Notes for the family & descendants of Joseph Woolsey (1771-1839)






Appendix 8 - Notes





10. 10. SARAH WOOLSEY (JOSEPH7, RICHARD6, THOMAS5, RICHARD4, THOMAS3, GEORGE "JORIS"2, GEORGE SR1) was born October 02, 1820 in KY - Lexington, Fayette, and died February 21, 1899 in UT - Hatton, Kanosh, Millard. She married (1) WILLIAM M STEVENS July 23, 1834 in IL - Randolph County. He was born Abt. 1814 in IL - Randolph County, and died August 1834 in IL - Randolph County. She married (2) GEORGE WASHINGTON HICKERSON July 28, 1838 in IL - Fayette County, son of WILLIAM HICKERSON and MELINDA LUSTER. He was born December 13, 1813 in TN - Hickerson Branch, Goose Creek, Smith, and died August 17, 1884 in UT - Hatton, Kanosh, Millard.

JOURNAL: George Washinton Hickerson. "On the 29th of July 1838, I married Sarah Woolsey, daughter of Joseph Woolsey and Abigail Schaeffer Woolsey, born in the City of Lexington, State of Kentucky, the 2nd of October 1820."

VITAL: RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS, MARRIAGES. To Wm. M. Stevens 23 Jul 1834

MARR: Fayette County, Illinois Marriages 1821-1877. p. 145. my page 365. Geo. W. Hickerson and Sarah Stephens, L 27 Jul 1838, both of age, M 29 Jul 1838 by D. H. Mabry, J. P. L says George Washington Hickerson. Bk Old A, p. 12, 1. 29.

LDS: THE NAUVOO JOURNAL. Dedicated to Church History and Biography 1830-1857. Vol. 3. 1991. "Early Branches of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1830-1850." by Lyman D. Platt. p. 46. VANDALIA BRANCH, [Fayette County, Illinois]. 12 Oct 1840. George W. Hickerson; Sarah Hickerson; Rachel Woolsey; C. P. Lott, elder; Eleazer Miller, elder. [COR:2].

NAUVOO: Record of Members 1841-1845 Record of members who handed in Certificates. Geo. W. Hickerson, 12 Oct 1840, Sarah
Woolsey, 12 Oct 1840, from Vandalia (Illinois) signed by Elders C. P. Lott and Eleazer Miller.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 180. Summer Quarters, Sund, 27 Jun 1847. Cloudy. At 11 the Saints at the sounding of the horn met at J. D. Lee's for public meeting. . . children presented to be blessed... At the close of the meeting the table was spread and Pres. I. Morley and lady, L. Stewart and lady, F. W. Cox and lady, G. W. Hickerson and lady, Sister C. H. Saunders, Drusilla Pearson [Holt], Nancy Gibbons [No. 12], A. D. Young and lady and J. D> Lee's family sat down and partook of the rich festival that had been prepared by J. D. Lee. . . . names of children blessed included: George W. Hickerson and Sarah, parents of Joseph William Hickerson, born Nauvoo, Hancock County, Ill, 21 Mar 1845, blessed by I. Morley and F. W. Cox. 20 mi. to 3 p.m. Thomas and Julia Ann Woolsey, parents of Margarett, born Summer Quarters, Omaha Nation, 29 Apr 1847, blessed by Pres. I. Morly and F. W. Cox. and others.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 196. S. Quarters, Thurs, 22 Jul 1847. Clear and sultry throuogh the day. Sickness still making inroads in the camp. About 10 o'colck George W. Hickerson, Sarah his wife, Rachel L [No. 6] and William Martin started for Winter [Quarters]. Evening clear.

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 3. Winter Quarters. Teus. 29 Feb 1848. Cold & clowdy. Wind North. About 12 noon J. D. Lee, Marcia Allen, Sarah Hickerson & 3 children Started for Summer Quarters. J. D. Lee['s] Teams (ox) started about 8. All reached Home about 3 p.m.

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 4. Summer Quarters. Sat. 4 Mar 1848. Cloudy, cold. Wind high, North West. About 3. P.M. S. Gully returned from Winters & at 4, S. Gully & lady & Mary Thompson, Sarah Hickerson, & A. Woolsey Dined with J. D. Lee. Evening rather more moderate.


10S. George Washington HICKERSON-1443

Fayette County, IL. "History" mentioned are: p. 121 Wesley McInturff, b Kaskaskia Twp, 10 Aug 1831, son of Wilson and Mahala (Hickerson) McInturff, natives of Tennessee & Kentucky whose families came to Fayette County in 1816

Fayette County, IL. "Fayette Facts" Vol. 26, #1:6 William L. Hickerson, John Lee, Lee Yarbrough (p. 10) and Wilson McIntire (McInturff) were all members of a grand jury, Monday, 4 April 1826.

LAND: Fayette Facts. p. 55. 17 Apr 1827. A. J. & G. W. Hickerson entered land at W 80 acres.

Black Hawk War: ON-LINE: Black Hawk War Veterans Database Search:
Hickerson, Andrew J. CPL W. Ewing Co. Fayette Co., ILL.
Hickerson, G. W. PVT E. Iles Co. Fayette Co., ILL.
Hickerson, George W. PVT J. Dement Co. Vandalia, Fayette Co., ILL.
Hickerson, Washington PVT W. Ewing Co. Fayette Co., ILL.
Hickerson, Elisha PVT A. White Co. Adams Co., ILL.
Hickerson, William D. PVT A. White Co. Adams Co., ILL.

LDS: THE NAUVOO JOURNAL. Dedicated to Church History and Biography 1830-1857. Vol. 3. 1991. "Early Branches of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1830-1850." by Lyman D. Platt. p. 46. VANDALIA BRANCH, [Fayette County, Illinois]. 12 Oct 1840. George W. Hickerson; Sarah Hickerson; Rachel Woolsey; C. P. Lott, elder; Eleazer Miller, elder. [COR:2].

PROBATE: Fayette Facts. p. 219. [p. 142] Estate of Etheldred Yarbrough, John Yarbrough adm. Recorded 9 Nov 1841. Nancy Yarbrough gdn of minor heirs. Estate paid out to G. W. Fuller, John Evans, Stephen R. Miles, G. W. Hickerson, J. Black, Estate of Nelson Ryal, Thomas Thompson, Daniel Elam, Henry Inman and the regual fees of the attorney and Vandalia stores. [p. 168] Guardianship of infant heirs. Thomas S. Thompson appt. guardian. Nancy Yarbrough, former guardian paid him in full. 26 Aug 1843.

NAUVOO: Record of Members 1841-1845 Record of members who handed in Certificates. (Reel 4550) Geo. W. Hickerson, 12 Oct 1840, Sarah Woolsey, 12 Oct 1840, from Vandalia (Il.) signed by Elders C. P. Lott and Eleazer Miller.

BAPT: "Baptisms at Nauvoo for the Dead in the Mississippi River [fhl# 255501] no dates, bet. 1841-1845. p. 12. G. W. [C.M.] Hickerson was baptized for his brother Westley McInturff.

G. W. [C.M.] grandfather Luster
G. W. [C.M.] grandmother Luster
G. W. [C.M.] uncle David Luster
www doesn't know if C. M. is a misreading of G. W. but it is either G. W. or the work was done twice.
A:211 Geo. W. Hickerson was baptized for Matilda Corley, he was her brother.
A:47 Geo. W. Hickerson was baptized for John Hickerson, George was his nephew.

LAND: Fayette Facts. p. 55. 24 Nov 1843. A. J. Hickerson entered land at NE SE 40 acres.

Fayette County, IL. "History" mentioned are: p. 185 George M. Taylor, b Bond County 2 Apr 1848 s/o John H. & Luranah (Sterling) Taylor. John H. Taylor b 1818 at Harper's Ferry, VA. Luranah a native of Bond Co., IL. George N. = (1) Emily L. Morton, of Clinton Co., IL, on 22 Sep 1885. He md (2) Matilda (Wittenneuer) McInturff. Mr. McInturff b Seminary Twp 10 Aug 1830 & wife in PA 18 Feb 1828.

Fayette County, IL. "Land Owners to 1847" "Tax Assessor's Book". Mrs. Gene. Harris. Fayette County Genealogical Society. [19-- ?] 42 leaves:map
Includes: John D. Lee 29 Sep 1837 NE NE Sec 14 Twp 7n R2e
John D. Lee 29 Sep 1837 NW NE 14 7n 2e
Both listed as "Isaac Workman's Heirs"
Wm. S. Hickerson 15 Jan 1821 W1/2 SW Sec 29 6n 1e
This probably s/b Wm "L." In 1847 John Dement owned "Part"
A. J. Hickerson 28 Aug 1838 W1/2 NE Sec 2 5n 1w
A. J. Hickerson 17 Apr 1829 W1/2 SE 36 6n 1w
In 1847 A. J. Hickerson was listed as the owner.
G. W. Hickerson 17 Apr 1829 W1/2 SE 36 6n 1w
M. Hickerson 6 Sep 1838 E1/2 SE 18 6n 1w
In 1847 Michael Hickerson & John Morton were listed as owners.

VITAL: RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS, MARRIAGES. To Wm. M. Stevens 23 Jul 1834

MARR: Fayette County, Illinois Marriages 1821-1877. p. 145. my page 365. Geo. W. Hickerson and Sarah Stephens, L 27 Jul 1838, both of age, M 29 Jul 1838 by D. H. Mabry, J. P. L says George Washington Hickerson. Bk Old A, p. 12, 1. 29.

VITAL: FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, MARRIAGES. To G. W. Hickerson 28 Jul 1838

HIST: Fayette Facts. my p. 180ff. p. 198. Sale Bill for Ethelred Yarbrough. Sale held at residence 25 Oct 1838. Henry Inman was crier, John Yarbrough, adm. Those who bought: John & Nancy Yarbrough, Adam & David Smith, Thos. L. Harrison & B. W. Thompson, Herington Ryal, Thos. T. Stallings, Wm & Stephen Miles, John Glass, Elijah Allen, G. W. Hickerson, Aiken Evans, Hiram Revis, etc.

SALE: Fayette Facts. my p. 199. 4 Mar 1840. Washington Hickerson bought of estate of Archibald Largent. Archibald Yarbrough mentioned.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 69. Winter Quarters, O. N. Teus. 9 Feb 1847. Allen [Weeks] and Jas. [Woolsey] chopped me some firewood. In the eveing I wrote to G. W. Hickerson and family M.T.P. [Mt. Pizgah] after which I walked . . .

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 144. Summer Quarters, Teus. 6 Apr 1847. Morning clear, wind N.W. cool. About 8 I measured and laid off the city plots, then called my adopted family togeather (I.E.) such as were presant. Gave them the liberty of having their land set off to them or working as one family. T. Johnson, Wm. Pace and Miles Anderson choose the former proposition; A. D. Young, David Young, Jas. Wooley, H. Wooley, Geo. Laub, A. Weeks, Allen, Wm and T., Levi North, G. W. Hickerson and some others, the latter. Some sharp words passed between Bro. Arnold and myself because i reproved him and some others of his Co. for selfishness, for his hard speeches.

[Beginning of the trouble, which continued all summer, over division of land.]

p. 52 William Taylor History. In this portion of his journal, Lee began describing the process used by the Mormons to divide up the land and build cabins. But some of the men assigned to work on the Mud Creek Camp farm were unhappy with the location that John D. Lee assigned to them: ?Summer Quarters, Teus, April 6th, '47 -- Morning clear, wind N.W., cool. About 8 I measured and laid off the city plots, then called my adopted family togeather (I.E.) such as were presant. Gave them the liberty of having their land set off to them or working as one family. T. Johnson, Wm. Pace and Miles Anderson choose the former proposition; A.D. Young, David Young, Jas. Wooley, H. Wooley, Geo. Laub, A. Weeks, Allen, Wm. and T., Levi North, G. W. Hickerson and some others, the later. Some sharp words passed between Bro. Arnold and Myself because I reproved him and some others of his Co. for selfishness, for his hard speeches. Bro. A. Young and myself got up some board timber and hauled a few logs in. Bro. Harris, Dun and Busby arrived in camp. Evening fine.?

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 165. Summer Quarters, Fri, 14 May 1847. p. 55   William Taylor History - John D. Lee was proud of the fact that he was the adopted church father of a large number of members. They placed all their assets into one large partnership and promised to help each other with their daily needs: Clear and warm. J. D. Lee and family were planting corn, the remainder of the camp ploughing, clearing, &. Abt 3 p.m. A. Weeks, G. W. Hickerson, Jas Woolsey, Levi North and their families (all members of J. D. Lee's house hold) arrived from Mt. Pizgah. Their arrival produced no smawl stir among the connections. They came up like good and dutiful children, told their adopted father in the priesthood (J.D. Lee that they and their effects were subject to his council in all things. Evening clowdy and warm. At 7 Hickerson, Weeks, North, Jas. & H. Woolsey, A.D. and David Young and their families met at J. D. Lee's and spent the evening in music and dancing before the Lord. At the close of the recreation J. D. Lee called them to order and after instructing them in the odrder of mirth and recreation bowed down in prayer before the ruler of all things. Adjourned at 11. Good feelings prevailed. At 8 m. harris returned but with verry little meal. The mill was so crowded it was almost impossible to get grindings. Rain about 12.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 166. Summer Quarters, O. N. Teus. 18 May 1847. Clear and cool. Quite a sevier frost. .. In the evening Pres. I Morly, Jos. Allen, A. Weeks, I. Houston, G. W. Hickerson, Jas. Wools[ey] and several of the sisters met at and passed the evening at J. D. Lee's, dancing and enjoying the music. Adjourned at 9 by prayer from Pres. Morley.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 175. Summer Quarters, O. N. Thurs. June 10th 1847. Clear, W. N.W. J.D. Lee and some of his family were ploughing and harrowing corn (namely) A. D. Young, Allen Weeks, G. W. Hickerson, Jas. Woolsey, Levi North, Wm. Swap, Jacob Woolsey, Hyrum Rheu[??] and Woolsey [ww could he have meant here Hyrum and Reuben Woolsey?? ww], Allanson, and Marshal Allen, Wm. Woolsey, David Young and Eli Bennett; of the women Nancy the 2nd [No. 12], Nancy the 1st [No. 2], Racheal l[No. 6], Lovina [No. 13] and Nancy Ann, Emoline [No. 11], Lucinda and Louisa Free [ No. 3]. ... Evening clear.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 178. Summer Quarters, Sat, 19 Jun 1847. Clear and warm. About 9 Bros. Martin, Houston, Tuttle and G. W. Hickerson started for W. Q. for provisions. Bro. Canida and L. Stewart having traced out a new rout on a divide heading the creek that the bridge alluded to was on. Evening clear.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 179. Summer Quarters, O. N. Mon, 21 Jun 1847. Clear and warm. The camp generally weeding their crops. About 9 Emoline Lee [No. 11] started for W.Q. in Co. with Elizabeth Fairchild. J.D. Lee followed them and overtook about 6 ms. from S. Q. Told them the impropriety of such steps. Emoline promised reformation and returned home again. (N.B. She left Lee later in the summer to live with Charles Kennedy, his bitterest enemy at Summer Quarters.) Evening about 3 G. W. Hickerson returned from W. Q. with a load of provisions.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 187. W. Quarters, Sund, 11 Jul 1847. Clear and warm, light W.S. About 8 J. D. Lee, martha Berry, G. W. Hickerson, A. Colby, J. B. Teeple and J. Laird, also started for Summer Quarters... About 1 P.M. reached the 2 m. creek. We met one of J. D. Lee's teams with several of his family who were gathering goose and rous berries which were in great abundance along the bluffs. J. D. Lee and Martha joined them in berrying. Reached S. Q. about 4 P.M.... Evening clear.

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 195. S. Quarters, Teus. 20 Jul 1847. Clear and warm. At 6 after conseling Pres. I. Morly, J. D. Lee, Levi Stewart and A. P. Free walked south about 1/2 mile and selected a burying place on a very high eminence in the prairie which by J. D. Lee was called (Fair View) and laid it off and commenced berrying in the N. W. corner running south. J. D. Lee and G. W. Hickerson made the coffin and painted it green. J. D. Lee paid L. Stewart for digging the grave. [for David Isom Young]. [N.B. After a great deal of research Mr. E. G. Connely succeeded in locating the old Summer Quarters ("Fairview") cemetery. He says: "It was located on an unwooded point of the high bluff above Summer Quarters, giving a splendid view of the whole valley for many miles. It was approachable by wagons from only one point in the Summer Quarters area, the slope ascending from the site of the Summer Quarters buildings. It was the most beautiful site that could have been selected. There are now no surface indications of the graves, but Mr. Hineline, oldest living inhabitant of the region and owner of the land, visited the site with me. He and his father, a pioneer of 1855, knew the graves to be those of white persons because of their regular arrangement in two rows, but assumed they were soldiers from old Fort Atkinson, never having heard of Mormon occupation. There were no markers when Mr. Hineline first saw the graves (about 1870) but the two rows of depressions were plainly visible then. Their location is definitely known, but no surface indications now remain."

HIST: Kelly, Charles. JOURNALS OF JOHN D. LEE 1846-47 AND 1859. Univ. of Utah Press. Salt Lake City. 1984. p. 196. S. Quarters, Thurs, 22 Jul 1847. Clear and sultry throuogh the day. Sickness still making inroads in the camp. About 10 o'clock George W. Hickerson, Sarah his wife, Rachel L [No. 6] and William Martin started for Winter [Quarters]. Evening clear.

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 9. Summer Quarters. Frid, 17 Mar 1848. Clear, wind high, West. . . . about 3 P.M. James Woolsey & George Washington Hickerson arrived in camp from Mo. Brought with them a load of Flour, Lard, Bacon, Dried Aples etc....Lee gave a description of the graveyard at Summer Quarters, which he selected at the request of David Isom Young, and named it ?Fair View?. David I. Young was the first of several of the Mormon pioneers buried at this location. He was an extraordinary young man, who was well liked by all that knew him. He had never been married. The ecclesiastical leader, Isaac Morley, pronounced the dedicatory prayer at the burial (Journal of John D. Lee): ?S. Quarters, Teus, July 20th, '47 -- Clear and warm. At 6 after counseling Pres. I. Morly, J.D. Lee, Levi Stewart and A.P. Free walked south about 1/2 mile and selected a burying place on a very high eminence in the prairie which by J.D. Lee was called [Fair View] and laid it off and commenced berrying in the N.W. corner running south. J.D. Lee and G. W. Hickerson made the coffin and painted it green. J.D. Lee paid L. Stewart for digging the grave. About 1 P. M. Squire Wells from Nauvoo, Wm. Cutler, Miss Gheen, Golden and another lady whose name I have forgotten arrived, took dinner with J.D. Lee, seemed highly gratified with our new location. Returned about 30 m. to 4 and between sunset and dark David I. Young was buried. About 1/2 the camp attended the funeral. At the close of the interment Pres. I. Morly returned thanks in behalf of the deceased and gave good instruction.?

HIST: Cleland, Robert Glass & Juanita Brooks. A MORMON CHRONICLE: The Diaries of John D. Lee - 1848-1876. Vol. I. The Huntington Library. San Marino, California. 1955. p. 10. Summer Quarters. Sund, 19 Mar 1848. Cloud[y] & cool. Wind east. . . & about 10 morn. G. W. Hickerson & Jas. Woolsey returned. Aggathean Lee & Abigail went with them on a visit. Previous to starting Jas. Wool[s]ey & G. W. Hickerson determined if possible to disuade their Mother who was Sealed to J.D. Lee from crossing the Mountains this Spring & thereby cause trouble in J.D. Lee's Family. Seeing her determination to go, James [said/] that if she went before he did that it would Brake into his calculations & that he would take Wm. her only Son at home from her to Mo. & she might gow alone. J.D. Lee hearing this said to her that if she intended to look to him [for] prot[e]ction & Salvation, that she must adhere to his council for he was her Husband, Bro., Father, President & Saviour or else he was Nothing & that if she would be humble in Prayre that she should have Power to hold her children & that they would obey her council through her Head & that [they] would follow her whereever she went. She Said that J.D. Lee's advise was good & that She felt the weight of his words, went home, called her children arround her & advised them to be passive. Said to James, because I want to do right you are trying to hedge up my way by persuading my only help to leave me, but if this [is] the gratitude that I am to recieve from my children whom I have raised from their infancy, it is grieveous to me. But, my sons, do with your aged mother as seemeth good, forsake me if you choose [but?] I will follow council. Her words being guided by the Spirit of her calling perfectly conquered their [ ] insomuch that they were overcome, wept & asked her forgiveness. J.D. Lee, Jacob Woolsy, Rachel Kelsey, mary Y. Lee & Nanc[y] An]n] Vance for fear of a storm husked corn all day.

CENSUS: 1850 Census of Louisville, Eldorado County, California, 15th Jan. by C. I. Coffenberry, census taker. page 451. 5-5

Here George W. Hickerson is with his brother Andrew J. Hickerson and with his brother-in law William Wolsey in the California Gold fields, now selling groceries to the miners. Also probably the four others mentioned below.

AUTOBIO: Hickerson, George Washington. A little before I was taken sick, my brother, A. J. Hickerson came to me from Illinois and after my sickness, he, myself, and four others put our mites together, put up a house and kept goods and provisions and a boarding house. This, we did until Spring, (1851) when William Woolsey and myself sold out to the others and went out to Bear River, and there, kept a trading house until fall when we returned home on the 9th of Oct 1851.

GOLD: Davies, J. Kenneth. MORMON GOLD The Story of California's Mormon Argonauts. Olympus Publishing Co. 1670 East Thirteenth South. Salt Lake City. FHL# 977.4 H2da p. 183 ff. The third sub-group probably associated with the Pomeroy Train was that led by George W. Hickerson. Born in Tennessee in 1813, he was baptized in Illinois in 1840. He was sponsored as a gold missionary by President Willard Richards (11), counselor to Brigham Young and carried with him a letter from the First Presidency to Elder Lyman. His brother, Andrew Jackson Hickerson, evidently accompanied him; at least he was living with him in the fall of 1850. No detailed record of this group's adventures en route has been found, but as the group reached the southern mines on 10 Apr after five months and five days, they must have left the valley about the time of the Pomeroys and therefore probably traveled with them at least part of the way.

As already referred to, on 30 Mar 1850 Elder Charles C. Rich came across the Hickerson Party at French Camp near Stockton. They were "just getting in from the lake (and) met with us going to the mines in destitute circumstances." (12) In a letter of 11 Aug 1850 George W. Hickerson succinctly summarized the ordeal to his sponsor, President Richards, with the statement that it was "a long and tedious ordeal of five months and five days" (13) from Salt Lake to the Mariposa Mines.

The gold missionary's letter reported that, having been counseled by Brother Rich to go to Mariposa, they had done so digging there for "six weeks without the least success." They then moved to the northern mines, "prospecting as we went." About the 20th of July they made a claim on the Middle Fork of the American River and had since labored "with our might in the banks and bars," but were earning no more than $8 or $10 a day which was "considered good wages in the mines" at that time. However, they had hopes of "making their raise" once the waters went down and the stream beds became accessible.

Hickerson was embarrassed by the fact that they had so little to show for their labor but said that he would have felt worse if the brethren were not all in "the same order." He added that "even those who have been here since the first discoverings of the mines are but little better off."

While in the Mariposa mines, Hickerson paid a very small tithing on 1 May. He appears to have been in partnerships with his young brother-in-law, William Woolsey, who also modestly tithed. (14) It is presumed that the latter had been in the Hickerson party; Hickerson and Woolsey also later paid a substantial joint tithing on 9 Aug in the vicinity of Slap Jack or Murderer's Bar.

George and William remained in California over the winter being found by the census taker in Louisville in El Dorado County that winter. They were then identified as "gardeners" with Andrew J. Hickerson and several others, each listed as having $1500 in real estate. (15) Living next to the Hickersons were several Mormon miners. (16) It is possible that some of these had been associated with them and the Pomeroy train.

On 1 Oct 1850 President Willard Richards made a deposit of $202 to his credit in the Gold Accounts, the initials GWH being noted, (17) evidence that Richards and George W. Hickerson were associated in the gold mining venture. It was only one of several deposits made by Richards that fall, indicating that he probably had other partners.

At least George returned to Utah where he was operating a small store at Kanosh, Utah, in 1854 when he was called on a mission to the states. Listed as a farmer in 1863, he died in the faith at Kanosh, in 1884. (18)
  • note 11. Richards made a deposit showing the initials GWH. Gold Accounts, Church Archives.
  • note 12. Charles C. Richards, DIARY, op cit (words in brackets are the author's)
  • note 13. George W. Hickerson, LETTER. Church Archives, 11 Aug 1850.
  • note 14. Lyman, op. cit., G. W. Hickerson was married to Sarah Woolsey, sister of William Woolsey.
  • note 15. Jeremiah F. Evans, William Whittle and Samuel Buniard. CA Census El Dorado Co. 1850.
  • note 16. Living next to the Hickersons at Louisville were Erastus and Willard Bingham, and next to them Lucas and Peter Hoagland, Israel West and Richard Robinson, Ibid.
  • note 17. Gold Accounts, op. cit.
  • note 18. Carter, OUR PIONEER HERITAGE, op. cit. Vol. 12; pp. 247, 366.


Appendix 9 - Notes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

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