I baptized six persons, including
[Column 4]
John Benbow and wife. I here found a society
called "United Brethren," numbering about
six hundred members, and about fifty preach-
ers; Thos. Kington was the presiding elder.
They came from all quarters to hear me preach,
and believed my testimony; and I preached
and baptized daily. The ministers of the
Church of England sent three church clerks to
see what I was doing, and I baptized them.
One constable came to arrest me for preaching,
and I baptized him. In about thirty days I
baptized 160, forty eight of whom were preach-
ers of the United Brethren, including their
presiding elder, Thomas Kington.
I established forty two preaching places,
licensed according to law.
On the , I had an apointment at
Haw Cross. As I was going into the meeting,
letters were put into my hands from Elder
Brigham Young and others, informing me of
his arrival with five of the Twelve, and re-
questing me to come to Preston, and attend a
general conference. A vast assembly had
gathered to attend my meeting; the house, yard,
and street were crowded; a mob had also
gathered. I preached to the people; five came
forward to be baptized. The mob surrounded
the pool, armed with stones. I dismissed the
meeting, and went away; but the congrega-
tion and mob remained on the ground till mid-
night; and as there was no prospect of their
dispersing, and the candidates were anxious to
be baptized, I went down into the water and
baptized five in the midst of a shower of
stones. The water was all in a foam for a
rod around me. None that I baptized were
hit, and I was only hit twice, once on my hip
and once on my head; the blow on my head
raised a large bump, which went away while
I was confirming: subsequently I baptized
many of the mob.
I left next morning for Preston, and attended
the conference with the Twelve, and returned
to Herefordshire, accompanied by Elder Brig-
ham Young, on the , and was soon
joined by Elder Willard Richards. Elder
Young remained twenty seven days, preaching,
baptizing, confirming and counseling. Num-
bers were added daily to the church: he then
returned to Manchester.
I spent about seven months in Herefordshire,
Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. We
baptized over eighteen hundred, including all
of the United Brethren save one. We bap-
tized over two hundred preachers of various
denominations in that part of the vineyard.
A synod of church ministers became so alarm-
ed for their flocks in that part of the vineyard,
they petitioned Parliament to adopt measures
to stop our preaching. They received for an
answer, that if they were as well acquainted
with the Bible as their hunting grounds, and
were as much interested in the welfare of the
souls of men, as the chasing of the stags and
foxes, they would not lose so many of their
congregations.
—I visited London in company with
Elders H. C. Kimball and G. A. Smith. I
labored with them in establishing a church,
spending over five months in that populous city.
We visited nearly every part of the city, and
all the notable places that we could have
access to.
I attended all the general conferences in
England, and set sail with my brethren of the
Twelve on the ship Rochester, ;
arrived in New York .
I went to Scarborough, Maine, after my
wife, and also my son, Wilford, who was born
. My daughter, Sarah Emma,
had died .
I returned to New York, and started for
Nauvoo, via the Lakes; was wrecked on Lake
Michigan in the steamer Chesapeake, but ar-
rived in Nauvoo in safety , when I
had the happy privilege of meeting with the
Prophets Joseph and Hyrum, and my brethren
of the Twelve.
I bought a log house of brother Tracy, on
lot No. 1, block 106, on Hotchkiss and Durfee
Streets. Prest. Joseph Smith afterwards gave
me the lot.
THE
DESERET NEWS.
TRUTH AND LIBERTY.
No. 22. FILLMORE CITY, WEDNESDAY, . VOL. VIII.
HISTORY
OF
WILFORD WOODRUFF.
(FROM HIS OWN PEN.)
-[CONTINUED.]-
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.
-[Written at Great Salt Lake City, .]-
VARIED and diverse are the lives and for-
tunes of men; while the paths of some are
strewn with flowers and ease from the cradle
to the grave, with naught to disturb their
peace; others are marked victims of varied
misfortunes, accidents and dangers. The last
named class is the one in whose ranks I have
stood, through my infancy, childhood, youth
and manhood, up to the present time, so much
so that it has seemed as though some invisible
power or fate was watching my foot steps in
order to find some opportunity to take my life
from the earth. I can only attribute the con-
tinuation of my life to the present time to a
merciful God, whose hand has been stretched
out and rescued me from death in the midst of
the many dangers and hair breadth escapes, I
have passed through; some of which I will
here mention.
When three years of age, I fell into a cal-
dron of boiling water, was instantly caught
out, but was so badly scalded, that it was nine
months before I was considered out of dan-
ger.
At five years of age, I fell from the great
beam of a barn, striking my face upon the
floor, which came near breaking my neck.
Three months afterwards, I broke one of my
arms, by falling down stairs. I soon after
broke my other arm by falling out of a high
stoop, upon a pile of timber.
When six years of age, I came near being
killed by a surly bull. My father and I were
feeding pumpkins to the cattle; a surly bull
drove my cow away from the one she was
eating. I took the pumpkin he had left, upon
which he pitched at me. My father told me
to throw down the pumpkin and run. I ran
down a steep hill, and took the pumpkin with
me, being determined that the cow should have
her rights. The bull pursued; as he was
about to overtake me, I stepped into a post
hole and fell; the bull leaped over me, after
the pumpkin, and tore it to pieces with his
horns, and would have served me in the same
way, had I not fallen.
During the same year I went into my father's
saw mill, with several others; I got upon the
head-block to take a ride while the carriage
was running back, not anticipating any dan-
ger; my leg was caught between the head-
block and the fender-post, and broke both
bones of my leg below the knee. I was taken
to the house, and lay nine hours before my
bones were set, suffering severe pain; but being
young, my bones soon knit together and I was
upon my feet again; during my confinement by
this lameness, my bro. Thompson was also
confined in the same room with the typhus
fever.
When seven years of age, I was riding on
the top of a load of hay, which my uncle, Oz-
en Woodruff, was driving to the barn; he turn-
ed the load over upon me; I was nearly suffo-
cated for the want of air, before the hay was
removed.
At eight years old, I was riding in a one
horse wagon with several others; the horse
took fright, ran down a steep hill, and turned
the wagon over upon us; but again while in
the midst of danger, my life was preserved:
none of us were seriously injured.
When nine years old, I climbed into an elm
tree to obtain bark. I stepped upon a dry
limb, which broke, and I fell about fifteen feet
upon my back, which beat the breath out of
my body. A cousin ran and told my parents I
was dead; before they arrived at the spot, I
came to my senses, and met them.
When twelve years of age, I was drowned
in Farmington river, and sunk in 30 ft. of
water, and after carrying one person to the
bottom with me, I was miraculously saved
by a young man, named Bacon, diving to the
[Column 2]
bottom, and carrying with him a large stone
to hold him down until he obtained my body,
not expecting to save me alive: I suffered much
in being restored to life.
At thirteen years of age, while passing
through Farmington meadows, in the depth of
winter, the roads were drifted with snow; and
in an exceedingly blustering day, I became so
chilled and overcome with cold that I could
not travel. I crawled into the hollow of a
large apple tree. A man in the distance, see-
ing me go in, hastened to my rescue, realizing
my danger more fully than I did: when he ar-
rived at the spot, I had fallen asleep, and was
nearly insensible; he had much difficulty in
arousing me to a sense of my situation. He
procured means to carry me to my father's
house, and through a kind providence, my life
was again preserved.
At fourteen years of age, I split my left
instep open with an ax, which went nearly
through my foot: it was nine months getting
well.
At fifteen years of age, I was bitten in my
left hand by a mad dog in the last stage of
hydrophobia; he dented my hand with his
teeth, but did not draw blood, and I was again
preserved, through the mercies of God, from
an awful death.
At the age of seventeen, I was riding a very
ill-tempered horse that I was not acquainted
with; and while going down a very steep
rocky hill, the horse taking advantage of the
ground, suddenly leaped from the road, and
ran down the steep, amid the rocks, at full
speed, and commenced kicking up, and at-
tempted to throw me over his head upon the
rocks; but I lodged upon the top of his head,
grasped hold of each ear as with a death grip,
expecting every moment to be dashed to pieces
against the rocks. While in this position,
sitting astride of his neck, with no bridle to
guide him but his ears, he plunged down the
hill under full speed, until he ran against a
rock and was dashed to the ground. I went
over both his head and the rock, about one rod,
and struck the ground square on my feet, being
the only thing visible that saved my life; for
had I struck upon any other part of my body,
it must have killed me instantly; as it was, my
bones crushed from under me, as though they
were reeds. It broke my left leg in two places,
and put out both my ankles in a shocking
manner, and the horse came near rolling over
me in his struggles to get up. My uncle,
Titus Woodruff, saw me fall, got assistance
and carried me to his house. I lay from 2 p.m.
till 10, without medical aid; then my father
arrived, bringing Dr. Swift, of Farmington, with
him, who set my bones, boxed up my limbs,
and carried me in his carriage eight miles
that night, to my father's. My sufferings
were very great; I had good attention, how-
ever, and in eight weeks I was out doors upon
my crutches.
In 1827, while attempting to clear the ice
out of a water-wheel, standing upon the wheel
with one arm around the shaft, a man hoisted
the gate, and let a full head of water upon it;
as soon as the water struck the wheel, it
started; my feet slipped into the wheel, but I
immediately plunged head foremost over the
rim into about three feet of water, and my
weight drew my legs out of the wheel, or I
should have been drawn under a shaft and
crushed to death.
In 1831, while having charge of the flouring
mill in Collinsville, Connecticut, I was stand-
ing inside of a breast wheel, 20 feet in dia-
meter, upon one of the arms near the top,
clearing out the ice, when a full head of water
was let on to it. The wheel immediately
started; but I dropped my ax and leaped
through it to the bottom, by the shaft and
arms about twenty feet; as I struck the bot-
tom of the wheel, I was rolled out against a
ragged stone wall with only about two feet
clearance between it and the wheel; the
wheel caught me and rolled me out into the
water below, where I found myself without
any bones broken, but with some bruises and
much fright.
During the winter of 1831, while in New
Hartford, Ct., I passed through a severe course
of lung fever.
In 1833, the day I was baptized, one of my
horses, newly sharp shod, kicked my hat off
my head, and had he struck two inches lower
would probably have killed me instantly; in
ten minutes afterwards, while driving the
same team down a hill on a sleigh without
any box, the bottom boards slipped forward
under the roller and caught the ground, turned
endwise, and fell on the horses' backs, throw-
ing me between the horses; they ran to the
bottom of the hill, dragging me with the lines,
head foremost, with the sleigh on top of me,
about twenty rods over a smooth snow path:
I escaped unharmed, however, in the midst of
both dangers.
In 1834, while traveling in Zion's Camp in
Missouri, a rifle was accidentally discharged,
and the ball passed through three tents, with
about twelve men in each, and lodged in a
wagon axle-tree, while a man was standing
behind it, and injured no one; it passed within
a few inches of my breast, and many others
escaped as narrowly as myself.
A few months afterwards, a musket, heavily
loaded with buckshot, was accidentally snap-
ped within a few feet of me, with the muzzle
pointed at my breast; it had a good flint and
was well primed, but it missed fire, and my
life was again preserved.
In April, 1839, in Rochester, Illinois, I was
riding upon the running gears of a wagon with-
out a box, sitting upon the forward axletree,
when the bolt, fastening the coupling pole,
came out, which left the hind wheels; and my
weight on the forward bolster and tongue,
turned the coupling pole over on to the
horses, turning the stakes upside down, and
shut me up fast between the bolster and tongue,
but in such a manner that my head and
shoulders dragged on the ground; my horses
took fright, and ran out into an open prairie
and dragged me in this position for about half
a mile. I managed to guide them with my
left hand, so as to run them into a corner of a
high worm fence, where we landed in a pile
together. I was considerably bruised, but es-
caped without any broken bones.
—Prest. Joseph Smith, sent me
from Nauvoo to St. Louis to procure a stock of
paper. I went down upon a steamboat; was
six days on the way, during which time I was
severely attacked with bilious fever. The day
I made my purchase the fever was so high I
was scarcely sensible of what I was doing.
As soon as I made my purchase and got my
freight on board, I took my berth and lay there
until I arrived at Nauvoo on the .
I was confined to my bed forty days, and pass-
ed through the most severe fit of sickness I
ever endured; my life was despaired of by
many of my friends. I was administered to
by Prest. Smith and the Twelve: my life was
preserved by the power of God. I took a re-
lapse twice after I began to recover; once
while in council with the Presidency and
Twelve; my strength left me, my breath stop-
ped, and I felt as though I was struck with
death.
—At five o'clock p.m., I left
Boston on the express train for Portland.
While passing through Chesterwoods, six
miles south of Kennebunk, after dark, and
while going at full speed, we struck one of
the rails which some persons had raised by
rolling a log under it, and landed in a pile;
three cars were filled with passengers, and
their lives were saved by having a long train
of freight between the passenger cars and the
engine; all of them were mashed to pieces; the
engineer was killed, some of the passengers
had bones broken; I escaped unhurt.
On the , while with the
camp of Israel building up Winter Quarters,
on the west side of the Missouri river, (then
Indian country) I passed through one of the
most painful and serious misfortunes of my
life. I took my axe and went two and a half
miles on to the bluffs to cut some shingle tim-
ber to cover my cabin; I was accompanied by
[Column 4]
two men. While the third tree was falling,
which was an oak, over two feet in diameter,
I stepped behind it some ten feet, and also to
one side the same distance, where I thought I
would be entirely out of danger; but when the
tree fell, there being a crook in the body of it,
which struck a knoll on the ground, the whole
body shot endwise back of the stump and
bounded, and the butt of the tree struck me on
the breast and knocked me several feet into
the air against a standing oak, and the falling
tree followed me in its bound and caught me
against the standing tree, and I came down
between them; before reaching the earth, how-
ever, I was liberated from them, and struck
the ground upon my feet in a badly bruised con-
dition. My left thigh, the whole length of it,
and my hip and left arm were much bruised;
my breast bone and three ribs on my left side
were broken; my lungs, vitals and left side
were also bruised in a shocking manner. After
the accident I sat upon a log until Mr.
John Garrison went a quarter of a mile to get
my horse. Notwithstanding I was so badly
hurt, I mounted my horse, and rode two and a
half miles over a very rough road, dismount-
ing twice in consequence of miry places; my
breast and vitals were so badly torn to pieces,
that at each step of the horse the pain went
through me like an arrow. I continued on
horseback until I arrived at Turkey creek, on
the north side of Winter Quarters. I then be-
came exhausted, and was taken off my horse
and carried to my wagon in a chair. I was
met in the street by Prests. Brigham Young,
H. C. Kimball and W. Richards and others,
who assisted in carrying me to my family.
Before laying me upon my bed, the Presidency
laid hands upon me, rebuked my suffering and
distress in the name of the Lord, and said I
should live and not die. I was then laid upon
my bed in my wagon, and as the Apostles pro-
phesied upon my head, so it came to pass. I
employed no physician on this occasion, but
was administered to by the Elders of Israel
and nursed by my wife. I lay upon my bed
unable to move until my breast bone began to
knit together, which commenced on the ninth
day. I began to walk about in twenty days;
in thirty days from the time I was hurt I again
commenced to do hard labor.
—While on a mission to the
Eastern States, I drove my carriage, contain-
ing myself and family into the door yard of
br. James Williams in Iowa, to camp for the
night. I tied my mules to a large oak tree
several rods from the carriage. As we were
about to lay down in the carriage for the night,
I was strongly impressed to go and move my
mules from the oak tree, and also to move my
carriage. I followed the dictates of the Spirit,
and removed my mules to a small hickory
grove, also moved my carriage several rods,
and retired to rest.
In a short time a heavy rain storm came on,
which broke the tree near the ground, and
laid it prostrate where my carriage had stood.
As it was, the top struck the hind end of the
carriage; the tree was two feet in diameter.
Thus, by obeying the whisperings of the Spirit,
myself and family were preserved.
On the , while assist-
ing to remove an ox that had died from poison
and had been skinned, I inoculated my arm
with poison, and mortification ensued. The
poison worked through my system for seven
days before it showed itself outwardly. On
the my arm began to swell, was in great
pain and showed signs of mortification. I
showed it to Prest. Young, who advised me to
cleanse my stomach immediately, and put on
onion poultices, and anything that would draw
the poison from my system into my arm, which
counsel I immediately put in execution. The
was another trying day to my life; the
poison had so thoroughly penetrated my whole
system, that my strength left me; I could not
stand, I was led to my bed, my bowels and
stomach ceased to act, my speech was like
that of a drunken man. Prest. Young called,
in company with Dr. Sprague, and laid hands
upon me, and rebuked the disease and the
power of the destroyer which had seized my
body, and promised me in the name of the
Lord, that I should not die but live to finish
my work which was appointed me upon the
earth. I soon began to recover. The poison
and mortification left my system and centered
in my arm, and was drawn from my arm thro'
the aid of charcoal poultices, moistened with
a strong decoction of wormwood, ragweed and
wild sage; the dead flesh was removed from
my arm with instruments and lunar caustic,
and in a few days I was well again.
I have occupied considerable space in refer-
ring to those peculiar circumstances which
have attended me during life, and to sum the
matter up it stand thus:—I have broken both
legs—one in two places—both arms, my breast
bone and three ribs, and had both ankles dis-
located. I have been drowned, frozen, scalded,
and bit by a mad dog—have been in water
wheels under full head of water—-have passed
through several severe fits of sickness, and
encountered poison in its worst forms—have
landed in a pile of railroad ruins—have barely
been missed by the passing bullet, and have
passed through a score of other hair-breadth
escapes.
It has appeared miraculous to me, that with
all the injuries and broken bones which I have
had, I have not a lame limb, but have been
enabled to endure the hardest labor, exposures
and journeys—have often walked forty, fifty,
and on one occasion, sixty miles in a day. The
protection and mercy of God has been over
me, and my life thus far has been preserved;
for which blessings I feel to render the grati-
tude of my heart to my Heavenly Father, pray-
ing that the remainder of my days may be
spent in His service and in the building up of
His kingdom.