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Bishop David Evans and His Family

His Leadership in Utah, 1851-1883

Religious, Military and Civic Leadership

Explanatory Note: Information covering this period in the life of David Evans is not readily available in histories, newspapers or periodicals. The most comprehensive is that assembled by Hamilton Gardner, author of the "History of Lehi," published in 1913 by the Lehi Pioneer Committee. Thus, the following material draws heavily on his research and writings. This has two distinct advantages. It relies on years of research, and discussions with people not now living, by a student of the history of the period. It also provides an unbiased, objective commentary on David Evans, his personal qualities that motivated others to unusual achievements, and significant events in which he had a primary responsibility as an organizer and leader. Except where indicated otherwise, material attributed by footnote to Gardner is in each instance verbatim, but the sequence has been modified to conform to the subject-matter format presented here.

Evansville

On February 15, 1851, there arrived on Dry Creek a man who was destined to play the leading part in the growth of the community for many years. This man was David Evans. He had previously been ordained a bishop in Nauvoo by Joseph Smith, and had now been sent by Brigham Young to preside over the Saints of Dry Creek. Bishop Evans was a typical pioneer. Possessing the same rugged qualities which distinguished his chief, President Young, he was eminently fitted to direct the work of founding a community. Devoted to his Church, honest, upright, but determined and aggressive, and withal characterized by that rare gift of leader -ship which, above everything else, was imperative for a pioneer commander, he knew how to direct the colonists to obtain the best results. In his dealings with his fellows he was plain and outspoken, but always just as fair. Altogether, Bishop Evans was precisely the kind of man needed to meet the situation.

With his family, Evans made his home on Dry Creek with some of the people who had moved up from Sulphur Springs. His land was a tract west of the creek and just north of the present City Park. This place was called Evansville in honor of the bishop, and being on higher ground, with good water available by digging wells, it soon became the favorite locality for the home-seeker. 1

Shortly after the arrival of Bishop Evans, Apostle George A. Smith visited the little colony and organized the Dry Creek Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. David Evans was appointed bishop, with Charles Hopkins and David Savage as counselors and Jehial McConnell as ward clerk. This was the first organization of any kind to be effected, and with it a coherency and direction was given to the growth of the settlement impossible heretofore.

As illustrative of the conditions existing at this time, it is related that no paper could be found in the settlement on which to keep records except a blank book owned by John Fotheringham. Fotheringham had been a master tailor in Europe, and this book had been used for entering orders for clothes. It was partly full of notations, but as occasion demanded, leaves were torn from it and supplied to the bishop. 2

Water Supply--The American Fork Ditch

As the water in Dry Creek could not be relied upon to mature the crops, it was imperative that late irrigation water be procured. As the only supply available was the stream in American Fork Canyon, the prodigious undertaking of digging a ditch seven miles long from the mouth of the canyon to Lehi was begun under the initiative and direction of Bishop Evans.

Early in May (1851) Charles Hopkins and Henry McConnell were sent to the mouth of the canyon to cut and haul logs for the purpose of constructing a dam which should divert part of the water into the proposed ditch. The main company arrived the next day and work was immediately begun. The ditch was made about two feet wide in the bottom, and one rod was considered a good day's work for a man. Tools were scarce and of poor quality, while the sun-baked soil was full of cobble stones and otherwise hard to dig.

Under such hardships, the men, poorly fed and scantily clothed, would undoubtedly have abandoned the enterprise, but for the influence of the bishop. His good humor and witticisms never failed, and with rare tact and diplomacy, he kept the men from brooding over their troubles, and inspired them with new hope and courage.

By the latter part of August, the water reached the farms and helped to save part of the corn and potato crop.

Six months later, David Evans succeeded in getting the Territorial Legislature to pass the following act granting to the settlement on Dry Creek one-third of the waters of the American Fork Creek:

An act in relation to the waters of American Creek in Utah County.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the Governor and Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Utah: That the inhabitants of the settlement of Dry Creek in Utah County are hereby authorized and allowed to take out, at some convenient point, the waters of American Creek, and use the same for their benefit: Provided that no more than one-third part of said waters shall be so taken for the use of said settlement on Dry Creek.

Approved February 18, 1852."

Early Business Enterprises

The First Blacksmith Shop

One of the greatest difficulties which beset the pioneers of Dry Creek was the lack of mechanical help, the nearest blacksmith being at Alpine, and that not until 1851. However, in the autumn of that year, on the invitation of Bishop Evans, Joseph J. Smith, a skilled mechanic, came to Dry Creek and set up a blacksmith shop. It was first situated in Evansville, but after the city was laid out, it was moved and located on the present northeast corner of the intersection of Main and Fourth West streets.[4]

Sugar Beets

John Taylor, in the spring of 1852, had imported from France and brought across the plains by ox team, a quantity of sugar beet seed, and Bishop Evans with others had been able to secure a small part of this. The beets they planted matured successfully, but were used for making molasses rather than sugar. In this was presaged an industry which was destined to become the most important factor of Lehi's commercial development--the sugar industry.

A Post Office

Early in 1853, Lehi was placed in communication with the outside world by the establishment of a post office with David Evans as postmaster. He fitted up a small room in his house for an office, the sole equipment being a green painted box divided into alphabetically arranged pigeon holes.

Before the transcontinental railroad reached Utah, the mail was handled by means of overland stage or the "Pony Express." It often happened that months would elapse, especially during the winter season, between the arrivals of the mails. But the people were well satisfied even with this imperfect service. 6

The First Threshing Machine and Fanning Mill

The summer of 1854 also witnessed the importation of the first agricultural machinery into Lehi--a threshing machine. Compared to modern standards it was but a sorry affair, since it did not separate the chaff from the wheat. This operation was performed by hand. A tread mill, run by horses, furnished the motive power. A few years later, Bishop Evans secured a fanning mill and this proved of inestimable assistance. Both the threshing machine and the fanning mill were owned and operated by Bishop David Evans, Thomas Karren, and Daniel Collett.

The First Tannery

Early in 1862, David Evans and Canute Peterson built a small tannery near the north-east corner of Third North and Second West. Jonas Holdsworth, a tanner who had learned his trade in England, was the first workman in the little establishment, He had brought some of his tools with him across the Atlantic and had others made here. By aid of tan bark from the surrounding mountains, Holdsworth succeeded in making a quality of upper, sole, and harness leather that was exceedingly useful to the people of the city. 8

The First Telegraph Office

The autumn of 1870 Lehi began communication with the outside world through one of the modern inventions --the telegraph--which was installed in the residence of Bishop Evans.

The Lehi Union Exchange

An early commercial enterprise was the Lehi Union Exchange, founded in 1868, as a result of agitation on the part of Israel Evans, vAio, while on a mission to England, had studied the Rochdale co-operative system, and now believed the same plan of cooperation could be utilized beneficially in his own city. In a meeting called by Bishop Evans, and attended by Israel Evans, William Wanlass, John Zimmerman, William Clark, Thomas R. Jones, Andrew A. Peterson, Joseph A. Thomas, and James Q. Powell, the project was launched and definite plans made for its maintenance. David Evans was elected president of the company; William Wanlass, secretary; John Zimmerman, treasurer; Israel Evans, William Clark, and Thomas R. Jones, directors; and it was capitalized for $350. 00, in shares of $25. 00 each. Several of the incorporators volunteered to haul the first goods free of charge. Thus was organized the first co-operative store in Utah.

On July 23 the new company opened its establishment for business. The enterprise met with immediate success.

Political Activities

Lehi's First Legislator

David Evans was elected from Utah County to serve in the Territory's first Legislative Assembly which convened September 22, 1851.  The following article, of special interest to his descendants, appeared in the Deseret News January 10, 1852:

Capt. David Evans, Representative from Utah County. has made his appearance in the Representatives' Hall, clad in his own family manufactured habiliments, worthy of the imitation of a mabob. We understand his wife cut and made his garments as well as spun and wove the cloth. Mrs. Evans is worthy to stand by the side of the lady in the buckskin sack whose name will be forthcoming by and by. Legislators what say you for home productions?"[10]

Lehi Incorporated

A body of such thorough Americans as composed the little settlement on Dry Creek could not long remain without some form of civil administration. An innate love of law and order- -the priceless heritage of their Pilgrim forefathers--soon compelled them to take steps to form some kind of municipal government.

Accordingly, early in 1852, David Evans, on behalf of the people of Dry Creek, presented a petition to the Territorial Legislature, requesting that body to incorporate the little community. This petition was granted, and the city incorporated under the name of Lehi, this Book of Mormon appellation being suggested because the people had moved so frequently.

Lehi was the sixth city in the Territory of Utah to be incorporated, the Act being approved February 5, 1852. 11

Lehi's Second Mayor

In the second municipal election, March 6, 1854, David Evans, with no opposition, was elected Mayor of Lehi. He was re-elected in 1856. Due to the Echo Canyon War no election was held in 1858, and David Evans continued to serve until an election could be held on February 14, 1859. On that date he was again re -elected Mayor and served until February 11, 1861.

A facsimile of David Evans' commission as Mayor of Lehi City for his third term, signed by Governor Alfred Cumming, March 19, 1859, is included in the addendum of this publication.

Early Cultural Activity

The First School House

In the fall of 1851, just one year after the arrival of the first settlers, the people of Evansville erected a school house. It was a little log structure, eighteen by twenty-four feet. --- -The building was fitted up for school purposes in the best manner possible under the circumstances. A large fireplace in one end served to keep the interior warm. For desks, the children used rough slab benches without backs. Other furniture in the room consisted of a long table at which the pupils practiced writing.

Nor was the school house limited to use as a temple of learning. Being the first public building, it served alike as school house, meeting house, city hall, ballroom, theatre, and the gathering place for assemblies of all kinds. At its completion a rousing picnic was held in it, and who can doubt that the little place saw just as enjoyable a time as any of our pretentious modern structures? 12

The First Meeting House

Since, in the late fall and winter of 1855, the people had a great deal of spare time, it was proposed by Bishop Evans that work be commenced on a meeting house. The suggestion met with instant favor, and preparations were accordingly made for the construction of such a building. A committee was appointed to take charge of the matter-Daniel S. Thomas, chairman, and James Harwood, assessor and collector, are the only ones of this committee now known--and a tax of $1. 50 for every $100 valuation levied, $1 to be paid in labor and fifty cents to be paid in grain.

Men were sent into West Canyon to obtain logs, and others busied themselves with hauling rocks and making adobes, and soon the masons were busy putting in the foundations and erecting the walls. The logs were hauled to Alpine and sawed into boards, except a few of the best which were reserved for shingles. The house was not completed the first season, but was used in an unfinished condition.

The church is sixty feet long by forty feet wide, and sixteen feet high to the square, with a gable at each end. The main auditorium is forty-eight by thirty-six feet, and with the gallery which extends across one end has a capacity of about five hundred. In the attic are two rooms used as school rooms, and for quorum meetings, City Council meetings, and prayer meetings, 13

Troubles With The Indians

A Fort and Fort Wall are Built

Notwithstanding the extremely wise and humane policy of the pioneers of Utah in dealing with the Indians, it was inevitable that trouble should eventually arise. The situation was new for both; the white men, from their previous life in the East and Middle West, were comparatively lacking in knowledge of the character and habits of the red men; while the savages were none too trustful of the intentions of the pale faces, and certain turbulent spirits among them openly showed their hostility. It needed but an overt act, even though unintentional, to kindle the flame.

The opportunity finally presented itself through the killing of an Indian in Springville in 1853. One Chief Walkarah immediately incited the neighboring Indians into hostilities, and from these the warlike spirit spread generally among the Indians in the southern part of the Territory. Attacks were made on the settlers and numerous depredations were committed before the uprising was quelled. This trouble was called the Walker War, an incorrect English rendition of the name of the Indian leader.

To protect the settlers, their militia was called to arms, and on July 25, Colonel George A. Smith was placed in command of that part operating south of Salt Lake City. At once he directed the inhabitants of the settlements, as the first means of defense, to gather in forts and barricades.

The question of the location of the proposed fort in Lehi immediately arose. At this time the people were scattered from the present State Road to the lake, although the majority lived in Evansville. Different localities were agitated as being the most desirable, but the choice finally dwindled to two sites- -one the present New Survey, (the north-west part of modern Lehi), the other, the site upon which the city was eventually built. The latter was selected because no one had already constructed homes there, thus avoiding rivalry and unpleasantness, and also because the surface well water was considered more desirable.

The plan of construction for the fort was not a complex one. It consisted merely of placing the log houses of the settlers end to end, thus forming a hollow square seventy rods long. Inside the enclosure were to be built the corrals, stockyards and stables. As the crops were harvested this fall, they were brought to this place, and later the houses were moved into line. This was not accomplished without reluctance, especially on the part of those who had most recently erected their homes. But the need of defense was so urgent and the labor of moving a log house so comparatively small that eventually everyone was found in the fort. This centralization with its resulting close associations did much to develop and cement the union of community life, furnishing, through the stress of adverse circumstances, an excellent opportunity for the expression of that high regard of civic life which so markedly characterized the people of Utah.

The log school house was torn down and rebuilt near the northeast corner of the fort. As an additional safeguard against the Indians, a parapet was erected a short distance north of the fort near the State Road. Bishop David Evans and Abel Evans directed the work. The parapet consisted of a trench eight feet wide and five feet deep, enclosing a piece of ground eleven rods square. The excavated earth formed a formidable breast-work. In especially dangerous times, a guard maintained a lookout on the parapet and warned the people in the fort of any approaches of the enemy. 14

The settlers in Lehi exercised great care to protect themselves and their property. The men were armed whether within the fort or working in the fields. No one went alone any great distance. Armed herders were in charge of the cattle during the day, and drove them inside the stockade at nightfall.

The Fort Wall

In May, 1854, Brigham Young concluded a treaty of peace with Chief Walker, and upon his return to Salt Lake City was caught in a blinding snow-storm on the west side of Utah Lake. Reaching Lehi on the fourth of June, he decided, because of the inclemency of the weather, and also because he desired to warn the people of possible future danger, to stop in the little settlement and hold a meeting. The advice he gave at this gathering was to proceed immediately with the erection of a strong fort wall, an undertaking in Lehi which had been contemplated but as yet not begun. Governor Young, because of his recent experience with the red men, was deeply impressed with the necessity for caution, and so expressed himself. Heber C. Kimball, who accompanied the Governor, called attention to the fact that the recent snow fall might be used to some present advantage in dampening the earth to be used in the construction of the wall.

Work was accordingly begun the next day. Bishop David Evans, who was also Mayor at this time, directed the surveying of the city, previous to the building of the wall. The result of this work, which was performed with a pocket compass and a carpenter's square, (In a careful survey of city blocks made in 1913, it was discovered that this original survey of the blocks in the fort was far more accurate than many subsequent surveys of other parts. Fewer property lines needed adjusting there than at any other place, when the sidewalks were paved.) was a plat containing sixteen square blocks twenty rods long, intersected with streets six rods in width. Just inside the wall, there was left an eight rod street on all sides except the south, where it narrowed to five rods. Thus the dimensions of the fort were 114 rods in length and 111 rods in width, the wall enclosing the whole.

The wall itself was no small thing. Standing twelve feet in height, it sloped from a bottom six feet in thickness to a top of three feet. For the use of the defenders, portholes, eight feet from the ground and a rod apart, might be used. The bastions which projected out from the walls midway between the corners served as an additional protection. Entrance to the fort could be made through gates on each side, which were well guarded through their closeness to the bastions.

The construction of the wall proved to be an arduous and difficult task. First the earth had to be mixed to the proper consistency, this work often being performed with wooden spades made by Charles Barnes, the city's first cooper. Then it was necessary to tramp the mud into the wall, in itself an undertaking of no mean dimensions. Each layer must dry thoroughly before the next could be applied, and this delayed the work considerably. In view of the small number of people and their meager resources, it must be granted that they completed a colossal enterprise.

Not the least interesting of the houses in the fort was the so-called Indian House. This was a four -roomed adobe structure built against the north wall. Its purpose seems to have been twofold--a reward for a clan of Indians under a Chief Yan Tan who had aided Bishop Evans in capturing the Indian murderers of two white boys named Weeks from Cedar Fort, and also a means of attempting to civilize these dusky friends. The first purpose failed in part, and the second entirely. Only in the day time would the red men occupy the house built by the pale faces--at night no other shelter than their "wickiups" would suffice; and after an Indian child died in the house, they would never enter it again. Thereafter the house was used temporarily by new arrivals of settlers. 15

Frontier Explorations

In the first few years immediately following his migration to the Rocky Mountains, David Evans headed, or participated in, a number of exploration parties into the interior of the territory.

In 1853 Brigham Young sent David to the Southwest in search of fertile country which Young felt would support a half million people. David failed to find any such country. Feeling that he had not penetrated the area far enough, Young in March, 1858, sent other parties in search of such a location. These parties also failed to find an area that would support so large a population. But they confirmed the accuracy of David's earlier report.

In April, 1857, Bishop Evans, William Fotheringham and John Brown, upon the invitation of Brigham Young, joined a party which he and Heber C. Kimball were organizing to explore the country in the north. The company was made up of picked men from the various towns, together with a few women, Bishop Evans' wife, Ann, being one of the number. Leaving Salt Lake City April 24, 1857, they traveled north into the trackless plains and mountain ranges of Idaho, until they arrived at Fort Limhi, a Mormon settlement on Salmon River. The company reached Utah again, May 26.

Upon his return from Idaho, Bishop Evans was called to explore the White Mountains and Beaver Valley. With him went Richard Bee, William W. Taylor, John Norton, William Skeens, Dr. Williams, Thomas Randall, and James Harwood. The latter gives an account of the trip:

With some of the men riding horseback and others taking their ox teams, and equipped with provisions to last several months, we started some time in June, going south to the present site of Beaver, thence west. Through groves of trees, many of which were cut down by the beavers for their dams, we followed down the river to a large spring, issuing from a black rock, which we named Black Rock Spring. Here we camped and plowed a ditch, taking the water from the spring for irrigation purposes, because we intended to locate a settlement.

A tribe of Indians camped with us, made themselves quite at home, and enjoyed our rations exceedingly. After a few days, the Bishop took a small party of men and explored the White Mountain country. After being at the spring about a month, we received orders from Church headquarters to abandon the idea of making a settlement and to return home. The Indians were quite disappointed at our departure. ~~l6

A Military Leader

In February 1852, the Territory of Utah was divided into military districts for the security of the people, and for effective operations of the "Nauvoo Legion," the title by which the Utah territorial militia was then known.

David Evans had been commissioned a Major in the Legion by Brigham Young, on March 11, 1854. Accordingly, as intensive preparations were being made in the spring of 1857 to resist the possible intrusion of Federal troops into the Territory, Lieutenant-General Daniel H. Wells issued a general order relating to the organization of the militia. Among other actions, the order designated David Evans as the commanding officer of the "Lehi Military District, " The order established the boundaries of the District as "the northern portion of Utah County, extending south to the northern limits of the city of Provo.

David Evans served in this capacity--first as Major, later as Colonel- -when the activities of the militia were at their height due to the Echo Canyon Campaign, the administration of martial law, and the so-called "move" south. All three of these actions were ordered by Brigham Young to protect the settlers should the Johnston Army enter the Territory and conduct a campaign of violence and destruction under the guise of "putting down" a reported rebellion.

The Governor's initial reaction to this outside interference was to resist at all costs, evacuate the people into the mountains, and devastate the valleys by destroying crops, vegetation, homes and other facilities. This plan, however, was later modified to include only evacuation and movement south of all the people north of Utah County. The action became known, generally, as the "Move."

At the outset of the campaign of resistance, the Lehi Military District furnished one company of cavalry and one company of infantry for military service in Echo Canyon to block the entrance of the troops into the Salt Lake Valley. The cavalry unit from the Lehi District first engaged only in the construction of barricades in the mountain passes. Later they engaged in tactics of harassment to Johnston's troops. According to reports, they burned his supply trains, drove off his horses and mules, stampeded his cattle, and set fire to the dry grass around his camp-sites, "but they shed not a drop of blood."

The "Move"

The winter of 1857-1858 passed very much as the preceding winters, but underneath the outward feeling of serenity there existed a vague wonder as to the future movements of the army quartered just outside the Territory. During all the months of inactivity, negotiations were carried on between Brigham Young on one hand and General Johnston and the newly-appointed Governor, Alfred Cumming, on the other. The upshot of these communications was hardly satisfactory to either party. At first fearful of allowing the soldiers to enter Salt Lake Valley, the Mormon leaders finally consented to permit them to come in without resistance, upon condition that their commanders pledge the security of the life and property of the people. This both Governor Cumming and General Johnston did. The outcome was unsatisfactory to Brigham Young and his colleagues, because in their minds no necessity existed for the presence of an armed force in Utah, while for the army the occupation meant a mere empty triumph of their policy.

So strong was the distrust of the Utah leaders for the army that they resolved not to leave them any opportunity for depredation. Accordingly, Brigham Young directed all the people north of Utah County to leave their homes and proceed southward. At the same time, he perfected measures whereby sufficient men were left in Salt Lake to set fire to all the houses and chop down all the trees upon the first sign of disorder by the invaders. Thus began the famous "Move" in which Lehi was destined to play so prominent a part.

The spring of 1858 found 30,000 people migrating southward. Day after day the citizens of Lehi saw them pass through their borders, a continuous stream along the State Road, from daylight till dark. A striking picture was this exodus, one long to be remembered- -covered wagons laden with all manner of household goods; hand carts; men and women mounted on horses or mules; far more of them walking, often barefoot; cattle, sheep and pigs, singly and in herds; all manner of freak conveyances; no end of confusion, and not a little suffering and sorrow.

The migration was so extensive, and the exodus of Salt Lake City so complete, that the area was left "almost deserted; only a few men being left to guard the city and set fire to it if the troops attempted to occupy the town, molest any person or seize upon a piece of property. In the gardens were heaped bundles of straw and other combustible materials, and every preparation had been made for the burning. Mrs. Cumming, the wife of Governor Alfred Cumming, was so affected at the sight and by the tomb-like stillness everywhere prevailing, that she burst into tears, expressing her deep sympathy for the migrating saints.  She entreated her husband not to allow the army to stay in the city and begged him to do something to 'bring the Mormons back. [18]

The people of Lehi responded nobly in assisting their unfortunate visitors. Men who could, furnished teams and wagons to help in the transporting of their neighbors from the north. Every home in the little city was thrown open, and each room filled to its capacity; even the Meeting House was placed at the disposal of the refugees. When all available room had been occupied, the men built cabins against the fort wall, and even made dugouts on the vacant lots in the city. But the hardest problem was to provide food for this excessive number.

After the people had migrated south, negotiations continued between Brigham Young and the Federal officials who had been sent out. At first they bore no fruit, but finally two additional commissioners arrived from the East, met Brigham Young at Salt Lake City, and after holding a meeting in Provo, came to Lehi on June 17. These men were Governor L. W. Powell, of Kentucky, and Major Ben McCullough of Texas. They called an open-air mass meeting near Bishop Evans' residence, and addressed the gathering in the hope of conciliating them. They promised that the people should not be molested by the army, in fact that it should be quartered a reasonable distance from their homes; they affirmed that full amnesty had been granted by the President of the United States for whatever fancied wrongs the people of the Territory had committed; and finally they promised that all difficulties should be amicably settled. Their pleas were not in vain( Their auditors took them at their word and accepted the proposals of peace. The meeting was followed by great enthusiasm and no less intense gratitude that the affair should have so fortunate a termination. The next two months - -July and August- -saw all the people back in their homes and the danger of any further conflict averted 11

The sacrifices of the Lehi settlers to aid, and relieve the hardships of others, and the prominent part the community played in the entire Territorial effort to protect lives and property, and ensure the liberty and freedoms for which they trudged westward, is a testimony to the genius of David Evans as an organizer and a leader. During this entire epochal period he was, simultaneously, the military commander, the mayor and the bishop of the area.

Facsimiles of David Evans' commission as a Major in the Legion and of originals of certain military orders issued to him by Brigham Young and Daniel Wells in August and September 1857 are included in the addendum of this publication.

Aid to Church Immigration

The year 1860 saw the arrival of the last hand cart companies in Utah. Henceforth immigrants came in trains of "prairie schooners" drawn by oxen. To assist this transcontinental travel, Brigham Young began the practice of sending expeditions out from Utah, fully equipped, to transport numbers of the waiting immigrants from Florence, Nebraska, which was the starting point of Church migration, over the plains to the Rockies. It grew to be a common practice for men to be called from the different towns in Utah to accompany these trains; indeed, it was generally regarded as missionary work. During a period of eight or nine years, until 1868, Lehi furnished her share of men and equipment for the carrying out of this plan. Each summer a little company from the settlement, which itself had only been established ten years, set out for the Missouri to assist others in their journey west. Those who remained at home helped the expedition by furnishing provisions and adding to the equipment of the outfit (18

The following letter from the Presiding Bishop's Office to Bishop Evans reflects the spirit of the times, and is self-explanatory:

Bishop David Evans, Lehi, Utah.

Dear Brother: In view of the increasing anxiety of our leaders to assist the poor from the Old and New Worlds, coupled with the warmest desire to get them here, we are prompted to make an extra effort this year to bring them hither; and to carry out such design, we will be obliged to fit out and equip at least five hundred teams to bring them from Florence.

In proportioning these teams among the Territorial wards, your ward will be expected to furnish eight ox or mule teams (four or six mules or four yoke of oxen to each team) an equal number of good and trusty teamsters, and one mounted guard, armed and equipped for a four or five months' journey, with clothing, provisions, ammunition, ferriage means, ox or mule shoes, spades, axes, picks, ropes, augers, saws, etc., for down and back trips, without the expectation of receiving any assistance from any other source.

As sacks and sacking are scarce, you will have to make boxes to put the flour in, for the poor on the road. Each team will be expected to have sufficient boxes to carry at least one thousand pounds of flour for this purpose.

The flour and grain must be brought to this city, and a full and detailed report made to us of the amount of flour for the poor, number of teams, etc., so that a settlement can be made with you after their return in the fall.

The teams are expected to leave this city about the 25th of April next, and will have to be such as will bear inspection before starting. The captain assigned to take charge of your teams is Peter Nebeker, of Mill Creek, this county, who will as soon as possible put himself in communication with you.