Eli Azariah Day: Pioneer Schoolteacher and "Prisoner for Conscience Sake"

Utah Historical Quarterly

Vol. 35, 1967, No. 4

Eli Azariah Day: Pioneer Schoolteacher and "Prisoner for Conscience Sake"

EDITED BY ROBERT B. DAY

0n Sunday, November 18, 1888, Eli Azariah Day was ushered through the gates of the Utah Territorial Prison to the welcoming call of "Fresh Fish!" from the old inmates. His "crime" was the same that imprisoned a thousand other Latter-day Saint men in the same institution. He had been sentenced for polygamous cohabitation to a term of five months and a fine of $150.00.

In 1878 Eli had married Eliza Jane Staker in the St. George Temple. Six years later he had been sealed to Elvira Euphrasia Cox, his first and only plural wife, in the Logan Temple. Eli was himself the son of a polygamist. His father, Abraham Day, III, had marched with the Mormon Battalion, then pioneered in Springville, Utah, where Eli was born September 23, 1856. In 1860 Abraham moved Eli's mother, Charlotte Katherine Mellon Day, to Mt. Pleasant. Here Eli herded cows, swam in Sanpitch or in Pleasant Creek, and played with Indian children as well as white. Poverty amid pioneer conditions was the common lot, but, as Eli remembered, "I was happy as a lark." He went to school in the old log schoolhouse and soon showed a natural aptitude and love for learning.

On the street in Mt. Pleasant in the summer of 1875 he was approached by Bishop Seeley and his own father with the proposition that he should go to the University of Deseret (now the University of Utah) and complete a one-year normal course to prepare himself to teach in his own community. The eager young scholar accepted and worked hard to support himself during the demanding school year in Salt Lake City. He boarded and worked at the home of Amos Milton Musser, who soon advised him to join a new organization of young men just formed by Brigham Young in the Thirteenth Ward. So it happened that young Eli became a member of the first Mutual Improvement Association of the church.

During the winter Professor Karl G. Maeser, who had been teaching the normal class, was sent by Brigham Young to Provo to found the Brigham Young Academy. John R. Park completed the class year as teacher. On June 9, 1876, thirty-two students received their normal diplomas, the first ever issued at the University of Deseret. Armed with that diploma and the learning it represented, Eli went home to teach in Mt. Pleasant. As his letters reveal, he was a man of gentle nature and loving affection. He discarded the willow switch and corporal punishment wherever he taught. He was to have a long and happy career in the classroom. As teacher and principal he taught in places so far removed, for those days, as Spring Glen in Carbon County, Thurber (now Bicknell) in Wayne County, Woodland in Summit County, and the Emery Stake Academy. Most of his teaching years, however, were spent in the northern Sanpete County communities of Milburn, Oakcreek, Indianola, Round Knolls, Mt. Pleasant, and Fairview. Sixty-six years after his enrollment at the University, Eli was its honored guest at Homecoming. His diploma was the only one known still in existence, and he was the only survivor of that first normal class.

Eli settled to his teaching in Fairview in the 1880's. Mt. Pleasant, six miles to the south, had been the childhood home of his first wife Eliza Jane Staker. She was the daughter of Mormon pioneer Nathan Staker, whose first wife had died crossing the plains. In Utah, Nathan married a widow, Eliza Cusworth Burton (Eliza Jane's mother), who had survived the terrible ordeal of the march of the Martin handcart company of 1856.

In Eli's school at Fairview was a young teacher named Elvira Euphrasia Cox, daughter of Fairview pioneers Orville S. Cox and Elvira Pamela Mills. She caught the principal's eye and became his second wife. Eventually Eli built separate homes within two blocks of each other for the two families, but at first they lived together.

In the spring of 1885, Eli had to leave his school in Fairview and "go on the Underground." U.S. marshals were out to arrest him for polygamy. He went alone to Emery County and worked, much of the time for his father who had moved there earlier. This was the beginning of a long period of unsettled family life and sudden flight to avoid arrest.

After his release from imprisonment during the winter of 1888-89, Eli took both his families to Emery County, where he taught at the Emery Stake Academy while his second wife, Euphrasia, taught in Cleveland. One day a marshal accosted him with a warrant for his arrest. Eli, quick to seize any chance of escape, noted that the name was incorrectly stated on the warrant. His protest sent the marshal to Eli's bishop who confirmed that Eli was not the man named in the court document. The chagrinned officer dashed off to have the change legally made while Eli dashed for home. He loaded his plural wife and family in a wagon and set off for Colorado. Eventually, as feelings cooled following the Manifesto, Eli and his families were allowed to resume their normal lives.

In 1900 his second wife Euphrasia separated from him. She had borne him five children; Eliza had been the mother of thirteen. Eli was an affectionate parent and his old age was filled with children, grandchildren, and more. There were frequent family reunions at which the descendants of both wives mingled freely. The respect of generations of his former students mellowed his declining years. Eli could take pride in his progeny. His example had been impressive: eight of the eleven children, by Eliza, who reached adulthood, taught school. Four of them married teachers.

At the age of eighty, Eli began his memoirs, but lost himself so completely in the reminiscences of the younger years that he never carried his history past the beginning of his first year's teaching. It remains a remarkable record of pioneer childhood games, songs, adventures, and relationships. He died at age eighty-seven on November 23, 1943, and was laid to rest in the hilly cemetery above the town of Fairview where he could look down upon the generations he had taught the studies he had loved. Both of his wives survived him -— Euphrasia to pass away in 1944, and Eliza in 1948.

The following letters were written to his families while Eli was "on the Underground" and during his imprisonment in the territorial penitentiary.

[Emery County] May 8, 1885

Loved ones at home.

Your letters have been received, and read with much gratitude. I received one from Mt. Pleasant a week ago-, but did not answer it then, because I had just mailed one the same day. From Fairview, it came day before yesterday. I now answer both to Fairview, because, as I suppose Eliza is there before this gets there. I am glad that E. J. feels so well, she seems to be less blue than E. E. Please to look through something of a lighter shade and with all the hope you can. Do not look at the black side so much, for there is a side that appears to me to be very bright and glorious. As long as I know that dear ones are not suffering for food or clothing, or from cold, hunger or sickness I can feel joyous, and thank God for his many blessings, for they are many and great unto me and mine. I had much rather you would stay at home during your

"We are too poor to hire?" Are there no bills against folks who are able to work, and not likely to pay anything else? But you may have your own way, just as you can agree. No coercion from me, remember. Tell mother E. P. that her lines were greatfully received, but to be very cautious about using relationship to much in letters, for we do not know where they may sometimes go, and might, in a certain emergency, prove very ugly. Love and respects all the same, but we must be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

I am doing nothing but working for father. Nor expect to for some time. I am getting $30.00 per month. Make up your minds to stay where you are the coming winter. Do not feel despondent about finances. I have seen much darker times, with less prospects. Remember the darkest hour is just before the dawn of day. But what is dark before us? A short separation? Hundreds of men leave their families for much longer periods, and we must not grieve at such a small thing as the present, but look forward to the bright future which will come as surely as God reigns and we prove faithful to our covenants. Poor Tena! Ah! if such trouble were stairing us in the face, then there would be great cause for forebodings. But may God grant her recovery! If E. J. is not in Fair please send this to her, it is written to all. Let E. P. read it. One thing please remember, and that is that I do not wish you to injure yourselves with big day's work, even though things may not go to suit. One foolish day may ruin a woman's life, and I never was in love with any person for what she could do in a day, but for her striving to be pure, holy, virtuous, and true to the Kingdom of God. I continually pray for loved ones, and was about to ask you all to pray for me, but think I would be asking for something that I have already received.

Do not sell the organ. I have plenty to settle all debts if they will take what I have to offer, and if they will not, they will have to wait until I get something that will suit them. But my debts are to be paid by me. I am very glad you are so willing, and thankful for it, but if the organ is sold, use the means to make yourself comfortable, or in someway to provide income for yourself for the future. If I had language sufficient I would express feelings of love that are in my breast, but my words would fail. Often in my dreams am I with you, but oftener in my thoughts. Short will be the time until I will see you all face to face, then what joy will be ours! Ah! the thought of that time gives me strength! Health and happiness are mine; and I wish you to try to imitate me, and be just as happy as you can. When blue streaks appear, cast them aside and think of joy to come, for I feel to say, in the name of Israel's God, that joy is not very far off for all. Since I know that all are well at home, I am happy and joyous. I intend to so continue. What can the world do to mar this happiness of mine? Nothing!! So long as I am able to keep God's commandments!

And may God assist you to feel the same is the prayer of E. With love and kissesfor all.

The girls will have to eat dinner without me, but may each eat a piece of pie for me, well sweetened though. Our fare is not of the richest. Potatoes, milk, butter, pork, rabbits, but not quite as much graham as I would like, yet I ame [sic] hale and hearty, and my labor scarcely makes me feel tired since I have got a little used to it. Tell the boys who teach school to use my things that are in school until the end of this term and then return them. Hans Madsen, is one of the best young men I know. What do folks say about me? E. P.S. Please see Brown and ask him how much he will give to boot between his place and mine. If he will give $200.00 in cash to boot he can have mine. Get P. H. Hurst or Amasa to see him. E.

[Emery County] May 30, 1885

Dearest:

This is my last half Sheet of paper, and I sent my last envelope with my last letter. I am well, and all the folks are also well. We have got our work done so nearly that we expect to start to the canion [sic] next Tuesday, to work on the Huntington Canion road. We expect to get to work at the mill about the 15th. I have got in about 2 1/4 acres of lucerne in and watered over once. Next Monday we intend to lay off our land that we are intending to take up. Yesterday we were out leveling ditch and found that we can get the water onto the land with about three months work from each man. Ditch making, in this country, is quite a hard job, as the streams are large and lay so low. We have to make 5 or 6 miles of ditch to get the water where we want it, and part of that is on the sides of hills. I have got one of the colts that I bought, paid for. I expect to get some lucern put in on the lots in Castledale, if I can hire anyone to put it in for lumber, this is my only pay. No one has been to the office this week, and I expect to get a letter today, the reason why I did not get your letter last week, was because you sent it to the wrong office. It came to me on Monday last.

Two or three weeks! Not very long to wait! Be patient, and keep off the blues. I had them very badly for about three hours one day this week, but have been feeling better since.

Be cautious of your work, and guard your health very carefully, for my sake, and also that of the sweet ones. Tell them that pa loves them all day and all night, but they must not talk to other children or folks about pa, and that he is coming to see them but they must not tell any one anything about it. If any one has any desire to write to me, let them do so, but do not tell them where I am, but put their letters in with yours. You may direct one more letter the same as usual, then I will try to be post master and mail carrier also.

I believe that I have said nothing about George. He has been the truest boy to his Mt. Pleasant girl that could be possible, and she will never find one who can be more so. He has never once gone with a girl in this county, not even so musch [sic] as to take one home, or walk through the streets with one, although he has been counciled to forget her, and find another. All would be very glad to see things made right again, even George, and he has written to her once, but she seemed to have no desire to make up. My gossip. My heart yearns to be with you all, and that is my aim.

How about the propositions to Brown and Hanson? Love to all the dear ones, and respects to all enquiring friends, unless they get too inquisitive.

E.A.D.

Dear wife & family, Pen. Dec. 1, 1888

This is the second time I have written, but have not received any word from home yet. I have been he[re] no[w] two weeks to-morrow. My health is good, and the time seems short to me. Nothing bothers me but the thought of those at home who have a heavy burden to bear. Tell the children to be good to one another, and that I want Estella to be good and kind to her little brothers & sisters, and to do all she can for her mother, also to write a letter to her father. Tell Ellis, Geneva, and Orville to carry all the wood & coal, and ask them what they want to tell pa. Kiss the children for me every morning, and remember me always in your prayers. I think of you by day, and dream of my home and dear ones by night. Be careful of your health, and do as little as you possibly can and get along. Please do not cut your own wood, but get some one to do it for you, for I know you have more other work, without chopping, than you are really capable of doing. I want the children that are old enough to attend S.S. and Primary whenever the weather will allow.

We had a grand time here on Thanksgiving day. The people of Salt Lake, under the lead of Geo. Q. Cannon, donated turkeys, cellery [sic], butter, money, and the necessary things, and we had a nice dinner, at 3 P.M. on Thursday. After the dinner, before we had left the tables, Mr. Doyle, the prison guard, proposed a vote of thanks to G. Q. Cannon, & others who had assisted in getting up the dinner, and a hearty responce came from all present. Even Peggy, the little pet dog of the Pen, responded in a way to* raise a roar of laughter and a rousing clapping of hands.

I have found a few brethren who wish me to give them instructions in Grammer and other branches. We have to go through the exercises promenading in the yard, or in some corner, as the house formerly used for school, is now in use as a hospital.

Everything here is kept neat and clean, but it seems to me to be a pity to see over two-hundred men, most of whom are healthy and strong, enclosed in these walls, with nothing to do but to cook, eat, sleep, and clean yards, rooms, & cells; still such is life in the pen. Some employ their time in study, some in making whips, walking canes, bridles, and other trinkets, probably earning 25¢ a day. I fear that when I am released I will be too lazy to do anything, even to teach school. Please write & tell your brother Wm.'s family that I am here. They may desire to come to see me. Sendme a towel if you can.

Sunday. I had written most of my letter before I received your welcome letter. Give my love to all enquiring friends. I would be pleased to hear from any of them but cannot answer their letters. You may let any of them read my letters to you. Get the hay from the old yard hauled, if you can, and put into the south end of the barn. If E. Davidson will winter the old mare, he may have the above named hay. Write often.

Your loving husband, Eli A. Day

Dec. 7, 1888 Beloved wife: I have just received a can of honey and three lbs. of butter from home. Many thanks. Yesterday I received a letter from my sister, many thanks to her for her kind remembrance of me in my time of trouble, but you will have to let her read letters that I write to you for her answer. Give her my love. Ask all my brothers and sisters to write to me. I dream of them nearly every night, and am often on the old homestead with them, father & mother. If father does not come to see you, send him some of my letters to read, that he may know how I am geting on. I am so glad to hear that he has concluded to stay in San Pete this winter, and that Arlington and his wife will be with him. Tell him that I have learned of several families of Days in the Territory since I came here. I hear of one, presumably about 70 years of age, whose address is Eli Day, CircleVille, Piute Co., Utah. I almost hope it is uncle Eli, my namesake, for I have been informed that he went to California many years ago, also that this Eli Day came from California. I have also learned that Wm. Broomhead, son of sarah Broomhead, wife of mothers Cousin Benjamin, lives at Lake Shore, Utah Co.; and that Wm. Broomhead, son of Wm. Broomhead, also mothers cousin, lives in Paris Idaho. Tell Geo. and Dora of this, and tell George that / charge him very particularly to write to them upon the business With C. H. Wheelock, and getting the genealogy of mothers family. I can only write but one letter a weeke [sic] from here (and my dear wife is entitled to that one) or I would write to them myself. As nearly as I can learn, all of your brother Wm.'s folks except Matilda Wagstaff, have moved from Sugarhouse Ward, I cannot learn where. As the little mare is badly hurt, I would rather you would not let Thompson have her at all. I have milk for supper now, also all the good water I want to drink at all my meals. The warden's name is Pratt. Give my kind regards to Bro. & Sister Anderson, to brother Madsen & Wife, also brother Wilson, and all enquiring friends, send word to the school that I long every day to be with them, and would willingly teach them for nothing this winter if it would release me from here. Not that imprisonment is irksome to me, but my love for my dear pupils in school, and also' my pupils in music, leads me to> desire greatly to be with them again. Tell the schoolars to be kind and obedient to their teachers. I think also of my choirs that I left and the S.S. Give my regards to the trustees, to the presidents & members of my quorum, and all who enquire after my welfare. Our S. S. is composed of but one class, with Bro. Cannon for teacher! Think of a Sunday school Class of over one hundred members, composed of Presidents, bishops, Seventies, elders, high Priests, with an apostle for a teacher! We learn golden thoughts from the Bible, which are explaned by our teacher, and then read from the New Testament. Sunday, Dec. 9, 1888, I am still well, have just come from S.S. and listened to very excellent remarks from Br. Cannon. But O! it will be a treat to me when I can again mingle my voice with my own dear schools at home. I have the privilege of singing in the choir here which I highly appreciate, but all are male voices, and not half so sweet to my ears as the voices of the daughters of Zion. I want Estella to attend S.S. choir practices when the weather is good, if the leader will allow. I asked you to send me a towel. Please send me a fine comb, a ball of yarn & darning needle. My health is excellent, and I am getting fat and lazy. I have not yet received my covering of stripes. I can find plenty to do to pass away the time. I remain, your ever affectionate husband,E. A. Day

Tell the babies that papa sends kisses to them all, and will come to see them again by & by. My Christmas present to them is 25 cts in wheat to each, and 50¢ to ma. be sure to use this much for presents for them and yourself.

Dec. 15. Dear wife; Your letter was received on Monday, my sister's on Tuesday. I am sorry to hear that you are not very well. I know that you have more to do than you are capable of doing. I told you before I left that it was to much for you. Now, I want you to see brother Warner and get him to do the feeding of the horses and cattle, and also the watering of them. Tell him that I will pay him for it after I get home, and that if he wants to use the team some he can, by being careful of them, as I know he will be. If you can not get him to do it, see if you can get brother Neilsen. Then give him to understand to feed the cows about half as much hay as they would eat, and let them eat the straw from the shead which they can reach themselves as the shed is very low. He can also open the chaff house about Christmass [sic] and deal out the chaff in proportion that will use it up by Spring. No excuses will be accepted by me for your not getting help; for your welfare is more to me than all the property we have. Also hire the wood chopped. Urge brother Mower to haul the load he is owing, also urge Orville to haul a load. I charged him nothing for the teaching of his children for a year, and he can certainly haul a load of wood in return. Has C. Coolard hauled a load of coal ? If not, get after him pretty sharply about it, also after Owen, for he promised faithfully to haul me two loads, and you must pay him out of the store. Do not neglect these things, but be very urgent upon them. I try to answer all your questions. Be very sure to keep me posted as to your health and the children's. There is nothing to bother me but the anxiety concerning my family, and if you do not let me know the true conditions of things, I will certainly feel to blame you. If anything is wrong, do not wait for a certain time of the week, but write at once. Tell the children Pa is so glad to hear that they are good, and that, by the time you get this, one month of my absence will be past. Pa sends them an extra kiss. Remember to get them the presents for the wheat. There are many nice little things made here that I would like to by to' send to them, but I can not. Remember, dear wife, that my love is true and increasing, and that the advice I give is not to find fault but for your good. I spend a portion of my time here teaching some of the brethren Grammar and arithmetic, some writing in albums, also studying geology, chatting with the brethren upon principle, practicing in the Choir, &c.; plenty of ways to pass the time. I desire to study Bookkeeping, and if you will please look among the books you will find two books on that branch. Please send them to me by mail. I believe they have been covered with colored cloth. I caught cold and was not very well yesterday, but am feeling splendid again to-day. Sunday. Dec. 16. I have just returned from a feast of instructions in S.S. given by Bro. Cannon. He teaches us, not as little children, but as, what shall I say? Cohabs.? Probably! I was so pleased to get such a nice letter from my little girl, and to see it so well written and nicely composed. I want her to write one or two every week and send in your or sister's letters. Have received three letters this week. Get the straw if you can. Tell the folks in Mt. Pleasant that if they do not write to me, I shall give orders to keep my letters from them. I send my love to them all, also to father and mother and all the relations in Manti. I believe Nathan is still at the paper mill which, I think is located on Cotton wood near the canon. I have plenty of bedding for the present. You may send me one pair of socks.

I am glad the children are so good and helpful, and Pa will buy them something nice some time if they will only keep on. Ten cts. per day for the wagon. The school bills are all in the small red backed bill book. I have tried to answer all your questions but it is in a very scattering way. Tell the children Pa got all the kisses they sent, & you give them two, for me, for each one they sent. May God bless all my dear ones and keep them from evil, sickness, poverty, distress, and perplexity of every kind, is the constant desire and prayer of your loving husband,

E. A. Day

Give my regards to all enquiring friends. I enclose a small poem of my own composition. E. A. Day

Dec. 21.

Dear wife; George has written me a letter and sent Ephraim & wife's letters to' me. Thank him kindly. I was very much pleased for the favor. This is all the letter I have yet received this week. I wish you all a merry Christmas and hope you will enjoy yourselves. We are, I understand, going to have a grand dinner here. I have been promoted (?) to the office of waitor and dishwasher! so you see I will be handy when I come home. The work does not hurt my feelings very much, but it takes so much of my time, that I can not get to study half so much as I desire, it also interferes with the teaching I was engaged in. I hope though, to be able to retire from Dishwashing before long. It would be a sight to you to> see me, and Bro. Baily, my 42nd. cousin, with our sieves rolled above our elbows, washing spoons, tin cups & plates &c, for over two hundred men, three times a day, and four or five men wiping them. This takes us but little over half an hour, but setting tables, and putting on the food, then cleaning up and gathering the dishes, is what takes the most time, so that five or six hours each day are spent in the dining room. The food of the waiters, though, is a little better than the others get, and we can sit in the dining room to< study, if we wish. It is a pleasant room, well lighted and warmed. We are getting pretty well filled up with men, some coming in every few days, Bp. Chamberlain, of Orderville came in this week. He tells me that Delon is safe yet. Some men here have hopes of a speedy release, others rest certain that they will stay a long time. All that come from Beaver court seem to get the full extent of the law, while, from the other courts, there is much more leniency. Many are here serving a second term. But look forward with renewed hope, for the time is speedily passing, Christmass will have past by the time you get this and spring will be upon us almost before we look for it, when we will be reunited, I hope, to be separated no more by the law. Be that as it may, we are working in the kingdom of our God. He is still stearing the ship Zion, and will bring her safe to shore. Again I caution you against working too hard. Do not stay up late of nights to do your work, even though you may have to' leave some little things unfinished, for the first part of the night is the best to rest in, and "Early to bed & early to rise" is a good motto and worth practicing. Tell my little ones that Pa still remembers them, that we had a nice deer here in the yard, but he got so that he would hook people down and they had to kill him. We also have a nice little dog and three or four cats. Many pretty little birds fly about the prison, roosting in the windows and picking up the crumbs. We are surrounded by a wall 21 ft. high, and can not get out unless we could fly with the birds. But Pa will get out in the Spring and come to his little children again. Just got a good long letter from sister E. George says that sister Dora is going to write to me soon. Tell her I am very glad her health is so good, singing school calls me now, more hereafter. Dec. 23. I received your letter and one from Henry M. Bohney the evening I started to write this. As to sisters question about helping mother, I would advise her to do so when she has time, but to continue living where she is. Tell Bro. Henry that I would be ever so much pleased to write to him, but can write but once a week. I feel to say "God bless Bro. & Sister Anderson for their kind visit, and all others who come to cheer you in this time of trouble. At such times we find out who are our true friends. I am surprised about John M. for he promised me faithfully to haul the load of wood. Tell Bro. Wilson I will be pleased to shake his hand, but do not desire to in this place. Kind regards to all enquiring friends. Tell the school children to be kind to their teachers and get their lessons well. I know they have good teachers who will show them an example in life worthy to be followed. How I would love to be there with the school, with the S.S. also, on Christmass Eve, but above all, to see the dear ones at home, who so long to see me. But we must be patient, and give honor to God who does all things for the good of his children. May His blessings ever be with you, is the prayer of your loving Husband and father:

E. A. Day

Jan. 3, 1889

Dear wife, Your letter and Estella's came day before yesterday. I was very pleased to get them. I am well at present, and a prospect of continueing [sic] so. I am very glad you have concluded to go to Manti, and believe it will greatly benefit you. Your health, I have faith, will improve if you are careful not to over work, or expose yourself to the cold too much, and are cautious in your diet. I advise you to eat graham bread & butter principally. My prayers constantly ascend in your behalf, and also in behalf of all the family. From what I have been shown, I am satisfied that I will see you all at the expiration of my imprisonment, in health. To-day is Fast-day, and I am observing it as are many of my brethren. Some who say they observe it when at home, do not keep it here. I am glad the children are so well pleased with their Christmas toys, and hope they will be careful of them, and show them to Pa when he comes home. Did not Pearl & Earl get any presents for Christmas? I hope they were not forgotten, and do not think they were, though nothing was said about them in Estella's letter telling of her parents and the other children's. I hope my little girl, Estella, will try to write when she has time to write a good long letter, and that she will ask her little brothers and sisters what they want to tell Pa, and write it for them. I hope my little lambs are good to mama all the time. They must try not to cry and tease and to do all they can to help mama, and be little men & ladies. Pa's time to stay is only three months & twenty days from to-day, I got a letter from my little nephew, Joseph D. Bohney. I was really pleased to get it, and wish more of my little nephews would write. I want you to thank him kindly, and tell him to write again. I hear from Alma Young that his father is badly hurt. How is he getting along? I presume the young folks are having jolly times, dancing and sleighing. We have no chance for sleighing here, for the snow is swept from the yard, into large piles in the shad of the wall, and the yard is dry, besides we have no sleighs. The little birds, Eng. sparrows, still fly about picking up the crumbs from the dining room. They are all the animal life we see that comes from the outside. New years day has past. We had Con. grub for breakfast & supper, with the addition of pudding at dinner. We were interested in the eclipse in the after-noon, and since then the weather here has been much colder. This month of course will be the coldest of the Winter, and I hope you will get help in some way. Do not think of sending money to me, for what little means you have you need it much worse than I do, and I know that if you get what you need to make you all comfortable, you will use more means than you can possibly raise. I pay for my milk by giving lessons in arithmetic, and believe that I can earn all I need in this way. If we had schoolrooms here the brethren would spend much more time in improving, but many are, as it is, studying Spanish, Grammar, Writing, Bookkeeping, Arithmetic, &. The books I want are about the size of a fourth and a first reader. They are nicely bound, with good backs, &, I believe, are also covered with dark calico. I disremember their names, but they are works on Bookkeeping. Do not bother to look much for them. Please send me 25¢ worth of this kind of paper, and about a half dozen envelopes. Dec. [Jan.?] 6 I am not very well today, but nothing serious is the matter. It is still the same complaint, my food does not agree with me. If I could have graham bread I would be much better off. I received a letter from sister Elvira and one from sister Adelia. They were so cheering, and so greatfully received as are all letters that I get. They bring joy every time they come. Tell sister Elvira not to work too- hard, I fear from her letter that she is doing so. I hope Miss Marsh will have success in her music lessons, and that Semour will succeed in teaching. Give them my regards, and also all the young folks. If Lindsey Stevens desires to practice on the organ, I would let him do so, and let him cut wood or help with the feeding to pay for it. I would advise all the young men & ladies to go to school and learn all they can. I feel that God is good to us, yes; even here in prison, I feel that he blesses me, though many things here are very hard for me to bear; and nearly every day something happens to try me to the very centre. Our Sunday school is such a treat, and blessing. Bro. Cannon tries so hard, to impress upon us the necessity of bearing with others, being kind, help the afflicted, the poor, orphans, widows, and all who are in any way oppressed with poverty, or otherwise. If I can only put these instructions into practice in my future life, I know it will be for my own good. May God bless and protect you all, and keep you in the enjoyment of health, and assist you to improve yourselves in kindness, love, faith, hope, charity, and all things of the gospel that tend to elevate and ennoble the human mind, and bring us nearer to Heaven, is the prayer of your loving Husband and father,E. A. Day

Jan. 9, 1889

Dear Wife, Your welcome letter came yesterday. The news was all good except the school bills. I fear some are trying to take advantage of my absence. Geo. Vance, H. Cox, J. Orton, F. Christensen, R. A. Stevens, August & Peter Nordstrom, James Anderson, C. Petersen, J. A. Mower, J. Blanchett, A. C. Christensen; all, as nearly as I can remember, had not paid one cent on the tuition of the term, but had said they would pay before the term was out. Some of them are even owing for the former term. H. Mower 75¢ & H. Sorenson 60¢, had partly paid. This is of course, the best I can remember. But I left a half sheet of large paper in the record with the names of those who had made arrangements, also of the amounts that had been paid, upon it. I left instructions with my assistant about it. Please try to find the paper. It is correct, and no one's memory need be trusted to for the accounts, I should be sorry to have any mistake made in the bills, and hope you will be careful not to offend any one about it. If you have butter to spare you might send me a little once in a while. I do not think preserves would be very good for me. I have a very hard time with my food, and hardly dare to eat sweets or meat. I am bothered with dispepsia, but, with care, I believe I will get along all right. If I had graham bread and butter to eat I would be all right. I can get pills here, but they are of such a nature that they seem of very little good, leaving me worse than before I take them. I was not allowed to bring in the medicine I brought with me, and can get none, not even a little ginger, only as our doctor may prescribe; and you know what faith I have in doctors generally. Do not think that I am sick, only complaining a little. I am better this week than the two previous weeks. I have obtained a couple of pounds of butter, and will fare better while it lasts, which I think will be about three weeks. I saw brother P. R. Young yesterday, and we would like for you to see the Bishop and ask him to give it out in meeting and request the brethren, when any of them are coming to Salt Lake, to see our families before they come, and bring any little thing that you may wish to send to us. If they cannot bring it to the Pen., they can leave it at the head Marshals office in S. L., or at the City Hall, and I think it will be brought up to us. Beloved wife, do not despond, though things look dark for us, and there seems to be a more stringent effort against us continually. All will be well in the end. Others there are whose burdens are even heavier than ours. But It is a long lane that has no turning, and I believe we are getting nearer to the turn, when the sun will shine upon us more brightly than ever. I love the gospel, and often feel that I could even sacrifice life itself for the pure principles thereof. But, I tell you, this thing is terrible to me, and a great strain upon my nature. Yet, I feel to say, "God is ever good to us, and has showered blessings upon us, manyfold; and will, in the future, give us more than in the past." "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding

336 Utah Historical Quarterly

glad, for great is your reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were befor[e] you." Matt. 5, Chap. 10 verse. Jan. 13. Beloved wife, the above was written four days ago. I have since received a letter from Sister. My health has also improved. I have not been working in the dining room this week, and hope not to go back there any more. I believe part of my sickness was caused from catching cold, as my feet got wet nearly every day. How kind and charitable Bro. Cannon is! So thoughtful of his brethren! He often buys some little dainty and treats all the prisoners. Thursday was his birthday, and he brought in a very large cake and gave each man a piece on Friday. This morning he brought a glass of jelly to' my next neighbor, saying it was so difficult to get things from so far away he might have the jelly. These little kindnesses will be remembered to his credit throughout time and eternity! many others might be mentioned of him. O, if we can only emulate his example of charity in our future lives! How blessed we will be, and how great will be our reward! Please try at home to be kind to one another in all your associations, and to teach the little ones the same. At the same time try to be cheerful, and the Spirit of the Lord will lighten your burden very greatly. When I think of my dear wife, and my six little babes, left to battle with life alone, in a severe climate it nearly unmans me and the tears will sometimes flow in spite of my endeavor to choke them back. My burden, if borne alone, would be very light but my heart is often very sad for the loved ones who< have the heavier burden to bear! My prayers ascend constantly in your behalf, and I firmly believe God is blessing and strengthening you. "As thy day, so shall thy strength be." I know I am week [sic] to-_give way to such feelings, but I am only a week human, and have much yet to learn before I am really worthy to be called a faithful servant of God. But he is merciful and charitable, and if we will to do> right, and strive to keep his commandments, he will overlook many little failings. I here inclose a couple of little trinkets which I have made. Please treasure them, even though they are of poor material. It is the best I could get here, and only obtained it by accident. When you receive any thing from me, please mention it in your next communication, and be wise in your expressions. No fault to find as yet. Give my love to sister E. and all the folks, and accept the same yourself, also, to all the relations; and my kind regards to all enquiring friends. I thank your Bro. James for his proffered help, also E. Davidson. This is to the children also. I want them to continue to be good, so that when ma writes she can say they are loving, kind, and helpful. Pa is coming home after awhile, and will love them better than ever before. I am now living in No. 101, third tear South, and think I have about the best cell in prison. I can see out over the wall a large scope of country. With love, E. A. D.

Jan. 18, 1889

Dear wife; your last letter came to me last Sunday about half an hour after I had mailed mine to you. I am very glad to hear that all is going on well at home. You may settle my tithing, but let it stand on the books and keep what means you need for yourselves until June. Do not pay any of the school bills on tithing, and I will try to pay up when I come home. All my tithing for the year should be about $50.

Some of this is paid, and I will try to pay the balance in the future. I have no pain in my head or side, but my food hurts me nearly all the time, but nothing of a serious nature. I have the priviledge of bathing every week. No more Dining-room work for me, but another job of mopping a Corridor and cleaning wash stand and bowls every morning, and some other things. This suits me much better and gives me some exercise, but leaves me plenty of time for other things that I wish to a attend to. P. R. Young does my washing. I believe I have received all you have sent to the present time. The Stationery and socks came last. I also got the two lbs. of butter that Bro. P. N. Petersen sent to me. It was a mystery to me who sent it, but I am very thankful to him for it, and want you to tell him so. I am so thankful the children are so good, but very sorry to hear of the deaths in other families, but God does all for the good of his children. I received Sister's letter yesterday, and Estella's also. She will have to read your letter for her answer, and I want you to be sure to let her read every one, because she is so good to write every week. It seems to me that most of my relations have forgotten me, or probably they consider my imprisonment has disgraced the family, and they are ashamed to write to their convict brother. Now, my dear little ones, Pa thanks you for being so good and loving pa & ma so much. You have all been little men and women. Pa wants to tell you that we had a snow storm the other night, and the next day we plowed it all off from the yard, so that we had dry ground, but the snow has come again and covered the yard with whiteness. Pa used a willow broom to help sweep the snow away but Brother F. M. Lyman took it from me and used it about half of the time. He swept the cleanest of any man in the yard. The little birds still fly around our house, and sometimes come right in at the windows, and sing in the house. The little dog, Peggy, and the cats, also run around in the prison, and sometimes come into our cells. There is also a big fierce bull dog here in prison, but he cannot get to us, and will not hurt any one unless they are mean. Pa is very anxious to see his sweet children again, and will come home again after awhile, and will have a lot of kisses for the little ones, and let them sit on his lap, too. Dear wife, be patient and I will be home. The time I spend here will not be missed in three years after it ends. Great blessings are ahead of us, and also many trials. This is serving to purify the saints and make them charitable, and strong to> bear the greater test that I feel is before the people of God. Our enemies are upon us, and have the power in their hands to bring oppression upon us; but, though barred in prison, and subject as far as the body is concerned, to the laws enacted against us, yet the spirit is free and cannot be bound by man. Thus we can still serve our God in Spirit and in truth, even though the spirit may be driven from this mortal coil. Though there is much to regret, yet there is much to be thankful for, for the Warden gives us all the priviledges he possibly can, and most of the guards are very kind. Certainly, to be a prisoner is very humiliating in many respects, but when we know that we have committed no crime before God, it brings joy to the oppressed. Dear wife, I feel that your burden is greater than mine, but If this one term will end it, we will none of us be caused to suffer much. I still have hopes that the indictment still against me, will amount to nothing. I must acknowledge the receipt of a letter from H. Boney and his little boy, which afforded me great pleasure, and I thank them both kindly for remembering me in my loneliness; as also the letter and poetry from Bro. Williams. These kind and encouraging letters bring hours of sunshine between the heavy and lowering clouds of prison life. I thank Bro. Williams and will ever be grateful to him, and the poetry will be cherished forever. Jan. 20. More than two long months have passed since I bade you good by, but the wail of my little girl as I left the door still rings in my ears. Three months and 3 days are yet to pass before I can leave these dreary enclosures. I just got my "stripes" yesterday, and many of the brethren were unable to recognize me in my new clothes. Things go' on about after the old fashion here. Eat, sleep, clean up, study or lie around, is about the regular order of prison life. I am now studying Astronomy, having finished Geology. We have a refreshing time in S.S. Every Sabbath morning. Much of the Sunday meetings is more amusing than instructing to me. Still many good things are spoken even by those of different faith, and common respect between men teaches me to listen quietly and respectfully to doctrines that I cannot believe in. And others are as much entitled to their belief as I am to mine.

O! how joyous will the greeting be, When from prison walls I am set free, And I can meet my dear ones again, In our beloved home!

Kind regards to all enquiring friends.

Your Affectionate Husband,

Jan. 26, 1889

Dear wife: Your letter and sister's came to me all right, also one from my dear niece, Juliette Bohney, and one from Ellie Whitmore, for which I thank them very kindly, but cannot answer at present. Sister thinks one of her letters has not reached me. I have got one from her each week since she commenced writing. I am very glad the children and you keep so well, the knowledge of that takes off the greater part of my anxiety about home. My health has steadily improved until I am now enjoying good health again. I do not wish to bother the officers & others about graham. The fewer favors I can get along with from them the better. I have a good pair of shoes, but when I asked the regular day guard to get me a pair, when my old ones were no longer fit to wear, he said it was expected that a man who was able to keep two families was able to provide for himself. He then referred me to the Warden, but my Cellmate let me have a pair, which suited me much better than asking for any of them. Tell brother Sanderson that if he wants a good comfortable bed when he comes here, as I fear he will have to befor[e] a great while, he had better get him a narrow -mattress made and bring it with him. The mattress should not be over two feet wide, as our hammocks are only about that wide, and many of the older men find them very uncomfortable to sleep in for a while without a mattress or a bed tick. He had better, also, bring such little things as butter, sugar &c. that he wants to use; enough to last him until he will be able to get supplies from home. Also, if he wishes to get letters from home shortly after he arrives, he had better tell his folks to write before he writes to them, as it is sometimes two or three weeks before some of the brethren get any word from home, and, O, how lonely those first weeks are, unless we can hear from dear ones! You can give him the directions the same as you direct to me. I hear other brethren have also been arrested. He can give them the same advice, as I send to him, and they can suit themselves about acting upon it. I am glad Estella is so good and helpful. I hope she is also kind to her little brothers and sisters. I know she is a good girl, and she will be blessed for it. I hope Earl's cold will not make him sick. I know you will take good care of the children, and keep them from getting sick if you can. My only care is for my family. This imprisonment hurts me but very little, as far as I am concerned myself, but for me to banish from my mind the thoughts of my home and family, is something that I will not try to do. What kind of a heart could I have to put that care from me! God grant that my thoughts may ever be centered on them! That nothing but the Gospel, and the love of God, may ever be stronger in my mind, than the love and care of my family! These are the dearest things on earth to me, and are the only things that can make me submit to what is now placed upon me. I do not look upon our condition despondingly, but I do believe that there is a glorious and happy future ahead of all who serve God faithfully. I do not fear the result. All I fear is that some who ought to prove faithful will swerve from the path of duty. The darkest hour is just before the dawn. I believe it will not be long before the sun will shine between the clouds, and I also believe that it will not be much longer before a heavier trial than has ever come upon us, will take many out of the church, and that it will shake all that can be shaken. Get enough of your dividend from the mill to pay the interest on your mortgage to Neilsen in Mt. Pleasant. If the dividend is 10% it will still leave you some. First pay what is owing in the mill, with the balance, and then use the other to buy bran, if you need it, or whatever you think you need most. Tell Wm. Terry I would like for him to take the land on the terms we agreed upon, if he will, for I do not expect to be home soon enough to do anything with it myself. Be sure to feed the old mare a little wheat every morning, before you give her hay, if that will not be too much trouble. Is Filley, the small mare, still at home, or did W. Cox take her to feed? Try to> get Amasa to look after the old mare after the 20 of Feb., if only to come to the barn and arrange things every day or two, or as often as he can. If you cannot get him to-, try to get R. A. Stephens to do it, and tell him to use his own judgement about the matter. Jan. 27. I expected a letter to-day but was disappointed. My health is good. Dear wife, do not keep any sickness of yourself or children from me. I wish to> know the truth about this at all times. How sorry I am to hear of the arrest of sister Sanderson! It looks hard enough to take the father away from the family, but that innocent women should be torn from the bosom of their families! O, what a terrible thing it would be! I hardly believe that the judge will be hard hearted enough to' send her to prison. He seemed to me, to be a man of a feeling heart, but yet we know not what he may do, under the pressure of influence of others. Why is it that my brothers & sisters do not write to me, and father. If they only knew the comfort and satisfaction a few lines from them to me would be, I do not think they would let one opportunity pass. But why should I bother them with my loneliness? May God bless them, and may they never have this to pass through! I am looking forward with joy to the time when I will again be united with my loved ones! May God grant, to part no more in life. Accept my love and blessings. Give my respects to all enquiring friends. God bless you all.

E. A. Day

Pen. Feb. 2, 1889.

Dear wife: The last letter that I have received was yours written 24 ult.. I have not received what you said you would send by P. Petersen. I have been out of butter for several days, but got about half a pound to night after supper. I ate the last of my honey to-night, but have got about 2 lbs of sugar. My health is still good. If things are only going on all right at home, I will be very thankful. The brethren are leaving here now, very fast, many more going out than coming in. I think there are 40 or 50 less Cohabs. now here than there were at Christmas, but, from the best information I can get, it appears that we will fill up again from the Provo court. I have moved again. I now live at No. 108, third South Cohab. street. It is not so quiet and good a place to study in as either of my former cells was. This evening I was walking the yard, arm in arm with Bro. P. R. Young, chatting cozily, while listening to the strains of three violins, one banjo, and a clarionet, and now and then paused to look at the dancing of the Pen. clown, and an old gentleman 72 years of age. When the weather was not so cold, our band used to play often in the evening. We also, sometimes witness a bout between some of our pugilists with boxing gloves. They call it a manly art, but to me it does not appear so much manly as cruel, though the most active men are the ones who excel in it, but I doubt whether they are as excellent in mind as in body. Well, dear wife, the time is passing, but not fleeting on golden wings. By the time you get this, half of my dreary imprisonment will be passed. This is getting to be an old thing to me, but that does not lessen the heaviness of its pressure. "Be patient, weary soul, for your deliverance will surely come." If a week should pass without your receiving a letter from me, let that be no cause to deter you from writing. I write every week, and wish you would write twice as often. I am very sure that I would if it was allowable. I sent a walking cane to-day to' father, by Bp. Jensen of Manti. I made it, and got it painted for him. I hope he will give me a letter in return for it. I do not know that I have acknowledged the receipt of a letter from my dear niece, Imogene. I was very thankful to receive it. I hope she will not let it be the only one she writes. The one George wrote is getting very lonesome, being alone so long. He had better send another to keep it company. You said you were going to send me some paper that Dora gave you. If it comes, and is suitable, I believe that I will spend some of my leisure time in writing a short sketch of my life. If you can get a bottle of pasteboard, or paper, please send it to< me, with ink in it. It is so very hard to get such things here. Send it by mail. I have had to borrow all the ink I have yet used. Ask George if he will take charge of the lucerne patch near Mt. Pleasant, if I do not return in the Spring. I am in hopes that I will, for I am not guilty of what is charged against me, but whether I can prove this or not is quite another question. Dear wife, still hope to see me before April passes, for I firmly believe we will meet then. Sunday, Feb. 3, Still well, but feeling bad because it is so long since I received a letter. I fear something has happened to detain one or more, as this is the longest period without receiving one since you first began to write. Perhaps it is wrong for me to do so, but I almost feel like finding fault. How deep is the snow at home? Do the children still keep well and good to one another? I do not think the younger ones will know me after so long an absence; but they will soon learn to know me again when I get home. I hope you are all kind and charitable to one another, and let love abound in your hearts. Do not foster evil feelings or thoughts against any one, and, as a prophet of old said, "Let not the sun set on thine anger." The Lord has blessed us so abundantly the past three months that we ought to strive harder than ever to keep his commandments. How blessed would the world be if all would only keep the laws laid down by Jesus Christ! There would indeed be a millenium ushered in upon the earth! Peace, good will, love, charity would abound and make the earth as Eden of old! If we, in our little family, can only cultivate this Spirit of the teaching of our Savior, we will possess an Eden of our own; and joy and happiness will shadow us oer. Now, dear wife, I want to ask you again, to get someone to do the outside chores. I know, under the present circumstances, that the labor both in and out of doors, is to much for you to accomplish. I know you wish to be saving, but save your own health and well being before the things of this world. See if you can not get Bro. Neilsen, (the old gentleman) to do the feeding. If not, try some other old gentleman. I will some day be able to repay him amply for all he will do. If you do not make an effort in this direction, I shall most certainly deprive you of one letter, and write to some one who will do something of the kind. Now, please tell me what you do in this regard. Give my respects to all enquiring friends. Tell them I would be pleased to have them to' write to> me. Bro. Young is well, and seems to feel first rate in his imprisonment, I believe he takes it easier than I do. Bro. Jenkens of Nephi is well, and sends his respects to Charles Terry, with whom he labored on his mission. Accept my love and cincerest desire for the welfare of my loved family. God bless you.

E. A. Day

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