William Carroll McClellan

..... The following is a short sketch of the life of William Carroll McClellan (1824-1916).   The eldest of James McClellan (1804-1881) and Cynthia Stewart (1810-1862)'s twelve children, received on August 16, 1995.

......... William Carroll McClellan, my Great-Great Grandfather, is related to me through his daughter Cynthia Lovesta (McClellan) Bailey (1856-1956),  my Great-Grandmother, and through her daughter, Sylvia Bernetta (Bailey) Bloomfield (1875-1891), my Grandmother on my father's side.  W. C. McClellan married Almeda Day (1831-1933), my Great-Great Grandmother, in 1849.  This material was provided by my first cousin, once removed, Paul J. Ludwig who got it from his mother, Cynthia Barbara (Bailey) Ludwig, who, with her mother raised my dad.  My notes are italicized and underlined.  I have retained all original spelling.  LBB

....... Born, May 12, 1828, in Bedford County, Tennessee, of which county I have bare remembrance, as my parents left there early in the spring of 1833 and moved to Shelby County, Illinois.  Squatted on a quarter section ..... in 1834 or 1835 bought out a man who wanted to move on.  He had a cabin, smoke house and corn crib,, a small amount of land broken, and fenced, in a bend of the Kaskaskia river.  Here I spent six or seven years of boyhood on the farm, in cornfield in summer, feeding hogs and cattle in winter.  Little show for education, only what my mother could impart, spelling reading.  My sports were fishing, coon, rabbit, possum and squirrel hunting.

....... My father, by industry and economy was fast surrounding himself with the comforts of life, as hogs and cattle had done well on the range quite a portion of the year and St. Louis and Chicago furnished a fairly good market for all surplus, including coonskins, dressed turkeys and venison hams.

....... This was our condition when the Elders found us in the summer of 1840 when my parents received the gospel and were baptized.  Father soon after went to Nauvoo, bought some property and returned home, and at once set about selling out to move to Nauvoo.  Quite an undertaking as the farm was one of the largest and best in the country, and but few were able to buy, as it consisted of about 600 acres. of farm and timber land, over a hundred acres of it under cultivation and fence. Father finally disposed of it for part cash and part stock.  He sent me to Nauvoo early in the spring of 1841, with a small party that was going up to look after land he had bought.  We reached there April 7th, too late for conference as we had intended to do.  I was baptized May 12, 1841, returned tin the fall to help move the family.

....... Our troubles began soon after our arrival in Nauvoo.  Father and Mother were both taken down with Rheumatism and were confined in bed about three months each.  I, not being able to properly look after the stock and storms coming on, about 60 head of cattle struck out for the old home and got about half way when they were stopped by the ice in a river and were taken up and cared for until spring by a party at a cost of about one-half of the herd.  Luckily he had paid his tithing and paid for shares in Nauvoo house to quite an amount.  Turned out three or four yoke of oxen for lumber to be had later on, little of it having come as yet.  In this way we soon reached bedrock, form plenty to poverty seemed but a short step.  Such conditions made it necessary for me to work for wages, which was my lot the years of my stay in Nauvoo.  I worked in brick yards, teaming, boating, rafting.  The last two years I worked mostly on the river where I could command nearly a man's wages, being considered a full hand most places on the water.  During our trouble I was usually on hand to be counted.

....... About the first of February, 1846, I was asked by J. D. Hunter to meet him and others at night near the upper Stone House, which I did.  Found him and Chas. Hall, Allen Tally and others.  We very quietly went to Shirts Limekiln on the bank of the river.  Went aboard a boat, pushed out into the stream and floated down nearly a mile, pulled into shore, put a wagon and pair of horses aboard.  I was told to take the steering oar and land at a light we could see on the Iowa side.  This was easy done.  We were well above the point to start with, this was all done and but a few words spoken.  There were but two men who knew who was being ferried, and one of them was Hunter and the man himself.  We were not as inquisitive in those days as now.  This was the beginning of the exodus.

....... I stayed a day or two on the boat, crossing other parties.  Was sent home and got ready to go with the company.  I took my father's team and wagon loaded with Hosea Stout's goods to be gone one month.  But instead of being sent back, I was sent with a party into Missouri to work for provisions for the Camp and was there until May, Father sending Stout word to send me back, but his letters were burned.  finally, President Young got wind of what was going on and he wrote me to come to camp at once at Garden Grove.  I loaded up my wagon with cornmeal and bacon and reached camp and was soon on my way to Nauvoo, accompanied by three or four boys with teams who were going back to their folks.

....... On my reaching home, found the folks busy preparing for the move.  My father's family, Aunt Matilda Parks, T. C. D. Howell, grandfather McClellan, grandmother, Rigby Gabits and others, quite a party.  We crossed the river at Nashville, as we got better terms on ferriage.  We reached camp on Mosquito Creek July 14th or 15th.  I was driving my Grandfather's team on the journey.

....... There was a recruiting officer in camp raising men for service in the Mexican War.  Father gave me the alternative of going or taking care of three families.  So It took but little time for me to decide and I marched with the 5th or Company E to camp at Sarpies Point.

....... As the travels and doings of the Mormon Battalion are matters of history, I will but briefly refer to my wanderings with the same.  The command, as is well known, received their outfits and supplies at Leavenworth and marched to Santa Fe.  There a detachment of invalids and laundresses were ordered to Pueblo, Colorado where a small party had previously been sent the 10th of November when another invalid detachment under W. W. Willis was also sent back to Pueblo.  I was sent with this detail to care for the sick.  We reached our destination after losing four men by death and suffering untold hardships, wallowing in snow half-clad and half starved.  Here we stayed from 24th December to latter part of May.  We fared well here for provisions, as we got our supplies from Bents Fort and we were in a good game country and could get fresh meat from Indians on easy terms.

....... The latter part of May (history says the 24th, but I think it was several days earlier), we left Pueblo for where we knew not;  traveled north to old Fort Laramie.  There we struck the Pioneer Trail going up the North Platte.  We followed their trail day after day until we reach Salt Lake Valley July 27th where we were turned loose.  About 16th  of August, some sixty men, some 30 of which were Battalion men with about 30 teams, mostly oxen, started for the Missouri River.  The soldiers with about six days' rations to the man for 1,000 mile journey and but little game the first 500 miles.  About 600 miles from Salt Lake we run into the buffalo.  From there on we knew what we lived on -- meat straight, not bad living as we had a plenty of salt.

....... I got home latter part of October.  My grandparents were both dead, others all well.  Spent the next year and half jobbing around hauling a load from St. Joseph occasionally, working single-hand in Missouri for a while and in other ways put in the time until the 19th of July, 1949 when I was married to Almeda Day.  I then turned my attention to making a home.

....... Built a small log house and made myself middling comfortable for the winter, intending to farm the next season, as father was intending to move West in the Spring, leaving quite a farm fenced and broke, and I intended working all I could of it.  But the whole program was changed by the discovery of gold in California, and it began to look as though more of us could go west.  Father and the Days folks began to try to get me to go.

....... The prospect for so doing was anything but bright, as my stock in trade was two young cows and one pig, towards an outfit.  But I finally decided to make the attempt, and began to work to that end -- bargained off my house and corral for a cow, a pig and a goat.  Very early in the spring, Father and I moved down on the road a mile and a half below, put up a temporary shop for fitting up wagons, and other work.  Almost before we were ready for work, here came the gold hunters wanting corn fodder, hay, straw, anything in the shape of feed.

....... I got hold of an old 3-1/4 wagon, not considered work fixing up and went to work on it at odd times, got new lumber, made a projection box with door in the side, bedstead on the projection and load under and in front.  Painted wagon and box, had a fly outfit during the winter.  The boys and I had broke a pair of two -year old steers and Father told me to use them as leaders in crossing the plains.

....... So my team was a yoke of two-year old steers, a yoke of cows, and a yoke of small oxen, and my load was even lighter than my team.  But this was easily got along with, as A. O. Smoot and J. L. Haywood had freight at the ferry for which they would pay in advance $25.00 per 100 lbs., so I took on nails and glass to about 400 lbs.  This enabled me to get clothing and other needed articles that would not have been possible otherwise.

....... About the 12th of June, we left our homes, Father's Days', and my family's.  Mine consisted of self, wife and one child a month old, Mary.  We crossed the Missouri River below the mouth of the Platte and traveled up the south side of Ash Hollow.  Using the stagnant spring water between the Missouri and the Platte, (caused by much wet weather) the cholera broke out in our camp (the Wm Snow Company).

....... There were several deaths, my little brother of the number.  I had quite a severe attack but pulled through.  Had a sister born in the Black Hills.  We reached the valley early in October, the 6th I think.  Found our old friends the Rigbys well and doing well.  I got a team from Barnett Rigby and hauled wood from north canyon on shares of a few weeks then moved into Little Cottonwood Canyon to burn charcoal.

....... Moved back to Salt Lake about Christmas, when I rented a cabin which was but little better than our wagon box, in that we had a stove and were quite comfortable.

....... Father and I decided to go south in the spring, got ready to do so about the first of March.  Took us eight days hard work to reach Payson, where we decided to stop, with some misgivings on the water question, as there was ten to eleven families ahead of us.  I took a ten-acres that I thought would need little water and a five higher up that was easier broke, and later threw up the ten that proved to be good.   We fenced in a mile by a mile and one-fourth square.  Not much land for twelve families.  Nearly everyone wanted a piece for his cousin that was coming.

....... I worked at farming, carpentering and mill-wright work.  Was going in with James Daniels chair-making and cabinet work.  Had a mill site in town and some material on hand when the Walker War broke out, after which Daniels moved to Provo and our mill site was wanted for grist mill, so our enterprise fell through.  I took active part in the protection of the place, as I had been elected Captain of the companies some months previous, made up from Santaquin, Payson, and Pond-town.  George Hancock was my superior or ranking Captain, but being from home a great deal, I naturally had to assume the responsibilities.  About this time or a little before, I was made a member of the town council, served several terms, held the office of Alderman.

....... In April 1857 was ordained a president of the 46th quorum of Seventies.  In the fall of 1858 I was called on to raise fifty men for service in Echo Canyon, and as quite a number of my company was all ready out, I had to get a few men from Spanish Fork for the Company.  Captain Kite of Springville was the other Captain, A. K. Thurber, Major.

....... My mother died April 29, 1862, being years and one day old.  In April 1863 I left my home to meet the incoming emigration.  John R. Murdock Captain, A. Hatch, his assistant.  I had immediate oversight of the Payson boys (12) besides myself, one being a night herder.  Father, Sam and I had a private team going for goods driven by Jesse Knight.  We left Florence on the Missouri about July 4th on our return home, about 100 wagons and 300 or 400 emigrants.

....... I was liberated from driving team and set to herding women and children, keeping them ahead of the wagons to prevent straggling behind the train and getting lost.  I also had charged of the night guard.  These with a few other duties occupied my time for about 17 or 18 hours per day.  Was also camp physician, my medicine chest (my coat pocket) was supplied with caster oil, Jamaica ginger and Bradsworth's pills.  One or all had to be given in all cases.  With such a stock of medicine there was little occasion for much sickness in camp.

....... The Indians began to act a little ugly in the summer of '65 and in '66 they became very hostile and we had to keep men constantly n the field doing guard duty keeping the Indians back from the settlements.  On May 8, 1966, I was elected Colonel of the 1 Regiment, 2nd Brigade, Nauvoo Legion, and it was my duty to look to the safety of Payson, Goshen, Santaquin, Pondtown (Salem) and Benjamin.  this duty required my entire time for about 7 months of the years '66 and '67.

....... There was a little breathing spell during the winters when the Indians could not cross the mountains for snow.  A treaty of peace was concluded in the fall of '67, and some of our Payson folks made a move for extending our borders by taking out a canal from the Spanish Fork River. The work moved very slow as there were many that lacked faith, thought it too great an undertaking in our impoverished condition, but we kept moving slowly but surely, and finally made a grand success of it.  I am the proudest of it of any job I was ever connected with.

....... In May, 1870, myself, George Curtis and George Pickering were voted in as a committee to superintend the erection of a meeting house in Payson.  It was an up-hill pull, as about one-third of the people wanted to raise the funds by taxation, one-third by donation, and one-third did not want any meeting house at all.

....... We started in on taxation, got it ready for dedication on July 20, 1872.  We almost had to create the funds as we went along, and consequently we were to some extent lionized by all the factions and a feeling of unity brought about that had not previously existed.

....... During the fall of '72 the Co-op Board decided to build a branch or Relief Society Store, in order to make everyone happy.  Got out plans, advertised for bids, but the lowest bidder was a cheap John, and they rejected all bids and gave me the entire supervision of the securing the material and the construction of the building.  After allowing me liberal wages the cost came below the lowest bid, which gave general satisfaction.

....... After completing this job early in '73, I turned my attention to improving my lands and and getting material together for building me a good house.  On the 14th of April, 1873, I married Elsie Jane Richardson.  About the year '74, I was induced to go in with a few others and make a farm, a dairy farm in Grass Valley, Piute County.

....... We fenced in a quarter section of land, two or three quarters of meadow and pasture land with post and pole fence.  Built houses and out-buildings, put up quite a lot of hay, made quite an amount of excellent cheese.  While this improvement was going on, I was doing my part in going back and forth carrying supplies and debating the question whether to build in Payson or Grass Valley.

....... The matter was decided early in the spring of '77 by my being called with some others to go to Arizona.  This made business enough for the spring and summer for all parties concerned.

....... (William was laboring around Pleasanton, New Mexico, about February 10, 1886 when the word was "Get on the other side of the Line."  The people were unsettled, whether to go back to Utah or get ground in Mexico and start farming.)

....... About May of 12, 1886, got all my family to Juarez.  Found myself a financial wreck, after having passed through the hands of Lot Smith and old Parson Williams.  We had a great deal of sickness in the fall and winter previous to getting here, and I was not able to do more than a half day's work in a day, when we started work on a canal for the old town, but I gradually grew stronger and was able to take a hand at plowing, planting, put in corn, can, garden, and later turnips.  Grew some of the finest I ever saw.  Moved part of my family on the ground where the grist mill now stands. Built a little rock house, the first in Juarez.

....... I have been identified with the people of Juarez since the year 1886, and for some years took part in the labors and doings of the people -- making ditches, roads, houses, but my work on these lines is about done, and my sojourn here on this earth is drawing to a close.  I will leave a large posterity, and my wish is that none of them will ever do worse than I have done, but as much better as is possible.  It would be a great satisfaction if I could know they would all grow up to be honest, virtuous, upright and useful members of society.  As these ideas have been my hobby through life, rode too hard possible at times for my own good, but yet I think with the Poet that a wit's a feather, a chief's   a rod, but an honest man is the noblest work of God."

Colonia Juarez

Chihuahua, Mexico

January 12, 1907

*******

......... The following was included on the same paper as the above.

....... The following is an incident in Grandfather McClellan's life as recorded by his grandson, Edward Carroll Bagley:

....... "He crossed the plains several times and killed buffaloes for the companies.  Here is one incident.  the company planned to travel about 25 miles one day and William was sent out from the road to hunt buffalo and was to meet the company in camp that night.  He killed two buffaloes, and to keep the wolves from eating them, he put this hat on one of the animals and his shirt on the other.

....... "Something detained the camp that day there he was at night, far from camp and very tired.  In dressing the buffaloes his arms had become covered with blood, and as darkness came on the wolves gathered around, ready to pounce on him.  He had only one bullet left and he knew if he stopped on his way to camp, the wolves would be on him.  He thought he would meet the emigrant train, but soon became so tired he lay down.

....... "The wolves gathered around him, but he was so worn out he probably would have lain there for the wolves to pounce upon him.  He testified that just as he was ready to give up he saw a light.  Thinking it to be the camp, he struggled on, the light disappeared, and once again he lay down.  As the wolves gathered in on him, he once again saw the light and so sure was he that it was the camp, he struggled on.  The light again disappeared, but he kept staggering on until he finally reached camp.  It had remained there all day.  As he threw himself down in the wagon, his bed partner touched his naked body, and thinking it was an Indian, jumped up yelling."

....... "His testimony that he saw the light and that it saved his life is one of the most impressive testimonies I have ever heard. "  Edward C. Bagley,  his grandson

....... Another note by Edward C. Bagley,  his grandson:

....... "He was one of the founders of Juarez.  This was his home the remainder of this life, where he died April 28, 1916 at the age of 88.  His life was one of pioneering, hard work, robust and strong -- but few men could surpass him in hard work or test of strength.  He was always loyal to the church and was noted for his church work and public projects.

....... "

Almeda Day, his first wife, lived tot he age of almost 102.  All her life she had know hard work and poverty.  Most of her life was spent in pioneering and building new homes.  They were the parents of 12 children.  She knew but little of the luxuries, even the conveniences of life, and yet lived to that great age. "

Edward C. Bagley

....... The following is a copy of a letter written by Grandfather William McClellan to his son George A. McClellan.:

Colonia Juarez, Mexico

May 3, 1911

My dear children,

....... I will try and pencil a few lines to send by the folks returning to your country.  We are all well and doing fairly well, the great drawback is a lack of news from the outside world.  I was in El Paso April 7th and we have had but one mail since and no telling when we get another, as the isurrecttos have Juarez bottled up and no telling when they will uncork, we hope soon.  We have seemingly been in some close corners the last month or two that have given us a chance to see the of the Lord made manifest in our behalf and should inspire one and all with a determination to stay with our mission and work and honestly for the betterment of conditions in this land, and in that way call down the blessings of heaven upon ourselves and also the nation.

.......

....... There is a dirty outfit in control of Casa Grandes at present, but we hope to get a different element when they can get around to it.  The Ponce outfit from Galeana found the town abandoned and installed themselves in office.  That is the kind of a government that is there now.  Colonia Juarez has a Mexican lawyer as Presidenta, voted in by the people and endorsed by Medaro, and we think he is an all right little fellow. (the shoemaker at Taylors.)

....... Now for individual troubles.  I don't think I have let a water turn go by since my return from Utah and only had one daylight turn in all of the time.  How is that for night-hawking?  Lot in good condition -- caterpillars by the bushel.  I fought them to a finish on my place, no damage.  My old trees seems to be trying to make amends for past failures and yield two, three crops in one season.  This makes it necessary to go to thinning, which I am doing -- taking off over half and leaving too many on, and if nothing happens to them, will have to go over them again.  I think fruit will come three weeks earlier than usual -- strawberries the 15th of April, Lucerne baled and on the market about the 12th of April.

....... I understand there is a new store opening today at the shoe shop corner.  E. L. and sons have run into a school of young sucker somewhere and have brought in four heavily-loaded new wagons, came in way of Columbus.

....... Cal is talking of going home soon.

....... McKeller has moved to Idaho so will not be here to dig my grave, poor man.  May be he will regret that.

....... I have got Memmots receipt for fifty dollars more to apply on the note.  The new canal on the east is running all right and gives fairly good satisfaction, stream good for so dry a time.  Have got notes from Earney.

....... May 4th.

....... Have been over to Academy this forenoon, not able to hear much, so will not attend.

....... The prospect for peace is fairly good, but i dread the next few months, as I fear anarchy and lawlessness will reign to quite an extent.  Some of the rebs are picking out farms on the Sandiago Ranch and some are selecting houses and lots in our town, as they say they have done the fighting, now they want the spoils.  If this government don't hold the reigns with a firm hand there is a good show the the U. S. Government will have to step in  and establish a stable government.  This would be regrettable.  There are so many that have been fighting against the lawlessness under which they have groaned,  that are not able to see the source I mention would plunge the nation into a worse condition than the one from which they are not trying to emerge.  The changes wished for should be brought about in a legal and lawful manner.

....... Well I have moralized enough for once. Have not had my big letter from Washington yet.  Living on hope with what little I eat, and getting fat.  Not as big as Horace Curtis yet, met him today. 

....... I think the Morelos folks start home today.

....... Write when you find a chance to send.

........................... From your Father,

........................... Signed:  Wm C. McClellan

**************

Memoirs of Uncle David McClellan

(1865-1953.  Great Grandma Bailey's younger brother.  I met him in Southern California while he was attending a wedding of a family member, I remember him for his handle-bar mustache and that he made miniatures of  things.)

Fourth  July ceebration in Payson

....... Father would take his men to the parade ground and have them march back and forth. The parade ground was about two miles from town.  Early on the morning of the 4th of July a group of us kids would get up early to watch the men fire the anvil as a salute, as they hoisted the flag to the top.  An anvil was placed in its nation position.  An iron ring, perhaps two and 1/2 inches in diameter is placed on top of that, the heavier the top one, the louder the report.  The ring was 1/2 inch thick, with a notch in the under side to let the power spill out so it can be ignited with fire at the of a flashing pole. From the flag pole, we boys would follow the drum and fife band which serenaded the town.

....... Our home in Payson was adobe -- with two lumber bedroom our front room had no ceiling - there must have been collar beams reaching from wall to wall, across the room that we could hang our squash on to dry.  The squash was cut in rings or at least half circles so it would hand on strips.  When the squash began to dry it would twist.  In the dim light it would make shadows on the underside of the roof.  When we boys would go to bed we could look at these shadows and see all kinds of animals, men, birds, etc.  That was our silent movies.  We had candles and coal oil lamps then. We never heard of Primary or M. I. A. either.  We had to make our own kind of amusements.  I think we enjoyed life as well as the children these days.

....... Christmas time was always a happy time for us.  The pig was killed, the fat fried out the lard was ready when the time came to make fried cakes. The women would make and roll out dough, cut it in strips, double and twist them a little, then drop them into boiling lard.  When done, they were called fried cakes.  Actually they were do-nuts without holes.

....... In April 1877, Father was called to move to Arizona, to help build up the country.  Father and George had had been running a sawmill, so he was sent there.

....... Good-byes were said to relatives and long-time friends and they moved out.  Father was delayed, some of the people said they would drive his wagon to the camp ground and he could catch up with them there.  When he got within four miles of the Spring they were camped there.  It was a disappointment to William.  It wasn't very long before they saw long train of wagons coming down the ridge and heading for the camp.  They halted a little ways back and the brass band commenced to playing.  William then knew why they were camped there.  A lunch basket was brought by members of the group and they ate and sang and danced.  The dancing was kept up until midnight in the sand near shoe deep.  The people of Payson didn't want to see them go.

....... We went from Greenwich to Panguitch, over the Buckskin mountain by way of Jacob's Lake and House Rock.  At Lee's Ferry what a sight that big river was to me.  It was rather thrilling to cross the Colorado.  the road was rough and rocky much of the way.  Father would leave mother to drive the horses while he walked off to one side of the road where he thought mostly to find water.  In this way he found some tanks of water which has ever since been called McClellan Tanks.  There was plenty of good water there at that time.

....... After two months from the time we left Payson, we came to Grand Falls.  Father could have his choice as to which camp he would join.  He finally decided to join Smith's camp,.  We turned in our cattle and wagon, 1500 pounds of flour, some yarn and other things that we did not want to take to the mill.  This was Mother's forty-sixth birthday anniversary.

.

....... Having joined Lot Smith's camp, we had been living the United Order where we had all things in common.  People were assigned certain work to do.  About 11:30 AM the cook would put up a flag to let the men in the fields know it was time to come to dinner, giving them time to care for their teams.  When dinner was ready . cook would sound the triangle.  As the saints would gather for breakfast and supper, before partaking of their meals they would kneel upon the floor and one was called upon to offer the prayer.  The blessing was asked upon the food at all meals.

....... When the melons were ripe, the boys and girls would carry them to the shop where Father worked.  Here father would weigh them and cut them according to the number in each family.

....... We moved to Sunset so the children could go to school.  We got out of the United Order, moved to Brigham, then to Forest Dale and then to Pleasanton on January 2, 1883.

....... One night two Mormon families camped near our house.  They were old friends from Sunset.  That night Mother made a milk pan full of molasses cake for the people.  She left the pan on the table in the kitchen.  when she went to the kitchen in the morning the cakes were gone.  She asked me if I knew anything about them.  She thought maybe those men had taken them.  Then we thought of the rats.  I looked up two or three boards, and there were cakes almost within arm's length, in a pile about as snug as they had been in the pan.

....... Father and Mother (William and Almeda) had just got settled in their home that the boys had built for them in Colonia Juarez when the Mexican revolution broke out in 1912.  It was said that the elderly Mexican couple that took possession of their home thought so much of Father and Mother that on one of their Saint days they carried an enlarged picture of them that was left hanging on the wall, as they marched in their parade through the streets.  Almost everything was destroyed there.  The people lived in refugee camps until they could go some other place to work.  A lot of people came up north to their families.  Father lived in El Paso.  In March, 1916 he wanted Ed and me to take him back home.  He said he felt his timed was about up and he wanted to get back home in Colonia Juarez.  He went home near the 13th of April, took sick that morning and died on the 28th.  He was buried there.

....... No greater blessing ever came to my parents and family then being driven into Mexico where the church established colonies where children could start a spiritual foundation, being taught Mormonism, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There were no saloons there, no gambling houses.  A tobacco user among the Colonists were almost unknown.  Not wanting to boast, but we gave to the non-Mormons a sample of our teachings and training.  With my father's two wives and his eleven boys, out of the eleven I have never yet to this day heard of but one that ever used tobacco and he soon left it off for good.  Today -- 1950 the youngest living child is 69.  Eight are still living, I being the oldest -- 85.  That is what comes of the teaching of Mormonism, if the teachings are strictly lived by.

------------Uncle David McClellan.

THE EXODUS

by

Uncle Charles E. McClellan

(1875-1967.  This was Greeat Grandma Bailey's youngest brother.  When I met him at Grandma Bailey's funeral, he was still a Professor of Spanish at the University of Utah)

....... The extremely difficult task of being neutral at all times between the Federal and the Revolutionary forces as the two in turn swarmed around and over the Colonies now one and now the other claiming to be the "law," which the Mormons must obey, trying to be patient under provocations arising from theft, plumber, person abuse sometimes culminating in rapine and murder, with the Colony leaders trying to maintain friendly relations with whatever force was in power at the moment, yet refusing to yield to extreme demands when these threatened lives or apparent safety of the people under their care -- all these things occurring repeatedly in a thousand exasperating form.

....... The Colonies in order to insure the safety of lives especially of women and children decided to evaluate.  This they did with sad hearts and many misgivings.

....... Words cannot fully describe all that it meant to these people to abandon their homes and all the cherished accumulations brought so dearly with toil and sacrifice through a quarter of a century. 

....... This shows how sudden the calamity struck:  My brother called at our mother's home and without time for explanation except the briefest said:  "Mother you and father have just -thirty minutes in which to put into one small truck the most valuable things you own that you can put there;  and make up one small roll of bedding.  The wagon will call for you in thirty minutes to take you to the station."  If that was a trail for elderly couples more than 80 years old and used to all their lives to hardships, what must it have been to parents with large families of children, some of them small with many more cherished possession to leave when they received similar orders?

....... What made this much more difficult was that some of the women and children were going to be shipped to El Paso, Texas in box cars while the men were to remain behind to either care for and defend their homes or flee to the border later if this should be decided upon.  As many as ninety-nine persons, women, children and the helpless aged were crowded into a single box car and with little or nothing to eat or drink were hauled slowly with many tiresome stops for long hours during which some of them almost perished with suffocation in their crowded condition and under a burning July sun.

....... When these thousands of weary trouble exiles reached El Paso the best accommodation that could be had on such short notice was a large open lumber shed not then in use.  Here crowed into a few square feet on the bare and dusty ground without either conveniences or necessities each family managed as best it could.  Through the cooperation of the Church arrangements were made with the city of El Paso to furnish food for the destitute Colonists.

....... Some few people found friends in the City of El Paso and helped them for the necessary few days before the head of the family should arrive.  A very few had a little money and rented rooms for a short time while fewer still were sent for by relatives or friends in Utah, Arizona or Idaho who had heard of the situation.

....... But the great majority toughed it out under the shed waiting with deep anxiety for their husbands and sons, or even some word from them, which was slow in coming.  This anxiety on the part of wives and mothers, and the cases of ill or fretful crying children whose wants could not be properly cared for, made the most pathetic situation the writer has ever known.

....... When the people return to Mexico, everything was a mess.  The one that had driven out the Saints had destroyed about everything.  They had used their homes for stables.  Strong, self-reliant individuals, now for a few days looked beaten and helpless.  But not for long.    Soon both men and women began to lift their chins and to speak with resolution and hope.  Their pioneer spirit was revived and they set their faces toward the future with courage and cheer.

....... The Mexican civil struggles did much to alter the conditions in the Mexican Republic also resulted in the complete evacuation of the Colonists from their peace-loving little cities and their beautiful home.

............................................... First hand knowledge by

Charles E. McClellan

          The Edmunds-Tucker Law had put all the violators of the law in danger of prison sentences.  The president of the Church had promised a place of refuge for them.  The United States Marshals were after them.  Though negotiation by Elder Thatcher a place i Mexico was found for them.  First to reach the international boundary was William C. McClellan, Mormon Battalion.