MSS 8173 - Wilford Woodruff family letters Number of Pages: 55 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.] ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I10_p001.jpg) Farmers Ward Oct 25th 1887 My Dear Clare I went up town this morning as per agree- ment I went to the Co Op and looked at their flannel they have no ready made Infants petticoats but have the embroide- red flannel to make them the best is three dollars a yard they also have shoulder blank- ets at three fifty apiece I think they are rather dear I then went to see Tompy her things are quite nice but not what I expected she has no flannel at all she gave me a catalogue which I will send you I will mark the articles she got and the number she ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I10_p002.jpg) got of each one she got a wrapper for herself which was five dollars I think I have mentioned and marked every article she got they are not at all what I supposed they were from what I had heard The things are verry good but not nearly so many of them as I had supposed but I will send you the catalouge and you can judge for yourself I think they can be made much cheaper at home I do not think if it was me that I would get a cloak and hood untill I was sure that I would need it for there is plenty of time afterwards to get such things before one is able to go out but then you must do as you think best this is only my Idea Well I believe this is all on this subject any informa tion that I can give you or any ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I10_p003.jpg) thing that I can do for you I shall take pleasure in doing We got home about nine O clock nearly froze and found all well and a good warm fire and supper waiting for us I have had company waiting nearly all day Sister Frink Sister Cannon Brother Wikin and I dont know how many others Oh! I must not forget to tell you that Azmon and Elisabet have returned to S L (which you know gives me much pleasure) I have not seen them as yet they are stopping at the Old people Wagstaffs and trying to get a room somewhare in the Ward but I hear they are not coming here as they do not like me (how bad I feel) How is Blanch I hope to get a card to night when Asahel comes home he Asahel and ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I10_p004.jpg) Albert Wagstaff are going up to mountain dell to night to hunt chickens give my love to Van and Blanch and accept a good share your self yours affectionately E Woodruff Asahel has come but brought no word from you pleas write E ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I11_p001.jpg) #1-10 [Letterhead with the following words] PRESIDENT'S OFFICE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, GIBSON, MILLER & RICHARDSON, OMAHA. [Resume original text format] P.O. BOX B. Salt Lake U.T. Feby. 10th 1888. O.C. Beebe, Dear Brother: I have had an interview to-day with Bro. T. G. Webber, of Z.C.M.I., and have recommended you to his attention as a clerk in the bank or in some other position where your services can be useful. He wishes an interview with you, and I would like you to call and see him and take the recommend which I have en- closed. I shall attend a Board meeting at Z. C.M.I. to-night and shall visit the farm after. I may call at the theatre, however, before leaving for the farm. Your Brother, W Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I11_p002.jpg) P S I want you to keep [--] [---] Letter untill you meet with him then hand it to him as it is your recomend to him you read it & seal it up W W ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I12_p001.jpg) [Letterhead at the top of page] PRESIDENT'S OFFICE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. GIBSON, MILLER & RICHARDSON, OMAHA. [Resume original text format] P.O. BOX B. Salt Lake U.T. Nov 6. 1888 Mrs Clara, & Vedi Beebe & Miss Blanch Woodruff My Dear Children I Enclose $11. = $5 to Clara $5 to Blanch & $1 to Vedi for a Christmass Present It is but Little but by the time I got all around to my posterity it will be all my pocket can afford you must Ask Vedi what she wants if I live untill she gots to be a young Lady I am in hopes to be able to do better by her This is the great Election day for the American Government May the Lord [---] it for the Good of the Saints I am well as usual to day Your Affectionate Father, Wilford Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I13_p001.jpg) [Intricate Letterhead designed by "GIBSON MILLER & RICHARDSON, OMAHA"] PRESIDENT'S OFFICE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. [Resume original text format] P.O. BOX B. Salt Lake City, U.T. Oct 30 1890 My Dear Clara Enclosed find $100 for the Horse C[--]p inasmuch as you both agree in your understanding that I gave you the Horse I am willing to pay for him I dont want him to go out of the family and when you get through with him I will take him home I dont want any misunderstanding in our family affairs I have done what I could to help both you & Ovando to make you Comfortable since your Marriage and I am Still willing to, you have always been a good Daughter and are a good Wife & a good Mother and have two good Children and they are all a Comfort to me and I want they always should be while I live I remain your Affectionate Father Wilford Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I14_p001.jpg) Michigan Avinoe No 1626 Chicago Ovando & Clara My Dear Children I have just got off from a sick bed to write a Letter to you Asahel & Owen I dont know as I should have written at all if I had not been sick for I has had so much to do that Dont know that I could have written I am just getting up for an Attack of the Cholera M[---] which has lasted me 2 days I have had so many Meetings & receptions that I have not seen but Little of the fair grounds that I want to see I do not know whether I shall be able to get out any more or not before we leave for home which will be friday or Saturday I visited many Homes the fisheries the Displays of the Wild Animals the Liberal Art Galery and many other things but it is but a small portion of what I want to see but I dont know now ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I14_p002.jpg) whether I shall be able to go onto the fair grounds any more or not for I am quite weak & I think Ma gets about as tired at night as she would at home at work it would take a person a Month to do justice to see every thing on the grounds. I learned from Asahel that you kept the bank going which I was glad to hear The money that Brother Grant Borrowed for us would help at Least for a while I think I shall be glad to get home Alice was quite sick one day all got tired out I have walked several miles a Day and Climing high Stairs to get onto the rail roads tires me by night so I went to go to bed we have visited a great many people & more we want to visit We Called upon Mr Polman the Man who gave us ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I14_p003.jpg) the Car to travel in He made $65 000 000. in that business but 2 nights ago his great Lumber yard was burned up which destroyed his great body of hard wood s[---]d Lumber which He made his C[---] of Loss $250 000 dollar bonds though many Men out of employment, it lit up the whole County for a great Distance I Expect Vedi will have a great time when she sees a Chicago Doll and I expect Roxie will to but I am weary & cannot write much more to day I saw the Palmer Home where Asahel Stoped while in Chicago We visited the Masonic galery of 20 stories & was drawn to the Top in an Elevator we visited the Largest retail Store in the world (so said I c[---]d one while Black Chicago is a great place I wish you would tell Owen I have ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I14_p004.jpg) that I cannot wear his shirts for when we got into Chicago & opened our trunk & put on 2 or 3 shirts which I could not button I found that they had put up in the trunk half a Doz of Owen & Asahels shirts instead of mine, so you will have some shirts when we get home Emma had to go to a store & buy half a Doz for me before I could dress well, I must [---] I was glad to Learn that all was going on Well at home but we all felt to Deeply sympathise with Vedi in the Deep trouble she passed through with her teeth Poor Child I pity her in such an affliction I hope we may soon be at home with you all give our Love to all Ma Blanch & Alice all send Love to All As Ever your W Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I15_p001.jpg) July 17 /94 Dear Dear Ovando & Clara I made a good Breakfast this morning out of the Large trout you sent us I did not see it before it was Cooked would suppose it weighed 3 or 4 lb, it was fine I Enclose a Letter from Owen to Clara I went to Ogden on Sunday to attend the Conference Came home Sunday night was Sick all night with Diahrea Diarhea was poorly yesterday am Well th[--] morning Little Emma is Well & happy Asahel & Naomi Love for [---] to night I would like to know how many trout you ketch & what weight How is Woody & Asahel I hope you are all Well W Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I15_p002.jpg) I should think you would be proud of this writing if you were not a good translator I would not send it to you ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I16_p001.jpg) Aug 3d/94 Ovando I want to say that I did not Comprehend what you was at when you was asking for M[-]x Now I shall go up this Evening & take prin[-] and tomorrow Evening you can take Caezar and the Cart on the buggy to suit yourself Emma will see you to day Now if Clara Could go up with us to night I would have liked it of course going up the Mountain we will all of us have to drive on a walk and take the clerk down ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I16_p002.jpg) If you Could have gone up with us to night & Could have gone down in the Buggy to the Mouth of the Cannon & see you fish and might ketch a fish myself but as you cannot go I will have to be Content about the fishing WW ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I17_p001.jpg) SAN FRANCISCO GALA AUG 16 - 6 AM '96 Mrs. O.C. Beebe. 126 G. Street. S. L. City. Utah ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I17_p002.jpg) [A seal/stamp with the letters LDS] [The following is upside down] SALT LAKE CY. UTAH AUG 17 8 - PM '98 ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I18_p001.jpg) Hotel del Monte GEO. H. ARNOLD, MANAGER Monterey, Cal, Aug 23rd 189 Mrs. O. C. Beebe. My dear Daughter It has seemed almost impossible for me to get time to write for we are on the go all the time one place or anoth- er and I have not been feeling well for several days and when I stop going I am obliged to lie down and rest Well you will see by this that we are here in Monteray and I think that if there is a Paradise on Earth this must be it for of all the beautiful spots I ever saw this is the most beautiful They say there is a place we are going to that is far ahead of this but I do not see how that can be possible This is going to be a buisy week here as they are going to have every day except Monday which is tomorrow and we are going to take a drive of eighteen ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I18_p002.jpg) miles along the Beach I do not know how long we shall stay here perhaps a week and then we shall go back to Sanfrancisco but we shall not stop there any length of time but will go on to Sanbarnideno and Loss Angelos We have not had a line from home except a few lines that Asahel got from Naomi an she never mentioned one of the family so I suppose you are all alive or she have said so perhaps I do so long to from home if you will write and direct to the Palace Hotel San Francisco we will get it. It will either be to us or we will get it on our return how is Alice getting along housekeeping how is my dear little Emma has she got the whoping cough Give my love to Van and Vedi and Woodie and accept a goodly share for yourself Well it is dinner time and I shall have to stop and dress Do write and tell me all about home I do so want to hear from you all as ever your Affectionate Mother Emma S Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I19_p001.jpg) San Francisco Aug 30 /98 My Dear Clara We got your & Vedi's Letter which we were very glad to get Ma has wanted you here very Much since we have been here I would have been glad to have had you with us. This visit has been a great Blessing to me I eat Well & sleep all night & feel much better than I did when I left home We had a fine Meeting on Sunday quite a large Congregation of Saints all Enjoyed it much I wish you could Drop Down here & spend a few days with us We have not been out Fishing yet A Man said we wont have to go North about 30 Miles to get good fishing There fish would bite all the Time Rock Cod the Main Fish Well Ma will write you My Love to all of the Family your Affectionate Father Wilford Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I19_p002.jpg) Miss Vedi Woodruff My Dear Grand Child We got your Loving Letter and was glad to hear from you and all the Children We took a ride on a small boat of 25 Miles in some 4 Hours I wish you had all been with us so you could see how fast a small boat Could go through the sea All our grand Children would have been pleased with it if they had not been Frightened I hope you are all getting along Well at home We are Eating Oysters Clams & fish & some Mutton chop [---] Well I have been out to the Seal rocks twice the Seal are Monstrous Big Fish to be in the Sea will weigh from 1000 to 1500 lbs they live on Fish it will take a great many to feed one 24 Hours give my Love to your Father & Mother & Children Your Affectionate Grand Pa Wilford Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I1_p001.jpg) St George Aug 20. 1877 Clarry Woochult My Dear Daughter I would like vey much to learn from you and know what you are doing this summer are you goig to schoo I wait to see you learn all you can while you are young I am satisfied you are a good Girl for you would not be aything Else I wish you write to me and tell me all the neus with you and how all the family got along especily Owen and Blanch it has been a long since I hav learnd any thing from you the people bring me many good grapes to the Temple I would like to carry you a pail full of them but I hope you will prune some this year so you can hav some at home Now you write me as soon as you can [---]p Blanch for me your Affectionate Father W Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I1_p002.jpg) St George Aug. 20 Abram Owen Woodruff My Dear Son How do you do and how do you get along How is your garden this year how may Crops have you had on it this season, I expect you are getting to be a big boy now do you and Blanch get along together, I expect you are very good to her, and help her all you can I want you to help your Ma Nellie and Asabel all you can to get alog with the work do you get stung with the bees any, have you learned your letters and can read yet in the primma[--] I hope you will get so as to read soon I expet you alwys say your prayers before you go to bed you went to Lemala Mrs. I always pray her you any day that you may be well and be a good boy I expect to come home and see you before long get Nellie to send this letter to you Good night God Bless you Your Affectionate Father W Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I20_p001.jpg) HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Salt Lake Temple. Salt Lake City Utah, Apr 13th 18900 My Dear daughter Clara I reached here Wednsday evening very tired but quite well I found Nellie as you may suppose perfectly prostrated with grief she was not able to sit up but we doctered her up and got her so that we could get her in a carriage and take her to the meeting house to the funeral Every body was very kind to her and every thing was done could be both before and after little Clara died but it was all so sudden that there was very that could be done She was playing all day Friday but complained of being tired and Saturday at seven Oclock she died I hope I shall ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I20_p002.jpg) never be called upon to witness such sorrow again it seemed as if she was the one bright spot in Nellies and it seems so hard that she be taken away but it may be for a wise purpose at least we will hope so As to the thing that you sent out they did not use anything but the stockings and ribbon they had her other cloths made but there will be quite a heavy bill to meet here so if any of her friends want want to do any-thing for her the money would be the most useful just now Asahel sent shoes to all of the Children when I came out so I dont expect anything more of him and I dont ask anything of any body I wish you would go down and see how things are doing at my house once in a while I found Stella and Winna both sick in bed but they are both better With love to all I am as ever your affectionate Mother E S Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I21_p001.jpg) OVANDO C. BEEBE, NATIONAL BANK EXAMINER, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. Salt Lake City May 5" /93 My Dear Mother: I dont know what to say to comfort or help you or I would try & say it my heart aches for you & Nellie to & it seems such a shame that she cannot look on the brightest side there is to life for it she only knew it everyone has their trouble in one form or another & we should try & make the best of it all as far as we can & the Lord will help everyone that will try & help themselves I am going down to see Sister Emeline tomorrow as she is very anxious over you & wanted to hear from you, I had just written a Telegrame form out to send to find out what had become of you when your letter come I had not slept for two nights & had had two terrible dreams of you & as you know I seldom dream I felt sure something was but thought you were sick It seems to me knowing as Nellie does what a hard trip is is for to get to her that she would do everything in her power to make your visit a pleasant one & at age she cannot expect you to make thoes trips for Ever & you are not realy able to do so now, Van has sent his love to your several times he is very homesick & will be glad to get home, when I think how good the Lord has been to me in some ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I21_p002.jpg) ways I feel that I cannot be thankfull enough. Hester just run in & said now if you are writing my Papa or Grandma just tell them I send lots of love & when will you come here & I told her it was Grandma & she says then tell her thanks for that Xmas Day she just happened to think of it Blanche spent the day with me yesterday & her dear baby I never saw anything dearer in my life he grows just lovely I havent seen nor heard of Owen since confrence Sunday when you were all here but they tell me has gone north to Big Horn or some other place took Ford with him. Woodruff has bought him a few chickens & is going to see what her can do with them he has up to date got I think 16 eggs & 14 little ones he likes it fine only he has Rheumatism all the time could not walk at all today Vedi has done all his work work today to celebrate her 15" Birthday & has been down town with Blanch this afternoon doing some shopping. Auntie was up a week ago in the buggy with Grace she looks very bad I intended going & bringing her up to spend a few days but our horse has got so I dare not drive him he has not been out of the barn since you & wood drove him down to Millcreek I know Van will not like it but I take no pleasure in driving him when he is that way I have not seen Alice but Will several times & they are allright write when you can & give love to all lovingly Clara ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I22_p001.jpg) St Johns May 3rd 1907 Arizonia My dear Daughter Clara you will see by this that I am away of here in this southren Country I expected to find very warm weather here but instead we have very cold something quite unusual for this country on wednsday we traveled 35 miles in the worst sand storm I ever experienced the sand just flew in clouds and the wind was so strong that it nearly overturned our carriage and I can tell when I got to Concho where we stoped I was nearly done for Yesterday we came over to St. Johns about thwenty miles in a snow storm but I have had a good nights rest and am feeling pretty well this morning we are having a days rest to day Our meting commence tomorrow morning and last three days and then we proceed on our journey it seems to me that I have been away from home at least ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I22_p002.jpg) a month but we are treated perfectly lovely wherever we go but I realiz it is a going to be very hard on me but I hope to be able to endure it I hope to hear from home while here as this is the first chance I have had to do so Brother Nuttal gave Asahel the directions whare to reach me and I do hope some of you will write as I am very anxious to hear from you in particular We have just got the papers this morning containing an account of the death of Alice Smith it is very sad and I sincerely Sympathize withe her Parents and family I met Brother Frisby and family at Snowflake and will tell you all about it when I get home pleas write and tell me all about every body and how everything is going on at home has Nellie come in or have you heard anything from her how is your own health give my love to Van and the Children let the rest of the folks know that you have heard from me I will write to Alice in a day or two With love to all the family I am as ever your loving Mother Emma S Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I22_p003.jpg) If you will write immediately on reciept of this and direct to Mesa Maricopa Co Arizonia I will get it on the eleventh or to Thatcher Graham Co Arizonia I will get it on the 18th We will be at Juarez May 25 and 26 S Diaz June 1st and 2nd San Luis .... 8th .... 9th ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I23_p001.jpg) [A letterhead with the following words] HYRUM A. SILVER, President. ROBT. J. SHIELDS, Vice President PROF. J. J. MCCLELLAN, Secretary. EDWARD E. JENKINS, Treasurer. Clayton Music Co. INCORPORATED. SUCCESSORS TO D.O. CALDER'S SONS CO. Established 1860. EVERYTHING MUSICAL Capital $150,000.00 Fully Paid P. O. Box 1416 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, STEINWAY PIANOS 109-111-113-SOUTH MAIN ST. JOSEPH J. DAYNES, JR. MANAGER. [End of letterhead] Ocean Park April 11th 1909 Mrs O C Beebe My dear daughter I dont know whether you will read a letter from me now or not I have neglected you so long but you know that I am the poorest corespondent in the world I think I have only written a few lines to Asahel once since I have been here and that is the writing that I have done There is very little to write about here it is all the same day after day I have not done much but try to rest for a while after I came here my head was so bad that I did not know what was going to become of me but I had some medicine recomended to me which I got and used and it has helped me very much stil I am not good for much yet they bring my breakfast to me in bed and then I get up and read and putter around a while or go for a walk down to the beach and then I come in and lie down I cannot walk around like I used to last year so I do not go out but very little we went over to Loss angelus once and Joseph got a carraig and took us for a ride once and we went over to Venice once and that is about all the going that I have done ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I23_p002.jpg) Tell Vedi that I have not been down to see the Japs but once every thing is very beautiful here in its way but I would rather be at home I cannot write to all the folks I get so nervous so I wish you would give my love to them tell Naomi that I will answer her letter in person soon Tell Avery to not get dis- couraged I will come to relief in a short time if the rest of the folks dont go home next week I shall I think we will leave here one week from tomorrow or tuesday if not sooner Blanch has an awful time with her children I never saw anything like I am realy affraid some times that she will go insane I can see how thing might be differ but dursent say a word we sent Alice some flowers by special request but excuse us from sending any more it is cheaper to buy them there If you see Aunt Emeline Wells give my love to her and tell her that I shall see her soon Well I shall have to quit as I havent anything to write and could not write it if I had give my love to all the family and friends yours Lovingly E S Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I2_p001.jpg) Oct 16, 1884 My Dear Blanch I will write often times to you and ask if you got your receipt for the Money you paid for your Cushoin Alice has been crying because Ma would not Let her go to Brother [--]ches to p[-]y[-]r [---] I had to give her 50 cents to stop and visit with me Ma says you went to meeting on Sunday [-]0 I supposed you saw me at Meeting a short time I did not know you was there I would like to have seen you but I hope to see you some day I hope you get along well in school I expect you get all your lessons Well I hope you will get a good Education and Make a good smart woman I Expect you will. Wilford had his son Asahel very sudden it was a great treet to Lucy I have not seen her or any of the Smith family since ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I2_p002.jpg) I was afraid Wilford would get the disease in his family any the Children but I hope Not Well I have No News to send you that Will be of interest to you I wish you and Clara would sit down & write to me or stand up which Ever is the easyest for I would like to hear from you to know how you get along I would Like to look into a Practical Philosofical f[--] of [---] once more to see how it looks I Expect you become quite a home keeper while Clara was gone Well now write to me a Little and tell me how you & Brother Meason get along has He pointed his finger at you yet I hope He still pats you on the head Well good by God Bless you I am happy to [---] I have such good children I pray God to Bless them all your Affectionate Father W. Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I3_p001.jpg) March 6, 1885 My Dear Clare I got your letter last Evening and I was glad to get it I want to say that I have not Been in Ogden or Salt Lake since the 17. Jun nor within 350 miles of it, I would like very well to have you send me one of those Likeness of savages if they are fit to be seen the negatives they showed me were in black as a Negro I have got your Mothers Likeness & you Children with me and I have shown them to a good many people and they think they are very nice many know your Mother they only find ome one fault with You & Blanche and that is the fault I find with them the hair Covers these Noble foreheads all up down to the Eyes which I think is a bad Custom look at Your likeness it shows the organization of the forehead ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I3_p002.jpg) I am very glad you are getting along so well with your studies. I hope you will devot your time to your studis while in school, and learn all you can I am Enjoying good health except yesterday I had a kind of a Chill but I am all right today, I have been in a vy warm County where they have the Chills & fever a good deal I would like your Company very well but you are better off where you are at guess I have neither little or big girls or boys with me Except 2 men at prese there is a Marshall in town to day searching for Prey, but I dont think He will find me for I am out of town in a lone house where no body would think of Looking for me Asahel does write such good letters Bless him. I wrote him a long Letter a few days ago, I shall write him another to day. I want to write to the other children why dont Owen write Your Affectionate Father W. W. ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I4_p001.jpg) Private July 1, 1885 My Dear Clara & Owen I have had nothing from you for a good while your last Letter were written the day your Ma Left Now I was to tell your secretly & we been trying to get ready to go to Salt Lake but I am Satisfied I would not be safe so I have made a[-]g[---] Start on the 3, to go North to attend the Greet C[---]l of the young Mens Mutual of Fish Lake the same place I did Last years 8 of the brother go with me. It is more than half way to Salt Lake We will be g[--] alot today I shall retire to this place It would be No [---] to my family on [---] because to go North & got into it [---] this is a prompt of this big Enough that without me I went to buy glad to hear from you to know how your letter got along Now Clara I want you to see that there is nothing wrong happens at home whil your Ma is good have the were talk are the [---] g[---] beans are again is there going to be any fruit at all. all fruit is ripe in the County exept Grapes [---] corn & Cucumbers on the lake I came riding-up to night to go to the20 Temple to spend the rest of my time before I leave you want to see that your buggy is under a good barn & not used while your Ma is gone I have not heard from Ma[-] for a good while I shall want to find a letter from you when I come back I got a letter from Asahel a few days ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I4_p002.jpg) Lived with him I had not had a note from your Mother & Company since they left they ought to write as soon as they get there I have felt curious about them dont say anything about my visit to the Lake I dont want my Enemies to know if I see from the News that S[---] was arrested in Chicago put under $8000 dollar Deputy Broth Ensigns Death was very sudden take good care of the Cows & every thing left in your charge that your Ma my paid all things [---] when she comes home Always remember your prayers & want you to make it a special business to pray too— Asahel while on his Mission that he may have the spirit of the Lord to help him fill his Missions with satisfaction to himself He has a hard job of it He has to preach Every night in the week & 3 hours on Sunday Ive just been having a hard [---] of the Darrhea it run me 3 days & nights without ceasing but I am all right now I pray for you daily & for Asahel & your Mother & the Children but I wont quit work for I have got to put up my things & Ive but little time to do it in I wish I could see you one More, but I dont know when it will be time must determine if you get everything from your Mother when you write again let me know what it is As Ever your Affectionate Father W ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I5_p001.jpg) Oct 4, 1885 My Dear Clara I write to say that I have lost my old friend with whom I have lived since the first of last March William Squire He has been sick about 10 days and Died on his birth Day the 26 Sept He has been a great friend to me and made me welcome to anything in his Home One day He fainted away & I thought he would die on my hands Burton & Sheets being in town I sent for them and [---] & [---] they all came I washed him & Changed his Clothes & we anointed & blessed him He revived seemed much better but a heavy fever set in on the night of it 24 I Blessed him & bid him good by I saw he was going to die & so many people [---] I felt it [---] for me to leave He was buried on Sundy I did not deem it prudent to attend the funeral I have had to take Owen ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I5_p002.jpg) Home not as secluded as the one I had Brother M A told me about his talk with you & your Mother I was glad He had a claim to Call, I would have been glad to have been with him, I got a letter from Brother Wells & Panrose last night They said Asahel wont come home this fall if He did not go on to the Continent but I would prefer to have him take a tour on the continent, & stay untill spring as He might never have another opportunity to go there And as He has traveled on so much of England & mingled with so many people I would rather He finish it out by visiting the old world before He returns they said He was well & feeling well & doing well Brother Wells said He had made a good record on his Memoir his 2 last letters to me was Dated Sept 3 & 8 I am rather inclined to think that He will decide to go to the Continent ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I5_p003.jpg) and come home with the first company in the Spring I think He will be better satisfied to do that, than to come home this fall. Well it seems that the Utah judges have formed a platform for the Election to stand upon & Decided which they will do some God or Baal and the Decision they make will Decide their Destiny for all time & Eternity when John Sharp went back on his family his Covenants his religion & his God it cent a gloom over the minds of Many, but when Bishop Clawson chose imprisonment instead of Deserting his wives & Children Breaking his Covenants Denying his fault & dis- honoring his God it sent a thrill of [---] through the breasts of thousands I would rather be shot Dead or struck with lightning than to do as Sharp & other had done Give me Imprisonment or give me Death but dont ask me to disown & Divide my family break my Covenants— ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I5_p004.jpg) Deny the faith or Dishonor God I have but few days to live here on Earth I have a long Eternity to spend on the other side of the Veil & After the resurrection And if I do my Duty there is No power beneath the Heavens that can deprive me of the society of my wives & Children after the resurrection to dwell with them forever in the family organization of the Celestial world, while those who desert them & Deny the faith & back out to serve a few months imprisonment will have their families & Celestial Glory but I must quit, I am well as usual give my Love to your Mother & to all the Children & write me soon & give me all the News with you I got good Letters from A[---] Canon I wrote him & Clawson yesterday I am yours Affectionately WW ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I6_p001.jpg) Oct 20, 1885 My Dear Clara It seems a good while since I had any thing from you My Last letter to you was the 3 Oct I would be glad to hear from you and know how you are and yer Moth & the Children I got a letter from Phebe Snow last night I think from her Account her Mother is pretty badly Hurt she says she is ownly able to set up long Enough to have her bed made She thinks also that Wilford Child has got the Diphtheria and thought it would die I would say to you & to Owen Blanch & Alice I don't want any one of you to go there or any other place where the Diphtheria is if the Diptheria once gets estab -lished in a family of Children it is Liable to Carry to the Grave all the family of Children if a Child of mine was to die of that disease ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I6_p002.jpg) I would not w[--] my funeral on my Child to see the Corps this may seem hard but not so hard as to have to follow all the Children to the grave, it is far more Dangerous than the Small pox and about as Contagious you have had it twice I hope you may not have it again or any of the family I saw a Note in one of the papers that it was in the family of James Woodruff but I heard nothing from it afterwards I understd that Julia is getting Better Well I suppose Asahel is Coming home which I am very glad of, the Company will leave Liverpool on Saturday the 24. He wants to visit Liverpool Washington & Philadelphia I hope He will get home Safe He has had 18 months of hard Labor mostly preaching in the Streets He will Miss his Continental tour but that ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I6_p003.jpg) Cannot be helped I wish you would write to me and tell me how you all get along give my Love to your Mother & all the Children I am Enjoying very good health & at present I have been holding a correspondence with [---] Cannon in the pen and I have had Excellent Letters from him I got a letter from A M M[-]rre[-] last night I got another Letter from Asahel Had wisely supposed it was his Letter when I came to read it it was from Thomas E Ricks the president of Bannock Stake He had been C[---] so much in this coun -try He had gone to London write to me when you you Come I would Like a letter from the Children. As Ever W. ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I7_p001.jpg) L. D. S. Historian's Office, P. O. Box 321, Salt Lake City, Utah, Jan 16th. 188 Mr. O. C. Beebe, My dear Boy we have just recieved your very welcome letters and are very glad to hear that all is well with you I am sorry to hear that Angus has got such a pet I never had one but I know from what I have seen of them that they are very painful We are a going out of town Tomorrow so I thought I would write a few lines to night No I am not displease with the address and hope that nothing will ever happen to cause you to wish to change it I expect to return home probably inside of two weeks will try to let you know when I will pass through Provo so that you may be at the Depot and see us if you wish and perhaps accompany us home if you feel like it I had a letter from Clar[-] to night she is feeling very well she says she never wanted to see you so bad in her life and speaks in the kindest of feelings toward you I want to write a few lines to her to night Bro W. is well and him and Bo Thompson are talking untill ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I7_p002.jpg) I dont know what I am writing nor whether you can read it when it is written Alice is going to school but I dont think she learns much if anything she cant take time to study she has too much to do Clare is very anxious for me to come home she feels as if she could not do without Mother much longer and I know that I am needed at home yet I dislike very much to leave Bro W. alone still I expect that my duty calls me to go home and I suppose I shall go soon we have no particular news here we had a little excitement here over shooting of a horse thief he lived two days after he was shot when he died and was buried here The weather is simply delightfull no snow no rain no mud it is simply one perpetual spring I do not know that I have anything more to write at present Pa is writing to Asahel he was very much pleased with your letter he will not write you this time but sends love as does Allie also Good night God bless you is the prayr of your affectionate Ma if you like the appelation. Emma Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I8_p001.jpg) L. D. S. Historian's Office, P. O. Box 321, Salt Lake City, Utah, 188 Dear Van I have only time to drop you a line to say that we will pass through Provo either on Sunday the 30th or Monday the 31st I cannot tell positively which as yet I expect to leave here on Friday and possibly sooner if sooner will reach there on Sunday will be pleased to see you at the Depot if you are at home I had a letter from Clare last night she said you were there so I hardly expect the pleasure of seeing you untill I get home excuse haste and a bad pen as the pig said when it ran away We are all pretty well yours affectionately E. W. P S Allie has just poped in and says give her love to Van and tell him she does long to see him E. W. ----- new page (MSS8173_F1_I9_p001.jpg) Miss Clara Woodruff Farmers Ward ----- new page (MSS8173_F2_I24_p001.jpg) [24] People named in letters: Asahel Hart Woodruff b. 3 Feb 1863 parents: WW & Emma Smith Clara Martisha b. 23 July 1868 Abraham Owen b. 23 Nov 1872 Winifred Blanche b. 9 Apr 1876 Mary Alice b. 2 Jan 1879 Phoebe Amelia b. 4 Mar 1842 in Nauvoo parents: WW & Phoebe Whittemore md. Lorenzo Snow mentioned in 20 Oct 1885 letter - her mother dies 10 Nov 1885 20 Oct 1885 letter mentions a Julia: Julia Delight Stocking b. 28 June 1878 parents: WW & Sarah Delight Stocking 25 Oct 1887 letter Azmon WW's brother Azmon b. 29 Nov 1802 d. 14 Jan 1889 & Elisabeth md. Elizabeth Deorrmo 7 Jan'y 1871 they had no letter "Van" & Clara were md. 3 Aug 1887 Logan, Cache, Ut. Ovando Collins Beebe & Clara Martisha Woodruff's children Vedi Clara b 5 May 1888 Woodruff Collins b. 14 June 1890 Emma b. 28 Oct 1892 George Rogers b. 13 May 1895 <97?> d. Hester b. 17 April 1899 Blanche Floridla b. 6 Sept 1901 2. 6 Sept 1901 Margaret b. 14 Nov 1903 Ruth b. 14 April 1908 As far as I can tell 14 is correct, I think my astigmatism saw 11 but I know <11 is not correct.> Thank you, Dorothy Torrey Maycock 4-4-13 [The 14s in the last two birthdays are circled in red pen] ----- new page (MSS8173_F2_I26_p001.jpg) [26] People named in letters: Asahel Hart Woodruff b. 3 Feb 1863 parents: WW & Emma Smith Clara Martisha b. 23 July 1868 Abraham Owen b. 23 Nov 1872 Winifred Blanche b. 9 Apr 1876 Mary Alice b. 2 Jan 1879 Phoebe Amelia b. 4 Mar 1842 in Nauvoo parents: WW & Phoebe Whittemore md. Lorenzo Snow mentioned in 20 Oct 1885 letter - her mother dies 10 Nov 1885 20 Oct 1885 letter mentions a Julia: Julia Delight Stocking b. 28 June 1878 parents: WW & Sarah Delight Stocking 25 Oct 1887 letter Azmon WW's brother Azmon b. 29 Nov 1802 d. 14 Jan 1889 & Elisabeth md. Elizabeth Degarmo 7 Jan'y 1871 they had no letter "Van" & Clara were md. 3 Aug 1887 Logan, Cache, Ut. Ovando Collins Beebe & Clara Martisha Woodruff's children Vedi Clara b 5 May 1888 Woodruff Collins b. 14 June 1890 Emma b. 28 Oct 1892 George Rogers b. 13 May 1895 d. Hester b. 17 April 1899 Blanche Florilla b. 6 Sept 1901 d. 6 Sept 1901 Margaret b. 14 Nov 1903 Ruth b. 14 April 1908 ----- new page (MSS8173_F2_I26_p002.jpg) The Chicago letter refers to "Roxie" Asahel Hart Woodruff & Naomi Abbott Butterworth's first child was Roxie Norma about 6 mos. younger than Vedi. b. 26 Oct 1888 13 April 1900 letter Nellie is Emma Manella Woodruff b. 4 July 1860 to WW & Emma Clara md. Henry Azmon Woodruff 15 Jan 1880 Stella Their children: Winna Wilford Azmon W b. 29 Jan 1881 Henry Eugene W b. 6 April 1883 Asahel Roland W b. 15 Sept 1885 Emma Estella W b. 31 Jan 1888 Ethel Winifred W b. 20 Jan 1890 Elsworth W b. 20 Dec 1891 d. 28 July 1913 Clara Margaret W. b. 29 Dec 1895 d. 7 Apr. 1900 letter 6 May 1903 mentions Nellie again. She lived in Vernal. the July & August 1894 letters I believe in July letter Clara & Ovando are at this cabin & in August WW writes of going there. from Things in Heaven & Earth by Thomas Alexander bottom page 302: "In August 1890 he spent the first of a number of visits with Emma at a cabin he had pur- chased at Granite Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon about twenty miles southeast of Salt Lake City, where he enjoyed fishing and relaxing. Members of the First Presidency and some of the Twelve and Presiding Bishopric owned cabins at the same site. In August 1892 Asahel and Ovando Beebe, Clara's husband, accompanied Wilford and Emma to the resort." [-], [-], wonder if this is the cabin Clara, years later, hurries to save a grand child she saw in vision about to fall into a tub of hot water? ----- new page (MSS8173_F2_I27_p001.jpg) [27] corrected <4 August 2012> of 2 Index of Wilford Woodruff Family Letters Pieces Date To From 1 side Clarry Woodruff 1 20 Aug 1877 2d side Abram Owen Woodruff W Woodruff 1 16 Oct 1884 Blanch W Woodruff 1 6 Nov 1885 Clare W W 1 1 July 1885 Clara & Owen W 1 4 Oct 1885 Clara W W 1 20 Oct 1885 Clara W 1 16 Jan 188<6?> Mr. O. C. Beebe Emma Woodruff 1 ? later than above Van E W 1 envelope for Clara Woodruff 1 25 Oct 1887 Clare E Woodruff 1 10 Feby 1888 O. C. Beebe W Woodruff 1 6 Nov 1889 Mrs. Clara & Vedi Beebe & Wilford Woodruff Miss Blanch Woodruff 1 30 Oct 1890 Clarre Wilford Woodruff 2 [Sept 1893] Ovando & Clara W. Woodruff 1 17 July 1894 Ovando & Clara W Woodruff ----- new page (MSS8173_F2_I27_p002.jpg) of 2 Index of Wilford Woodruff Family Letters Pieces Date To From 1 3 Aug 1894 Ovando WW 2 1895 Ovando & Clara W. Woodruff 1 envelope 16 August 1896 Mrs. O.C. Beebe 1 23 August [? 1896] Mrs. O.C. Beebe Emma S. Woodruff 1 30 August 1898 side 1 Clara Wilford Woodruff side 2 Vedi Woodruff 1 13 April 1900 Clara E S Woodruff 1 6 May 1903 Mother Clara 1 3 May 1907 Clara Emma S. Woodruff 1 11 April 1909 Mrs. O.C. Beebe E S Woodruff 1 not date typed none none deals with financial preparations for Clara's divorce