Elisha Hildebrand Davis - letter to Grandmother

My Dear Grandmother - Nauvoo, April 21, 1847

My Dear Grandmother,

   For the first time in my life I sit to write a letter to thee. I am happy to say I am well and sincerely hope this may find thee alive and well. I have just arrived here from England where I have been for two years and a half. Ruth lives here and has been sick for some time. Esther is here taking care of her however she is getting well now.

   I am sorry to inform thee my sister Sabrina Harrison died of Black Canker on the 22nd of February. This we learn by letter from father.  She was not sick long, left 3 children with my father, Isaac Harrison. I believe has gone to California but I suppose will return.  Father is at a place on the Missouri River called Council Bluffs --- and were all tolerable well in health the last account. Elizabeth is married to a young man named Henry Boley from Lancaster Co. Pennsylvania and Hannah is married to a Mr. Isaac Brown from Canada.

   Will Uncle Abijah or Uncle Rowland please write to Esther R. Davis or R.L. Peck direct to Nauvoo, Illinois and they will know where I am and communicate with me.

   I have lived a long while without being married but I have got an excellent one at last (Mary Ann Mitchell). Perhaps grandmother will be anxious to know more about her. Well, she is the only child, small in stature, light hair, fair skin and dark eyes. She was 24 last birthday (19th October) and she pleases me, as hard as I was to please.

   The mob has drove our brethren all away from this place and taken possession of the spoil and are now living in the houses which they took from the rightful owners because of our religion but there is a day of righteous judgement coming.

    Farewell dear Grandmother and all relations for the present 

    I remain thy affectionate Grandson

                                            Elisha H. Davis                                                

Elisha Hildebrand Davis - Autobiography

Elisha Hildebrand Davis - Autobiography

Autobiography of Elisha Hildebrand Davis My great, great grandfather's name was John Davis, who came from Wales. Four brothers came together, tow of whom settled in Salem County, New Jersey, one of them in Pennsylvania and one went south. John Davis was one of the two that settled in New Jersey. His wife's name was Elenor and was my great, great grandmother. My great grandfather's name was Thomas Davis. He was born and died in Salem Co., New Jersey. His wife's name was Elizabeth Bassett. They were first cousins. My grandfather's name was Isaac Davis, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Davis. He was born in Salem Co., New Jersey and died at a good old age in Columbiana, Co., Ohio. He was a Quaker by profession. His wife's name was Hannah Hildebrand.

My father's name was Isaac Davis who was born in Salem Co., New Jersey. When seven years old, he emigrated with his father to Frederick, Co., Virginia, lived there until he was about 22 years old, then emigrated to West Township, Columbiana, Co., Ohio where he lived until about 1839. he having been baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with most of his family. A few months or perhaps a year or two after, they all moved 6 or 7 hundred miles to Quincy, Illinois, thence to Pike Co., Illinois and thence to Lee County, Iowa. During these movings, I was on a mission to the Eastern States. Then lived in that place about four miles from Nauvoo, Illinois several years and bought over 900 acres of land from the Prophet Joseph there; paying him the money for it. He and his family in 1846 moved with the body of the church to Winter Quarter, not far from Council Bluffs on the Missouri river, 800 miles above St. Louis and died there. He had been a farmer through life. My father died and was buried there in the Spring of 1844. My Sister Sabina Ann Harrison died about the same time.

My wife and I arrived at Winter Quarter from England, a few days after my father's death. My father died of black canker in the faith of the everlasting gospel.

My mother's name is Edith Richards Davis. She was born in Bedford Co., Virginia and was married to my father in Columbiana Co., Ohio about the year 1814. Her father's name was Abijah Richards, I believe of English descent. he died an old man in Columbiana Co., Ohio. His wife's maiden name was Esther Daniels of German descent. They professed the Quaker faith. My mother died near Onawa, Monona Co., Iowa, August 8, 1866 aged 72 years 3 months and 22 days.

I was baptized by Edwin D. Worley august 19 1828, in Sandy Creek on my father's farm, confirmed the same day by Elders Worley and Lossin in my father's house. I was ordained an Elder January 8, 1839 by Elders Lorenzo D Barnes, H. Sagers and E. D. Worley in my father's house, West Township Columbiana Co., Ohio, it being the house I was born and raised in. Next day started on a mission east of the mountains with the three who ordained me. Assisted in raising up branches of the Church in Chester, Co., Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania, also in New Jersey and Delaware. In the fall of 1840 I travelled to Nauvoo with a family I baptized, spending the winter there with my family. Was present April 6, 1841, when the corner stone of the temple was laid.

I left Nauvoo on a second mission April 24, 1841, arriving at Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Book of Mormon preached in that region until 1843 when I left for New Haven, Connecticut. Labored there one year and built up several churches. From thence was called by President Brigham Young on a mission to England, arriving in Liverpool, August 19, 1844 and was sent to preside of the London Conference and presided there until December 1846.

On April 9, was ordained a seventy by Apostle Wilford Woodruff.

I presided over the London Conference until December 1846 and married Mary Ann Mitchell in London, December 25, 1846. We started for the United States same day, setting sail from Liverpool, January 19, 1847 in company with John Taylor, P. P. Pratt and Josefah Caine and others in the ship America. landing at New Orleans on the 7th of March. After a perilous voyage of 9 days and nights in the Irish Channel alone, proceeding up the river to St. Louis and on to Winter Quarters after a visit to Nauvoo and the Temple. At Winter Quarters in 1847 joined the 2nd quorum of seventies, remained in it until 1854 when I was made president of the 36th Quorum of seventies. My father and sister Sevina died at Winter Quarters a few days before I arrived. I remained there about a year and attended grist mill re-crossed the river to Iowa, built a house on the ground where the liberty pole stood and where the battalion was rallied. Lived there two years. My daughter Mary Ann and Elisha were born there. Removed 10 miles east to Keg Creek where Sarah Agnes was born, remained a year and emigrated to Utah in the summer of 1852.

Attended Gardner's mill on the Jordan River the first winter and in the spring of 1853 moved to Lehi. Farmed that summer and removed to Davis County in the spring of 1854. Attended Bro. Heber C. Kimball's mill over a year. Was ordained a president over the 36th Quorum of Seventies by President Joseph Young in the summer of that year in Salt Lake City.

My success in life I attribute to her devotion as a wife and help mate. Not an unpleasant word every escaped her lips to her husband. Devoted in life, true unto death, she has gone to the rest of the just, lamented by all who knew her.

My wife and I were endowed in 1854 March 245h and sealed March 31st 1854 as husband and wife in the Endowment House in salt Lake City. In the fall of 1855 moved to Weber Co. and settled at Bingham Fort, near Ogden City. Bought a place and farmed there that summer. The same fall, went out to Echo Canyon and Fort Bridger with the volunteers to prevent the United States Army from coming into the valley. At the time of the general move in 1858, we returned to Lehi, Utah Co. Attended Mill until 1869 when we moved into the city of Lehi and bought a house and two lots and other property. Afterwards purchased land and have continued farming and stock raising there since.

May 1, 1891, was ordained a High Priest by Bishop T. R. Cutler and was set apart by Albert Jones to preside over the High Priests Quorum of Lehi, June 27, 1896 over which quorum I still continue to preside and will be 82 years old on the 22nd day of next October, 1897.

Elisha Hildebrand Davis

Verland Edith Evan's Maternal Great Grandmother

To My Posterity:

During a life of nearly 82 years, 59 years of which time having been spent in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I can testify to the happiness of a life of moral honesty and religious devotion. Experience has taught me the high value of moral purity and religious sentiment, as reaching far above earthly pleasures and the gratification of appetite and passion, which cannot produce lasting joy.

My success in life has come through my not borrowing money and mortgaging my home, but through my always living within my means, and sustaining myself and family by the sweat of my face.

When I owned little, I lived on little and was satisfied. My married life of 46 years has been a happy one; my wife was always true, gentle, faithful, kind, and wise, a helpmate in very deed to me. During our entire married life of 46 years, we never had a hard feeling, or cross word, but lived in love together, always adopting the rule of speaking gently and kindly to and of each other; and now at the advanced age of 82 years, standing as it were on the verge of eternity, my great desire and advice to all of you is to be faithful and true to our holy religion, to never depart from the faith and turn against God.

Every day that I live, I rejoice more and more in the great work of the Lord, and in the hope of eternal life.

Your loving father and grandfather
Elisha Hildebrand Davis
1897

Elisha Hildebrand Davis

Elisha Hildebrand Davis 1815-1898
(Verland Edith Evans Smith's Maternal Great Grandfather)

Elisha Hildebrand Davis was the son of Isaac Davis and Edith Richards Davis, born Oct. 22nd 1815, West Township, Colombiana County, Ohio. He received the Gospel and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Edwin D. Wooley, August 19, 1838 in Sandy Creek on his father’s farm.

He was ordained an Elder January 8, 1839 by Lorenzo D. Barnes, H. Sagers, and Edwin D. Wooley in his father’s home, the house where he was born. He was the oldest of ten children through a line of American ancestry of Welsh and English decent, coming to America with the Pilgrim Fathers about 1630 to 1650 or earlier. Many of his ancestors served in the Colonial and American Revolutionary Wars and at least nine of his ancestors were Signers of the great Magna Carta of England. The great progenitor of the race, John Davis of Wales, was of the Singing Quaker faith, a very devout and sincere man. He (John Davis) and his four sons assisted in establishing the Friends Meeting at Piles Grove, Salem County, New Jersey about 1705, known as Fenwick Colony. The said John Davis married Dorthea Gotherson, daughter of Major Daniel Gotherson of Cromwell’s army, on Long Island in 1680. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters all born on Long Island, removing to New Jersey in 1705. He lived to the extreme age of 100 years. He was a consistent and devoted member of the Society of Friends, to whose religious faith most of his numerous decendants belonged.

Two of his sons, John and David, were delegates to a convention in Philadelphia where they worked and voted against slavery.
(Reference to Davis History: History Cumberland County, New Jersey, by Thomas Cushing M.C. and Charles E. Shepard – Page 702; J.N. Colonial Documents, County of Wills, page 135; Davis Family, Fenwick Colony, Page 75; History of Camden County, New Jersey by George P. Powell.)

Thomas Wilkins Davis, many years a director in the National State Bank of Camden is a lineal descendant in the fifth generation of John Davis who emigrated from Wales and first Settled on Long Island.

Falk Davis had a grant of land October 1642 in Southampton; he was one of eleven men who first left Mass., near Lynn and came to Long Island and is claimed as relative of John Davis of Wales, perhaps father or uncle.

Elisha Hildebrand Davis, the subject of this sketch before receiving the Gospel was of the Quaker Faith handed down to him for six generations. When he heard the Gospel as revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith it brought joy and peace to his soul. Ever after his life was spent working faithfully in his labor of love.

He started on his first mission east of the Alleghany Mountains, January 9, 1839 on foot, traveling more than 300 miles in mid-winter wearing a pair of thin calfskin boots, and a suit of homemade clothes. His mother and sisters clipping the wool from the sheep’s backs, washing, cleaning, carding, spinning into yarn, weaving a cloth and making the clothes he wore.

He assisted in raising up branches of the Church in Chester and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania, also in New Jersey and Delaware. When in need of clothes he would go into the farmers field and cradle their grain or with scythe mow their hay for little money to buy them with and while there would preach the Gospel. He brought into the Church such men as Bishop Edward Hunter – Bishop Jacob Weiler --Bishop Elijah Sheets -- Bishop John Neff, the Bushman and Rodeback families and many others. In the Old State House in Philadelphia in search of his Genealogy he traced back on a straight line to John Davis born on Long Island New York who married Elinor Brick.

1. John Davis born abt. 1689 Long Island, New York Md. Elinor Brick
2. Thomas Davis born 13 Nov 1719 Pilesgrove Salem, N.J. Md. Eliz. Bassett (first cousin)
3. Isaac Davis Sr. born abt. 1753 Pilesgrove Salem, N.J. Md. Hannah Hildebrand
4. Isaac Davis Jr. born 20 Feb 1783 Pilesgrove, Salem, N.J. Md. Edith Richards
5. Elisha Hildebrand Davis Sr. born Oct. 22 1815 Colombiana Co. Ohio, Md. Mary Ann Mitchell

In the fall of 1840 Elisha went to Nauvoo, Ill., with a family he had baptized. Was also present April 6, 1841 when the corner stone of the Temple was laid. Left Nauvoo, Ill. again for the mission field arriving April 27th 1841 at Lancaster Co. PA. He held a debate with Dr. Orr in the month of August on the subject of the Book of Mormon, preached in that region until 1843 when he left for New Haven, Conn. There built up several branches of the Church, was with Apostle Orson Hyde in New York at the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. He was called by President Brigham Young on a Mission from there to England, arriving at Liverpool Aug 19, 1844 and was sent to preside over the London Conference and did so until Christmas Day 1846, when he married his wife Mary Mitchell in London Dec. 25th and started in company with John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt, Joseph Cain and others for the United States, landing at New Orleans the 7 of March 1847 after a perilous voyage of nine days in the English Channel alone.

His father and his sister Sabina died at Winter Quarters a few days before he arrived about May 25, 1847.

Elisha was ordained a Seventy by Apostle Wilford Woodruff and joined the Second Quorum of Seventies, remained in it until 1854 when he was made President of the 36th Quorum of Seventy.

Elisha was a miller by trade, and opened the first Grist Mill in Nebraska built by John Neff, remained about one year, recrossed the river to Iowa, built a house on the ground where the Liberty Pole stood and where the Mormon Battalion was rallied, lived there two years, his daughter Mary Ann and Son Elisha were born there, removed 10 miles east to Keg Creek where Sarah Agness was born, remained a year then emigrated to Utah in the summer of 1852, operated Gardner’s Mill on Millcreek the first winter, in the spring of 1853 moved to Lehi farmed that summer and removed to Davis County at Bountiful in the spring of 1854, operated Heber C. Kimball’s mill at Bountiful more than a year, was ordained a President over the 36th Quorum of Seventy, by President Joseph Young in the summer of that year, and remained in that position until he was ordained a High Priest May 1, 1891.

He with his wife were endowed March 24, 1854 in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City, and sealed as husband and wife March 31, 1854. In the fall of 1855 moved to Weber County, and settled at Bingham Fort near Ogden City. He bought a place and farmed for two years there. In the spring of 1857 removed to Bountiful, Davis Co. reaming and farming there that summer. That same fall went to Echo Canyon and Fort Bridger with the volunteers to prevent the United States Army from coming into the valley, at the time of the general move in 1858, he removed to American Fork, Utah Co. after returning to Bountiful, then returned to Lehi. Utah Co. He operated Samuel Mulliners Mill until 1869, when he moved in to the city of Lehi, and bought a house and two lots and other property. May 1, 1891, he was ordained a High Priest by Bishop Thomas R. Cutler and was set apart by Albert Jones to Preside over the High Priest Quorum of Lehi, June 27, 1890 over which Quorum continued to preside until his death 31st of July, 1898 at his home in Lehi, Utah at the age of 82 years and 10 months and 22 days.

He also filled a mission in Iowa and Illinois during the fall and winter of 1869 and 1870. Was also a home Missionary in Utah county for two years.
Later search by Archibald F. Bennet, Sec. Genealogical Society, and Salt Lake City places John Davis who married, Dorthea Gotherson as being born on Long Island, New York instead of Wales and the son of John Davis Sr. of Oyster Bay, Long Island and grand son of Folk Davis.
Elisha H. Davis Jr.
Lehi, Utah
Age 84

Supplement to Biography of Elisha H Davis Sr

That part of the biography referring to the U.S. Army not being permitted to enter the Salt Lake Valley during the winter of 1857 and 1858.
To those not acquainted with conditions and facts existing at this time it might appear that the people were not loyal, when in fact this could not be true; for instance not withstanding the mobbing and pillaging of innocent people in Missouri and Illinois, with their much suffering and hardships, being driven out into the wilderness and their faces turned toward the setting sun, where could any more patriotism be shown than the volunteering of 500 of her best and bravest men in 1846 to aid the United States in her War with Mexico these men comprising the Mormon Battalion endured more suffering and hardships and made the longest and most difficult march in the history of the World.
Again in 1847 that loyalty was shown when Brigham Young with that noble band of Pioneers though sick and weary from hardships and fatigue endured that long and perilous March of more than 1,000 miles. Ascended Ensign Peak (north of Salt Lake city) and planted on then Mexican soil the flag of American Liberty.
Now as to what was known as Johnson’s Army coming to Utah in the fall of 1857, rumor was plentiful that it was to be a war of extermination for the Mormons. It was therefore thought wise to let them cool off in the Mountains during the winter, and they would be likely more reasonable when spring and warmer weather should come, so volunteers for this purpose were raised.
My Father Elisha Hildebrand Davis being one of the number. In the spring of 1848 satisfactory arrangements were made for them to enter the valley passing through Salt Lake City and locating at Camp Floyd Cedar Valley more than forty miles South West of Salt Lake City where they remained until the beginning of the Civil War when they were called back for service in the Union.
However General Johnson, Floyd and others whose sympathy was with the South, joined the Confederate forces, and died in the service of the South. The coming of the Army to Utah instead of proving a calamity turned out to be one of the greatest of blessings that could come to the people, before its arrival, many began to be destitute for clothing other necessities of life, as all articles of merchandise had to be freighted from the Missouri River to Salt Lake City by ox teams, more than 1,000 miles. The flower of the American Army coming to Utah not only brought with them the goods and necessities of life, but also the money to buy them with which they would part with freely for any thing the people might have to dispose of.
Elisha H. Davis Jr.
Lehi, Utah
Age 84 (written July 1934)