Autobiography [microform] : 1837-1874

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  Autobiography and diaries of Joab Collier [microform] : 1874-1905

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of Joab Collier's autobiography, written in about 1905, and two diaries covering 1874-1875. In the autobiography Collier recounts his father's death in a coal mine in 1856, living with his mother on her earnings from a cotton factory, moving to Yorkshire to work in a wool factory after the cotton factory was closed during the American Civil War, attending parish school in Newton (he left at age 13 to work in the factory full time, and describes his work schedule there), starting for the United States in 1869 and arriving in Utah in 1870, working on the railroad in Draper in 1871, returning to school and working herding sheep in 1873, living with Dr. R.M. Boyers and his family, meeting Theodocia at a dance, briefly attending Brigham Young Academy, various livelihoods including agricultural work and sheep herding, and of beginning to raise bees in the 1880s. He also describes specific memories such as the wedding of Prince Albert of Wales in 1863 and trying to pay back a $36 loan his mother took out on arriving in Utah. The 1874 journal was kept while Collier was living with Dr. Boyers, and the entries focus on his work in a store, going to dances, buying livestock and picking up coal, and attending religious meetings. The 1875 journal focuses on Collier's social activities, including his courtship of Theodocia. Some portions of the diary were written in the Deseret alphabet.

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  Autobiography of Edward Peay [microform]: 1849

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of a partial autobiography by Edward Peay. It describes his early life in England, his conversion to Mormonism, and a part of his voyage to the United States in 1849.

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  Autobiography of William Ellis Jones [microform] : 1896

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of the autobiography of William Ellis Jones, covering his experiences from childhood through 1896. The first few frames contains notes for ditches for the West Field Canal Co. (appear to be part of Walter S. Tolton, MFILM 00056). The autobiography describes Jones's childhood and family history, his early interest in religion and conversion from Methodism to Mormonism, his arrival in Nauvoo, his experiences in Council Bluffs, his move to St. Joseph in 1855, living in Nebraska in 1856, traveling to Utah in 1861, living near Clover Canyon and Bear Canyon, living in Santa Clara and St. George, teaching school in Hebron and Santa Clara, a list of names of baptisms and endowments (1887), and genealogy notes.

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  Autobiography and diary of William Athol McMaster [microform]:

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of an autobiography and diary by William Athol McMaster. The autobiography recounts McMaster's life through 1854, including his early years in Scotland, conversion to Mormonism, proselytizing work in Scotland, voyage from Liverpool to New Orleans, and his overland travels to Utah. McMaster describes facing hardships during the journey, and while traveling to Utah endured illnesses, supply issues, and the death of one of his sons. The autobiography is followed by some miscellaneous notes dated 1855-1857, as well as a diary volume describing McMaster's life in Utah from 1882-1886. The diary volume also contains excerpts from "Brigham Young's Important Discourse on Priesthood," dated 1877.

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  Autobiography of James McBride [microform] : 1876

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of the typescript autobiography of James McBride, written in 1874 and 1876. McBride traces his genealogy and family history in Virginia and Ohio, describes his family's conversion to Mormonism, and recalls their moves throughout Missouri from 1834-1836. He gives a detailed account of his father's death in the Haun's Mill Massacre of 1838 and of his own examination of the area in the following weeks. McBride describes anti-Mormon sentiment in Missouri and his family's move to Illinois, where he rented a farm near Nauvoo in 1841. He writes of traveling westward in 1846, living in Iowa until 1850, and traveling overland to Utah (including inscribing his name on Chimney Rock). He then describes his life in Tooele and Grantsville, conflicts with Indians and the building of a fort in 1853-1854, and the Utah War. Includes table of contents and index.

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  Autobiography of David Lewis [microform]:

  Manuscripts

  Microfilm of the autobiography of David Lewis, written in 1854. The front page includes an unidentified photograph. The text begins with an account of Lewis' birth and childhood in Kentucky, including his family history (with physical descriptions of family members), his family's agricultural pursuits, his knife fights with his brothers, and his working at spinning cotton from the age of 12. Most of the manuscript focuses on the expulsion of the Mormons from Missouri and the events of the Haun's Mill Massacre, during which David's brother Benjamin Lewis was killed. Lewis thoroughly describes the event and its aftermath, including a latter meeting with James Campbell. He also writes of being captured by Missouri soldiers and interrogated about whether he was a Danite. Lewis also describes traveling to Illinois in 1838-1839, returning to Kentucky in 1839, and finally ending up back in Illinois in 1840. The account ends with a brief mention of the death of Joseph Smith. It also includes a patriarchal blessing for Lewis from 1839. The next portion of the volume begins with clippings from the Vernal Express on Sinley Lewis Sr. (1931). It is followed by a biography of David Lewis' son Siney Lewis Sr. (1848-1928) written by his daughter-in-law Crystal P. Lewis. It describes his birth in Council Bluffs, his father's work as a cooper, the death of his mother's father, who left her enough money to emigrate to Utah along with "one negro slave called Jerry" (who spent the rest of his life with the family), their journey to Utah in 1850, Siney's school days, and his leading emigrants to Utah in 1866 with a company of "bull whackers" (teamsters).

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