October 1888


1 October 1888 • Monday

Monday, Oct. 1/88. My sons Franklin and Abraham came out and had a private interview with me this morning, this privilege having been granted by the Marshal. I gave them my ideas concerning the book which I wished to have published. My son David came out with them. We were very glad to meet. Bro. C. H. Wilcken also came out as usual. He brought two boxes of grapes which I had Bishop Winslow Farr and Bro. John Squires divide among the brethren.

2 October 1888 • Tuesday

Tuesday, Oct. 2/88. I wrote topics &c for the Juvenile Instructor this morning. I had many visitors in the afternoon who kept me outside the walls till close on to supper time. Brothers Jas. Jack and O. P. Arnold, Jr., Bishop H. B. Clawson, my son Abraham, my brother David and my brother Angus’ wife Amanda and Brother W. W. Riter. I learned that Bro. John Squires has been pardoned by President Cleveland. My brother David surrendered to the deputy Marshal McGeary, had been tried before Commissioner Jordan at Silver Reef—there were five witnesses in the case—and he had been acquitted. This was good news. My conversation with Brother Riter was private. He was desirous to get my views upon certain public questions.

3 October 1888 • Wednesday

Wednesday, Oct. 3/88. It rained last night and quite heavily a part of to-day. Brother [blank] Manning of Hooperville was released to-day. It is very gratifying to be told, as I have been a number of times[,] that my coming here has been productive of good in the improved feeling there is manifest on every hand. My coming has been a comfort to the brethren here. There has been so much talk of concession, and Brother Caine’s speech in Congress, to the effect that “polygamy is a dead issue,” that some of the brethren scarcely knew what to think. My coming here has had a good effect on this account, if upon no other, it proves that the leading men are willing to suffer but not to concede. Brother Joseph Thurber, who has been here longer than any of the brethren—21 months—says last Sunday was the best Sabbath he has seen in the penitentiary. Others remarked the same.

4–5 October 1888 • Thursday and Friday

Thursday and Friday, Oct. 4 & 5/88 These are visiting days. At 9 o’clock three bells are rung and we all had to go into the prison, so that we would be at our cells when called. The visitors have two hours during which they can come in the forenoon and two hours in the afternoon. Each visitor or party of visitors can only remain half and hour. The interviews take place in the dining room and there is more liberty allowed than upon other occasions; that is, the guards did not stand and listen to all that was said. Brother Arthur Stayner spent half and hour with me on each of these days conversing upon the manufacture of sugar. On Thursday he was followed by Bro. Geo. Stringfellow whose kindness in calling so often in 1878 to see Brothers Brigham Young, A. Carrington and myself when imprisoned for contempt of Court by Judge Boreman, I shall not forget. At the close of my talking with him, Bro. C. H. Wilcken came with Sister Roueche, also Bro’s. John Morgan and M. F. Cowley. I enjoyed this visit and told Brother Morgan I wished the Sunday School Union or particularly Brother Geo. Goddard and he would procure us an Organ for our Sunday School and worship in the Penitentiary. I was called to-day as one of the pump police. Their duties are to pump water with a force pump out of the well in the yard to the cistern in the top of the building. There are six assigned to this duty each day and they are kept busy. Bro. Mark Burgess proffered to do my share at pumping. Several others did also. I felt much obliged to them and accepted him as a substitute with the expectation of paying him.

6 October 1888 • Saturday

Saturday, Oct. 6/88 I had a call from Bro. J L Townsend of Payson and arranged to have articles, illustrated, on Botany written by him for the Juvenile Instructor. Bro. C. H. Wilcken also made me a visit as usual. Bishop H. B. Clawson called and had private conversation, by permission, with me. Our California friends desired an option of two years on our stock (75,000 shares) at the rate of $400,000 shares for the whole. I dislike to give so long an option, though I am favorable to their having and option.

7 October 1888 • Sunday

Sunday, Oct. 7/88 The new organ came out yesterday afternoon, and the Warden, Mr. Arthur Pratt, gave me the privilege of holding Sunday School in the dining room. The officials are very kind and accommodating and our people are surprised at the favors granted. Contrary to usual custom the <floor of the> dining room was washed last evening instead of this morning, so that it might be ready for us. Including myself there were 81 present at school this morning. I divided them into four classes and gave one to Bishop Winslow Farr, to F. C. Boyer, and Saml H. Hill and to myself. I spent about 45 minutes explaining what we had read. Mr. Putnam of the Episcopal Church came out to hold services in the afternoon. He went through the forms, reading prayers, and responses were made by a lady and young man whom he brought with him. His discourse was a very weak effort.

8 October 1888 • Monday

Monday, Oct. 8/88. Had calls to-day from Fayette Granger and his sister Mrs. Sarah M. Kimball, from Bro. Whitehead and son, from Bro. Ostler and daughter of Nephi, from Bro A. Stayner and son, from Bro. O. P. Arnold, my Cousin Joseph J. Taylor and Bro. C. H. Wilcken.

9 October 1888 • Tuesday

Tuesday, Oct. 9/88. Beautiful weather, almost too fine for the season. Had calls from Bro. Silas S. and Jesse N. Smith, my son Abraham, Brothers Jas. Jack, O. P. Arnold, Jr., Geo. Goddard and J. B. Maiben.

10 October 1888 • Wednesday

Wednesday, Oct. 10/88. Bro. C. H. Wilcken brought out a wagon load of my children to-day. I was greatly pleased to see them, though sorry to find that Read has been and still is quite sick, suffering from fever. There were Lewis, Rose Annie, Emily, Brigham, Read, Joseph, Sylvester, Preston, Carl and Mary and Ether Davey. William also came out and brought with him Emma Wilcken, a daughter of Brother C. H. Wilcken. Bro. H. B. Clawson also came out and had a private interview with me. Since Bro. John Squires’ departure, he having been pardoned, I have been shaved in the barber’s shop in the yard, in which two of the convicts do the shaving. I am to pay them so much a month according to the number of times which they shave me. I use They use my razors, soap, &c. I get a bath once a week. The man who keeps the bath rooms in order is quite accommodating and lets me bathe when the rush is over. Shaving and bathing at regular times are compulsory. If these rules and the cleaning of the cells were not strictly enforced the condition of affairs in the prison would soon be unbearable; for some of the prisoners would soon become filthy.

11 October 1888 • Thursday

Thursday, Oct. 11/88. Bro. Webb of Richmond, Cache valley, went out this morning, his sentence being served out. Bro. [blank] Miles of Smithfield goes out in the morning. Joy and blessing go with them. Twelve of the brethren came in on Tuesday evening from Judge Judd’s court at Provo. Their names are: Bishop J. P. R. Johnson of Provo; Lars Swenson of Moroni; [blank] Anderson of Lehi; [6 empty lines]

I had a very pleasant visit with Bro. Will. A. Dougall and his wife, Maria; the latter a daughter of Pres. B. Young. She brought me a beautiful bouquet, which I afterwards gave to typhoid patient, Stoddard of Hooperville. My son Frank called and I had an interesting conversation with him concerning the book I wish written and published concerning the administration of the Edmunds-Tucker law. Afterwards had private conversations with Bro. F. S. Richards and C. H. Wilcken. The latter brought me private word from Jason Mack [(that would be Joseph Kamika [Smith]) concerning the words and actions of Moses [Thatcher], one of the Twelve Apostles. Joseph asked Charles [Wilcken] to inform me about the opposition of Moses who is acting as if he were actually an enemy to me. The words of Moses to W. Woodruff were that he would sue me for dishonesty if I were free in the matter of the pooled stock. This is a great surprise to me. It is God who will enlighten and protect me. God knows who I am and he knows my heart. And I will cry unto him for him to help me. Moses’s opposition has continued against me, and why is that? I did nothing wrong against him.]1 I appeal to the Lord to defend and save me.

I wrenched my knee this morning in bed—the knee that I sprained some years ago and that I hurt when I fell off the train—and I suffer pain in it when I walk.

12 October 1888 • Friday

Friday, Oct. 12/88 Had conversation with Mr. Doyle <the Turnkey> on our principles and bore testimony to him concerning their divine origin. Had a visit from Brothers John Henry Smith and Heber J. Grant. A number of ladies came from town and they were taken through the prison by the Warden. They were accompanied by Brother Charles Burton. Sister Julia Burton, his wife, brought me a very elegant bouquet. They hoped by coming out in this way they would get the privilege of seeing me and they did; for the Warden gave us the privilege of conversing. They were Sister Susan Snively Young, one of President B. Young’s wives, Sister Andrew Moffit of Manti; Sisters Nettie Young Snell, and Nabbie Young Clawson, Julia Young Burton and Birdie Clawson. They expressed great pleasure at meeting me. Bro. Saml H. Hill received the sad news of the death of one of his sons, 11 years old, of dyptheria. He was permitted to go to the funeral services accompanied by a deputy marshal. Bishops Hamilton and P. G. Taylor, the former of Mill Creek Ward, and the latter of Harrisville, were committed to the Penitentiary this afternoon.

13–19 October 1888 • Saturday to Friday

Saturday, Oct. 13/88, to Friday, Oct. 19th, 1888. The time has passed pleasantly during these days, the weather has been generally fine, and I have written Editorial Thoughts and Topics of the Times. Bishops E. F. Sheets of the 8th Ward, Salt Lake City and Bishop J. P. R. Johnson and [several lines blank] have come to the Penitentiary. Last evening (Thursday) Dr. O. C. Ormsby and [blank] Nokes and John Irvine were committed to the Prison. On Sunday I held Bible class and was called out to see Brothers F. S. Richards, S. Thurman, Judge Dusenberry and W. H. King of Fillmore. Brother Thurman came to explain his management of the cases of the brethren at Provo, with which I had told Bro. F. S. Richards the brethren who had been sentenced there were much dissatisfied. Brothers Dusenberry and King came to see me about political matters. Mr Putnam preached on Sunday and did better than before. He passed my cell where I stood with several others and he came to me and asked how I was and said I was looking very well. I do not know how he knew me. I have had visitors every day. Brother C. H. Wilcken, my Sons Abraham, who brought Willard, Grace and Brigham; he also came himself the next day, accompanied by Bro. W. C. Spence. Brother Winder called upon me twice. Bro. F. S. Richards called again on Tuesday and Bro. Le Grand Young the evening previous. David and Mary Alice called on Wednesday and Frank and Hugh on Thursday and Brothers James Jack and James Cushing on Friday. I gave Mary Alice an Order on my son Abraham for $20 each quarter of the year. This is the interest of $1,000 which now that she is 21 years of age, that I desire her to have. Her birthday was the 16th inst.

Bro. C. H. Wilcken called upon me on Friday, the 19th, and brought two trout and a lot of wild ducks for me. He gave the Warden fish and ducks also. I desired to leave mine outside for the guards or to be cooked for the sick or the aged; but the Warden urged me to have them taken in and have them cooked. I had the cooks divide them with the guards and themselves and others whom they thought suitable. I had a piece of fish myself and small piece of duck.

20 October 1888 • Saturday

Saturday, Oct. 20/88 Brother John Sharp, and Bro. C. H. Wilcken and Bro. A. Stayner called on me to-day.

21 October 1888 • Sunday

Sunday, Oct. 21/88 L. S. Hills, W. S. Burton and G. G. Bywater called upon me, Bro. S. H. Hill and Bishop T. R. Cutler this morning just before the close of Bible class. This class is very interesting to me. There were nearly one hundred present this morning. In the afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Archibald (Methodists) held meeting. She is a very sweet singer. He preached the best, so I am told, he ever did. He praised men who had backbone and who stood up for the right; and said the nearer men lived to God the more they would be opposed. Dr. Shipp has been very attentive to me in rubbing my knee and it has much improved.

22 October 1888 • Monday

Monday, Oct. 22/88 Brothers W. J. Jenkins and [blank] Tovey were released this morning. This is the second term of imprisonment both have served.

23, 24, and 25 October 1888 • Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Oct. 23–25, 1888. I have had calls from Bro. C. H. Wilcken who brought Bro. W. J. Phillips, who has just returned from a mission, on Thursday; called again on Wednesday; Bro. F. S. Richards on Wednesday; Brothers Jack and O. P. Arnold, Jr. and my son Abraham on Thursday. On Wednesday, I was for the first time since I have been in prison spoken to authoritatively by any one of the guards. A set of rules has been recently drawn up and printed and hung up for the prisoners to observe. Among them is one to effect that a prisoner must take off his hat when he enters a room where the guards are. I was called outside to the round house to meet Brother Wilcken. I entered and sat down, as had been the practice previously, without taking off my cap. Brother Joseph Thurber did the same, he having been called out at the same time to see Bro. N. V. Jones. One of the guards, who has been brought from the city to take the place of one who is sick, and whose name is [blank] Bush, punched Bro. Thurber with his cane and told him to take off his cap; then he turned to me and told me to do the same, and directed my attention to the rules which were hanging up. I did so without any remark; but the manner of the man stirred up Bro. Wilcken and when he saw him prepared to sit down and listen to our conversation he stepped out to Mr. Hudson and requested the privilege of speaking to me alone, he having an order from the Marshal to have this privilege whenever he desired it. Mr. Hudson came in and told me to walk over <to> the Warden’s office where we could converse alone. It is this Mr. Bush who had Bro. N .V. Jones put in the sweat box when he was here for some trifling cause. Several of the prisoners have felt, since he has been here at this time, that he is harsh.

Since writing the foregoing the Warden (Mr. Arthur Pratt) has spoken to me concerning Mr. Bush’s remark to me and hoped I would not notice it. He had sent him back to town, because he thought him unsuitable to be here.

26 to 30 October 1888 • Friday to Tuesday

Friday, Oct. 26 to Tuesday, Oct. 30th. I have had three visits from Bro. C. H. Wilcken, two from Bro. Clawson, one from Bro’s J. Jack, J. Cushing, F. A. Hammond (on Monday) W. H. Shearman (Monday) Frank Armstrong (Saturday) Jas. Sharp (Friday) H. M. Wells (Friday) B. Y. Hampton (Friday) My sons Frank and Sylvester (Friday) and William and Lewis (Monday)[.] The Marshal had an interview with me on Friday and another on Monday. The weather is delightful. Had a good time in Bible class on Sunday. No preacher came from town. Bishop Geo. Halliday and Bro. Henry Nebeker and [blank] came to prison Saturday evening.

30 October–6 November 1888 • Tuesday–Tuesday

Tuesday, Oct. 30/88 Brothers F. D Richards & F S. Richards came to see me about Receiver’s compensation and affairs of Deseret News Co. Brothers Jas. Jack and O P Arnold & C. H Wilcken called upon me.

I had calls through the week from my daughter Mary Alice and sons <Abraham,> David, Preston & Carl. Bro. Wilcken came every day. Brothers H B Clawson, O F. Whitney[,] Willard Young, [blank] Buchanan, A. O Smoot and C. S. Burton and J. C. Cutler, Sister Pixton, my sister Mary Alice, my nephew Frank Woodbury, and on Sunday, Nov. 4/88 Bro’s S. P. Teasdel, Knott and Barton and John T. Caine with whom I had a long conversation in the Warden’s parlor. Brothers E F Sheets, J P R Johnson, John Irvine, T. R Cutler and myself sent a letter to Provo Manufacturing Co. concerning the levying of assessments on stock. We thought it impolitic. Sunday School on Sunday, Nov. 4/88. A N Hill and W J Parkin were released on Monday, Nov. 5/88[.] Bro. [blank] Turner of West Jordan, Tuesday, Nov. 6/88. Bishop A. A. Kimball came in Saturday evening, Nov. 3/88. Eight months his sentence for adultery. His health is very poor. An act of inhumanity sending him here. Sunday afternoon, Nov. 4/88 F A Mitchell came out, with quartette who sang beautifully and preached to us. Had delightful rain last week.

Cite this page

October 1888, The Journal of George Q. Cannon, accessed March 19, 2024 https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/george-q-cannon/1880s/1888/10-1888