Tag Archives: Missions

History of John Peck Chidester Family & Descendents

by Ida Josephine Sargent Chidester Way back in 1861, John Peck Chidester, who was a Pennsylvanian by birth, came with his father John Madison Chidester to Washington, Utah and is listed in Washington records with about 50 families who were called by Brigham Young under the date of October 13, 1861, to the Southern or Dixie Mission. These 50 families bolstered up the settlers who, after several years of colonizing, had become discouraged and there were only 20 families left […]

Biography of Rebecca Rocena Beck Berry

Written by her daughter Harriet L. Berry in her 75th year. In the year of 1840, Orson Hyde was ordained as Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, by the Prophet Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Illinois, and was sent on a mission to Palestine without purse or script, to dedicate that Holy ground for the return of the Jews. On arriving in Philadelphia, Hyde was without means to cross the mighty ocean. Being full of faith in […]

Walter Lysle Platt and Alice Campbell

Written by their daughter Rocena Platt Chidester November 1976 Walter Lysle Platt was born 5 November 1900 at Kanarraville, Iron, Utah, to John William Platt and Mary Wilhelmina Perry. He was the fourth child. The other children were William Grant, Rulon Berry, John Elton, Jay Clair, Mary Rebecca, Minnie, Leila, Melvina, Verna, Vernon (twins), and Ralph Browning. Lysle spent all of his life in Kanarraville. Lysle had long ringlets up until the time he started school. As a boy he […]

The Tennesse Massacre: Newspaper Article with Account of President Miles Jones’ interviews with surviving Saints, family and members of the mob

Erection by the church of a little monument at Cane Creek, Tennessee, last June recalled in the minds of many saints in that section and others knowing of the event, a happening which many years ago shocked the entire Church membership. It was the brutal killing of two missionaries and two faithful friends of James Condor, August 10, 1884. The elders killed were John H. Gibbs of Paradise, and William S. Berry of Kanarra. The two others were Martin Condor […]

Anna Johanna (Hannah) Nielsen: Poetry

Hannah was, like most of those who came from the Scandinavian Countries, a great lover of nature.  She took much  pride in beautifying her home surroundings.  She was a great reader, studied the Church books and magazines, and kept up with the daily newspapers. Being a natural poet, she composed a number of wonderful poems and was able to call them to mind at any time.  This gift was one of her greatest blessings.  Many have enjoyed listening to her recite the poetry she had written. Four […]

Anna Johanna (Hannah) Nielsen & Christian Christensen Brown: Births, Illnesses, Deaths, Growing Up & Growing Old

The children had to help on the farm.  When Manilla was five years old, she went with them to the fields to haul hay.  It was a hot day, so Manilla would lie down under the wagon in the shade.  As the wagon moved along she followed, staying the shade. One time she got too close to the wheel and was run over, breaking her leg. Hannah lost her oldest son, Christian, during an epidemic of Diphtheria and tonsillitis.  He was twelve years of age. A […]