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Document Number: 69
Author: CURTIS, George
Classification: COMPILED: FamilyHistory
Location: USA
Date Range: BTWN 1823 and 1911
Personal History of CURTIS, George
Document Entry Number: 1
Information:
Records of Dr. Asa L. Curtis obtained by LaVeve Curtis Hurst. Dictated by George Curtis to his granddaughter Irene Colvin.
Transcription:
Born: 27 Oct. 1823
Silver Lake, Oak., Mich.
Father: Nahum Curtis
Mother: Millicent Waite
Died: 5 Feb. 1911
Payson, Utah, Utah
I George Curtis, was born 27 Oct. 1823 at Silver Lake, near Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan.
When I was 10 years old, the Prophet Joseph Smith in company with Jared Carter, came to our place preaching the Gospel. Meeting was
held in my father's house. There was quite a branch of the Church built up around this area. My people all joined the Church in 1833.
Zion's Camp was organized to go to Missouri. My brother Lyman, and sister Sophronia. were in that company. In 1836 the Saints were
driven from Jackson County, Missouri; this was sometime in November of that year. That same night, a shower of stars fell all over the United States.
That marvelous event is still remembered by many people. The Saints went to Clay county and commenced to build up a city and took up farms on
Log Creek.
In 1836, my father bought a farm from Mr. Fletcher. We farmed it 2 years. It lay 7 miles east of Far West at the mouth of Log Creek, where
it emptied into Shoel Creek.
The Saints began to gather here from all over the States. Both, they that were driven from their homes, and they that were not. By 1838
there were from four to five thousand people gathered at this place. The mobs again began to drive the Saints from their homes, burning their
buildings, stealing their cattle and other property.
In Davis County is where the mobbings started but they soon spread to Jackson County. The trouble started over the election in Aug, 1838.
Mother took sick at this time and continued to get worse. She died on 3 Sept, 1838 and was buried on the 5th. She was a very good and
religious woman. I had to read a chapter in the Testament every Sunday, when I was quite small.
On 6 Sept. 1838, the first man I ever saw with a sword was Shadrack Roundy. It took me so by surprise, that I never forgot it. The mob
would not let the Mormons vote. That caused a fuss that kept getting worse all fall.
Mother was a great hand to worry if any of the family was away from home. Brother Roundy, (with the sword) came for father, Lyman.,
Moses and Joseph to stand guard to keep the mob from burning and stealing. Had mother been alive it would have been a source of trouble for her.
I have many times thought it was a blessing she was spared that sorrow; yet the call was made the day after she was buried. They were gone ton days
on guard duty, then came home, but were called out again.
About 25 miles north of Far West, near Grand River, Moses said there were some rocks that seemed to have been built up in some shape,
but had been scattered over quite an area. The Prophet said that was too place where Father Adam built his altar to offer sacrifices when he was
driven out of the Garden of Eden.
On October 1st Father and the boys came home and in a few days they were called out again. About this time Father sent me over to
Brother Houghton's to notify three of them to go to Davis County as the mob was gathering there again. The day before I went, I saw about 30 of the
mob gathering here.
There were two roads to where I was sent, but I took a path that was shorter and for three miles made my way across the prairie safely.
I had my dinner and started back, this time on the wagon road. I had gone about a mile when four or five men passed me; they were horse-back. They
passed by me and I looked back and saw some more man coming. I became frightened and thought by running when I couldn't be seen and then
hiding while they passed me, that I could get to where the road turned off towards home; but they caught up with me. There were two men on
horse-back with an extra horse, which they were leading. They had guns and wanted me to ride with them on the extra horse. They said the mob was
burning and stealing the Mormon's property and they were going that way, I might as well ride. I told them I had just a short distance to go.
These men were swearing and talking about the Mormons. When they got tired of begging we to ride with them, they said., "Let the damned
Mormon go." and spurred up their horses and left me alone. To my great joy, I soon reached home in safety.
My first experience standing guard was in September 1838. I and my father were at brother Aaron Lyman' s. It was getting near night.
Brother Lyman wanted me to stay with him and help stand guard that night. We lived about one half mile away. I told him I had neither coat or gun.
I was 15 years old at this time. He told me he would let me have the things I needed. A little after dark., Brother Lyman, Carlos, and I started for
Namum Benjamin's house about one half mile away. He lived on a public road running north. A few days before this I had seen about 30 men with
their guns and wagons going in this same direction, which led to Davis County; where the fuss first started.
Brother Lyman had charge of this place; we reached Benjamin' s alright. The road was hard and dry, the night was still and dark, and
we could hear horsemen. It sounded to me like about twenty men on horse-back. We got our guns and stood sheltered by the house. On they came;
brother Lyman gave the "make ready" and then called, "Who comes there?" At the call they turned their horses towards us. He called again, "Who
comes there?" and we were ready to shoot. Charles C. Rich and Amasa Lyman rode nearer and one of them asked, "Is that you brother Lyman?"
They had taken our challenge for the mob; and were we glad when we found they were friends. They came in and we had supper about 11p.m. and
they went on their way rejoicing.
Soon after this the Haun's Mill massacre took place. We Lived 7 miles east of Far West and 12 miles East of Shoel Creek. The mob intended
to come upon us but due to smoke and darkness, they turned onto a better road that led to Far West. The Prophet had sent word to the Saints at Haun's
Mill, to either come to our place or go to Far West. This word was sent three times, but they neglected to comply with it and as a result they were
murdered by the mob.
In a few days the legion was called out again. In looking back on those days, it seems we were in continual training. The Prophet wanted
to take the Saints across the river and go west to the mountains; but the mobs hindered him. At one time the steamboat was kept fired ready to leave
for two days, but the Prophet would not go. He was finally forced to give himself up to his enemies. He did so with the feeling that he would be
murdered, and so it proved to be.
The Governor called for the State Arms; I had a musket. I took it to the place appointed at the Masonic Hall. It was raining a little and
the Prophet was standing on the doorstep. I asked what I should do with the musket. He pointed over his shoulder; I put it in the corner with some
more. He mounted his horse and started towards his home. I never saw him alive again. He went to Carthage on the 27 June 1841, where he and his
brother, Hyrum Smith were murdered. There was a report that the mob was intending to get his head, I with others stood guard. We went in to see
the bodies and then I went home. I was so sick from the experience that I could not go to the funeral. I never saw them again after that night of guard.
In 1845, I with Foster, Calvin Reed and William Jackman, went up the river to get a raft of wood. I and Foster got ours ready to float. The
wind had been blowing hard all day, and we waited, hoping for the wind to lull. We started back in the night, Reed and Jackman did not understand
the channel of the river, so we made a fire on the raft and let them have the skiff. When all was ready; our raft was a short distance below theirs. I
found an axe missing. Foster got it and gave it a toss. The edge of the axe struck my heel, cutting a bad gash. I did not know that it had cut for
sometime as it was numb. I felt of it in the dark and found it was wet, I went near the fire and saw it was blood.
About nine o'clock we came to a point of an island. The wind was blowing very hard. We got the boat tied up and after this I became very
faint and dizzy. After awhile the dizziness passed off but I was so weak that we decided to leave the raft there. We were fifteen miles from Nauvoo.
Foster saw a house across the river and as we were on an island, Foster called to the man and he came over in a skiff. We explained our situation
and I was getting weaker all the time. With a good deal of coaxing, he let us have his skiff to take me home. We left a good gun in pawn for the return
of the skiff.
We finally started for Nauvoo and reached there a little before sundown the next day. Foster had to go a mile to get a team and wagon
to take me home. I did not get around again for six weeks. The other boys somehow lost their raft of wood entirely.
In 1845, I was ordained a Seventy. We left Nauvoo, not knowing where we were going. We wanted to do something to help prepare for
the journey west. We got the idea that meal made from parched corn would keep sweet longer, than without parching. We had a lively time parching
corn. I was called for one of the guards; our folks had crossed the river and were camped on Sugar Creek, about six miles from the river. I crossed
the ice of the river on 6 February; came to the camp which I found was meager looking affair. They had made camp by a log with forked poles stuck
up and poles laid across with blankets over the top and around the sides, and a big fire was kept burning out in front. This was our guard quarters
for the winter. We kept guard day and night for six weeks and the weather was bitter cold.
I found that in the accident with the axe, I had cut an artery in my foot and had almost bled to death. The guard duty was harder on me
on account of my condition. We left there in March; it rained and snowed and was very muddy. We traveled very slowly for we had to double team
most of the way.
The cold and wet was sure discouraging. While the other boys were setting up camp, I went to the wagon of George Micks, and sat on the
tongue of his wagon, and had a good talk with him. He talked very kindly and encouraged me; I felt some better. We traveled on to the Sheridan River.
There was no feed for the cattle. We cut down trees for them. to browse on. The weather was stormy and we stayed here several days. It was hard times
for something to eat. The meat and meal that I had furnished was all gone. The meal made from the parched corn was very rough and no life in it.
It would physic a person. It made me sick; I was so weak that I could hardly walk. I got William Head to ask Chandler Rogers for a piece of cracker.
He got a piece about as big as my three fingers. This wasn't very much for a man that was starving to death. I can recollect how discouraged and
blue I felt. I had started out with enough provisions to do me two months; yet it had been used for the company.
We would eat slippery elm bark; we even put it in some flour but it was a poor substitute for bread. I crawled over to my sister's tent and
got a piece of corn bread. I can remember just how it tasted unto this day. It was the best piece of bread that I have ever tasted in my life. We worked
for some corn, hulled it, and it was better than parched meal. This was the toughest time I ever had in my life. My shoes were about gone; the weather
stormy; my clothes very poor; myself weak and sick. I was very much discouraged. The guard was finally dismissed and I joined the pioneers. My
tongue cannot tell the things we endured on that journey, and up to this time it was not over yet.
Before we got to the Sheridan River, Brigham Young said the Mormons would leave Nauvoo with a pack on their backs and would be glad
to get away, which came to pass soon. About thirty of us left for the Missouri to get work. The camp went to Garden Grove, where we will leave them
for the present.
We traveled for two days; it rained, we camped; spread our tent. We cut oak brush to put under our blankets to keep them out of the mud.
In the night the wind commenced to blow and down came our tent. In the morning we lay with our hips in the water. It had rained, snowed and blowed
all night. I think this was about the most miserable night I ever spent. We traveled about six miles and then camped. We went to hunt work. Calvin
Reed and I went to a farmer and asked for work. He said he wanted some corn stalks out and burned. I stayed to work, and the next morning me and
another young Mormon cleared the ground while a man plowed. While I was there it happened to be Sunday. We received three bushels of corn; hulled
it and lived on it. We got a job hewing some timber for a jail. Worked a week at that. By this time we were leaving Missouri. Father sent a team to help
the brethren out.
We started in March, we traveled about 15 miles. I well remember that afternoon; it commenced to rain; we came to a log house and got
in for the night. We were very muddy and cold. It snowed about six inches that night. Nothing particular happened that night only it was very
disagreeable.
We traveled on to the Mississippi River to Quincy; crossed over to Warsaw and stopped for a little while. Went three miles farther up and
rented a farm of Lewis Hyde. My two uncles, Jeremiah and Jacob with their families came up there to stay. We had three log rooms to live in.
Uncle Jacob died there. I had a very bad sick spell and could not go to school. It was here that father married Delia Reed. She was very
kind to me in my sickness, in nursing and caring for me. In the spring of 1840 my brother Moses, married Aurelia Jackman.
We built a house in Commerce, afterward called Nauvoo. We had lost almost all our property in Missouri. We had hard experiences on
that account. We got along pretty well after we commenced to work on the Temple. On the 6 of April 1841 the corner stone was laid; there was a large
gathering of the saints on that occasion. Father and his sons worked at polishing the rock for the Temple from the beginning until it was done.
He farmed 5 acres of land for Harrison Pierce; we cut cord wood, made chairs and worked all we could to get a livelihood. We had to stand
guard all the time. It seemed as though the evil one tried to destroy the Church from the very beginning.
When I was 17 years old, I joined the Militia. The company was uniformed with white pants, blue coats, black hats and red socks. We
afterwards had red coats. We drew muskets from the States, which we kept until 1844.
At this time we had to train a good deal and work on the Temple with a poor living. I got so tired trying to live on corn meal; I thought
I would try to get some flour myself. Foster and I arranged with a man that had a wood yard, to sell him some wood. We brought home a barrel of
flour; then came the word that the mob was upon us. We all had to turn out with our guns to keep them off . That barrel of flour did not last us a week
Then we dug a well on the Temple block. The Prophet was very sociable. He would come around to see how we were getting along.
Every little while the roof of the Temple would catch fire. In 1846 the water to put out the fires came mostly from the well. I happened to
be there one time and helped put the fire out.
At that time the people were crossing the river to go west. One time my sister Mary and her husband and one child and My brother Hyrum
were on the ferry ready to cross. The oxen were uneasy and in stomping around they knocked a plank from the bottom of the boat. The boat sank and
the outfit went off into the river. The wagon went some distance down the river. They were seen from the other side of the river and help came to get
them out. My sister was trying to nurse her baby. They were alright except wet and cold. A fire was soon built on the shore and they were warmed
and dried.
One time father, Joseph, Foster and I were taking some colts across the river to an island. It was a fine clear day and we got there alright.
In the afternoon, the wind blew from the south; the middle of the river was free from ice but the banks were frozen on each side. When we were out
in the middle, the ice broke loose from both sides and fenced us in. By this time the wind was blowing a gale. We had a wagon cover along, and we
took it for a sail. Ahead of us was Madison island; at times the water would go over the bow of the boat; then we would I lower the sail and bail out
the water. The ice closed in on us tight; we thought we were lost for sure. As the sun went down the wind moderated and we started to shore by poling
from the front of the boat; by using the oars as well as the sail, we were able to reach shore after one and one half hours of hard work. We fastened
the boat on shore and started home which was two miles away. The wind was cold and by the time we reached home our clothes were frozen stiff to
our bodies.
One time the Militia was training near the river; we wanted a drink, and on a little bench ten rods from the shore we laid our guns down
and started for the river. The Captain looking to the east saw the Prophet standing with some other men. He called, "Halt, right about face, each one
march to your gun and get it. We must have a guard over our guns." Four men were selected to guard them; after laying them down again we made
for the river. While we were drinking we heard men running and on looking up we saw the Prophet with a gun in his hand and four men after him.
They had a lively time for about five minutes and then we had a good laugh.
I was in the company that hauled off the grocery store, that was put up on the Temple block. It was declared a nuisance by the City Council.
We had four or five yoke of oxen to haul it about 100 yards; then tipped it over and let it roll down a steep hill. It belonged to Calhoon and Higbee.
We were instructed to remove everything from the building before moving it. The Prophet was there to supervise the destruction of the grocery shop.
The company I belonged to was always on guard when there was any opposition.
The Prophet told Calhoon if he did not quit persecuting the Saints, he would go blind. The last I ever heard of him he was in St. Louis and
was entirely blind.
The Printing Press was destroyed at another time., it belonged to Foster, Higbee, and Calhoon. This was one item of trouble that led to
the death of the Prophet and the Patriarch. It seems to me almost miraculous that we were not entirely destroyed; so bitter was the feeling towards
us.
On the stand just west of the Temple, in a public meeting one day, Joseph the Prophet said he had property in common with the other
brethren in Missouri and he was going to have it; and got up a company to go across the river. I had a brother in this company to cross the river.
They took their blankets and crossed in a flat boat in the afternoon. They came back in the night. (A section of the story seems to be missing here.)
We commenced on the lst of January 1847 to make staves for copperware on shares. We worked about a month and a half and earned
about $200.00. We started for Quincy on the same boat we went up on. They said, "They are the Mormon boys. You can go if you work for your
passage." We agreed to that and got along quite well, We called to see William Reed.
We then went to St. Louis and saw the three steam boats burned. We then got on board a boat going to Winter Quarters; bought a.yoke
of oxen and put them on Calvin Reed's wagon.
In July we started for the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. I drove a team for L. N. Scovill; arrived in Salt Lake 12 Oct. 1848. We made
adobes and built a small room 9 by 11 feet.
In 1849, I drove a team for Brother Faft to San Pete valley. That was the commencement of the San Pete Valley settlement.
I fell in love with Peteetneet Creek and made up my mind that when I left Salt Lake City, I would go there to make a home. 30 Oct. 1850
I was married to Emma Whaley and did move to Payson as it was later called. There were four families there. Joseph and his family were with us in
our move to Payson. Brother Kimball told us to stay here unless we were called to go someplace else.
In 1851, I built a house and planted a ten acre field. In the spring I moved to the little field and back to town in the fall.
On 18 July 1853, the Indians killed brother Keele. This was followed by a war. I fenced a place west of town to make a farm, but sold it
to brother Mikesel. I received part of the pay and the rest I never got.
Then I in company with Lycurgus Wilson put up a saw-mill at Pond Town (Salem) Utah. He sold out to Harrison Pierce, myself and David
Wilson. We got the mill to running in 1856-57.
I married Mary Openshaw 22 Nov. 1857. In 1858 Joseph was afflicted mentally and was in that terrible condition for 3 and one half years.
It was quite a strain to take care of him. In 1857 the move occured and I was very blue, for I thought I would have to move and all my means were
tied up in the mill. It turned out alright in the end for we did not have to move. In the spring of 1858, when the soldiers came in, lumber was in
demand and the mill brought in enough to pay for itself.
At this time, myself, William McClellan, Littlewood and others built a Union Hall. We had meetings and theater performances in it.
I was going over to Camp Floyd with a load of lumber and when I got to Payson I received word that the flume to our mill had washed
out. It cost us $350 to repair it and rebuild. At this time William McClellan and John Bellows began a partnership. We hired some hands and went
up on Mt. Loafer and run down logs and cut them into lumber. We continued to do this for 3 and a half years. Then we moved the mill up stream a
few miles so that the water could stay in the pond when the gate was shut. The arrangement worked quite well.
We worked together in the canyon, on the farms and at other jobs. We thought we did better than if we had worked alone. When we sold
the mill, it broke up our partnership.
Then I went to Summit Creek (Santaquin) and worked for Brother Johnson at his saw mill. In a short time I and William McClellan took
the mill to run on shares. We did this for 2 years.
Then they began to plan to take the water out of Spanish Fork River, by building a dam in the river. I took an interest in this project. In
September we commenced to build the dam across the Spanish Fork River. Lyman, Moses, Joseph, William McClellan, John Bellows and I built the
dam. I was put on the committee to supervise the ditch. Several hands were hired and we worked all winter on the ditch and the dam. The other men
had been working on this project two years before I went to work on it. We stayed with the job with as many hands as we could get.
In the spring of 1869 we turned the water into the canal and raised a petty fair crop.
In 1870, we enlarged the canal and was able to get more water. This is what really built Pond Town (Salem) when we got water for the
land.
Associated Persons and Marriages:
CURTIS, George (Id# 8695) BornD, MEDIUM
CURTIS, George (Id# 8695) BornP, MEDIUM
CURTIS, George (Id# 8695) LinkCToFather, MEDIUM
CURTIS, George (Id# 8695) LinkCToMother, MEDIUM
CURTIS, George (Id# 8695) Religion, MEDIUM
CURTIS, George (Id# 8695) DiedD, MEDIUM
CURTIS, George (Id# 8695) DiedP, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Lyman (Id# 8685) Name, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Lyman (Id# 8685) Religion, MEDIUM
WAITE, Millicent (Id# 220) DiedD, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Jacob (Id# 216) DiedP, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Nahum (Id# 221) Religion, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Jeremiah (Id# 219) Name, MEDIUM
OPENSHAW, Mary (Id# 6392) Name, MEDIUM
HARTLEY, Sarah Wells (Id# 6393) Name, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Hyrum (Id# 8702) Name, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Joseph (Id# 8691) Religion, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Mary (Id# 8693) Religion, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Foster (Id# 8697) Religion, MEDIUM
CURTIS, Sophronia (Id# 8683) Religion, MEDIUM
(Living) and (Living) (Id# 1080) LinkMarriage, LOW
(Living) and (Living) (Id# 4316) LinkMarriage, MEDIUM
(Living) and (Living) (Id# 4316) MarrD, MEDIUM
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