Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Artemus Millet Sr.


The following account is abridged from the record "Artemus Millet: Builder of the Kingdom," by Josh E Probert and Craig K. Manscill. It is a well documented book or article, with over 100 footnotes of documentation.

Youth in Vermont and Labors Near Lake Champlain

     Artemis Millet was born 1 Sept. 1790 in Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, to Ebeneezer and Catherine Dryden Millet.  Westmoreland, a post town on the Connecticut river, is a small village located in southwestern N.H. In a contemporary gazetteer, Westmoreland was described as "a very excellent farming town."  Ebeneezer was a soldier in the British army who eventually became a captain under General Woolf in the French and Indian War.  Captain Millet suffered some injuries while in the service.  Most dramatically, he took nine balls in his right arm in June 1758 and lost the use of it.  After recovering from his injuries, Captain Millet witnessed the famous turning point in the war, the Battle of Quebec. He was on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City during the battle that won Canada for the English. Years later, as a patriot in the Revolutionary war, Ebeneezer Millet contended against the English in Captain Davis' minuteman march from Holden to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Once there, the field officers chose Millet as their quartermaster.
     When peace ensued, Ebeneezer engaged in profitable commercial trade with American Indians and accumulated considerable wealth. He moved his family from Brooklyn  Vermont in 1794, Then, in the fall of 1800, the family to Stockbridge, Vermont.  Artemus was then ten years old. Here, Ebeneezer Millet became ill and died of apoplexy on his birthday, 22 November, of either 1806 or 1807.  Upon his father's death, at the age of 16, Artemus became the "man of the house."  Over the next two years, he took charge of the family farm and cared for his mother and sisters.
     At the age of 19, Artemus let out the family farm and went to Shelbourne, Vermont to learn mason work. His mother and sisters stayed behind.  In Shelbourne - a harbor town on Lake Champlain - Artemus spent a year learning masonry skills. From Shelbourne, Artemus moved to Louisville, New York, where he did "lumbering" on the St. Lawrence. This experience exposed Artemus to different types of architecture and the large number of buildings constructed of stone masonry that would later influence his building style.
     The next year, Artemus returned to his family in Stockbridge, where his mother and one of his sisters were still residing. The other sister had married while Artemus was away.  He sold the Stockbridge farm  collected the families belongings, and returned to Shelbourne, the town where he had previously studied masonry, around 1809.  He recalls: "The next summer my brother, his wife, and child and my mother and sister were taken sick. Two of them died, the unmarried sister and brother's oldest daughter. When I moved from Shelburn I gave up my mother and sister will all their property to my brother.  I then went to mason work and continued laying stone for about 2 years, during which time I accumulated $500."
     Artemus abandoned masonry as a full-time means of income and became a huckster (a peddler) during the War of 1812, presumably peddling goods to those involved in the war.  troops were stationed throughout northern Vermont and upstate New York, and considerable fortifications were undertaken at Sackets Harbor and Oswego, New York.  Although plenty of soldiers were nearby, business was not good.  In Millet's own words, he "lost everything."
     in 1815, Artemus found a companion in life, a young woman named Ruth Grannis.  Ruth was from Milton, Vermont, a township just north of Shelburne.  They were married on 17 May 1815. The young couple settled in Drawland, Lake Champlain.  Ruth gave birth to a baby girl, Colista, in March 1916. Artemus continued masonry during the summer, In the fall of 1816, Artemus and Ruth moved to Volney, Oswego County, New York.  Their home began to fill with more youngsters: their first son, Nelson, was born in 1818, and a daughter, Emily was born in 1820.  Sadly, the same year Emily was born, 4 year old Colista died.  Two years later another girl, Maria, was born.

New York: Volney, Gravelly Point, and Long Island

     After abandoning agriculture for 7 years, Artemus came back to it and purchased a farm in Volney, New York.  Owning the farm, however, did not keep him from his masonry work.  Millet evidently was using money he earned from masonry contracts to pay off a loan he had taken out to pay for the farm.  He writes, "I continued the mason trade building bridged, foundations, etc. for 6 years. About 1822, in September, I was stoning a wall when the man who was attending me let a stone fall on my head and fractured my skull, which laid me up for 2 months. Then, not being able to pay for my land it was taken from me."
     An important point here is the fact that Millet's future friend and leader, Brigham Young, was living in Oswego Township, with his wife Miriam, and their daughter, Elizabeth, during the same time that the Millets were living in nearby Volney.
     Researchers can only guess whether the Youngs knew the Millets at this time, but such a relationship is possible.  As a stone mason, Millet was perhaps working on the same "large tannery" as Brigham Young.
     Artemus soon abandoned his property in Volney, New York, and moved across the state to Gravelly Point, another town on Lake Champlain, where he worked as a mason.  He did not stay there long, moving to Long Island, New York, soon thereafter, where he worked on a large stone brewery.  "I was sick most of two years.  My acquaintance administered to our wants, brought us many comforts of life, and let us have hands to help us work.

Stone Masonry and Mormonism in Upper Canada

     Millet was becoming well known for his masonry skills.  While working in New York he was recommended to a British officer in Canada for "a certain job."  It is not known what he was doing specifically for the British Crown, yet it is known that he built a house in June 1829 and two large flour mills in 1830, both three stories high, "besides considerable other work."  Millet's arrival in Canada became a turning point in his financial status.  He was no longer the huckster loosing everything, nor was he the man forced to leave his farm because of his inability to pay on a loan. He recalled that "my work increased as my acquaintance increased. And I put up building after building, built chimneys, laid foundations, etc. until it seemed I was to become a Canadian citizen and bought a farm in Ernestown, Ontario."
     Most biographical histories of Artemus Millet cite his first meeting with Mormonism as a January 1833 visit from Brigham and Joseph Young.  Actually, his first contact with Mormonism came earlier, in August 1832, A group of Mormon missionaries, including Joseph and Phinehas Young, spent the summer of 1832 in upper Canada, the first official missionaries to preach the Restoration in Canada.  During their journey, the band of men spent 6 weeks preaching in Artemus' township, Earnestown. Eleazer Miller recorded, "Here are thousands flocked to hear the strange news; even so that the houses could not contain the multitude, and we had to repair to the groves. Hundreds were searching the scriptures to see if these things were so.  Many were partly convinced, and some were wholly so, when we left."
     Millet, apparently impressed by the missionaries message, received a blessing of healing at their hands.  He later wrote, "I took cold, which settled in my breast, and I did not get over it until the next August (1832) when I recieved a witness of the Latter-day work in a manifestation of the healing power.  This event set the stage for Millet's baptism and following January at the hands of Brigham Young.

     Ruth and Artemus had two sons born to them while in Ernestown: George Jefferson in 1825, and Hiram Grannis in 1827.  Ruth also gave birth to a stillborn son in 1828. Millet's joy over this young family, his business success, and his miraculous healing in Canada were suffused with sorrow when his wife Ruth was "taken sick of consumption, and after suffering two years died."  He soon remarried. Susannah Peters, daughter of Joseph and Jamima Peters, of Ernestown, "became his new bride."
     Artemus and Ruth had both been close to the Peters family before Ruth's death.  Artemus had built a stone house for Susannah's father, Joseph Peters, during June 1829.  Susanna had taken care of Ruth's children while Ruth was sick. A descendant of Artemus and Susanna Millet wrote of their relationship:
Susanna was acquainted with Ruth Grannis Millet and her husband Artemus Millet Sr. in Ernestown, Upper Canada where they all lived.  She consented to work for them, helping to take care of the children and the mother, as Ruth had poor health. She because attached to these children and their parents, and they loved her. Ruth's mother, Grandma Grannis also thought a lot of Susanna and was very willing for her to marry Artemus and take Ruth's place as she requested.  For Ruth died in March 1931, leaving 5 children living: Nelson- 13, Emily-11,  Maria 9, George- 6,  and Hiram - 4.  At this time Grandma Grannis said, " I know of no one I would rather have to care for Ruth's children and take her place than Susanna." So, as Susanna was willing, she was married at the age of 27 to Artemus Millet Sr. on 15 Jan. 1832.

Conversion of Artemus Millet

     In the winter of 1832-33, the newly converted Brigham Young set out on foot from Mendon, New York to upper Canada with his brother, Joseph Young, who had been there the previous year with Phinehas Young and others.  Brigham and Joseph continued preaching throughout the area during the wintery months of 1832-33.  Brigham had a burning testimony of the restored gospel and desired o share it with others.  Later in his life, Brigham said, "When I came into this Church, I started right out as a missionary, and took a text, and began to travel on a circuit."  He further described his desire " I wanted to thunder and roar out the Gospel to the nations. It burned in my bones like fire pent up, so I commenced to preach the Gospel of life to the people...Nothing would satisfy me but to cry abroad in the world, what the Lord was doing in these latter days...I had to go out and preach, lest my bones should consume within me."
     It was during this time that Susanna gave birth to her first child, Joseph.
     Artemus Millet was still living in Earnstown, Ontario, where he was contacted by the Youngs and acted on the previous manifestation he had received. He was baptized by Brigham Young and confirmed by Joseph Young in January 1833.  The baptism took place in Loughborough, a township north of Kingston.  Millet was one of a large body of converts baptized by the Youngs in Loughborough.

The Kirtland Temple

     In June 1833, the Church began in earnest to build the temple in Kirtland.  The previous winter, while Brigham Young was in Canada, the Lord instructed the saints to " build a house of prayer, a house of fasting...a house of God."  The Saints were later chastened for not building the temple with haste.  A revelation received by Joseph Smith stated, "Wherefore, ye must needs be chastened and stand rebuked before my face;  For ye have sinned against me a very grievous sin, in that ye have not considered the great commandment  in all things, that I have given unto you concerning the building of mine house."  That same day the Prophet wrote, "Great preparations were making to commence the house of the Lord; notwithstanding the Church was poor, yet our unity, harmony, and charity abounded to strengthen us to do the commandments of God. The building of the house of the Lord in Kirtland was a matter that continued to increase in its interest in the hearts of the brethren.
  Five days later, in a council of high priests, the conference voted "that committee proceeded immediately to commence building the house; or to obtaining materials, stone, brick, lumber, etc. for the same." Hyrum Smith began writing letters to members of the Church in solicitation for Kirtland Temple donations.  Artemus Millet received such a letter, which included a different, though sizable, request.  He wrote, "In the summer Brother Hyrum Smith wrote to me that it was the will of the Lord that I should go and work on the temple in Kirtland." Artemus acquiesced to Hyrum Smith's request and soon traveled to Ohio. Of this Artemus said, "I had 36 Scotch-masons working under me at this time.  I turned the work over to them to finish and left my family in Canada, and went to Kirtland."
     The Kirtland Temple would have been a unique project for any contractor. The dimensions of the building were given in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith on 1 June 1833, indicating that the temple should be built after the manner which I shall show unto thee."
     Artemus brought his family to Kirtland and obtained property across the street from the temple sight, where he was easily able to oversee the construction efforts. He soon ran into difficulty, as much of his laor force was drained by men who left Kirtland as part of Zion's camp - a preliminary endeavor to reclaim Church property in Missouri. The Zion's camp exodus left Millet with limited manpower. Yet he was resourceful and accomplished much while the men were gone.  Women and children stepped up to fill the men's placed, driving cattle to haul rock, etc.
   Artemus went beck and forth between Canada and Kirland a few times during the construction of the temple, so as to keep all his affairs in order.  He was partners with Lorenzo Young to build the temple for $1,000. During construction he became ill with cholera and was given a blessing by Joseph Smith, upon which he began to heal immediately.
     Much has been said concerneing the exterior stucco of the Kirtland temple.  The common story is that the women of Kirtland donated their fine china to be crushed and mixed in with the stucco, thereby adding a shimmering surface. That glass was put into the plaster is true, yet there are no records that tell of any fine china. Artemus' journal says that "he sent men and boys to different towns and places to gather old crockery and glass to put into the cement."  After the stucco completely covered the exterior, Joseph Young painted faint blue lines to make it imitate cut stone masonry.
     The temple was a beautiful structure - different from the building that visitors see today, however.  Millet's original plaster in no longer on the building, as it was replaced in 1955, and of course it has been re-roofed and painted.
     In 1834, during all this temple construction time, Susanna had a baby boy whom they named Alma Millet (Sr.) who is your Great x 4 Grandfather. Then in 1836 her 3rd son, Artemus Jr. came to join the family.  They now had 7 or 8 living children: Nelson (18), Emily (16), Maria (unknown if she was still living, but if so would be 14), George (11), Hiram (9), {all born of Ruth Grannis} then Joseph (4), Alma (2) and baby Artemus {born to Susanna}.

Artemus in Kirtland: Loyalty, Mission, and Financial Contributions
   
     Like many men in Kirtland, Artemus Millet served a mission in 1836, following the dedication of the Kirtland temple, laboring with Oliver Granger, another of Brigham Youngs converts.  Granger had labored on the temple with Millet, even though he had lost most of his eyesight in a gun accident.
     In 1837-8 a great falling away from the church occurred in Kirtland. The failed Kirtland Safety Society Anti Bak=nking Company was one of the main catalysts of the criticism of Joseph Smith's leadership. Artemus remained supportive of the Mormon leader throughout this tumultuous time.  A good example of this support occured on May 29, 1837 during a meeting of the Kirtland high council  Artemus, along with 4 others, brought charges against Presdents Frederick G. Williams and David Whitmer and Elders Parley P. Pratt, Lyman Johnson, and Warren Parrish.  Besides defending the prophet and contributing to the construction of the temple, Artemus was financially charitable.  A wealthy man, Millet was likely a donor to the temple funds, although there are no records of such.  Yet some of Millet's other financial contributions are well documented. A leger book from the Newel K. Whitney store reveals Millet's incredible generosity.  There are at least 53 instances between Nov 1836 and April 1837 when Artemus paid for someone else's order.

Interim: Canada and Chargrin Falls, Ohio

     We do not know when Artemus left Kirtland, but it was some time after the Kirtland Safety Society officially closed.  Most who remained faithful throughout the Kirtland apostasy moved to Missouri to join with the rest of the Church   Yet Artemus did not go to Missouri. He returned to Canada, not meeting up with the Church again until April 1843 in Nauvoo, Ill.
     Even after making the 1833-4 and 1835 trips to collect money owed him, Millet continued to have debtors.  He said that in 1833 he had "sold out on credit." In light of the fact that he had 36 employees at that time, Artemus owned a formidable organization and was expecting remuneration for his property. Yet he was unsuccessful in collecting money owed him. Describing the endeavor, he tersely said that he "failed."  Furthermore, Millet's private property, presumably his home and farm, was taken from him.  Joseph Millet recalled that "As soon as we got back into Canada, the war broke out.  My father known to be a Yankee, had to flee from Canada and went back to his brother William Millet at Stockbridge, Vermont.  Father had taken no hand in the rebellion, ignorant of the movement, but his property was confiscated."  Having lost his property and masonry business, Artemus took up employment with the Canadian government, He worked "or two seasons on arched bridges for the government...and was an overseer of projects for a part of the time."
     In November 1839, Susanna gave birth to William, a new son who died at age 2. For unknown reasons, Susanna Peters, Millet's 2nd wife, died in 1840 or 41.  Artemus was single for a few years, which was a tragic time for him.  The Kirtland apostasy fresh on his memory, he returned to Canada only to lose his business and property, the his wife dies and leaves him with 8 children to take care of, one of whom would die shortly.
     After all these events, Artemus returned to Kirtland, Ohio. Being single and without means, he sadly recalled of his children, "I was not able to take them with me." His son remembered that after their mother died, "my father hired the children taken care of and six boys boarded out until he could go to Ohio and get means to take care of us there, but as soon as father left, my mother's relatives had us all bound out."
     Deed records show that Artemus still owned his Kirtland property, whereas many members of the Church had lost theirs or sold out for a minimal price.  Apparently, Artemus' oldest son, Nelson, had stayed on the property, not going west with the saints or back to Canada with the family. He was married and took care of the place.  Later Artemus deeded the property to Nelson.
     While in Kirtland Artemus, now around 50 years old, worked to gain money to move to Illinois through masonry work in Chagrin Falls, a town aprox. 30 miles south of Kirtland.
     Artemus regained his children in the summer of 1842. His oldest daughter Emily and her husband William MacDonald boarded a steamer at Fairport Harbor and headed toward Buffalo, NY, where they continued to Lewiston, Ontario. William, apparently a generous man, visited all the children and dressed them in new clothes. He arranged to "kidnap" the children form those whom Susanna's family had indentured them to. Joseph Millet recalls,
"William prepared an entertainment a the hotel for the children and friends. Buggies were sent for the children early in the morning, and invitation to those whom they lived with to be there at 3 p.m.  They all came and got their dinner.  They found their dinner waiting, but the children were not there.   
Then the buggies drove up to Grannis Hotel, the children were put into a 4 horse coach. The driver cracked his whop, no time to delay. The fastest the driver ever made between that place and Kingston, so he said.
As we stopped, the Captain (of the steamer) said, "Mack, what kept you so long? We came as soon as the children arrived."
 Then the driver says to the Captain, "Sir, look at my puffing horses."
When we were half or three quarters of a mile from the shore, "Boom," spoke the cannon, and up signaled the flag for the steamer to come back. We went on, the captain says, "Can't go on that side this time, Mack," and smiled, Macdonald commenced to lay his plans with the captain on the Lake Erie steamer and at the hotel in Buffalo, then with the captain on the Ontario steamer, then with friends in Canada.  All worked out well, didn't know as anyone ever prosecuted or not for the kidnapping,...
We arrived in Kirtland safe, then I could remember when we lived there before and of taking father's lunch to him while he was working on the temple. 
    Artemus left Kirtland in the fall of 1843, this time with his children. Nelson, Emily and their spouses remained in Ohio. (George - 18, Hiram - 16, Joseph-11, Alma - 9, Artemus - 7)

Nauvoo

     Artemas said that he left for Nauvoo in the fall of 1842. It took a long time to get there, because he did nto arrive until April, "just in time for conference."  The Church had progressed rapidly since Millet was last with them.  The Nauvoo temple was under construction, many important doctrinal developments had occurred, the Quorum of the Twelve had been to the British Isles and back, and Church membership had grown considerably.  The same month that he arrived in Nauvoo, Artemas Millet remarried on 20 April 1843. He was wed to Almira Prichard Oaks, called "Widow Oaks," in his reminiscences. Brigham Young performed the ceremony.
     Millet said that while he was in Illinois, he "worked on the Nauvoo temple more or less for 2 years."  Yet he was kept from being as fully immersed in the work as he had been in Kirtland becasue he "was sick a considerable about of the time."
     Hancick County records do not show Artemus owning land in the Nauvoo area.  Nelson, the son who stayed in Ohio, however, had many holdings throughout the county.  Nelson had become "an eminent lawyer and owner of the Steamship Erna, which sailed on the Missouri River." A family history tells that upon coming to Nauvoo, Nelson and his brother George, out of sympathy for their father, brought a boat loaded with food.  We do not know whether Artemus lived on property purchased by his son for him. None of Nelson's holdings were in Nauvoo itself but were in surrounding townships.  It was not uncommon for Church members to live outside of Nauvoo proper, so Artemus likely was living on property his son had purchased.
     The Millet family was one of the first to know of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in the Carthage Jail. Artemus' son recalled this time:
We were in Nauvoo 4 years and mobbed and drove with the Saints.  I have seen the Carthage Jail and saw the martyrs on the day after the martyrdom. Vasco Call, meyself, my brother Artemus, and another boy were at the old jailhouse on the Lahash Road where the Carthage and Pontoosuc roads cross...when William and Wilson Law and Doctor Foster drove by from Carthage on their way to Pontoosuc. Their horses were going as fast as they could travel. One of the Law's hollered out, "Dig a grave for Joe Smith for he is dead."
 We gathered our cows and ran them nearly all the way to Nauvoo, (6 miles) and told the folks what we had heard. Some believed it; others did not. But the messenger in the night confirmed out statement.
     After the death of the prophet, Artemus sustained Brigham Young and the Twelve as the successors to Joseph Smith.  His support is evidenced not only by his removing to the Salt Lake Valley, but also by his participation in priesthood ordinances in Nauvoo under their direction.  He was ordained a high priest and received his ministry license in 1844 and 1845.  On Dec. 24, 1845, he and Almira were endowed in the Nauvoo Temple.  The attic story of the temple had recently been dedicated for ordinance work the month before on Nov. 30, 1845. They received their endowments during the well-known period when the Church leadership was working long hours into the night, hoping to endow all who desired to be endowed before abandoning Nauvoo and removing to the Rocky Mountains.

The Exodus: Millet on the Mormon Trail
     Artemus Millet left Nauvoo sometime in the summer of 1846.  He recalled that he was "sick all summer on the prairie near Bonaparte (Iowa). Bonapart was a ferry-crossing point on the Iowa trail approximately 30 miles from Nauvoo on the Des Moines River. Becasue of illness, Artemus had to travel slowly through Iowa even in the summer months.  Fox River is only 80 miles from Nauvoo, yet he did not reach that point until October.  Here Almira became ill and passed away. Of that time, he wrote, "My wife was taken sick and I had her taken up on Fox River, Iowa, where she died in October."
     Artemus was without a wife until he remarried one year later in 1847, a marriage that would last only one year.  He recalled, "The next October I married Triphenia Booth, sister to Brigham Young's first wife. After living with me a year she left me at Council Point." It is not certain if by "she left me" Artemus meant that Triphenia died or just abandoned him in western Iowa, but it appears to be the latter.
     In March 1848, Artemus remarried yet again.  He married a woman named Nancy Lemaster in Kanesville, Iowa, March 11, 1849.  Elder Orson Hyde performed this marriage. Artemus had moved into Kanesville, presumably from Council Point which was southwest.  It was common during htis time for member to cross into northern Missouri where they could find work to gain money to get supplies for the trek to the Great Salt Lake Valley.  Millet did this, leaving his family in Iowa and traveling into Missouri to work.  He was there for an unknown amount of time "working for an outfit."
     Artemus returned to Kanesville in July 1849, gathered his family, and took them with him back to Missouri. He continued working there until 8 June 1850 when the family departed from Oregon, Missouri, to rejoin the Saints on the banks of the Missouri River and head west.  It is unclear with which company Millet made the 3-month journey, and there are conflicting reports. Suffice it to say that Artemus said, "We arrived in G.S.L. City on 2nd of October, 1850."
     The journey would have been particularly difficult for the Millet family. Artemus's new wife Nancy was pregnant during their travel from Missouri to Iowa and from Council Bluffs to Utah. Nancy gave birth to a son on 22 September, "11 miles this side of Fort Bridger (Wyoming) at 4 o'clock in the morning."

Manti Days

     The day after arriving in Salt Lake, Artemus called on Brigham Young.  Surely it was a joyful reunion for both of them; they had not seen each other for some time.  While in Salt Lake City, Artemus helped build a barn for President Young. Another event on note is that Church Patriarch John Smith named Millet's newborn son, Liberty, who had been born on the trail.
     President Young instructed Artemus to take his family to Manti and settle there, a new settlement in Sanpete County.  Always faithful, Artemus heeded PResident Young's counsel and after spending a month in the Salt Lake Valley headed south to Manti.  Manti, known for it's large population of Scandinavian immigrants, was also the home for many of the Saints Millet had known and worked with in Kirtland and Nauvoo.  These included Issac Morley, Titus Billings, Dan JOnes, and Orson Hyde.  Artemus and his family arrived in Manti November 1850.
    Millets time in Manti was fruitful. He served in civic and ecclesiastical positions, helping direct the arrairs of the new settlement.  As always, he consecrated his talents for construction to the kingdom, supervising the construction of many structures in Manti.  The spring following Millets arrival brought a visit from the leadership of the Church, including President Young.  Their business included issuing a new call to Artemus. Elizabeth Crawford Munk wrote of the visit:
"On April 29, 1851, PResident Young, Apostles Kinball and Woodruff and others started from Salt Lake City to visit the settlements in southern Utah, and to explore the valley of the Sevier and other places.  They spent a few days in Manti. A meeting was called in the school house and the visitors organized a high council for Manti.  In the evening of the meeting day, both the Bowery and the log school house were occupied. Singing, prayer, and talks, were followed by dancing until 10 o'clock when all retired to their homes highly gratified with the manner in which the time had been spent."
     Artemus Millet was one of those appointed to the high council by the visiting leaders on 30 April. He was additionally called to serve as the president of the council the next day.  He served in that capacity for about 5 years.
     A history of Manti by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers tells of Artemus's also being nominated to be a referee, or selectman, along with Titus Billings, Edwin Whiting, and several others.  This event took place during "a meeting of the citizens of Sanpete County, in the fort of Manti City."   Serving in both ecclesiastical and civic positions , Artemus Millet was involved in the decision making circles of Snapete COunty. He worked with Manti Stake President Issac Morley and counselors Titus Billings and Edwin Whiting, Mayor Dan JOnes, and Manti militia commander Nelson Higgings.  Millet's leadership in Manti was important. In most literature, Millet is noted only for his architectural contributions, especially as the builder of the Kirtland Temple. Yet his time on the Manti High Council and other positions shows that Millet had leadership ability, which was recognized by his priesthood leaders and fellow saints. In this way, he built the kingdom, using means other than spade and mortar.

Indian Trouble and the Walker War

     Brigham Young intended to have peaceful relations with the Native Americans among whom he settled the Rocky Mountains.  On June 14, 1849, Chief Walker and a delegate of Ute Indians called on President Young in Salt Lake.  At that time, Walker requested that a group of settlers settle in "Sanpitch." The Indians hoped for the settlers to teach them how to build homes and farm the soil. Chief Walker had even served as a guide for a Mormon exploration party and had treated then with respect. Despite early desires for camraderie and their wish to have the Mormon immigrants settle in their land, the Indian's feeling turned on the settlers.
"In the middle of the summer of 1850, Chief Walker and a band of 700 Sanpitch warriors with their squaws and papooses returned froma successful foraging expedition against the Shoshones  and camped in a semicircle around the Manti colonists, remaining during the rest of the summer.  They proudly exhibited their trophies of was, held frequent scalp dances and forced their prisoners to dance with the scalps of their kindred attached to poles.  Chief Walker and his leading warriors would worry the colonists and threaten to treat them in a similar manner...The Indians under Chief Walker continually gave indications of a desire to stir up trouble, and in spite of his pleadings for white neighbors to settle among his people and teach them the way of peaceful and happy government, this treacherous chief made efforts to use the colonists to feed and support him and his band.
     During the mentioned hostilities, Artemus Millet was enrolled in the Sanpete County Militia.  The Manti Siants relocated their settlement south, with the present-day Manti Tabernacle as the center block.  They did this in consideration of the Indian threat and the desire to move their settlement away from the hill.  This move occurred in 1852, beginning the first organized deed records in Sanpete County. The records show that Artemus Millet owned four lots on block 180 in Manti City. Later, in 1858, the Church consecration records show hi owning the following property: "four city blocks in block 180, four lots in the big field,  a house within the big fort, and one calf, total value $1,448."

Millet's Construction Efforts in Manti

     The relocated Manti settlement was walled in and called the Little Stone Fort.  Millet supervised the building of the fort in the summer of 1852 as well as the later additions to it.  THe fort, like its later addition and other buildings Millet worked on in Manti, was built of stone. Construction began on 27 May and was completed June 28.  A dedication service was held on 3 July 1852.
     Millet was 62 years old when we was working on the Little Stone Fort.  Either Millet was in great shape for a man of his age or he delegated much of the manual labor to others.  A record of those who built the fort says that Millet contributed 16 days to building the fort and one team of oxen.  A Deseret News article dated 17 June 1852 described the fort's construction as employed by Millet. "It has a gate on the west side int he center of the wall, and round bastions at the north, west and south-east corners,: the reporter stated. :The wall is 8 feet high and 2 feet thick and is set upon a foundation of stone 3 feet wide."
     No records document who lived inside the Little Stone Fort. Lg cabins wee build close to one another with their backs against the fort walls.  As much space as possible was left in the center of the block. It is assumed that Millet had a log cabin inside the fort, as the other settlers did. He may have later moved into the Log Fort, an 1853 addition to the Little Stone Fort.
     By 1854, the Manti settlement had grown considerably.  A wave of Scandinavian immigrants had settled nearby in Spring City during October. President Young soon ordered then to remove themselves to Manti where they would be safer than in Spring City.  These immigrants were extremely poor upon thier arrival, but the Manti saints provided for their needs.  One Scandinavian immigrant, Christian Munk, recorded his journey and Artemus's generosity upon Munk's arrival. "December 15th an order came from Brigham Young for us to go to Manti as soon as possible.  Friday 16th, prepared ourselves and moved to Manti, arriving late in the evening.  On the 17th of December moved into the Millet home."
    Because of the growing population of Manti, the Little Stone Fort and the Log Fort were no longer sufficient to house everyone. To remedy the need, the settlers built a larger fort called the Big Fort. Artemus Millet "labored as a mason on the fort wall in 1854 and 1855." The Big Fort covered 17 acres, or 9 city blocks, fully enclosing the original fort.  A Manti history described the structure as being built "chiefly of rock, though part of it was built in the old Spanish style, by making a frame of wood and filling this with mud, and some of it was built of large adobes."  Records indicate the walls were 12 feet high, 3 feet wide and the bottom and 2 feet wide at the top.
     Artemus said that in 1852 he built a house for Brigham Young, Further research might identify which house this is.  Artemus also said that Bishiop John Lowery appointed him "overseer of the Tithing House in the Little Stone fort and in 1855 he put me in superintendent of the Council House."  More research is needed to discern whether Millet was the overseer of construction and/or the overseer of the buildings after they were built. This was the year the building was rebuilt so it seems likely that he as involved in its construction. Furthermore, the stone building style resembles his previous work.
     In 1858, Artemus married Sanna Stout int e Endowment House in Salt Lake City.  Anna was the sister of the Salt Lake City Sheriff and Mormon old-timer Hosea Stout. Hosea recorded the marriage in his journal, which places the marriage on Nov. 24. In a journal entry dated the following day he wrote, "I forgot to mention that on yesterday Anna was married to Artemus Millet. Started home with him to San Pete Co."  Because Nancy Lemaster was still with Artemus, it apprears that Anna Stout was a plural wife.

Shonesburg and Spring Valley

     In OCtober 1861, President Brigham Young called for pioneers to settle in the Dixie Cotton Mission. It was the third wave of calls to Dixie that had been issued.  A group of Sanpete County settlers were among the 28 families called, including Alma Millet.  Artemus and Joseph accompanied Alma, along with their families.  One settler recalled, "The Lord is kind in calling us to this wonderful mission.  I like a warm climate better than a cold one,"  Little did they realize the difficult task ahead.
     Artemus and Joseph settled in Shoneburg, a settlement near Rockville, north of the north entrance of Zion's National Park today.  The Millets would have been in familiar company, as other families from Manti moved south and settled the desert with them.  These included the families of Oliver Demill, George Petty, Hyrum Stevens, Hardin Whitlock and Charlie Clapper.  The settlement in Shonesburg had to be temporarily abandoned because of Indian trouble in 1866. Several men were killed in Arizona, jsut south of the Utah border and the Shonesburg settlement.  Artemus recalled that "the people of Shonesburg, Springdale and Grafton were called to gather to Rockville for safety.  My son, Alma moved my wife and me to Rockville then moved our house there from Shonesburg."
     Not long after settling Rockville, Alma was called to oversee the Church's cooperative cattle heard at Desert Springs in 1867.  Alma moved to the nearby settlement of Spring Valley, Nevada about 40 miles west of Desert Springs.  Two years later, in 1869, Artemus also moved from Rockville to Spring Valley.  Elder Erastus Snow of the Quorum of the Twelve had called him "to help strengthen the settlement there."  The 1870 census shows Artemus and most of his family living in Iron County at this time.  Iron County would have extended into today's Nevada before the border changes between Utah and Nevada were delineated.  Alma, Joseph, and Artemus Jr. were all there with their families.
     While in Spring Valley, Artemus, now in his 70's, continued doing masonry work.  He did work "helping to build chimneys, etc."  His age and many mishaps were waring on him by this time.  His grandson records that Artemus was "not able to do any heavy lifting, as he had been badly crippled up in his younger days." In Spring Valley Artemus also "engaged in dairying and assisted his wife Annie in milking the cows, making butter and cheese, and raising chickens. In reminiscence, Joseph Jr. remembered those days:
" I tended mason for him when I was 12 year old and plastered his fireplace and chimney place, under his directions and tended him while he walled up a well for my uncle Artemus (Jr.). He made an octagon frame, placed it where the well was to be dug, and commenced his wall on it, after it had been lowered to the surface of the ground.  And Uncle Artemus would dig inside and lower it as the wall was being built, and Grandfather to lay the rock from the top of the ground as I would hand them to him, and mix and hand him mortar.
 When it got too deep to throw the dirt out, Uncle Alma came and helped. They put up a tripod, fastened a pulley, in the top, and put a bucket on each end of a rope which ran through the pulley.  While one was being filled, the other was being emptied. And thys when the well was dig, it was also walled clear to the top.
Scipio: The Last Days of Millet's Life

     Whn Alma Millet was released from his superintendence of the Church cattle heard, he sold his property in Spring Valley and moved his father and his family to Scipio, Utah, and 1860 Millard County pioneer settlement that sits in a valley across the mountain from the Millets  former home in Manti.  By this time, Artemus was becoming quite feeble. In November 1874 Alma wrote to Joseph that their father wanted him and Artemus Jr. to come to Scipio "at once."  Coincidentally, his son Hyron Grannis (son of Ruth) had recently arrived in California along with his family. He was staying with Joseph Millet at the time Alma's letter arrived. Artemus had not seen Hyrum for 30 years.  The three brothers "soon arrived at their father's bedside in Scipio. Joseph Millet Jr. described the poignant scene:
Artemus was so overjoyed to see them, and especially his unexpected son Hyrum, whom he had not seen for so many years.  He was greatly animated and seemed to revive at the moment, although his demise had been daily, and almost hourly expected.  There was a brief time of weeping with father and sons, mingled with joy, sorrow, anxiety, hope, fear, and doubt.
A photographer was brought and grandfather was dressed in his best suit of clothes, sat up in bed, and had his picture taken, the only one taken of him. Outlines looked very natural, bu his eyes sere sunken and his eyelids drooped.
 The strain seemed to have been too much for him. He went peacefully away in the 19th of November, with a satisfied expression on his face.
 Artemus Millet was 84 years, 2 months, and 8 days old, clear from any bad habits or profane language or expressions  prepared to meet those loved ones who had preceded him...and to meet with the prophets and apostles he had been so intimately associated with and labored with in the cause of truth and of redemption for the living and the dead.
Great be his glory and endless his priesthood, ever and ever this robe he shall wear, crowned in his glory to sit in his kingdom to reign supreme and triumphantly there. 

Other notes about Artemus Millet Sr. 
   Artemus is mentioned in a speech given by M. Russel Ballard entitled "What Came From Kirtland."

The Mormon Myth about Artemus Millet

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Ebeneezer and Clarissa Beal Millet


     Artemis Millet was born 1 Sept. 1790 in Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, to Ebeneezer and Catherine Dryden Millet.  Westmoreland, a post town on the Connecticut river, is a small village located in southwestern N.H. In a contemporary gazetteer, Westmoreland was described as "a very excellent farming town."  Ebeneezer was a soldier in the British army who eventually became a captain under General Woolf in the French and Indian War.  Captain Millet suffered some injuries while in the service.  Most dramatically, he took nine balls in his right arm in June 1758 and lost the use of it.  After recovering from his injuries, Captain Millet witnessed the famous turning point in the war, the Battle of Quebec. He was on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City during the battle that won Canada for the English. Years later, as a patriot in the Revolutionary war, Ebeneezer Millet contended against the English in Captain Davis' minuteman march from Holden to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Once there, the field officers chose Millet as their quartermaster.
     When peace ensued, Ebeneezer engaged in profitable commercial trade with American Indians and accumulated considerable wealth. He moved his family from Brooklyn  Vermont in 1794, Then, in the fall of 1800, the family to Stockbridge, Vermont.  Artemus was then ten years old. Here, Ebeneezer Millet became ill and died of apoplexy on his birthday, 22 November, of either 1806 or 1807.  Upon his father's death, at the age of 16, Artemus became the "man of the house."

Alma Millet, Sr.

this page in under construction...

Saturday, May 18, 2013

William and Clarissa Beal


Clarissa Allen Beal joined the Church with her husband and was a woman of great faith.
William and Clarissa with their little family suffered like the rest of the people who had
embraced the Gospel of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints, and with the rest of the saints were
driven from City to City, County to County, and from one State to another. The saints were
honest upright and thrifty. When driven from one place, they would start homes in a new
locality and soon begin to prosper. Then again the mobs, led by so-called ministers of the
different faiths, would set upon the saints, burning their homes, killing their cattle, stealing their
horses. Many Latter-day saint women suffered far worse than death at the hands of the mobs.
Being driven from one place to another, William and Clarissa were in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois,
in June 1844. June 21st, 1844, their little son Francis L. Was born. Some four days later the
Prophet Joseph Smith was taken to Carthage to be tried on a trumped up charge, and on the 27th
June 1844 the prophet of the living God was murdered in cold blood by a mob with painted
faces. Not only was the Prophet Joseph murdered, but also his faithful brother, Hyrum, also a
man of high integrity.
The Saints were again driven by the mob. William and Clarissa were in Middleburg during the
persecutions of 1850 and 1851. At this place on 30 June 1850 their little son William Francis
was born. While here also William and Clarissa were gathering things together to be ready when
the next emigrant train started for the Rocky Mountains. They had purchased a bolt of cloth that
would do for shirts for the boys as well as dresses for the girls. A number of pieces of cloth for
Clarissa and also a pair of new shoes. There were also many other such things that they would
need in a new country where there would be no place to buy good. The 17 June 1851 Clarissa gave birth to the little twins, Henry and Henrietta. Having suffered so much persecution, Clarissa was weakened in body but her spirit was unconquerable. After the twins were born she did not improve as she should. She called for the Elders to come and administer to her that she might get well. But there were no Elders there and she became weaker
each day she realized her time on earth was almost over. She called her husband and children to
her bedside and insisted that her husband promise in the presence of their children that he would
keep the children together , and go with the saints to Zion, the valley of the Mountains, to Salt
Lake City. The 24 June 1851, this faithful woman bid farewell to her family and went to receive
the reward of the just. The husband and children were stricken with grief at the passing of their
wife and mother. The next day, 25 June 1851, the little twins joined their mother. Now the
emptiness of that home was terrible to bear. William’s despair was terrible to witness. Nine
children; the youngest now just a year old. William said it was impossible for them to go on
with the saints now. But the children would not let him forget the promise he had made to their
Mother before she died. So there was nothing he could do but prepare to go to Utah with the
saints in 1852.
Before Clarissa’s death one of her people told them if they would let them adopt Eunice Amy,
they in turn would help them to go to Utah by giving William a fine span of horses, with new
wagon and harness. Eunice was the most beautiful of the children, according to her sister
Harriet. Clarissa told them no, that the children must all be kept together. Having been driven
by the mob so much they now only had one wagon and one span of horses.
Now plans were being made to start with the emigrant train in 1852. A short time before starting
this long journey, William made the acquaintance of a strong, healthy woman who showed great
sympathy for him and his little family, saying that what he needed was a woman’s hand to help
him with the children on this long journey. To this William agreed. Clarissa had always been
the one to keep moving toward their goal in the West and since her passing, William was lost.
This woman seemed to be the answer to this trying situation. So he asked her to marry him and
care for his children. This she was overwilling to do and they were married just a few days
before the journey was to start for the West again. But imagine, if you can, William’s surprise to
then learn she had a large family of her own. She also reminded him as his wife, her children
were entitled to ride in the wagon with their mother. As there was not room in the wagon for all
the children, William began to look about to see what could be done. The older boys could drive
team, and herd and cattle. The older boys did this, while Harriet was able to ride with a family
by caring for the children. Alma drove team for his passage way to the West, the smaller
children rode in the wagon with their father, Emily, Almira, Eunice Amy, Francis, L, Nancy Jane
and William Francis who was now two years old.
Many times Harriet has told of the journey to Zion. When it rained, there were puddles of water
in the rocks and crevices and Harriet would take the slats out of Eunice’s little slat bonnet and
wash the bonnet, also her little apron that she had been wearing, and by placing them on rocks or
bushes they would dry quickly while the meal was being prepared and eaten and dishes washed
if there was water. Before starting the journey again Harriet put the slats back in the now clean
bonnet and slipped the little apron on Eunice and as the wagons started on their long journey
again, Eunice was nice and clean and sweet, as Harriet used to say. Clarissa had told Harriet she
must always look after Eunice. I do not remember why her more than the others. Often Harriet went to her Father’s wagon to get little William Francis to care for while looking
after the children in her care. One evening the wind was blowing cold. She wrapped him up,
putting a cloth over his head and was taking him for one wagon to the other, when the cloth blew
off and the little fellow took a heavy cold which caused his death. Again death took one of the
family of William Beal, and this time the dearly loved little son and brother. Their sorrow as
increased at the thought of buying the little fellow on the plains without a coffin to protect his
little body from the wolves and coyotes, for these sulking creatures would dig up the bodies that
had to be buried without a box or coffin to enclose them. They dug up the bodies, eating the
flesh from the bones where they bleached under the hot sun and cold winds and driving sand.
There was plenty proof of this from the bones lying all across the trackless plain.
The death of little William Francis, following the passing of the wife and mother and little twin
babies was a heavy cross for William and his sorrowing children. Sad indeed were their hearts
as they had to leave that little unprotected grave so far from where they were going. All along
the wagon trail was to be seen graves of bleaching bones of someone’s loved ones, left behind,
who were not able to stand the hardships of the long, hard journey, and had died by the way.
After traveling between three and four months the journey was at the end. On arriving in Salt
Lake City the woman William had married informed him she was leaving him, saying she only
married him to get herself and children to Utah. The sad part of it was when she left she left she
family much poorer than when she came, as she took Clarissa’s new shoes, her dress goods, and
also the bolt of cloth bought for the children’s clothes, and many other things of use in such an
out of the way place. The journey had been long and the clothes they started the journey with
were worn out and no money to buy more and to place to buy if there was money to buy with.
So the children resented this woman very much and didn’t agree with their father William in
letting her take the things they so much needed. Yet she must have been much help to him in
bringing that large family across the plains.
William located his little family in a one room house with a fireplace, the front of which was
even with the wall of the room inside, the fireplace itself outside, thus giving more space in the
room , which served as living-room , dining room, bedroom, and kitchen. The fireplace itself
was a very important part of the home as it served for heating water for bathing and washing, for
cooking and also for heating the room. The floor of this little home was of earth, made smooth
and then scoured until it was like cement. The walls of this home were of logs, the fireplace of
rock. This was much better than many others had to begin with.
Harriet again resumed the responsibility of the house, preparing the meals and looking after the
smaller children. This was the wish of their father William and accepted by all the older children
except Emily. Harriet was one year seven months older than Emily, so naturally Emily felt
Harriet should not try to tell her what to do. Harriet, on the other hand, felt it was up to Emily to
do as she was told, as the work was heavy and very hard. Emily, when angry, would get behind
the door and pout until the family came and begged her to come out. Harriet felt this was quite
an accomplishment and felt she would like to try it when she herself got angry. Harriet said she
was never successful at pouting, as when the other children began talking about something
interesting, she always forgot all about pouting and flew out from behind the door to tell what she thought on the subject. She would laugh when she told of this and always said she never
could keep her mouth shut. So she said she never found out whether the family would come and
coax her to come out from behind the door and not pout anymore like they did Emily. She said
she always wanted to know. Harriet felt the pouting act of Emily’s was quite an
accomplishment.
Most children quarrel more or less, but where there was no Mother or older person to direct the
children in more desirable ways, in William’s family the quarreling between Emily and Harriet
was terrible. William had a very heavy load to carry, and with the girls quarreling it made his
troubles worse.
Here, at this point in the story I wish to call special attention to that great pioneer and colonizer
Brigham Young. Many thousands of people had been coming every year into the Salt Lake
Valley since 24th of July 1847. These people came from all parts of the world. Many of these
people were those who had joined the Church of Jesus Christ and were among those who had
been driven time and again from their homes, their crops destroyed, their cattle and horses killed
or stolen by the mobs. When they reached the Valleys of the Rockies they were destitute. The
first to reach the valley had found desolation. By the time William Beal and family came much
had been done, many thousands of people were there. The Saints had been driven out of
confines of the United States of America by the order of Governor Boggs and others like him.
He said, “Drive the Mormons out of the United States or exterminate them.” That was Bogg’s
order. God have mercy on his soul. Brigham Young saw the Great Salt Lake in vision before he
came there, and when he saw it he said, ‘THIS IS THE PLACE.’ Also the prophet Joseph Smith
before his death told the saints they would finally be driven to the Rocky Mountains.
Although the Saints were persecuted from the first the missionary work was carried on and
people came from all parts of the world, leaving nice homes, often driven from their families for
joining the Church, they came into Salt Lake in great numbers; England, Germany, France,
Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Denmark, Sweden, the isles of the sea. Many people, many languages.
Yet the great Pioneer Brigham Young and his associates were able to handle the situation
without friction. He put all men to work and each was allowed to progress if he would. Each
was given land and helped to build homes. All were fed. No one had much but all had
something. Many came with little faith and caused a disturbance among those finding it hard to
get started in this waste land. Brigham Young loved his God and worshiped Him. He loved the
memory and teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and followed those teachings as they had
been given the Prophet from on high. Through the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost, he was
able to keep these people busy and happy as a whole. Each man had his work to do. William
Beal began his day, except Sunday, by going to the public square and with his drum, called all
men to the Square to receive their instructions for the day. Each man was made responsible for
certain work, and was given greater responsibility as soon as he showed he was able to do it.
As I said before, among some people gathered there, there were those who would like to
overthrow the success of the undertaking. They carried on a whispering campaign against
Brigham Young and the other leading brethren. William listened to their complaints and was
soon partaking of their views and complaining also. Brigham Young was not dismayed. He
looked after that large group of people like a father looking after his own family.William received little encouragement at home. The girls quarreling and squabbling among
themselves all the time. To add to the confusion Harriet became very sick and seemed to get
worse all the time. The night she was so sick it seemed to her the children would never quiet
down to sleep. At length the room was quiet and what follows Harriet always spoke of it as a
dream. She said:
“Lying in my bed I was overjoyed to see my Mother there by me. I was not afraid and began
telling Mother of all that had happened since Mother’s death. I told her that Father had hired one
of the women to make over Mother’s dresses for us girls. Mother answered, ‘Yes, I know. And
the right sleeve of the black dress she is making for you is not sewed in, but is only basted. Get
me a needle and thread and I will sew it in for you.’ I brought the needle and thread and gave it
to Mother, who began to sew the sleeve in but soon pricked her finger and exclaimed, ‘Oh, I
have pricked my finger, see how it is swelling! I cannot sew it in for you, but tell the woman in
the morning and she will sew it in for you. I am too pure for this life now. Come with me.’ I
told Mother about Father marrying that woman, who only married him to get across the plains
and then left us, taking all the cloth, shoes and other things Mother had bought for us, and
Mother answered, ‘Yes, I know.’ I told Mother that Father and all us children had gone to the
Endowment House and had all been sealed to her and Father, and that we had also had little
William Francis sealed to her and Father. She answered as before, ‘Yes, I know.’ I asked her
where she got that dress she was wearing, as it was not the one she was buried in, and she
answered, ‘The Lord gave it to me.’”
“I then said, ‘Mother, Emily and I quarrel terrible, and the other day we got in a fight and when
we were angry we tore each others apron off and threw them in the fire and burned them up, and
they were made out of one of your dresses.’ She answered so sadly, ‘Yes, I know and if you and
Emily do not stop quarreling you can never come where I am world without end, remember that.’
Then Mother again said, ‘I want you to come with me, as I have much to tell you.’ I followed her
from the room and we then left the place and floated through the air, side by side. When we
came to a certain place Mother said to me. ‘Now hold your breath until we pass this place as the
air is too light for mortals.’ I held my breath as instructed. All the time Mother was talking to
me, telling me things she wanted me to tell Father and I was afraid, , for Father was a strict man.
She said, ‘Tell Father if he does not stop using tobacco, he can never come where I am. Tell him
if he doesn’t stop talking about the authorities of the Church and especially President Brigham
Young, he will lose his testimony of the Gospel and will apostatize; therefore he will never come
where I am, worlds without end. Now remember to tell him what I am telling you, Harriet,’ I
replied, ‘But Mother, I would not dare tell Father that, and if I did he would not believe me.’ She
answered me by saying, ‘You tell him every word I tell you and he will believe every world you
say.’”
After some time, we came to a beautiful building, very large but as yet unfinished. We seemed
to light very easily on the porch that was around the large building as far as I could see. All the
time Mother was telling me things to tell Father. She told me of temple work she wanted done
and wanted Father to do it with me to help him. She said there were sealings to be done. That
Mother’s sisters wanted to be sealed to Father, especially one who had married a very unclean
man. My Aunt, Mother said, did not want to be sealed to this man Gordon. Mother told me my
aunt had prayed to the Lord after she found out what a wicked man Gordon was, she prayed that she would never have children by such a man and that is why Mother had given little William
Francis to my Aunt, but we had him sealed to his own parents. I wish to say here, Father and I
have done all the temple work Mother told me to have done.”
Mother then led me into a most beautiful bedroom which was very large. The workmanship of
the room was beautiful as was also the rest of the building what I could see, although it was as
yet unfinished. The floors of the bedroom were as of gold and on the floor playing was out little
darling William Francis that we buried on the plains. And with him were the twins. William
Francis was trying to pound golden nails into the floor. Lovely beds were in the room and on
one of these I noticed Mother’s sitting and the wife of Gorden was weeping bitterly. I asked
Mother why Aunt was crying she said, ‘She doesn’t want to be sealed to Gordon. Remember to
tell Father to have her sealed to him. Now don’t forget and also the other sealings I have told
you to ask Father to do.’”
Mother then said to me, ‘I must go to the kitchen for awhile and I want you to sit right there in
that chair until I return.’ I said, Mother what is that loud noise I hear, the roosters crowing,
people yelling at one another. Such confusion. What is it?’ She said that was hell and was a
long way off but at times one could hear the confusion. She then said, ‘Don’t leave this room
and I want you to sit right in that chair until I return.’ I asked her if she had to work in the
kitchen and she said, ‘Of course, I take my turn just like the rest.’”
I sat still watching the children at play, also thought about my Aunts and their sorrow. I could
hear Mother tripping down the long hall. I so wanted to see if she tripped along like she did in
life. She never seemed to touch the ground. So I got up and went to the door and looked out and
sure enough, there was Mother tripping along just like she used to do. One of the string things
about this visit for me was that although I loved little William Francis so much and was glad to
see the little twins, they did not seem to notice me at all. My Aunts, although II had known them
well, did not act as though I was there. It made me want to be with Mother and I made no
attempt to speak to anyone else. Watching Mother down the hall I turned to go back to my chair,
but in turning I saw the door across the hall just a short distance from where I was standing, and
it was open. Well I just had to see what was in that room, so I crossed very carefully and looked
in. All my life I have been of a very inquisitive nature. Many times it has caused me much
trouble. But this time I was very pleasantly surprised to see the Prophet Joseph Smith walking
up and down a very long room and he had his hands clasped behind him, his head bowed as
though in thought. At long tables on either side of the room and down the center also, many men
sat writing as fast as they could and once in awhile the Prophet would stop and speak to one of
the men and they would answer and then go right on writing as fast as before. Among these men
were the Prophet’s brother Hyrum, also other men I had known well. I was also present when
the mantle of the Prophet Joseph Smith fell on Brigham Young and his voice for a time sounded
like the Prophet Joseph and it was a testimony to the thirty thousand more saints gathered there
that Brigham Young should lead the Saints since the death of the Prophet Joseph, who was
murdered in cold blood. The great audience of more than thirty had returned, and then learning
it was Brigham Young, they knew Brigham Young was chosen of God to lead the Church.”
Seeing many of these men at these long tables writing was like seeing friends as there were many
I had known. But many had been put to death by the mobs for their testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were all wonderful men and had not been afraid to seal their testimony with
their life’s blood.”
“Just a word of the mantle of the Prophet Joseph Smith falling on Brigham Young. Before
Brigham Young began to speak, Sidney Rigdon had talked for two hours, telling the people why
he, Sidney, should lead the church. And then seeing the manifestation we saw, it was a
testimony we never forgot and never will as long as we live. I was seven years old at the time.
Some things children never forget and I will never forget that grand occasion. And the
wonderful Spirit of the Lord that was there made it all the more unforgettable.”
Back to the story:
Fearing Mother would fine me across the hall I hurried back to the room and sat in the chair, and
had only a short time to wait until Mother returned. Another characteristic of myself was, I
could never keep anything secret or be underhanded. It must have been in my face for anyone
could fine me out in no time and so there was no use in trying to hid anything. So as usual as
soon as Mother came the first thing I did was to say, ‘Mother, what is the Prophet Joseph and
Brother Hyrum and all the rest of the men doing in there?’ Mother looked at me as much as to
say,
‘Harriet, I told you not to leave this room or even the chair.’ I said, ‘But Mother, I just looked
in.’ She said, ‘Well , you must go now, come, I will go with you to the porch and remember
when you come to that place, be sure to hold your breath.’ ‘But Mother,’I said, ‘What is the
Prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum, and all the other men doing in there?’ She answered,
‘Preparing genealogy so that the work can be done on earth for those who have died without
having the privilege of hearing the gospel themselves.’ There for the third time she told me
everything over again and told me to tell Father and he would believe very word I said to him.
She put great stress on me telling Father that he should stop speaking evil of the authorities of the
Church, especially President Brigham Young. And if he did not cease he could never come
where she was, worlds without end. She came to the porch with me and I started out,
remembering to hold my breath. The next I knew it was morning and I was in bed. I was still
very sick but better than the night before, and so I dressed and went outside and sat in the
chimney corner as the fire from within had melted the snow from the rocks of the chimney and
warmed them. All were asleep within the room. The snow was all over the ground. I crouched
down, frightened and crying, for I did not dare tell Father what I had to tell him.”
“My sisters found me there and Emily ran to tell Father. Emily told Father I was outside in the
chimney corner crying and had said I had something to tell him but I was afraid to do so. Father
came out and asked me what was the matter and I told him I had something to tell him but I was
afraid he would not believe me. Father said, ‘I will believe every word you say.’ This startled
me for those were the very words Mother said to me when I told her I was afraid to tell Father.
So, sobbing, I told Father my story, frightened all the time. When I had finished my story,
Father said, ‘I believe every word you say.’ From that time forth I never head my Father speak ill
of anyone in authority and he would not allow anyone to do so in his hearing or in his house. My
Father, outside of the use of tobacco was a very exemplary man. We went in the house to look at
the dress Mother had called my attention to the night before and sure enough the right sleeve was
only basted in.”“Father took me to the Endowment House and had me tell my dream to those in authority there
and they said to him, ‘Brother Beal, your daughter has had a vision from above and has been
permitted this visitation for the good of you and your family. Teat it as sacred.’”
“My Father let me help him do the temple work Mother had told me to tell Father to do. Emily
and I stopped quarreling. I being the oldest girl, Father put me in charge of the house, but I
never forgot my Mother’s warning about quarreling. Again peace was in our home. Not so long
after this, Father married again. Then the new Mother took over the house and I and Emily
found it a pleasure to do her bidding.”
“This new wife and Mother was Mrs. Eliza Nielsen Brown from Copenhagen, Denmark. She
had married Brown in Copenhagen, Denmark, and he was the father of her five oldest children;
Adam, Victoria, and also his little children, and when he was angry he would whip the children
and also his wife. Eliza heard the Gospel preached by the missionaries from Utah, at once she
had a divine testimony of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She
was anxious to become a member of the church as its teachings, its truths, answered the longing
of her heart. When Brown understood she wanted to join the Church his abuse was so great she
could no longer endure his persecution. Getting her little ones ready she left Brown’s house
forever, then joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and emigrated to Utah with
other members of the Church. She and her little ones came to Salt Lake City and in this place
she met Father and they were soon in love with one another, although she spoke no English and
he could not speak Danish. They went to the Endowment House and were married and sealed
for time and all Eternity and four of the children were sealed to Father and their Mother Eliza.
But Adam, the eldest child refused.”
“Father and Mother Eliza were very happy from the beginning of their life together. All Father’s
children loved Eliza and gladly called her Mother. Father was very gentle and kind to her
children. Girls from Denmark often came to visit Mother and she enjoyed their visits very much
as she could talk to them in her own language. There was also a man from Denmark that used to
call to see Mother. Father did not object, as he felt it gave her pleasure to talk to people from her
own country. Father was away from early morning until late at night, making a living for his
large family. Soon after Mother met this Danish man she begin to be sad and each time this man
came to visit her, after his visits she would cry. One day, coming home from school, I heard
Mother crying and the Danish girls were talking to her. I ran into the room and demanded why
Mother was crying and what they were doing to her. These girls had been in America for some
time and talked the English language very well. They told me the man that had been visiting
Mother had told Mother, Father did not love her, that he was going to leave her and marry an
American girl. This man asked Mother to go away with him and be his wife. So Mother was
very unhappy as Father did not love her. I told the girls Father loved her very much and so did
all his children. They told Mother what I said. I put my arms around her and held her tight. She
laughed and hugged me and cried and laughed. I told the girls they had better get word to that
man and tell him not to come near our place again, that when Father was angry someone was
going to get hurt, and I knew he would be very angry when he heard the lies this man had been
telling Mother. They must of told him for he was never seen in that part of the country again.
Father and Mother were so happy again, now that things had been explained that had been causing all the sorrow to Mother. Father was a hard working man and soon began to get a good
start, then President Brigham Young called men to take their families and locate in different parts
of Utah and Arizona, selling what they had in buildings and lands to those who were coming in
all the time from most every country on the Globe.”
“Father took his family and settled in Manti. I married Alma Millet, Emily married Oliver
Demille and John Alma married Oliver Demille’s sister, Lovina Esther DeMille, and we all
moved down in the Dixie country, some twenty miles from St. George, Utah.”
“Adam never seemed to do much for himself but hung around Mother and of course Father. As
Father was getting old and was not too well he was glad Adam was near. Father and Mother
Eliza had four children, two boys, two girls. Elroy(Eroy) Deloss and who only lived a few
hours, then Eliza Amelia and Julia Caroline and then William. Each of these children married
well and had very fine families.”
“At Father’s death all his property was turned over to Adam, providing he would care for Mother
until her death, then the property was to be Adam’s .Adam said after Mother was dead and we
could not ask her about it, that he had persuaded her to be sealed to his father, Brown. Be not
troubled about that. She and her other four children were sealed to Father and Father’s and
Mother’s last four children were born under the New and Everlasting Covenant, and were
Father’s and Mother’s children throughout all eternity. So Adam has failed in that as he seemed
to fail in everything else in life. He was a very small person, with no meat on his bones and
seemed to be happiest when he was making someone unhappy. That is my impression of him.”
“I wept very bitterly when word came saying Mother Eliza was dead. But this I know: She went
to a great reward and in to the presence of Father who loved her very much and to also join her
little children who had gone on before, and to receive the love and praise of my own dear Mother
for the wonderful work she had done and the many blessings she brought to our own Mother’s
children. Great will be her reward and we bless her memory.”

Harriet Selvina Beal Millet as she told it to her niece, Cora Anna Beal Peterson.

Note 1. “Feeling incapable of the monumental task of trying to transport his ten young children
to Utah alone, William married a strong, healthy woman, Anna Wood, who showed sympathy
for his young family.” (Wesley R. Burr and Ruth J Burr, A History of the Burr Pioneers (Printed
by Publishers Press, Salt Lake City, Utah, and published by Charles and Sarah Burr Organization
in Provo, Utah, 1995),pg. 16