Sketch of the life of William Morley Black [microform] : c.1915

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  Autobiography of Joseph Smith Black and related materials [microform]: c.1840-1947

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of the autobiography of Joseph Smith Black, along with biographies of his parents, a continued biography of Joseph Black by his son Peter Thompson Black, and assorted letters and notes. The volume opens with a genealogy of the Black family; a biographical sketch of Joseph Black's father William Black (1784-1873), who served in the 72nd Regiment of the British Army, joined the Mormon Church in Ireland in 1839, immigrated to the United States in 1842, and helped colonize southern Utah; and a biography of Joseph's mother Jane Johnston Black (b.1801). Joseph Black's autobiography recounts his childhood in Ireland and England, his travels to the United States and later Utah, his baptism into the Mormon Church, his colonizing and homesteading efforts in southern Utah, his mission to Arizona and Mexico in 1886, a detailed account of his mission to Missouri in 1888, and a chronicle of his time spent in the Utah Penitentiary, along with the results of a phrenology exam he was given before his release. Black's account ends in about 1889, and his son Peter Thomas Black extended it in 1947, writing of Black's work in building water reservoirs in Nevada (1893), his contract to deliver lime rock to Leamington, Utah (1895), and his work clearing farm land (1906). Following the autobiography is a typescript entitled "Visit to Millard County Recalls Fate of Capt. Gunnison and Party," which recounts Black's 1888 expedition to locate the site of the Gunnison Massacre, as well as later efforts by the Andrew Jensen party in about 1922; copies of letters from Black's children and friends; letters sent to Black by fellow prisoners while he was at the Utah Penitentiary, as well as copies of some letters sent by Black; and a newspaper obituary for Black (1910).

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  Sketch of the life of Mary Minerva Dart [Judd] [microform]:

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of Mary Minerva Dart Judd's autobiography, covering the years from approximately 1840-1865 (some brief notes and genealogical accounts continue into the 1880s). The account opens with reminiscences of Mary's childhood in New York and Connecticut, and with an account of her family's wagon travels to Council Bluffs in 1849 and to Utah in 1850. It recalls the Dart family's settlement in Parowan, where they had an encounter with Indian Chief Walkera (c.1808-1855), and Mary's marriage to Zadok Knapp Judd in 1852. Mary subsequently describes moving to Santa Clara in 1856, traveling near St. George, living in Harmony in 1857, and settling in Eagle Valley in 1865 (a genealogical note includes reference to the family's life in Kanab in the 1880s). Mary also writes of her father's mission to San Bernardino, of her cotton manufacturing, of the 1862 Santa Clara River flood, and of the death of George A. Smith, Jr. (1842-1860), who was apparently shot to death by a Navajo Indian. The account also references Indian children purchased by the Judds, including a boy named Lamoni who died while in their service, an unnamed girl who was purchased in 1858 and died in 1861, and a second girl named Nellie who was purchased in 1862 and in 1867 married a "wild Indian" and left to live with his family (she returned to the Mormon settlement as a washer woman). Also included is some genealogy and hymn lyrics.

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  A short sketch of the life of Levi Jackman [microform]: c.1832-1848

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of Levi Jackman's autobiography and diary, which begins with an account of his childhood and conversion to the Mormon faith. He also gives an extensive account of mob violence in Missouri in 1833 and of his journey to Kirtland by way of Louisiana. He describes his missionary work in Illinois from 1835-1836, writes of the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, and mentions his work on the temples at Kirtland and Nauvoo. Much of the volume is a detailed diary account of his overland travels to Utah with the first company of Mormon pioneers in 1847. He gives a daily account of scenery and landmarks passed, as well as an account of camp life. He specifically describes Pawnee Indians, passing through a prairie dog town, sighting buffalo, and meeting Sam Brannan on the trail near the Salt Lake Valley. Jackman also writes of his reaction to his first sighting of Utah, declaring that "like Moses on Pisgah's top we could see a part of the Salt Lake Valley, our long anticipated home. We did truly rejoice at the sight" (July 19, 1847). The remainder of the volume includes Jackman family genealogy and a brief continuation of the autobiography, in which Jackman describes his life in Utah from 1847-1848, including a mention of the Mormon Battalion. Portions of the text are very faint and may be partially illegible.

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  Some events of the life of Levi Mathers Savage [microform] : c.1876-1935

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of Levi Mathers Savage's autobiography, begun in 1876 and finished shortly before his death in 1935. Savage opens with a brief history of the Mormon Church, and recounts his childhood in Holden, Round Valley, Kanab, and Toquerville, Utah. He particularly writes of his father's stock business and Indian raids around Long Valley. In 1871 he went to Salt Lake City to attend Morgan's Commercial College, which he left when he was called home by his ill father. He writes of being called to help colonize southern Arizona, but when the mission was delayed he worked on William W. Taylor's saw mill in Salt Lake City instead. Savage writes of the books he read during this time and of the "great financial crisis" of 1873 that prevented him from receiving his wages. He writes of taking a school at Coalville in 1874, and of a trip to Michigan to visit his mother's relatives (this section contains extensive genealogy on the Mathers family). He writes of finally starting on the Arizona mission in 1876 and of serving with Lot Smith's United Order at Yavapai. By 1878 he was teaching school in Sunset, Arizona. Savage writes of the completion of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad and accompanying telegraph lines in 1882 and of concurrent difficulties with the Apache Indians. In 1883 he began teaching school in Woodruff, Arizona, but by 1885 polygamy charges had forced him to flee to Chihuahua, Mexico. He helped settle Diaz and writes of an earthquake there on May 8, 1887. By 1891 he had returned to Woodruff, but in 1900 his first wife Sarah "Marintha" Wright had taken him to court with adultery charges (he had subsequently married plural wives Lydia "Nora" Hatch and Hannah Adeline Hatch). He was arrested and taken to Prescott, and he and Sarah ultimately divorced in 1901 (Savage mentions the difficult relations he had with his and Sarah's children). Much of the rest of the volume through 1919 covers Savage's life in Woodruff, including extensive notes on births, deaths, marriages, confirmations, blessings, and missions, as well as covering a 1902-1903 diphtheria outbreak and problems with the Woodruff Dam. Savage was released as Bishop of the Woodruff Ward in 1919 and writes of moving to Salt Lake City. He worked in the temple there and the volume includes various lists of endowments. He recalls a 1925-1926 trip to California, and most of the rest of the volume revolves around his family life in Salt Lake. Savage's final illness and death are noted in entries made by his wife Nora in 1935.

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  A life sketch of Ida Frances Hunt Udall [microform]:

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm typescript of Pauline Udall Smith's biography of her mother, Ida Frances Hunt Udall (1858-1915). Ida was born at Hamilton's Fort near Cedar City, Utah, and was a granddaughter of Jefferson Hunt and Addison Pratt. She lived in San Bernardino, California, as a child before returning to Beaver, Utah, at the age of 5. Smith's account traces Ida's childhood, including notes on her schooling and her family's move to Savoia, one of the settlements at Little Colorado, Arizona. Her father was appointed bishop of Snowflake in the late 1870s, and Ida lived with her grandmother in Beaver, Utah, until 1880. Pauline writes that on returning to Arizona with the Jesse N. Smith Company Ida was inspired to pursue a life of polygamous marriage. She taught school in Taylor and Snowflake, Arizona, until meeting Bishop David K. Udall (1851-1938) in 1881. He offered her a position at the St. Johns cooperative store, and she became his plural wife in 1882. Smith's account describes how Ida, along with her sister-in-law Eliza Tenney and Catherine and Annie Romney, were forced to flee after her brother-in-law Ammon Tenny was arrested for polygamy. Polygamy charges were brought against David Udall in 1884, but were dropped as Ida could not be found to testify. In 1885 he was indicted for perjury in a case involving a land claim, and sentenced to 3 years in the Detroit House of Corrections (he was released by presidential pardon in December 1885). Smith describes the difficulty of the situation for Ida, and her unsettled life in Eagar, Snowflake, St. Johns, and finally Hunt, Arizona, following her husband's release. Included are the typescripts of several letters sent by Ida to David Udall.

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  A sketch of Silas Harris's life, as written by himself [microform]: c.1880

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of a typescript of Silas Harris' autobiography, written in about 1880 and completed by his daughter Sarah F. Cutler sometime after Silas' death in 1897. In the autobiography Silas writes very briefly of his childhood and conversion to Mormonism, his experiences in the Mormon Battalion, his overland travels back to Council Bluffs from California, his return to Utah, his mission work, and notes on his children. The final few paragraphs were written by his daughter Sarah, and contain reminiscences of her father.

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