Heritage Gateways
Official Sesquicentennial K-12 Education Project
sponsored by the Utah State Board of Education, the BYU-Public School Partnership and the Utah Education Network
General Information
Genoa, NE, Supply Station, Part 1 (Jun-Dec, 1858)
Location: Genoa, Nebraska - Location: 41:26:55N 97:43:49W Elevation: 1580 feet
Genoa, NE, Supply Station, Part 1 (Jun-Dec, 1858)
[Joel was sick most of the winter and spring of 1858]
Tuesday June 1st. Went to Florence to see Brother Eldridge, and was appointed by him to preside over the Saints at Genoa. Very busy in the afternoon packing up getting ready.
Thursday June 3rd. Started on my way to Genoa, crossed over the river to Florence in company with Brother Goodwin and three sons, Bro. Holmes and one son, Bro. Saunders and Don Carlos Babbitt. We took Margaret Therelkeld to do our cooking, washing, etc. We also took four yoke of oxen, one span of horses and two cows. We arrived at Florence about noon, we turned out our cattle to feed a little and one of our cows which I bought off my brother Joseph, started off unobserved and when we got ready to start on, could not be found. We searched for her all thee afternoon to no effect and finally stopped all night.
Friday 4th. This morning Brother Saunders and one of Brother Goodwin's boys took the track of the cow, and followed her about five miles down the river and found where she went down the bank and forded the river. I then got another cow of Brother Pyper and started on our way, and camped for the night at the Elkhorn river.
Saturday 5th. Started early and came within seven miles of the town of Freemont, and stopped for the night.
Sunday 6th. Traveled about 20 miles and stopped for the night.
Monday 7th. Started early, had several bad sloughs to cross and camped for the night near the town of Columbus.
Tuesday 8th. Started early and arrived at Genoa about 2 o'clock.
Wednesday 9th. Very stormy in the morning, in the afternoon went up the Beaver river about 5 miles and selected land claims and place to put in crops.
Thursday 10th. Moved our wagon into the land we had selected and commenced plowing to put in crops.
Friday 11th. Got up early in the morning and assisted in planting, marking gardens, etc.
Saturday 12th. Assisted in planting.
Sunday 13th. Storming in the morning, broke away about 10 o'clock. Went to meeting at Genoa. Spoke to the people about the building up of the Kingdom of God, both in the fore and after part of the day. They possessed a good spirit, felt well and seemed highly pleased with the privilege of greeting me as their president.
Monday 14th. Went to Genoa and got our plow sharpened and bought and brought back some potatoes and buckwheat.
Tuesday 15th. Helped fix the breaking plow and assisted in breaking.
Wednesday 16th. Assisted in keeping the plow in order and in breaking.
Thursday 17th. Went to Genoa at 2 o'clock to attend to some business, and at 4 o'clock attended prayer meeting at the school house ad had a good time. The Brethren and Sisters manifested a good spirit and will to harken to counsel.
Friday 18th. Assisted Margaret in cooking and done some chores about the camp, etc.
Saturday 19th. My health still continues very poor, but I think on the whole mending slowly.
Sunday 20th. Attended meeting at Genoa, had a good time. The Saints felt well. Had a petition signed at the close of the meeting for a Post Office at Genoa.
Monday 21st. Wrote some letters to my brothers at Florence, and Crescent City, to make some arrangements with them to get some goods to see and Genoa and for assistance from my brother Joseph to get a Post Office at Genoa.
Tuesday 22nd. Went to Genoa to carry my letters and gave them to Brother Cotton to take to Crescent City. I also went to Monroe to do some business for Brother Pyper, who lives in Florence.
Wednesday 23rd. Spent the day at the camp assisting about plowing, planting, etc.
Thursday 24th. Went to prayer meeting at Genoa, at 4 o'clock. Had a first rate time. Got to camp in a shower late in the evening.
Friday 25th. Early in the morning packed up to move to Genoa, but could not find our teams, and so stopped in camp all day in suspense.
Saturday 26th. Got up our teams early and arrived at Genoa about 9 o'clock. Brother Goodwin and Brother Sanders, with Don Babbitt, started for Crescent City. We moved into a cellar.
Sunday 27th. Attended meeting at the school house and had a first rate time.
Monday 28th. Had a business meeting at 4 o'clock and counseled the Saints on many subjects.
Tuesday 29th. Today all the Saints turned out and built a first rate bowery, 40 by 50 square feet.
Wednesday 30th. Went to look out a mill seat and found a very good chance for building a mill.
Thursday 1st of July. Being the first Thursday of the month and set apart by the authorities of the Church, as a day of public fasting and prayer by the Church, I recommended the same to be observed. We accordingly met in our new bowery for that purpose but was soon interrupted by a band of 40 or 50 Son Indians, who came into our city to beg and trade. We gave them some flour, potatoes, bread, salt, and traded some with them and soon they left. We had a first rate time in the meeting and dismissed about 4 o'clock.
Friday 2nd. Rainy in the morning, went in the afternoon with Brother Hudson to examine the mill seat, to take a level to find out the head and fall of water, and was some disappointed, not so good as expected.
Saturday 3rd. Health poor. Visited a little about town.
Sunday 4th. Had meeting the Bowery. The Saints mostly present. Spoke upon the subject of doing all things after the pattern we have received from headquarters, had a good time in the afternoon. Administered the Sacrament.
Monday 5th. Met in the Bowery and celebrated the nations birthday, which was done in the spirit of loyalty and good order, everyone enjoying themselves first rate.
Tuesday 6th. Prepared the school house to move into, the privilege having been given me some days previous.
Wednesday 7th. Moved into the school house.
Thursday 8th. Had prayer meeting at 4 o'clock in the bowery, with a good congregation and first rate time.
Friday 9th. Assisted to build a fence around the house to keep the horses and cattle away, and at 5 o'clock had a meeting of business. Spoke to the brethren of the need of a grist mill and requested labor donations to assist in the building one. Had 191 days labor with as many days of team work subscribed in a few moments for the purpose.
Saturday 10th. At home and visiting.
Sunday 11th. Attended meeting. Spoke to the people both in the fore and afternoon, and had a good time.
Monday 12th. Stopped at home all day.
Tuesday 13th. Stopped at home till half past 5 o'clock, then by request went to the first female prayer meeting in Genoa and gave them instructions about selecting their president, conducting their meeting, etc.
Wednesday 14th. Stopped at home a part of the day, and visited some.
Thursday 15th. Attended prayer meeting till 4 o'clock in the bowery, a good spirit prevailed and the brethren and sisters all seemed alive and felt well.
Friday 16th. Made couple of rough bedsteads. Stormy in the afternoon.
Saturday 17th. I was called out last night to visit a sick child. In the morning very cloudy.
Sunday 18th. Attended meeting at the bowery, had a good time in speaking. The sacrament was administered in the afternoon, the Saints all felt well.
Monday 19th. Assisted in arranging to build a corral to keep the cattle in nights to prevent their destroying the crops.
Tuesday 20th. Labored on the corral.
Wednesday 21st. Stormy all day. Brother James Pitman died this morning between 7 and 8 o'clock, with Jaundice.
Thursday 22nd. Brother Pitman was buried today about 12 o'clock. Attended the funeral and at four o'clock attended the prayer meeting. Had a good time.
Friday 23rd. A band of Omaha Indians visited us today, with whom we traded some and gave their seven chiefs a supper.
Saturday 24th. This being the day the pioneers entered the valley of the Great Salt Lake, we celebrated the day be a general meeting in the Bowery at 9 o'clock, after singing and prayer, I spoke to the audience at some length, on the subject of the rise of the church, their progress, persecutions and final expulsion from the U.S. to deserts of the mountains and the course the present administration was pursuing towards them. After myself, remarks were made by several others, after which many appropriate toasts were given and several songs were sung suited to the occasion, and dismissed at 12 o'clock. At one o'clock we had a first rate picnic dinner in the bowery, after which the tables were taken away an we had music and dancing until near sundown.
Sunday 25th. Had meeting in the bowery at 10 o'clock and a first rate time both in the fore and after part of the day. After meeting Brother Homer with a company of Danes consisting of all 15 wagons, arrived in town on their way to Utah.
Monday 26th. Very stormy most of the day.
Tuesday 27th. Tremendous storm all the forenoon, better in the afternoon, Brother Homer's company went down to the river to cross but could not make out, and started back to the ferry at Columbus.
Wednesday 28th. Stopped at home all day.
Thursday 29th. In the morning went down to Shackelton's and Pilling's saw mill and contracted with them to run a pair of small mill stones by their stream power, and in the afternoon returned and attended prayer meeting in the bowery but had to dismiss on account of a shower.
Friday 30th. Visiting with Brother Hudson and others most of the day.
Saturday 31st. Went to the mill in company with Brothers N. Davis and Gillis to make some arrangements about rebedding the engine and boiler and building a house sufficient for the saw mill and grist mill. Returned at 4 o'clock and attended a lecture from a Methodist in the Bowery.
Sunday August 1st. Attended meeting in the Bowery. General attendance and good feeling manifested.
Monday 2nd. Concluded to go to Florence to get mill stones and some goods. Spent the day in making arrangements.
Tuesday 3rd. Started for Florence at about 11 o'clock. Stopped and done some business at the sawmill and nooned at the Looking Glass Creek. Camped for the night about 5 miles below Columbus. I had with me Sister Pitman and her daughter, and drove Brother Foremaster's mules. The mosquitos were so thick that the mules rolled incessantly in the sand all night to keep from being devoured.
Wednesday 4th. Started very early in the morning and traveled to Fremont where we stopped for the night.
Thursday 5th. Arrived at Florence at about 5 o'clock and crossed over the river to Crescent City.
Friday 6th. Sold a land warrant to Charles Blake for drugs and commenced selecting them.
Saturday 7th. Purchased a small pair of burr mill stones off Andrew Williams for which I paid him $100 in gold.
Sunday 8th. Spent the day mostly at Ellisdale.
Monday 9th. Got a team of my brother Joseph's, packed up my goods, and crossed the river to Florence.
Tuesday 10th. Packed up my groceries which my brother William had purchased and brought up from Omaha.
Wednesday 11th. Started home with the mule team, and left the ox team with Brother Davis to drive home in the company with Brothers Huff and Shackelton. I drove to Freemont and camped for the night.
Thursday 12th. Drove to the west side of Shell Creek and camped for the night.
Friday 13th. Drove to Brother Suttzer's on the Looking glass creek and stopped for the night.
Saturday 14th. Arrived home at a little before 12 o'clock. Towards evening, my brother Joseph from Crescent City, Iowa, arrived with some others on an expedition to explore the Left Fork of the Platt River. In the evening, Judge Applebee, with small company on their way to Utah, arrived in our city.
Sunday 15th. Attended meeting in the bowery, had a good congregation. Judge Applebee, with some others, spoke to the people. Had a good time.
Monday 16th. Spent the day at home with my brothers, and in assisting to cross Brother Applebee's company over the river.
Tuesday 17th. Stopped at home, unwell.
Wednesday 18th. Fixed up some shelves for my goods.
Thursday 19th. My ox team arrived with my goods, a little after noon, unloaded the goods, and Joseph and Brother Pyper unpacked and put them up, while I attended prayer meeting at the Bowery.
Friday 20th. My brother and company started home. I went with them as far as Monroe, to attend to some business, and returned in the evening.
Saturday 21st. Stopped at home to arrange matters about my goods.
Sunday 22nd. Attended meeting in the Bowery. Had a good time.
Monday 23rd. Fixed some things about home, health rather poor.
Tuesday 24th. Prepared and put up medicine.
Wednesday 25th. Unwell, and done but little.
Thursday 26th. Attended meeting in the Bowery at 4 o'clock.
Friday 27th. Very unwell, done a little in preparing medicine.
Saturday 28th. Felt symptoms of chills and fever, yet worked at preparing medicine most of the day.
Sunday 29th. Attended meeting in the Bowery. Had a good time in speaking to the people.
Monday 30th. Spent the day in making ink, and preparing essences and medicine.
Tuesday 31st. The Omaha Indians returned from their buffalo hunt, and was engaged with them most of the day.
Wednesday September 1st. Spent the day mostly in preparing medicine.
Thursday 2nd. Being the first Thursday in the month, was our day of fasting and prayer. At the end of the meeting in the Bowery, the Saints mostly together, had a good time.
Friday 3rd. Went up to our field on the Beaver, and brought home some garden vegetables.
Saturday 4th. Went to mill to assist to get in the new foundation.
Sunday 5th. Attended meeting in the Bowery, sacrament in the forenoon. And in the afternoon, I spoke to the Saints, and had a good time in speaking.
Monday 6th. Went to the mill again to assist on the foundation.
Tuesday 7th. Stormy. Stopped at home.
Wednesday 8th. Went to the mill again.
Thursday 9th. Went to the mill in the forepart of the day, and at 4 o'clock attended prayer meeting in the Bowery.
Friday 10th. Went to the mill to try to forward the work.
Saturday 11th. Went to the mill and helped move the engine on to its new foundation.
Sunday 12th. Attended meeting and the Bowery and had a good time.
Sunday 19th. Worked at the mill every day through the past week. Today attended the funeral of Brother Bowden, and had a meeting in the Bowery.
Monday 20th. Went to the mill, attended a meeting of the association in the evening.
Tuesday 21st. Went to examine the timber on the Left Fork of the Platt River and looked for a place to fence in a large field for the benefit of the poor Saints, who we expect will gather here in the spring.
Wednesday 22nd. Stopped at home, planning some arrangements to gather up the poor Saints abroad, and to procure the necessary means to sustain the Saints in Genoa, and prevent them from selling their surplus grain to the Gentiles, that it may be kept for the poor who are expected to gather here in the spring.
Thursday 23rd; Attended meeting in the Bowery, laid my plans for gathering the Saints before the congregation, which was accepted and adopted.
Friday 24th. Stopped at home.
Saturday 25th. Unwell, and stayed at home.
Sunday 26th. Had meeting in the Bowery, and had a first rate time.
Monday 27th. Went over the Loup Fork and put up the body of a log house.
Tuesday 28th. I started about noon, to go to Omaha and Council Bluffs City, to get belt and bolt cloth for the mill and procure some goods. I arrived at my brother's at Florence, on Thursday, at 4 o'clock, and on Friday, I went to Omaha and purchased a few goods and on Saturday, went over to my brother's at Crescent City, and on Monday, I went to Council Bluffs City, and bought the things for my mill, with some other goods, and returned to my brother's at Crescent, and bought a few goods off him and on Tuesday, returned over the river to Florence, and bought a few goods off my brother William, and started for home on Wednesday, and arrived on Saturday 9th of October, in a heavy rain.
Sunday 10th. Took cold returning home in the rain, very lame in the small of my back. Stormy all day, no meeting. Brethren constantly coming in.
Monday 11th. Still continues lame. Stayed in the house most of the day. Cloudy weather.
Tuesday 12th. Cleared off this morning. Some better of my lameness. Stopped home most of the day.
Friday 15th. Went up the Beaver to the field, found all right except what corn had been destroyed by the wolves and crows. Brought home some beets and seed cucumber.
Saturday 16th. Brothers Eldridge, Kesler, Cannon and others arrived from Salt Lake and we crossed them over the river about dark.
Sunday 17th. Had meeting at Brother Shackelton's. Brothers Cannon, Eldridge, and Young took the lead in speaking, had a good time. In the evening, the Land Association was called together. Some of it's members, manifested some dissatisfaction with my measures, but Brother Eldridge said that he thought that I had done as well as he or any other man would have done, under the circumstances, and was well satisfied with all my moves.
Monday 18th. Brother Eldridge and company started on at about 12 o'clock. I went with them as far as the saw mill and returned home.
Tuesday 19th. Stopped at home all day.
Sunday 24th. Cold north east storm. No meeting today. My health still continues poor.
Monday 25th. Still continues stormy. Stopped at home through the day.
Tuesday 26th. Storm continues, no business done.
Wednesday 27th. Still continues stormy.
Thursday 28th. Very stormy all night, everything wet about the houses this morning. I will here record the name and birth place of Lucy Carroll, who was given to me by her father as my own child. She was born in New Brunswick, Count of York, Parish of Canterbury, on the eighth day of September, 1846. Her father's name is William Carroll, her mothers maiden name was Esther Mack, who died in Kansas Territory. Lucy wishes to be called from this time forward by my name, Lucy Johnson.
Friday 29th. Still continues stormy, bad weather, so there is not much business done.
Saturday 30th. Storm abated, fair weather today. I wrote a letter to John Eager, my son in law, and one to my family. Attended Elder's quorum meeting in the evening.
Sunday 31st. Cloudy again, no meeting on account of the exposed state of the crops, the balance of people being required to save them, as a large share of them are already destroyed.
Monday November 1st. Went to dig my potatoes on the Beaver river. Margaret went to assist me, but it was very cold. Dug about 7 bushels and returned home late in the evening.
Tuesday 2nd. Went again to dig potatoes.
Wednesday 3rd. Cold and snowy, and had to stay at home.
Thursday 4th. Cold and stormy, was obliged to stay at home.
Friday 5th. Went to dig potatoes on the Beaver and brought home 24 bushels.
Saturday 6th. Cold and stayed at home.
Sunday 7th. Had a meeting at Brother Dalhymples, but very few present. Spoke to them myself, showing the evil consequences of disobeying counsel. In the evening called the teachers together and gave them some instructions.
Monday 8th. Cold and stormy. The High Priests Quorum met in council at my house in the evening, among other things, considered the case of Gabriel Cotton, who had ran over the rules and laws of the city association, by jumping land claims and threatening blood if molested. The council agreed unanimously that he could not be sustained or fellowshipped by the Saints in Genoa, therefore the teachers were instructed to warn the Saints not to have anything to do with him, in any shape or form, neither buying or sell, and that all who sustained him by trading with him could not be fellowshipped by the Saints.
Sunday 14th. Had meeting at Brother Dalhymple's. Very cold and but few present. Labored on the mill most of the past week, although very cold and severe weather.
Sunday 21st. Had meeting at Brother Dalhymple's in the day time and in the evening at Brother Sinclair's. Labored on the mill the past week.
Thursday 25th. Started the grist mill towards evening and found it answering my expectation.
Sunday 28th. Had meeting at Brother Dalhymple's, spoke to the Saints on the subject of disobedience and the evil consequences of taking the advantage of each other and told them that I felt more like going by myself and weeping, than I did like talking and after meeting, while comparing my own works with the strictness of the law of God, felt my leanness.
Wednesday December 1st. Went to the mill, but turned so cold in the afternoon that it was impossible to work, and come home.
Thursday 2nd. Cold and stormy. So much that I scarcely went out of doors all day.
Friday 3rd. Very cold. Stopped at home.
Saturday 4th. A little more pleasant, although quite cold. Stayed at home.
Sunday 5th. Attended meeting at Brother Dalhymple's. It being cold, not many present. Brother Dalhymple spoke to the people on the subject of disobedience to counsel. I spoke after him on the same subject, and had a good time. Attended prayer meeting in the evening, at Brother Sinclairs, had quite an interesting time.
Monday 6th. Cloudy and cold.
Sunday 12th. Had meeting at Brother Dalhymple's in the day time, and in the evening at Brother Sinclairs. Spent most to the past week gathering my corn on the Beaver.
Sunday 19th. Had meeting at Brother Dalhymple's in the day time. Brother Hudson gave an account of his mission to St. Louis, etc., showing the reason why he did not succeed in the business for which he was sent, which was to bring good to Genoa. Had meeting in the evening at Brother Sinclairs.
Monday 20th. Stopped at home all day, health very poor and not much appetite for food. Much anxiety of mind about my family and the bad state of affairs in Genoa.
Tuesday 21st. This morning Gabriel Cotton came into town and abused Brother Hudson in a shocking manner, and then made an attack upon me in the following manner.
As I was walking into Brother Nathan Davis's door yard, I heard someone from down the street calling my name. I turned to look, and saw a man coming up the street, and when he came near, I saw it was Cotton. He called to me again and wished me to come into the road, for he wanted to talk to me. I, knowing that he had threatened my life, told him that he could talk with me where I was, as I was standing inside Brother Davis's door yard. He then came up to the fence near where I was standing, which was by the side of it. I stood close to the ax with my right hand resting on the top of the handle. He then began to abuse me in a shameful manner. I told him to go away and leave me as I wanted nothing to do with him, but he continues his abuse, threatening my life. I told him if he took my life it would be nothing more than he had done, for he had proved himself a murderer long ago. He then made a rush towards me, gathering an ax in his way, and drawing it upon me. I retreated, taking with me the ax that I had my hand upon, but fearing that he would strike me in the back, I turned upon him and drew the ax that I held in my hand.
At this moment, Brother Davis with some others rushed down from the house and ordered him to lay down the ax, which he threw down. He retreated to the fence and drew his pistol, cocked it and swore that he was enough for a half a dozen of us. He then went away and a short time afterward he came by where I was sitting and talking to Brother Dalrymple and again threatened my life with many bitter oaths. This same Gabriel Cotton had been stirring up rebellion and strife, through an opposition to his course caused his enmity to me.
This Journal transcribed by Bertha McGee (Joel's great granddaughter), her daughter Linda, and Linda's husband Chuck Harrington. [You can get more information by contacting Scott McGee, smcgee@genealogy.org]
Source: Miscellaneous personal histories This information has been gathered by various people interested in Utah history. These are unpublished biographies.
