Alexander Nephi Stephens journal entries

Alexander Nephi Stephens

Journal Entries

 

Alexander Nephi Stephens’ original journal now resides in the archives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City.  The first portion of these journal entries were written when Alexander Nephi Stephens was on the run from the authorities who wanted to arrest and prosecute him for living in polygamy.   He gave himself up to the marshals after his family was harassed and abused.  The latter part of the entries were made while he was serving his sentence in the Idaho Penitentiary at Boise.  The original spelling and capitalization have been preserved here.

 

 

• Sunday, April 11, 1886 – I was in Salt Lake City.  The temple was begun in 1858.
• Monday, April 12 – Returned to the farm at Ogden City.
• Monday, April 19 – Mountain wind in Ogden City.
• Wednesday, April 21 – Went to Salt Lake City.
• Thursday, April 22 – At Bro. David Sessions.  Staid 2 days.
• Friday, April 23 – Returned to the farm at Ogden City.
• Sunday, April 25 – I left Ogden City. Went to North String. Staid all night with Bro.William Pearce.
• Monday, April 26 – I was at North String.  Saw John Smith the Patriarch.  Got his consent to have my parents adopped (adopted) to Joseph Smith the Prophet.
• Tuesday, April 27 – Went to the Temple to see Bro. Merrils.  Then went to Aunt L??? on the ranch near Smithfield.
• Monday, May 3 – Went to Logan from Bro. Barbers ranch.
• Tuesday, May 4 – In Logan to day.
• Wednesday, May  5 – I was ceiled to my parants in the Logan Temple.  Bro. Angus Bain acting proxy for my Father and Sister Margrett P. Young acting proxey for my Mother.  Bro. MW Merrill officiating.
• Thursday, May 6 – I was endowed for my 5 cousin John Brigs who is dead.  Ordained an Elder by Fredric Yates.
• Friday, May 7 – Left Logan. Camped with Ben Chadwic between Cash Valey (Cache Valley) and Ogden Valey.
• Saturday, May 8  - Crossed the sumit to Ogden Valey.
• Sunday May 9 – Went to Plain City. Met Mine (Almina) and the children.
• Monday, May 10 – Staid in Plain City today all day.
• Tuesday, May 11 – Still in Plain City.
• Wednesday, May 12 – Left this afternoon.  Went to the farm.
• Thurdsay, May 13 – Left home on the farm.  Camped in the cannon (canyon) above the devils gate about 20 miles.
•  Friday, May 14 – Camped in second Weber Cannon near the Second tunnel and I was sick. About 20 miles.
• Saturday, May 15 – The next night I staid all night with Jake Hufman up Chalk Creek.  5 miles above Coal Ville (Coleville) about 25 miles.
• Sunday, May 16 – Camped on Bear River.  Nothing transpired with Nate.  I camped on the river at the crossing up the floam.  Traveled near 25 miles.
• Monday, May 17 – Arrived on the floam.  All well, nothing transpired particular since I left Ogden City where I met Bro. Green & Bro. Marchant 8 miles up the river.
• Tuesday, May 18 – Staid allnight on the floam.  Started next day for Spences old tye camp.  Traveled all day.  Got to camp Scott.  Traveled about 25 miles.
• Wednesday, May 19 – I am in Camp Scott in Wyoming.  All well.  About 100 miles from Ogden City.  Travled about 25 miles.
• Thursday, May 20 – Went over where Tess and John Garner killed the deer.  Traveled about 25 miles.
• Friday, May 21 – Went to Black’s fork.

 

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Tithing account for 1889:

Wheat                           13 bu.

Oats                             13 bu.

Pork                             50 lbs. paid

Potatoes                       6 bu.

Carotts                         12,300

Buter & eggs                 $3.00

L??? seed                     15, 100

Beans                           8 lbs.

Squash                         10

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Cash Account – April 25

            Received full payment on my Mothers Estate - $117.50.

 

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Names of the Officers of the Penitentiary:

John Haley Ju. – Warden

P L Lomax – Deputy

Bud Haley – Gard

Mickey Sulivan –

Mr. West –

Frank Mcdonald – Turnkey

Frank Ried – Gard

Young –

Mcdonald –

 

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I left home Oct. 29  arived in Blackfoot Oct. 31 Tindin (Attending?) cort 2 weeks  I was arained for the Crime of unlawful Cohabitation  I pled Gilty to the charge and then they tride to get a charge of Adultrey against me and they could not get the testimony  arived Home Oct 20^th(?)  Staid there till Nov 17  Received Sentance Nov 18^th 1887 for unlawful Cohabitation  6 months Imprisonment & 300.00 fine.

 

Staid all Night in Jail at Blackfoot 19^th left for Boise Penitentiary arrived there about 8 o’clock the Night of the 19^th I was put in a Cell with a man by the Name Zaceriah Barns a Doctor the Next Day was the 20^th I was chainged and Put in with one of our Brethren By the name of Elizah Willson we was allowed to Make our Selfs as Comfortable as we Could we took Some Bedding with us and fixed our Selvs comfortable on the 21^st we Staid in our Cells most all day we went out about an hour and a half among the Prisoners they had an old fiddle we plaid a few times for them There was 3 of us could play a little Brother Willson & Bro. Anderson and Myself we cheered them up as well as we could They said it was a change  we then went Back to our Cells  Spent the rest of the day in Reading and Sitting around we could get much exercise in our cell it is about 6 x10 ft

 

Elizah Wilson and Myself are Pardners in T.L. cell No. 3 hour furniture is as follows

1 Broom

1 little homade Stand

2 washdishes

2 little lard Bboketts

1 campskillet

2 quart Cups

1 Bead (bed)

2 towels

1 Lamp

our library

2 Book of Mormon

1 Key to Theology

1 Doctrine & Covenants

I him (hymn) Book

1 chamber

2 Stools