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DRAPER William[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Male 1807 - 1886  (79 years)


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  • Name DRAPER William 
    Born 24 Apr 1807  Richmond Township, Lennox Addingt, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 28 May 1886  Freedom, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 30 May 1886  Freedom, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I613  Main Tree
    Last Modified 12 May 2021 

    Father DRAPER William,   b. 6 Sep 1774, Wyoming, Luzerne, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Dec 1854, Draper, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years) 
    Mother LATHROP Lydia,   b. 5 Nov 1775, Norwich, New London, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Feb 1846, Sugar Creek Camp, Lee, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years) 
    Married 24 Dec 1794  Rome, Oneida, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 2 _PRIM Y 2 _PRIM Y
    Family ID F260  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 MANHARDT Mary Ann,   b. 15 Aug 1827, Johnstown, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Jul 1909, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years) 
    Married 27 Apr 1848  Winter Quarters, Douglas, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 2 _PRIM Y 2 _PRIM Y
    Children 
     1. DRAPER Mary Ann,   b. 21 Feb 1849, Kanesville, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aug 1921  (Age 72 years)
     2. DRAPER Caroline,   b. 2 Oct 1850, Millcreek, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Apr 1926  (Age 75 years)
     3. DRAPER David P.,   b. 6 May 1852, Draper, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1854  (Age 1 years)
     4. DRAPER Eliza Jane,   b. 13 Jan 1854, Draper, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 20 Nov 1946, Price, Carbon, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 92 years)
     5. DRAPER Brigham Manhardt,   b. 11 Oct 1855, Draper, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Jan 1926, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
     6. DRAPER Artemesia,   b. 20 Aug 1857, Draper, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Sep 1940, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years)
     7. DRAPER Franklin,   b. 19 Apr 1859, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1859
     8. DRAPER Malona,   b. 13 Dec 1860, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Dec 1941, Cedarville, Modoc, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)
     9. DRAPER Alzina,   b. 3 Feb 1862, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aug 1862  (Age 0 years)
     10. DRAPER Oren,   b. 26 May 1864, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Jul 1943, Caldwell, Canyon, Idaho, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 79 years)
     11. DRAPER Mary Taylor,   b. 10 Feb 1865, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1868  (Age 2 years)
     12. DRAPER Sarah Mellessia,   b. 21 Oct 1866, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Jun 1867  (Age 0 years)
     13. DRAPER Aury,   b. 7 Oct 1869, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Jul 1961, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 91 years)
     14. DRAPER Ordenesey,   b. 9 Aug 1871, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Sep 1871  (Age 0 years)
    Last Modified 17 Apr 2023 
    Family ID F40  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 STAKER Elizabeth,   b. 25 Feb 1806, Kingston, Frantense, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Apr 1888, Freedom, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years) 
    Married 11 Jun 1827  Saint George Angli, Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 2 _PRIM Y
      2 _PRIM Y 2 _PRIM Y
      2 _PRIM Y
    Children 
     1. DRAPER Henry Hagerty,   b. 16 Feb 1826, Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Jun 1904, Goshen, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
     2. DRAPER Juliana or Julie Ann,   b. 1 Jul 1828, Kingston, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Mar 1884, Huntington, Baker, Oregon, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 55 years)
     3. DRAPER Roxana,   b. 30 Sep 1830, Kingston, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Canada Find all individuals with events at this location
     4. DRAPER Moses,   b. 9 Jul 1832, Loughborough, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Dec 1915, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 83 years)
     5. DRAPER Harriet,   b. 1 Dec 1834, Kirtland, Lake, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Mar 1851, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 16 years)
     6. DRAPER Miles,   b. 2 Feb 1837, Kirtland, Lake, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1838  (Age 0 years)
     7. DRAPER William Lathrop,   b. 5 Mar 1838, Kirtland, Lake, Ohio, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 May 1887, Freedom, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 49 years)
     8. DRAPER Albert Edward,   b. 13 Dec 1840, Pleasantville, Pike, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jun 1913, Pocatello, Bannock, Idaho, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years)
     9. DRAPER Parley Pine,   b. 30 Mar 1843, Pleasantvale, Pike, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Feb 1924, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years)
     10. DRAPER Isaac Grant,   b. 6 Oct 1845, Pleasantvale, Pike, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Mar 1922, American Fork, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
     11. DRAPER Elizabeth Amanda Melvina,   b. 3 Jul 1848, Kanesville, Potawattame, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Sep 1906, Lewiston, Cache, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 58 years)
    Last Modified 17 Apr 2023 
    Family ID F74  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 3 NEWTON Fanny,   b. 1 Mar 1834, Hunslet, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Mar 1907, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Married 18 Dec 1853  Salt Lake City Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 2 _PRIM Y 2 _PRIM Y
    Children 
     1. DRAPER Emmaline,   b. 8 Jun 1855, Draper, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Oct 1926, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years)
     2. DRAPER Riley Newton,   b. 7 May 1857, Draper, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Mar 1927, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 69 years)
     3. DRAPER Martha Jane,   b. 6 Feb 1859, Draperville, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 3 Jan 1933, Preston, White Pine, Nevada, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
     4. DRAPER Lois,   b. 8 May 1862, Spanish Fork, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Oct 1934, Boise, Ada, Idaho, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years)
     5. DRAPER Althera Merintha,   b. 29 Jul 1864, Spanish Fork, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Jul 1934, Burbank, Los Angeles, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
     6. DRAPER Marvin Carson,   b. 5 Feb 1868, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Aug 1934, Ruth, White Pine, Nevada, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years)
     7. DRAPER Fannie Louisa,   b. 14 Jul 1870, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 May 1951, Boise, Ada, Idaho, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 80 years)
    Last Modified 17 Apr 2023 
    Family ID F300  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 4 RAYMER Martha,   b. 8 Jul 1808, Pittstown, Renssaeler, New York, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Oct 1848, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 40 years) 
    Married 28 Jan 1846  Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Divorced Yes, date unknown 
    Notes 
    • 2 _PRIM Y
    Children 
     1. DRAPER Almon,   b. 28 Oct 1846, Kanesville, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Dec 1919, Hinkley, Millard, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
    Last Modified 17 Apr 2023 
    Family ID F305  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 5 NEWTON Ruth Hannah,   b. 1 Apr 1837, Hunslet, Leeds, Yorkshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 Apr 1896, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 59 years) 
    Married 17 Apr 1854  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 2 _PRIM Y 2 _PRIM Y
    Children 
     1. DRAPER Almira,   b. 22 Sep 1855, Draperville, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Jun 1875  (Age 19 years)
     2. DRAPER Kimball Newton,   b. 21 Jul 1857, Draper, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 May 1923, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 65 years)
     3. DRAPER Barnibus,   b. 4 Sep 1859, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Sep 1859, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     4. DRAPER Joseph Oscar,   b. 17 Mar 1861, Willow Creek, Salt Lake, Utah Territories, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 May 1926, Sacramento, Sacramento, Caifornia, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 65 years)
     5. DRAPER Amos,   b. 4 Mar 1863, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Mar 1944, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)
     6. DRAPER Tranquilla,   b. 18 May 1863, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Dec 1947, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 84 years)
     7. DRAPER Ruth Hannah,   b. 22 Nov 1867, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 May 1950, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 82 years)
     8. DRAPER Launy Olive,   b. 29 Nov 1869, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Apr 1967, Nephi, Juab, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 97 years)
     9. DRAPER Eleanor M.,   b. 22 Sep 1873, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 14 Jan 1952  (Age > 79 years)
     10. DRAPER Chester,   b. 22 Sep 1873, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Apr 1888  (Age 14 years)
     11. DRAPER Miriam Elliner,   b. 22 Sep 1875, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 May 1965, Provo, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 89 years)
    Last Modified 17 Apr 2023 
    Family ID F563  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 6 THOMPSON Marial,   b. 7 May 1808, Peacham, Caledonia, Vermont, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 May 1893, St John, Tooele, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 85 years) 
    Married 6 May 1848  Wiinter Quarters, Douglas, Nebraska, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 2 _PRIM Y 2 _PRIM Y
      2 _PRIM Y
      2 _PRIM Y
    Children 
     1. DRAPER Nephi,   b. 23 Mar 1849, Little Pigeon Creek, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Feb 1921, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years)
    Last Modified 17 Apr 2023 
    Family ID F564  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 7 HOWARTH Mary,   b. 14 Feb 1831, Mottram, Lancashire, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 9 Mar 1902, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 71 years) 
    Married 18 Dec 1853  Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • 2 _PRIM Y
      2 _PRIM Y 2 _PRIM Y
    Children 
     1. DRAPER George Howarth,   b. 4 Jun 1855, Draper, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Apr 1933, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years)
     2. DRAPER Launa Adelaide,   b. 8 Apr 1857, Draperville, Salt Lake, Utah Terrtory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 Jun 1912, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 55 years)
     3. DRAPER James,   b. 19 Mar 1859, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah Terrtory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jan 1927, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 67 years)
     4. DRAPER Irene,   b. 8 Mar 1861, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Oct 1951, Nephi, Juab, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 90 years)
     5. DRAPER John,   b. 9 Jul 1863, Spanish Fork, Utah, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 27 Apr 1865, Sanpete, Utah, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 1 years)
     6. DRAPER Orvilla,   b. 10 Apr 1865, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Dec 1943, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
     7. DRAPER Mary Ellen,   b. 25 Dec 1866, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 May 1915, Mount Pleasant, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years)
     8. DRAPER Alfred,   b. 6 Feb 1869, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 4 May 1959, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 90 years)
     9. DRAPER Charles Thomas,   b. 3 Sep 1871, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Oct 1872, Moroni, Sanpete, Utah Territory, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 1 years)
    Last Modified 17 Apr 2023 
    Family ID F565  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Headstones
    Draper, Melvin Hardy
    Draper, Melvin Hardy
    Son of William Lathrop (Doc) and Hannah Franscisco Eckersley Draper

  • Notes 
    • 1 _FSFTID LTZ3-GR2


      1 _FSFTID LTZ3-GR2


      1 _FSFTID LTZ3-GR2


      1 NAME William /Draper/
      2 GIVN William
      2 SURN Draper
      1 _FSFTID KWNK-QZY


      William Draper, 1807-1886
      Autobiography (1807-1881)
      Typescript, BYU-S

      Draper, William, 1807-1886 Autobiography (1807-1881)
      Source: Autobiography of William Draper, typescript, BYU-S.


      AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM DRAPER

      A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND TRAVELS AND BIRTH AND
      PARENTAGE OF WILLIAM DRAPER WHO WAS THE SON OF WILLIAM DRAPER AND
      LYDIA LUTHDROP DRAPER.

      My grandfather's name was Thomas Draper and my
      grandmother's maiden name was Lydia Rogers; my father and
      grandfather was born in Pennsylvania state and I was born in the
      Provice of upper Canada, Township of Richmond, County of
      Frontanact, Midland District, April the 24th 1807, and in June
      1832 for the first time heard the gospel preached by Elder
      Miller and others in company with him, and in January 1832 I
      heard Brigham Young preach the same gospel and I believed it.

      And was all in the Township of Longbarough upper Canada,
      and I was baptized March the 20th 1833 and in June the same year
      was ordained a priest under the hands of Brigham Young, and I
      bear testimony and traveled and preached as circumstances
      permitted until September the 11, 1834, I then in company with
      Daniel Wood and family; with my family that consisted of wife
      and two children. I there and then bid adieu to Canada, to my
      birth place, and to my father and mother, brothers and sisters,
      for the sake of the gospel and together with the Saints to
      Kirtland, Ohio, which we reached the 24th of the same month and
      I was satisfied and rejoiced at meeting some of my old friends,
      brethren from Canada, and more satisfied to see the face and
      hear the voice of the Prophet Joseph and from him and his
      brethren received much valuable instruction.

      I then went to work and found a location, built me a house
      and by hard labor provided a comfortable living for my family
      which consisted of a wife and three children, but I was quite
      poor as to this world's goods, but I labored faithfully and
      prospered exceedingly.

      And next spring 1835 at the April conference by a unanimous
      vote of the conference, the walls of the basement of the temple
      which had been covered the fall previous were uncovered, and the
      work of building the [Kirtland] temple resumed with a covenant
      to finish the walls that season. I threw in my might of labor
      with the rest of my brethren which was but few to do so great a
      work, but it was done. I also went to Canada that summer on a
      short mission and was abundantly blessed, and returned again in
      September to my family and to the society of the church in
      Kirtland.

      And the following winter had the privilege of attending the
      theological school which was superintended by the Prophet Joseph
      and his councilors from which I received much good instructions
      preparatory to the endowment when the [Kirtland] temple was
      finished, during which time I was put into the presidency of the
      priests quorum which the bishops presided over. During the
      meetings and endowment which gave me another opportunity of
      farming more new valuable acquaintances to-wit; Bishop Edward
      Partridge of Zion or Missouri, and the Bishop N. K. Whitney of
      Kirtland with their respective councilors, under whose hands I
      received the ordinances and blessings which were many and great,
      they being the only bishops in the church at that time. The
      Twelve Apostles and the First Quorum of Seventies were chosen
      about that time.

      And there in the [Kirtland] temple on the Day of Pentecost
      of the 6th day of April 1836 there was such a time of the
      outpouring of the spirit of the Lord that my pen is inadequate
      to write it in full or my tongue to express it. But I will here
      say that the spirit was poured out and came like a mighty
      rushing wind and filled the house, that many that were present
      spoke in tongues and had visions and saw angels and prophesied,
      and had a general time of rejoicing such as had not been known
      in this generation.

      Then all things remained quiet until about the first of
      June. The Quorum of the Twelve was sent to the eastern states
      and Canada to hold conferences and regulate affairs in the
      church abroad in that direction and I was counseled by the
      Prophet to go on a mission which I did and traveled in company
      with them to Laborough in Canada, where I had formerly lived and
      joined the church. We there and in the vicinity around, held
      several meetings and conferences and set the branches in order
      and baptized quite a number and had a time of rejoicing together
      to think and to see that the Lord was blessing our labor with
      success. But in this place we separated and the Twelve
      continued their mission further east down the river St. Lawrence
      and crossed into the states and by that route home. But I took
      up on the north side of Lake Ontario by way of Toronto and there
      crossed Lake Ontario to Lewiston and by that route home, found
      all well and rejoicing in the blessing of the gospel.

      Things went on comfortable and pleasantly during the
      ensuing fall and winter, and by the assistance and council of
      the Prophet I prospered exceedingly well so that I got me a nice
      little farm of twenty acres on which I built a good comfortable
      house and made other suitable improvements suitable for the
      comforts of life. All went well until some time in the summer
      of 1837 when travelers begin to creep in which changed the state
      of affairs financially throughout Kirtland, which damaged me to
      the amount of over one thousand dollars, which took my team and
      other good property but during the ensuing winter we had a good
      time in the temple and I was called upon to be ordained a high
      priest and was ordained under the hands of Don Carlos Smith and
      counsel who was president of the high priests quorum and brother
      to the Prophet Joseph.

      And I was set apart to go to Illinois the coming spring
      [1838] to take charge and preside in a branch of the church that
      had been previously raised up. I then went to work with mane
      and might to make up an outfit and I succeeded in procuring a
      team and wagon as I intended to take my family with me, for many
      of the Saints were making preparation to leave Kirtland in the
      spring and I never expected to return there any more. I expected
      the avails of my little farm and home to supply me with means to
      get me another home if I should ever be so happy as to reach Far
      West where we were all aiming to go and make a permanent home as
      we thought then. But let me here say that I was sadly mistaken
      and seriously disappointed, for instead of having means to buy
      me another home in Far West, lo and behold a Christian gentile
      had me in his clutches and swindled me out of my little home so
      I never got one dime for the whole. But he made me a very
      believable affair that was if I would stay and live on the farm
      I should have it all my life to support my family on and if not
      he would keep it, for he said he might as well have it as for
      old Joseph Smith to have it and so he kept it although he had
      every dollar of his pay for it. This was the fruit of Mr.
      Branche's religion although a stray Presbyterian, but as I do
      not intend this to expose other peoples faults I will let the
      above suffice, and resume my own travels and say that the above
      affair afforded another opportunity for me to leave father and
      mother, brothers and sisters, house and land for the gospel
      sake.

      And I hastened to start on my mission to Morgan County,
      Illinois, which I accomplished and started April the 16th 1838
      only having my family that consisted of a wife and five
      children; that was all the company that I had to travel with for
      the first hundred and twenty miles. I there lay weather bound
      for a week on account of storm which made the roads too bad that
      I could not travel and while laying by a number of brethren came
      up, some from Canada and some from Kirtland, Ohio. Among that
      company was George A. Smith and his father and mother and
      brother John. I fell in with them and we traveled on through
      mud and more for two or three weeks and finally reached the
      place of destination for me, some time in May, namely Morgan
      County, Illinois.

      There I stayed finding the place of my appointment filled
      by previous action of the branch; I was satisfied and concluded
      to make my way on to Far West so I took leave of the brethren
      and traveled on in that direction until some time in the far
      part of June when I was brought down with a severe attack of
      sickness so that I was obliged to camp by the wayside. There
      stood a big oak tree and under it a nice plat [plot?] of grass.
      There I took up my abode for a little season, this was at
      Huntsville, Randolph County, state of Missouri, about one
      hundred and twenty five miles from Far West.

      After laying there several days I was taken up by a good
      samaritan and lodged in the house of a brother by the name of
      Edward Weaver where my wants were simply provided for and I soon
      began to revive and get better. After laying there a few days,
      there came along another company from Kirtland bound for Far
      West, and in that company was the Prophet's father and mother
      and two brothers, namely Hyrum and William Smith and their
      families. The old gentleman, the only [?] living patriarch then
      known in the Church was invited and entreated upon to stop and
      hold a blessing [meeting?] which he did, and it was a glorious
      meeting too, for the spirit of the Lord was poured out upon the
      incapious Efrisian [?] and I there had an open vision or
      presentment of much of the surprising of the Saints and
      especially that of the Smith family. And I proclaimed it to the
      congregation and it affected the old patriarch so that he wept
      like a child and said the vision was true and from the Lord,
      which in a few weeks or months proved to be true, which will be
      seen by what followed in the coming fall.

      But father Smith and two sons tarried five days with us
      after the meeting and organized the place or branch into a
      temporary stake of Zion for a resting place for the Saints that
      was worn out in traveling from the east. In which organization
      I was set apart by them, the Smiths to take charge and preside
      over the same which I did to the best of my ability until some
      time in August when a message came to us to break up our
      organization and come to Caldwell County as there was strong
      indications of hostilities by the mob.

      We hastened to comply with the instructions received from
      the Prophet and in a few days was on our way for Far West but
      the mob was getting so hostile that after traveling a day or two
      we began to feel as though it was not safe to keep on the main
      traveled road through the settlements as the spirit of mobocracy
      was opposed to any more Saints gathering to Far West. So we
      concluded to leave the main road and took a by road that led
      through a thin settled country for about 15 or 20 miles where
      the settlement and road ended and we took across an uninhabited
      country without any road about 40 miles which brought us out at
      the Rinowaned Hauns Mill; [?] and from there through Caldwell
      County to within about 4 or 5 miles of Far West, where we
      concluded to stop and make our home in that place.

      There was a large branch of the Church here known as the
      Lay Creek Branch. So I bought me a snug little home consisting
      of a log house and blacksmith shop and seven acres of good land
      under cultivation with a good rail fence around it, but that
      took all of my means to pay for it, but one yoke of oxen, one
      house and two cows, but corn and pork was plenty, corn being the
      main bread stuff then, so I set to work at shoemaking and made
      my family comfortable again.

      And in a short time I was called upon to take the
      presidency of this branch being the only high priest in the
      branch. I accepted the appointment and all things went on
      comfortable notwithstanding excitement reigned in the country
      around and hostilities increased daily by the mobs on the out
      side; still many by the adjoining counties and finally by the
      middle of October hostilities ran so high that we received
      another message from the Prophet requesting us all in the out
      settlement to come in to Far West City. We readily complied with
      the counsel given and many of the brethren tore down their log
      houses and moved to the city; but I did not tear my house down,
      but went into the city with the rest of my brethren from that
      branch, and took shelter in an old log cabin with three other
      families which required some little patience, for one family by
      the name of Fowles did apostatize and went off with the mob and
      I have not heard from them since.

      I will here say that after we arrived in the city there was
      quite a stir among the people for reports were daily and almost
      hourly that the mob was gathering on every side, so it kept us
      on the look out all the time, day and night until on or about
      the 22nd day of October there came a report that the mob was
      ruining houses, destroying property and killing our brethren
      that had not gathered into Far West, but lived about in or 14
      miles out from Far West. On hearing the report there was a
      company of about seventy five men raised and dispatched to see
      what the trouble might be, they traveled on until they came to
      the place of trouble near Crooked River as it was called.

      There they came in contact, [Battle of Crooked River] with
      the mob which opened fire on our brethren and quite a skirmish
      issued which resulted in the death of David W. Patten one of the
      twelve apostles, also Simeon Carter and a young man by the name
      of [Patrick] O'Banion and some more of the brethren badly
      wounded.

      On their arrival to the city it threw a gloom over the
      whole place but the most of the brethren maintained their
      integrity but some faltered; yet there was faithful ones enough
      left to keep on the lookout and stand guard and do what was
      required of them, until about three or four days after or on the
      27th or 28th of October 1838. While on duty or watching for the
      mob, lo and behold we spied their glittering armor some two
      miles in the distance.

      They came on the direction of our city; which produced some
      little stir in the place, and in a few minutes there was about
      two hundred men both old and young, mustered to the public
      square in the city; the rest of the men living absent. We were
      immediately marched to the south boundary line of the city in
      the direction of the mob to defend our wives and children and
      property from destruction. When we arrived to our post the mob
      was coming down on to a low piece of ground on the boarders of
      Goose Creek where there was some scattering timber that took
      them out of our sight but some of them climbed up in to the
      trees and looked over into the city and swore that they saw an
      army of men that would number thousands. This we learned from
      our brethren that was prisoner then in their camp; the sight of
      this great army brought terror to their camp which caused them
      to halt for a little time.

      But we soon saw a flag raised by a few men coming towards
      us, a detachment or committee consisting of four men namely
      George M. Hinkle, Colonel Judge Philips, John Corrill and Reed
      Peck, Mayor [?]. They were chosen and soon sent with a white
      flag to meet the flag that was coming. They met in our sight
      but we could not hear what passed between the parties; but they
      all went to the enemies camp together and in a short time the
      committee returned to our ranks and said that it was a
      government army sent out by Governor Boggs to investigate the
      difficulty if possible, and they wanted Joseph and his
      councilors, and the Twelve to come immediately to their camp and
      hold council with them considering the matter.

      On hearing this Joseph said he could go as he did not wish
      to contend or resist the government, so he with all of the
      required brethren that was present started with the committee
      immediately for the army camp. They soon met the flag borne by
      a number officers and to the great surprise was delivered over
      by the committee to the officers as prisoners of war.

      They then turned and went to the enemies camp when they
      commenced yelling and howling as if some ugly demons had come
      from the lower regions; but we did not know what all this noise
      meant.

      Soon then our committee returned to us saying that Joseph
      and the brethren would stay all night in counsel with the
      officers and would be sent home at eight o'clock in the morning,
      and said there was some rough and ungovernable characters in the
      crowd and we had better stand to our arms and be prepared to
      defend ourselves and wives and children; it being near sunset,
      but we set to work with all our might and threw up a breast work
      of such material as we could get, house logs, plies, wagons,
      boards slabs, and wagon boxes and other materials such as we
      could gather through the night, and when morning came we had
      about a half or three quarters of a mile of beautiful breast
      work, considering our circumstances as we had neither eat or
      drank since the morning before as our wives or children dare not
      come to us.

      But after waiting some time in the morning our committee
      went again to the camp to learn the result of the council, after
      a short absence returned to us saying that a treaty had been
      affected in which we were to lay down our arms in evidence of
      our living as peaceful citizens, and sign over our property to
      the state to pay the expenses of the war. And Joseph had agreed
      to all of this and that the army would be up soon to carry the
      treaty into effect, and that we must act accordingly; that was a
      tough pill to swallow, however if Joseph says so, all right.

      [Surrender at Far West] Sure enough in a short time we saw the
      army approaching and they marched up to our ranks, and formed a
      hollow square in which we were all marched by our Commander
      Colonel Hinkle. We were then ordered to lay down our arms which
      we did, so that we was divested of every weapon for defense even
      our large pocket knives were taken. While this was going on
      another hollow square was formed and we were marched into that
      away from our arms in a helpless condition. And we stood there
      waiting for their orders, and every now and then a women would
      come in crying and saying that we would all be shot down in a
      few minutes, the soldiers at the same time was busy picking
      their flints and priming their guns and making ready for to fire
      when their noble general said I suppose you are tired you can
      sit down on the grass and rest a little, which was quite a favor
      and we sat down. And the side of the square where my lot was
      cast was made up with painted demons which proved to be the old
      Jackson County Militia. After sitting a little I became drowsy
      from fatigue and hunger and I lay myself down on the grass, with
      my feet towards the painted demons and soon fell into snooze,
      but on hearing some sudden move I raised up and thinking they
      might shoot me in the legs I changed my position and lay down
      again with my head towards them and soon fell into a pleasant
      sleep. But was soon awoke by the word of command; men arise to
      your feet, and we were soon marched away into the city by the
      side of the army and after getting some instructions from the
      general were allowed to go to our families within the city; but
      not to attempt to go out of the city at our peril, yet this was
      quite a privilege as many of us had not eaten anything for
      nearly two days.

      So after supper we retired to our beds, for we were glad to
      get a little rest and we had been advised to keep our house dark
      or we would be liable to get shot. We could often hear guns
      firing, dogs yelping, hogs squalling and demons howling and
      yelling, cursing and swearing. After spending the night this
      amused, we arose in the morning and could see hogs, dogs and
      sheep laying dead in the street and gate ways that led out of
      the city. They had been shot by the ruffians that seemed to
      think they was many running away on all fours, they also
      committed many other depredations, such as raping and stealing,
      and the worst of all did outrage and shamefully abuse to some of
      our most worthy and virtuous females. I will here relate a
      short conversation that took place between a little boy about
      twelve years old by the name of Buduas Dustin and a Methodist
      preacher; and captain of a company and chaplain for the army by
      the name of [Samuel] Bogard, which took place as follows:

      One evening when the little boy was present the army was
      called to order to attend evening services and a solemn prayer
      and thanks to their unknown God for the glorious works that he
      was permitting and assisting them to perform, and when the
      prayer was finished the boy stood as if in deep meditation and
      said, "Mr. Bogard can I ask you one question" Yes boy", was the
      answer, and the boy proceeded by saying, "Mr. Bogard, sir, which
      way do you think is right for a person to have their eyes closed
      or open when they pray?" Well my boy I suppose either would be
      acceptable if done in humility but it looks more humiliating to
      have our eyes closed against the transitory objects around us
      and from the world." "Well," said the boy, "I think if I was
      engaged in such a work as you are I should want my eyes open."
      "Why my boy," was the inquiry. "Because I should fear the devil
      would carry me off if they were shut."

      They then threatened his life for a young Mormon; but he
      said, "I am no Mormon," and he was not and so he escaped but
      subsequently joined the church.

      I will now return to the doings of some of the doings of
      the day after breakfast. We were all called to the public
      square in the city [Far West] and there required to sign a deed
      to our property, to pay the expenses of the war; yet Joseph did
      come nor we did not know but little what was going on, but I
      will here mention one thing that occurred the first night in
      camp. There were four of our brethren that was prisoners in the
      camp allowed to come to the city with a brother by the name of
      William Carey that lived in the house with me, an old
      acquaintance that I had baptized in Canada some three years
      previous. They brought home on a board with his skull broke in
      with his own gun, by they hands of a mobber by the name of
      William Dunnihoo [?]. Brother Carey died the next day an
      innocent harmless man and giving no offense but for his religion
      must and did by a master.

      I will now say that after we had got mostly through the
      business of signing the deeds, we were called to witness one of
      the most heart rending scenes. Joseph and his brethren were
      brought up from the camp and driven up [at Far West] to their
      own dear ones, where they were permitted to see their wives and
      children a few moments to bid them an everlasting farewell;
      being told that they would never see them again. They were then
      driven off, leaving wives and children overwhelmed in a flood of
      tears, when one of the wives was in a condition not to be left
      one day without the assistance of her husband, let alone having
      him dragged off by a ruthless mob never to return. But such was
      their condition; both husbands and wives in the hands and to the
      mercy of an unmerciful set of beings. But the Lord overruled
      all and delivered them out of their hands in his own due time.

      We then learned when Joseph and his brethren was in camp
      instead of being in an honorable council with the officers, for
      which they were competent and abundantly qualified; there were
      suffering abuse and undergoing a mock trial by court martial for
      crimes alleged which they were never guilty of. But the court
      decided guilty, and sentenced Joseph and his brethren in company
      to be shot the next morning at eight o'clock. General
      [Alexander] Doniphan with his command was appointed by the court
      to execute the sentence, but he swore that he would not do it
      for he said it would be nothing but cold blooded murder.
      Consequently early the next morning Doniphan commanded was
      placed under marching orders and marched away about three miles
      from the main army so that he might not witness the scene, or be
      implicated with the same, he Doniphan being a noted lawyer, it
      began to create some uneasiness with the rest of the officers of
      the court martial, and they concluded to change their former
      decision and make a new one that would give Joseph a fair chance
      for his life. So they decided on sending them to Liberty Jail
      among the old Jackson County mobbers and so they did and sent
      some of them to guard them safely through. Now after the
      prisoners were gone and the business of the day through we were
      called upon to listen to a piece of valuable counsel and advice
      from over noble General Clark and then be dismissed which was
      the best of all the doings, and that speech was nearly as
      follows:

      "Now men I will say that you have thus far complied the
      treaty as make with you leaders by giving up arms and deeding
      over your property to pay the expenses of this war which you
      have here the instigators of, and I think you must feel as
      though you have been dealt very leniently with, as our orders
      were to exterminate you all without discrimination but as you
      have thus far complied with the treaty made, you will now be let
      to go to carry out the rest of its stipulations which is to
      leave the state of Missouri by planting time in the spring or be
      exterminated or driven out at the point of the bayonet or rifle
      and one of the two things must and will be done, now on your
      dismissal.

      I will now give you a piece of good advice; when you are
      discharged go to and provide for the wants of your families and
      make speedy preparations to leave this state and hunt a place
      wherever you can and scatter about like other people and never
      gather together again in companies not even of ten under
      presidents, prophets of bishops and apostles, to govern you, if
      you do you will bring down the wrath of a just people upon you
      as you have heretofore done. Now men if you will heed this
      command and advice it will be well with you, and I will here
      invite the blessings of the great unknown God upon you to help
      you so to do; men you are now dismissed to carry out these
      measures."

      Now after prowling about the city for a day or two more and
      gathering what they could best manage of our most valuables,
      they concluded to leave which they did, taking with them a few
      apostates which we could very well spare, and now was the time
      for us to [go] back to our homes that we had been obliged to
      leave which the most of us did. I seen sat [soon set] about
      hunting my team which I had turned on the prairie when I came to
      the city, I went in the direction of the soldiers camping place
      and soon found the heads of my oxen laying in the road near the
      camp, and stopped me from hunting anymore, and I returned to the
      city and got the widow Carey's team to move us back home, on
      condition that I would take her with us and keep her and team
      until she could leave the state; the mob having just killed her
      husband a few days previous, I agreed to do so which I did.

      On arriving home I could find but one cow, I had left two
      but on looking a short time I found the head and hide of the
      other where she had been destroyed; that left me with one horse
      and one cow to make up my team with which to leave the state in
      the spring.

      I will here say that the most of the brethren from this
      branch came back to their old homes, and soon forgot or
      neglected to observe or keep the counsel that was given to our
      dismissal from the army for we did soon assemble ourselves
      together and rejoice to think we were worthy of suffering for
      gospel sake, but we did not have the Prophet or bishops to
      govern us but would have rejoiced to have had them. But suffice
      to say that I went to work at shoemaking and pork and corn was
      plenty and cheap and we had plenty to eat and through the course
      of the winter traded my horse and cow and some spare clothing
      for a good yoke of oxen. And through the generosity of a
      brethren by the name of [Eleazer] Brown I obtained money and
      bought me another yoke of oxen which made me a good outfit for
      team and on the 12th day of March 1839, I with my family in
      company with Mr. Brown and others bid farewell to our Missouri
      home and started to seek a new home in a more congenial clime.

      We traveled on without anything of note taking place until
      the latter part of March, we then landed all safe in a little
      town by the name of Atlas on the border of the great Mississippi
      bottom in the state of Illinois. There we met a brother-in-law
      of mine who beset me to stop with him a few days to which I
      consented, that separated me and Mr. Brown, we taking the road
      leading north up the river in the direction of what subsequently
      became Nauvoo. I stayed a few days in Atlas and in the time met
      with a chance to sell my team which I did and being indebted to
      Mr. Brown for the money that bought a part of it, I immediately
      set out to find him and pay what I owed him, which I did by
      traveling about 12 miles up the river to a little town called
      Pleasantvale. I there met Mr. Brown and family, we were glad to
      meet again, not knowing when we parted that we should ever meet
      again in this world. But I paid him what I owed and he insisted
      on my coming and settle in this place as the people were
      friendly and every thing plenty to live on, so I looked around
      and soon found an old log cabin and three acres of ground which
      I rented for the season. I soon moved my family onto it and
      went to work and put the ground to corn and garden truck which
      done well and I had plenty the coming year.

      I will here say that about this time Joseph and Hyrum make
      their escape from Missouri and came to Quincy, Illinois about 30
      miles up the river from where I had stopped. They soon called a
      meeting and gave some general instructions to the Saints that
      was at the meeting and to be sent abroad to all the Saints
      scattered about through all the country, and then went
      immediately looking for a location to gather the Saints so that
      they might again be in one place as a body.

      They soon succeeded in obtaining a place by purchasing a
      little place called Commerce that had been mostly vacated on
      account of its being so very sickly; but the Saints commenced
      gathering into Commerce like doves coming to their windows.
      This was about 50 miles up the Mississippi River from Quincy.

      I will now return to my own doings for a while. I went to
      work on my little rented place making garden and also to
      shoemaking and enjoyed my new home very well until some time in
      the month of June I was visited by one of the original high
      council. After he found there was several of the Saints in that
      part of the country he called them together and organized us
      into a branch of the church, and I was set apart and chosen to
      take charge of the same, and to hold meetings among ourselves,
      and if invited by good responsible citizens to preach, go and do
      so; which I did, and the Lord blessed my labors and many
      believed and were baptized and the word prospered until October.

      Then there was to be a conference held in Commerce October
      6, 1839. I went and another such sight my eyes never beheld;
      that portion of the assembly that had lived in Commerce during
      the summer looked more like ghosts that had neither flesh nor
      blood or but very little, yet they seemed to be satisfied and
      glad to think they were able to attend conference. They
      organized the place into a stake of Zion and changed the name of
      the place from Commerce to that of Nauvoo, a resting place and
      in the organization I was chosen as one of the high counsels,
      but was subsequently released by telling Joseph what I was doing
      and what the prospect was in Pike County where I had been
      laboring during the summer about 80 miles from Nauvoo. He told
      me to return and continue preaching and when the branch reached
      the number of hundred he would then come and organize the branch
      of stake of Zion. I went home to my field of labor, doors were
      open on every hand, I preached and baptized and in about two
      weeks the branch numbered 112. I let Joseph know according to
      his instructions and he being over taxed with business sent his
      brother Hyrum who was his first councilor and Bishop George
      Miller. They came and organized the branch into a stake of Zion
      for a resting place for the Saints that were gathering from the
      east and from the south in the organization.

      I was ordained and set apart to preside, and William Allred
      Bishop; we were then instructed to obtain a piece of land and
      lay it off into town lots and build a meeting house and provide
      for the comfort and convenience of the Saints as they gathered
      in, which we succeeded in doing. We built a frame meeting
      house, if I remember right 36 by 40 feet and completed it. We
      held our meetings in it. Many of the old citizens joined the
      Church and all went on comfortably until some time in the summer
      or fall of 1842, when mobocracy and persecution began to show
      their hidry [?] head. By the time I had got me a nice little
      home and was comfortably situated by, a message came from the
      Prophet to discontinue our organization and immigrate to Hancock
      County, and most all the branch submitted to the call, and in
      the spring of 1843 I moved with my family and located in a place
      called Green Plain in the vicinity of Warsaw in Hancock County,
      with the notorious Levi Williams for one of my neighbors.

      I there bought a farm on good terms and went to improving,
      built me a good house and a small grist mill and put about 20
      acres of land in a good state of cultivation with a good fence
      around it, and was on good terms with my neighbors although the
      most of them were gentiles. But they professed to be much
      pleased with my enterprise in the place, and all went on well
      with me, until some time in June 1844. Then there was frequent
      reports about Joseph from Nauvoo, that produced some little
      excitement, for priests and lawyers and apostates had combined
      together to again make trouble, the men in the neighborhood
      where I organized, lived to go to Nauvoo and assist Joseph.
      They came and invited me to go with them to take Joseph, but I
      refused, they wanted to know if I would go if the Governor order
      me to go, I said no I would not go if the devil himself ordered
      me to go against Joseph for his people were my people and where
      he goes I will go also.

      This appeared to vex them a little although we had always
      been on good terms as neighbors and they then said then you will
      have to leave, for you can't live here although we like you as a
      neighbor. So they left me and soon started for Nauvoo, with old
      Colonel [Levi] Williams as there leader, which resulted in the
      martyrdom of Joseph the Prophet and Hyrum the Patriarch, Owen
      Brchers Brasher and [Willard Richards] and John Taylor, the
      present President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
      Saints; this was done in Carthage Jail, June the 27th, 1844.
      Then the desperadoes came back to Green Plain without having the
      black thoroughly washed from their necks and faces and they
      never could get it from their character or consciences, but they
      did not interfere with me any more until about the 20th of
      October 1845, although they engaged in a little town called Lima
      that was settled mostly with Saints, in burning houses and
      plundering and sometimes killed our brethren. And one day there
      came an armed force of about 60 men, they set fire to my hay and
      grain that was in stack and then to the house.

      I will just say here that at that time I had two little
      boys laying at the point of death, one 4 1/2 years and the other
      2 1/2 years old; Albert, oldest Edward and Parley Pine by name.
      They were carried out into the woods and a bed made by their
      mother on the ground with bed and bedding under them and a large
      bedstead set over them with plenty of bedding and close over to
      keep them from getting wet with the heavy rain that was rapidly
      approaching.

      I will here say that while the women and some of the
      gheerous(?) that had volunteered to help her were carrying out
      some of the things. The rest of the crowd divided the straw out
      of a bed into the four corners of the room and set fire to it,
      the women tried to put it out, but some of the ruffians took her
      by the shoulders and put her out of doors and she was not in a
      condition to be handled rough with safety, the house burnt down
      with the rest of its contents.

      I was obliged to flee to save my life. I remained out
      until there came on a very heavy thunderstorm, I then ventured
      out to see what become of my family. I found them all alive and
      no personal injury done, but my house and grain and hay and
      considerable fence was burnt to the ground which threw my field
      open to the commons, where I had about a thousand bushels of
      corn mostly in the shock [shuck], but all exposed to the ravages
      of hogs, sheep and cattle which were roaming at large in
      abundance. But my wife begged of me to leave as the mob was
      hunting me the last she could see of them.

      So I was obliged to take shelter in a large shock? of corn
      as it was raining very hard. I lay there until it began to leak
      through on to me, so I was obliged to crawl out and I then went
      to see how my family was getting along, and found them more
      comfortably situated, for a brother came along and carried the
      sick children and their bed and bedding into the mill which they
      had not burned, supposing it to belong to another man, although
      they had got some wet in changing locations, I remained with
      them until near daylight. Then I ventured to go to my nearest
      neighbors, a Baptist preacher by the name of George Walker.
      When I arrived and began to tell what the mob had done, he said,
      "Mr. Draper I know it, I saw it all but I could do you no good
      for I feared they would destroy me next; Is there anything I can
      do for you?"


      I said, "I wished to get his wagon to move my family from
      among this mob and then I will return it."

      He said, "there is my wagon take it and if you return it,
      all well and if not, all is well."

      I then went back to help my wife gather up the little
      fragments left, by this time daylight appeared and while we were
      busy preparing to leave, lo and behold we saw ten armed men.
      They were in pursuit of me again and I was obliged to flee and I
      make my escape but it was upon my hands and knees through the
      brush. I succeeded in reaching another neighborhood, there I
      got a young man to go and let my folks know where I was, and
      help them pack up their things and bring them to me, which he
      did. I then took them to Pike County where a distance of 50
      miles where I got them into a house with my wife's brother.
      After that I had them comfortably situated the next day being
      the 6th of October 1845, my wife was confined and brought me
      another son, and the other two little boys that was sick soon
      began to get better.

      After all was apparently safe and provided for, I then took
      my leave and started to Nauvoo a distance of about 80 miles.
      Some part of this I had to pass through a section of country
      where the mob was daily proceeding about and doing damage and
      seeking the lives of men that would claim to be Latter-day
      Saints or Mormons.

      But I passed through and unharmed and arrived safe in
      Nauvoo, where Brigham and Heber who was then the president of
      the church, I told them what I had done, how and where I had
      left my home, which they highly approved. I then asked their
      council for my further movements, which they gave as follows:
      "Brother William, if you wish to remain with the Saints, go back
      and take care of your family where they are the best you can
      through the winter and make every effort you can to get ready
      and go with us next spring to the Rocky Mountains, but come
      again to Nauvoo in about two months and get your endowment,"
      which I did on the 28th of 1846.

      While I was there several of the brethren crossed the
      Mississippi River over into Iowa then on their way for the
      mountains, but I returned back to Pike County and there made
      speedy preparation to follow on in the spring which I did, and
      left Pike County about the 20th of April 1846 and went to Nauvoo
      and added some to the family and to the outfit.

      And on the first day of May crossed the Mississippi River
      and took the trail to follow those that had started before for
      the mountains through a wilderness country where no white lived.
      We made quite a company and I was chosen their captain.

      We traveled on some 200 miles and nothing worthy of note
      took place but one night where we had camped to our great
      surprise up came Brigham and Heber returning from the Missouri
      River, the place which they had reached, they brought us the
      information that the United States officers met them there and
      called for 500 able bodied men from our traveling company to go
      to Mexico to fight their battles. This was quite a damper to us
      not withstanding we traveled on, but Brigham and Heber went on
      east to meet other companies. When we got within about six
      miles of the Missouri River we came to a halt and struck camp to
      wait for Brigham to return which he did in two or three days.

      Then a place was prepared and the men was called together,
      met with Brigham and the army officers and Colonel Thomas L.
      Kane who had heard of the call made on us, and came to witness
      the result, but after a short consultation in council with
      Brigham and the officers it was decided to respond to the call
      made. And a call for volunteers then issued which was readily
      responded to and within twenty four hours the required number
      500 was more than made up. And there was immediately a large
      bowery was erected at a little known as Trading Point settled
      only be Indians and their traders on the Bank of the Missouri,
      there we had jolly parting dance.

      And the next morning being the 16th day of July 1846, which
      was the parting time between husband and wife, father and
      children, brother and sister, and so 500 of our most able bodied
      men were marched away across a 2,000 mile desert to fight the
      battles of the United States from which we had just been driven.

      Now I will leave those that have gone and turn to those
      that are left on the prairies. We could look in every direction
      and see the prairies dotted with wagons and tents and speckled
      with cattle, who's owners had gone. Now it was that something
      must be done for the women and children that was left unprovided
      for and without protection and in an Indian Country, so a
      meeting was immediately called and the country divided up into
      districts or wards, and bishops appointed and a bishop to each
      ward. It fell to my lot to be one of them and when I went to
      look up those that were in my district there was 33 families and
      each bishop was to take charge and provide for all that was left
      in the ward that fell to him. So we immediately set about the
      work that fell to him.

      So we immediately set about the work of gathering up the
      cattle and getting herdsmen to take care of them, and the next
      move was to provide shelter for the folks and provide for the
      stock as we were left with so few men that we could not move on
      any further until the brethren returned from the army, or some
      other way was provided for our deliverance. So we set to with
      all our mind and might and strength. We built log cabins and
      brought some from the Indians that was about to be drove from
      their homes by the government as we had already been.

      But I will here mention that Brigham and a large number of
      the Saints crossed the river to the west side onto the Omaha
      lands not owned yet by the United States. They built up quite a
      little town with over 500 houses, but the rest of the Saints
      remained on the east side of the river on the Pottawattomie
      land, that the government was about to take possession of, but
      they were soon gathered into more compact bodies were they could
      be better provided for, and more easily protected.

      And I located at a little place called Council Point where
      there was quite a settlement of half breeds and Indians. I
      bought one of their farms with quite a comfortable house on it.
      I had built two cabins before as my family was large, but I was
      soon comfortably situated, and the Saints keep flocking in so
      that in a short time we had a fine little town, and it soon
      become necessary to have a better organization. And it was
      desired to organize Council Point into a branch of the Church
      and have ordained a bishop to do business in a church capacity.
      So I was chosen and ordained bishop and done whatever business
      that became necessary in the branch by the church law.

      But by this time there was circumstances and characters in
      our midst that the church law did not fully provide for and they
      were not willing to be governed by what laws we had and Iowa was
      not organized with a territorial government, consequently was
      without any civil code to govern with, so in the absence of
      other laws we went to work and organized a provincial government
      with a law making department. And appointed or elected officers
      to administer the laws as they were made or as occasion
      required, in which department I held a position and we went on
      administering the laws as they were made by issuing writs,
      punishing crime, assessing fines and collecting them, and
      sitting in judgment in cases of debt and using the means for
      enforcing the Missourians and all other business necessary to
      preserve peace and safety in the country.

      Every thing moved on quietly, some went to farming and some
      to peddling off their surplus clothing and such articles as they
      could best spare to the merchant to obtain bread for the
      destitute. And so we were all provided for, and the next year
      we raised plenty for our own consumption and the country soon
      bare testimony in favor of its new settlers fortheir
      perseverance, industry and tact and thrift. All things moved on
      well under our mode of government until the United States
      organized Iowa with a territorial government. Then we ceased
      further operation under our provincial government, and sent our
      court records to Washington which there met with the highest
      approval.

      I will now say a few words about the company that crossed
      the river and built up Winter Quarters of which a large number
      sickened and died from privation and hardships they had to
      undergo. However those that were sick and did survive began to
      revive when winter set in and by spring had so far recovered
      that a company was raised and some, them in April with Brigham
      at their head, started as a company of pioneers consisting of
      about hundred men to cross the trackless plains where nothing
      but the savages and the wild beast roamed. This was to seed a
      home for the Saints in the valleys of the mountains where they
      could serve the Lord and keep his commandments. But the various
      incidences of their travel I shall not attempt to write but
      leave it for better writers and those that have the sad
      experience and let it suffice by saying that they arrived in
      safety to the valley of the Great Salt Lake July 24th, 1847, and
      there located the present Salt Lake City sight with its temple
      block and other public grounds, which stands forth in evidence
      of the greatness and wisdom and perseverance of its founders.

      I will here say in the spring of 1848 all that was able
      left Winter Quarters as it was called with it 500 houses and
      started to join the Saints in Salt Lake Valley and those that
      were not able to go were taken back across the river into Iowa.
      And there provided for by the brethren was doing well,
      flourishing little towns and making and cultivating large farms
      which produced abundance for the inhabitants. The chief place
      or head quarter for public business was Kanesville [Iowa] so
      called because of the kindness and gentlemanly conduct of one
      Colonel Thomas L. Kane who came to visit and witness our
      affliction. Soon the gentiles began to come in to Kanesville
      with stores of goods, which afford abundance of necessaries and
      luxuries and convenience to fit out for the mountains and plenty
      for them that stayed longer.

      About this time and previous, the brethren had returned
      from the Mexican War and resumed the cares of their own families
      that liberated those that had the responsibility before they
      came. Now it was in the Spring of 1849, I was counseled to
      immigrate to Salt Lake that season, I responded to the call and
      made speedy preparation to go with a company that was to
      immigrate that season. And on the 5th of July I bid farewell to
      my home and friends at Council Point, and started to join the
      company to old Winter Quarters, where they were waiting to
      organize for the travel.

      And when I arrived we were organized, and I was appointed
      by George A. Smith to take part in the oversight of the
      traveling company in connection with Judge Apelley [Appleby?]
      and Judge Clark.

      We then started out to cross the plains for Great Salt
      Lake, we travelled on slowly and nothing special occurred worthy
      of note, there was but little incident that occurred. On the
      2nd of October near the south pass we were caught in a great
      storm that lasted 36 hours which killed over 70 head of our
      cattle and horses; that weakened our team some. But after the
      storm ceased we shoveled our way out and traveled on again. We
      did not travel many miles until we came to where there was no
      snow and all was fair weather, which continued until the 26th of
      October when we arrived safe in Salt Lake City, and broke up
      camp entirely; having been four months and a half on the plains,
      but was happy now to meet with our brethren that had also come
      up through great tribulation and make them a home in the
      mountains.

      I then stopped a few days with my brother Zenird in which
      time I met with a chance to rent a house and lot for one year,
      my family being large it required some little exertion to
      provide for their wants for flour raised before harvest to the
      enormous price of from 75 cents to one dollar per pound, and it
      was hard to get seed grain, but I succeeded in getting both, so
      my family did not suffer or do without bread.

      During the winter I bought me a little farm and rented
      another about 6 miles south of the city; it being too far to go
      back and forth to farm it and tend the crop. I bought a small
      log cabin and some time in February moved a part of my family to
      Mill Creek where my far? was. I put the city lot in with
      potatoes and the farm with wheat and corn and raised a good crop
      of each so I had plenty for the ensuing year and some to spare.

      In the summer of 1850 there was a new settlement started on
      what was then called South Willow Creek, about twenty miles
      south of Salt Lake City. I was invited to come and settle there
      which I did, and in November 1850 moved my whole family there.
      I took up land and made me a good farm and raised plenty of
      grain and cattle and horses, and the settlement increased so it
      became necessary to have the place organized into a branch of
      the church.

      I was called to preside and serve them as bishop, having
      been ordained to that office before. I served in that capacity
      until the close of 1857 and in the spring of 1858, I was obliged
      to leave a good home again, and go south in the general move. I
      went as far south as Spanish Fork about 42 miles in distance. I
      there stopped and located. I never expected to go back to my old
      home again, I there purchased four houses and lots and about 80
      acres of land of which over 50 was good farming land and the
      rest grass land. I used to raise plenty of grain for my own use
      and had lots to spare, and I done well until 1862. Then the
      grasshoppers and crickets destroyed my crops so they proved
      almost an entire failure. The year 1863 was also followed with
      another failure and grain of all kinds raised to an enormous
      price, (wheat to five dollars a bushel) and wood was hard to
      get, being a long way off, and I had four fires to keep up, and
      my oldest boys had all married and left me with a large family
      of little helpless children with only their mothers to help me.

      Putting all these disadvantages together I found it taking
      off my best property faster than I could well stand; one bushel
      of wheat per day for bread or $5.00, and two loads of wood per
      week and it took from two to three days to get one load, and I
      found I could not stand that way of living much longer, so I
      concluded to sell out and immigrate to Sanpete where ceder wood
      was plenty and where we got the most of our bread stuff from.

      So in the fall of 1864, I sold out my property in Spanish
      Fork for less than half what it cost me, and early in 1865
      immigrated to Moroni, Sanpete County, where I bought a house and
      lot and about 15 acres of land for which I paid 900 dollars in
      property. I also bought a share; one third of an old grist
      mill, worth about $400- $500? for which I agreed to pay $1,500
      for one third of the mill. My property was going very fast for
      bread at $5.00 a bushel and I could make my bread with the mill,
      although I had to pay $500 five hundred dollars down in
      property, I thought I would have my share in the mill left and
      if I paid it out for bread I should have nothing, and I got
      about as near that as I wanted; for I only realized for the
      whole after spending about two or three hundred dollars in
      repairs, I got about one hundred.

      But I made my bread with it by working hard and raising
      some on the land I bought. Since mill and land are all gone I
      have had some anxieties, but I have got nearly through with all,
      for my young and helpless children that I have spoke of before
      are now grown to be men and women and are able to take care of
      themselves, and lend a helping hand to their mothers, and as for
      myself; I think I shall not need any help, for I do not wish to
      be burdensome to my children or any one else.


      I will here say that I have lived in Moroni hardly
      seventeen years, but am sorry to say that in this short period I
      have suffered more in body and mind than I have all the rest of
      my life. Although I have spent nearly fifty five years of that
      time in this church, but when I was about to sink under the
      weight and influence of temptation, the Lord verified his
      promise; wherein he said you shalt not be tempted more than you
      are able to bare, but in every hour of temptation I will make
      way for your escape; and he did by sending his servant President
      John Taylor on or about the 18th day of August 1880. He invited
      me into the house of Bishop J.W. Irons and after being seated he
      asked me a few question which I answered briefly.

      He then called upon one of his counsel George Q. Cannon and
      one of the apostles, Erastus Snow and they laid their hands on
      my head and reordained me to all the offices and all the various
      grades of priesthood that I ever had been previously ordained to
      and confirmed and in addition ordained me to the office of
      patriarch after the ancient order, and reconfirmed all the
      blessings that had ever been pronounced upon my head by those
      that had administered to me before by ordination or otherwise,
      and that seemed to impart new life and vigor to both body and
      mind and spirit.

      But I find that I am on the decline so far as my bodily
      strength is concerned and must ere long lay off this mortal
      tabernacle and my spirit go to rest or to join those that have
      gone before who have passed through great tribulations and have
      conquered the last enemy. And for this reason I have written
      this imperfect narrative that my children and grandchildren and
      finally all my posterity to the latest generation may see what
      their progenitor, and those that he associated with in this
      Church, had to pass through for sake of the gospel.

      And I now feel thankful that I have the privilege of
      bearing my testimony to the trust of what I have written,
      although there may be some little errors in dates, but nothing
      designly or that would destroy the truthfulness of this
      narrative.

      And I also feel to bare testimony to the truth of the
      everlasting gospel as introduced to this generation by Joseph
      Smith the Prophet, and is now being preached by his successors
      and the Elders of Israel that are going forth to carry glad
      tidings of salvation to the nations of the earth.

      And I also feel to join the labor by calling upon all men,
      Jew and Gentile, bond or free, priest and people, to home or
      abroad; all who have not obeyed the gospel to listen and hear
      and believe and be baptized for the remission of your sins, and
      have hands laid on you by one who has authority for the gift of
      the Holy Ghost and you shall receive it, for the promise is to
      you and to your children and to all that are afar off as many as
      the Lord our God shall call.

      Now in conclusion I will say that I have been some two
      weeks writing this imperfect narrative, and will now come to a
      close on this eleventh day of December in the year one thousand
      eight hundred and eighty one; (December 11, 1881) which makes me
      seventy four years and seven months and seventeen days old, and
      the husband of five living wives and father of fifty one
      children and grandfather to about one hundred; and
      great-grand-father to about twenty more, and I now leave my
      blessing upon them all, and ask my Heavenly Father to seal the
      blessing of Abraham and Isaac.


      -- MERGED NOTE ------------

      1 _FSFTID KWNK-QZY


      William Draper, 1807-1886
      Autobiography (1807-1881)
      Typescript, BYU-S

      Draper, William, 1807-1886 Autobiography (1807-1881)
      Source: Autobiography of William Draper, typescript, BYU-S.


      AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM DRAPER

      A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND TRAVELS AND BIRTH AND
      PARENTAGE OF WILLIAM DRAPER WHO WAS THE SON OF WILLIAM DRAPER AND
      LYDIA LUTHDROP DRAPER.

      My grandfather's name was Thomas Draper and my
      grandmother's maiden name was Lydia Rogers; my father and
      grandfather was born in Pennsylvania state and I was born in the
      Provice of upper Canada, Township of Richmond, County of
      Frontanact, Midland District, April the 24th 1807, and in June
      1832 for the first time heard the gospel preached by Elder
      Miller and others in company with him, and in January 1832 I
      heard Brigham Young preach the same gospel and I believed it.

      And was all in the Township of Longbarough upper Canada,
      and I was baptized March the 20th 1833 and in June the same year
      was ordained a priest under the hands of Brigham Young, and I
      bear testimony and traveled and preached as circumstances
      permitted until September the 11, 1834, I then in company with
      Daniel Wood and family; with my family that consisted of wife
      and two children. I there and then bid adieu to Canada, to my
      birth place, and to my father and mother, brothers and sisters,
      for the sake of the gospel and together with the Saints to
      Kirtland, Ohio, which we reached the 24th of the same month and
      I was satisfied and rejoiced at meeting some of my old friends,
      brethren from Canada, and more satisfied to see the face and
      hear the voice of the Prophet Joseph and from him and his
      brethren received much valuable instruction.

      I then went to work and found a location, built me a house
      and by hard labor provided a comfortable living for my family
      which consisted of a wife and three children, but I was quite
      poor as to this world's goods, but I labored faithfully and
      prospered exceedingly.

      And next spring 1835 at the April conference by a unanimous
      vote of the conference, the walls of the basement of the temple
      which had been covered the fall previous were uncovered, and the
      work of building the [Kirtland] temple resumed with a covenant
      to finish the walls that season. I threw in my might of labor
      with the rest of my brethren which was but few to do so great a
      work, but it was done. I also went to Canada that summer on a
      short mission and was abundantly blessed, and returned again in
      September to my family and to the society of the church in
      Kirtland.

      And the following winter had the privilege of attending the
      theological school which was superintended by the Prophet Joseph
      and his councilors from which I received much good instructions
      preparatory to the endowment when the [Kirtland] temple was
      finished, during which time I was put into the presidency of the
      priests quorum which the bishops presided over. During the
      meetings and endowment which gave me another opportunity of
      farming more new valuable acquaintances to-wit; Bishop Edward
      Partridge of Zion or Missouri, and the Bishop N. K. Whitney of
      Kirtland with their respective councilors, under whose hands I
      received the ordinances and blessings which were many and great,
      they being the only bishops in the church at that time. The
      Twelve Apostles and the First Quorum of Seventies were chosen
      about that time.

      And there in the [Kirtland] temple on the Day of Pentecost
      of the 6th day of April 1836 there was such a time of the
      outpouring of the spirit of the Lord that my pen is inadequate
      to write it in full or my tongue to express it. But I will here
      say that the spirit was poured out and came like a mighty
      rushing wind and filled the house, that many that were present
      spoke in tongues and had visions and saw angels and prophesied,
      and had a general time of rejoicing such as had not been known
      in this generation.

      Then all things remained quiet until about the first of
      June. The Quorum of the Twelve was sent to the eastern states
      and Canada to hold conferences and regulate affairs in the
      church abroad in that direction and I was counseled by the
      Prophet to go on a mission which I did and traveled in company
      with them to Laborough in Canada, where I had formerly lived and
      joined the church. We there and in the vicinity around, held
      several meetings and conferences and set the branches in order
      and baptized quite a number and had a time of rejoicing together
      to think and to see that the Lord was blessing our labor with
      success. But in this place we separated and the Twelve
      continued their mission further east down the river St. Lawrence
      and crossed into the states and by that route home. But I took
      up on the north side of Lake Ontario by way of Toronto and there
      crossed Lake Ontario to Lewiston and by that route home, found
      all well and rejoicing in the blessing of the gospel.

      Things went on comfortable and pleasantly during the
      ensuing fall and winter, and by the assistance and council of
      the Prophet I prospered exceedingly well so that I got me a nice
      little farm of twenty acres on which I built a good comfortable
      house and made other suitable improvements suitable for the
      comforts of life. All went well until some time in the summer
      of 1837 when travelers begin to creep in which changed the state
      of affairs financially throughout Kirtland, which damaged me to
      the amount of over one thousand dollars, which took my team and
      other good property but during the ensuing winter we had a good
      time in the temple and I was called upon to be ordained a high
      priest and was ordained under the hands of Don Carlos Smith and
      counsel who was president of the high priests quorum and brother
      to the Prophet Joseph.

      And I was set apart to go to Illinois the coming spring
      [1838] to take charge and preside in a branch of the church that
      had been previously raised up. I then went to work with mane
      and might to make up an outfit and I succeeded in procuring a
      team and wagon as I intended to take my family with me, for many
      of the Saints were making preparation to leave Kirtland in the
      spring and I never expected to return there any more. I expected
      the avails of my little farm and home to supply me with means to
      get me another home if I should ever be so happy as to reach Far
      West where we were all aiming to go and make a permanent home as
      we thought then. But let me here say that I was sadly mistaken
      and seriously disappointed, for instead of having means to buy
      me another home in Far West, lo and behold a Christian gentile
      had me in his clutches and swindled me out of my little home so
      I never got one dime for the whole. But he made me a very
      believable affair that was if I would stay and live on the farm
      I should have it all my life to support my family on and if not
      he would keep it, for he said he might as well have it as for
      old Joseph Smith to have it and so he kept it although he had
      every dollar of his pay for it. This was the fruit of Mr.
      Branche's religion although a stray Presbyterian, but as I do
      not intend this to expose other peoples faults I will let the
      above suffice, and resume my own travels and say that the above
      affair afforded another opportunity for me to leave father and
      mother, brothers and sisters, house and land for the gospel
      sake.

      And I hastened to start on my mission to Morgan County,
      Illinois, which I accomplished and started April the 16th 1838
      only having my family that consisted of a wife and five
      childre

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