LETTERS OF A PROSELYTE T H E HASCALL-POMEROY CORRESPONDENCE
INTRODUCTION T N THE middle of the nineteenth century America was moving west. •^ It was commonplace for individuals and families to uproot, to leave home, to leave the near and dear and familiar, with confidence that a new and better life could be found. Little people were caught up in the surge of movement—economic, political, and purely personal motives propelled them. If some of these same people were swept along by a religious appeal, they were doubly driven. Here in the letters of Irene Hascall Pomeroy and her mother, Ursulia B. Hascall,1 is recorded in miniature a large sweep of American history. The letters are full of the dreams, faith, and hopes of the writers; yet, they are universal in that they express the dreams and yearnings of countless others. Though universal in appeal, the letters are intensely personal and reveal that their newly-found faith, Mormonism, formed the warp and woof of the lives of Irene and Ursulia. The years during which these letters were written, 1845 through 1854, were for the Mormon Church critical years of decision. The Prophet and his brother Hyrum were dead! The Church, temporarily leaderless, was threatened with destruction from within and without. Pillaging, burning, and desecrations forced the Mormons to abandon their city of Nauvoo before they were ready. Under the leadership of Brigham Young the exodus took place, and the great trek across [The original Hascall-Pomeroy letters are in the possession of Mr. C. Corwith Wagner of St. Louis, Missouri. He graciously permitted copies to be made for publication by this Society. Many other items of great historical signficance have been obtained through the generosity of Mr. Wagner. Albert E. Smith, a great-grandson of Ashbel and Ursulia B. Hascall and a grandson of Thales Hascall, cooperated extensively in the preparation of these letters for publication. Mr. Smith was county agricultural agent in Utah for many years, and is now professor emeritus of Utah State Agricultural College.—Ed. note] 1 The name of Hascal, Hascall, Hascaul, Hascol, Hascole, Hascoll, Haskal, Haskall, Haskil, Haskill, Haskol, Haskoll, Haskul, Haskull, Haschal, Haschall, Haskel, Haskell, Heskil, Heskill, Huskill, and spelled in various other ways, is more universally and presently characterized by the form "Haskell." See Lake B. Noyes, The Ancestral History of the Pioneers of Deer Isle and Their Descendants (n.p, n.d.).
