[The autobiography and diary of Eliza Marie Partridge (Smith) Lyman is told in a colorful manner for it is the self-interpretation of this good woman's life showing her faith in God, her love of Church, family, home and friends Even the Lamanites were the recipients of her kindness. She loved humanity and knew the joy of friendship. Her pattern of living exemplifies the pioneer woman who amid strife, persecution, sorrow and death, continued to live a full life gaining with each day's experiences a strength of character and soul which enabled her to bear the burdens of her everyday existence. She had a purpose in living and she fulfilled that purpose to the best of her ability. (pioneer books by subscription only), Treasures of Pioneer History]

Eliza was born April 20, 1820 in Painesville, Ohio. When she was eleven years of age her parents accepted Mormonism and she, too, entered the waters of baptism. This action changed the course of her life, for Mormonism brought to her many years of self-sacrifice. She accepted the principles of her Church whole-heartedly and was ever willing to give her all, even life itself if necessary, for the gospel. Her family has written of her:

"Having to suffer the privations incident to the persecutions endured by the Saints in Missouri and Illinois, she was deprived of the advantages of an education. However, her inherent qualities of modesty and good sense, coupled with a naturally studious disposition, [p.214]enabled her to surmount obstacles and gain sufficient book-learning to become a teacher. Although fulfilling honorable positions in connection with benevolent institutions among the Saints, her life-labor was most appreciated by her intimate friends and relatives. She was one of the first to receive the doctrine of celestial marriage, having been taught that principle by the Prophet Joseph Smith to whom she was married, as a plural wife, March 8, 1843 by Apostle Heber C. Kimball. About two months later on May 11, 1843, the marriage ceremony was repeated in the presence of Emma Smith, the first wife of the Prophet, Elder James Adams officiating. In those days it required considerable self sacrifice, as well as faith, to enter into that order.

After the death of the Prophet, Eliza was married to Apostle Amasa M. Lyman, by whom she had five children. Three of these children survived her. She came to Utah in 1848, lived for sometime in Salt Lake City, then accompanied her husband Amasa M. Lyman to Millard County, where she made her home until she moved to San Juan County. In each of these places she proved herself to be a true pioneer. In her last days she returned to Oak Creek where she passed away March 2, 1886. Truly it could be said of her that she found joy in serving God and man.

Her husband, Amasa M. Lyman, was born in Lyman, New Hampshire in 1813. He was converted to Mormonism by Orson Pratt in 1832. He was a friend of the Prophet Joseph Smith and just before his death, President Smith selected Amasa as one of his counsellors. He was a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles from 1842-1870. He was selected by President Brigham Young as one of the men to establish the City and County of San Bernardino, California; this was in the year 1851. Mr. Lyman presided over the European Mission in 1861. His last days were spent in Fillmore, Utah where he died in 1877.

I was born in Painesville, Geauga County, Ohio. My parents' names were Edward and Lydia Clisbee Partridge. At a very early age I was sent to school where I acquired a very good common education. At the age of eight years my parents went on a visit to their friends' in Massachusetts taking me and my sister Caroline (then a babe), with them. The other children, my sisters Harriet and Emily, were left in [the] charge of my Aunt Phebe Lee. We went to my grandfather Partridge's in Pittsfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, where they left me while they went to visit my mother's friends in the eastern part of the state. They returned in a short time bringing my mother's sister Elsey with them.

Although I was very young yet, I remember many things that I saw on this journey. My grandfather's nice brick house, and the cider mill, the orchard and the farm are all plain in my memory; also the cities that we passed through and the Erie Canal with its locks and the roaring of the Niagara Falls in the distance, the crossing of the lake, my sickness while crossing and many other things are still fresh in my mind. I do not remember anything more worthy of note except that I was sent to school until I was about 13 years of age or a short time before this when the Book of Mormon was shown to my father. He did not accept it at first as being what it was represented to be, but after making a journey to New York where the Prophet Joseph Smith lived, and making inquiry of those in the Church and also of those out, he became convinced that the Lord had commenced to set up his kingdom on the earth and embraced the opportunity of becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was ordained to the office of a bishop, there having been none ordained in this dispensation until that time.

He then returned to his home in Ohio and after a time was called to leave his business which was in a most flourishing condition and go to Missouri to attend to the business of the Church. He went and left his family to get along as best they could. I was at that time very sick and he had no expectation of seeing me again, but the Lord had called and he must obey. He showed his faith by his works and the Lord spared my life and the lives of the rest of his family for many years. He never went back to sell his place or settle his affairs, but left it for others to do which was done at a great sacrifice. He had accumulated a handsome property which went for a very little as he could not be there to attend to it.

His family was moved up to Missouri in company with others who were journeying to that land, which was quite a task on my mother as her children were small. I being the eldest, we children were five in number and the weather was so cold that we were obliged to leave the Missouri River at a place called Arrowrock about one hundred miles from Independence and wait for my father to come with wagons to meet us. We procured a small dark room from a family of Negroes, our only light being what came down the chimney, and no way to get in or out of the room except to go through the room occupied by the Negroes. We occupied this doleful place about a week when my father came out and took us away.

The weather was extremely cold, so much so that we had to lay by one day or be in danger of being frozen. We however arrived at Independence in safety and occupied a small brick house which my father had rented for the winter as he had not yet had time to build. We lived very poor that winter as the people of that country did not want much but cornbread and bacon and raised but very little of anything else. Consequently, there was but very little to be bought. But I remember we had a barrel of honey and what vegetables we could get, but no wheat bread as wheat was not to be bought in the land.

The next spring we moved into a house that my father rented from Lilburn W. Boggs where we lived until my father built a house on his own land; here we lived while we stayed in that county. In July, 1833, a number of armed men came to our house in the afternoon and took my father to the public square where they administered to him a coat of tar and feathers and raised a whip with the intention of whipping him, but a friend to humanity interfered and prevented it. I well remember how my father looked; we (the children) were very much frightened. My mother was very weak having a babe (a boy named for his father), but three weeks old. The brethren were very kind and assisted my father to rid himself of the tar, but the clothes he had on were spoiled.

The people of that place had been acting the part of a mob towards our people for some time and still continued the same course until our people agreed to leave the county which they did in the following November. It was very cold and uncomfortable moving at that time of the year and a great amount, if not all, of our provisions that we had laid up for the winter were lost and our houses left with many of our things in them. Our land and orchards and improvements of every kind left to benefit those who had driven us away. We traveled three miles and encamped on the bank of the Missouri River under a high bluff. The rain during the night poured down in torrents which wet ourselves and our things badly. This was the first night that I ever slept out of doors.

The next day we crossed the river into Clay County. There my father laid up some house logs and stretched a tent on them so that we could stay here until he could go and find a house. The weather was very cold but we were in the woods and could have plenty of fire. It was here that I saw the stars fall. They came down almost as thick as snowflakes and could be seen until the daylight hid them from sight. Some of our enemies thought the day of judgment had come and were very much frightened but the Saints rejoiced and considered it as one of the signs of the latter days.

When my father had done what he could to help the brethren across the river he, with others, went out to see if they could find some houses to move into, as there was already snow on the ground. He found a miserable old house that he could have with one fireplace in it which he and a brother by the name of John Corrill moved their families into. I think my mother as also Sister Corrill must have had their patience tried very much during this winter, the house open and cold and their cooking and children and husbands and selves all around one fireplace, for stoves were not in use then.

I did what work I could get for almost any kind of pay, but there were so many wanting work that there was very little chance to get any. We lived in this old house while we stayed in Clay County which was about two years. While here my father went on a mission to the eastern states. After his return he with others went to look for a location for the Saints, as the people with whom we resided began to be somewhat uneasy about us. My father and those who were with him decided that a good place could be had in Caldwell County. They (our people) bought land there and removed their families there, thinking to live by themselves in peace, which we had for a while.

While here, I went about thirty miles from home and taught school for three months, not hearing a word from home while I was away and I did not see a person while there that I had ever seen before, but the Lord watched over me and returned me in safety to my parents again. I would never advise anyone to let a girl go away as I did then with entire strangers, to dwell with strangers. It was no uncommon thing in those times for our Mormon girls to go out among the Missourians and teach their children for a small remuneration. I received but 13 dollars and my board for the three months that I was gone. I think the people were not as wicked then as they are now or it would not have been safe for us to go about as we did. I was at this time about 17 years old.

We remained in Caldwell two or three years when not only the mobs that were around us but the authorities of the state said we must leave that county, which we did. We settled in Illinois, first at Quincy, then at Pittsfield, Pike County, then at Nauvoo, which was the gathering place for the Saints. In consequence of the persecutions of apostates, my father was obliged to leave Far West before his family and arranged with Brother King Follett to bring them to Quincy. We had a very uncomfortable time as the weather was cold and we were badly crowded in the wagon, although we did as we had done every time that we moved, left most of our things. We crossed the Mississippi partly in a boat and partly on the ice. Father met us and took us to a house where we were more comfortable than we had been while traveling. We stayed here but a short time as my father thought he could do better somewhere else and the Church was scattered with no place of gathering. However, it was not long before we went to Nauvoo as the Prophet, who was yet in prison, had said he thought it was the place to gather to.

The Saints were nearly all sick with ague and fever and our family had to have a share. My two sisters, Harriet and Emily, had the ague about a year. I did not have it as I had worn it out when we lived in Ohio. As we were by this time much reduced in circumstances (having moved so many times and my father having poor health), it was thought best for me to take a school at Lima, a small town about 24 miles away, which I did and my father rented rooms for his family in a large storehouse where several other families resided, one Brother Hyrum Smith, and his brother-in-law, R. B. Thompson, and two more families, as they had not time to build yet.

While I was teaching at Lima, I boarded with a gentile family and was well treated, but suffered fearfully with headache. About two weeks before my school was out, my father sent a man for me saying my sister Harriet was dying. We rode all night and arrived at home about sunrise. My sister was still alive but died during the day. My parents took this trouble to heart very much and my father said she was his pet child, but no one knew it until then and I do not think now that he knew any difference in his children, but I believe when a child or friend is taken from us, we are to think we loved them more than others.

This was in the spring and my father was making a garden on his lot which was distant about a mile. As his health was very poor and he did not feel able to walk so far to his work (he was also building a house), he concluded after the funeral of my sister that he would move down home and occupy a log house that he had put up for a stable but had not been used, and then he could work at his house and garden with more ease. He commenced to move but had to give up and take to his bed before he had the last load moved. He was sick about ten days when he also left us most uncomfortably situated. I was too sick to attend the funeral. He was completely worn out with the hardships and fatigues of movings and exposure caused by our enemies who never slackened their hands but persecuted us continually. He was firm and steadfast in his religion and tried to the very best of his ability to attend to every known duty as bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were in very poor circumstances at the time of his death, the handsome property that he had when he joined the Church having been spent in the Church and he not having had the privilege of staying in one place long enough to amass more.

After his funeral, Brother William Law took us to his house to stay until our house was finished. He and his wife were very kind to us and doctored me and also my sister Lydia who was very sick, so that in about three weeks we were able to move to our own house which was finished.

I forgot to mention that while I lived in Far West, I had learned the tailor's trade as far as sewing went, which I found of great use to me as I now could get work at the tailor's shops and was paid three dollars a week which was a great help to us. After a year or two, my mother married again, as she could not get along she thought without someone to provide for her. She now had three daughters besides me, and had one son about eight or nine years old. Her husband's name was William Huntington, a very good man and kind to my mother and her children.

After a time, my sister Emily and myself went to live in the family of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We lived there about three years. While there, he taught to us the plan of celestial marriage and asked us to enter into that order with him. This was truly a great trial for me but I had the most implicit confidence in him as a Prophet of the Lord and not but believe his words and as a matter of course accept of the privilege of being sealed to him as a wife for time and all eternity. We were sealed in , 1843, by H. C. K [Heber C. Kimball] in the presence of witnesses. I continued to live in his family for a length of time after this but did not reside there when he was martyred which was the 27th of June, 1844.

I was then living with a family by the name of Coolidge. I stayed with them for a year or more until I was married to a man by the name of Amasa Lyman, one of the Twelve Apostles. I then went to live with my mother for a while and after that lived with him and his wife, Maria Louisa. Times were not then as they are now in 1877, but a woman living in polygamy dare not let it be known and nothing but a firm desire to keep the commandments of the Lord could have induced a girl to marry in that way. I thought my trials were very severe in the line and I am often led to wonder how it was that a person of my temperament could get along with it and not rebel, but I know it was the Lord who kept me from opposing his plans although in my heart I felt that I could not submit to them; but I did and I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for the care he had over me in those troublous times. After I married the second time, we remained in Nauvoo for a few months living a part of the time in the back part of my mother's house.

In February, 1846, we left Nauvoo and crossed the Mississippi River with many of the Saints and started to go to the Rocky Mountains where we hoped to be free to serve the Lord as we thought best. While crossing the river the ice came down in large pieces and threatened to sink our boat, but at this time as well as many others, we were preserved by the power of God. We went to Father John Tanner's and stayed several days as the weather was very cold and we were not in a hurry to camp out until we were obliged to. After a few days we left Father Tanner and joined the camp of the Saints on Sugar Creek. The weather was very cold, the snow deep, and we could not but be very uncomfortable as we were very poorly fitted out for such a journey at that time of the year. On the first of March, 1846, the camp of Israel began to move. There were about 400 wagons. After traveling about five miles, they camped for the night, scraped away the snow and pitched their tents. Fortunately for us, there was plenty of wood and the brethren made large fires in front of the tents which kept us from freezing but we could not possibly be made comfortable under such circumstances; but did not complain as we were leaving the land of our enemies and hoped for better times.

I think it was near the last of April [1846] that the camp reached a place called by our brethren, Pisgah. Here they concluded a part of the camp might stop and raise some crops of grain and as all were not prepared to go on much farther. We had thus far had a most unpleasant journey. After the snows came rains, almost without cessation, making the ground very muddy and some of the time the roads impassable so that we had to remain in camp much more than we wished to, for we were desirous to get to some place where we could make homes again.

At Pisgah I left my mother and sisters Emily and Lydia and little brother Edward with my mother's husband, Father Huntington, to stay until the next year or until there should be a convenient opportunity for them to come. My sister Emily was then President Brigham Young's wife and had one child, a boy named Edward. My sister Caroline was one of the wives of my husband and traveled on with us.

When we had traveled about 130 miles from Pisgah, there came a requisition from the United States for 500 men to be taken from our camps to go to Mexico to help the nation who had driven us out from their midst. Our people responded to the call and sent the 500, many of whom left their wives and children in their wagons, not knowing where they would settle and find a home, left them to the care of their brethren and friends and many of them never met again. Some of the men died during their absence; others returned to find that their wives had sunk under the weight of care and disease and their children scattered, but the Prophet of the Lord had said go and they went, trusting in him.

One woman was living with us whose husband was in the battalion [Mormon Battalion]. When it was time for them to return, she was very much elated and rented a room and made all preparations for housekeeping. But, Oh, what a disappointment waited her; when the company came and she thought her happiness nearly complete, they told her he was dead and had been for months. Oh, the agony that she endured. It cannot be described. My heart ached for, but I could not comfort her.

I will go back to the time that I left Nauvoo on the 9th of February 1846, and write from my private journal. It will not perhaps be very interesting to anyone but myself, but it shows more particularly how we were situated and the hardships we endured in accomplishing the journey. On February 9, 1846, I bade adieu to my friends in Nauvoo and in company with my husband, Amasa Lyman, Daniel P. Clark and wife, Henry Rollins, and Dionitia W. Lyman (one of my husband's wives), started westward, for some place where we might worship God according to the dictates of our own consciences. We went about one mile to the Mississippi River, waited about three hours, then succeeded in procuring a boat, onto which we put our horses and wagons, and as there was no prospect of Father Huntington crossing the river that night, we took my mother, and sisters Caroline and Lydia and brother Edward with us and crossed the river. When we were about midway, we saw a boat at some distance from us, sinking, with no one near to assist them, but fortunately for them, they were near a sand bar so that they were not drowned, and soon a boat reached them and took them safely to shore. Our boat got into the ice which hindered us about an hour but did no damage. We went to Brother Sidney Tanner's where a part of us stayed all night and the rest stayed at Nathan Tanner's.

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I was born in Painesville, Geauga Co., Ohio. My parents' names were Edward and Lydia Clisbee Partridge. At a very early age I was sent to school where I acquired a very good common education. When I was eight years of age my parents went on a visit to their friends in Massachusetts taking me and my sister Caroline, then a babe, with them. The other children, my sisters Harriet and Emily, were left in charge of my Aunt Phebe Lee. We went to my Grandfather Partridge in Pittsfield, Massachusetts where they left me while they went to visit my mother's friends in the eastern part of the state. They returned in a short time bringing my mother's sister, Elsey, with them. Although I was very young yet I remember many things that I saw on this journey. My Grandfather's nice brick [p.215]house and the cider mill, the orchard and the farm are all plain in my memory, also the cities we passed through and the Erie canal with its locks and the rearing of the Niagara Falls in the distance, the crossing of the lake, my sickness while crossing and, many other things are still fresh in my mind. I do not remember any thing more worthy of note except that I was sent to school until I was about thirteen years of age.

A short time before this when the Book of Mormon was shown to my Father he did not accept it at first as being what it was represented to be, but after making a journey to New York where the Prophet Joseph Smith lived and making inquiry of those in the Church and also of those out he became convinced that the Lord had commenced to set up his Kingdom on the earth and embraced the opportunity of becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints and was ordained to the office of a Bishop—there having been none ordained in this dispensation until that time. He then returned to his home in Ohio and after a time was called to leave his business which was in a most flourishing condition and go to Missouri to attend to the business of the Church. He went and left his family to get along as best they could. I was at that time very sick and he had no expectation of seeing me again, but the Lord had called and he must obey. He showed his faith by his works and the Lord spared my life and the lives of the rest of his family for many years. He never went back to sell his place or settle up his affairs, but left it for others to do, which was done at a great sacrifice. He had accumulated a handsome property which went for very little as he could not be there to attend to it. His family was moved up to Missouri in company with others who were journeying to that land, which was quite a task on my mother as her children were small, I being the eldest. We children were five in number and the weather was so cold that we were obliged to leave the Missouri river at a place called Arrowrock about one hundred miles from Independence and wait for Father to come with wagons to meet us. We procured a small, dark room from a family of Negroes, our only light being what came down the chimney and no way to get in or out of the room except to go through the room occupied by the negroes. We occupied this doleful place about a week when my father came and took us away. The weather was extremely cold, so much so that we had to lay by one day or be in danger of being frozen. We, however, arrived at Independence in safety and occupied a small brick house which my father had rented for the winter as he had not yet had time to build. We lived very poor that winter as the people of that country did not want much but corn bread and bacon and raised but very little of any thing else; consequently there was but very little to be bought, I remember we had a barrel of honey and what vegetables we could get, but no wheat bread as wheat was not to be bought in the land. The next spring we moved [p.216]in to a house that my father rented of Lillburn W. Boggs where we lived until he, my father, built a house on his own land. Here we lived while we lived in that county.

"15th. The weather quite pleasant. Went to the river with Br. Lyman to see my Sister Emily. Found her in a tent surrounded with mud. Came home in the afternoon. Wrote to Sister Maria Lyman in the evening.

18th. Went over to the other camp to see my Sister Emily Young. Stayed most of the day. While there the body of Edwin Little was brought in for burial.

April 14th. The teams came up and went on past us 3 miles to stay then came back for us. We started about three o'clock came up with the main camp before dark and found Sister Emily and babe well.

May 12th. Br. Lyman came back with the buggy for me. Sister Emily and babe went with us and she stayed with me all night.

June 11th. We are now ready to start on our journey again after having stayed nearly a month in this place. I here leave my Mother and Sisters Emily and Lydia and little brother Edward with the rest of the family, excepting sister Caroline, who is also Br. Lyman's wife. She is going with us. Cornelia Leavitt Lyman has joined our family and is going west with us. Started about four o'clock, traveled about four miles and camped for the night.

July 14th: [p.229]14th. My first child was born here in a wagon. I have named him Don Carlos. I am very uncomfortably situated for a sick woman. The scorching sun shining upon the wagon through the day and the cool air at night is almost too much of a change to be healthy.

Oct 25th. Caroline wrote a letter to Mother. My hair has nearly all come out. What little is left I have had cut off. My head is so bare I am compelled to wear a cap.

Dec 12th. The baby is dead and I mourn his loss. We did the best we knew how for him but nothing helped. He continued to fail from the time he took sick. My sister Caroline and I sat up every night with him and tried to save him from death for we could not bear to part with him—but, we were powerless. The Lord took him and I will try to be reconciled and think that all is for the best. He was my greatest comfort and nearly always in my arms. But he is gone and I cannot recall him, so I must prepare to meet him in another, and I hope, a happier world than this. I still have friends who are dear to me. If I had not, I should wish to bid this world farewell for it is full of disappointments and sorrow, but I believe there is a power that watches over us and does all things right. He was buried on the west side of Missouri on the second ridge back the eleventh grave on the second row counting from right to left. The first row being fartherest from the river. This will be no guide as I know the place cannot be found in a few years.

Dec 27th. Sister Caroline attended a party at the Council house in company with D. P. Clark and wife

Dec. 29.

Lines composed by Sister E. R. Snow on hearing of the death of my baby Don Carlos:

June 29th. Since I last wrote we have been very busy making preparations for our intended journey to valley of the Great Salt Lake where we hope to live in peace and serving God as He commands us. Br. Lyman has returned from his Southern Mission accompanied by quite a number of saints who will travel westward with us. Among them are John Brown, Wm. Crosby, Wm. Lay, and Wm. Bankhead. We are some better fixed for traveling than when we left Nauvoo, but our outfit is very scant. Have provisions enough to last a few months after we get there, but not enough to last until we can raise [p.234]more. But we go trusting in the Lord who never forsakes His people. Sister Caroline and I have one wagon for our use, and we will cook and eat by ourselves. We have a bedstead laid on the projection so that our bed does not have to be moved about. We have room for a chair which is a luxury for me under the drcumstances. My Mother's wagon is next to mine. My sister Emily has gone on with her husband, B. Young and the rest of his family, so I am leaving none of my near relatives behind which is a great satisfaction to me. We started on our journey and traveled 6 miles and camped for the night.

August 20th. DeAlton Platte Lyman born at about 6 o'clock on Sunday morning. This is the second son that I have had born in a wagon and I still think it is a most uncomfortable place to be sick in. He was born on the east bank of the Platte river opposite Fort John or Laramie. The journey thus far has not been very pleasant to me. We are going from the land of our oppressors where we hope to raise our children in fear of the Lord and where they will never suffer by the hands of our enemies as we have done.

21st. Crossed the Platte river. The rocks in the bottom are so large that it seemed sometime as if they would tip the wagon over. I held fast to the baby and sister Caroline held fast to me so that I was not thrown quite out of bed.

Oct. 17th. Reached the place of our destination in the valley of the Great Salt Lake. I have been as comfortable on the journey from Laramie as could be expected under the circumstances. Some of the time the weather has been very cold with rain and snow so that I could not be comfortable anywhere as I had no stove in the wagon; but I and my child have been preserved through it all, and I feel to give thanks to my Father in Heaven for His kind care over us. We are now at our journey's end for the present. The weather is beautiful. The country barren and desolate. I do not think our enemies need envy us this locality or ever come here to disturb us.

Oct 18th. Moved into a log room. There are 7 of us to live in this room this winter. My Mother and Sisters, Caroline and Lydia, and Br. Frederic, Mr. Lyman, a part of the time, one of Maria's children to go to school, and myself and baby. We are glad to get this much of a shelter, but, it is no shelter when it rains, for the dirt roof lets water through and the dirt floor gets muddy which makes it anything but pleasant.[p.235]

Oct 21st. Sister Emily brought us 15 lbs. of flour. Said Pres. Young heard we were out of bread and told her to bring that much although they have a scanty allowance for themselves. I sincerely hope I may be able to return it before they need it.

22nd. Stayed at the wagons. Sister Emily spent the day with us. Br. Hakes brought some shoes to Caroline and Paulina.

1848?

May 16th. Visited at Wm. Walker's with Sisters Emily and Louisa Young, Sarah Ann and Lucy Kimball also Presidents Young and Kimball.

June 1st. Sister Emily spent the day with

July 24th. Great celebration which we all attended. Took dinner with the Cottonwood ward. Had a pleasant time. Plenty of victuals, music and mirth and some good preaching.

Aug 20th. Platte DeAlton Lyman 1 year old today. Made a dinner in honor of the event. Sisters Billings, Warner, Burk, Walker, Paulina and Priscilla Lyman, Emily Young and Sarah Clark took dinner with us. Not a man there but one who will be a man if he lives a few years.

November 16th. Sister Emily moved home after staying with us sometime. Sister Lydia went with her to stay awhile.

Dec. 3rd. Had company, namely Sisters Caroline and Harriet Huntington, Priscinda Kimball, Emily and Zina Young, Lydia and Mother, Dionitia and Paulina. Presidents Young and Kimball joined us at supper. Snowed all day. Edward commenced going to school.

1850

8th. Mother has gone to live with Emily this winter.

12th. Caroline and I went to Emily's visiting. Platte and I stayed all night. Edward drew Platte home on his sled.

May 18th. Attended the funeral of Louisa Beman Young. She died of cancer in the breast.

Mar. 10, 1851. Br. Lyman stayed with his family through the winter making preparations for taking a part of his family to California in the spring as he and Br. C. C. Rich have been called there to preside over the Saints who may gather there.

11th. Br. Lyman started with all of his family, except Paulina and me and our children, Oscar and Platte. Everything looks like desolation and very lonesome as sister Caroline has gone too. But I have Mother and other friends here yet.

May 4th. My brother started on his first mission at 20 minutes past four o'clock in the afternoon in company with John T. Caine, Joseph Peck and Ward Pack.

6th. Worked in the garden. Went to Sister Emily's. Received letters from Br. Lyman and his wife Cornelia and son Marion. Heard that Br. Lyman will come home next fall which is very welcome news.

June 2nd. Visited at Israel Ivins with Mother and Sisters Emily and Lydia. The next day visited at Anthony Ivins. Our children, except Platte, have the whooping cough.

4th. Went to meeting and heard President Young preach on the subject of the Lamanites becoming converted to a knowledge of the truth. He requested the saints to form societies for the purpose of making clothing for the squaws and their children.

June 2nd. Visited at Israel Ivins with Mother and Sisters Emily and Lydia. The next day visited at Anthony Ivins. Our children, except Platte, have the whooping cough.

June 4th. Went to meeting and heard President Young preach on the subject of the Lamanites becoming converted to a knowledge of the truth. He requested the saints to form societies for the purpose of making clothing for the squaws and their children.

Jan. 4, 1857. Edward Leo Lyman born at 5 o'clock in the morning, he is the son of A. M. and Lydia P. Lyman.

March 25th. Eliza M. Lyman, Lydia P. Lyman, and Platte D. A. Lyman rebaptized by Br. VanCott. Mother and Sister Caroline re-baptized the same clay. Platte going to school at Mrs. Sarah Kimball's.

June 3rd. Br. Lyman and son Marion returned from California.

Jan. 13, 1858. My brother Edward Partridge returned from his mission to the Sandwich Islands were he has been laboring for some years. While there he visited his Aunt Mercy Partridge Whitney, (our Father's Sister), who has been a missionary to those Islands for many years she went there with her husband who was a Presbyterian minister about the year 1820 or 21—and has remained there ever since sending her children to the United States to be educated. She did not believe the doctrine my brother taught, but [p.246]chooses to remain in the dark. She lives on the Island and will probably remain there as long as she lives.

July, 1863. Br. Lyman and a part of his family moved to Fillmore. I stayed in Salt Lake to take care of my sick Mother. We moved to my Sister Emily Young's where I stayed about a month, then I left my Mother to the care of my sister Sarah Gibbons and my sister Emily and I went to Fillmore to join my sisters there and also my son Platte who went when they did. Br. Lyman seemed to feel uncomfortable in his mind and I thought many times did not enjoy that portion of the spirit of the Lord that a man in his position should be, being one of the Twelve Apostles. I did not know what was wrong with him but I could see that he was very unhappy. It was about this time that my sister Caroline's son, Walter, and my sister Lydia's son, Frank, were born. Some time during the winter my sister Lydia went to the city to visit Mother and her baby, Frank, died soon after her arrival there, which was a sad blow to her. In the spring of 1864 I moved up farther into town and occupied a room in Br. Lewis Brunson's house. In the fall I moved into an unfinished brick house of Br. Lyman's where I lived for several years.

November. Started with my son, Joseph, to go to York, the terminus of the railroad, to meet my son, Platte, who is just returning from his mission. The weather is very cold and there is snow on the ground. The first night we camped a little north of Scipio and suffered with cold. The next day we traveled to Salt Creek and camped four miles north of town in company with Wm. King and Lyman Robison. The night was very cold, and should have been quite comfortable in a house. Next day arrived at York where we met my son and were much rejoiced to see him. Came back to Salt Creek and stayed all night at Br. Joel Grover's where we were made very comfortable. The next day arrived and traveled to the Sevier bridge and camped again in the cold. We found Paulina Lyman and family camped here also. She rode with us to Fillmore the next day. When we reached home we found that my daughter, Carlie, and others had [p.249]invited a few of our relatives and prepared a splendid dinner in honor of her brother's arrival to be enjoyed the next day as we did not get home till dark. Our friends who came were: Br. E. Partridge and wives, his daughter Harriet and husband A. Kimball, F. M. Lyman and two wives, Bishop Thomas Callister and two wives, G. Finlinson and Paulina Lyman, who, with our own family made over twenty persons. All seemed to enjoy themselves well in talking together of the past and of their different missions. The next day my son, Platte, started for his home in Oak Creek meeting most of the inhabitants about three or four miles before he reached the town coming out to bid him welcome and escort him to his home.

I have omitted to mention the death of my Sister Lydia. She died on the 16th of January 1875 after a very painful illness of 16 weeks. Disease was rheumatism which terminated in dropsy. She was never able to help herself at all from the first day of her [p.250]sickness. She left three children one son and two daughters. The girls live with me and the son, a young man, lives with my sister Caroline. Her daughter Ida age 15 sat up a part of every night with her mother with the exception of two. She was buried on Sunday the 17th, in the grave yard at Fillmore, that being the town she had lived in for the past few years. After her girls came to live with me it was thought best for me to move into my sister Lydia's house there being more room and the house more convenient than mine. I moved in the following March and remained there until I moved to Oak Creek which was on the 16th of December, 1876.

In July 1833, a number of armed men came to our house in the afternoon and took my father to the public square where they administered to him a coat of tar and feathers and raised a whip with the intention of whipping him, but a friend of humanity interfered and prevented it. I well remember how my father looked. We were very much frightened. My Mother was very weak from having a babe, now but three weeks old. The Brethren were very kind and assisted my father to rid himself of the tar, but the clothes he had on were spoiled. The people of that place had been acting the part of a mob towards our people for some time and still continued the same course until our people agreed to leave the country, which they did in the following November. Very cold and uncomfortable was it moving at that time of the year and a great amount, if not all of our provisions, that we had laid up for the winter must be lost and our houses left with many of our things in them. Our land and orchards and improvements of every kind left to benefit those who have driven us away. We traveled three miles and encamped on the bank of the Missouri river under a high bluff. The rain during the night poured down in torrents which wet us and our things badly. This was the first night I ever slept out of doors.

The next day we crossed the river into Clay County. Here my father laid up some house logs and stretched a tent on them so that we could stay here until he could go and find a house. The weather was very cold, but we were in the woods and could have plenty of fire. It was here that I saw the stars fall. They came down almost as thick as snow flakes and could be seen 'til the day light hid them from sight. Some of our enemies said that the day of judgment had come and were very much frightened, but the Saints rejoiced and considered it as one of the signs of the latter days. When my father had done what he could to help the Brethern across the river he with others went out to see if they could find some houses to move into as there was already snow on the ground. He found a miserable old house that he could have, with one fire place in it, which he and a Brother by the name of John Corrill, moved their families into. I think my Mother, as well as Sister Corill, must have had their patience tried very much during this winter, the house open and cold and their cooking and children and husbands and selves all around one fire place, for stoves were not in use then. I did what work I could get for almost any kind of pay, but there were so many wanting work that there was very little chance to get any. We lived in this old house [p.218]while we stayed in Clay County, which was about two years. While here my Father went on a mission to the eastern States. After his return he, with others, went to look for a location for the Saints.

My father and those that were with him decided that a good place could be had in Caldwell Co. They bought land and removed their families there thinking to live in peace by themselves, which we did for a while. While here I went about thirty miles from home and taught a school for three months, not hearing a word from home while I was away and did not see a person while there that I had ever seen before but the Lord watched over me and returned me in safety to my parents. It was no uncommon thing in those times for our Mormon girls to go out among the Missourians and teach their children for a small remuneration. I received only thirteen dollars and my board for the three months that I was gone. I was at this time about 17 years old. We remained in Caldwell about two or three years when not only the mobs that were around us, but the authorities of the state, said we must leave that county, which we did. We settled in Illinois, first at Quincy then at Pittsfield, then at Nauvoo, which was the gathering place for the Saints. In consequence of the persecutions of apostates my father was obliged to leave Far West before his family, and arranged with Br. King Follett to bring them to Quincy. We had a very uncomfortable time as the weather was cold and we were badly crowded in the wagon, although we had done as we had done every time that we moved, left the most of our things. We crossed the Mississippi partly in a boat and partly on the ice. Father met us and took us to a house where we were more comfortable than we had been while traveling. We stayed here but a short time as my father thought he could do better somewhere else and the church was scattered with no place of gathering.

However, it was not long before we went to Nauvoo as the Prophet who was yet in prison had said it was the place to gather. The Saints were nearly all sick with ague and fever and our family had to have a share. My two sisters, Harriet and Emily, had the ague about a year. I did not have it as I had worn it out when we lived in Ohio. As we were by this time much reduced in circumstances, having moved so many times and my father having poor health, it was thought best for me to take a school at Lima, a small town about twenty five miles away, which I did. My father rented rooms for his family in a large stone house where several other families resided; Br. Hyrum Smith and his brother-in-law, R. B. Thompson, and two more families. While I was teaching at Lima I boarded with a gentile family and was well treated, but suffered [p.219]fearfully with headache. About two weeks before my school was out my father sent a man for me saying my sister Harriet was dying. We rode all night and arrived at home about sunrise. My sister was still alive but died during the day. My parents took this trouble to heart very much and my father said she was his pet child but no one knew it till then and I do not think now that he knew any difference in his children; but I believe when a child or friend is taken from us we are apt to think we loved them more than others. This was in the spring and my father was making garden on his lot which was about a mile distant. As his health was very poor and he did not feel able to walk so far (he was also building a house) he concluded that he would move down home and occupy a log house that he had put up for a stable which had not been used. Then he could work at his house and garden with more ease.

We commenced to move, but he had to give up and take to his bed before he had the last load moved. He was sick about ten days when he also left us. I was too sick to attend his funeral. He was completely worn out with the hardships and fatigue of movings and exposure. He was firm and steadfast in his religion and tried to the very best of his ability to attend to every known duty as bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We were in very poor circumstances at the time of his death; the handsome property that he had when he joined the church having been spent in the church. After the funeral Br. Wm. Law took us to his house to stay until our house was finished. He and his wife were very kind to us and doctored me and my sister, Lydia who was very sick. In about three weeks we were able to move to our own house which was finished. I forgot to mention that while I lived in Far West I had learned the tailors trade as far as sewing went, which I found of great use to me as I now could get work at the tailor's shop and was paid three dollars a week which was a great help to us. After a year or two my Mother married again. She now had four daughters and one son. Her husband's name was William Huntington a very good man and kind to my mother and her children.

After a time my sister Emily and myself went to live in the family of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We lived there about three years. While there he taught us the plan of Celestial marriage and asked us to enter into that order with him. This was truly a great trial for me, but I had the most implicit confidence in him as a Prophet of the Lord and could not but believe his words and, of course, accepted the privilege of being sealed to him as a wife for time and eternity. We were sealed in 1843 by Heber C. Kimball in the presence of witnesses. I continued to live in his family for a length of time after [p.220]this, but, did not reside there when he was martyred, which was the 27th of June, 1844. I was then living with a family by the name of Coolidge. I stayed with them for a year or more until I married Amasa Lyman—one of the Twelve Apostles. I then went to live with my mother for awhile and after that lived with my husband and another wife, Maria Louisa.

I will go back to the time that I left Nauvoo on the 9th of February, 1846 and write from my private journal. It will perhaps not be very interesting to anyone but myself; but it shows more particularly how we were situated and the hardships we endured in accomplishing the journey. I bade adieu to my friends in Nauvoo and in company with my husband, Amasa Lyman, Daniel P. Clark and wife, Henry Rollins and Dionita W. Lyman, one of my husband's wives, we started west.

Febuary 1st, 1877. Went to fast meeting in the forenoon and to Relief Society meeting in the afternoon.

3rd. Mr. Lyman very sick indeed. Carlie and I visited at Sister Lizzie Partridge's.

4th. Mr. Lyman died at a little after five in the morning. Carlie and I went with Henry McCullough to see the corpse, sent word to Oak Creek to my son Platte about the funeral so that he and his brothers might attend.

5th. Went to the funeral at twelve. Heard John Kelley preach, also Reuben McBride said a few words. Br. T. Callister took charge of the meeting, Wm. Beeston and choir present and had excellent singing. Went to the grave at three o'clock returned about sundown. I shall not attempt to describe the feelings that I had when I saw the father of my children sleeping the sleep of death.

25th. Platte and his brothers have been ploughing in the field during the past week. Mother has been staying at Platte's for three days. Received a letter from my brother, Edward, telling us of the birth of his first grandchild. It is the son of his daughter Harriet and Albert Kimball.

Mar 6th. Mother is over 83 years of age and does a great deal of work such as braiding straw hats, piecing bed quilts, sewing carpet rags, making buckskin gloves, knitting mittens, socks and stockings, mending the boys' clothes and making herself useful in more ways than a person of her age could be expected to

April 20th. This is my 57th birthday or I am 57 years old today. Spent the day at my Brother's.

22nd. Ground covered deep with snow. Carlie not well. Stayed at home till evening then went to meeting to hear my brother speak for the last time before going on his mission to England.

23rd. Assisted in getting my brother Edward ready to start on his mission. Ate breakfast and dinner at his wife Elizabeth's.

24th. My brother started on his mission. His wife Sarah and baby, Raymond, went with him as far as Salt Lake City. Carlie and I commenced quilting a bed quilt. Ate our meals at our own home.

23rd. Mother no better. Platte feeling nearly well again. When my brother arrived in Salt Lake City he was released from his English Mission on account of public business, he being. probate judge for Millard County, and returned to his home again in Fillmore.

July 20th—21st. Attended Conference and was present at the reorganization of this Stake of Zion. I. N. Hinckley was appointed president. My brother Edward Partridge and F. V. Robison Counselors.

1877 30th. Heard of President B. Young's death.

Dec 3rd. Arrived at my sister Emily's at 3 o'clock. Took supper with my niece, Emily Clawson. Had oyster soup etc.

5th. Attended meeting in the tabernacle. Had a splendid ride in President Young's carriage drawn by his black horses. Sister Emily sick with erysipelas.

1878

June 9th. My dear Mother breathed her last at ten minutes to seven in the evening she slept the last four hours of her life. We commenced immediately to prepare to take her to Fillmore as she requested us to lay her beside her daughter Lydia who has been buried there over three years. We succeeded in getting ready and started about two o'clock in the morning. My son Platte and his brothers, Fred and Edward, and a brother-in-law Alvin Roper doing what was to be done. Br. John Lovell offered us the use of a horse and wagon which we did not need. Sister Rebecca Dutson Jacobson stayed with us till we started and then stayed with those who were left as they were very lonesome. Mother has suffered much pain during her sickness which she had borne with patience. She was never known to murmur in her afflictions which have been many but her sufferings are over and I hope ere long to meet her where pain and sorrow have no power over us and parting from our friends is unknown. We arrived in Fillmore about twelve (noon) and stopped at the house that I occupied. Found my brother Edward who had made the necessary preparations for the funeral. The Brethren and Sisters were very kind and seemed ready on every hand to assist us.

10th. We arrived in Fillmore about noon and took dinner at Br. Callister's. After an examination of the corpse the Brethren and Sisters concluded the funeral might be put off till next day. We found very soon after dark that we had made a mistake in putting it off and had to go very early the next morning to the grave and there we left our mother to sleep in peace to await the morning of the first resurrection when I have no doubt she will come forth in glory to reap the reward which she has earned in this life. In the afternoon my sister Caroline and my son Platte and the rest of those who came over with us started back home, leaving me to stay awhile in Fillmore with my daughter Carlie. My house is very comfortable [p.262]here and I think I shall stay awhile as my health is very poor and I have no good place in Oak Creek.

23rd. Received an invitation from my niece Mamie Young to attend her wedding party to be given on the 28th of Aug. in Salt Lake City but could not accept it as we were so far away.

12th. Arrived safely at my sister Emily Young's home in Salt Lake City. Found her gone to her daughter Mamie's. I went there and met all the cousins. Stayed a short time then went back to my sister's.

13th. Went down town and did some trading for our family. Annie not very well had to keep mostly in doors.

14th. My nephew Edward Lyman received his endowments and he and Mary M. Callister were married for time and all eternity. There were so many in the house that Annie and William had to wait till next day.

18th—19th. Stayed at my sister's and made a flannel dress for myself, the flannel having been presented to me by my niece Mamie Young Hardy. My sister and I have purchased a Book of Mormon and sent it to our cousin Helen Clesbee in Ohio.

20th. Helped Emily Clawson tie a comforter.

26th. Have been sewing for Emily Clawson the past few days. Received letters from Platte and Lucy for which I am very thankful as it is the first news from them since I left there. Took dinner with Carlie Croxall after which she took me to my sister's in her buggy.

28th. Thanksgiving day which all rich people enjoy by eating roast turkeys, plum pudding and every other good thing. Stayed at home with my sister and four of her grandchildren and Sister Sarah Gibbons to feast on oyster soup which I despise (the soup I mean). The poor have not much enjoyment on such days. Hard work and poor fare the same as any other day. All days are alike to them. Here is Sister Rogers for instance, has to leave her children almost every day in the week to wash or iron for somebody and today which is a grand holiday for the rich she is out cleaning house and her children at home alone as usual.

29th. Snow on the ground and still snowing. Sister Emily gave me two and a half dollars in money. I am sewing most of the time for Emily Clawson which enables me to get a few comforts for my family. Sister Emily taken sick with erysipelas.

Dec [p.265]2nd. Sister Emily some better. On the 3rd received letters from Carlie and Lucy. Called on Sisters Jane and Grace Richards. Took dinner there. Bought a trunk for which I paid 4 dollars, rubber shoes for Lucy, also a shawl and alpaca lustre for her dress, also another dress pattern for her and one for Ida.

18th. Carlie has had a fearful night. Her pains seem almost unendurable. She has given up all hopes of getting well and wants her brothers and husband sent for. She had named the baby Joseph, for one of her brothers, and given it to me saying it will be such a comfort to me, but, oh, she little knows the anguish that fills my heart when I think of parting with her. I sent for her brothers, Platte and Joseph, who came immediately. They were about 12 miles away. She talked to all the family separately giving them good counsel. Said she had no fear of death but was perfectly willing to go for she had many good friends in that other and better world. Said she should meet her brother Platte's children whom she loved as if they were her own, and many more things. I can say truly that I never saw a child so careful of their Mother as she was. There was nothing that she thought would add more to her Mother's comfort but that she would do if it was in her power. I sent to Fillmore for her husband, Br. T. Callister, as she was very anxious to see him before she went. He and his wife, Helen, arrived in the evening. He was much grieved to find her so low and tried to make her think she would recover. She told him it was of no use to think of her getting well, and she wanted him to give her up as she felt that she couldn't endure any longer and suffer as she had. She requested all but him and me to leave the room as she wanted to talk to us alone. She told him she [p.267]must surely go and leave her darling baby which she wanted her Mother to have and keep, which he said should be as she requested. She said she wanted me to teach him to love his "pa" as he would not be likely to see him much. Br. C. asked her if she was sorry she had married as that seems to be the cause or one cause of this sickness which is hurrying her out of the world. She said she was not, for would rather suffer it all again than not to have had the baby although she had so soon to leave him. She gave what she had to me and talked about leaving as calmly as if she were going out to a friend's on a visit. She said she would like to be washed and anointed. We thought she was too weak to bear it, but she was so anxious to have it done that Sister Helen Callister washed and anointed her and Br. Callister and her brother Platte laid their hands upon her and blessed her and blessed the baby in her hearing. We had thought that she might go at any moment but now she seemed to rest and sleep and was very comfortable till morning, when she seemed to be a little better and could move her feet a little in the bed. We really hoped that the crisis was past and that she would recover. She would some times seem better and then not so well.

19th and 20th. Until the 19th when it was plain to be seen she was sinking very fast. We did all we could to alleviate her suffering which was very severe but it was of no use for no earthly power could save her and although many prayers were offered in her behalf yet the Lord took her from us at half past 12 on the morning of the 20th of March 1879. Great has been her suffering and great will be her reward. She was faithful and true to her religion and I have no doubt but she is happy with her friends that have gone before her. She was buried in the Oak Creek cemetery by the side of her brother, Platte's, children and there will rest in peace till the morning of the resurrection when she will come forth clothed in glory prepared to come in to her exaltation with the sanctified ones. She had been married a little over 13 months and had lived with me more than half the time as she could not feel very comfortable long at a time when she was away.

December 2nd. Received a letter from my sister Emily Young with two dollars in cash. I wrote to Annie Clark inviting her and her sister to come and spend the winter with me. Lucy commenced going to school to Ole Jacobson. Annie Dutson's baby born.

26th. Received a present of ten dollars in money from my sister Emily's children. Their names Emily, Carlie, Mamie and Carlos. Also received a present from my sister Caroline of a neck tie. Lucy went to a party yesterday and took the baby, Joseph Platte. She also went in the evening with her sister Martha and her brother-in-law Alvin Roper. I stayed at home alone with the baby. How changed is my situation now from what it was last Xmas. Then the baby's mother was alone while all the rest of the household had gone to the party. Now she sleeps in the grave and her baby is left to keep me company in her stead. Yesterday Br. George Lovell brought me some wood on his shoulders from his place as he saw I was out. Wrote to my friends on the Colorado.

24th. This day Annie Lyman Dutson told her husband Wm. Dutson that she could not live with him any longer. They had a long talk and she told him plainly her reasons for taking the course that she was now taking. He acknowledged he had done wrong and was sorry for it, and if she would still live with him he would do better in the future. But she had no confidence in his promises for he had broken them so many times and told him she could go no farther with him. So they separated. She stays with her Mother where she has been for a year and is very sick, cannot sit up at all nor turn herself in bed.

24th. This day Annie Lyman Dutson told her husband Wm. Dutson that she could not live with him any longer. They had a long talk and she told him plainly her reasons for taking the course that she was now taking. He acknowledged he had done wrong and was sorry for it, and if she would still live with him he would do better in the future. But she had no confidence in his promises for he had broken them so many times and told him she could go no farther with him. So they separated. She stays with her Mother where she has been for a year and is very sick, cannot sit up at all nor turn herself in bed.

15th. Received a letter from my sister Emily, also a sack full of partly worn clothing for my use and also for my sister Caroline's family. Annie getting able to walk some.

Aug. 3rd to 8th. My sister Emily came to visit us. She came on the railroad to Deseret and stayed at my brother's all night. The next day he brought her to my place in Oak Creek. He went up Oak Creek canyon and stayed all night then went home the next day. I let him have a bedstead. Had a very good visit with sister Emily until the 8th of the month when she went to her home in Salt Lake City. Her nephew, Edward L. Lyman, taking her with his team to the cars at Leamington. The flies are so bad I can hardly write, they have caused me to make one black spot on this page. Sister Emily made me a present of two dollars and a half in money also some sugar and rice and bacon. She gave the baby (J. Platte) 25c for a keepsake.

20th. It is two years today since my dear Carlie left us for that better land, where I hoe she is free from all the troubles that afflicted her while she remained here. May I be prepared to meet her and my dear Mother is the sincere desire of my heart and that I may bring her child up in the fear of the Lord so that he may be an honor to her—I do most earnestly desire.

23rd. Received letters from my sisters, Emily and Caroline, Sister Helen Callister and Nellie Clawson

14th. Wrote to my brother on the Sandwich Islands. Received 25 dollars in goods for my services in the store. Verses composed by my brother, E. Partridge, while on the Sandwich Islands at Laie, February 28th, 1883 and sent to my son P. D. Lyman at Bluff. May 18th.

[p.282]

Old Friends

December 23rd. Bought some land, 6 by 11 rods, to build on.

End of Record[p.285]