It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from this/these transcript(s) must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collection Coordinating Committee. [Notes added by transcribers are in square brackets. Dashes in square brackets indicate unclear words or letters. indicate words the author inserted to a previously written line.] MSS SC 2180 - Cyrena Dustin Merrill autobiography Number of Pages: 43 ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p001.jpg) Mrs. P C Merrill Book ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p003.jpg) church Historian 47 E S Temple. This was Cyrena Dustin Merrill's book ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p005.jpg) Records of the Children of P.C. &. C. Dustin Merrill that dead to be adopted Sobrina Lodema Merrill to be sealed Lucy Cyrena Merrill to be sealed Albina Altrimira Merrill D[--] '1898 Mellisa Jane Merrill to be sealed Herbert T Me[-]rrell Cyrena Dustin Merrill Side Cyrena was Baptized for Betsy Bedfield Dustin June th 18" 1873 also for Sobrina Dustin Jun 18 1873 Sobrina Dustin was Sealed to PC Merrill Jun 13/73 Seth Dustin was Bapt. by his Brothr Bee[---] D[---] date not time Seth & Betsy Bedfield to be sealed [Written sideways in left margin] [---] [---] on page 13 X X X page 13 ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p006.jpg) Dead to be Babtized for Daniel Merrill} Erastus Merrill} Asa Merrill (Salma)} Brothers Asa. P. Merrill (Clara)} on Fathers side Ruth Munson Fr[---] Bogus & May Structured to the s[--]ld to A P Merrill Simmon Merrill James Pendle Father Polly odle Pendle Elijah Pendle Marris Pendle Franklin Pendle Girls Elizabeth Pendle Lisa Pendle Husband Jean Terry Albina Pendle to Sealed to PC Merrill Amasa, O Gillman Husband <[---] to 15 page 14> Lucy Merrill Gillman Wife Ann Gillman to be sealed to Samuel B. Merrill Abagale St. Johns Polly Freeland wish them to be Sealed to PC Merrill Jonas Odle Sen Lucy <(weaver)> Odle his wife Jonas Odle son Orrill[-] odle his wife Benjaman Frankland Odle Jobe Odle Johnathan Odle ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p007.jpg) Jarrod Merrill Grandfather on Samuel Merrill Mother Side David Phelps Orson Phelps [-]oswell Phelps Alexander Phelps [-]ewer Phelps Girls Betsy Phelps (---) Phelps Susan Phelps George Merrill Waren Warn Leeta Merrill Warn to [--] Sealed & Baptized Ephram Farebanks Naba Merrill Farebanks to be Baptized & sealed Alexander Enos Tolly Merrill Enos to be Bp. & Sealed Philemon Merrill <[-]A. Jackson> Bapt. 15 Sept. 1903 End. 16 Sept. 1903 <[---]> Joanna Merrill Bap. 15 Sept 1 Sarah Elizabeth Shaw Proxy ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p008.jpg) Genolagy of the Richfield George Richfield Sylven B Richfield Claremont " Zina B " [---]al B " Melinda B " Sabrina R[--] Mrs " [-] [-]appan Hannah Richfield Temple Warriner B " Delia " Mrs E Wright Dr Chandler " Adeline " Caroline " Rev Mrs Ma[-]on [-]een N H " John W " Merred Mrs Griffin Troy Achilles M " George W " Sarah A " Franny I " Sylvinus [-] " Truman [-]i[--] " Alfr[--]d " Sherman " S[-]don " Cleaveland Ca[---]sh Richfield Samuel Not Baptized " Sally " Marvin " Anthony C " Chauncy " Adeline Mrs Tarnele " Clement " ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p009.jpg) Dead to be Baptized for on Cyria Dustin wife of P C Merrill Side Seth Dustin & Betsy Bedfield Dustin Husband & wife (to be sealed) David Dustin Brother to Seth Calab Dustin Chandler Dustin Mandan olds[-] Daughter of Seth Dustin Married to Harmon Kirkendoll his wife Charles Kirkendoll Son Chandler Dustin Brother Sobrina Daughter of Ebenezer & Dustin Elanord Dustin ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p010.jpg) Elisah J. E[--]lls[---]th Delia " Hary Estus Ellsworth Rowe Endments Apr. 20 1893 ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p011.jpg) Logan City April 20th 1893 Thebe Lo[-]ema was Babtized for Lucy Ann Merrill & Recived her Endowmants and acted for her Marage to A. G. Gillman Also Babtized for Pal[--] [-]dle] [-]en acted for her in her Merrage to James Pendle Also was Baptized for Matilda Mal[--]d Ruth Merrill ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p012.jpg) Logan City April <18th> 1893 T C. Merrill was Baptized for the folowing Nams of Dead Kindred (Males) Daniel Merrill Eastin — " Asa — " Asa P " George — " James Pendle Elijah " Morris " Franklin " Amasa O. Gillman Born 1806 Jonas Odle son Jonas " Jun Benjamin Frank[-] Odle Jobe Odle Johnathan " David Theaps Orson " Roswell " Alexander " Owin " Epram Farebanks Alexander Enos ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p013.jpg) Logan City April 19 - 1893 Herbert Peters Merrill Recived Endowment P.C.C Merrill Father acting as proxie Si[-]t[-] Dustin Received his Endowment Charles A Cappe Collert acting as Proxie was sealed to Betsy Redfield Cyrena Dustin Merrill acting as proxie for her Mother April 20th 1893 Albina Altam[-]a Merrill Receivd her Endowment Cyrena Dustin Merrill acting as Proxie She is to be sealed as wife to Parmeno Jo[---]an ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p014.jpg) Logan City, April 18th 1893. The following Names on Cyrena Dustin Merrill Kindred Side was Baptiz for By C. R. C. Callet Proxie 1 George Redfield 2 Sylvenus " 3 Blain[---] " 4 Chandler " 5 N.H. Keen " 6 John W Redield 7 Athelle M. Redfield 8 George W. " 9 Sylvenus Jr " 10 Truman [-]ill " 11 Alfird " 12 Shenon " 13 Seldon " 14 Cleveland " 15 Samuel Sp Nat Baptized 15 Marvin " 16 Anthony C " 17 Chancy " 18 Clemend " 19 David Dustin Caleb 20 Ca[---]e " 21 Changler " 22 Harmon Kirkendoll 23 Charles Kirkendoll 24 Elisha[-] J. Ellsworth 25 Warner Redfield ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p015.jpg) Logan City Utah April 20th 1893 Sabrina Lodema Recd Endowments Sealed to her Father & Mother sealed as wife to C.A.C. Collett Lucy Cyrena Merrill was sealed to her Father & Mother T.C. & C Merrill Melissa Jane Merrill was sealed to to her Father & Mother T. C & C Merrill is to be sealed as wife to Pres. Brigham Young Albina Altam[--] Merrill was adopted or seal to her Father & Mother TC & C Merrill Sabrina Dustin got her Endowments by her Sister Cyrna Dustin Merrill as Proxie had ben Sealed To T.C.C. Merrill in the year 1873 June 18th in the Endowment House Salt Lake City Herbert Peter Merrill got his Endowments his Father acting as Proxie TCC Merrill Seth Dustin was Baptized for by his Brother date not known Recevd his Endowments C.A.C. Collett acting as Proxie and was sealed to his wife Betsey Redfield Cyrena Merrill his Daughter acting as Proxie in his Endowments & sealing as wife with C.A.C. Collett James Pende Baptize & Endowments Recd & sealed to his wife Polly Odle She being Baptized for by Mary Jane Collett & Sabrina Lad[---] Merrill Jackman acting as Proxie for Poly Odle in her Endowments & sealing as wife TCC Merrill acting for Jane T[--]de as Proxie ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p016.jpg) Amasa O. Gillman was Baptized & Received his Endowmants & sealed to his wife Lucy Ann Merrill Lollema Merrill Jackman acting as Proxie for Lucy Ann Merrill & PCC Merrill for Amasa. O. Gillman ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p017.jpg) Sketch of the life of Cyrena Dustin Merrill. as given by herself. I, the daughter of Seth Dustin and Betsy Redfield was born Jan. 6 " 1817, in Genesee Co. New York. My Father, with his family, moved into Ohio, Portage Co. when I was about a year old, where he lived until after I left home. I never had good health and was never expected to do anything around the house but all the family waited on me. I first heard the gospel when about nineteen years old and beleived and embraced it later; going into the waters of baptism in March 1837, Elder Emmet officiating. I am the only one of my father's family that ever embraced the Gospel; yet I know that my fa- ther believed, and had it not been for some unwise conduct in one of the Elders whom my father had befriended and as- sisted, he probably would have been baptized at the time I was. My Brothers and sisters were greatly mortified at my joining the church and as long as I lived at home I had to endure thier presecutions. ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p018.jpg) Sometime during the summer of 1837, I visited Kirkland and viewed the temple; the first one reared by command and under the direction of the living God in this generation. It would be difficult to describe my feelings while going through that edifice where the Savior and holy angels had appeared to the servants of God. Truly I felt like thanking God that my mind had been enlightened and that I had been permitted to embrace the Gospel and partake of its blessings. I remained at home during the coming winter, but the spirit of gathering seemed to come upon the Saints about that time and I felt that I could not be left behind and so determined to go with them to Missouri. This was a severe blow to my father, who had sympathized with me from the beginning, and when he found that I was determined to go, he requested me to leave home immediately, that he might become reconciled to the separation before I left entirely; his real motive was a hope that I might become so homesick that I would give up the idea of going with the Saints and return home again to stay. Accordingly, I left home and went to reside in the family of ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p019.jpg) Elder Alexander Stanley, who was an old acquaintance and neighbor. He was like a father to me and there I lived until I gathered with the Saints in Missouri. A few nights before we started for Missouri, I went to my father's house and I talked with all of them: my father and mother cried and begged me not to go, even until late in the night: when they found pleading was of no avail, they tried hiring me to stay, and when that also failed, father said he would follow me and have me arrested and brought back by a process of law. We all then retired and in the morning early father went away so he could not say "goodbye". As I was leaving the house, I turned back at the door and bore a faithful testimony to the truth of the Gospel: and that was the last time I ever saw any of my father's family (except Sylvenus, who passed through Utah on his way to Montana in 18). I was strongly impressed that my going was not only for my own salvation, but for that of the family also; yet at that time I little real- ized in just what manner this might occur, and in fact never did throughly understand, until the work for the dead was revealed. It was a ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p020.jpg) source of great satisfaction to me, to know that I stood in a position to do a work for them which would give them the privilege of accepting in the Spirit world, the Gospel, which was neglected in this life. In April <1838> before starting to Zion, I, with Bro. Stanley's family, went to a Blessing meeting held at the house of Bro. Sears, in Randolph, Ohio, a few miles from where we then lived, and received a Patriarchial Blessing under the hands of brother Joseph Smith Sen. (the first one who held the office of Priesthood and Patriarch in this dispensation). My blessing has been a great comfort to me in the trials which I have had to pass through and it also assisted to give me the necessary faith, courage and fortitude to make the sac- rifice of leaving home and friends and to start out alone in the world to fight the battle of life among strangers. I went forth trusting in the Lord, in full faith that he would give me grace sufficient to overcome all obstacles and difficulties which might be thrown in my way, and that I might endure to the end. In September <1838> following we left our homes and commenced our wearisome journey — with ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p021.jpg) Alexander Stanley as leader, His family, his father and family, three of his brothersinlaw — Sam Kent, Bro. Sears & Bro. Elsworth — and thier families and myself; all in one wagon. We started early in the morning and were fearful that father would stop us for we had to pass his house, but as we neared home we saw the hand of the Lord in causing a dense fog to envelope the house, until after we had passed, we could not see even the signboard at the street door. We traveled on unmolested until noon when they stopped to rest the horses. I, being fearful of father's overtaking us, walked on with sister Kent but in our haste and anxiety we got on the wrong road; after walking some distance, we inquiring and found the right one but now our minds were more anxious than ever, being afraid we would miss our friends altogether as from fresh tracks in the road we knew that they were ahead of us. We walked as fast as we could but my strength was failing, and finally the worry and exertion proved too much for me, and I lay down by the ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p022.jpg) roadside completely exhausted and frightened lest father would still overtake us. Sister Kent sat by me, encouraging me and com- forting me and together we prayed that some one might return for us, for we dreaded passing the night by ourselves. While we were resting the company had gone on to New Portage and unloaded goods to go by water; then not finding us there, they brought back the wagon to meet us. With renewed faith because our prayers were answered we got into the wagon and went on to New Portage where we made our camp and I slept out of doors for the first time in my life. It rained a little during the night and our bedding was soaked through and not being used to exposure of any kind of course I took a severe cold, which with the long walk and the worry of leaving home under such trying circumstances brought on a fever and nervous prostrations. I shall ever remember how kind and good the sisters and brethern were to me during that long ride from New Portage, Ohio, to the Missouri river. They gave me every attention that could be given under the circumstances, many ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p023.jpg) times sacrificing thier own comfort for mine. As day by day went by and I still remained so very low, all but Bro. Stanley sadly concluded that I could not recover and several times I was taken from the wagon and laid down by the roadside while they all gathered around expecting me to breath my last, but I had great faith, for my blessing said I should go to Zion and I clung to that, (and so did Bro. Stanley) and I felt as if that must be true. Sometimes as we were traveling along, people would come to our camp and talk to us and they would say "why do you drag that sick with you? Can't you stop long enough to let her die in peace? It looks in- human to take her over these rough roads." and when told it was prophesied that she should go to Zion, they would shake thier heads and say "she'll never live to get there anyway." We were stopped several times by mobs who were determined we should not go on, but we were strong in faith and continually prayed to the Lord to deliver us from these people and so we finally overcame all ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p024.jpg) difficulties and arrived at Far West, Missouri. I had been getting some better before the end of our journey and, oh, how we rejoiced that our long tiresome traveling was ended and we could meet and have sweet concourse with the Saints. But our rest and comfort was soon broken, for in a few days Far West was surrended to our enemies and I saw Joseph's aged father and mother weeping over thier son as he was taken away a prisoner. During the winter our faith was tried to the utmost — in a strange country our beloved leader torn from us and our food and clothing very scarce and at times we had nothing to eat but parched corn with a little squash. My health continued to improve daily and Father Smith obtained a place for me to work at Little Platte (about 20 miles from Far West), with an aged couple who treated me like a daughter but I thought I ought to return to my parents. They begged me to go to my mother who must be so lonely without me, even offering to pay my fare back to Ohio and send thier son with me for company. but my faith in the Gospel was strong and I ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p025.jpg) never had any desire to give up our religion or leave the Saints. To my great joy I found (while living here) Bro. and Sis. Horn living near, although I had had no idea that there was a Latter-Day Saint within miles of me, thus has the Lord cheered my heart at all times when I most needed consolation. These new friends told me that the Saints were moving to Quincy Ill. After staying with these goods folks 2 months I went with Bro. and Sister Horn to Far West, to again cast in my lot with the Saints although the lady where I had been working wept over me and wished me to stay with her or return home to my parents, but I now felt that the Saint's home was mine. Again joining Bro. Stanley's company in the Spring of 1839 I traveled to Quincy, Ill. My health was very good and I walked every step of the way; sometimes with my skirts wet to my knees and at night we slept with only the canopy of the heavens for a roof and it rained every night thus soaking our bedding through before morning. We often cheered ourselves on our march ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p026.jpg) by singing the songs of Zion and we kept our health. Bro. Stanley had managed to procure some flour before leaving Far West, and we had plenty of squash which they had raised in Mo. so we lived on squash pies, not made with eggs and sugar and milk as it is generally made, — but just squash boiled and put in between two crusts, and oh how good it tasted. Anything eaten with God's blessing on it and with thankful hearts is sweet and good. At Quincy was residing an brother of my father's, who had joined the Church, and there I lived for a few weeks but his wife persecuted him and made it so unpleasant for me that I could not stand it but went out to work. While here our goods and clothing came which we had sent by water from New Portage — coming back from St. Louis where they had been stopped — nothing traveled fast in those days — I now wrote to the home folks and they glad to hear from me, particularly about my good health, but they wanted me to come home and not have to en- dure any more of such privations they would send me the money ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p027.jpg) and if I did not want to return alone one of my brothers would gladly come for me — but I answered "I would live and die with the Latter Day Saints. I worked out all summer for $2. a week and was always treated well and my health was good. In Dec. or late in the Fall of this year, <1839> I went to Nauvoo with Bro. Tarletan Lewis and family, they were such good people and so very kind to me. At Nauvoo we found nearly every one sick with chills and fever so I went to nursing sick folks. I went to nurse at Stephen Markham's, for they were all down sick and while there thier daughter, a lovely girl about my age, died and her parents would not hear of me leaving them so I made my home with them from that time. Some time in Feb. 1840, Philemon C. Merrill was pass- ing through Nauvoo from Ft. Madison to Carthage and had stopped to see his friend, Bro. Markham, who brought him home to dinner and I waited on the table. After dinner he asked Bro. Markham "who that young lady was" and when ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p028.jpg) told, he remarked "I'll be back here someday, for she will be my wife." Bro. Markham laughed at him, and also some at me, but so it proved, for on Sept. 20 " <1840> we were married, and went to housekeeping in Nauvoo. On Aug 21" 1841, a daughter, Sabrina Lodena, came to gladden our house — While my husband worked on the Temple which the Saints had begun to build in our beautiful city on the Missis sippi river, a son, w Philemon Alisandre, was born to us to cheer us and bind us together, His birthday was Nov. 18 — 1843, and oh how happy and contented I was with my loving husband and little daughter and son. But clouds were gathering around our beloved prophet, and every one knows of the terrible times times of the next year the assassination of Joseph & Hyrum and how we obeyed the voice of the twelve when they told us to be peaceable, quiet citizens and blessed would be those who held out faithful to the end. During 1845, although we were preparing to leave Nauvoo for the Rocky Mts., they were pushing the work on the Temple and on May 24 the walls were ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p029.jpg) finished and the Apostles administered to hundred of the people, the services often continuing all day and night. We received our endowments in the last of Dec. <1845> going through the Temple at night. Now as the mob had said "we will drive all the Mormons into Nauvoo and all Nauvoo into the Mississip pi," preparation were made for immediately evacuating the city and on Feb. 6. 1846, my husband left with the first guards to guard the Records across the river, and went on to Garden Grove, leaving me with my little ones in Nauvoo. When he came back near the last of April with a team, our second daughter, Lucy Cyrena, was three weeks old — she having been born on April 7" 1846 and taking only our bedding and clothing — leaving everything else in the house we went by wagon to Mt. Pisgah. Authorities held counsel and concluded to move on, after putting up some huts which could be used by those coming later. When within a few miles ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p030.jpg) of Council Bluffs, we were met by an United States officer to enlist men for the Mexican war. Coming to a halt Bro. Brigham called for 500 vol- unteers. On July 16 the troops were mustered, my husband being among the number, thus we were left without our natural protectors and as this took our stoutest and best away much hard work was thrown on the women and the aged. I had only one weeks provisions on hand but our faith was strong and Bro. Brigham would lead us on. After they had been gone 3 days some men returned from the Battalion and stated to the camps that Capt. Allen had sent them to gather up 50 families of the Battalion Boys, and they could travel with thier husbands to Cal. as the government would pay all the expenses — At first I did not wish to go but being overpersuaded, I joined the company to follow my husband. My driver was Monroe Frick, a boy of fourteen who was such a good kind boy. I arrived at Fort Leavenworth about Aug. 1 1846. The joy of once more meeting ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p031.jpg) my husband was of short duration for he could not consent to me traveling with them with my little children and young babe; so after fitting up a wagon with 18 months provisions and two yoke of oxen, Monroe and I started back over that lonely road of 200 miles to the camp of Israel. This was done by the advice and counsel of Bro. P. P. Pratt. Philemon went a days journey with us and when he left us in the morning was the hardest of all my trials. We had to travel through Missouri whose swamps were full of malaria, and several times we came to places in where the rain had washed out the road and we had to unload our flour and provisions, get the wagon across, then carry the things over and reload; it seem a miracle that we ever succeeded in reaching Winter Quarters, but in God was my trust and He protected us and cared for us. Philemon's mother hearing that we were coming ----- new page (MSSSC2180_p032.jpg) started out to meet us but got on the wrong road, missed us a had to walk back a long distance. We were about 2 weeks making the trip and the worry of it all must have told on me for when my sisterinlaw first met me she said "Is this you Cyrena, or your gohs ghost?" About a week after I got back, my two children were taken sick with chills then I was sick, then baby took croup and only lived about 12 hours, dying on the 6 of Sept. 1846. I let Father and Mother Merrill take my fitout (of wagon, oxen &c) and they went on with the first com- pany that went to Salt Lake in 1847, but I staid here at Kanesville until my husbands return on Dec. 11 1847 from Battalion. He now spentding his