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CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 
 
 HIS LAST PORTRAIT. 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY 
 
 Christopher Layton 
 
 With an Account of his Funeral, 
 
 a Personal Sketch, etc., and 
 
 Genealogical Appendix 
 
 EDITED BY JOHN Q. CANNON 
 
 Salt Lake City, Utah 
 
 THE DESERET NEWS 
 
 1911 
 

 Copyright 1911 
 
 By Selina Layton Phillips 
 
 For the Layton Family Association 
 
.IM;ARY 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The inception of this little work is explained 
 on Page 232, where is told the selection of 
 committees to look up President Layton's gen- 
 ealogy and write a history of his life. Mrs. 
 Selina Layton Phillips, who was chosen secre- 
 tary for this work, performed her part with 
 most excellent judgment and thoroughness, of 
 which no further evidence is required than 
 the delightful life story which is here pre- 
 sented. It has been scarcely necessary to make 
 any changes whatever in the narrative as pre- 
 pared by her, my own part consisting in the 
 division of the history into chapters, with some 
 few additions, and a general arrangement of 
 the work for the printer. Acknowledgment 
 should also be made of the advice and active 
 assistance of Mrs. Mary A. Layton Swan, of 
 Kaysville, in supplying correct data whenever 
 a question arose. The full committees ap- 
 pointed to have the work in charge, and who 
 deserve the gratitude of the family for bring- 
 
YRAJi [\\ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ing the volume to completion, are: Selina 
 Layton Phillips (secretary), Charles M. Lay- 
 ton, Richard G. Layton, the Arizona commit- 
 tee; Annie B. Jones (secretary), Christopher 
 Layton, Jun., Mary Ann Layton Swan, the 
 Utah committee. 
 
 The genealogical appendix at the end of the 
 book has been prepared with much care, and 
 as published has had final revision by Mrs. 
 Phillips for the Arizona, and Mrs. Swan for 
 the Utah, committee. Notwithstanding this, 
 I dare not expect that it has escaped some 
 errors or omissions. These, however, it is 
 hoped, are few, and will be viewed charitably ; 
 for even the most critical will concede the dif- 
 ficulty of gathering with absolute correctness 
 the names and dates of so large a family, scat- 
 tered over so vast an expanse of country — a 
 family, too, in which changes, such as births, 
 marriages, deaths, etc., are of almost daily oc- 
 currence. Obviously, a stopping point in the 
 recording of these changes had to be fixed 
 somewhere, and this date was fixed at July 31, 
 1911. It will also be noted that no record of 
 great-grandchildren has been attempted, lest 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. v 
 
 the scope of the appendix should run far be- 
 yond the allotted bounds. 
 
 It only remains to be said, as a last word, 
 that this Autobiography of Christopher Lay- 
 ton has been prepared and published both as 
 a tribute of affection for him and as a token 
 of love to his posterity. It is designed to be 
 handed down from generation to generation, 
 to be preserved as a family memorial, to the 
 end that in the contemplation of his busy, 
 eventful and honorable life, the incentive to 
 worthy deeds and righteous conduct may 
 stand before his children and his children's 
 children forever. 
 
 J. Q. C. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Chapter Page 
 
 I. From England to Nauvoo 1 
 
 II. Three Bitter Years— 1844-'5-'6. .. . 18 
 
 III. The Government's Call 31 
 
 IV. The Mormon Battalion 39 
 
 V. Santa Fe to Tucson 57 
 
 VI. On to the Pacific 81 
 
 VII. Battalion Mustered Out 96 
 
 VIII. Life in California 106 
 
 IX. Pioneering in Carson Valley 118 
 
 X. Established in Kaysville 134 
 
 XI. Years of Empire-Building 159 
 
 XII. Last Years in Kaysville 186 
 
 XIII. Presiding in Arizona .193 
 
 XIV. Approaching the End 219 
 
 XV. The End in Mortality 235 
 
 Christopher Layton — The Man . . . 282 
 Genealogical Appendix 291 
 
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Christopher Layton. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 FROM ENGLAND TO NAUVOO. 
 
 Birth and Boyhood — Joins the Church — Marries 
 and Emigrates — Welcomed by the Prophet — 
 Patriarchal Blessings. 
 
 MY father, Samuel Layton, married Isa- 
 bella Wheeler, by whom he had five chil- 
 dren, namely, John, Bathsheba, Amos (who 
 died in infancy), Priscilla and Christopher. 
 
 I, the youngest, was born in the small village 
 of Thorncut, Northhill, Bedfordshire, England, 
 on March 8, 1821. 
 
 There being no schools in our village, I had 
 no chance for an education; and as my par- 
 ents were poor, I was obliged to help in sup- 
 
2 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 porting the family by woVking while very 
 young. My first employment was keeping 
 crows off the wheat fields, and I was paid 
 thirty-six cents a week and boarded myself. 
 This was when I was only seven years old. 
 
 I often carried my father's dinner out to him 
 in the field, and I remember one day father 
 tried to whip me and I ran away from him. He 
 phased me all day but did not catch me. At 
 night, after I had sneaked off to bed, I heard 
 him come in and inquire of mother where I 
 was. She said I was in bed. With fear and 
 trembling I listened for the next remark : 
 
 "Has he had his supper ?" father asked. 
 
 "No, he said he didn't want any, and seemed 
 to be anxious to get to bed," mother answered. 
 
 Then I heard father sit down and I breathed 
 easier as he said : "No wonder, for the young 
 scamp ate all the apples out of my pie for my 
 dinner and left the crusts for me." And they 
 both laughed. Knowing that my case was set- 
 tled for that time, I went to sleep. 
 
 When I was eight years old, I went to work 
 for a Mr. Fuller on a farm. His horses were 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 3 
 
 large and when I stood by them I only was as 
 high as their shoulders, and when I put the 
 collars and harness on them I was obliged to 
 stand on the plow-beam to reach their backs. 
 My main work was plowing, and here I stayed 
 for several years. 
 
 Next I worked for a well-to-do farmer 
 named Sargent, who lived eight miles from 
 Bedfordshire. He employed me as a fore- 
 man on his large farm, and gave me a good 
 salary. In this position I stayed until I joined 
 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day 
 Saints, for which I received my discharge. 
 
 I was at this time keeping company with an 
 excellent girl, Mary Matthews, both of us be- 
 longing to the Wesleyan Methodist church. 
 A man named Sam Howard, who was an elder 
 in the Latter-day Saints Church, told me that 
 he had had a revelation that there would be 
 four persons baptized at a meeting, and I was 
 one of them. I laughed at the idea ; but he cor- 
 dially invited me to attend a meeting and I 
 went out of curiosity mostly. When I heard 
 the gospel I believed. Mary also attended 
 these meetings and we went into the waters of 
 
4 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 baptism together on Jan. 1st, 1842; after which 
 I was confirmed and ordained a priest. I 
 worked on Mr. Coleman's large farm from this 
 time until I came to America. 
 
 On July 10, 1842, Mary Matthews and I 
 were married at Thorncut, Bedfordshire, Eng- 
 land, by Rev. Taddy, and on Jan. 1st, 1843, we 
 left Thorncut with Mr. Coleman's family, in 
 a large baggage wagon en route for America. 
 George Coleman and I drove the baggage in a 
 very cumbersome wagon with three strong 
 horses tandem. It is against the laws of Eng- 
 land for teamsters to ride, and while both of 
 us were riding, a policeman saw us and gave 
 chase. We whipped up the horses and after 
 going about three miles we outran him and 
 slowed down again to a peaceable jog. 
 
 Leaving our wagons at Wolverhampton we 
 went by train to Liverpool where we joined 
 other Saints and were enrolled on the good 
 ship "Swanton" — Capt. Davenport — as the 
 nineteenth company of Latter-day Saint emi- 
 grants, with Lorenzo Snow as the company's 
 captain. We stayed at Liverpool for two 
 weeks waiting for repairs on the ship, but we 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 5 
 
 made the vessel our home, doing our cooking 
 and sleeping on board. 
 
 One day Brother Coleman said to me, 
 "Chris, ain't you going to peel some potatoes 
 and make us a pie?" So I went to work and 
 made the meat and potatoes into a pie; and 
 when it was baked all of the others wanted to 
 share with us and asked for a recipe for 
 "Chris's pie," as they called it. 
 
 On Jan. 16, 1843, we set sail from Liverpool 
 and as we slowly saw the land disappear in the 
 distance we sang one of the songs of Zion and 
 cheered each other with sympathizing words. 
 We were the first British emigrant company of 
 the season, and numbered two hundred and 
 twelve souls. We had a pleasant voyage across 
 the Atlantic, during which time just before 
 reaching the American shore Mary gave birth 
 to a little son, whom we named William M. 
 Layton. 
 
 After sailing for seven weeks and three days 
 we arrived at New Orleans and were trans- 
 ferred to, the steamer "Amaranth" in which 
 we sailed up the Mississippi River. Our baby 
 died before we reached St. Lou-is, being only 
 
6 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 about six weeks old. It was buried on shore. 
 We arrived at St. Louis on March 29, 1843. 
 
 We were now transferred from the steamer 
 to a barge, and here we had to stay two weeks 
 waiting for the ice to break up in the river. 
 My wife was sick and delicate and the weather 
 was raw and chilly, but we consoled ourselves 
 with the Lord's promises and thanked Him 
 that we were so near our journey's end. My 
 money having given out, I was obliged to bor- 
 row $7 of Prime Coleman. 
 
 About the 7th or 8th of April a small steamer 
 fastened a cable to our barge and tugged us up 
 the river to Nauvoo where we arrived one very 
 cold morning, April 12. 
 
 How rejoiced we were when we were safely 
 across! And there stood our Prophet on the 
 banks of the river to welcome us! As he 
 heartily grasped our hands, the fervently spok- 
 en words, "God bless you," sank deep into our 
 hearts, giving us a feeling of peace such as we 
 had never known before. The Saints had 
 congregated in front of the old post office 
 building to gladly welcome us to this land and 
 the beautiful city of Nauvoo, where the hos- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 7 
 
 pitalities of their homes were kindly offered us. 
 Brother Philemon C. Merrill took my wife and 
 me home with him; his wife Cyrena gave me 
 the first cup of milk I had in Nauvoo. Brother 
 Merrill and Brother Sam Price were so good 
 to us and treated me so well that I never want 
 to forget them. 
 
 On the following day the Prophet Joseph 
 called to see us and blessed us. After staying 
 with Brother and Sister Merrill a few days 
 my wife (who was still sick) and I went home 
 with Jacob Butterfield. 
 
 The first work I did in Nauvoo was digging 
 a well for Brother Wilson, working with 
 Brother John Marriott, for which I received 
 cash. I now paid Brother Coleman back the 
 $7 I had borrowed. The Lord had truly blessed 
 me as the Prophet had said, for I had many 
 friends and brothers and although I had come 
 to Nauvoo with only eight cents in my pock- 
 et I was now able to pay my debts and be a 
 free man again, and always had work. Next 
 I fenced in a farm for Bishop Hunter. 
 
 Brother Marriott and myself went in with 
 some more of the brethren to build a house 
 
8 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 each, but as we thought we were not fairly 
 dealt with and were not satisfied with the ap- 
 portionment of community property, we drew 
 out and told Joseph about it. After counseling 
 and instructing us he gave us two and a half 
 acres of land each and said, "You shall live 
 to see the day when you can buy out every- 
 one who has oppressed you." This prophecy 
 has come true, as has all that noble man ever 
 uttered concerning me. 
 
 We went to work at once at Big Mound and 
 built a room 10x12 cut out of the sod. When 
 it was pared down it looked pretty well. The 
 first winter we had quilts for doors ; we had a 
 dirt floor and when the beds were made down, 
 it just about filled the room. The next morn- 
 ing after our first night in the new house I 
 asked Brother Marriott, "What did you dream 
 last night?" He laughed and said, "I didn't 
 dream anything." I continued, "I did, I 
 dreamed you and I bought a horse," at which 
 he laughed. "I traded my dress coat, and 
 you your cloak." Well, we went to a man 
 named Hamilton, who did not belong to the 
 Church, but T told him about my dream and 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 9 
 
 showed him what we had to trade. He looked 
 at the clothes, and when he found that they 
 just fitted him he said, "Well, young men, I 
 don't take no stock in your dreams, but you 
 shan't be disappointed" — and he traded us a 
 nice four-year-old mare for the clothes. We 
 were all much pleased with the trade and we 
 went on our way rejoicing at our blessings. 
 When we showed our horse to our wives they 
 laughed and then cried, but we did not forget 
 that night to thank God for prospering and 
 blessing us. 
 
 Next we made a contract to do some ditch- 
 ing, for another horse ; then we worked at cut- 
 ting hay and earned a wagon, and with our 
 horses and wagon we hauled in our wood for 
 winter ; thus we felt that the Lord had greatly 
 blessed us. 
 
 Our Prophet was at this time passing 
 through severe trials and persecutions : his ene- 
 mies sending threats to him from time to time, 
 but he was unruffled in his calm dignity: his 
 faith was so strong that he knew no fear and 
 at one time when he was told by his friends 
 that the mob was after him, he calmly replied : 
 
10 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 "Do not be alarmed; I have no fear and shall 
 not flee. I will find friends and the Missour- 
 ians cannot slay me, I tell you in the name of 
 Israel's God." He was subjected to thirty- 
 eight law suits against his person and property 
 but was never convicted. But what troubled 
 his soul was the treachery of his friends, some 
 of whom were very dear to him, one of his 
 sorest afflictions being the recreancy of Sidney 
 Rigdon, whom he had forgiven again and again 
 but from whom he was finally obliged to sol- 
 emnly withdraw the hand of fellowship in Au- 
 gust, 1843. 
 
 His soul as well as the Saints' were filled 
 with joy to see the growth of our beautiful 
 city. From this country and from across the 
 sea faithful Saints were gathering by tens and 
 by hundreds. Homes and factories were built 
 and the walls of the Temple were rising in 
 grandeur, uplifting our souls with hope that 
 soon we would be privileged to administer in 
 the holy ordinances for our living and dead. 
 
 On Aug. 12, 1843, the revelation about the 
 eternity and plurality of marriage was read be- 
 fore the High Council and Stake Presidency 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 11 
 
 by Brother Hyrum, who then promised his 
 brethren that they who accepted it should be 
 blessed and sustained in the Church by the 
 Spirit of God and the confidence of the Saints, 
 and they who rejected it should fall away in 
 their faith and power ; and it was even so. 
 
 This proved to be a severe trial to many 
 and the cause of apostasy to some, for the 
 teaching of this revelation has been a test of 
 personal holiness. There is not one word in 
 it or was there one word in the Prophet's teach- 
 ings other than purity and self-sacrifice. The 
 men who have seen in this commandment a 
 holy and exalted duty and who obeyed it in 
 meekness and purity, have lived by their faith 
 and have come off triumphant: while those 
 who have sought through it to minister to evil 
 passions have sunk and been cast out. 
 
 On Dec. 1, 1843, I received a blessing under 
 the hands of the Patriarch Hyrum Smith, 
 promising great things, many of which have 
 been fulfilled. Following is a copy of this 
 blessing: : 
 
12 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 PATRIARCHAL BLESSING 
 
 By Hyrum Smith, Patriarch, on the head of 
 Christopher Lay ton, son of Samuel and Isabella 
 Lay ton, born at Thorncut, England, March 
 8, 1821. 
 
 Brother Christopher, I lay my hands upon 
 your head in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, 
 to place and seal upon your head according to 
 your lineage, your rights of priesthood, or 
 your rights inherent ; for behold, I say unto you 
 that Priesthood when it hath power over thee 
 in lineal descent, as also heritance, otherwise 
 there is none inheritance, nor any power in the 
 Priesthood, wherein the afflictions, wherein 
 the lame, the maimed, the blind may be healed : 
 Behold, I say unto you, Christopher, you are a 
 descendant from the loins of Jacob, also passing 
 through the lineage and tribe, or from the 
 loins, of Levi : therefore you have a right to the 
 prophetic visions, or the blessings according to 
 the prophetic declaration, of that lineage. If 
 you will but ask you shall receive ; if you will 
 but seek, you shall find; and if you will but 
 knock, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded 
 to you, and you shall be blessed in your house 
 and habitation, in your fields and flocks, in the 
 lineage of your posterity, in your testimony 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 13 
 
 and in your mission and calling wherein you 
 are called, and the day cometh when you will 
 stand in your place according to your appoint- 
 ments upon Zion, the city of the New Jeru- 
 salem with your posterity to enter into the pos- 
 session of your inheritance and your name shall 
 be perpetuated with the blessings of the Priest- 
 hood in the lineage of your posterity unto the 
 latest generation, and your years shall be 
 lengthened out according to your faith. These 
 blessings I seal upon your head. Even so. 
 Amen. 
 
 Following is a copy of a letter which we 
 wrote to my wife's parents in England, enclos- 
 ing my wife's blessing: 
 
 Nauvoo, III., March 9th, 1844. 
 Dear Father and Mother: It is with 
 pleasure that we write a few lines unto you, 
 hoping to find you well as it leaves us at this 
 time, and we are both living happily together, 
 rejoicing in the Lord and we hope you will 
 make yourselves happy about us. We never 
 wish to come to England again to live but if 
 we had means we would gladly cross the sea 
 and fetch you here, for our fathers could get 
 a living easier here than they can in England, 
 and if you will obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, 
 the Lord shall open a way for you to come, for 
 
14 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 there is a great many aged people come here, 
 older than any of you, and the Lord blesses 
 them for so doing. The Prophet preached at 
 the Temple on the 8th of March in the morn- 
 ing and one of the Twelve in the afternoon. 
 The news was glorious ; they said the Saints 
 were thirsting after holiness and living in 
 unity of the spirit ; there never was such a cry 
 for holiness as there is at this present time ; 
 there are a great many of them say they are 
 willing to do whatever the Lord commands 
 them, and the work of God is prospering all 
 round; the Prophet is revealing glorious 
 things, and he wishes the brethren would get 
 the Temple on the 8th of March in the morn- 
 receive power from on high; after they have 
 received it they will come to England with 
 great power, the gospel will then prove a savor 
 of life unto life to all that believe and a savor 
 of death to all that believe not, but we hope 
 you will all believe it and obey. 
 
 It is customary in this country for the Saints 
 to receive their patriarchal blessing when they 
 get here and we have received ours and 
 send them for you to read. The two bless- 
 ings will be literally fulfilled upon us inasmuch 
 as we are faithful and keep the commandments 
 of God; give our love to Father and Mother 
 Layton; we wish for them to read this letter 
 and have a copy of the blessings, if they desire 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 15 
 
 it. We sent a letter to them three weeks ago 
 by post; we intend to send this by Mrs. Field- 
 ing, and one to Brother and Sister Martin. 
 
 Brother S has not the means to come at 
 
 present. 
 
 Dear Mother, I would be glad if you would 
 favor me in sending me word of the names of 
 your father and mother so that I may be bap- 
 tized for them and claim them at the first res- 
 urrection, for we that come into this Church 
 have not only to save ourselves but our dead 
 friends ; but if you will come in this covenant it 
 will cause our hearts to rejoice and yours will 
 rejoice when meeting those that have long slept 
 in the dust. I hope my dear father will not let 
 the world see this letter for it is only for our 
 friends and the Saints. 
 
 Brother Warden is not come up yet so we 
 have not received our parcels as yet, only those 
 which came in your letter, and I was much 
 pleased with you for your kindness. Please 
 to give our love to Brother and Sister Hall. 
 Please to send me word how they are getting 
 along and I hope they will obey the gospel. 
 Sister Shult has sent me a letter by Mr. Field- 
 ing, — we are living with Brother Marriott, but 
 our house is nearly done so that we can go in 
 it in a week or two. Give our love to brother 
 Willie and his wife, and I hope they are both 
 rejoicing in the Lord. Give our love to broth- 
 
16 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 er George and his wife and I hope they will 
 obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, otherwise they 
 cannot inherit a celestial glory. Give our love 
 to Brother and Sister Lee and Brother and 
 Sister Garner and Sister Sarah Martin and 
 T. E. Foxley. We remain your loving son and 
 daughter, 
 
 C. and M. Layton. 
 
 PATRIARCHAL BLESSING 
 
 On the head of Mary Matthews Layton, giv- 
 en by Hyrum Smith at Nauvoo, III., on Dee. 
 i, 1843. 
 
 Sister Mary, I lay my hands upon your 
 head in the name of Jesus, and bless you. Be- 
 hold I say unto you, Mary, you shall be blessed 
 with prosperity, spiritually and temporally, ac- 
 cording as you have desired, to be received in 
 due time, as touching your house and habita- 
 tion, possessions and permanent flocks and 
 fields; nevertheless there are many trials and 
 many perplexities in this life but in the world 
 to come there is eternal life, a crown of im- 
 mortality laid up for you. This is a promise 
 unto you, to be a blessing and a comfort in all 
 time to come : therefore lift up your head and 
 be glad; behold, look and live; remember the 
 word from the sacred article, that are precepts, 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 17 
 
 and there is a blessing by promise upon your 
 posterity and an inheritance in the lineage of 
 your fathers, in the lineage of Abraham ac- 
 cording to the covenants of grace, even unto 
 fullness, to be received in fulfillment- of prom- 
 ises obtained by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to 
 be answered upon their children in this dis- 
 pensation of the fullness of times, or unto their* 
 generations after them ; and your blessing in 
 all things shall be in common with your hus- 
 band and your name shall be perpetuated in the 
 line of your posterity and your years shall be 
 multiplied as a blessing unto you. These bless- 
 ings I seal upon your head. Even so. Amen. 
 
18 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THREE BITTER YEARS — 1844-'5-'6. 
 
 The Deed at Carthage — Sorrows and Persecutions 
 — Nauvoo Evacuated — Migration Westward, 
 "We Knew Not Where." 
 
 IN the spring of 1844 I became acquainted 
 with some of the apostles and had many 
 friends among the Saints, for we all loved each 
 other and shielded and protected Joseph as 
 much as lay in our power. One of my duties 
 was to guard the authorities, and also to help 
 guard the Temple. 
 
 I rented a tract of land containing forty 
 acres, took Nealy's team of five yoke of oxen 
 and broke the prairie and planted it in eorn. 
 It yielded a good crop, from which I realized 
 ten cents a bushel (many selling corn that year 
 for three or four cents a bushel). My wife 
 made and sold bobinet lace and we prospered 
 well. 
 
 During the months of May and June the life 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 19 
 
 of the Prophet Joseph was harassed, annoyed, 
 and finally in the latter month taken by the 
 mob at Carthage jail. But the work of the 
 Church was still carried on in Nauvoo, for in 
 May missionaries were set apart for a mission 
 to England and the apostles were scattered over 
 the Eastern States. 
 
 On the 16th of June Brother Joseph 
 preached to the assembled Saints in the grove 
 east of the Temple (while the rain fell heavily), 
 from the revelations of St. John the Divine. 
 After the city had been declared under martial 
 law, the Legion was drawn up in front of the 
 Mansion House and the Prophet, standing 
 upon the framework of a building opposite, ad- 
 dressed them. He asked us if we loved him? 
 if we would stand by him and sustain the 
 laws of our country? And we all answered, 
 "Yes, yes." Then he said he was content; he 
 would die for us. "I love you, my brethren; 
 greater love hath no man than that he lay down 
 his life for his friends ; you have stood by me 
 in the hour of trouble, and I am willing to 
 sacrifice my life for your preservation. " Then 
 drawing his sword — "I call God and angels to 
 
20 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 witness that this people shall have their legal 
 rights or my blood shall be spilt upon the 
 ground * * * and my body consigned to 
 the tomb, but if there is one drop of blood 
 shed on this occasion, the sword shall never 
 again be sheathed until Christ comes to reign 
 ' over the earth. * * * Peace shall be tak- 
 en from the land which permits these crimes 
 against the Saints to go unavenged. * * * 
 May God bless you forever and ever." And 
 we all answered, Amen. 
 
 On the 20th of June Brother Joseph sent 
 word to all the apostles to return home im- 
 mediately; and on the 24th he, with seventeen 
 others, went to Carthage. 
 
 At this time I was living at Big Mound, 
 an English settlement about eight miles from 
 Nauvoo, and there, while engaged in putting 
 in sod corn I heard of the Prophet's and Hy- 
 rum's death. The next morning I started to 
 Carthage with those who went after the 
 bodies. We met them on the road, Dr. Rich- 
 ards having dressed the wounds of John Tay- 
 lor and started for Nauvoo with Joseph's, and 
 Hvrum's bodies. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 21 
 
 The wailing of the Saints when they saw 
 the martyrs was terrible. Ten thousand peo- 
 ple were addressed by Apostle Richards, who 
 admonished them to keep the peace and trust 
 to the law for a remedy for the awful crimes 
 which had been committed and if the law 
 failed, to call upon God in heaven to avenge 
 us of our wrongs. The bodies were placed in 
 coffins, the funeral was held, while deep grief 
 rilled our hearts and sorrow rested heavily upon 
 us — a stricken people. The woe of the Saints 
 cannot be described. Our Prophet and Patri- 
 arch dead, only two of the apostles with us and 
 one of them supposed to be dying, and all this 
 time we were in constant expectation of an at- 
 tack by the mob army. 
 
 Our enemies were sure now that they had 
 destroyed the gospel work, but it still lives, 
 and will live, for it is the eternal work of God, 
 and I here bear my testimony that I know that 
 Joseph Smith, who established it, was a Proph- 
 et holy and pure. 
 
 Like sheep without a shepherd, we felt lost 
 and bewildered, and seriously we discussed the 
 question, "Who was highest in authority? Who 
 
H AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 held the keys of the kingdom?" On August 
 6 the apostles arrived from the East, while we 
 were still uncertain about choosing a guardian 
 of the Church and it was a great relief to greet 
 them among us. A council of the priesthood 
 was called and it was not long before, with the 
 Twelve at the head, we felt that all things 
 would be managed and directed aright. In 
 the person of the President of the Twelve, 
 Brigham Young, we knew that a great char- 
 acter had arisen, to build upon the foundation 
 laid by Joseph Smith, a kingdom whose equal 
 "there never was in the world." Now feeling at 
 peace, we pursued our usual work: the work 
 on the Temple was pushed forward as rapidly 
 as possible. 
 
 On August 17, 1844, a little daughter was 
 born to us, at Nauvoo, and we named her 
 Elizabeth M. 
 
 In the fall of 1844 I moved to La Harpe, 111. 
 John Marriott and I worked for Mr. White, 
 and in the spring of '45, we rented the farm 
 of him and put in a crop of corn, and had a 
 good yield. Brother Coleman's boys came to 
 La Harpr and worked, taking grain for pay 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 23 
 
 and we stored their grain on our place. After 
 harvest we returned to Big Mound. 
 
 Four of us took up one hundred and sixty 
 acres of land and divided it between us; I 
 built a house on my forty acres — one mile from 
 the Mound. An old lady was living on one 
 corner of my forty, and she was taken sick 
 with typhoid fever. It seemed too bad for her 
 to be there all alone and I asked my wife to 
 go and take care of her. She said she had 
 thought about it, but did not know how I 
 would get along with the cooking work, etc. ; 
 but I told her to go, I'd get along all right. 
 So she went, but the lady soon died, and then 
 Mary was taken down with the same fever. 
 I moved her to Sam Payne's house where she 
 could have better care, but in Sept., 1845, she 
 quietly passed away from us. I walked three 
 miles but could get no lumber and was obliged 
 to take a log, and I helped to hew a coffin out 
 of that, then I carried it back on my shoulders, 
 then, with three teams, we went to Nauvoo and 
 buried her. Thus I was left alone with my 
 little girl of thirteen months. 
 
 Among my neighbors were two good friends, 
 
24 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Wm. B. Smith and his excellent wife, who had 
 no children, and they took my baby and cared 
 for her as tenderly as they could have done for 
 their own; they learned to love her so dearly 
 and she became so attached to them that they 
 could not give her up and she remanied in their 
 family until she was married in 1861.* 
 
 In January, 1845, the legislature, yielding to 
 popular clamor, repealed the charter of the city 
 of Nauvoo. We now had no protection what- 
 ever. 
 
 In the spring of 1845 I was ordained an 
 Elder. 
 
 On April 8, 1845, Brigham Young received 
 a letter of advice from Gov. Ford of Illinois, 
 saying we had better get off by ourselves, 
 where we might enjoy peace, and counseling 
 
 *On April 11, 1861, Elizabeth M. Layton mar- 
 ried William W. Galbraith at Kaysville, Utah, by 
 whom she had six children, five boys and one girl; 
 two boys are dead. In 1889 they moved to Mex- 
 ico, where she still resides. In April, 1897, W. W. 
 Galbraith was taken sick and after lingering nine 
 months he passed away on Jan. 1st, 1898. He 
 died in full faith in the gospel, exhorting all the 
 family to be true to it; leaving four wives and 
 twenty-three living children to mourn the loss of 
 a kind husband and loving father. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 25 
 
 him to take us "out to California." This was 
 unnecessary as we were already making prep- 
 arations to carry into effect the plan which the 
 Prophet Joseph had given of finding a place 
 of refuge in the West beyond the Rockies. 
 
 In May a faint effort was made to bring 
 the murderers of Joseph and Hyrum to justice, 
 but after a trial they were "honorably acquit- 
 ted," which news made the mob element so 
 bold that they committed fresh outrages. 
 Houses were burned and people driven from 
 place to place, till, fearing massacre, the Saints 
 living in the settlements came into Nauvoo for 
 protection. On May 24 the walls of the Temple 
 were finished, Brigham laying the last stone 
 in the presence of the assembled Saints, and 
 pronouncing a benediction ; the Saints shouting 
 "Hosanna to God and the Lamb, Amen and 
 Amen." 
 
 After my wife's death in September I went 
 to see about the grain I had left stored at 
 La Harpe, and while there a mob broke out. 
 I was riding a fine mare noted for her racing 
 qualities and I started back toward Nauvoo. 
 Some of the mobbers seeing me came after 
 
26 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 me, but I encouraged my mare to try her 
 speed and we soon left them far behind. 
 
 On October 5 the first meeting was held in 
 the Temple; the apostles administering in the 
 holy ordinances to hundreds of people, con- 
 tinuing day and night; and by the end of De- 
 cember, over a thousand had received these 
 ordinances ; all this was done while we were 
 making preparations to leave the city. These 
 were busy and sad times. Hundreds were 
 making tents and wagon covers and packing 
 preparatory to leaving their homes ; companies 
 were organized and numbered, each with its 
 wagon shop, wheelwrights, carpenters, etc., and 
 all busily employed. It was intended that each 
 family of 5 persons should have 1 good wagon, 
 3 yoke of cattle, 2 cows, 3 sheep, 1,000 lbs. of 
 flour, 20 lbs. sugar, 1 rifle and ammunition, a 
 tent and poles, from 10 to 20 lbs. of seeds, 25 
 to 100 lbs. farming tools, bedding and cooking 
 utensils. But many a family were driven out 
 with almost nothing. 
 
 I came out from Nauvoo with the first com- 
 pany of exiles, my team pulling the little can- 
 non called the "Old Sow." We crossed the 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 27 
 
 Mississippi River on the ice on February 6, 
 1846. 
 
 "We've left the City of Nauvoo, 
 And our beloved Temple, too; 
 And to the wilderness we go, 
 Amid the winter frosts and snow." 
 
 — Eliza Snow. 
 
 That night we camped in the snow, sleep- 
 ing in our wagons, and before morning there 
 were nine new babies in our camp. 
 
 On the 7th Brother Brigham organized the 
 camp in order for traveling. All of the exiles 
 pushed on to Sugar Creek, nine miles into 
 Iowa, and from there a new start was taken, 
 the advance companies having waited until all 
 had arrived. It was bitterly cold, and much 
 suffering had been endured. Now the labor 
 of temporary organization began. Getting in- 
 to a wagon, Brother Brigham said in a voice 
 clear and distinct : "Attention, the whole camp 
 of Israel!" Then he gave us plain practical 
 instructions as to the order and arrangement 
 of the camp; with a tone of authority, tem- 
 pered with love and firmness, he told us : "We 
 will have no laws we cannot keep, but we will 
 have order in the camp. If any want to live 
 
28 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 in peace when we have left this place, they 
 must toe the mark." 
 
 Our orders were to advance on the 1st of 
 March, and about noon on that day we broke 
 encampment and soon nearly four hundred 
 wagons were moving to — we knew not where. 
 
 While here, Sister Eliza R. Snow composed 
 two poems applicable to the occasion, one of 
 which is given below : 
 
 CAMP OF ISRAEL. 
 No. 2. 
 
 Lo, a mighty host of Jacob, 
 
 Tented on the western shore 
 Of the noble Mississippi, 
 
 They had crossed, to cross no more. 
 At the last day-dawn of winter, 
 
 Bound with frost and wrapped in snow; 
 Hark! the cry is "Onward, onward! 
 
 Camp of Israel, rise and go." 
 
 All at once is life and motion — 
 
 Trunks, and beds, and baggage fly; 
 Oxen yoked, and horses harnessed, 
 
 Tents rolled up and passing by: 
 Soon the carriage wheels are moving, 
 
 Onward to a woodland dell, 
 Where at sunset all are quartered — 
 
 Camp of Israel, all is well. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 29 
 
 Thickly 'round the tents are clustered, 
 
 Neighb'ring smokes together blend; 
 Supper served, the hymns are chanted, 
 
 And the evening prayers ascend. 
 Last of all the guards are stationed — 
 
 Heavens! must guards be serving here? 
 Who would harm the houseless exiles? 
 
 Camp of Israel, never fear. 
 
 Where is Freedom? Where is Justice? 
 
 Both have from this nation fled; 
 And the blood of martyred Prophets 
 
 Must be answered on its head! 
 Therefore, to your tents, O Jacob! 
 
 Like our father Abra'm dwell; 
 God will execute His purpose — 
 
 Camp of Israel, all is well. 
 
 We moved slowly onward only making five 
 miles the first day, and thus the weary march 
 was slowly continued from day to day in mud, 
 snow and rain ; but sustained by Divine power, 
 we pressed on in search of a new home. I 
 traveled with the Presidency. We were often 
 delayed by freshets, one time having to wait 
 for three weeks to cross Shoal Creek near the 
 Chariton River. 
 
 We made a halt at last at a place which we 
 
30 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 named Garden Grove and built some log huts 
 and planted corn, some remaining to culti- 
 vate the same and prepare a resting place for 
 the weary Saints who should follow us, while 
 the main body of the camp moved on to another 
 halting place. Because I remained at Garden 
 Grove some of the men wanted to take my 
 team to move the Saints, but Brother Brigham 
 said: "No; this man has cut brush to keep 
 us warm, while you were warming yourselves 
 at the fire he made and you can't have his 
 team." 
 
 On again till we reached a place which 
 Apostle Parley Pratt had named Mt. Pisgah, 
 and here we made another station for those 
 who should follow. All hands went to work, 
 some breaking sod, dragging down and get- 
 ting land in order, while others, — I among 
 them — split rails and fenced in the big field 
 all ready for planting. This was all done in 
 one day, and at night we had singing, a dance, 
 and then each family had their prayers and we 
 slept peacefully, and safe in our Heavenly 
 Father's care. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 31 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE GOVERNMENT'S CALL. 
 
 Five Hundred Men Asked For — Mustering and 
 Marching — Brave Looks but Sore Hearts— 
 Brigham Young's Promise. 
 
 ABOUT June 15, 1846, Brigham Young, 
 with the vanguard of the migrating 
 trains, reached the Missouri River, followed 
 by the main body in July. We stopped at a 
 place on the east side of the river, which we 
 named Kanesville, but it is now known as 
 Council Bluffs. The Pottawatomie and Oma- 
 ha Indians were very friendly and later in the 
 season, in what is now called Florence, Neb., 
 we founded the celebrated Winter Quarters, 
 with a population of about four thousand souls. 
 It was the intention of our leader to hasten 
 onward that summer and fall with a band of 
 pioneers to explore the Rocky Mountains. "The 
 muster for volunteers, for this purpose, was in 
 progress at Mount Pisgah, under the direction 
 
32 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 of Apostle Woodruff who had recently re- 
 turned from England, when the Mormon na- 
 tion of twelve thousand souls, stretching across 
 the whole of Iowa, was startled by a call for 
 volunteers — for a Mormon Battalion — to do 
 battle for their country against Mexico. This 
 event changed the plans, and the Saints were 
 compelled to remain in Winter Quarters, and 
 in the other settlements in Iowa, over winter."* 
 
 Great was the consternation in camp at 
 Mount Pisgah, when on June 26, 1846, it was 
 told among us that a United States officer had 
 called for volunteers, and naturally we thought 
 it was only another threat being carried out. 
 
 That there may be a better understanding 
 of the call from the United States I will quote 
 from the "Life of Brigham Young," showing 
 how it originated : 
 
 "About the time that the Saints left Nau- 
 voo, Elder Samuel Brannan sailed with two 
 hundred and thirty-five Mormons, on the ship 
 'Brooklyn' for California, intending to join 
 those who left Nauvoo somewhere on the Pa- 
 cific Coast. Before sailing from New York, 
 
 k Life of Brigham Young. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 33 
 
 Brannan entered into a peculiar agreement 
 with one A. G. Benson, who represented a 
 company of Washington sharpers, requiring 
 the Mormons to transfer to said Benson and 
 Co. the odd numbers of all the lands and town 
 lots which they might acquire in. the country 
 where they should settle. * * * Brannan 
 was prevailed upon to sign such an agreement 
 and he forwarded it to the Mormon leaders 
 for their approval and signatures, with the 
 information that if they did not sign the docu- 
 ment President Polk would issue a proclama- 
 tion setting forth that it was the intention of 
 the Mormons to take sides with either Mexico 
 or Great Britain, which latter country then 
 claimed Oregon, in the impending struggle 
 against the United States ; intercept them, and 
 order them to be disarmed and dispersed ; but 
 if they did sign, then they were to be allowed 
 to proceed unmolested. When this strange 
 document came to President Young, he called a 
 council of the Twelve, (Sugar Creek, Feb. 
 17, 1846), resulting in the emphatic rejection 
 of the proposition without a reply. 'We con- 
 cluded that our trust is in God, and we look 
 to Him for protection/ said they, and, added 
 President Young, This is a plan of political 
 demagogues to rob the Latter-day Saints of 
 millions and compel them to submit to it by 
 threats of Federal bayonets/ 
 
34 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 "The appearance of Captain J. Allen in 
 Mount Pisgah, however, was not due to the 
 Brannan letter but resulted from a different 
 cause. * * * Shortly after the Saints left 
 Nauvoo, Brigham Young had sent Elder Jesse 
 C. Little to Washington to try to obtain aid, if 
 possible, from the nation, to assist them in their 
 march. It was thought that they might be 
 permitted to freight government provisions 
 and stores to Oregon and other Pacific Coast 
 points. Elder Little succeeded to such an ex- 
 tent that assistance was about to be granted, 
 when the breaking out of the war with Mex- 
 ico determined President Polk upon the de- 
 sign of hurriedly taking possession of Cali- 
 fornia, and of using the migrating Mormons 
 for this purpose. This project was matured 
 and about to be carried out, when it was 
 changed through the influence of Senator 
 Thomas Benton, an old enemy of the Mor- 
 mons — a Missourian. Another plan was then 
 adopted, which involved a call for five hundred 
 Mormon volunteers to form a part of the force 
 which was to invade New Mexico and Cali- 
 fornia, under Gen. Kearney, the commander of 
 the army of the West, then at Santa Fe. When 
 the commander received the President's order, 
 he detailed Captain Allen to proceed to the 
 camps of the Saints, muster the battalion, and 
 inarch them to Fort Leavenworth there to be 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 35 
 
 armed and prepared for service, then to fol- 
 low the trail of Gen. Kearney and the main 
 army. 
 
 "To this day there is a difference of opin- 
 ion as to whether it was meant for the good or 
 destruction of the Mormons. The Saints in 
 that day viewed it in the latter light. The 
 leaders looked upon it as a test of loyalty of 
 the Mormons to their country, and so, when 
 the recruiting officer came to Brigham Young 
 at Council Bluffs, * * * he promptly re- 
 plied: 'You shall have your Battalion, Cap- 
 tain Allen, and if there are not young men 
 enough, we will take the old men, and if they 
 are not enough, we will take the women.' * 
 * * * Men were sent to all the camps to 
 summon to headquarters the old men and the 
 boys to supply the place of the men — the 
 strength of the people — who were enlisted in 
 the Battalion. Taking up the keynote from 
 the leader, 'You shall have your Battalion; 
 leading elders cheerfully responded to the call." 
 
 Others fell into line, for had not our leader 
 said : 
 
 "We must raise this Battalion. It is right; 
 and who cares for sacrificing our comfort for 
 a few years? I say unto you, magnify the 
 laws. There is no law in the United States, 
 
36 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 or in the Constitution, but I am ready to make 
 honorable." 
 
 Col. Thomas L. Kane, who was present at 
 the time of the muster, says : "A central mass 
 meeting for council, an American flag brought 
 out from the storehouse of things rescued and 
 hoisted to the top of a tree mast, and in three 
 days the force was reported, mustered, or- 
 ganized and ready to march. " 
 
 One circumstance I well remember : some of 
 the women, feeling sure that they would never 
 see their husbands again, said they would nev- 
 er live to be a soldier's widow, and one lady 
 remarked, "I would rather be a soldier's widow 
 than a coward's wife ;" and that was the feel- 
 ing that our brave women had when they had 
 to part with their loved ones; each one being 
 brave for another's sake. 
 
 Our noble leaders, though anxious and trou- 
 ble-worn, seemed desirous of throwing off the 
 burden of heavy and sorrowful thoughts, and 
 on our last afternoon together we had a fare- 
 well ball in the bowery, they leading off in the 
 dance. At sunset we had a song and an elder 
 asked the blessings of heaven on all who, 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 37 
 
 with purity of heart and brotherhood of spir- 
 it, had mingled in this society, and we all went 
 to our camps. 
 
 The parting cannot be described which took 
 place on the 16th of July, 1846. As we were 
 marching past Sister Smith's camp, she held 
 up my little girl to see me and she shook her 
 hand and said, "by-by." My heart was full 
 and I waved my hand and marched on, leav- 
 ing behind me all I had on earth — my baby 
 daughter. But she was in good hands, while 
 many were leaving wives and little ones with 
 scant food and clothing — we could only com- 
 mit them all to our kind Heavenly Father's 
 care and protection. 
 
 President Young had encouraged us by say- 
 ing that our families should be well cared for, 
 at least fare as well as he did, and that he 
 would see that they were helped along. He 
 also said that not one of those that had en- 
 listed would fall by the nation's foe, that our 
 only fighting would be with wild beasts; that 
 there would not be as many bullets whistle 
 around our ears as did around Dr. Willard 
 Richards' in Carthage jail ; and improbable as 
 
38 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 it naturally looked at the time and during our 
 travels, still these predictions were literally 
 fulfilled. 
 
 We were marched to the Missouri River, a 
 distance of eight miles, to purchase blankets 
 and other necessary articles for the campaign ; 
 and here on the 18th of July, Elders Young, 
 Kimball, P. P. Pratt, Richards, Taylor and 
 Woodruff met in council with the officers and 
 gave us our last charge and blessing, with a 
 firm promise that "on condition of faithfulness 
 on our part, our lives should be spared, our ex- 
 pedition should result in good and our names 
 should be held in honorable remembrance to 
 all generations. We must remember our 
 prayers, always revere the name of Deity, and 
 virtue and cleanliness must be strictly ob- 
 served ; treat all men with kindness ; never take 
 that which did not belong to us, even from our 
 worst enemies; always treat all prisoners with 
 kindness and never take life when it could be 
 avoided." 
 
 Captain Allen, our commander, was a brave, 
 manly officer with pleasing, kindly manners 
 and soon gained the good-will of our people 
 as well as their love. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 39 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE MORMON BATTALION. 
 From the Bluffs to Leavenworth — Death of Col. 
 Allen — Weary March Westward — An Inhuman 
 Surgeon — Arrival at Santa Fe. 
 
 1 JOIN ED the Mormon Battalion of Iowa 
 Volunteers, Company C, Infantry, as a pri- 
 vate, my number being 47. The officers of Com- 
 pany C were : James Brown, Captain ; George 
 W. Rosecrans, First Lieutenant; Samuel 
 Thompson, Second Lieutenant; Robert Gift, 
 Third Lieutenant. 
 
 There also accompanied us several families 
 of the soldiers, the women acting as laundresses 
 for the companies ; also some boys who were 
 too young for soldiers and served as servants 
 to officers, and deserve much praise for their 
 youthful patriotism and bravery. 
 
 Previous to taking up our line of march, on 
 the 20th of July, the men of each company 
 subscribed liberally of their wages to be sent 
 back for the support of their families and to aid 
 in gathering the poor from Nauvoo. 
 
40 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 The next day we had a rainstorm and we 
 traveled about four miles in the mud. Elder- 
 Jesse C. .Little spent the night with us and 
 the next day, at the request of the officers, he 
 delivered a short and encouraging address to 
 the command while formed in a hollow square. 
 
 On the morning of the 23rd we had to per- 
 form the painful duty of burying Brother Sam- 
 uel Boley. This was the first death in the 
 ranks. He was wrapped in his blanket and 
 buried in a rough lumber coffin, which was the 
 best we could get. Next day we crossed the 
 Nishnabotany River and camped near Lincoln, 
 Mo. Several parties were taken sick but were 
 healed by using consecrated oil and laying on 
 of hands, and we all went on our way rejoic- 
 ing. 
 
 On the 25th, the command being out of flour, 
 some of us went to bed fasting, while others 
 made supper on parched corn. No flour was 
 obtained for two days, during which time we 
 traveled in the heat and dust for thirty-eight 
 miles, and many of us sick from our long 
 forced inarches. When we had crossed the 
 Nodaway River and camped at Oregon, Mo., 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 41 
 
 a man who had a load of flour for us stopped 
 outside of camp and refused to deliver 'it to 
 the quartermaster because he was a Mormon, 
 saying he would deliver to no one but the 
 Colonel. That noble officer, however, was 
 highly insulted, and ordered him to bring that 
 flour into camp and deliver it immediately or 
 be put under arrest and guard. "Good for the 
 Colonel !" and "God bless the Colonel !" were 
 repeated from one end of the camp to the oth- 
 er. Passing through this country we saw many 
 of the old mobocrats who regretted that they 
 had persecuted the Saints. They would be 
 glad to have their Mormon neighbors back 
 again ; were dumbfounded to see the Battalion 
 march with so much order and civility. 
 
 On the 29th we marched through St. Joseph, 
 to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me;" 
 on the 30th, through Bloomington; on the 31st, 
 the thriving town of Weston was reached, then 
 to the ferry opposite Fort Leavenworth. Here 
 we were five hours crossing and making our 
 way to the garrison. We camped on the pub- 
 lic square of the fort, and our tents were given 
 to us, which added much to our comfort, and 
 
42 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 the merry songs which sounded through the 
 camp made all feel like "casting dull care 
 away." 
 
 The distance from Council -Bluffs to Fort 
 Leavenworth is in round numbers two hundred 
 miles directly down the Missouri River. On 
 the day of our arrival in garrison we received 
 orders that Dr. George B. Sanderson was ap- 
 pointed surgeon to serve the Mormon Battal- 
 ion, and would have medical supplies for our 
 trip to California. 
 
 On the 3rd of August, Companies A, B and 
 C drew our arms which consisted of United 
 States flintlock musket (with bayonet), twenty- 
 four cartridges, belt and cartouches; we also 
 drew a haversack, a knapsack, a blanket (car- 
 ried on top of knapsack) and provisions. Col. 
 Allen accompanied the officer who issued the 
 arms, and seeing us around the door, each one 
 anxious to receive the first gun, said, in his 
 good-natured, humorous way: "Stand back, 
 boys; don't be in a hurry to get your mus- 
 kets ; you will want to throw the d — — d things 
 away before you get to California. " 
 
 On the 5th we drew forty-two dollars each, 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 43 
 
 as clothing money for the year ; the most of 
 which we sent back by Elder P. P. Pratt for 
 the support of our families and for gathering 
 the poor from Nauvoo. (I often think and 
 wonder if people nowadays would do it?) 
 
 Colonel Allen was heard to say, while talk- 
 ing to an officer of the garrison, that he "had 
 not been under the necessity of giving the 
 word of command to the Mormons the sec- 
 ond time. The men, though unacquainted 
 with military tactics, were willing to obey or- 
 ders." Volunteers from different parts of the 
 country came into the garrison every day to 
 get their outfits ; some of them were rough, 
 desperate characters, and quarreling and fight- 
 ing was not unusual among them. The first 
 Sunday spent by us in Fort Leavenworth was 
 observed by holding service. Elder Geo. P. 
 Dykes preached a kind of military and gos- 
 pel sermon. 
 
 The weather here was very warm and we 
 had many cases of sickness, from ague. Col- 
 onel Allen was taken seriously ill after our 
 arrival at Fort Leavenworth and he instructed 
 the senior Captain, Jefferson Hunt, to advance 
 
44 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 with the command while he would remain to 
 recruit and complete the business pertaining 
 to the outfitting of the Battalion. On August 
 12, 1846, Companies A, B and C took up the 
 line of march for Santa Fe, and traveled that 
 day five miles, finding only poor water and lit- 
 tle of it, which made it bad for the sick, sever- 
 al of whom had raging . fevers. On the 15th 
 we crossed the Kansas or Kaw River, which 
 at the ferry was about three hundred yards 
 wide, and we were ferried over by Shawnee 
 Indians. In the evening we reached Spring 
 Creek and found more than a dozen springs 
 within twenty yards of each other. Here we 
 stayed for two days and all got soaked through 
 by a rain storm; it also hailed and the wind 
 blew terribly. We moved on to Stone Coal 
 Creek — about four miles — where we were 
 overtaken by the others, Companies D and E, 
 and found Colonel Sterling Price and his com- 
 mand of cavalry, who had left the garrison two 
 days ahead of us, encamped. We rested to 
 dry our clothes and in the afternoon the Bat- 
 talion was called together and addressed by 
 Captain Hunt, Corporal Tyler, Brother Han- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 45 
 
 cock, and Sergeant Hyde respectively. An 
 excellent spirit prevailed and all seemed to ap- 
 preciate the remarks. Three persons were 
 baptized for their health and one for the re- 
 mission of sins. 
 
 On the 21st Adjutant Dykes arrived from 
 the garrison and brought word that Colonel 
 Allen was still very sick. Many prayers were 
 offered for his recovery for he was beloved by 
 the command. On the 22nd we were again 
 moving but had traveled only a short dis- 
 tance when we came to a small stream which 
 was very hard to cross. Long ropes were 
 fastened to the wagons on each side, with ten 
 or fifteen men to each rope to aid the teams, 
 and it was noon before we were all over, then 
 on over a fine prairie of rich bottom land — 
 our sick seemed much improved. Next day 
 we passed remnants of an old stone wall, five 
 feet thick, and other ruins of some ancient 
 city; then over beautiful rich lands that would 
 make good farms. On the 25th we met a 
 gentleman returning from Bent's Fort, and we 
 sent letters back to anxious friends. On the 
 26th, while crossing a creek where the water 
 
46 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 was very deep and the banks high, one of our 
 company's wagons turned over, upsetting six 
 or seven men and several women. The men 
 on the banks jumped in and pulled them all 
 out, but they all had a good wetting. 
 
 On the 27th we received the sorrowful news 
 of the death of Colonel Allen, which had oc- 
 curred on August 23, 1846, and on the 29th 
 Adjutant Dykes preached his funeral sermon 
 with some very appropriate remarks by Cap- 
 tain Hunt. After receiving the news of the 
 death of Colonel Allen, our officers held a 
 council and agreed that Captain Hunt should 
 assume the command of the Battalion, which 
 was unanimously sustained by the men. We 
 then continued our march under his orders to 
 Council Grove, where Lieutenant Smith, Major 
 Walker, and Dr. Geo. B. Sanderson came to 
 us, bringing a letter to Captain Hunt from 
 Major Horton, of Fort Leavenworth, inform- 
 ing him that the government property in pos- 
 session of the Battalion was not receipted for 
 and advising us to submit to the command of 
 Lieutenant Smith, and he would send the re- 
 ceipts to us for the same, as it might save us 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 47 
 
 considerable trouble. When the command was 
 given to Lieutenant Smith, the soldiers were 
 not consulted and we all felt that it was Cap- 
 tain Hunt's right to command, so when it was 
 known that Lieutenant Smith was our com- 
 mander, even before his character was known 
 to us, it caused a greater gloom throughout the 
 Battalion than the death of Colonel Allen had. 
 On the morning of the 31st of August we 
 marched to Diamond Springs under the new 
 commander, and were mustered and inspected 
 by him ; next day on to Lost Springs, being a 
 lonesome place, with no trees, and we followed 
 the Arab style of digging narrow trenches in 
 which we burned weeds to heat water for our 
 tea and coffee; our food we had cooked the 
 previous day. On the 2nd of September we 
 camped at Cottonwood Creek in the Comanche 
 country, and these Indians were hostile at this 
 time. Lieutenant Smith here pulled several 
 of our sick men out of the wagons with horrid 
 oaths and threats because they had neglected 
 to report themselves to Dr. Sanderson. Our 
 instructions from Brother Brigham had been, 
 "If you are sick, live by faith, and let surgeon's 
 
48 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 medicine alone if you want to live, using only 
 such herbs and mild food as are at your dis- 
 posal. If you heed this counsel you will pros- 
 per;" but Lieutenant Smith and Dr. Sander- 
 son compelled us to take their drugs out of 
 an old iron spoon, which he considered "good 
 enough for the Mormons. " After this it was 
 customary every morning for the sick (many 
 of the Battalion having chills and fever) to be 
 marched to the tune of "Jim along Joe" to the 
 doctor's quarters, and take their portion of 
 calomel and arsenic, or decoction of bayberry 
 bark and camomile flowers. So determined was 
 Dr. Sanderson that we should take his medi- 
 cine that he threatened with an oath to cut the 
 throat of any one who gave anything without 
 his orders. Those who were unable to march 
 to sick call reported themselves and received 
 not only medicine but cursing. It would be 
 difficult to find American citizens from any oth- 
 er community who would have submitted to the 
 tyranny and abuse that the Battalion did from 
 Smith and Sanderson. Nor would we have 
 done so on any consideration other than as 
 servants to our God and patriots to our coun- 
 try. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 49 
 
 On the 5th of September we saw a few buf- 
 falo and the next day plenty of them. One 
 of the soldiers killed one and we thought the 
 meat pretty good eating though it was a lit- 
 tle tough. On the 7th we were ordered on 
 parade and had the military law read to us 
 for the first time, in order that we might be 
 better posted in regard to campaign duties. On 
 the 9th we camped at Pawnee Fork, which 
 stream was very difficult to cross, and occu- 
 pied a long time; each wagon had to be let 
 down the bank with ropes, while on the op- 
 posite bank from twenty to thirty men with 
 ropes helped the teams in pulling the wagons 
 up. The water was very muddy like the Mis- 
 souri. 
 
 The next day we had a heavy rain storm 
 and found no timber to cook our supper with. 
 We met an express from Santa Fe who told 
 us of the surrender of that place to General 
 S. F. Kearney, and gave us an order from that 
 general directing the Battalion to leave the 
 road and not go by way of Bent's Fort, but to 
 march direct to Santa Fe, which of course we 
 proceeded to do, although the most of our 
 
 5 
 
50 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 provisions and two pieces of artillery were in 
 advance of us toward the Fort. 
 
 About noon on the 11th we reached the Ar- 
 kansas River. At this point it was about a 
 quarter of a mile wide and filled with, sand, 
 with here and there a small stream of brackish 
 water; we dug holes about two or three feet 
 deep in the sand and obtained enough water 
 for our needs. The afternoon was spent in 
 a general washing, and many fish were caught 
 by spearing them in the shallow water with 
 swords and bayonets. The supper that night 
 was thankfully received as a great treat. After 
 crossing the river we overtook five companies 
 of Colonel Sterling Price's regiment from 
 western Missouri whom we found to be a pro- 
 fane, wicked and vulgar set of men. We were 
 not rejoiced to see Colonel Price, as we knew 
 him in days of old as a commander .of the mob 
 militia in Far West in 1838. 
 
 At this time Captain Higgins of Company 
 D with a guard of ten men was detailed to 
 take a number of the families that accom- 
 panied the Battalion to Pueblo to winter, and 
 many of us were dissatisfied with this move, 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 51 
 
 as Brigham Young had counseled the officers 
 not to allow the Battalion to be separated on 
 any account. Lieutenants Pace and Gully op- 
 posed it and requested a council and wished 
 to send letters to the Twelve Apostles; but 
 Adjutant Dykes objected ta this, saying there 
 was no time for councils, and President Young 
 did not know our circumstances. The fam- 
 ilies, therefore, were forced to leave us on 
 the 16th of September, and take up their line 
 of march to Pueblo. While here Brother Alva 
 Phelps died, a victim of Dr. Sanderson's 
 strong medicine.* He was buried on the south 
 side of the Arkansas River. That evening we 
 noticed what appeared to be a star in the 
 eastern sky dancing in the air. It moved both 
 up and down, and north and south, directly in 
 
 *"It is understood that he begged Dr. Sander- 
 son not to give him any medicine, as he needed 
 only a little rest, and then would return to duty; 
 but the doctor prepared his dose and ordered him 
 to take it, which he declined doing, whereupon the 
 doctor, with some horrid oaths, forced it down 
 him with an old, rusty spoon. A few hours later 
 he died, and the general feeling was that the doc- 
 tor had killed him." — Mormon Battalion History. 
 
52 -AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 the course we had traveled, and finally sunk 
 out of sight. 
 
 The next day we marched twenty-five miles 
 across a dreary desert and suffered intensely 
 from the great heat and want of water. Our 
 teams also suffered much, and then the mirage 
 was such an aggravation — it had the appear- 
 ance of fog rising from water and then would 
 look like a lake of clear water, but it went on 
 ahead of us and stopped when we did. We 
 passed one pond full of insects of all sizes and 
 shapes, out of which we drove several thou- 
 sand buffaloes. No luxury was ever more 
 thankfully received. The few whose canteens 
 were not exhausted of course did not use it, 
 but bad as it was, it was welcome to most of 
 us. We put the water in a vessel and then 
 sucked it through a silk handkerchief. The 
 next day we continued on across the dry, 
 parched desert without finding any water, ex- 
 cept a pond similar to the one the day before, 
 which was hailed with great joy and consid- 
 ered a great blessing, Again we made a "dry 
 camp" but started at 4 o'clock in the morning 
 and traveled ten miles before breakfast. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 53 
 
 It does not appear whether Colonel Smith 
 had had no experience in traveling with teams, 
 or whether he desired to use up the teams and 
 leave the Battalion on the plains helpless; but 
 for the last hundred miles, where there had 
 been but little feed, he had shown no wisdom 
 or care in preserving either man or beast ; but 
 on the contrary, no matter whether our drives 
 were to be long or short, he had driven on 
 forced marches, on which account many had 
 failed very fast. Our only fuel for the last 
 ten days had been nothing but buffalo "chips" 
 and sometimes these were very scarce. * 
 
 On the night of the 20th, having traveled 
 ten miles, we camped before the sink of the 
 Cimmaron Creek, where we obtained brackish 
 water by digging holes in the sand. On the 
 21st we marched eighteen miles and again 
 camped on the Cimmaron and had to dig in 
 sand again for water. It looked as if the Col- 
 onel and surgeon were determined to kill us, 
 first by forced marches to make us sick, then 
 compel us to take calomel or to walk and do 
 duty. Our officers held a council with our spir- 
 itual advisers, David Pettigrew and Levi W. 
 
54 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Hancock, in which our condition was discussed 
 to see if anything could be done to ameliorate 
 it. Then they appealed to the Colonel, trying 
 to reason with him, pointing out the fact of 
 the men and beasts failing because of these 
 forced marches — that many of the men were 
 badly salivated from the malpractice of Dr. 
 Sanderson, etc., but he merely replied to the 
 effect that he could do nothing, and the sub- 
 ject had to be dropped. 
 
 On the 25th we marched twenty miles over 
 a rough and mountainous road and camped at 
 Gold Springs where we found good water and 
 some little timber. On the 26th we saw many 
 deer, elk, and antelope ; reached Cedar Springs, 
 saw cedar, spruce and cottonwood. On the 
 27th shot a few antelope which added to our 
 scanty rations was a real treat. We now could 
 see numerous mountain peaks, the first that 
 many of us had ever seen, and during the next 
 day our way was over hills and high ridges ; 
 now wild turkey and bear were added to our 
 camp supper. 
 
 On the 30th we passed Rock Creek, but men 
 and teams were failing, and as we found no 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 55 
 
 feed for animals we traveled till 9 o'clock at 
 night and were on the move again at daylight. 
 About noon we passed near the walls of an 
 ancient structure, which might have been a 
 castle or fortification, and numerous canals, 
 which evidently had not been used for genera- 
 tions. On October 2 we reached Red River 
 and on the 3rd a council was called in which 
 the commander said he had received orders 
 from General Kearney that unless the com- 
 mand reached Santa Fe by the 10th we would 
 be discharged. Therefore he suggested that 
 we select fifty able-bodied men from each 
 company to take the best teams and travel on a 
 double forced march, leaving the sick with the 
 weak teams to follow as they could. Quite a 
 number opposed this because they did not 
 wish to divide us, but it was carried, and the 
 Battalion was accordingly divided, all the able- 
 bodied soldiers, most of the commissioned offi- 
 cers, Colonel Smith and Dr. Sanderson, making 
 their way with all possible haste to Santa Fe. 
 After the division, those who were left at the 
 rear, not being now obliged to take medicine, 
 and the feed and water being better, were get- 
 
56 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 ting stronger each clay, and they spent no un- 
 necessary time on the road. 
 
 The first division arrived at Santa Fe on the 
 evening of October 9, 1846, and the second 
 division three days later. 
 
 On our approach General Doniphan, the 
 commander of the post, ordered a salute of a 
 hundred guns to be fired in honor of the Mor- 
 mon Battalion. This same general was much 
 pleased to find a number of old friends and 
 acquaintances among the soldiers, whom he 
 knew to be honorable, upright and loyal men, 
 and it was probably the memory of the wrongs 
 which they had suffered from the Missouri 
 mobocrats which prevented him from extend- 
 ing any courtesies to Colonel Sterling Price 
 and his disgraceful cavalry command on their 
 arrival.* 
 
 *"When Col. Sterling Price, with his cavalry 
 command, which left Fort Leavenworth two or 
 three days ahead of us, arrived at Santa Fe, he 
 was received without any public demonstration, 
 and when he learned of the salute which had been 
 fired in honor of the 'Mormons/ he was greatly 
 chagrined and enraged." — Mormon Battalion His^ 
 tory. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 SANTA FE TO TUCSON. 
 
 Col. Cooke in Command — A Story of Starvation 
 and Toil — Prayers Answered — Battle with Bulls 
 on San Pedro — Soldier Poetry. 
 
 COLONEL P. St. George Cooke who was 
 awaiting us in Santa Fe took command on 
 October 13, 1846. He instructed Captain Jas. 
 Brown to take command of men who, from 
 sickness, had been reported as incapable of 
 making the journey to California, also the 
 laundresses, who would suffer much on such a 
 march and would be an incumbrance to the 
 expedition, and march them to Fort Pueblo to 
 winter. Twenty-four of this detachment were 
 from Company C and they left us on the 18th 
 of October. 
 
 By special arrangement and consent, the Bat- 
 talion was paid in checks — not very available 
 at Santa Fe.* On the 19th we took leave of 
 
 ^Colonel Cooke's diary. 
 
58 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 John D. Lee, Lieutenant Gully and others who 
 started with our checks for Council Bluffs, and 
 as soon as they left we broke camp and trav- 
 eled six miles to "Aqua Frio,'' (cold water) 
 the nearest point for grazing. We were sup- 
 plied with rations for sixty days ; full rations 
 of flour, sugar, coffee and salt; salt pork only 
 for thirty days and soap for twenty. We started 
 with mules, ox teams, wagons and pack sad- 
 dles ; these mules and oxen, with a few excep- 
 tions were the same ones (worn-out and brok- 
 en down) that we had driven all the way from 
 Council Bluffs, and some of them had been 
 driven all the way from Nauvoo. 
 
 After we had traveled past every place 
 where it would be possible to purchase pro- 
 visions for a time, to the surprise of the com- 
 mand the rations were reduced by the follow- 
 ing: 
 
 Orders No. 11. 
 
 Headquarters Mormon Battalion, 
 
 Santa Fe. 
 Until further orders, three-fourths pound 
 flour, also three-fourths rations sugar and cof- 
 fee, will be issued. Beef, one and a half 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 
 
 pounds, will be issued for a day's ration. * 
 * * * Commanders of companies will be 
 held strictly responsible that the issue of ra- 
 tions is made carefully as now ordered. The 
 welfare and safety of the Battalion may de- 
 pend on it. 
 
 (2). Hereafter, no muskets or knapsacks 
 will be carried in a public wagon or on a public 
 mule without orders, or express permission of 
 the commanding officer, and no one will leave 
 his company a quarter of a mile without per- 
 mission, and no musket will be fired in' camp. 
 The officer of the day will attend to the execu- 
 tion of these regulations and confine under 
 guard any one who disobeys them. At reveille 
 all will turn out under arms. The company 
 commanders will order turns of guard or con- 
 fine those who fail. After roll call the ranks 
 will be opened and an officer will pass down 
 each rank and see that all are fully armed and 
 equipped. Immediately after roll call, break- 
 fast will be disposed of and everything packed 
 in the wagons. * * * * All this will be 
 done without waiting for signals or the loss of 
 a moment. The teams will be hitched up as 
 the teamsters get their breakfast. * * * * 
 Every teamster must have one or more buckets 
 or camp kettles with which to water his team. 
 The teams will not stop to water unless or- 
 dered by the commanding officer, as everything 
 
60 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 depends on our animals. I call all the officers 
 and the quartermaster sergeants of com- 
 panies and the teamsters and assistants to do 
 the best for them possible. The order will be 
 read twice at the head of each company by its 
 commander. 
 
 By order of 
 
 Lieut. Col. Cooke, 
 
 (Signed) G. P. Dykes, Adjutant. 
 
 This order was strictly observed. The first 
 breach of regulations was by an officer, Cap- 
 tain Hunter of Company C, who had remained 
 in Santa Fe without the consent of the com- 
 manding officer, and was promptly punished. 
 Thus we found out that our new commander, 
 although very strict, was impartial ; he believed 
 that the officers should obey first, and set the 
 example to the men. 
 
 On October 23 the quartermaster exchanged 
 thirty of our worthless mules for half that 
 number of fresh ones; the Colonel also pur- 
 chased eight and obtained ten yoke of oxen. 
 Two of our poorest heavy wagons were also 
 exchanged for lighter and better ones. The 
 hand of the Lord was thus manifested to us, 
 for without something of the kind, we must 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 61 
 
 have been left without conveyance in the des- 
 ert. 
 
 On the 25th Sergeant E. Elmer of Company 
 C was reduced to the ranks for neglecting to 
 form his company while reveille was beating, 
 and for telling his Colonel that he did so be- 
 cause he could not see to call the roll; but he 
 was subsequently restored to his office and re- 
 tained the respect and friendship of all of us. 
 
 While marching down the Rio Del Norte 
 we found the roads extremely sandy in many 
 places and the men, though carrying blankets, 
 knapsacks, cartridge boxes and muskets on 
 their backs and living on short rations, had to 
 pull at long ropes to aid the teams. We were 
 ready to eat anything that would furnish any 
 nourishment — the rations issued to us did not 
 satisfy the cravings of hunger. When one 
 of the fat cattle was slaughtered for beef the 
 Colonel gave positive orders that no more of 
 them should be killed as we needed them for 
 work; only those that were unable to work 
 from sheer exhaustion and weakness, could be 
 used for beef, and from that time the carcasses 
 were issued as rations. Nothing was wasted 
 
62 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 that could possibly be utilized for food: even 
 the hides, tripe and entrails, all were eagerly 
 devoured, sometimes without even water to 
 wash it down. The marrow bones were con- 
 sidered a luxury, and rich indeed would be the 
 dinner of the mess whose turn it was to receive 
 them. 
 
 On the 27th we had a cold rain in the valley 
 of the Rio Del Norte, and heavy snow fell in 
 the mountains, but the storm settled the sandy 
 roads, making them easier to travel. 
 
 Our cheerful camp singer, Levi W. Hancock, 
 ofttimes amused and entertained us while 
 around our camp fires — and often composed 
 songs to fit the occasion as the following will 
 show : 
 
 THE DESERT ROUTE. 
 
 While here, beneath a sultry sky, 
 Our famished mules and cattle die; 
 Scarce aught but skin and bones remain 
 To feed poor soldiers on the plain. 
 
 Chorus: 
 
 How hard, to starve and wear us out 
 Upon this sandy, desert route. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 63 
 
 We sometimes now for lack of bread, 
 Are less than quarter rations fed. 
 And soon expect, for all of meat 
 Naught else than broke-down mules to eat. 
 
 Now, half-starved oxen, over-drilled, 
 Too weak to draw, for beef are killed; 
 And gnawing hunger prompting men 
 To eat small entrails and the skin. 
 
 Sometimes we quarter for the day, 
 While men are sent ten miles away, 
 On our back track, to place in store 
 An ox, give out the day before. 
 
 And when an ox is like to die, 
 The whole camp halts, and we lay by; 
 The greedy wolves and buzzards stay, 
 Expecting rations for the day. 
 
 Our hardships reach their rough extremes 
 When valiant men are roped with teams, 
 Hour after hour, and day by day, 
 To wear our strength and lives away. 
 
 The teams can hardly drag their loads 
 Along the hilly, sandy roads, 
 While trav'ling near the Rio Grande 
 O'er hills and dales of heated sand. 
 
64 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 We see some twenty men, or more, 
 With empty stomachs, and foot-sore, 
 Bound to one wagon, plodding on 
 Through sand, beneath a burning sun. 
 
 A doctor which the government 
 Has furnished proves a punishment! 
 At his rude call of "Jim along Joe," 
 The sick and halt to him must go. 
 
 Both night and morn, this call is heard; 
 Our indignation then is stirr'd, 
 And we sincerely wish in hell 
 His arsenic and calomel. 
 
 To take it, if we're not inclined, 
 We're threatened, "You'll be left behind;" 
 When bored with threats profanely rough 
 We swallow down the poisonous stuff. 
 
 Some stand the journey well, and some 
 Are by the hardships overcome; 
 And thus the "Mormons" are worn out 
 Upon this long and weary route. 
 
 On November 1 Adjutant Dykes resigned 
 his position and my old friend Philemon C. 
 Merrill, who was acting as Second Lieutenant 
 of Company B, was appointed adjutant of the 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 65 
 
 Battalion, which change gave general satisfac- 
 tion to all of us. 
 
 We found the judgment of Colonel Cooke 
 good in traveling. He never crowded the men 
 unnecessarily, but as the roads got so much 
 worse that both men and teams failed fast, our 
 only hope of reaching California lay in our 
 faith in God, and on pulling at the ropes. 
 
 On November 3 Brother James Hampton, 
 who had been on sick list, was reported by Dr. 
 Sanderson as ready for duty, but so far from 
 being well, he died about 2 o'clock in the after- 
 noon of the same day. He was a faithful sol- 
 dier and worthy Latter-day Saint. When it 
 was learned that he was dying a halt of about 
 twenty minutes was made, and after his death 
 he was placed in a wagon and taken to our 
 next camping place, where he was buried. 
 
 The same day we received 
 
 Orders No. 14. 
 
 The commanding officer feels it his duty, on 
 the report of his principal guide, for the safety 
 of the Battalion, to make further reduction of 
 its rations. Hereafter ten ounces of pork will 
 be issued as the ration, and nine ounces of 
 
66 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 flour. Fresh meat will be issued at a pound 
 and a half. 
 
 By order of 
 
 Lieut. Col. Cooke, Com. 
 
 P. C. Merrill, Adjt. 
 
 THE MORMON BATTALION. 
 
 By Eliza R. Snozv. 
 When "Mormon" trains were journeying through 
 To Winter Quarters, from Nauvoo, 
 Five hundred men were called to go 
 To settle claims with Mexico — 
 To fight for that same Government 
 From which, as fugitives, we went. 
 What were their families to do — 
 Their children, wives, and mothers, too, 
 When fathers, husbands, sons were gone? 
 Mothers drove teams, and camps moved on. 
 
 And on the brave Battalion went 
 
 With Colonel Allen who was sent 
 
 As officer of Government. 
 
 The noble Colonel Allen knew 
 
 His "Mormon boys" were brave and true, 
 
 And he was proud of his command 
 
 As he led forth his "Mormon Band." 
 
 He sickened, died, and they were left 
 Of a loved leader soon bereft! 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 67 
 
 And his successor proved to be 
 The embodiment of cruelty. 
 Lieutenant Smith, the tyrant, led 
 The cohort on, in Allen's stead, 
 To Santa Fe, where Colonel Cooke 
 The charge of the Battalion took. 
 
 'Twas well the vision of the way 
 
 Was closed before them on the day 
 
 They started out for Santa Fe! 
 
 'Tis said no infantry till then, 
 
 E'er suffered equal to those men. 
 
 Their beeves were famished and their store 
 
 Was nigh exhausted long before 
 
 They reached the great Pacific shore. 
 
 Teams e'en fell dead upon the road, 
 
 While soldiers helped to draw the load! 
 
 'Twas cruel, stern necessity 
 That prompted such severity; 
 For General Kearney in command 
 Of army in the western land 
 Expressly ordered Colonel Cooke, 
 The man who failure could not brook. 
 To open up a wagon road 
 Where wheels, till then, had never trod; 
 And Colonel Cooke was in command 
 Across the desert waste and sand: 
 He, with a staunch and iron will, 
 The general's orders to fulfill, 
 
08 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Must every nerve and sinew strain 
 
 The expedition's point to gain. 
 
 Tho' stern, and e'en at times morose, 
 
 Strict sense of justice marked his course. 
 
 He, as his predecessors, knew 
 
 The "Mormon" men were firm and true. 
 
 They found roadmaking worse by far 
 
 Than all the horrors of the war; 
 
 Tried by the way — when they got through 
 
 They'd very little more to do; 
 
 The opposing party, panic struck, 
 
 Dare not compete with "Mormon" pluck, 
 
 And off in all directions fled — 
 
 No charge was fired — no blood was shed. 
 
 Our God who rules in worlds of light 
 Controls by wisdom and by might, 
 If need, His purpose to fulfill, 
 He moves the nations at His will — 
 The destinies of men o'er-rules, 
 And uses whom He will as tools. 
 The wise can see and understand, 
 While fools ignore His guiding hand. 
 
 Ere the Battalion started out 
 Upon that most important route, 
 'Twas thus predicted by the tongue 
 Of the Apostle Brigham Young: 
 "If to your God and country true, 
 You'll have no fighting there to do." 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 69 
 
 Was General Kearney satisfied? 
 Yes, more — for he with martial pride 
 Said, "O'er the Alps Napoleon went, 
 But these men cross'd a continent." 
 
 And thus, with God Almighty's aid, 
 The conquest and the road were made, 
 By which a threatened storm was stayed 
 And lo! the Saints of God were saved. 
 
 While traveling on the 4th, two soldiers 
 were tied behind an ox wagon and obliged to 
 march in that position through wind and dust, 
 for neglecting to get up and salute Lieutenant 
 Dykes, while he was visiting the guards the 
 previous night. 
 
 On November 6 we arrived at the place 
 where General Kearney had left his wagons, 
 and from this point he had gone on with pack- 
 animals. We were to open a wagon road from 
 here to the coast. Besides what we had pre- 
 viously endured from hunger and having to 
 help our worn-out animals pull the overloaded 
 wagons, we now would have the additional task 
 of constructing a wagon road over a wild, des- 
 ert country. 
 
70 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 The next clay some one killed a black-tailed 
 deer, which was a rich treat to our hungry 
 company. 
 
 On the 10th a detachment of fifty-five sick 
 men under the command of Lieutenant W. W. 
 Willis was sent back to Pueblo to winter. 
 Twelve of these were from Company C. We 
 parted from these brethren with many prayers 
 and much anxiety for their safety, then turned 
 again to the work before us which was not a 
 very pleasing picture, but our trust was in our 
 Heavenly Father. 
 
 Colonel Cooke issued an order to leave here 
 the two remaining ox wagons ; the commanders 
 of companies were also required to reduce their 
 number of tents to one for nine instead of six 
 men, and all upright poles and the extra camp 
 kettles to be left. We did some packing of 
 both oxen and mules. It was laughable to see 
 the antics of our frightened animals. They 
 bellowed and snorted, pawed and plowed the 
 ground -with their horns, whirling and jump- 
 ing — as some of the boys said, "they kicked 
 up before and reared up behind." Even our 
 sedate commander said "they were irresist- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 71 
 
 ibly ludicrous, jumping high from the ground 
 in double quickstep time, turning around the 
 while — a perfect jig." 
 
 On the 11th we inarched fifteen miles. I 
 was one of those who had charge of the mules. 
 Colonel Cooke, seeing a patch of willows and 
 cane grass, rode into it, and following down 
 the bottom for nearly a mile, found water and 
 grass plentiful. We camped on the bluff, and 
 tried our commander's new invention of using 
 our muskets for tent poles. 
 
 The 15th of November was stormy, snow 
 and rain falling at intervals, and being Sunday, 
 we concluded to lay by on the banks of a small 
 stream. We slaughtered an old ox which had 
 given out; though he was a mere skeleton, his 
 remaining flesh was issued as rations. 
 
 Passing around the base of the mountain, the 
 next day, to a narrow canyon, we found a 
 marshy water hole which we named Cooke's 
 Spring, a name which it still bears. Here we 
 found California quail ; we also killed a couple 
 of goats, and we regarded all these luxuries 
 as gifts from our Heavenly Father. 
 
 We next traveled over the "table land" and 
 
72 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 this part of the country can hardly be excelled 
 for beauty of landscape. Elevated to the high- 
 est of these tables or flats, no matter which 
 way you cast the eye, a most beautiful, grassy 
 plain stretches out as far as you can see. 
 
 On the 20th we lay by, our guides having 
 gone twelve miles ahead, and not being able to 
 see any water or any indications of water, had 
 returned disheartened, thinking no water 
 would be found short of the Gila River — over 
 a hundred miles. Our commander called a 
 council and the decision was to follow a road 
 leading in a southwesterly direction, through 
 settlements where we hoped to obtain food 
 and fresh teams. 
 
 When this decision was made known a 
 gloom was cast over us, for we wanted to go 
 on to California. But at this juncture Father 
 Pettigrew and Brother Hancock went from 
 tent to tent and in a low voice counseled us to 
 "pray to the Lord to change the Coloners 
 mind." That night over three hundred fervent 
 prayers ascended to the throne of grace for 
 that one favor. 
 
 The next morning the command continued 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 73 
 
 the journey for about two miles, when it was 
 found that the road began to bear directly for 
 Old Mexico. Colonel Cooke halted, looked all 
 around, rose in his saddle and ordered a halt. 
 He then said with firmness : "This is not my 
 course. I was ordered to California; and/' 
 he added with an oath, "I will go there or die 
 in the attempt !" Then to the bugler, "Blow 
 the right.' ' Father Pettigrew involuntarily ex- 
 claimed, "God bless the Colonel !" and as the 
 Colonel's keen penetrating eyes glanced in the 
 direction of the voice, his stern face for once 
 softened and he looked pleased. 
 
 We felt that our prayers were answered and 
 the next day we traveled about eighteen miles 
 and camped without water. Here it was de- 
 cided and ordered that the men walk in double 
 file in front of the wagons and tramp a trail 
 for the wheels — each company leading for an 
 hour and then falling to the rear; this made 
 all have an equal share in the hard work. This 
 plan was followed in traveling over all the 
 heavy, sandy road, until we reached the coast ; 
 it was very hard on us as we had no road or 
 trail to follow. 
 
74 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 On the 23rd we came to a. hole or crevice 
 in a rock where there was a little water but 
 the Colonel and staff rode up to it and their 
 mules drained it. When we came up some 
 looked at it wistfully and passed on, while 
 some dipped with spoons what they could get. 
 Then a guide came back telling us of water 
 about nine miles ahead of us. After dark we 
 found water in some swamp holes. 
 
 Next day we rested as most of us were ex- 
 hausted. From here a company of pioneers 
 was sent forward to work a road over the 
 backbone of the Rocky Mountains. 
 
 On the 28th we reached the summit of the 
 Rocky Mountains, where we found plenty of 
 deer, bear, antelope and small game. 
 
 The next day we prepared for descending 
 the mountains. We packed the animals and 
 sent them down into the valley, about six 
 miles, where a guard was left with the bag- 
 gage while the men and animals returned, and 
 the work of taking the wagons down was com- 
 menced. Long ropes were tied to the wagons, 
 and the men held back on them ; thus the wag- 
 ons were lowered. During the three days that 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 75 
 
 we encamped on the mountain the weather was 
 very cold but when we got into the valley, 
 it was mild and pleasant, and the scenery was 
 beautiful. 
 
 On the 2nd of December we reached the 
 ruins of the old Rancho San Bernardino where 
 we rested a day and a half and hunted wild 
 cattle, thus adding five days rations to • our 
 scanty supplies. 
 
 Before breaking camp orders were issued 
 to the effect that "Commanders of companies 
 hereafter will give no permission to leave the 
 column of march or the camp, and muskets 
 will not be fired at game ;" and also a verbal 
 order that we were to have no loaded guns in 
 the command, which last order was not 
 strictly obeyed.. 
 
 Thus we marched, from twelve to seventeen 
 miles a day, sometimes in a snow storm or 
 rain, often camping without wood or water, 
 and on the 9th we nooned at San Pedro creek, 
 where the grass looked as though it was dry 
 straw but it proved to be splendid feed. 
 
 Continuing our journey down the San Pedro 
 we encamped on the night of the 11th in a 
 
76 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 canyon, where occurred the famous "Bull 
 Fight" which is so well described by our mu- 
 sician, Brother Hancock : 
 
 THE BULL FIGHT ON THE SAN PEDRO. 
 
 Under command of Colonel Cooke, 
 When passing down San Pedro's brook, 
 Where cane-grass, growing rank and high, 
 Was waving as the breeze pass'd by: 
 
 There, as we gained ascending ground, 
 Out from the grass, with fearful bound, 
 A wild, ferocious bull appear'd, 
 And challenged fight, with horns uprear'd. 
 
 "Stop, stop!" said one, "just see that brute!" 
 "Hold!" was responded, "let me shoot." 
 He flashed, but failed to fire the gun — 
 Both stood their ground, and would not run. 
 
 The man exclaimed, "I want some meat; 
 I think that bull will do to eat." 
 And saying thus, again he shot 
 And fell'd the creature on the spot. 
 
 It soon arose to run away, 
 And then the guns began to play: 
 All hands at work — amid the roar, 
 The bull was dropp'd to rise no more. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 77 
 
 But lo! it did not end the fight — 
 A furious herd rushed into sight, 
 And then the bulls and men around 
 
 Seemed all resolved to stand their ground. 
 
 * * * * * * 
 
 The bulls with madden'd fury raged — 
 The men a skillful warfare waged: 
 Tho' some, from danger had to flee, 
 And hide or clamber up a tree. 
 
 A bull at one man made a pass, 
 Who hid himself amid the grass, 
 And breathless lay until the brute 
 Passed him and took another shoot. 
 
 The bulls rushed on like unicorns 
 
 And gored the mules with piercing horns, 
 
 As if the battle ground to gain, 
 
 When men and mules should all be slain. 
 
 A. Cox from one bull's horns was thrown 
 Ten feet in air: when he came down, 
 A gaping flesh wound met his eye — 
 The vicious beast had gored his thigh.,* 
 
 *"Brother Amos Cox had a terrible cut in his 
 thigh, about eight inches long, near the groin, by 
 a bull's horn. The doctor sewed it up but he was 
 an invalid for a long time." — P. C. Merrill Autobi- 
 ography. 
 
78 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 The Colonel and his staff were there, 
 Mounted, and witnessing the war; 
 A bull, one hundred yards away, 
 Eyed Colonel Cooke as easy prey. 
 
 But Corp'ral Frost stood bravely by, 
 And watch'd the bull with steady eye; 
 The brute approach'd near and more near, 
 But Frost betray'd no sign of fear. 
 
 The Colonel ordered him to run; 
 Unmoved jie stood with loaded gun; 
 The bull came up with daring tread, 
 When near his feet, Frost shot him dead * 
 
 Whatever cause, we did not know, 
 But something prompted them to gO; 
 When all at once in frantic fright, 
 The bulls ran bellowing out of sight. 
 
 *"The corporal was on foot while the Colonel 
 and his staff were mounted. On the first ap- 
 proach of the bull, the Colonel with his usual firm 
 manner, ordered the corporal to load his gun. To 
 this command he -aid no attention. Thinking him 
 stupid, he ordered him to run, but he did not 
 move. Frost aimed his musket very deliberately, 
 and only fired when the bull was within six paces, 
 and it fell headlong almost at his feet. He had 
 stood firm at the risk of his own life to protect 
 his brave but austere commander, thus showing a 
 brave, generous and forgiving heart, and Colonel 
 Cooke said 'he was one of the bravest men I 
 ever saw.' " — Mormon Battalion History. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 79 
 
 And when the fearful fight was o'er, 
 And sound of muskets heard no more, 
 At least a score of bulls were found 
 And two mules dead upon the ground. 
 
 We followed on down the river and soon 
 passed near the base of the mountains which 
 extend towards the Gila River, traveling nearly 
 north. Our orders now were : 
 
 * * * * * \y e w jjj marcn to Tucson. 
 We came not to make war on Sonora, and less 
 still to destroy an important outpost of de- 
 fense against the Indians ; but we will take the 
 straight road before us and overcome all re- 
 sistance. But shall I remind you that the 
 American soldier ever shows justice and kind- 
 ness to the unarmed and unresisting? The 
 property of individuals you will hold sacred. 
 The people of Sonora are not our enemies. 
 By order of 
 
 Lieut. Col. Cooke, 
 (Signed) P. C. Merrill, Adjutant. 
 
 After traveling some eight or nine miles 
 we struck a trail leading to Tuscon. Our Col- 
 onel learned here from some Mexican soldiers 
 that great excitement prevailed at Tucson be- 
 
80 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 cause it was rumored there that a large force 
 of American soldiers was approaching the 
 fort. A message was therefore sent to Colonel 
 Comaduran at the post, that the people need 
 not be alarmed, as we were their friends and 
 would do them no harm, but would simply pur- 
 chase some supplies and pass on. 
 
 When near the post about a dozen well- 
 armed men, in citizens' dress, met and accom- 
 panied us to the town. Before passing through 
 the gate a halt was called, and Colonel Cooke 
 stated that the citizens and soldiers had de- 
 serted the town leaving their property behind 
 them, and although it was in our power there 
 must be no interference with private property. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 81 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ON TO THE PACIFIC. 
 
 A Midnight Alarm — Unfortunate Attempt to Nav- 
 igate the Gila — First Sight of the Ocean — Safe 
 at San Diego — Col. Cooke's Classic Congratula- 
 tions. \ 
 
 WHEN we marched through the deserted 
 streets of Tucson some aged men and 
 some women and children brought us water, 
 thus showing us respect and kindness. We 
 made no halt in the town but traveled down 
 the stream about a half mile and camped. 
 Colonel Cooke returned to the post and ob- 
 tained some public wheat for feeding our 
 teams, and also some salt which we had been 
 without for several days. 
 
 About midnight we were roused by signal 
 guns being fired; then we heard Lieutenant 
 George Oman calling excitedly : "Beat that 
 drum, beat that drum — if you can't beat that 
 drum, beat that fife !" then ordered every man 
 
82 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 into line ; campfires were replenished and the 
 music began playing a lively tune, while each 
 company formed into column; when suddenly 
 the stern voice of Colonel Cooke ordered 
 "Cease that music ! Dust those lights !" This 
 was instantly done and he stationed us on eith- 
 er side of the road about ten feet apart. 
 
 Here we stood while a party was sent on 
 ahead to see what was the trouble. They were 
 gone so long that another detachment with 
 Brother Reddick Allred at their head was sent 
 to look after their safety. In about an hour 
 all parties returning and nothing seeming to be 
 alarming we were allowed to retire, being in- 
 structed to have our arms in easy reach and to 
 remember our places. Nothing further came 
 to alarm, and we felt that the prophecy of 
 Brigham Young was being fulfilled as "we had 
 seen no fighting except with wild beasts." 
 
 On the next day we moved onward, and at 
 9 o'clock we camped without water, having 
 traveled twenty-four miles. Some of our worn- 
 out famished men came straggling into camp 
 at all hours of the night, and in the morning 
 all who were able traveled on, over a kind of 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 83 
 
 baked clay with occasional sand beds to pull 
 through. Company C was in the rear of the 
 others and Lieutenant Rosecrans left his men 
 and rode into the hills in search of water, and 
 found a hole some distance from the road. He 
 took the foremost of us to it, then filled their 
 canteens, rode back to the famishing men, gave 
 us what water he had and led us to the spring. 
 We drank our fill but the water soon became 
 muddy, but we cooked a few provisions and 
 went on to overtake the command, which we 
 did about 3 o'clock in the morning, having 
 passed many brethren lying by the way beg- 
 ging for water. 
 
 The advance struck water and camped about 
 noon the next day, and several took mules and 
 canteens and came back to relieve the suffer- 
 ings of their comrades, and thus doubtless 
 saved the lives of many of us. All the after- 
 noon the poor straggling men came into camp. 
 
 When we reached the Gila River we made a 
 halt, and while here hundreds of Pima Indians 
 came into our camps. They seemed to be hon- 
 est and industrious and glad to see us. We 
 went through one village of them containing 
 
84 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 near four thousand inhabitants, peaceable 
 and contented, engaged in agriculture and 
 making blankets. 
 
 Here we traded buttons (cut from our 
 clothes) for cakes of bread — and also some old 
 clothing for corn, beans, molasses, squash, etc. 
 — but in the evening our Colonel ordered all 
 private provisions which could not be carried 
 by the owners to be left on the ground. This 
 seemed pretty hard when we were on only half 
 rations, but a great deal was left. 
 
 On the 23rd and 24th of December we 
 camped at a village of Maricopa Indians, hav- 
 ing traveled over a beautiful plain of rich, cul- 
 tivated land. Here it was that Colonel Cooke 
 suggested to our senior officer that this vi- 
 cinity would be a good place for the exiled 
 Saints to locate ; which suggestion was very 
 favorably received by the Indians. 
 
 We spent Christmas day by marching eight- 
 een miles from Maricopa village, mainly up 
 hill and over sand, and then camped without 
 water. The following day we advanced twen- 
 ty-three miles and camped near the Gila. We 
 had followed around the base of a mountain 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 85 
 
 and crossed a bend in the river. Our route 
 would have been much shorter could we have 
 gone in a more direct line. 
 
 We now traveled very slowly as the way was 
 over heavy sandy bottoms, and sometimes 
 quicksand; we only made sixty miles in six 
 days, and even then the men had to work hard 
 at helping the mules pull the loads. 
 
 As we traveled down the river we found rock 
 covered with ancient hieroglyphics, including 
 profiles of men, beasts and reptiles. Grass was 
 very scarce and the 1st of January, 1847, we 
 cut down cottonwood trees for our animals to 
 browse upon. A number of our mules died 
 showing strong symptoms of poison, but we 
 did not know where they got it. 
 
 Colonel Cooke here hit upon a novel plan to 
 convey part of our luggage and relieve the 
 tired teams. He prepared a boat of two pon- 
 toon wagon-bodies lashed together, end to end, 
 between two dry cottonwood logs, and this* cu- 
 rious barge was loaded with twenty-five hun- 
 dred pounds of provisions for the men and corn 
 for the mules. This cast a gloom over u s for we 
 felt that there ought not to be any risks taken 
 
86 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 with our already scanty supplies. But our boat 
 was put out into the river and after having 
 some trouble getting it over a sand-bar we saw 
 nothing of it for several days. 
 
 Now we were ordered to have another re- 
 duction of rations — one ounce to the man. Sev- 
 eral of the men had already fainted from hun- 
 ger and exhaustion, and it seemed that a few 
 more reductions would leave nothing. 
 
 On the 8th of January we reached the mouth 
 of the Gila River. In the absence of grass our 
 mules were fed mesquite-beans ; and we ground 
 the beans in our coffee-mills and made cakes of 
 the meal ; it tasted quite delicious to us starv- 
 ing men. 
 
 On the 9th a march of ten miles, sometimes 
 in heavy sand and sometimes in miry clay, 
 brought us to the crossing of the Colorado, 
 which was muddy like the Missouri, quite as 
 wide but not as deep as that river. Here we 
 were overtaken by those who had been sent 
 back to recover the provisions left on the Gila 
 from the barge : they had found only four hun- 
 dred pounds of flour but no pork. 
 
 All the next day and night we spent ferrying 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 87 
 
 the river in pontoon wagon-boxes. Two mules 
 were drowned while being driven across. Com- 
 pany Cs wagon got stuck on the sand-bar in 
 the river, between the two channels, with a 
 broken-down team. The Colonel refused to 
 allow the other companies to wait or render 
 us any assistance, but proceeded on with them. 
 So, in order to extricate the wagon from the 
 quicksand, we had to do as we had done in the 
 desert, get out and help pull, though we were 
 half-starved, and worn out through the 
 Colonel's indiscretion in losing our food by the 
 boat disaster. Our team was so broken down 
 that a few miles further on the wagon had 
 to be abandoned. 
 
 On the 15th we marched seven miles and 
 reached a well called "Pozo Hondo, " which 
 afforded us but a little very poor water; it 
 served however to save life until better could 
 be reached. Here, one of our guides, who had 
 been sent ahead of us to purchase fresh mules 
 and beef cattle, met us with thirty-five mules 
 in good condition and ten fat beeves. We 
 were not long in killing one of the latter ani- 
 mals, and it was a great treat to us. 
 
88 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 The Indians call this region "the hot land," 
 which name is very appropriate, for it is by 
 far the hottest country I ever saw : an almost 
 tropical sun in day time and a December at- 
 mosphere at night, which was very hurtful and 
 weakening to us and our animals ; our clothing 
 was very scanty and some of us suffered se- 
 verely from the cold nights. 
 
 Words cannot describe our situation at this 
 time; it was very trying for both men and 
 mules. Here we found the heaviest sand, the 
 hottest days and the coldest nights, with no wa- 
 ter and little food ; we were nearly bare-footed, 
 some using rawhide wrapped around their 
 feet, others wrapped cast-off clothing around 
 to protect their feet from the burning sand. 
 
 When we arrived at Cariza, a small creek, 
 we called it "first running water." Many of 
 us were so nearly used up from thirst, hunger 
 and fatigue that we could not speak until we 
 had a cup of water. About sixteen mules gave 
 out and our fresh ones were nearly exhausted. 
 
 On the 17th we traveled fifteen miles over 
 very heavy sand, and camped between two 
 mountains. "Completely worn down, some 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 89 
 
 staggering as they walked, others, unable to 
 keep up with the wagons, slept and traveled 
 at intervals and did not reach camp until day- 
 light the next morning. I went through the 
 companies and found them eating their last 
 four ounces of flour ; of sugar and coffee, there 
 had been none for some weeks. "* 
 
 During the day we received a letter from the 
 governor of San Diego, promising us assist- 
 ance. We did not advance on the 18th but 
 spent the day cleaning up our arms, and in the 
 evening the men were paraded and inspected. 
 The Colonel expressed great surprise at seeing 
 us singing merry songs and playing the fiddle 
 when we were so wornout and hungry, but we 
 were thankful to our Heavenly Father and re- 
 joiced that our journey was nearly finished and 
 the night air was full of the songs of the Saints. 
 
 On the 19th we had a hard travel up hill, 
 over a mountain ridge, up a dry ravine, 
 through openings in the solid rocks. Our 
 guides knew no more about this route than we 
 did. We followed the ravine until we found 
 ourselves in a passage at least a foot narrower 
 
 *Colonel Cooke's diary. 
 
90 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 than our wagons. Our tools were nearly all 
 lost by the boat disaster, but we had a few axes, 
 a crowbar and a spade or two. With these we 
 set to work, Colonel Cooke taking an ax and 
 helping us. We widened the passage and got 
 our wagons through about sundown, when we 
 found that water was seven or eight miles fur- 
 ther on, so we traveled till dark and camped 
 without water, but had good grass for the 
 animals. 
 
 On the night of the 20th we camped with 
 plenty of water — a blessing which we all ap- 
 preciated. 
 
 We now received orders to march directly to 
 San Diego instead of Los Angeles as we had 
 intended. 
 
 On the 21st we came to Warner's rancho, 
 this being the first house we had seen since 
 entering California. The weather was cold and 
 cloudy and looked like snow. We crossed the 
 mountain ridge dividing the waters of the 
 Colorado and the gulf from those emptying in- 
 to the Pacific. We camped about 2 p. m. and 
 were met here by those who had gone ahead 
 for supplies and here we had a full meal which 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 91 
 
 consisted of fresh, fat beef, without salt, and a 
 few pancakes purchased from the Indians. 
 Here our rations were raised to four pounds of 
 beef a day, but we had no other food, not even 
 salt, until on the 23rd, those who had been sent 
 back for our lost provisions came in with about 
 four hundred pounds of flour. That was a lit- 
 tle more than a pound for a man, and we usu- 
 ally used about two spoonfuls each day to 
 thicken our soup. 
 
 We had very heavy rain for two days before 
 leaving Warner's. Some mules strayed away, 
 but a friendly Indian — Chief Antonio — gath- 
 ered them up for us. 
 
 On January 25 we received a dispatch from 
 General Kearney, ordering us to meet him in 
 San Diego, so we were again on the march, 
 reaching the Temecula Valley that day. Here 
 the San Luis Rey Indians mistook us for a 
 band of Californians and both parties were 
 drawn up in battle array before the mistake 
 was discovered. Then the Indians were pleased 
 to see us and the chief men shook hands heart- 
 ily with Colonel Cooke and others. 
 
 We passed through the San Luis Rey Val- 
 
92 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 ley and found grass from two to ten inches 
 high and plenty of wild mustard whose young, 
 tender leaves made splendid greens, which we 
 enjoyed with our beef. We also saw thou- 
 sands of wild geese, ducks and gulls. 
 
 We arrived at San Luis Rey, a deserted 
 Catholic mission, about noon on January 27, 
 and on climbing a bluff near the mission the 
 long, long-looked-for Pacific Ocean was before 
 us. The joy that filled our souls none but 
 wornout pilgrims nearing a haven of rest can 
 imagine. As we stood on its borders, looking 
 at its beauty, admiring its peaceful serenity, a 
 cheer arose from our hearts and found utter- 
 ance as one voice, and we forgot that we were 
 hungry, ragged, barefooted or far from home, 
 and we gave thanks to God who had preserved 
 our lives amid such sufferings and had enabled 
 us to endure to the end of this perilous jour- 
 ney ; and we prayed for the safety and comfort 
 of our loved ones whom we had left so far 
 away. But we knew that He would care for 
 His Saints, and we went on our way rejoic- 
 ing and took up our quarters five miles from 
 San Diego. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 93 
 
 We no longer suffered from the hardships 
 of deserts or the cold atmosphere of the snow- 
 capped mountains, for January here was as 
 pleasant as May in the Northern States. We 
 traveled in sight of the ocean, in the mild cli- 
 mate and clear sunshine, with wild oats, grass 
 and mustard growing luxuriously around us ; 
 the soil being very rich and the water clear and 
 good; the birds sang sweetly and our hearts 
 were happy as we joined all nature in praising 
 the Giver of all good ; and on the 29th we came 
 in sight of the long-talked-of San Diego. We 
 camped at the old Catholic mission and for 
 the first time in our lives saw olives, date and 
 other palm trees. 
 
 We had traveled about one thousand four 
 hundred miles in one hundred and four days, 
 and after enduring so much suffering, it 
 cheered our hearts to hear the following or- 
 ders, which were read to us on February 4 — 
 and were received with a hearty cheer by the 
 Battalion : 
 
94 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Headquarters Mormon Battalion, 
 
 Mission of San Diego, 
 Jan. 30, 1847. 
 Orders No. 1. 
 
 The Lieut. Col. commanding congratulates 
 the Battalion on their safe arrival on the shore 
 of the Pacific Ocean and the conclusion of their 
 march, of over two thousand miles. 
 
 History may be searched in vain for an equal 
 march of infantry. Half of it has been through 
 a wilderness where nothing but savages and 
 wild beasts are found, or deserts, where, for 
 want of water, there is no living creature. 
 There, with almost hopeless labor we have dug 
 deep wells, which the future traveler will en- 
 joy. Without a guide who had traversed them, 
 we have ventured into trackless table-lands 
 where water was not found for several 
 marches. With crowbar and pick and ax in 
 hand, we have worked our way over moun- 
 tains, which seemed to defy aught save the wild 
 goat, and hewed a passage through a chasm of 
 living rock more narrow than our wagons. To 
 bring these first wagons to the Pacific, we have 
 preserved the strength of our mules by herding 
 them over large tracts which you have labor- 
 iously guarded without loss. The garrison of 
 four presidios of Sonora concentrated within 
 the walls of Tucson, gave us no pause. We 
 drove them out, with their artillery, but our 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 95 
 
 intercourse with the citizens was unmarked by 
 a single act of injustice. Thus, marching half 
 naked and half fed, and living upon wild ani- 
 mals, we have discovered and made a road of 
 great value to our country. 
 
 Arrived at the first settlement in California, 
 after a single day's rest, you cheerfully turned 
 off from the route to this point of promised re- 
 pose, to enter upon a campaign, and meet, as 
 we supposed, the approach of an enemy; and 
 this too without salt to season your sole sub- 
 sistence of fresh meat. 
 
 Lieutenant A. J. Smith and George Stone- 
 man, of the First Dragoons, have shared and 
 given valuable aid in all these labors. 
 
 Thus, volunteers, you have exhibited some 
 high and essential qualities of veterans. But 
 much remains undone. Soon you will turn 
 your attention to the drill, to system and or- 
 der, to forms also, which are all necessary to 
 the soldier. 
 
 By order of 
 
 Lieut. Col. P. St. George Cooke, 
 P. C. Merrill, Adjutant. 
 
96 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BATTALION MUSTERED OUT. 
 
 Religious Services and Daily Routine — Mail Car- 
 rier and on Indian Duty — Kearney's Tribute to 
 "Mormons" — Civilian Employment as Ranch 
 Foreman. 
 
 WHILE in garrison we made it a rule, 
 when possible, to hold religious services 
 on Sunday, which were presided over by Cap- 
 tain Hunt, Father Pettigrew or Brother Han- 
 cock. 
 
 Our daily garrison duties were : Roll call at 
 daylight, sick call at 7 :30 a. m., breakfast call 
 at 8:40, drill at 10 a. m. and 3 p. m., roll call 
 at sundown, tattoo at 8:30, and taps of the 
 drum at 9 p. m., after which lights must be 
 out except in case of sickness. All must then 
 retire. 
 
 While quartered at San Diego, Azariah 
 Smith composed the following song : 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 97 
 
 HARD TIMES. 
 
 In forty-six we bade adieu 
 To loving friends and kindred too; 
 For one year's service, one and all 
 Enlisted at our country's call, 
 In these hard times. 
 
 We onward marched until we gained 
 Fort Leavenworth, where we obtained 
 Our outfit — each a musket drew — 
 Canteen, knapsack, and money, too — 
 In these hard times. 
 
 Our colonel died — Smith took his place, 
 And marched us on at rapid pace; 
 O'er hills and plains we had to go, 
 Through herds of deer and buffalo, 
 In these hard times. 
 
 O'er mountains and through valleys, too, 
 We town and village went through; 
 Through forests dense, with mazes twined, 
 Our tedious steps we had to wind, 
 In these hard times. 
 
 At length we came to Santa Fe, 
 As much fatigued as men could be; 
 With only ten days there to stay, 
 When orders came to march away, 
 
 In these hard times. 
 8 
 
98 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Three days and twenty we marched down 
 Rio Del Norte, past many a town; 
 Then changed our course — resolved to go 
 Across the mountains, high or low, 
 In these hard times. 
 
 We found the mountains very high, 
 Our patience and our strength to try; 
 For, on half rations, day by day, 
 O'er mountain heights we made our way, 
 In these hard times. 
 
 Some pushed the wagons up the hills, 
 Some drove the teams, some packed the 
 
 mules, 
 Some stood on guard by night and day 
 Lest haplessly our teams should stray, 
 
 In these hard times. 
 
 We traveled twenty days or more, 
 Adown the Gila river's shore — 
 Crossed o'er the Colorado then, 
 And marched upon a sandy plain, 
 In these hard times. 
 
 We thirsted much from day to day, 
 And mules were dying by the way, 
 When lo! to view, a glad scene burst, 
 Where all could quench our burning thirst, 
 In these hard times. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 99 
 
 We traveled on without delay, 
 And quartered at San Luis Rey; 
 We halted there some thirty days, 
 And now are quartered in this place, 
 In these hard times. 
 
 A "Mormon" soldier band we are: 
 May our great Father's watchful care 
 In safety kindly guide our feet, 
 Till we again our friends shall meet, 
 And have good times. 
 
 Oh, yes, we trust to meet our friends 
 Where truth its light to all extends — 
 Whose love prevails in every breast, 
 
 Throughout the province of the blest, 
 And have good times. 
 
 While the Battalion was stationed at San 
 Diego, I carried the United States mail from 
 San Luis Rey to Los Angeles and back ; but as 
 the presence of soldiers was needed in Los An- 
 geles to hold that place, Companies C, A, D 
 and E took up the line of march for that place, 
 on March 19th, traveling over broken country 
 near the seashore, and arrived there about noon 
 on the 23rd. There were no provisions to be 
 got here and on the 25th, (our supplies which 
 
100 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 we had brought with us being nearly exhaust- 
 ed), an eight-mule team was despatched for a 
 fresh supply from San Diego. I drove the 
 mules. 
 
 On April 6 a petition was circulated and 
 signed by most of the soldiers, asking for our 
 discharge, asserting that as peace was declared 
 our services could now be dispensed with and 
 we were needed at home to aid our outcast 
 families ; but it was never presented to Colonel 
 Cooke as some of the officers wished us to en- 
 list again with Captain Hunt as Lieutenant 
 Colonel. 
 
 Owing to the fact that the Californians were 
 not allowed to bear arms the following orders 
 were issued for their protection from maraud- 
 ing bands of Indians : 
 
 Headquarters Southern Military District, 
 
 Los Angeles, April 11, 1847. 
 Orders No. 7. 
 
 (l)Company C Mormon Battalion will 
 march tomorrow and take post in the canyon 
 pass of the mountains about forty-five miles 
 eastward of this town. Lieutenant Rosecrans, 
 its commander, will select a spot for his camp 
 as near to the narrowest and most defensible 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 101 
 
 part as the convenience of water, feed and 
 grass will admit of, and, if necessary, effectu- 
 ally to prevent a passage of hostile Indians with 
 or without horses he will erect a sufficient cover 
 of logs or earth. It will be his duty to guard 
 the pass effectually, and, if necessary, to send 
 out armed parties, either on foot or mounted, 
 to defend the ranchos of the vicinity, or to at- 
 tack wandering parties of wild Indians. 
 
 P. St. George Cooke, 
 Lieut. Col. Commanding. 
 
 So on the 12th of April, Company C 
 marched to Cajon Pass, where we remained un- 
 til we were relieved by Lieutenant Pace's de- 
 tachment on the 23rd, when we returned to Los 
 Angeles. 
 
 Although despised by many, the dragoons 
 were always our staunch friends, and often 
 when bullies came into town and began to im- 
 pose upon the "Mormon boys," the dragoons 
 would not allow us to take our own part, but 
 would say : "Stand back ! you are religious 
 men and we are not; we will take all of your 
 fights into our hands, and you shall not be 
 imposed upon by them." 
 
 On the 9th of May General Kearney (ac- 
 
102 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 companied by Colonel Stevenson and other offi- 
 cers of note) arrived at Los Angeles from 
 Monterey; and on the 10th he addressed the 
 Battalion. He dwelt at some length upon our 
 arduous journey, our patriotism to the govern- 
 ment, obedience to orders, etc. No commander 
 could ever have given more praise to any corps 
 of veterans than was given us by this grand old 
 Colonel. He sympathized with us in the unset- 
 tled condition of our people, said he would take 
 pleasure in representing our patriotism to the 
 President and in the halls of Congress, and 
 give us the justice our praiseworthy conduct 
 had merited. He said history might be searched 
 in vain for a march equal to ours — while 
 " Bonaparte crossed the Alps, these men have 
 crossed a continent." 
 
 A number of our men now re-enlisted for 
 six months — being promised at the end of that 
 time, pay and rations to San Francisco or to 
 Bear River Valley, with a detachment to act 
 as pioneers for them; we were also promised 
 that we might obtain work and earn money 
 whenever off duty. Accordingly I obtained a 
 furlough and engaged work with a Mr. Wil- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 103 
 
 liams who owned a large ranch of several 
 hundreds of acres and great herds of cattle and 
 horses ; also a large soap factory. 
 
 On July 15, 1847, we went into Los Angeles 
 and the next day at 3 o'clock p. m. the five 
 companies of the Battalion were formed in line 
 according to letter of company, A in front 
 and E in rear. Lieutenant (A. J. Smith 
 then marched down and back between the lines 
 and said in a low voice : "You are discharged." 
 None of the men regretted his brevity : in fact 
 it rather pleased us. 
 
 On the 20th, having drawn my pay, I re- 
 turned to Chino ranch, where I worked as 
 foreman for Williams for about a year and a 
 half; the work was easy, for my horse was 
 saddled for me in the morning and all I had 
 to do was to ride around and see that the men 
 kept at their work and followed orders. 
 
 And now I will leave the Battalion by quot- 
 ing a song about them which was composed 
 by Thomas Morris and is much liked by all 
 our people. 
 
104 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 MORMON BATTALION. 
 
 All hail the brave Battalion! 
 
 The noble, valiant band, 
 That went and served our country 
 
 With willing heart and hand. 
 Altho' we're called disloyal 
 
 By many a tongue and pen, 
 Our nation boasts no soldiers 
 
 So true rs "Mormon" men. 
 
 O'er many a barren desert 
 
 Our weary feet have trod, 
 To find where, unmolested, 
 
 The Saints can worship God. 
 We've built up many cities — 
 
 We're building temples, too; 
 Which prove to all beholders 
 
 What "Mormon" hands can do. 
 
 We settled here in Utah 
 
 Upon a sterile soil, 
 And by our faith and patience 
 
 And hard, unflinching toil, 
 And thro' the daily blessings 
 
 Our Father, God, bestows, 
 The once forbidding desert 
 
 Now blossoms as the rose. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 105 
 
 What tho' the wicked hate us, 
 
 And 'gainst our rights contend; 
 And, through their vile aggressions, 
 
 Our brotherhood would rend? 
 The keys of truth and knowledge 
 
 And power to us belong; 
 And we'll extend our borders 
 
 And make our bulwarks strong. 
 
 Our sons are growing mighty, 
 
 And they are spreading forth, 
 To multiply our numbers 
 
 And beautify the earth. 
 All hail, the brave Battalion! 
 
 The noble, valiant band, 
 That went and served our country 
 
 With willing heart and hand. 
 
106 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 LIFE IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Visit to England — Across the Plains to Salt Lake 
 — Successes in Business — Marriages and Births 
 — Seven Eventful Years. 
 
 IN the spring of 1849 I went to Sutter's 
 ranch and worked in the gold diggings, but 
 as that kind of work did not suit me at all I 
 only stayed three days. I then broke mules — 
 that is, I taught them to pack, for a while, then 
 went back to Southern California and there 
 bought a band of horses at $1.50 a head and 
 started for San Francisco, selling some along 
 the way, and realized a hundred dollars apiece 
 for them. 
 
 One day, while riding, my horse fell on me 
 and broke my leg. A family by the name of 
 Otterson — a widow and two daughters — took 
 care of me for three months; they were good 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 107 
 
 people and they were very kind to me. When 
 [ was able to walk on crutches I sold the re- 
 maining horses ; gave one to each of the Otter- 
 son girls (with a saddle and bridle), and to 
 their mother I gave two horses, a buggy and 
 harness. Then I bought a ticket for Eng- 
 land, but before I went on shipboard, I sent 
 my money (which was a large amount) to the 
 Bank of England and also a letter to my folks, 
 telling them how to obtain it if I never arrived. 
 
 I went on board the vessel "James Pennell" 
 — still on crutches, and sailed by way of Cape 
 Horn and arrived in Liverpool in March, 1850, 
 without any accidents or incidents and found 
 my money all right. 
 
 After paying my tithing to Apostle Orson 
 Pratt, I went to my old home, and found that 
 my mother had been dead two weeks. 
 
 On May 3, 1850, in Sandy church, Bedford- 
 shire, Sarah Martin and I were married by the 
 Rev. Cook. 
 
 There were many of the Saints in England 
 who were anxious to come to Utah, but had 
 not means to do so; I therefore engaged pas- 
 sage for them on the ship "James Pennell," 
 
108 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 and on October 2, 1850, we set sail from our 
 native land for America, as I had done seven 
 years before. In our company was my wife, 
 my father — Samuel Layton — a young lady — 
 Sarah Barnes — a companion of my wife, and 
 a niece of ours — Priscilla Martin. There were 
 also two hundred and fifty more Saints on the 
 ship of whom I had the charge. 
 
 After seven weeks tossing on the ocean we 
 arrived at New Orleans, November 22, and 
 took the steamer "Amaranth" up the river to 
 St. Louis, arriving there December 4. 
 
 Apostle Orson Hyde counseled me to stay 
 here and rent a farm that I might employ the 
 men who had come over with me, and thus 
 give them an opportunity to pay the money 
 back. Therefore I settled my family in St. 
 Louis, on Fourth and Poplar streets, for the 
 winter. I rented Mr. McPherson's farm south 
 of Bellefontaine Cemetery in the spring, built 
 a house and moved my family out there. 
 
 On May 1, 1851, a son was born to us, and 
 we named him William, but in August that 
 year the little one had chills and fever, and 
 died. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 109 
 
 In the spring of 1852 I started with my 
 family for Salt Lake City, Utah, but while 
 camped in the woods near Kansas City, Mo., 
 I received word to go to Lexington, Mo. to 
 aid in purchasing cattle for the first (English) 
 emigration company. I therefore went, pur- 
 chased the cattle, left them at Kearney's ranch, 
 returned to my family and took them to the 
 ranch — having been absent from the family 
 about three weeks. The company having en- 
 camped at Keokuk preparatory to crossing 
 the plains, was under the charge of A. O. 
 Smoot, as captain, and I was appointed his 
 assistant ; but after the company started Broth- 
 er Smoot was taken very sick with cholera and 
 I was given entire charge of the company. 
 
 As we were journeying on over the plains 
 we met Apostles John Taylor, Ezra T. Ben- 
 son and Jedediah Grant, who were on their 
 way East, so we camped and they remained 
 with us for three days, and each night we held 
 a meeting. The singing was furnished by 
 three young ladies from England. We had a 
 good time and our spiritual strength was re- 
 newed while we went on our way rejoicing. 
 
110 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 The Spirit of the Lord was with us in out 
 journey and no lives were lost nor any one 
 hurt, although we passed through many dan- 
 gerous experiences, and arrived in Salt Lake 
 City September 3, 1852, with fifty-two wag- 
 ons. 
 
 While at Red Butte we were met by Presi- 
 dent Brigham Young, and he said: "If that 
 ain't the best outfit that ever landed in Salt 
 Lake!" 
 
 I had brought with me a new threshing ma- 
 chine (one of the first, if not the very first, 
 in Utah); three new wagons; one carriage; 
 several head of good horses ; one hundred 
 head of stock — some of which were blooded 
 Durhams. I set up the machine at once and 
 put the men at work threshing grain; turned 
 the stock out on west Jordan range for the 
 winter and bought a house in the Fifteenth 
 ward on First South and Fourth West streets, 
 and built a large room on it in which to store 
 the grain. 
 
 On September 26, 1852, Sarah Barnes and 
 I were married, at Salt Lake City. 
 
 In October I went to West Jordan, built a 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. Ill 
 
 shanty about a mile from the river, and moved 
 the family over on November 9, 1852. The 
 snow was so deep, it drove before the axle of 
 the wagon and when we reached our home, 
 the snow which had been melting was dripping 
 from the house and there was not a dry place to 
 be found on the floor. I went down to the 
 river and cut willows and carried them to the 
 house on my back. Then I climbed on the 
 roof, one of my wives handing the willows up 
 to me and I spread them out on the roof; 
 after which we threw dirt on them to keep 
 out the water. I brought willows from the 
 river and while they were green, my father 
 would tie them into bundles for fuel. The 
 winter was very severe and our winter's wood 
 consisted of these willow bundles and a few 
 slabs which I bought at Gardner's mill, for 
 twenty-five cents each. 
 
 One night we had a severe snow storm from 
 the north; we heard a pitiful "whinney" and 
 when I got up to see what was the matter, I 
 found a favorite blooded mare standing at the 
 door as if asking mercy from the driving 
 storm. I let her inside and there she stayed 
 
112 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 until the storm was over. No doubt this 
 saved her life. 
 
 The year 1852 was notable, not only for 
 continued extension and the growth of Utah 
 settlements, but also for improvements of dif- 
 ferent kinds projected and forwarded at va- 
 rious points. Mountains of coal and iron were 
 discovered in southern Utah ; a fine quality of 
 beautiful white building stone was found near 
 Manti, Sanpete County. This year our people 
 sent a block of the Manti rock to the Wash- 
 ington Monument. It was three feet long, 
 two feet wide and six and a half inches thick. 
 In the center was carved a bee-hive and un- 
 der it the word "Deseret," and over the hive 
 was the All-Seeing Eye — the whole surmount- 
 ed and flanked by foliage, beautifully wrought 
 by the chisel of William Ward. 
 
 Many new buildings were erected — a wool- 
 en mill and sugar factory, cutlery works and 
 potteries were also started. 
 
 On New Year's day 1853, the Social Hall 
 in Salt Lake City was dedicated. 
 
 On January 1, 1853, Sarah M. gave birth 
 to another son, to whom we gave the name 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 113 
 
 of Christopher. Beginning about four o'clock 
 that afternoon, the rain continued to fall all 
 night. As our roof leaked we covered the 
 mother and new baby with an oil-skin over- 
 coat and raised a large umbrella over them. 
 We also kept up a fire all night and as every- 
 thing was very wet, whenever the room would 
 get warm the steam would rise until we could 
 scarcely see across the room. The blessing of 
 the Lord rested upon us, however, and in two 
 or three weeks all were again well and had 
 felt no inconvenience from our steam bath : 
 surely "God tempers the blast to the shorn 
 lamb/' 
 
 Here is inserted a copy of a 
 
 PATRIARCH I AL BLESSING, 
 
 Given in Great Salt Lake City, March 16, 
 1853, by John Smith, Patriarch, upon the head 
 of Christopher Layton, son of Samuel and 
 Isabel Layton, born at Bedfordshire, Eng- 
 land, March 8, 1820 : 
 
 I lay my hands upon your head in the name 
 of Jesus Christ and seal upon you a father's 
 blessing, even all the blessings that were be- 
 
114 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 stowed upon Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and 
 the children of Israel in Egypt for you are of 
 the blood of Joseph and a lawful heir to the 
 everlasting priesthood, which shall be sealed 
 upon you in fullness in the due time of the 
 Lord, teaching you the principles of the priest- 
 hood and mysteries that have been kept hid 
 from before the foundations of the world. You 
 are appointed to preach the gospel to nations 
 afar off, to the islands of the sea, to kings, 
 rulers, and great men of the earth ; they shall 
 obey thy voice; you shall baptize many and 
 bring them to Zion with vast stores of riches ; 
 baptize many that sail in ships, have power 
 over the waters to turn them whichsoever way 
 thou wilt. You shall be blessed in your fam- 
 ily with health, peace and plenty — they shall 
 increase like Jacob. Be mighty in the priest- 
 hood ; you shall be a counselor in Zion and 
 preside over one of her stakes ; have wisdom 
 to conduct all affairs in the best possible way; 
 are to see the winding up scenes of this gen- 
 eration ; see wickedness swept from the earth, 
 Zion re-established in peace, no more to be 
 thrown down ! Finally you shall inherit all the 
 blessings of the Redeemer's Kingdom for ever. 
 Amen. 
 
 In the spring of 1853 I sold my place to 
 Wm. Price (now bishop of Goshen) and built 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 115 
 
 another small house near Gardner's mill and 
 moved the family thither. I also built a milk 
 house as we milked a number of cows, and 
 during the summer my wives made and sold 
 $20 worth of butter, and with that bought 
 furniture for the house. In August I moved 
 the family into Salt Lake, and having business 
 at Fort Bridger I went to that place, and was 
 gone a few weeks. 
 
 On September 8, 1853, a son was born to 
 my wife, Sarah B., in Salt Lake City, and we 
 gave him the name of Hyrum John. I built 
 a butcher shop near the Globe Bakery on Main 
 street, and here we lived until the spring of 
 1854. 
 
 On the 12th of December I received in 
 Salt Lake City the papers which made me a 
 citizen of the United States — the country of 
 my adoption. 
 
 Going to the Jordan range I built another 
 house and moved part of the family out there 
 in 1854, but during the summer I sold all of 
 my stock and bought some lots on Emigration 
 street — half a block west of State road— and 
 built a good adobe house — a two story one — 
 
116 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 on one of these lots, and had another butcher 
 shop at the residence. 
 
 In December, 1854, Isabella Golightly and I 
 were married in Salt Lake City, President 
 Brigham Young officiating. 
 
 In the spring of 1855 I started two butcher 
 shops, and was greatly assisted in this busi- 
 ness by my family. During the emigration 
 season we sold as high as eleven beeves a 
 week, and in order that there might be nothing 
 wasted or lost, my wives made soap and can- 
 dles out of the fat and tallow. Sometimes we 
 made $100 worth of soap in a week, and 
 twelve pounds of tallow candles in a day. 
 
 We always made a point of remembering 
 the poor, the widows and missionaries' wives 
 in Salt Lake City. 
 
 In the fall, as the people were getting very 
 much in my debt, I closed up my butcher 
 shops, being so advised by President Young, 
 and bought a farm from S. M. Blair, at 
 Grantsville, Tooele County, he having pur- 
 chased my Salt Lake property. I moved the 
 family out to the farm. During the summer 
 of 1855, my wife Sarah M. gave birth to a 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 117 
 
 stillborn baby girl, caused by a fall into a 
 cellar. Here, on December 6, 1855, my wife 
 Isabella G. gave birth to a son, whom we 
 named John Henry. 
 
 On February 18, 1856, my wife, Sarah B., 
 gave birth to a daughter, whom we named 
 Mary Ann. 
 
 On April 12, 1856, Caroline Cooper and I 
 were married at Salt Lake City, President 
 Brigham Young officiating. 
 
118 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PIONEERING IN CARSON VALLEY. 
 
 Perils of the Journey — Brigham Young's Promise 
 — Labors in Carson — Called back to Utah — 
 Thrilling Experiences — At Home Again. 
 
 HAVING been called with many others to 
 migrate to Carson Valley, I began to get 
 things arranged for going away. I had not 
 been on the farm long enough to realize any 
 benefit from it. I made a trade with a Mr. 
 Cooley for a hundred head of cattle and some 
 money: so that by the end of April we were 
 ready to travel. My families began to think 
 we were like the pilgrims of old and had no 
 certain dwelling place. 
 
 Our company consisted of the families of 
 Wm. Jennings, Wm. Nixon, Peregrine Ses- 
 sions, Albert P. Dewey, Wm. Kay, Geo. Neb- 
 eker, and my own family. 
 
 We camped at Black Rock the second night 
 out, and in the morning we found several 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 119 
 
 inches of snow on the ground, which made 
 it rather unpleasant for the babies, but the 
 women all took matters cheerfully and we had 
 our breakfast, and traveled on. We camped 
 at Warm Springs at Kay's Creek one night; 
 nothing happened of much moment, except 
 one or two nights the cattle started back home, 
 thus delaying us somewhat. 
 
 While we were camped on Bear River, we 
 met President Young and company who were 
 going to explore Bear Lake Valley. 
 
 Brother Brigham remarked : "Brother Lay- 
 ton, you have more stock than the whole 
 Church." "Brother Young, they are all at 
 your disposal," I answered. "Oh, no. I don't 
 want them," he said. So I picked out ten 
 head of my best cows and made him a pres- 
 ent of them. President Young then blessed me 
 and my family and said not one of us should 
 fall by the way; and it was true, for we all 
 lived to complete our journey and we did not 
 lose any of our stock. We camped on the Bear 
 River until more of our company came up, 
 and we crossed over the river on the 10th of 
 May. 
 
120 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 We continued our journey westward, and 
 on the 28th of May my wife Sarah M. gave 
 birth to a little daughter whom we named Eliza 
 Ann ; we camped at the head of the Humboldt 
 River for a half-day and then traveled on. In 
 ten days my wife's health was restored to that 
 degree that she walked a mile without injury, 
 thus proving to us that our Heavenly Father 
 was taking care of us and blessing us as 
 Brigham Young had prophesied to us. 
 
 I have ever found that when we are in the 
 line of our duty and retain our faith in the 
 promises of God and his inspired servants, we 
 are watched over by him who holds all things 
 in his power, and protected from sickness or 
 evil. 
 
 When we reached Gravelly Ford on the 
 Humboldt, we found the river much swollen 
 and still rising, so the most of the company 
 were afraid to cross it that night, but I put all 
 my family in a large wagon — named the Santa 
 Fe — which was loaded with salt; then I 
 hitched twelve yoke of oxen to it, and started 
 into the water. All went well until we reached 
 the middle of the stream when the cattle lost 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 121 
 
 their feet and began to go down stream, while 
 Brother Jennings and I were trying our best 
 to turn them back — and James Wrathall, be- 
 ing on one of the lead cattle, was a great help 
 to us. During this critical time when we were 
 struggling with the still rising waters and my 
 family was praying for deliverance"*from a wa- 
 tery grave, the rest of the company which we 
 left on the bank, were encouraging us by con- 
 tinually calling out, "Oh! they are all gone 
 down;" "they are sinking;" but in spite of 
 all this we landed safely on the other shore. 
 Brother Jennings swam back across the river ; 
 we were without bedding or food, but with 
 our hearts full of thankfulness to our Heaven- 
 ly Father who had cared for and protected 
 us on our journey. Some of us were a lit- 
 tle fearful about remaining here, as just be- 
 fore our arrival there had been an Indian fight 
 at this place; but we were unmolested and 
 in the morning, the river having lowered to 
 its usual condition, all of the company came 
 over, bringing everything safely, and we had 
 a joyful prayer circle again together. 
 All the way from the Bear River, we had 
 
122 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 been somewhat in advance of the rest of the 
 company on account of scarcity of feed. The 
 Indians often came to our camp and would sit 
 around, but we were never molested by them 
 in any way, although it was no uncommon 
 thing to see boards standing at the head of 
 graves telling how many were scalped alive by 
 Indians; and in one place in a canyon there 
 was a notice stating that eight white men 
 were scalped alive and buried in one grave ; 
 but He who has ever delivered His Saints in all 
 ages, protected us from harm and danger, and 
 now that we were all together it was a cause 
 of great rejoicing and thanksgiving. 
 
 While on this trip we had fresh butter every 
 day as well as all the milk we wanted, for we 
 milked the cows night and morning, then after 
 using what milk we needed, the rest was put 
 in the churn, where by the shaking of the 
 wagon, we had butter before noon. This we 
 all considered a great blessing. 
 
 We halted when we reached the Sink of 
 the Humboldt, to rest the cattle, for we had 
 crossed one eighteen-mile desert and also one 
 twenty-six-mile, and now had one which was 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 123 
 
 forty miles wide. We started in the after- 
 noon and traveled all night, and in the morn- 
 ing just at daybreak the sand was so deep in 
 places that it drove before the axle of the 
 wagon ; but we had only ten miles of it yet, 
 and we got through all right, and we rested 
 again. 
 
 We traveled up the Carson River in a south- 
 westerly course until we readied Gold Can- 
 yon, where we saw some men washing gold 
 in tin pans at a creek. The cattle while cross- 
 ing alkali flats on the Humboldt had drank the 
 alkali water and a few head belonging to the 
 rest of the company had died, but according 
 to the blessing pronounced upon my family 
 (by Brigham Young), our cattle had come 
 through safely. 
 
 Early in July we arrived in the Washoe Val- 
 ley, in good health and spirits but glad to find 
 a resting place. 
 
 I bought a place with a house on it, of a 
 Mr. Samuel Best, and here we stayed, camped 
 at the foot of the Sierra Nevadas. The 
 house was a rough affair made of clapboards 
 
124 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 but we stayed in it during the day and slept 
 in our wagons at night. 
 
 One day while I was away and no one was 
 with the women and children except my fath- 
 er (who was blind) and a hired man, two 
 men came to the camp and demanded sup- 
 per. They were very wicked looking and the 
 women, with a prayer in their hearts, set out 
 supper for them, which they ate in silence and 
 then said that they wanted their breakfast very 
 early in the morning, and left on their horses 
 in the direction from which they came, to- 
 wards the creek. All supposed now that they 
 were gone for the night and the men went to 
 bed, but two of the women remained up sew- 
 ing after putting the rest of the family to bed 
 in the wagons. Suddenly the more evil-look- 
 ing man who had ordered supper entered the 
 house and in very abusive language asked 
 them "what they were doing there at that time 
 of night." 
 
 One of them answered: "We are minding 
 our own business and wish others would do 
 the same." 
 
 He then began to abuse Joseph Smith and 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 125 
 
 the Mormons, using very profane language. 
 Being unable to endure such talk quietly, 
 one of the women, with a silent prayer in her 
 heart, asked: 
 
 "Did Joseph Smith or the Mormons ever 
 injure you in any way?" 
 
 "No," he answered fiercely. "But I would 
 like to see them all annihilated." 
 
 "That you will never live to see," she calm- 
 ly answered; "and the Lord will hold you re- 
 sponsible for what you have said here to- 
 night." 
 
 He sat silent for a few minutes, then quick- 
 ly arose and left them without a word. After 
 thanking our Heavenly Father for the power 
 which had preserved them from such a man, 
 they gathered all the rest of the family to- 
 gether into one wagon, and one of them kept 
 watch the rest of the night, but the men never 
 came back. 
 
 When I returned from California I moved 
 our wagons and family down the Carson Val- 
 ley about two miles and camped in the cot- 
 tonwoods near the lake. 
 
 Many a night while here in the woods the 
 
126 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Indians would come and cook their squirrels 
 and other meat on our stove, then after they 
 had eaten their supper, they would lie down 
 and sleep all night, leaving in the morning be- 
 fore any of us were up. They never hurt us 
 or molested anything, although one of ,us 
 would sit up to watch their actions. We had 
 put our trust in our Heavenly Father and to 
 him we offered our prayers for protection and 
 we were preserved by His kind hand. 
 
 During the summer I made a number of 
 trips with a train of pack-mules over the 
 Sierra Nevada mountains to "Hang Town/' 
 Cal., and back to Carson, thus keeping a store 
 supplied with dry goods and groceries of all 
 kinds. 
 
 In the fall I hauled lumber from a saw 
 mill, sixteen miles away, and built a good 
 two-story dwelling house, into which we 
 moved just before winter. We had plenty 
 of good wood to burn, plenty to eat, drink and 
 wear, so we were very comfortable although 
 our neighbors were scarce, the most of the 
 people living at the settlement two miles be- 
 low us. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 127 
 
 In the following spring, 1857, I cut down a 
 number of large pine trees and fenced in 
 about twenty acres ; by laying the trees length- 
 wise along the ground and placing the small 
 end of one on the larger end of another, a fine 
 fence was made to keep out stock. 
 
 One day my wife Isabella was going to the 
 home of Geo. Colmer, and while yet in the 
 woods, his dog flew at her and tore several 
 holes in her shoulder and arm. My nephew 
 Abe Layton immediately killed the dog. We 
 kept the wounds bathed in brandy, and put 
 on such poultices as we could get, and the 
 sores healed rapidly. 
 
 Grass was plentiful all over ,the (valley. 
 During the summer, I, with the assistance of 
 Wm. Jennings and Wm. Nixon, made a wag- 
 on road over the mountains between Hang 
 Town, Cal., and Carson Valley on the old mule 
 trail. 
 
 Late in the summer some unknown person 
 set the grass on fire — it was a sight never to 
 be forgotten — sometimes it looked as if the 
 whole valley was in a blaze. For three days all 
 the people turned out and fought the flames. 
 
128 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 On August 15, 1857, a little daughter was 
 born to my wife Caroline C, and we gave her 
 the name of Selina. 
 
 One day, when it was very hot and every 
 one was busy and the women had forgotten 
 the children for a few minutes, some one dis- 
 covered that three of the little ones were miss- 
 ing. They were Christopher, four years old, 
 Hyrum, three years, and Polly, only fifteen 
 months old. The mothers of the little ones 
 were nearly frantic as there was a large stream 
 of water running near by, and they called to 
 the children but no answer came back. All 
 stopped work and started in search of them, 
 and finally some one found them under a pine 
 tree about a mile up the mountain. They 
 were hurried back to their anxious mothers, 
 for they had been gone about three hours; 
 and had crossed a creek, the boys having car- 
 ried the little girl over. We all gave thanks 
 to the Lord for thus preserving our little ones. 
 
 In September word came to Apostle Orson 
 Hyde to preach reformation, and accordingly 
 all the people were rebaptized. 
 
 In the fall of 1857, William R. Smith 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 129 
 
 came with a message from the First Presi- 
 dency of the Church, stating that the mis- 
 sionaries were recalled to Utah. 
 
 Our crops were not all gathered, and some 
 of our people had sold their cattle to make 
 improvements on their homes and did not 
 know how to manage to obey this counsel; 
 but I arranged to help them with wagons 
 and mules and provisions. 
 
 Brother Thompson had the misfortune to 
 get his leg broken by a wagon running over 
 it, and he said: 
 
 "For goodness sake, Brother Layton, 
 don't leave me here." 
 
 I assured him that we would not do that, 
 and then procured a spring wagon for him. 
 
 While we were preparing for our return 
 trip, William R. Smith was sent to buy fire- 
 arms and ammunition and other supplies for 
 our journey; but for some unknown reason 
 he failed to obtain them, so I went and pur- 
 chased all that we needed for our trip to 
 Utah. 
 
 We left Carson Valley on the 1st day of 
 10 
 
130 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 October, 1857, and the weather was getting 
 quite cool, but we did not mind that. 
 
 When we had been traveling a few days 
 several of the little children were taken very 
 sick. One of my little daughters was strick- 
 en with the complaint. I immediately ad- 
 ministered to her, and her mother doctored 
 her with a little flour and water to which 
 was added a teaspoonful of port wine and 
 one of cinnamon tea, and she soon recov- 
 ered. Two children in the company died 
 at Stony Point, being the only deaths on the 
 trip. 
 
 When we reached Goose Creek moun- 
 tains a halt was called and all hands turned 
 out and felled the trees to make a new road, 
 to take the wagons up the mountains. While 
 we were doing this the women and chil- 
 dren were getting up as best they could. 
 Some of them had a child in one arm, using 
 the other hand to> pull them up with, while 
 another little one clung tightly to the moth- 
 er's skirts. There was snow on the ground, 
 this making it very disagreeable for the 
 climbers ; but the Lord gave them strength 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 131 
 
 and courage to persevere, so that they land- 
 ed on the other side safely. 
 
 Having reached the summit we attached 
 ropes to the wagons and lowered them down 
 the other side of the mountains. We drew 
 into camp and lifted our voices in prayer, 
 praise and thanksgiving for our safe deliv- 
 erance from perilous adventures. 
 
 The day before we reached Bear River, 
 October 27, we saw approaching a band of 
 cavalry and infantry and were much pleased 
 when they proved to be some of our own 
 people instead of a portion of Johnston's 
 army, as at first we had feared.* 
 
 When we discovered the soldiers to be 
 our friends we had a glad, happy time to- 
 
 *This company, under the command of Chaun- 
 cey W. West with 600 men, had left Weber coun- 
 ty, Utah, on September 23, 1857, by orders from 
 General Daniel H. Wells, had marched through 
 Cache, Round and Marsh valleys by forced 
 marches, and had succeeded in turning the flanks 
 of the enemy, so they could not enter Utah by the 
 north, and camped at head of Marsh Valley. Or- 
 ders came to return by way of Malad Valley. In 
 crossing the mountain into Malad Valley they 
 took 7 men (with pack animals) prisoners, and at 
 Ogden sent them to Salt Lake City. 
 
132 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 gether that night. They had two brass 
 bands and by taking turns we had music 
 all night. At daybreak the company were 
 off for Echo Canyon, leaving us cheered, 
 and with renewed strength we went on our 
 way rejoicing. 
 
 A stranger near here had told us that the 
 "destroying angels" would be at Bear River 
 and would not let any one cross who had 
 any trouble with their neighbors or >thje 
 Church, but as we were in accord with the 
 authorities and each other, we were not 
 alarmed by the report. 
 
 Arriving at the river the company drew 
 in together for camping, but I, with my 
 family, kept on up /the river and never 
 stopped until all our wagons were forded 
 over, it being near ten o'clock when we 
 found a place to camp. We left early in the 
 morning and camped at night near a house 
 where a woman lay dying. The people 
 were very poor, and while my women folks 
 did all they could for the sufferer I left sub- 
 stantial help by adding somewhat to their 
 finances. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 133 
 
 We arrived in Kaysville on November 1, 
 1857, before sundown, having been just a 
 month on the return trip: the rest of the 
 company did not arrive for three days. 
 Brother Thompson came to me and said: 
 "Brother Layton, here is your wagon, for 
 which I shall ever feel grateful." Several 
 of the company donated towards the wagon 
 and we gave it to him to keep. 
 
134 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ESTABLISHED IN KAYSVILLE. 
 
 Numerous Additions to the Family — Chosen Bish- 
 op, also Prominent in Industrial, Political, Mili- 
 tary and Pioneering Enterprises. 
 
 AFTER staying a few days with William 
 B. Smith (who lived near the lake), I 
 bought a house from David Day (the house 
 where James Green now lives), moved my 
 family there and unloaded the wagons. 
 
 I had been here but a short time when I 
 was called to go to Salmon River to bring 
 in the missionaries before spring. This was 
 a hard call to obey, for my children were 
 all small and our provisions for the winter 
 were scarce, and I disliked to leave the 
 women alone; but committing them to the 
 Lord's care and protection, I went where 
 duty called me. 
 
 On December 18, 1857, a son was born to 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 135 
 
 my wife, Isabella G., and we named him 
 Jacob Alonzo. 
 
 While I was away Bishop Allen Taylor 
 informed my families that they should get 
 all the wagons and teams in readiness to 
 start on another pilgrimage (they knew 
 not where), so that when I returned I im- 
 mediately completed the preparations they 
 had commenced. 
 
 The weather was very cold, severe and 
 extremely unpleasant. 
 
 On the 18th of March, 1858, a son was 
 born to my wife, Sarah M., and we named 
 him Erastus. 
 
 In two weeks time, some of my family 
 being ready to move, they went as far as 
 Salt Lake City, and moved into a vacant 
 house belonging to my wife Isabella's fath- 
 er, Brother Richard Golightly, and remained 
 in waiting for the rest of the family. While 
 living here the women made yeast and trad- 
 ed it for flour — which was an expensive ar- 
 ticle that spring — and in two weeks they 
 took in over two hundred pounds of flour. 
 As soon as the rest of the family arrived, 
 
136 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 we all started on our journey, and traveling 
 as far as Pelican Point on Utah Lake, 
 found it the roughest place we had ever 
 been (from Kansas to California). I did 
 not? like this place at all, for the wind blew 
 a continual sand storm and it was very 
 warm and disagreeable, so I drove on to a 
 grove in American Fork, which was a very 
 pleasant place. 
 
 Here we stayed until we had orders to 
 return to our deserted home. Some of us 
 started the next day, while the rest re- 
 mained two weeks longer, but we were all 
 safely home by the 8th of July. On our exo- 
 dus south we had left the chickens and do- 
 mestic animals on the place and now we 
 found them all right, only a little wild. It 
 seemed as if our Heavenly Father had taken 
 care of everything for us that we might have 
 our own on our return. While we were 
 away men had been sent back twice to irri- 
 gate the grain and we found it and our 
 potatoes and corn looking fine, most of it 
 ready to harvest — thus our winter's pro- 
 visions were waiting for the sickle. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 137 
 
 On July 11, 1858, a son was born to my 
 wife Sarah B., whom we named Ezra Wil- 
 liam. 
 
 I bought a place on Kays Creek — known 
 as the "prairie house" — and built four large 
 rooms, into which the family moved. We 
 had a large herd of sheep which occupied a 
 great deal of time and gave employment to 
 the older boys. Brother Jennings and I 
 bought about 200 head of freight oxen of 
 Livingston and Kinkead. They were very 
 poor and rundown. We turned them out on 
 pasture and about one-third of them died. 
 The others fattened up and we traded them 
 to the settlers, for cattle or any thing we 
 could get — traded one yoke for two fat hogs ; 
 we also kept a butcher shop. 
 
 I was ordained a High Priest on Febru- 
 ary 27, 1859. 
 
 In March, 1859, my little son Erastus was 
 taken very sick, and he died on the 20th. 
 My father was also very sick at this time, and 
 when we returned home from Erastus' funer- 
 al on the 21st of March we found father dead. 
 
138 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 He was buried the next day in the Kaysville 
 cemetery. 
 
 The following summer I bought a large 
 train of mules of Beals and Guerney, also 
 some mules of a Mr. C Crayton. 
 
 I loaded the freight teams with flour and 
 freighted to Helena, Montana. 
 
 On June 13 a son was born to my wife 
 Caroline, and we gave him the name of James 
 Albert. 
 
 In the spring of 1860 I bought a good farm 
 from a man named George Allen, two miles 
 down Kays Creek (now known as the "old 
 farm"), and removed part of my family to it. 
 I had very good crops, hired men and cradled 
 and bound the grain, but as threshing ma- 
 chines were very scarce, was not able to have 
 it threshed until November. 
 
 On March 21, 1860, a son was born to my 
 wife Isabella G., and we named him Rich- 
 ard Golightly. In May a daughter was born 
 to my wife Sarah M., whom we named Emma 
 Jane. 
 
 During this year there was considerable 
 emigration through Utah, and as I always 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 139 
 
 kept a band of horses, I used to trade my fat 
 horses for their poor ones (many of which 
 after resting and being on pasture awhile, 
 proved to be very good animals. This helped 
 the emigrants to get a good team and also 
 helped me. 
 
 On October 17 a son was born to my wife 
 Sarah B., and we named him David Edwin. 
 
 In the spring of 1861 I built two new houses 
 and a granary on the farm. I moved the re- 
 mainder of my family down, then sold the 
 place at Prairie House. 
 
 On February 20, a daughter was born to 
 my wife Caroline C, and we named her Mar- 
 tha Alice. 
 
 During the summer I helped several poor 
 men to get homes and teams to work with, 
 knowing that the Lord always blesses those 
 who help the poor, for I have proved it many 
 a time. 
 
 In July Emma Jane, my little daughter, was 
 taken very ill and died on the 13th. 
 
 We had a good crop of grain, so that it re- 
 quired ten men to cradle and bind it. 
 
140 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Utah in 1862 was knocking for admission 
 at the portals of the Federal Union, having 
 completed the telegraph line in the fall of 1861 . 
 
 On January 6, 1862, mass meetings were 
 held throughout the Territory to elect dele- 
 gates to the state convention to be held at 
 Salt Lake City on the 20th. I was one of the 
 delegates selected from Davis county to this 
 convention. Despite every favorable indica- 
 tion Utah's efforts for statehood during 1862 
 failed of success. 
 
 On January 24, a daughter was born to my 
 wife, Isabella G., and we gave her the name 
 of Rachel. 
 
 At the April Conference I was chosen and 
 set apart as Bishop of the Kaysville ward, 
 Davis county. This necessitated my living 
 in the city, therefore I bought some lots in the 
 city and built a house on them. 
 
 On July 3, 1862, a son was born to my 
 wife Sarah M., and we gave him the name of 
 Charles Martin. 
 
 That summer I finished the erection of the 
 Kaysville meeting house. 
 
 Having two sons now who were large 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 141 
 
 enough to drive a team, I kept the farm and 
 made some improvements on it; I, with the 
 boys' help, planted an orchard, built a good 
 barn, did a great deal of fencing, and built 
 several stables and sheds for the animals, 
 for I always desired to take good care of 
 everything and not let anything suffer or let 
 anything go to waste. 
 
 On August 2, Rosa Ann Hudson and I 
 were married in Salt Lake City, Daniel H. 
 Wells officiating. 
 
 On December 8, a son was born to my 
 wife Caroline C. ; we named him Heber. 
 
 On January 25, 1863, a daughter was born 
 to my wife Sarah B., whom we named Annie 
 Barnes. 
 
 That summer, besides making more im- 
 provements on the farm, I bought and operat- 
 ed a reaper and mowing machine, which cost 
 $1,000. This being quite a novelty in Utah, a 
 great many people came to see them work. 
 Wheat was $4.00 a bushel. I had planted the 
 first alfalfa seed (on the farm) that was ever 
 planted in Utah, and some of it still grows 
 on the old farm. 
 
142 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 
 
 In August President Brigham Young and 
 his counselors came and took dinner with us, 
 on their way up to Bear Lake. Our little 
 son, who was a namesake of Heber C. Kim- 
 ball, was very sick at this time and Brother 
 Kimball blessed him and told his mother that 
 he could not recover, which prophecy came 
 true, for on September 9, his spirit passed away. 
 
 On October 21 a son was born to my wife 
 Isabella G., and we called him Samuel. 
 
 On November 11 a son was born to my 
 wife, Rosa H., and we named him George 
 Willard. 
 
 I gave a large party on Christmas day to 
 all the widows, orphans and the poor of Kays- 
 ville over which ward I was presiding, and 
 they seemed to appreciate it very much. We 
 had a very enjoyable time. 
 
 On the 1st of January, 1864, my wife Sar- 
 ah M. was taken sick with a severe pain in 
 her side and breast causing her much distress. 
 Everything that could be done for her relief 
 and comfort was done, but when the disease 
 developed, it proved to be a cancer of the 
 worst kind. In April she requested me to take 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 143 
 
 her to Kaysville, which I did and my wife 
 Caroline tenderly cared for her. 
 
 On March 1 I received a certificate of life 
 membership in the Deseret Agricultural and 
 Manufacturing Society of Utah, of which 
 membership I was always proud. 
 
 In May President Young sent me an invita- 
 tion to accompany himself and some of the 
 apostles on a trip to Bear Lake, which I ac- 
 cepted. After my return, Sarah M. grew 
 much worse. 
 
 On July 28 a son was born to my wife Caro- 
 line C, to whom we gave the name of Joseph. 
 
 Death came to the relief of my wife Sarah 
 M. on October 25, 1864. This was a great 
 blow to us all, for in her we lost our best 
 counselor and peacemaker, a true wife and 
 loving mother. 
 
 How true it is that 
 
 We live in deeds, not years — 
 In thoughts, not breaths — 
 In feelings, not in figures 
 On a dial. 
 
 She was true and faithful to the principles 
 
144 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 of the everlasting gospel to the end of her 
 mortal life, and is gone to await the resurrec- 
 tion of the just, who have gone before her. 
 May her children emulate her worth to their 
 latest generation! She was a member of our 
 Relief Society, in which capacity she was 
 greatly missed. She was laid to rest in the 
 Kaysville cemetery. The following verses were 
 composed by my wife Sarah B. for the conso- 
 lation of her children : 
 
 In this life thy soul was weary, 
 But now thy spirit is at rest; 
 
 And we hope with joy to meet you, 
 With the assembly of the just. 
 
 To us thy memory is ever dear, 
 
 Thy kindness stamped upon our hearts; 
 
 And we hope with joy to meet you, 
 Where we never more shall part. 
 
 I was very busy with Church duties, and 
 besides, the work of being Bishop I had much 
 other business to attend to; nevertheless, with 
 the help of the Lord and my sons, I improved 
 the farms on which part of the family lived. 
 In company with Brother Young I made a trip 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 145 
 
 to Bear Lake Valley, Idaho, where the Saints 
 were founding new settlements. During this 
 year the Perpetual Emigration Fund com- 
 pany sent 170 wagons, 1,717 oxen, and 277 
 men to the Missouri River after the immi- 
 grants who were too poor to obtain their own 
 transportation. 
 
 COPY OF A PATRIARCHAL BLESSING, 
 
 Given at Kaysville, February 20, 1865, by 
 JohH Young, Patriarch, on the head of Chris- 
 topher Layton, son of Samuel and Isabel 
 Wheeler Layton. Born at Thorncut, Bedford- 
 shire, England, March 8, 1821. 
 
 Brother Christopher, I now lay my hands 
 upon your head to bless you. I confirm all 
 former blessings which you have received. 
 You have embraced the gospel of salvation in 
 your youthful days with an honest heart and 
 a full determination to live the life of the 
 righteous and be gathered up with the Saints ; 
 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the 
 people of the Lord than to enjoy the pleasures 
 of the world for a season ; for you have great 
 respect unto the recompense of your reward. 
 11 
 
146 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 The Lord has had His eye upon you all the 
 days of your life and He has preserved you 
 while the shafts of death have flown on either 
 side, and I feel to bless you in the name of 
 the Lord and say you shall be blessed from this 
 time henceforth and forever, for you desire to 
 do good, therefore good shall be given you: 
 you desire to help build up the kingdom on the 
 earth, therefore you shall be built up. You 
 are a lawful heir to the priesthood which you 
 shall hold a fullness of in the own due time of 
 the Lord. You are of the blood of Israel and 
 one of those who knew the joyful sound of 
 the fullness of the everlasting gospel and the 
 blessings of the fathers, even Abraham, Isaac, 
 and Jacob, shall rest upon your head. You 
 shall be a blessing to your father's house and 
 to your forefathers; you shall be a blessing 
 to all you are associated with. You shall have 
 power to govern and control yourself accord- 
 ing to the holy order and honor your holy 
 priesthood, which you shall delight in doing. 
 You shall be a blessing to your family and 
 have power to control all that are under your 
 jurisdiction. You shall have wives and chil- 
 dren and a numerous posterity upon the moun- 
 tains of Israel and they shall be blessed in 
 their generation — and to your increase there 
 shall be no end. You shall have houses and 
 lands, flocks and herds, and the blessings of 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 147 
 
 the heavens shall be upon your fields and your 
 gardens and upon your vineyards, for this is 
 the heritage of the sons of Jacob, and your 
 name shall be honorable in the midst of the 
 elders of Israel. As you grow in years you 
 shall grow in knowledge, and your mind 
 shall expand to comprehend the great things 
 of the kingdom of God. The gifts and graces 
 of the Spirit shall rest upon you and you shall 
 be filled with wisdom and council and decision 
 and be quick to comprehend; have power to 
 officiate in your high and holy calling like a 
 mighty man of God and be a father to the 
 fatherless and plead the widow's cause. You 
 shall have friends upon the right hand and upon 
 the left, and hold important stations in the 
 Church of Jesus Christ and be valiant for the 
 truth. The gifts of the gospel shall rest upon 
 you and be given unto you and you shall have 
 power with the heavens and mighty faith in 
 Jesus and have power to administer in holy 
 things and to the sick and to the afflicted and 
 they shall be blest and healed under your ad- 
 ministration. The spirit of discernment shall 
 rest upon you, you shall have power to detect 
 every spirit and be clothed upon with the pow- 
 er of the holy priesthood and your tongue 
 shall be like the pen of the ready writer and 
 you may be called by the voice of the Spirit 
 through His servants to bear your testimony 
 
148 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 and your words will be quick and powerful, 
 and the wicked shall tremble before you and 
 the righteous rejoice at the sound of your 
 voice. I seal upon you the blessing of health 
 and life and say the destroyer shall not have 
 power over your tabernacle and no enemy shall 
 have power over you and not a hair of vour 
 head shall ever fall by the hand of an enemy, 
 but you shall be preserved on the earth as long 
 as life is sweet unto you. You can live to see 
 the redemption of Zion and be gathered up 
 with the pure in heart. Your ears shall yet 
 hear the sound that Babylon is fallen, for you 
 shall see the downfall of nations and empires 
 and the wonderful works of the Lord in the 
 dispensation in which you live and see Israel 
 gathered and assist in the mighty work. It 
 shall be your meat and drink to do good and 
 help build up the kingdom and all the blessings 
 of the new and everlasting covenant I seal 
 upon your head, and many shall rise up and 
 call you blessed in consequence of your firm- 
 ness and perseverance in well doing. You 
 shall have power to secure to yourself through 
 your faithfulness an everlasting inheritance 
 in the new heavens and new earth, when all 
 things shall be celestialized. You shall be 
 preserved on earth in your outgoings and in- 
 comings and what you put your hands to, shall 
 prosper. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 149 
 
 All these blessings I seal upon you because 
 you are entitled to them, and I say, let your 
 heart be comforted for your name is written in 
 heaven and you shall have power to accom- 
 plish a great and glorious work on the earth 
 and lay a sure foundation for a time to come, 
 which you will by keeping the celestial law, 
 therefore, celestial blessings shall rest upon 
 your head. You shall be a savior upon Mount 
 Zion and have power to gather round you 
 your posterity, which shall be numerous, and 
 you shall be associated with the great and the 
 good. You shall ever have a fullness of joy 
 and your pathway shall shine brighter and 
 brighter unto the perfect day and your feet 
 shall stand upon a sure foundation. You shall 
 have power to keep hold of the iron rod and 
 no wicked men or devils shall have dominion 
 over you. All these blessings are yours upon 
 condition of your faithfulness and perseverance 
 and endurance to the end ; and I seal upon you 
 a holy resurrection and say, you shall come 
 forth clothed upon with your priestly garments 
 and the power of the holy priesthood to offici- 
 ate in the great work of the restoration of your 
 forefathers and stand upon Mount Zion and 
 have a fullness of joy that you have made 
 your escape from the pollutions of the world 
 and that you are numbered among the re- 
 deemed. I bless you and say your heart shall 
 
150 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 be comforted and you shall have dreams and 
 visions and the angels of mercy shall be with 
 you to buoy you up and give you power and 
 influence and you shall be a mighty man in 
 the Zion of God on the earth. All these bless- 
 ings I seal upon your head and all that your 
 heart desires in righteousness before your 
 Heavenly Father shall rest upon you, and I do 
 it according to the holy order and sealing 
 power which is committed to the servants of 
 the Lord on the earth to bind for heaven, and 
 say all is yours and you are Christ's, and I say 
 unto you live forever in the name of Jesus. 
 Amen. 
 
 (L. A. Littlefield, reporter.) 
 
 On January 7, 1865, Septima Simms and I 
 were married, at Salt Lake City, by Brother 
 Heber C. Kimball. 
 
 Attended annual Conference at Salt Lake 
 City and on the 10th of April, a special Confer- 
 ence was held at which we voted to erect a 
 telegraph line through the settlements. About 
 this time there was some trouble with the In- 
 dians driving away stock, and some of the 
 Saints were killed and scalped. 
 
 Our Territory, as well as the rest of the 
 states and territories, were saddened on April 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 151 
 
 15 by the news of the assassination of Presi- 
 dent Lincoln. 
 
 In June a treaty was made between the 
 superintendent of the Indian affairs and the 
 principal Indian chiefs, Brigham Young and 
 our leading men being present. 
 
 On September 4 my wife Sarah B. gave 
 birth to a daughter whom we called Sarah 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 In August I accompanied President Brig- 
 ham Young and a party of brethren on a mis- 
 sionary trip to Cache Valley. 
 
 On November 7 a daughter was born to my 
 wife, Isabella G. and we gave her the name of 
 Lucy Isabella. 
 
 President Young issued a circular to the 
 Bishops in the Church, calling upon us to as- 
 sist in erecting the telegraph line; and I sent 
 teams and men; also furnished many of the 
 poles. 
 
 On December 28 a little son was born to my 
 wife, Rosa Ann H., to whom we gave the 
 name of Albert Thomas. 
 
 In January, 1866, I bought a large train of 
 freight wagons and mules, and a complete out- 
 
152 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 fit of cooking utensils. This had been a very 
 cold, long winter, but early in the spring I 
 fitted up the best of the wagons and mules, 
 and loaded them with oats for United States 
 horses, gave them into the charge of Henry 
 Foxley, and sent them to Fort Bridger. After 
 they returned and were rested I again loaded 
 the wagons, this time with flour for Montana, 
 where it was worth $16.00 a hundred. My two 
 oldest boys, Christopher and Hyrum, were 
 now 13 and 12 years old, and were very man- 
 ly and always anxious to do any work well ; so 
 I sent them on this trip each, driving a six- 
 mule team, William Galbraith being in charge 
 of the train. In two months they returned 
 safely to us again and the teamsters gave a 
 good account of them. Their mothers and I 
 felt very grateful to the Lord who had brought 
 our boys back to us well and hearty. I put 
 the men to work, some to hauling telegraph 
 poles from the canyon ; some hauling rock for 
 the Salt Lake Temple. 
 
 On April 12 my wife Caroline C. gave birth 
 to a daughter, to whom we gave the name of 
 Caroline. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 153 
 
 On May 19 I was appointed brigade quarter- 
 master of First Brigade, Nauvoo Legion (the 
 militia of Utah Territory), which added some- 
 what to my other duties. 
 
 William Jennings and I built a grist mill in 
 Kaysville, costing about $30,000, which was 
 quite an undertaking at this time with so many 
 other responsibilities. But the mill was a much 
 needed enterprise and proved to be a benefit to 
 the farmers, for we bought grain for cash 
 (money was rather scarce in those days) and 
 I always took delight in helping an honest man 
 to be independent. 
 
 In the fall I discharged some of the men 
 who were hauling for me and sold most of the 
 mules and wagons to the settlers around me, 
 and waited for the pay until they could earn 
 it. In this way I helped them to get a start. 
 Of course, sometimes I was imposed upon 
 and lost by trusting them, but the Lord blessed 
 me because I trusted in Him. Many times 
 through life I have seen the fulfillment of the 
 blessing which the Prophet Joseph Smith gave 
 me in Nauvoo. 
 
 I sent teams during the winter to haul tith- 
 
154 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 ing from the northern settlements to Salt Lake 
 City. 
 
 In August I was elected as a representative 
 from Davis and Morgan counties to the Legis- 
 lature of Utah Territory, but it did not con- 
 vene until December 9. 
 
 In January, 1867, the Legislature petitioned 
 Congress to repeal the anti-polygamy law of 
 1862, and the General Assembly of Deseret 
 prayed for admission into the Union as a State. 
 
 By the middle of January five hundred miles 
 of telegraph wire had been stretched, extend- 
 ing from Cache Valley in the north to "Dixie" 
 in the south. An office had been established 
 in Kaysville in a store room on my lot oppo- 
 site the meeting house, with Belle Thompson 
 as operator (she made her home at my house). 
 This telegraph had cost $150 a mile. 
 
 I was one of those who undertook an ex- 
 pensive work in building a good wagon road 
 from the mouth of Weber Canyon to Straw- 
 berry Creek. We built a bridge at the mouth 
 and had to blast through solid rock in some 
 places. Two years later the overland railroad 
 passed over this same road. It was held as a 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 155 
 
 toll road to defray the expenses. The United 
 States mail also passed over it. On March 
 1 I received four shares in this Weber Can- 
 yon Road Company, representing $200. 
 
 In August I was elected again as a repre- 
 sentative to the Legislature. 
 
 I bought a mule train (of about 20 wagons 
 and 80 mules) from William Crayton who had 
 just returned from California, and loaded these 
 with flour for Fort Bridger; then after they 
 returned I sent them to southern California 
 for a quartz mill, which I sent to Helena, 
 Montana. 
 
 I attended the October Conference, which 
 was the first meeting held in the large Taber- 
 nacle, during which Conference Joseph F. 
 Smith was chosen to fill the vacancy in the 
 Council of the Twelve Apostles caused by the 
 apostasy of Amasa M. Lyman. 
 
 At this Conference also 183 missionaries 
 were called to go with their families and 
 strengthen the settlements in southern Utah. 
 
 This was the origin of the famous "Muddy 
 Mission" — which was afterwards abandoned 
 because it was in Nevada and because of the 
 
156 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 unhealthy climate. I, being much interested 
 in this move, helped all I could with outfits, 
 etc. ; furnished one family with teams, wagon 
 and all else necessary for the trip. 
 
 On November 2 a little son was born to my 
 wife, Rosa Ann H., and we named him Heber 
 Chase. 
 
 On November 21 the first number of the 
 Deseret Evening News was issued in Salt Lake 
 City with Geo. Q. Cannon as editor, which 
 publication I have taken ever since. 
 
 On December 24 I had the brass band come 
 to our house and my wife Caroline gave them 
 an excellent supper, and we all had an enjoy- 
 able time. xAfter they were gone and we were 
 settling down for the night, my wife Septima 
 S. presented us with a little daughter, whom 
 we named Amy Caroline. 
 
 On January 13, 1868, the Utah Legislature 
 convened. During its session the word "Great" 
 was dropped from both Salt Lake and the 
 City; Richland county was changed to Rich 
 county, and Morgan City was incorporated. 
 While in Salt Lake City I made my home with 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 157 
 
 Sister Rachel Grant (the mother of Apostle 
 Heber J. Grant) . 
 
 On January 21 a son was born to my wife, 
 Caroline C, to whom we gave the name of 
 Frank Gunnell. 
 
 Attended annual Conference in Salt Lake 
 City in April, and found on returning that 
 my wife, Isabella G., had given birth, on April 
 9, to a daughter. We named her Jane. 
 
 In June I attended a mass meeting at Salt 
 Lake, called by President Young, in which we 
 passed resolutions to assist the Union Pacific 
 and Central Pacific Railroads through the Ter- 
 ritory and also to construct a branch road 
 from Ogden to Salt Lake City called the Utah 
 Central, of which I was elected a director. 
 
 Attended the funeral of Heber C. Kimball, 
 first counselor to Brigham Young, at Salt Lake 
 City, on June 24. 
 
 This year the grasshoppers came in droves 
 and ate up our crops, which was quite discour- 
 aging ; but we put our trust in the Lord and He 
 sent the sea-gulls to rid us of the pests, and we 
 were very thankful for our deliverance. 
 
 On October 16 Zion's Co-operative Mer- 
 
158 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 cantile Institution commenced operations in 
 Salt Lake City, with Brother Brigham as its 
 president. Shortly afterwards, "co-op." stores 
 were opened in most of the settlements. I had 
 one started in Kaysville as I was one of the 
 directors. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 159 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 YEARS OF EMPIRE-BUILDING. 
 
 Dry Farming on the "Ridge" — Railroading and 
 Merchandising — Perilous Trip on Salt Lake — 
 Happy and Prosperous Years. 
 
 IN the spring of 1869 I took up land north 
 of Kaysville (known as the range or sand 
 ridge). Some of my intimate friends asked 
 me if I had gone crazy to imagine I could 
 farm that sandy desert. Others told me it was 
 simply ridiculous, I would only waste my time 
 and lose my seed grain. To be sure, the wind 
 at times was terrible and the sand cut off and 
 destroyed much of the grain, but I never be- 
 lieved in giving up easily, and I persevered 
 until I made a success of it, and today it blos- 
 soms as the rose, and is covered with many 
 comfortable homes, surrounded by lovely or- 
 
160 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 chards, good gardens, fine pastures, hay and 
 grain lands. 
 
 May 17 the first ground was broken by Pres- 
 ident Young for the building of the U. C. R. R. 
 The weather was bright and beautiful, and a 
 great many leading people were present. After 
 speaking and other ceremonies the assembly 
 dispersed while the band played a martial air. 
 
 No large contracts were let in the building 
 of this line, which was literally constructed by 
 our people who, for pay, took stock in the 
 road. I was one of the first to take contracts 
 by which I furnished timbers for bridges and 
 trestle work, etc. 
 
 On June 20 I accompanied President Young 
 and other brethren to Bear Lake Valley, where 
 the Saints were organized into a stake, with 
 David P. Kimball as president. 
 
 On August 25 a son was born to my wife, 
 Rosa Ann H., and we gave him the name of 
 Ernest. 
 
 In the fall I built a large white house with 
 granite corners near the grist mill in Kays- 
 ville. I now owned eight houses here. Being 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 161 
 
 desirous that my children should attend a good 
 school, I moved one of my families to Salt 
 Lake City that they might have educational 
 advantages. 
 
 On January 10, 1870, the last spike in the 
 Utah Central Railroad was driven by President 
 Young at the depot grounds in Salt Lake City. 
 It had been now eight months since this road 
 was commenced. The weather was cold and 
 frosty, the sun being behind a fog or cloud for 
 the most of the day. A little after noon three 
 guns were fired, which was a signal for the 
 raising of flags throughout the city and the as- 
 sembling of the people to witness the ceremony. 
 Before 2 o'clock the train bringing invited 
 guests from Ogden and the north came up to 
 the end of the track amidst the cheers of the 
 assembled multitude of fully 15,000 people. 
 
 Seated on an open platform car overlooking 
 the scene were the president, general superin- 
 tendent and other officers and directors, I 
 among the latter, also representatives from the 
 Union and Central Pacific, and other prominent 
 men. Just about 2 p. m. the sun burst through 
 the mists which had hitherto obscured it and it 
 12 
 
162 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 shone brilliantly upon the driving of the last 
 spike by President Young with an elegantly 
 chased steel mallet made for this occasion at 
 the Church blacksmith shops; the spike was 
 also of home-made iron. 
 
 After the ceremony a salute of 37 guns was 
 fired — one for each mile of road. We had 
 music furnished by the bands of Captain Crox- 
 all, Camp Douglas and Tenth Ward, at inter- 
 vals during the afternoon; also speeches by 
 many prominent officials and men of distinc- 
 tion ; some addresses were omitted because of 
 the coldness of the weather. All spoke of the 
 fact that this road was the only one built with- 
 out government subsidies; for every shovelful 
 of dirt had been removed by the working men 
 of Utah, and every bar of iron of the* road had 
 been placed in position by their labor. We 
 thus owned our own road. We were advised 
 not to stop where we were for as the last two 
 rails stuck out a little, that meant "go on." 
 
 At night the city was brilliantly illuminated 
 and fireworks were in various parts of the city ; 
 we had a magnificent display on Arsenal Hill. 
 A grand ball and supper at the Theater, at- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 163 
 
 tended by leading Church officials, prominent 
 merchants, both Mormon and Gentile, officers 
 from Camp Douglas, and many citizens, made 
 a fitting finale for the day's memorable pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 Our days of isolation were now forever past 
 and with our steam and electrical communica- 
 tions we could stand face to face with all the 
 good and evil that modern civilization repre- 
 sents. 
 
 On the following night another dance and 
 supper was given for the invited guests in the 
 city, and on the next night we had a grand 
 dance and excellent supper for those who had 
 worked on the railroad. All of my children 
 who were old enough went to this ball and 
 had a most enjoyable time. 
 
 On January 13 a mass meeting was held in 
 Kaysville (and also in most of the Utah settle- 
 ments) at which the ladies protested against 
 the passage of the Cullom anti-polygamy bill, 
 introduced in Congress. 
 
 On January 19 a daughter was born to my 
 wife Septima S. and we gave her the name 
 of Priscilla May. 
 
164 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 On February 12 an act was passed by the 
 legislature by which the women of Utah were 
 granted the elective franchise. 
 
 On May 1 Mary Jane Roberts and I were 
 married in Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. Wells. 
 
 Attended the funeral of Patriarch John 
 Young; also the annual Conference held on 
 May 5 to 8. 
 
 This summer the grasshoppers did much 
 damage all through the Territory, and I spent 
 much of my time in looking after my farming 
 interests. 
 
 Attended the three days' discussion between 
 Orson Pratt and Dr. John P. Newman on the 
 question, "Does the Bible sanction Polygamy ?" 
 In August, Martin Harris, then aged 88 years, 
 came to Salt Lake City, and at the Confer- 
 ence I heard him bear a faithful testimony to 
 the truth of the Book of Mormon, of which he 
 was one of the Witnesses. 
 
 On September 10 our household was visited 
 by the death angel who took the spirit of my 
 son Frank Gunnell, son of my wife Caroline. 
 We buried him in Kaysville cemetery. 
 
 The surviving members of Zion's Camp and 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 165 
 
 the Mormon Battalion had a very enjoyable 
 party at the Social Hall in the city on October 
 10, at which 32 of Z ion's Camp and 63 of the 
 Battalion boys were present. 
 
 My sons were now a great help to me, for 
 they were trusty boys and very obedient. 1 al- 
 ways tried to be a kind and affectionate father 
 and maintain my place as the head of my 
 family and they loved to obey me and seemed 
 to regard my word as law to them. The Lord 
 prospered me and I always felt to acknowledge 
 his hand in all things. He blessed me many 
 times with a far-seeing eye that I might make 
 calculations for the maintenance of my wives 
 and children and I always exhorted them to 
 thank God for all His blessings to us. 
 
 The Utah Southern R. R. Company was or- 
 ganized January 17, 1871, of which I became 
 one of the stockholders; the ground was not 
 broken for this road till the 1st of May, and 
 it was completed in September. 
 
 In the spring William Galbraith and I 
 bought a saw mill of Apostle John Taylor, sit- 
 uated in the east fork of Taylor Canyon. In 
 less than a year we moved it to Arbuckle Can- 
 
166 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 yon. I bought out Galbraith, took R. W. Bur- 
 ton and William Beasley as partners and 
 moved it back to the west fork of Taylor Can- 
 yon. I kept about 20 men at work, and as 
 cooks were very unsatisfactory, my wife, Rosa 
 A. H., did our cooking: we sawed from 7,000 
 to 10,000 feet of lumber a day ; and sold most 
 of it to the railroad company. I ran this saw- 
 mill until the fall of 1873, when I sold it to 
 Robert Burton. 
 
 August 3, 1871, a daughter was born to my 
 wife, Mary R., and we gave her the name of 
 Florence ; and on November 1 my wife Rosa 
 A. H. gave birth to a son, whom we called 
 Isaac Clarence. 
 
 This year several hundred stands of Italian 
 bees were brought into the Territory, and I 
 bought three stands from a man named Put- 
 man. The stands had an inside glass door 
 and it was a great enjoyment to watch the lit- 
 tle bees while at work. 
 
 On January 27, 1872, a son was born to my 
 wife Caroline C, and we gave him the name 
 of Frederick C. 
 
 The Utah Legislature again passed a reso- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 167 
 
 lution for the election of delegates to adopt 
 a State constitution; and asked for the admis- 
 sion of Utah into the Union. 
 
 On March 23 a little daughter came to my 
 wife, Septima S., and we named her Drucilla 
 Grace. 
 
 Court proceedings were still being continued 
 against all of our leading men. 
 
 Attended April Conference. In the spring 
 of this year President Young asked me to take 
 a herd of Church sheep, 5,000 in number, 
 which I accepted. I went to Corinne, Box 
 Elder county, and purchased a steam tug-boat 
 (then known as the "Kate Conner'*), and some 
 flat-bottomed scows; attached these to "Kate 
 Conner'" and towed them to a point near Black 
 Rock, near Salt Lake City, shipped the sheep 
 over to Antelope Island (also called Church 
 Island), then shipped about 2,000 of my own 
 sheep over, thus making 7,000 in all. This 
 business I placed in the hands of my older 
 sons and some other young men. In order to 
 fence properly, we were obliged to make sev- 
 eral trips to the Promontory for cedar posts, 
 and in some of these trips we encountered 
 
168 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OP 
 
 severe storms. On one occasion we were re- 
 turning from the Promontory, towing the 
 scows loaded with timber and posts. It was 
 oppressively hot and not a breeze stirring, 
 when suddenly the wind commenced blowing 
 and it increased in violence until the water was 
 lashed into white-capped waves, the boat 
 rocked from side to side and the flat boats 
 dragged and held the steamer down till the 
 water ran over the deck at every plunge. 
 Thinking it would be safer for the boat if the 
 scows were astern, we loosened the ropes from 
 the wheelhouses (the steamer was a side- 
 wheeler), and attached them to the stern. 
 
 During this change while the boat was reel- 
 ing from the force of the storm, a rope caught 
 my son Hyrum's foot and dragged it into the 
 paddles of the wheel, crushing it badly, and 
 crippling him for several months. 
 
 We now cast anchor but this only caused 
 the water to flow over the deck in a worse 
 manner, so we cut the flat boats loose just be- 
 fore sundown. The engineer at the first ap- 
 proach of the storm had deserted his post, and 
 crawling into his bunk, had covered his head 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 169 
 
 and lay there shivering from fear, helpless and 
 much to be pitied. With our fuel gone and 
 our engineer frightened nearly to death, our 
 boat pitching in all directions, we could not 
 sleep but watched anxiously all night. Some- 
 times we would sing a hymn, and often we 
 united in prayer, for I felt that our Heavenly 
 Father alone could save us. 
 
 About daylight the anchor-cable broke and 
 we were adrift and at the mercy of the furi- 
 ous waves and wind. I thought we must get 
 up steam and try to control the boat, so I spoke 
 to the engineer, but with a shiver he answered : 
 "The fire is out — the wood-boats are gone — 
 oh — I can't start a fire — oh — oh." Leaving 
 him to his despair, we emptied our coal oil 
 on some cotton waste and soon had a roaring 
 fire, but in order to keep it going we were 
 obliged to burn anything we could. We burned 
 barrels, tables, chairs, for I thought I could get 
 another boat but not another set of boys like 
 these. So with two at the pilot wheel and tak- 
 ing turns at engineering, with the help of the 
 Lord we kept the boat right side up and land- 
 ed safely. 
 
170 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 I had charge of the sheep and island for 
 five years and we had many exciting adven- 
 tures and also some accidents, but no lives were 
 lost and many are the good pleasant times we 
 had. At shearing-time our girls and boys, 
 with one of my wives to take charge of affairs, 
 would go over to the island. Also at haying 
 time the young folks enjoyed the pleasure of 
 these trips. 
 
 On one occasion we were bringing a load 
 of fat sheep to Salt Lake for mutton, when 
 the boat was caught in the floating ice, which, 
 coming from Bear River and Jordan River, 
 had met and formed a "jam/' from which we 
 were unable to extricate ourselves for 48 hours. 
 The pounding of the ice on the sides of our 
 boat caused it to leak. We all united in call- 
 ing upon the Lord in our extremity, and my 
 wives and children who were on shore and 
 could see our peril, also prayed for help. A 
 wind arose which drove the ice away so we 
 were enabled to reach shore, althpugh we 
 were obliged to go back to the island first, 
 then the next morning the ice being gone we 
 easily crossed and were received with much re- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 171 
 
 joicing by those dear ones who had been so 
 anxious for our safety. 
 
 A great deal of my wool was taken to the 
 Co-op. Woolen Factory at Brigham City, where 
 it was exchanged for flannel for dresses, jeans 
 for boys' clothes, linsey for sheets, yarn for 
 stockings, etc. This mill in 1877 was burned 
 down but in less than six months was rebuilt. 
 
 In the summer I moved part of the family 
 to the saw mill. Several of my boys had now 
 reached manhood, and as they were honest 
 and industrious, I could trust them with vari- 
 ous branches of my business, and they were 
 always loyal to my will. I also was blessed 
 with good sons-in-law and they could always 
 be depended on, which was a great help to me. 
 
 In June the First Presidency issued a cir- 
 cular, calling on the people to raise money to 
 bring poor Saints to Utah. The sum of 
 $14,000 was raised. 
 
 William Jennings and I built a grist mill at 
 Kaysville, and Thos. Bayanton was our miller, 
 while my son Christopher was receiver and 
 bookkeeper. 
 
 In the fall I resigned my position as director 
 
172 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 of the railroad, for my duties were many and 
 kept a great many young men employed in 
 various ways, for whenever I found a man try- 
 ing to help himself I employed him at some- 
 thing, but I always despised an idler. 
 
 PATRIARCHAL BLESSING, 
 
 By C. W. Hyde, Patriarch, upon the head 
 of Christopher, son of Samuel Lay ton and Isa- 
 bella Wheeler, born at Thorncut, Bedfordshire, 
 England, on March 8, 182 1. 
 
 Dear Brother Layton, I place my hands 
 upon your head and seal upon you a father's 
 blessing which shall be sealed and recorded in 
 the book of life for your good ; and great shall 
 be thy wisdom and knowledge before the Lord 
 thy God, and inasmuch as thou shalt be hum- 
 ble, the Lord shall give thee great wisdom that 
 no one shall excel thee ; thou shalt have coun- 
 sel and wisdom from on high and the spirit 
 of prophecy shall be given to comprehend the 
 mysteries of the kingdom of God, for thou art 
 a descendant of Joseph and a lawful heir to 
 the fullness of the priesthood, and wives, and 
 a great kingdom upon the earth; thou shalt 
 lead many to Zion with songs of everlasting 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 173 
 
 joy, and thine inheritance shall be beautiful 
 and thou shalt converse with many of the holy 
 prophets and help to redeem the dead till thou 
 art satisfied. It is thy privilege to stand up- 
 on the earth till the coming of the Messiah. 
 Thou shalt sit in council with the general as- 
 sembly of the First-born, and shalt partake of 
 all her glories and reign as king of kings and 
 be crowned with eternal lives to God and the 
 Lamb forever and ever. Amen. 
 Kaysville, November 24. 1872. 
 
 Early in the spring of 1873 President Brig- 
 ham Young called a number of missionaries 
 from different parts of the Territory to plant 
 colonies in Arizona. Of these, nine young 
 men, E. C. Phillips, Joseph Robbins, Elijah 
 Laycock, John Seaman, Joseph Woolley, Jo- 
 seph Adams, William Smith, William Dufrin 
 and Ed Bodley, were called from Kaysville, 
 and on March 8 all met in Salt Lake City at 
 the Tabernacle to receive instructions from the 
 authorities. Soon after they started southward 
 in organized companies. 
 
 They arrived at the Little Colorado River 
 May 22, after an arduous journey; by May 
 28 the river was dry and word was sent to 
 
174 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 President Young of the barrenness of the 
 country, and the many obstacles to be over- 
 come ; and on July 22 they were recalled to 
 Utah, having gained nothing but experience. 
 
 My daughters, as well as my sons, were now 
 able to help; one — Eliza Ann M. — taught 
 school, and one — Selina C. — manipulated the 
 telegraph instrument at Kaysville — also taught 
 the younger girls. 
 
 Salt Lake City was first lighted by gas dur- 
 ing this summer. f "]3 
 
 This year I began taking up land on what 
 was known as the "Big Range" and deter- 
 mined to thoroughly try "dry-farming" which 
 was a new experience in this place ; and many 
 people in Kaysville and Davis county today 
 thank me for making a success of it. 
 
 On October 8, a daughter was born to my 
 wife, Mary J. R., and we named her Ella. 
 
 On November 17 my daughter Selina C. 
 was married to Edward C. Phillips, by Daniel 
 H. Wells, at Salt Lake City. 
 
 Attended a grand celebration at Provo, No- 
 vember 25, on the event of the Utah Southern 
 Railway being completed to that city. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 175 
 
 On December 8 my daughter, Eliza Ann 
 M., was married to Joseph G. Allred ; also my 
 son, Hyrum John, was married to Mary L. 
 Egbert, Daniel H. Wells officiating at both 
 ceremonies. In the evening we had a nice re- 
 ception at Brother Egbert's residence. Thus 
 the year closed joyously and happily. 
 
 During the year 1874 the Utah Northern 
 Railway was opened from Ogden to Franklin, 
 Idaho. There was a general religious move- 
 ment among the Lamanites, hundreds of In- 
 dians being baptized into the Church. 
 
 On January 18 my son Christopher was mar- 
 ried to Jane Bodley, by Daniel H. Wells, in 
 Salt Lake City. 
 
 My wife Rosa Ann H. presented me with a 
 daughter on February 2, whom we named 
 Mary Isabell. 
 
 Senator Geo. Q. Cannon presented a memor- 
 ial to Congress on March 2, asking for State- 
 hood, but was again denied. 
 
 In April 1 a box containing valuable records 
 was deposited in the wall of the St. George 
 Temple and work was pushed towards its com- 
 pletion with all possible speed. 
 
176 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 On May 3, George D. Watt of Kaysville 
 was excommunicated from the Church for 
 apostasy. 
 
 I went down to Salt Lake City on the 6th 
 of May, and early on the morning of the 7th a 
 little son came to my wife, Caroline C. We 
 named him Chauncey West. Conference con- 
 vened at 10 o'clock and continued till the 10th. 
 The principal subject was the "United Order" 
 which was organized with Brigham Young 
 as president. 
 
 On May 12 my wife, Septima S., gave birth 
 to a little son, whom we called Oscar George. 
 
 This summer was remarkable for much light- 
 ning, thunder and rain storms. 
 
 Pioneer Day was celebrated by a grand ju- 
 venile jubilee in the large Tabernacle at Salt 
 Lake City, at which time 4,000 Sunday School 
 children did the singing. 
 
 Besides my duties as Bishop I farmed over 
 200 acres, ran the saw-mill and grist-mill and 
 had the care of from 7,000 to 8,000 sheep. 
 This kept my sons and sons-in-law employed: 
 neither were my daughters idle, for some of 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 177 
 
 them taught school, others were in the tele- 
 graph offices and all of them did their own 
 dressmaking. We all worked together in unity 
 as one family, and always stood by each other 
 under all circumstances. If one had a trial or 
 disappointment we all sympathized, or if one 
 had a blessing or pleasure, we all rejoiced to- 
 gether. I love now to recall the many social 
 chats we often had, when I would tell them 
 of my early life, how I had managed to get 
 along; advise them how they could help them- 
 selves through life; how ready they all were 
 to accept my counsel and act upon it. These 
 were very happy years although the responsi- 
 bilities of my position, as a father and a Bish- 
 op, were great and manifold. I feel to praise 
 the Lord that He has allowed me to see my 
 children grow up honest, straightforward and 
 industrious ; willing to make sacrifices if need 
 be for their religion's sake. 
 
 In October the Agricultural and Manufac- 
 turing Association held a fair at Salt Lake 
 City, at which I entered a number of sheep, 
 cows, calves, and a Durham bull. I received 
 two diplomas for finest sheep ; also diploma for 
 is 
 
178 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Durham cow — Annie — and her calf. The 
 award for best Durham bull was a silver cup, 
 gold lined, which was given me. I gave my 
 wife Rosa H. my diploma for the cow and 
 calf, my diploma for best bucks to my daugh- 
 ter Eliza A. M., and my diploma for best ewes 
 to my daughter Selina C 
 
 On November 5 we had the pleasure of wel- 
 coming my brother, John Layton, and his 
 daughter, Mary Ann, to our home. They had 
 left England with 155 other Saints under the 
 direction of William N. Fife, on the steamship 
 "Wyoming," on September 14. 
 
 March 25, 1875, the founder of Kaysville, 
 William Kay, died at Ogden, and a large 
 crowd of us went up to the funeral. 
 
 In April the trial of Geo. Reynolds for polyg- 
 amy was commenced. This was a test case and 
 was watched closely by all. When he was sen- 
 tenced to imprisonment the case was appealed 
 and he was granted bail for $10,000. 
 
 This spring I bought a flour mill at Payson, 
 Utah county. I obtained a good miller and 
 sent my son William to take charge of it, but 
 it was so far away from home that I did not 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 179 
 
 keep it very long, but sold it for a good price 
 in about a year. 
 
 Having a large family of my own to provide 
 for, and keeping so many men employed, 
 whose families needed supplies, I thought it 
 better to buy goods by wholesale, so I built a 
 large mercantile house and ran that business 
 for a number of years. 
 
 On June 10, the first Young Men's Mutual 
 Improvement Association was organized and 
 the work was made universal throughout all 
 the settlements of Saints. 
 
 On June 12, my wife Rosa Ann H. gave 
 birth to a daughter, and we named her Jean- 
 etta. 
 
 On July 10 Martin Harris, one of the Three 
 Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, died at 
 Clarkston, Cache county, being 92 years old. 
 
 On July 17 President Brigham Young, his 
 counselors and many others renewed their cov- 
 enants by baptism, and this example was fol- 
 lowed by the Saints generally. Every one of 
 my family over eight years old renewed their 
 covenants in this way. 
 
 In September I attended the funeral, at Salt 
 
180 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Lake City, of George A. Smith, President 
 Young's counselor. 
 
 I moved the Church sheep from the island 
 into Southern Utah for the winter to a place 
 called Cove Fort. 
 
 At a meeting of the stockholders of the 
 Zion's Co-operative Mercantile Institution, held 
 at Salt Lake City on October 5, I was duly 
 elected to the office of director of said insti- 
 tution, which position I held for a year. 
 
 At the October conference, the Tabernacle 
 was dedicated, and a great number of mis- 
 sionaries were called. 
 
 In December the ladies of Utah sent a peti- 
 tion to Congress with 23,626 signatures, ask- 
 ing for Statehood and the repeal of the anti- 
 polygamy laws. 
 
 On December 28 a son was born to my wife, 
 Mary J. R., and we named him Levi Brigham. 
 
 The year 1876 was noted for the settlements 
 of Saints in lower Utah, Arizona and Mexico. 
 In February a number of missionaries were 
 called to go to Arizona, my son Hyrum among 
 them. They traveled by teams and on March 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 181 
 
 21 arrived at Little Colorado, and founded col- 
 onies. 
 
 In April the new Z. C. M. I. building on 
 Main St., Salt Lake City, was opened for busi- 
 ness. 
 
 I attended the annual Conference from April 
 6 to April 10.* 
 
 On May 16, 1876, the Y. L. M. I. A. was 
 organized at Kaysville with Ada Williams as 
 president, Eliza A. Allred ; first counselor, and 
 Helen Hyde, second counselor,; Mary Ann 
 
 *"A disaster of an exceptional nature occurred 
 at Salt Lake City the 1 day before the opening of 
 this conference. It was the explosion of 40 tons 
 of blasting and gunpowder, stored in four stone 
 magazines located on Arsenal Hill. About 5 
 o'clock in the afternoon, every one was startled 
 by two terrific reports, almost simultaneously; 
 after the lapse of a few seconds, two other con- 
 vulsions followed equally deafening. In a mo- 
 ment missiles whistled and tore through the air 
 over almost the entire city, while houses tottered 
 and trembled, roofs, walls and ceilings were rent, 
 windows smashed and hundreds of persons pros- 
 trated on the ground. Dense volumes of smoke 
 hovered over the spot, thus indicating what had 
 happened. The explosion was distinctly heard 
 and felt at Farmington, 15 miles north, and even 
 caused the vibration of buildings at Kaysville, 
 5 miles further." — Whitney's History of Utah. 
 
182 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Layton, secretary, and Selina Layton Phillips, 
 assistant secretary. 
 
 The sheep which I had taken into Southern 
 Utah had fared badly during the winter, and I 
 returned them back to the Church ; in order to 
 return the proper number I was obliged to 
 make up losses from my own herd and conse- 
 quently I had very few left. This was quite a 
 loss to me, but I would not let the Church 
 property suffer. 
 
 In June the case of George Reynolds was 
 again argued on appeal before the supreme 
 court of the Territory, and in July the case was 
 again appealed to the supreme court of the 
 United States. 
 
 At the Conference in October, John W. 
 Young, son of the President, was sustained as 
 first counselor, in place of George A. Smith. 
 
 On October 7 my wife Septima S. gave birth 
 to a son, whom we named Harry Wilford. 
 
 The Brigham Young Academy was founded 
 on October 16 at Provo. 
 
 On October 26 a son was born to my wife, 
 Caroline C, and we gave him the name of 
 Horace. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 183 
 
 This fall I bought a thorough bred Norman 
 stallion and ten mares from Logan and Wil- 
 son of Missouri, and raised some of the finest 
 stock in the Territory. I also oversaw the 
 planting and harvesting of the largest amount 
 of small grain ever raised in Utah. I was 
 one of the first to cut grain with a header. 
 This grain was raised on the Sand Ridge by 
 what was known as dry farming. 
 
 I kept on buying more arid land until my 
 sons and I owned about a thousand acres. We 
 also owned three headers and a thresher and 
 other machinery for this work. 
 
 I distributed dry farm grain throughout the 
 county and assisted men to take up this dry 
 land and to raise grain, for I told them that 
 "where there is good sagebrush, grain will 
 grow." 
 
 On March 4, 1877, my daughter, Martha 
 Alice C, was married to James T. Walker, at 
 Salt Lake City, Daniel H. Wells officiating. 
 
 In the later part of March, Apostle Joseph F. 
 Smith and wife, my wife Mary J. R. and I, in 
 company with Presidents Young and Wells, 
 some of the apostles and leading elders, started 
 
184 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 by team for St. George to attend Conference 
 and dedicate the Temple at that place. 
 
 Conference convened on April 6 continuing 
 three days. President Young addressed the 
 Conference at five of the six meetings, dilating 
 upon the duties of all officers, urging them to 
 faithfully perform the sacred tasks allotted 
 them. The second day of conference Presi- 
 dent Young took the initial step of the impor- 
 tant work of more thoroughly organizing the 
 stakes of Zion, first setting in order the St. 
 George stake, and after that the others 
 throughout the Church. A number of mis- 
 sionaries were also called. On the return trip 
 Brother Brigham and his counselors stopped 
 at Manti, Sanpete Co., and dedicated a Tem- 
 ple site, Brother Young offering the prayer 
 and breaking the ground for the foundation. 
 Through Beaver our party was accompanied 
 by a guard of about twenty-five young men, 
 who deemed this precaution necessary because 
 of threats said to have been made against the 
 President's life by some of the relatives or 
 sympathizers of John D. Lee, who had recent- 
 ly been executed. Brother Young gave us in- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 185 
 
 structions in our duty of training and educat- 
 ing our children to lives of purity and useful- 
 ness, and urged co-operative action in all our 
 temporal interests. 
 
 On May 18 the ground for the Logan Tem- 
 ple was dedicated, Apostle Orson Pratt offer- 
 ing the prayer. 
 
 About this time a survey was made for a 
 canal, which was called "Weber and Davis 
 Co.'s Canal." I was one of the stockholders, 
 and put a number of men and teams to work 
 on it. I sold some of the teams and let the men 
 work it out in contracts on the canal, taking 
 stock, thus their paying terms were easy and 
 I became a larger stockholder. 
 
186 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 LAST YEARS IN KAYSVILLE. 
 
 In Stake Presidency — Death of Brigham Young — 
 Family Marriages, Births and Deaths — Forced 
 into Hiding to Escape Persecution — Called to 
 Arizona. 
 
 AT a special conference at Farmington, on 
 June 17, 1877, a stake was organized in 
 Davis county, with Wm. R. Smith, of Center- 
 ville, as president, and myself of Kaysville, 
 and Anson Call of Bountiful as his counselors. 
 As I was now released from my office of Bish- 
 op, Brother Peter Barton was chosen in my 
 place. 
 
 Zion was extending its borders in all di- 
 rections, settlements were growing larger, and 
 many new wards were being formed, among 
 which was South Hooper, (which had been a 
 part of Kaysville) with Henry B. Gwilliams 
 as Bishop. 
 
 In July Brother Brigham Young deeded 
 9642 acres of land in Cache Valley to the Brig- 
 ham Young Academy at Logan. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 187 
 
 On August 23 our President was taken sud- 
 denly sick with cholera morbus, and about four 
 o'clock in the afternoon of August 29 the im- 
 mortal spirit of Brother Brigham passed from 
 the earth. A profound sorrow rested like a 
 pall upon the Saints all over the world when 
 it became known that our loved and honored 
 leader was no more; as Israel mourned for 
 Moses, so we mourned in heartfelt sorrow for 
 Brother Young.* 
 
 *"The coffin containing his body was encased in 
 a metallic covering in which was inserted a plate 
 glass of sufficient size to admit of a view of the 
 departed. It was tastefully draped with white and 
 wreathed with flowers. At 10:30 a. m. the gates 
 of the Temple Block were thrown open, and the 
 crowds of anxious people who had gathered, gained 
 ingress to the Tabernacle. For the next twenty-five 
 hours — the building being kept open all night — a con- 
 tinuous stream of living humanity passed through, 
 nearly twenty-five thousand people taking a farewell 
 look at the face of the dead. On the Sabbath, Sep- 
 tember 2, the family of the deceased, his counselors, 
 the apostles and other officers of the Priesthood, with 
 the general public, listened to the speakers who ad- 
 dressed them, expressing the sentiments of sorrow 
 that pervaded the hearts of the Saints, yet exhib- 
 ited a calm resignation to the Divine will. The build- 
 ing was filled, all available standing room in aisles 
 and doorways being taken up. The procession moved 
 to the private cemetery, where the body was placed 
 
188 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 On the 4th of September the apostles pub- 
 licly assumed their position as head of the 
 Church, the Saints returned to their duties and 
 everything was again in working order. 
 
 About this time I took a trip across the 
 country to St. Louis, Mo., where I purchased 
 a carload of large mules, which I brought back 
 to Utah, and used to great advantage on my 
 dry farm lands. 
 
 In November a company of Saints from 
 Utah arrived on the San Pedro river, in Ari- 
 zona and founded the settlement of St. David. 
 
 My wife, Isabella G., who had been sick 
 for a long time, left us to mourn her loss, on 
 December 15. She had always been greatly 
 loved in the family and was a general favorite, 
 and her children — three girls and four boys — 
 were welcomed and well cared for by my oth- 
 er wives. Her disease was dropsy. She had 
 
 in the vault prepared for it. The grave was dedi- 
 cated by Apostle Wilford Woodruff. Among the 
 mighty ones of earth shall be the name of him of 
 whom it has been written : 
 
 "He loved his people: their high destiny 
 Will be a monument to Brigham Young." 
 
 —Whitney's Hist, of Utah. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 189 
 
 also been a Relief Society teacher for several 
 years. 
 
 On December 28 a little daughter came to 
 my wife, Mary J. R., and we called her Har- 
 riet Ann. 
 
 On January 10, 1878, my son, Ezra William, 
 was married to Mary Ellen Colmer in Salt 
 Lake City. 
 
 Attended Conference at Salt Lake City from 
 April 6th to the 8th. 
 
 This summer I was busy with my mercantile 
 business, milling work and farming. 
 
 On August 15, 1878, I was married to Eliza- 
 beth Williams in the Endowment House at 
 Salt Lake City, Joseph F. Smith officiating. 
 
 In the fall I bought a band of horses of 
 William H. Hooper, giving $10,000 for them. 
 I sold half of them — 320 head — afterwards to 
 William R. Smith, also 80 head to William 
 Stokes, besides many teams to different men. 
 
 On December 12 my daughter Mary Ann 
 was married to George Swan, Jr., in Salt Lake 
 City, by Daniel H. Wells ; and on the same day 
 my wife Rosa Ann presented me with a daugh- 
 ter, whom we named Rozina. 
 
190 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 On January 6, 1879, the supreme court of 
 the United States unanimously affirmed the 
 constitutionality of the anti-bigamy law of 
 1862, and confirmed the sentence of the lower 
 courts upon George Reynolds. 
 
 My son, John H., was married on January 
 23, to Hannah Phillips at Salt Lake City by 
 Daniel H. Wells. 
 
 On February 20 I attended the trial of Rob- 
 ert T. Burton on a charge of murder com- 
 mitted during the Morrisite difficulty of 1862. 
 A verdict of not guilty was rendered on 
 March 7. 
 
 A little son came to my wife, Septima S., on 
 March 21, and we named him Franklin Simms. 
 
 This spring I built a large frame house on 
 the Sand Ridge, which we called the Summit 
 farm and dug the first well, going one hun- 
 dred feet, and after digging several we got a 
 good one with plenty of water. Before this 
 we had to haul the water in a iron tank hold- 
 ing 560 gallons. 
 
 At the annual Conference this year the main 
 business was the calling of a number of elders 
 for foreign missions, and Brother Moses 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 191 
 
 Thatcher was chosen to fill the vacancy in the 
 Twelve Apostles, caused by the death of Orson 
 Hyde. 
 
 On April 24 the first Utah wheat was shipped 
 by ocean to Liverpool, England, from San 
 Francisco, in the sailing vessel "Ivy," by S. 
 W. Sears, and I often wondered how many of 
 my old friends and relatives ate bread made 
 from our wheat. 
 
 Emma Smith, formerly wife of the Prophet 
 Joseph Smith, died at ; her home in Nauvoo, 
 Illinois, April 30. 
 
 On the 6th of May there was a grand dem- 
 onstration in honor of Daniel H. Wells, who 
 had been released from the territorial peniten- 
 tiary, where he had been sent three days be- 
 fore by Judge Emerson for alleged contempt of 
 court, because he had refused to describe the 
 endowment clothing. 
 
 On August 4 my wife Elizabeth W. gave 
 birth to a little son, whom we called Lawrence, 
 but after a few weeks he was recalled to his 
 heavenly home, and on August 28 his spirit 
 fled from us. 
 
 I was made president of the Farmer's Union, 
 
192 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 which institution I founded in Layton, and held 
 that position a number of years. 
 
 On September 26, my wife Caroline C. gave 
 birth to a little son, whom she called Ben- 
 jamin; and on September 28 we were called to 
 mourn the death of baby Franklin S., the son 
 , of my wife Septima. 
 
 About the first of November I made a trip 
 to San Francisco, Cal., accompanied by my 
 wife Lizzie. 
 
 During the next two or three years — 1880- 
 1883 — although I had broken no law of God or 
 man, it became necessary for my personal safe- 
 ty that I should be in hiding from those who 
 were so strenuously making arrests under the 
 Edmunds-Tucker law. 
 
 Finally my wives and children agreed that, 
 although they disliked very much to be with- 
 out my presence, yet they would rather know 
 that I was at liberty than to have me dodging 
 the hounds of the law, and under these condi- 
 tions, I accepted a call to preside over, and 
 make a home for, Saints in Southern Arizona. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 193 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 PRESIDING IN ARIZONA. 
 
 Fifteen Years of Great Activity and Success — 
 The Enemy Also Busy — Many New Enter- 
 prises Established — Leader, Adviser and 
 Father to the Colonists. 
 
 IN February, 1883, I was set apart in Salt 
 Lake City as President of the St. Joseph 
 stake in Arizona, and I immediately began to 
 make preparations to leave for that territory. 
 I chartered two cars and loaded them with 
 horses, mules, furniture, farm implements, 
 seeds, alfalfa, oats, wheat and flour enough to 
 last a year. By the 15th we were ready to 
 start. 
 
 Our party consisted of my wife Lizzie and 
 two children, her sister Fannie and brother 
 Henry; my sons Richard, Joseph and Wil- 
 liam; my nephew, Charles Layton, and wife; 
 
 14 
 
194 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 also Dave Gaily, Geo. Steed and Thomas 
 White. 
 
 Arriving at St. David on Saturday, Feb. 
 24, we went directly to David P. Kimball's 
 house, and on Sunday, the 25th, at the meet- 
 ing of the Saints in St. David, they sustained 
 me as president of the stake with David P. 
 Kimball as first and James H. Martineau as 
 second counselors. 
 
 On Feb. 28 the boys of our party came 
 in with the stock, furniture, etc., which had 
 traveled slower than we. 
 
 After staying a few days at Brother Kim- 
 ball's I moved the family into the Campbell 
 mill building where we remained about three 
 weeks. Then I moved to a Mexican grant 
 where we lived in tents and had our cook- 
 stove under a tree; but I did not stay here 
 very long as we were obliged to haul water 
 over three miles. 
 
 The first week in March a party of nine, 
 with a four-horse team and a single team, 
 started on a general exploration trip to see the 
 country. They went to Tombstone the first 
 night : then through the Sulphur Springs Val- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 195 
 
 ley, which they thought was the finest stock 
 range they had ever seen (except Cache Val- 
 ley, Utah) ; then through the Gila Valley, 
 which place I particularly desired them to 
 visit. Their report of this section was very 
 favorable — mare settlers than when I was 
 there. They were gone about three weeks. 
 
 On March 23 my daughters Eliza A. Allred 
 and Drucilla Grace Layton came from Utah 
 and my son-in-law Joseph G. Allred arrived 
 on the 25th with another car, containing pota- 
 toes, barbwire, iron posts, some machinery, 
 also chickens, which we turned loose, and of 
 course they soon found their own roosts. 
 
 I took my wife and daughters three miles 
 down the San Pedro River to see a place 
 called the Merrimont ranch and as there were 
 about thirty-seven springs on the place every- 
 thing looked green and bright, although there 
 was only one tree (a juniper) in the vicinity. 
 The women were much pleased with the local- 
 ity and exclaimed joyously, "This is the pret- 
 tiest place we have seen in the country." I 
 bought this ranch, but the wind blew so hard 
 every day we could not live in tents, there- 
 
196 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 fore I went to work building a house and also 
 bought the Campbell mill house and had it 
 moved on to the ranch. My women folks be- 
 came quite lonesome, discouraged and home- 
 sick at times, although they tried to be cheer- 
 ful, and I consoled them by telling of our 
 blessings and showing them that our heavenly 
 Father was very kind and merciful to us be- 
 cause things might have been a great deal 
 worse. 
 
 I, with the boys' help, fenced in 320 acres 
 and made a canal for two miles. One after- 
 noon we missed the horses and we all started 
 out in different directions to hunt them, but 
 not finding them, came back at night, except 
 Richard and Joseph Allred, who had followed 
 tracks leading toward Tucson. About ten 
 o'clock that night they stopped at Pantana 
 Seneca; in the morning they met a man who 
 had seen the horses and after some conversa- 
 tion said he would get them, so the boys 
 came back home. The next day the man 
 brought five horses — one out of each team — 
 and received his reward. After a few days 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 197 
 
 we found one at Benson, but it was a year 
 before we found all of them. 
 
 We plowed 100 acres, put in alfalfa, wheat 
 and oats, and had just finished when rains 
 commenced. The grain started fine and we 
 were much rejoiced ; then rain ceased and 
 consequently the crops burned up. 
 
 I attended Conference at Salt Lake City on 
 April 6, and my son William's wife and two 
 children came with me when I returned to 
 Arizona. 
 
 In May I went over to the Gila River and 
 held a two days' meeting at Pima; on the 
 13th organized the Saints into four wards, 
 namely: Pima, with Joseph K. Rogers, Bish- 
 op; Thatcher, John M. Moody, Bishop; Gra- 
 ham, Jorgen Jorgenson, Bishop; Curtis (now 
 Eden), Moses Curtis, Bishop. 
 
 On June 27th my son Wm. Layton was 
 chosen first counselor to Bishop Wm. D. 
 Johnson of St. David ward. 
 
 Conference was held at St. David on June 
 2 and 3, at which the Relief Society was or- 
 ganized with Sister Wilmuth East as presi- 
 
198 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 dent, Sister Cyrena Merrill as first and Sister 
 Mary Ransom as second counselors. 
 
 During the summer all of us had chills and 
 fever except myself, sometimes three or four 
 of us in bed at the same time. 
 
 On Sept. 20th, my son, Charles M., was 
 married to Mary Ann McMasters, in Salt 
 Lake City, by Daniel H. Wells. 
 
 Attended semi-annual Conference on Oct. 
 5, at Salt Lake City, being accompanied by 
 Brother David P. Kimball, his son Thomas, 
 and my sister-in-law Fannie Williams. The 
 two latter were married on the 15th. 
 
 My first counselor, David P. Kimball, died 
 at St. David on Nov. 21. 
 
 In December Apostles Heber J. Grant and 
 Brigham Young, with Sister Young, made 
 us a visit. On the 10th the Apostles, Sister 
 Young, my wife, myself and a few others left 
 St. David, went through Sulphur Springs Val- 
 ley and along the Gila River, holding meetings 
 at all the settlements. We found, about a 
 mile or two south of Safford, the families of 
 John and Adam Welker camped in wagons on 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 199 
 
 the land where they intended to settle. The 
 Apostles agreed with me that my praise of the 
 Gila Valley had not been extravagant. 
 
 In March, 1884, I drove over to the Gila 
 River, and on the 2nd organized the Saints 
 who had settled near Safford. They wishing 
 to perpetuate my name, called themselves the 
 Layton branch; John Welker was appointed 
 presiding Elder. 
 
 Attended annual Conference at Salt Lake 
 City in April and brought back a car loaded 
 with Jersey cows, alfalfa seed and potatoes. 
 
 In May I bought a grist mill for $10,000, 
 on the Gila River (where Safford now stands) 
 with Jonathan Hoopes as partner. I after- 
 wards bought it all and 160 acres of land also. 
 
 On May 17 the Temple at Logan, Utah, 
 was dedicated by President Taylor, which cere- 
 mony I did not have the privilege of attend- 
 ing, but my wife Caroline C. was there at the 
 special request of Prest. Taylor. 
 
 On May 29 we were called upon to sympa- 
 thize with our dear friend Wilmuth East, 
 whose husband, Edward Wallace East, a 
 
200 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 prominent Elder and faithful worker in the 
 Church, died at Pima. 
 
 The Saints in Utah were now being perse- 
 cuted under the Edmunds law, but as yet we 
 had not been troubled here. 
 
 On July 5 the Primary Association of St. 
 Joseph stake was organized with Josephine 
 Rogers as president; Eliza A. Allred, first, 
 and Caroline Johnson, second counselors. 
 
 Some time in July I bought about 500 head 
 of Sonora cattle and put them on the ranch 
 in charge of my son Richard and Joseph All- 
 red. In August I wrote to my wife Rosa H. 
 to come to Arizona, and I went over to 
 Safford to get things ready for her, but upon 
 receiving word from her that she did not 
 wish to leave Utah, I moved my wife Lizzie 
 over to SafTord mill house, for I was running 
 the mill and clearing mesquit off the land 
 which I had bought. 
 
 On Sept. 5 my daughter Annie B. was 
 married to Seth Jones in the Logan Temple in 
 Utah ; she and her husband came to St. David 
 and taught school there. 
 
 One day I received word from the stage 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 201 
 
 driver that my wives Rosa H. and Septima S. 
 were at Bowie, so I took a team and went over 
 there. Found that they had written to me 
 when they had concluded to come but I, not 
 having received it, had not been at Bowie 
 when they arrived, which was a great disap- 
 pointment to them. We came back to Safford 
 on Sept. 15, and after staying there for two 
 or three weeks I settled my wife Septima S. 
 and family at Curtis, while the boys took my 
 wife Rosa Ann over to St. David. Her son 
 Isaac was very sick, but she gave him such 
 good and careful nursing that he recovered. 
 
 In November my wife Rosa Ann came to 
 Safford and my wife Lizzie went back to St. 
 David. 
 
 Nov. 4, the Layton branch was organized 
 as a ward, John Welker, Bishop. 
 
 On Dec. 27 a little son was born to my wife 
 Septima S. at Curtis, whom we called Jesse 
 Monroe. 
 
 On Dec. 7 I visited the territorial prison at 
 Yuma with Apostle Francis M. Lyman to see 
 Brothers Tenney andChristopherson,who were 
 incarcerated there for conscience' sake. 
 
202 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 On Jan. 8, 1885, Alex. F. McDonald, John 
 Campbell and I started on a trip through 
 Mexico to see about renting or buying land 
 on which to locate families of Saints who were 
 being driven into exile because of the Ed- 
 munds law. The federal courts and officers 
 were carrying their persecutions to such an 
 extent that many of the brethren were impris- 
 oned and their families scattered. After go-, 
 ing through Chihuahua, and the valleys lying 
 on the eastern slope of the Sierra Madres we 
 arrived at Corralitos and found some families 
 ready for settlement in the new country. 
 Among others here who were looking over 
 the country for colonizing purposes was a 
 lord of noble lineage from England, and we 
 enjoyed talking with him of old home scenes. 
 
 On arriving at St. David I found that while 
 I was away, President John Taylor, Apostles 
 Joseph F. Smith, Erastus Snow, and Moses 
 Thatcher, also George Reynolds, John Q. 
 Cannon, and others, had come to our house 
 and had then gone on to Guaymas, Mexico, 
 from which trip they returned the day after I 
 arrived. A few days later I went to Salt Lake 
 
i CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 203 
 
 City with them. While in Mexico I obtained 
 silk handkerchiefs and neckties for each of my 
 family, both in Arizona and Utah, which act of 
 thoughtfulness seemed to please all of them 
 very much. 
 
 From Salt Lake City I went on to Kaysville 
 and while there received a letter from Arizona 
 telling me that on Feb. 12 a pair of twin 
 girls had come to my wife Lizzie W. at St. 
 David. We named them Lillian and Luella. 
 
 In March we held our quarterly Conference 
 and for the next few months my time was 
 fully occupied with stake duties ; as the stake 
 extended over 100 miles I was riding around 
 a great deal, in order to keep in contact with 
 all the branches of the work. 
 
 In June my wife Rosa H. and family went 
 back to Utah, leaving her son, Albert T., with 
 us. I moved my wife Lizzie and family over to 
 the mill at Safford. 
 
 We held our June Conference at Pima. 
 
 About the first of September a feeling of 
 anxiety and uneasiness depressed my spirit 
 and I told my friends that I knew some of my 
 family in Utah must be in trouble of some 
 
204 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 kind, and after a few days I received a tele- 
 gram from my wife Sarah, telling me of the 
 death of our son, Hyrum, which had occurred 
 on the 17th of September. In a few days 
 a letter came in which we were told how Hy- 
 rum had been afflicted with rheumatism of a 
 very severe nature for about a month. It 
 must have been a very hard task to have 
 handled him while he was helpless for he was 
 a large man, weighing about 340 pounds. 
 
 At our quarterly Conference we had the 
 pleasure of entertaining Apostles Erastus 
 Snow and Brigham Young and received in- 
 structions from them. 
 
 In October, Wm. D. Johnson was set apart 
 as my first counselor in the stake presidency. 
 
 In November I moved my wife Septima S. 
 and family over to St. David. 
 
 On Nov. 30 we had a large meeting at my 
 house at Safford and while we were enjoying 
 the spirit of brotherly love and union, some 
 Indians came to the window (as we found out 
 by the moccasin tracks) and seeing so many 
 people together, they knew the settlements must 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 205 
 
 be almost deserted, so they went on to Layton 
 ward, stole a number of horses and took them 
 away with them. They were followed by a 
 posse of citizens and when crowded quite close 
 they turned the horses loose. Thece were re- 
 captured but the Indians shot among the men 
 and two brothers — Lorenzo and Seth Wright 
 — were killed. 
 
 I was holding meeting at Pima the next 
 day, Dec. 1, but I felt very uneasy and rest- 
 less, and thinking something must be wrong 
 at home, I excused myself and left the meet- 
 ing. I rode along very much depressed in 
 spirit, for several miles, when I saw some 
 men coming rapidly toward me. I felt intu- 
 itively that they were the ones who would tell 
 me bad news. When they met me they 
 stopped and told me the fearful tale of the 
 death of these faithful brothers. The sym- 
 pathy of our people was very sincere for the 
 widows and little children thus bereft of their 
 protectors. 
 
 During this month many of the Saints who 
 had been camping on Casas Grande River in 
 Chihuahua, Mex., moved to the Peadres 
 
206 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Verdes River, which townsite they named 
 Juarez. 
 
 On Jan. 1, 1886, my daughter Amy C. was 
 married to Reuben W. Fuller at St. David by 
 Bishop Peter Loughgreen. 
 
 On Feb. 8 my son Richard G. led to the 
 altar one of Zion's fair daughters — Annie E. 
 Home — and they were married at St. David 
 by the Bishop of that place — Peter Lough- 
 green. 
 
 On March 21 Seymour B. Young being 
 with us, we organized the Eighty-ninth quo- 
 rum of Seventies at Pima. 
 
 In the last of March my wife Septima, 
 with five children, left for Utah, going with 
 others who went by teams ; her son Oscar driv- 
 ing her wagon. It was a hard trip, but after 
 about six weeks they safely arrived at their 
 destination. 
 
 In May we turned all hands who could work 
 on the canal and we brought it down through 
 the valley, I doing about half the work and 
 therefore owning half of the canal. 
 
 I received a letter from Utah telling of the 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 207 
 
 marriage of my son James Albert to Edith 
 Harrod on May 27, at Kaysville, by Bishop 
 Peter Barton. 
 
 The Saints were wanting to settle close to- 
 gether, so I bought a 600-acre tract of land 
 of a syndicate living in Tucson, then I bought 
 out the squatters' right and improvements by 
 taking quit-claim deeds of them. Thus I was 
 in a position to help the Saints to get homes. 
 In July I bought 320 acres of Peter Anderson 
 (adjoining the other tract) and laid it out in 
 a townsite which we named Thatcher. I built 
 a three-roomed adobe house in Thatcher ward 
 (it being the second house built on the town- 
 site), and we moved into it. I also built a 
 barn. I gave a lot for a schoolhouse and the 
 few Saints who were settling here then built 
 an adobe building on it. The mesquit was so 
 thick that when we tried to go any place we 
 were very fortunate if we did not get lost. I 
 gave the Seventies a lot, but they never made 
 any use of it; also gave the Bishop a lot for 
 tithing purposes. The Academy was after- 
 wards built upon it. 
 
 On Sept. 2 our house at Safford was filled 
 
208 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 with a joyous company, for on that day my son 
 Joseph was married to Cynthia Fife. 
 
 The persecutions under the Edmunds law 
 were continuing and many families were in 
 exile, some going to Mexico, while many of 
 the Saints came here and I was kept busy 
 helping them to settle on the townsite, and 
 aiding them to get a start in a new country. 
 Nearly all the leading men of our Church 
 were in hiding, paying fines or in prison; my 
 son-in-law, Wm. Galbraith, having his share 
 of imprisonment with the rest. The United, 
 States deputies were raiding all the settlements 
 throughout Utah and even in Arizona, so that 
 it was indeed an anxious time. 
 
 President John Taylor sent a company of 
 explorers into British Columbia and Alberta, 
 Canada, to select a tract of land for a colony. 
 They chose a place in Alberta and named 
 Cardston in honor of their leader, Charles O. 
 Card. Four of my sons afterward settled 
 there. 
 
 On Jan. 13, 1887, a bill repealing the anti- 
 Mormon test oath in Arizona was passed by 
 the council branch of the Arizona Legislature. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 209 
 
 The house passed it the following day and the 
 governor signed it on Jan. 15. 
 
 On Feb. 15 the Edmunds-Tucker bill was 
 adopted by the United States House and 
 Senate and the act became a law without the 
 signature of the President. Under the pro- 
 visions of this law a United States receiver 
 took possession of Church offices and a whole- 
 sale confiscation of Church property was 
 threatened. 
 
 April 7 will be remembered as a joyous 
 day, for then my two sons Heber C. and Al- 
 bert T. were married at Layton, Heber hav- 
 ing chosen Agnes Almeda Welker as his bride, 
 while Albert selected Almeda Tibbetts. I per- 
 formed the ceremony. 
 
 Utah was again arranging to demand State- 
 hood. The State convention met, and after 
 several days adopted a constitution on July 5 
 — one feature of which was the anti-polygamy 
 clause. President John Taylor was still in 
 exile and was very sick at Kaysville. On July 
 18, Presidents Geo. Q. Cannon, Joseph F. 
 Smith and others went to him and watched at 
 his bedside; and on the 25th he died at the 
 
 15 
 
210 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 house of Thos. F. Rouche. The funeral was 
 held in Salt Lake City on the 29th, after 
 which a council meeting decided that the coun- 
 selors should preside until the Twelve could 
 get together. On Aug. 3, at another council 
 meeting, Brothers Cannon and Smith were 
 reinstated in their places in the Twelve, and 
 the Twelve were sustained as the Presidency 
 of the Church. On Aug. 20 the remains of 
 President John Taylor were transferred to a 
 granite sepulchre in Salt Lake City cemetery. 
 
 In the fall of this year I built a small store 
 building of brick, thinking there were now 
 enough settlers here to justify the transaction; 
 I put in a small amount of goods. 
 
 On Nov. 11a little daughter was born to my 
 wife Lizzie, at Thatcher, and we named her 
 Priscilla. 
 
 In December we received word from Utah 
 that the "poetess of Israel/' Eliza R. Snow, 
 who was president of all Relief Societies in the 
 Church, had died in Salt Lake City on the Sth. 
 
 Awaking very early one morning in De- 
 cember with a feeling that something was 
 wrong, I arose and built a fire in the fire- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 211 
 
 place and also in the stove. About 5 a. m. 
 Joseph Allred came in with Apostle Brigham 
 Young, having come over from St. David in 
 the night. They were thankful for the warm 
 fire which greeted them, and also that I obeyed 
 the impression which I had that some one 
 needed a good fire; they stayed with us sev- 
 eral days. 
 
 On Feb. 13, 1888, my daughter Eliza A., 
 her husband, Joseph Allred, and their family 
 moved over to Thatcher from St. David; they 
 lived with my daughter Amy, while they built 
 a house for themselves. 
 
 We were trying to improve our town a little 
 and I had shade trees set out for a mile along 
 Main street and the sidewalk cleared and lev- 
 eled, which added much to the beauty as well 
 as the convenience of walking. 
 
 On May 19 my daughter Selina C, her hus- 
 band, Edward Phillips, and their family of 
 five children arrived from Utah. They were 
 accompanied by my son Chauncey W. and had 
 been five weeks on the journey with teams. 
 They brought their furniture and provisions 
 with them ; also scrapers and farm implements. 
 
212 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 They lived with my son Joseph for a few 
 weeks while they built a brick house. 
 
 At the annual Conference in Salt Lake 
 City, on April 7, 1889, a First Presidency was 
 sustained, consisting of Wilford Woodruff as 
 President and Geo. Q. Cannon and Joseph F. 
 Smith, counselors; this being the fourth time 
 that a First Presidency had been established 
 in the Church. 
 
 In June I took a contract to carry United 
 States mail from Bowie to Ft. Thomas; also 
 from Ft. Thomas to Globe; also Ft. Thomas 
 to Ft. Grant, and Bowie to Ft. Bowie. 
 
 In the fall I remodeled the mill at Safford, 
 enlarging its capacity. 
 
 In September the Saints living north of 
 Kaysville were organized into a ward and they 
 named it East Layton in honor of our family. 
 
 In November the Endowment House — 
 which had been erected in 1855 — and in which 
 so many of my children, wives and myself had 
 been sealed and had had the privilege of its 
 sacred ordinances, was torn down. 
 
 On Jan. 5, 1890, a little daughter came to 
 my wife Lizzie W. and we named her Minnie. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 213 
 
 During this year nearly all the civil rights 
 left to the Saints in Utah were threatened by 
 proposed anti-Mormon legislation (the Lib- 
 erals being in power). 
 
 In July the United States contract took ef- 
 fect, and I also secured the contract from the 
 United States to supply San Carlos Indian res- 
 ervation with 10,000 pounds of flour a week. 
 As this had to be freighted, the work used 
 about eighty horses, and my sons and sons-in- 
 law were kept busy at work; they always 
 worked together very harmoniously. I built 
 a house at Bowie, also a stable for the horses 
 which were used a sa relay for the stage ; some 
 of my sons or sons-in-law taking charge of the 
 business there; I (or one of my sons) going 
 there once a month to pay off the men. 
 
 On Sept. 24, President Woodruff issued a 
 manifesto "advising the Saints to refrain from 
 contracting any marriage forbidden by the law 
 of the land." This became a subject for gen- 
 eral discussion and at the semi-annual Confer- 
 ence on Oct. 4, 5 and 6, in Salt Lake City, it 
 was accepted by unanimous vote. 
 
 In April, 1891, I sold my store to my son 
 
214 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 Joseph (but I bought it back in about a year). 
 My time was fully occupied as I had many bus- 
 iness interests besides my Church duties; the 
 town of Thatcher was growing in population, 
 land was being cleared, shade trees planted, 
 and grain being put in; also many fields were 
 sowed in alfalfa. The other wards were also 
 settling rapidly and I visited all of them 
 twice each year. The Lord blessed me with 
 good health and strength and my faith in the 
 Priesthood and the Gospel was strong. 
 
 On March 17, 1892, the fiftieth anniversary 
 of the Relief Society was celebrated through- 
 out the Church. We had a very enjoyable 
 time in this stake. 
 
 Attended the Conference in April at Salt 
 Lake City. President Lorenzo Snow on the 
 6th explained the order of ceremony at the 
 laying of the capstone of the Temple and 
 trained the congregation in shouting "Hosan- 
 nah," after which remarks were made by 
 President Wilford Woodruff. The congre- 
 gation then proceeded to the Temple in pro- 
 cession, when the capstone of the Temple was 
 laid amid great enthusiasm and rejoicing, 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 215 
 
 President Woodruff pressing the electric but- 
 ton which caused the stone to be lowered to 
 its place. After the shouting of "Hosannah," 
 the vast congregation, on motion of Apostle 
 Francis M. Lyman, voted that the Temple 
 should be finished by April 6, 1893. About 
 40,000 people were present and participated in 
 the ceremonies. 
 
 On the evening of the 7th the statue of 
 Moroni on the main east tower and the spire 
 on the middle west tower of the Temple were 
 beautifully illuminated with incandescent 
 lights for the first time. 
 
 On April 11 a little son came to my wife 
 Lizzie W. at Thatcher, and we named him 
 Gilbert. 
 
 Our family had another joyous occasion on 
 May 24, when my son Oscar and Lula Lewis 
 were married at Thatcher, my counselor Wm. 
 D. Johnson performing the ceremony. 
 
 On Oct. 12 the First Presidency of the 
 Church issued a certificate to me as an Elder 
 to preach the Gospel in the United States and 
 to administer in all the ordinances pertaining 
 to that office. 
 
216 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 In the spring of 1893 I sold the Safford mill 
 to J. T. Owens. 
 
 Went up to Utah in April to Conference 
 and the dedication of the Temple at Salt Lake 
 City. The services were repeated almost daily 
 from the 6th to the 24th. Thirty-one meet- 
 ings were held, which were attended by a total 
 of nearly 75,000 people. 
 
 On the 23rd the Temple was opened for 
 ordinance work under the immediate direction 
 of the First Presidency. 
 
 About 7,000 people from Utah visited the 
 World's Fair in Chicago. 
 
 During the year 1894 President Cleveland 
 pardoned all polygamists and restored them to 
 their rights. 
 
 In January I received news from Utah of 
 the death (on the 16th) of my old friend and 
 associate, Wm. R. Smith, whose counselor I 
 had been for many years in the Davis stake. 
 
 On May 19 a little daughter came to my 
 wife Lizzie W., whom we named Elizabeth. 
 
 In June I sold the store to my son-in-law, 
 Joseph G. Allred. 
 
 On the last day of August (31st) my son 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 217 
 
 Frederick was married to Barbara Allen Mc- 
 Guire at Thatcher, Brother Wm. D. Johnson 
 performing the ceremony. 
 
 This valley was now dotted over with 
 homes of the settlers and we had quite large 
 assemblages at our quarterly conferences. Our 
 schools were being well attended; each ward 
 had one or more schoolhouses. The Lord's 
 blessing rested upon us and we prospered ; our 
 hearts were united in the cause of Truth. The 
 engineers had been through our valley and 
 staked out a line for a railroad; the grading 
 of the road gave employment to some of our 
 newcomers. 
 
 In October I attended Conference in Salt 
 Lake City, and while in Kaysville I bought 
 materials for running an ice factory and 
 creamery. 
 
 In January, 1895, the railroad, named the 
 Gila Valley, Globe and Northern, was com- 
 pleted as far as Pima and we enjoyed seeing 
 the cars traversing our beautiful valley. 
 
 In the spring I put the ice plant into opera- 
 tion in a building which I had built at Thatch- 
 er. This was the worst enterprise I ever un- 
 
218 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 dertook and I became almost discouraged 
 several times, for I had put so much money 
 into it and for more than a year we could get 
 nothing but frost on the pipes. I sent around 
 to Globe and other places and finally found an- 
 other engine. In July I had a well dug back 
 of the factory, the engine pumping water and 
 also running the ice plant. We supplied the 
 valley with ice all that summer, and it was a 
 blessing to many of us in the hot sultry days. 
 
 From news received from Utah I learned 
 that my son David E. was chosen Bishop of 
 the West Layton ward, when it was organ- 
 ized on Feb. 22. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 219 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 APPROACHING THE END. 
 
 Honorably Released as Stake President — Rapidly- 
 Failing Health — Choice Reunions and Bless- 
 ings — Prepares to Go Home to Utah. 
 
 AFTER all the trials which Utah had made 
 for Statehood, she was at last rewarded, 
 for on January 4, 1896, President Grover 
 Cleveland signed the proclamation which ad- 
 mitted her into the sisterhood of States. 
 
 I attended annual Conference at Salt Lake 
 City at which time Moses Thatcher was not 
 upheld as one of the Twelve, because of his 
 refusal to sign a manifesto issued by the gen- 
 eral authorities of the Church to the Saints, in 
 which the leading men of the Church were re- 
 quested to seek counsel before accepting po- 
 litical offices which would interfere with their 
 ecclesiastical duties. His certificate to preach 
 
220 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 the Gospel was also revoked. I felt very sad 
 over this occurrence, for Brother Thatcher 
 was a great friend of mine. 
 
 Our community was called upon to mourn 
 the death of my second counselor,Brother Mor- 
 gan Henry Merrill, who left us on July 26th. 
 He was a good, faithful Saint and his loss was 
 felt in the entire stake. 
 
 On Sept. 4 another little daughter was added 
 to our household, coming to my wife Lizzie W. 
 and we named her Wilmuth. 
 
 On Nov. 13 my business called me to the 
 lower end of the valley, and as I was not feel- 
 ing very well, I asked my son-in-law, E. C. 
 Phillips, to accompany me. I hoped the ride 
 in the fresh air would benefit me, but I was 
 disappointed for I did not feel any better. I 
 finished my business at Geronimo and we start- 
 ed on the return trip, but I continued to feel 
 worse ; when between Thomas and Pima I was 
 attacked with severe cramps, which continued 
 all night and for several days without much 
 relief. 
 
 In December my sons Charles and Samuel 
 came from Utah to visit me and stayed two 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 221 
 
 or three weeks with us, but I still remained 
 confined to my bed. 
 
 I traded property in February, 1897, with 
 my son Joseph, and moved into his house. I 
 was enough better that I could walk around 
 out of doors some each day. I remodeled the 
 house somewhat. 
 
 My son Charles M. and his family arrived 
 from Utah on March 17, and moved into my 
 old house. 
 
 In May I was again confined to my bed, 
 and on the 10th I felt very uneasy and as if 
 something was wrong with my son Joseph, 
 who had been under the doctor's care at Saf- 
 ford for several days. Although I asked ques- 
 tions about him, the answers were evasive, but 
 the next morning they told me he was dead. 
 The funeral services were held at Thatcher, 
 Brothers Wm. Packer and Benjamin Peel be- 
 ing the chief speakers. He was interred in the 
 Thatcher cemetery. 
 
 My health did not become better although 
 sometimes I felt a little better for a few days, 
 then some days I had excruciating pains; but 
 
222 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 the Lord gave me patience and endurance to 
 bear my sufferings. 
 
 In January, 1898, I received the following 
 letter from the First Presidency at Salt Lake 
 City: 
 
 Salt Lake City, Utah, 
 
 January 21st, 1898. 
 President Christopher Laytcn, 
 St. Joseph Stake. 
 
 Dear Brother Layton — A short time ago 
 a member of your family had a conversation 
 with Elder Brigham Young in relation to your 
 physical condition, in which it was represented 
 that your health was such as to render it al- 
 most impossible for you to give that attention 
 to the interests of the Stake which it requires, 
 and that it would be a great relief for you to 
 be released from the duties now devolving 
 upon you as its president. 
 
 This information which Brother Young had 
 received from a member of your family, he re- 
 ported to a late meeting of the First Presi- 
 dency and Apostles, with a recommendation 
 that the suggested change be made and that a 
 younger and more active man be appointed to 
 succeed you. We may say, that we ourselves 
 and the members of the Council generally have 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 223 
 
 understood that your health for some time 
 past has been in quite a poor state, and that it 
 has been with difficulty that you have been 
 able to attend to your stake duties. After 
 fully considering this matter, the Council unan- 
 imously decided to honorably release you as 
 President of the St. Joseph stake, and to ap- 
 point Andrew Kimball, a son of the late Pres- 
 ident Heber C. Kimball, to be your successor, 
 your release to take effect when he shall be 
 installed. 
 
 We trust this action will receive your un- 
 qualified approval, and that you will receive 
 it in the spirit in which it is made, and give to 
 Brother Kimball your sympathy and hearty 
 support, and help him in every way you pos- 
 sibly can to establish himself and family in 
 your midst, and in the hearts of the people, for 
 we feel that, although the state of your health 
 has incapacitated you for the more active work 
 such as is required in a stake like St. Joseph, 
 which covers so much country, you can, nev- 
 ertheless, be of great use and benefit, and your 
 influence may also be exerted for great good, 
 in assisting and supporting Brother Kimball in 
 the labors and duties which shall be required 
 of him. 
 
 We feel that the Lord will accept of your 
 labors in the St. Joseph stake, and that he 
 will bless and reward you for your long years 
 
224 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 of faithful service in the Church, and continue 
 to bless you as our fellow servant. 
 With kindest regards, we are 
 Your brethren, 
 
 Wilford Woodruff, 
 Geo. Q. Cannon, 
 Jos. F. Smith. 
 
 P. S. — Elders John Henry Smith and John 
 W. Taylor have been appointed to attend your 
 Conference on the 30th and 31st inst. for the 
 purpose of installing Brother Kimball as your 
 successor; and they have been authorized to 
 reorganize the High Council and such part of 
 the stake as they may deem necessary, and we 
 trust that yourself and the officers and Saints 
 generally will give these brethren your fullest 
 and heartiest support in whatever changes they 
 may see proper to make. 
 
 W. W. 
 
 G. Q. C. 
 
 J. F. S. 
 
 On Jan. 27, Apostles John Henry Smith 
 and John W. Taylor came from Utah to at- 
 tend to the business of St. Joseph stake. The 
 wards and stake were disorganized, every one 
 receiving an honorable release from their la- 
 bors, on the 28th, then on the 29th the stake 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 225 
 
 was reorganized with Andrew Kimball as 
 president and Wm. D. Johnson as first and 
 Charles M. Layton as second counselors. On 
 the 30th the wards were all reorganized, and 
 on the 31st the High Council was reinstated. 
 On Sunday, January 30, Brother John 
 Henry Smith spoke to the conference and 
 paid me the following tribute of respect: 
 
 President Layton has been an honest and 
 industrious man; his time and means have 
 been at the disposal of th'^ authorities of the 
 Church for the upholding of the Lord's king- 
 dom. In rearing his large family he has done 
 nobly by them, always keeping them employed, 
 and they were a credit to him. He has opened 
 the way by which many families have secured 
 homes and the comforts of life; he has been, 
 and is, a blessing to thousands; he has his 
 faults and has made mistakes, but not serious 
 ones. I regard him as a generous, high- 
 minded gentleman, one who has made the 
 world much better by having lived in it. He 
 gave his young manhood to preserve the lib- 
 erty of the people he loved so well; his ma- 
 ture judgment and great common sense have 
 been freely utilized for the extension of Zion ; 
 in his declining days and as he is hastening to 
 
 16 
 
226 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 the Great Beyond to make his reckoning there, 
 I say of him, he is one of God's jewels, and 
 that his name is written in the Lamb's book 
 of life. I bless him and his posterity forever. 
 
 BLESSING 
 
 Given by Philemon C. Merrill, patriarch, at 
 Thatcher, Arizona, April 20, 1898. 
 
 Brother Christopher Layton, I place my 
 hands upon your head — having been set apart 
 and ordained as a patriarch — and in the author- 
 ity thereof I bless you and pray that God will 
 dictate by the spirit that which I shall say, for 
 by that power all blessings come. You are 
 holding the position that Abraham, Isaac and 
 Jacob held to bless their children; therefore 
 thy mind shall be exercised in behalf of thy 
 posterity, notwithstanding thou mayest be 
 called to enter a higher sphere of action in 
 the due time of the Lord ; thou shalt exercise in 
 that sphere a greater influence and power than 
 thou canst tabernacled as thou art now, for 
 the spirit cannot expand when it is trammeled 
 with flesh and blood. Brother Layton, thou 
 shalt always have in thy posterity a represent- 
 ative in the earth, for when thy name is called 
 there will always be one to answer to that 
 call; thy work shall proceed onward until the 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 227 
 
 end of the earth, and as one of the patriarchs 
 thou wilt administer blessings upon thy chil- 
 dren's children and that spirit which has ac- 
 tuated the patriarchs of old shall be carried 
 on in the lineage of which thou art, even that 
 of Levi, for in that tribe they will offer an of- 
 ering in righteousness in the earth in the flesh, 
 for thou hast already obtained the same bless- 
 ings that were sealed upon Abraham, Isaac 
 and Jacob. Thou hast received in the house 
 of God all thine anointings, all that was or 
 ever will be given to man in the flesh. All 
 thy faults have gone before thee, and are can- 
 celled in the earth and in the heavens. They 
 children will bless thee and remember thee in 
 fond remembrance and carry on the great work 
 which shall complete thine exaltation, for thou 
 shalt stand on the right hand of Joseph and 
 Hyrum in connection with all the prophets 
 (for thou art an evangelist), clothed upon 
 with eternal lives. In the resurrection none 
 will have a more glorified body ; therefore I 
 say unto you, be thou blessed with the spirit of 
 your exaltation, for thou art fully ripe and 
 prepared to enter into thy rest. Now I seal 
 these blessings upon you, ratifying your former 
 blessings that have been placed upon your 
 head ; therefore, be comforted in these sayings 
 for they are true and faithful, and will be fully 
 realized by you, when you gaze upon the labors 
 
228 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 of your past life in your numerous posterity 
 which shall continue to be upon you and 
 yours throughout the endless ages of eternity. 
 I seal these blessings upon you as a patriarch, 
 in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 
 
 PATRIARCHAL BLESSING 
 
 Given by Samuel Claridge, upon the head of 
 Christopher Layton, at Thatcher, Graham 
 County, Arizona. 
 
 Brother Christopher Layton, in the name of 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, I lay my hands upon 
 your head and bestow upon you a father's 
 blessing, which shall be given according to 
 the patriarchal order, that was given to our 
 father Abraham; and Brother Christopher 
 Layton, by virtue of the authority and power 
 that is given me to bless, I bless you and you 
 shall be blessed. God, our heavenly Father, 
 has accepted of your labors and there is a 
 greater reward awaiting you and the glory 
 and power thereof is greater than I can de- 
 scribe. You have been preserved from your in- 
 fancy from dangers and death in order that 
 you may accomplish a great work upon this 
 earth. The angels of God have shielded you 
 and watched over you in times of danger, and 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 229 
 
 your life has been preserved up to this pres- 
 ent time for a wise purpose in your heavenly 
 Father, and this seeming affliction that you 
 have passed through, and are still passing 
 through, shall be sanctified to your good and 
 redound to your glory, and you shall yet say, 
 "How kind and merciful my Father in heaven 
 has dealt with me." It will not be long before 
 your spirit will pass by on the other side, and 
 there you will meet your wives and children, 
 your father and mother, the Prophets and 
 Apostles who have died, and they will honor 
 you and respect you and you shall have a 
 glorious time, and these light afflictions shall 
 be but a bubble compared to the glory and 
 happiness that await you there. You are a 
 child of Abraham, through the loins of Joseph, 
 and all the blessings that were promised upon 
 him that was sold into Egypt shall be yours: 
 your children shall be great and mighty in the 
 priesthood and none shall excel them in all 
 Israel : they shall become a power in Israel for 
 the building up of Zion. You shall see Zion 
 redeemed, you shall come in the clouds of 
 heaven with Christ, our Redeemer, and all his 
 holy angels. You shall enter into that glorious 
 temple that shall be reared in Jackson county, 
 and there you shall meet your children's chil- 
 dren, who will be upon the earth and your 
 ancestors that have lived for generations past 
 
230 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 shall reap the benefit of your visits to that holy 
 temple. 
 
 I now say, God bless you and may the an- 
 gels of peace watch over you and bear you up 
 in their arms, that peace may be upon you 
 from this time, henceforth and forever. All 
 these blessings I seal upon you and you shall 
 realize the fulfillment of them all, which I 
 promise in the name of Jesus. Amen. 
 
 On the morning of Jan. 29, 1898, before 
 going to conference Apostles John Henry 
 Smith and John W. Taylor, accompanied by 
 Andrew Kimball, called at our house. My 
 wife Lizzie was present, and we sent for my 
 sons Charles M. and Richard ; also my daugh- 
 ters Eliza and Selina. They all knelt around 
 my bed, John Henry Smith leading in prayer. 
 Then he blessed me, which filled my soul with 
 peace and joy; after which he ordained me a 
 Patriarch, and I bestowed the mantle of my 
 office upon the shoulders of Andrew Kimball. 
 
 In the spring my oldest daughter, Elizabeth 
 Galbraith, having heard of my sickness, came 
 from Mexico and stayed with us for about a 
 month. In some respects it was a sorrowful 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 231 
 
 visit, for her husband had recently passed to 
 the "other side of the vail," and we both felt 
 that it was our last visit together on this earth. 
 While she was here my youngest child, Wil- 
 muth, and she had their picture taken together. 
 Libby was fifty-four years old, while Wilmuth 
 was only two years. 
 
 On my seventy-seventh birthday, March 8, 
 although not able to arise, I had the pleasure 
 of welcoming to our house all of my children 
 who live in Arizona, their wives and husbands, 
 President Andrew Kimball, Patriarch P. C. 
 Merrill and wife, Brother E. M. Curtis and 
 wife, and Dr. Karl G. Maeser. We sang, "We 
 thank Thee, O God, for a prophet;" then my 
 son-in-law Joseph G. Allred offered a prayer, 
 followed by some remarks by President Kim- 
 ball ; who seemed to be moved by the Spirit as 
 he talked to us of the necessity of having a 
 family organization, and said he would like 
 to see one in this family, which idea was well 
 received by all present. Then Charles talked 
 to us, followed by Brother Merrill, his wife, 
 Cyrena, my wife Lizzie, my daughters Selina 
 and Eliza, all of which was very consoling, 
 
232 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 and we all felt the good influence of the Spirit 
 of the Lord with us. President Kimball sug- 
 gested that a committee of the family be ap- 
 pointed to look up my genealogy and write a 
 history of my life. 
 
 We elected my daughter Selina Phillips as 
 the secretary for this work, with Charles and 
 Richard to assist her. Sister Sylvia L. Ses- 
 sions was chosen and engaged for the scribe. 
 We also chose a committee to assist us in this 
 work who live in Kaysville, Utah, namely: 
 Christopher Layton, Jun., Mary Ann Swan 
 and Annie B. Jones. Patriarch Merrill also 
 offered to assist us in every way that he could. 
 
 I then gave my children a family blessing 
 and admonished them to remain true to the 
 Gospel of Christ; never to consider their call- 
 ing a task, but to regard it as a pleasure; to 
 always honor whatever office they were called 
 upon to fill and to never obligate themselves 
 farther than they could see their way clear. 
 Brother Kimball said he should be pleased to 
 consider himself a member of this family and 
 would take pleasure in doing anything in his 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 233 
 
 power to assist us in this work. After singing, 
 Brother Merrill pronounced a benediction. 
 
 As I was now much wearied, the company 
 all departed and with a prayer in my heart for 
 them and my other families in Utah I com- 
 posed myself to rest. I often wondered why 
 it was that I must suffer so long and intensely, 
 but Dr. Maeser said "it was that I might learn 
 the lesson of patience. " I think he was right. 
 
 In May my wife Caroline came from Utah 
 to visit us and stayed about six weeks. 
 
 In June I made up my mind to pass my 
 last days with my family and friends in Utah, 
 and consult physicians in Salt Lake City about 
 the advisability of undergoing an operation for 
 my complaint. 
 
 I will leave here in a few days. One thought 
 which is a great comfort to me is that not one 
 of my children ever apostatized. I now ask 
 God's blessings upon all who shall read this 
 history of my life ; may they be faithful to do 
 the will and work of our heavenly Father ; that 
 they may have peace, joy and happiness, an 
 increase of wisdom, knowledge and the power 
 
234 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 of God ; outside of this there are no promised 
 blessings. May they help each other to be bet- 
 ter and happier; cultivate and preserve an en- 
 lightened conscience and follow the Holy 
 Spirit ; hold fast to what is good, endure to 
 the end and great shall be your reward for 
 your trials and heart-yearnings and tears ; yea, 
 our God will give you a crown of unfading 
 glory through the countless ages of eternities. 
 
 [With the above impressive prayer and 
 testimony closes the autobiography of Chris- 
 topher Layton — that is, the personal sketch of 
 his life as dictated by, or read to and approved 
 by him. The brief story of his final return 
 to his old home at Kaysville, and his death, to- 
 gether with the full proceedings of his funeral, 
 and the loving tribute headed "Personal Char- 
 acteristics/' which constitute the following 
 chapter, was prepared by the committees rep- 
 resenting the family, referred to on page 234 
 and in the Introduction to this little volume. 
 
 J. Q. C] 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 235 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE END IN MORTALITY. 
 
 The Last Journey — Undergoes operation — Death on 
 Aug. 7, 1898 — Impressive Funeral — Personal 
 characteristics. 
 
 ON June 13, 1898, our father, Christopher 
 Layton, left for Utah. He had been sick 
 for over a year and a half, and at many times 
 we had thought he could not live longer, but in 
 answer to prayers and administrations by the 
 Priesthood, his wonderful vitality again as- 
 serted itself. 
 
 Several days before his departure, we had 
 telegraphed for a through parlor car, and re- 
 ceived reply that the railroad company would 
 take him to Kaysville, Utah, without change of 
 cars or delay. His wife Lizzie, and our broth- 
 ers Charles and Richard accompanied him to 
 Bowie, where the parlor car was to meet him. 
 
 He bore the trip with fortitude but grew 
 slightly impatient while waiting at Bowie, for 
 
236 THE LAST JOURNEY. 
 
 he feared his strength would fail before he 
 could reach his journey's end. When every 
 arrangement for his comfort was completed 
 and the train left for California, Richard sadly 
 returned to Thatcher, feeling that he had part- 
 ed from our father for the last time on earth. 
 
 The trip was very comfortable, and he rested 
 as easily as if at home. On arriving at Oak- 
 land, Cal., they were informed that they must 
 change cars. Father walked the length of the 
 long train and into the depot, where they 
 were obliged to remain a half hour, then walk 
 again quite a distance to the other car; and 
 when they were again on the train, he was 
 completely exhausted and for a while it seemed 
 as if he could not possibly survive to reach his 
 destination; but at last his system responded 
 to the restoratives used and again he rested 
 comfortably. He had no appetite for anything, 
 nothing seemed to tempt him to eat, until from 
 the dining car were procured some fresh green 
 peas, which he really enjoyed. 
 
 On arriving at Ogden, Utah, he was met by 
 his sons and daughters and Apostle Richards, 
 who took charge of him, while they again 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 237 
 
 changed cars. He now appeared to be much 
 better ancl was able to converse pleasantly all 
 the rest of the trip. 
 
 They arrived in Kaysville on Friday, June 
 17, and many relatives and friends called to 
 welcome him back home. 
 
 As soon as he was somewhat rested from the 
 journey he began to suffer severe pain at in- 
 tervals until, about the first of July, it was 
 deemed best to have a surgical operation per- 
 formed. Drs. Richards and Wilcox were the 
 operating physicians and father bore the ordeal 
 well, though from having taken so much mor- 
 phine and chloroform, he was unconscious 
 from 5 o'clock in the afternoon until the next 
 morning at 2 o'clock, when he rallied and im- 
 proved beyond the expectations of his doctors 
 and friends. He was never able to move around 
 the house, although, at times, in fatherly so- 
 licitude, he gave kind counsel and admonitions 
 to his wives, children and friends. 
 
 Rather unexpectedly, on Sunday, August 7, 
 he appeared to be failing. Members of the 
 family were immediately notified and, sur- 
 rounded by his families, honored and beloved 
 
238 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 by them all, he peacefully fell asleep and his 
 spirit was with God. 
 
 The relatives from Arizona arrived at Kays- 
 viHe on Friday and the funeral was held in 
 the meeting house on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 
 2 o'clock p. m. 
 
 The bishop of the ward, Peter Barton, 
 showed him honor by purchasing beautiful 
 mourning decorations for the house, which was 
 filled with a sympathizing assemblage. 
 
 The proceedings at the funeral services here 
 follow in full: 
 
 FUNERAL. 
 
 "Hark! from afar the funeral knell 
 Moves on the breeze, its echoes swell!" 
 
 PRAYER BY STAKE PRESIDENT JOHN W. HESS. 
 
 Our Father who art in heaven, we have met 
 here together today on this solemn occasion to 
 pay unto one of thy faithful servants our re- 
 spect and the. gratitude that we feel towards 
 Thee, our Father. We realize, our Heavenly 
 Father, that it is in Thy providence that we 
 should come into this world and take upon us a 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 239 
 
 body, and to lay a foundation for our future 
 existence ; and that it is also in thy providence 
 that we should lay down these tabernacles that 
 we have taken upon us when the time comes, 
 until the time of the resurrection. These are 
 fixed providences which we fully understand. 
 And Father, inasmuch as we have come to- 
 gether here today to show our respect and 
 our honor to this thy servant that has been 
 called away from us, we have come, Father, 
 feeling that it is also in thy providence that 
 we have the privilege of doing so under these 
 favorable circumstances; because we do know 
 that thy people have fallen by the way; they 
 have been left upon the plain; they have been 
 left under various circumstances which were 
 not as favorable as those which confront us 
 this day. We thank thee, O our God, that thou 
 hast been thus mindful of us, that thou hast in 
 thy providence watched over us, and that thy 
 care has been over us, that we have been pre- 
 served, and that many of us still live arid still 
 have a fixed desire in our hearts to serve thee, 
 and to fill up our days in helping to build up 
 thy kingdom, as this thy servant President 
 Layton has done. O God, our Father, we feel 
 in our hearts that thy servant has been one of 
 thy chosen servants, and that he has performed 
 a great and mighty work, and that he has been 
 faithful even unto the end; and that he has 
 
240 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 laid down his tabernacle with his spirit filled 
 with the testimony of the Lord Jesus. Father, 
 we thank thee for this blessing, that this thy 
 servant has thus been faithful, and pray that we 
 may be enabled to emulate his example in our 
 lives, and labor faithfully as he has done ; and 
 when our time shall come, that it may be said 
 that we have been faithful to the last. Father, 
 we do not feel that there is any occasion here 
 today to mourn, or to feel a regret that thy 
 providence has removed from us this thy ser- 
 vant; but Father, we feel to thank thee, we 
 feel to thank and to bless thy holy name, that 
 thy servant has thus been faithful, and that 
 he has laid a foundation that will never be 
 thrown down. Father, wilt thou bless his pos- 
 terity, his numerous posterity of sons and 
 daughters and wives ; may their hearts be com- 
 forted this day, our Father, and may they, in- 
 stead of mourning, feel to rejoice in their 
 hearts that they are representing so noble a 
 character, so faithful a husband and father; 
 that they may rejoice in thy goodness to him, 
 for the care and protection that has been over 
 him, that he has lived to a good age ; and that 
 they may emulate all his good examples, and 
 that they also at the proper time may rejoice 
 in heaven, faithful to the end. Father, bless us 
 here this day; may the solemnity of this occa- 
 sion rest upon each one of us, and may our 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 241 
 
 hearts be open to the words of truth that we 
 may hear from thy servants. Father, we also 
 thank thee for the privilege of having with us 
 one of the Presidents of thy Church, even Pres- 
 ident Smith and Apostle Smith also, and Pres- 
 ident Seymour B. Young ; that we are so high- 
 ly favored, that we are honored with their 
 presence. And we pray that thou wilt bless 
 them, and inspire them with the feeling that 
 they may talk those things to us that shall be 
 for our good ; that we may be strengthened and 
 have power to go forth and do good in the 
 earth. We dedicate ourselves, together with 
 the labors and services of this afternoon, and 
 all that pertains unto us, and pray that thy 
 care and protection and peace may be over us 
 continually ; which we ask in the name of Jesus 
 Christ our Redeemer. Amen. 
 
 "Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee," 
 by the choir. 
 
 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH. 
 
 Contrary somewhat to my usual custom, 
 and not altogether in accordance with my nat- 
 ural desire, I rise to speak to you as the Lord 
 may give me utterance, at the beginning of this 
 meeting. I would very much prefer to listen 
 and to keep my seat, than to occupy this posi- 
 
 17 
 
242 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 tion myself, for I could satisfy my mind and 
 my spirit better, I think, so far as I am person- 
 ally concerned, in reflection and in listening to 
 the thoughts expressed by others, than it will 
 be possible for me to do in attempting to speak 
 to you. I do not feel that there should be here 
 present a spirit of mourning or of lamentation ; 
 and we have not met together under such an 
 influence or with such a spirit hovering over 
 us. On the contrary we have met together to 
 rejoice as well as to mourn ; and we feel grate- 
 ful and thankful to the Lord our God, as well 
 as to feel, or to sense the feeling of depriva- 
 tion, of loneliness and of sadness which comes 
 to us by reason of the departure from us of one 
 who has been for so many, many years so fa- 
 miliar to us, and of one upon whom so many 
 have looked with dependence for guidance and 
 for counsel and for support. 
 
 We have on this occasion before us the re- 
 mains of a very notable man, a man of strong 
 individuality, and of great physical and mental 
 power and magnetism ; a man who was fitted 
 and qualified by nature to be a leader among 
 men, and a power in the midst of his fellow 
 creatures. He, Brother Christopher Layton, 
 was no common man ; he was no ordinary in- 
 dividual; he was a rare man. He was one 
 among a thousand. Although lacking in edu- 
 cation, in. the esteem as it is reckoned by the 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 243 
 
 world, yet mentally and intellectually he was 
 capacitated to cope with the most learned in 
 relation to the management of the material af- 
 fairs of life ; and there were few men really his 
 equal in relation to the management of tem- 
 poral affairs. He was a vigorous, energetic, 
 clear-minded, conscientious man, and a man 
 whose natural qualifications fitted him for 
 many responsible public duties and positions in 
 the midst of the Saints and in the midst of the 
 people wherever he has dwelt. My recollection 
 goes back to a very early day, when Bishop 
 Layton, as we used to call him familiarly, was 
 the bishop of this ward. In those early days 
 Kaysville was not what it is today. I remem- 
 ber it at that time, or in those days, as almost 
 a barren waste; one of the most forbidding, 
 uninviting regions that could be found in all 
 this vast barren valley; when Bishop Layton 
 was the bishop here. That is in the beginning 
 of his bishopric; although at that time this 
 region of country began to look up and become 
 prosperous. Before that I believe Bishop Al- 
 len Taylor was bishop. I have passed through 
 here when it was impossible to find a spear of 
 hay or anything better than wheat chaff or oat 
 straw with which to feed a team. But under 
 the bishopric of our beloved brother whose re- 
 mains now lie before us, a change came over 
 the face of this land, and it began to be pros- 
 
244 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 perous, and the people began to be prosperous 
 in it ; for the Lord blessed the earth here, and 
 by the aid of lucerne, which seemed to be so 
 naturally adapted to the climate here, every- 
 thing seemed to take a start in the upward 
 direction. After serving for many years as 
 bishop, he was chosen as a counselor in the 
 presidency of this stake of Zion when this stake 
 was organized. And he remained counselor in 
 the presidency of the stake until circumstances 
 arose which made it necessary for his personal 
 safety, not because of any crime or misde- 
 meanor in the eye of God or of any righteous 
 man, but personal safety, made it necessary 
 for him to seek a home in another part of our 
 land. And in the course of time he became the 
 president of the Saint Joseph stake of Zion in 
 Arizona; and remained the president of that 
 stake, prosperously guiding and directing the 
 energies of the people in that region of country 
 until his health failed him and he was stricken 
 with weakness, until it was impossible for him 
 to attend to the duties of his calling. And un- 
 der these circumstances it was deemed wisdom 
 to release him from the arduous duties as pres- 
 ident of the Saint Joseph stake and ordain him 
 a patriarch, and place a younger man in the 
 position of president of that stake of Zion. 
 And soon after this, his health failing, he re- 
 turned here to Kaysville, to his former home 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 245 
 
 and to the scenes of his former activity and 
 to the associations of his former days, to end 
 his mortal life among his old friends and in the 
 midst of his family. 
 
 Brother Layton had reached an advanced 
 age, not as old as he might have been, possibly, 
 if he had been more cautious and careful of 
 his health, and had not been so inured to hard- 
 ships and to activity and to toil and labor ; for 
 it is a fact that while a certain amount of ener- 
 gy and of activity is productive of health and 
 the prolongation of life, yet when the mental 
 and the physical powers are overtaxed by too 
 arduous labor and too great a strain, both the 
 mind and the body must yield to the undue 
 pressure upon it, and under such circumstances 
 life is often cut short. I believe that President 
 Layton, or Patriarch Layton, with his natural 
 energy and vital force, if he had been more 
 cautious or careful of his health all through, 
 might have lived to a very great age. But he 
 has worn out in the service of the Lord, and 
 in the service of the people of God, and in the 
 service of his family. He has not rusted out. 
 He has not fallen to pieces by disuse or any- 
 thing of this kind, for he was always energetic ; 
 he was always active ; he was always persever- 
 ing; and he was always pushing and forging 
 ahead for something that would be of vast im- 
 portance to mankind ; so that nothing too good 
 
246 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 can be said of our beloved brother and friend, 
 Bishop Layton. I have but one regret in my 
 heart, and that is that I did not lay aside my 
 duties and my cares and responsibilities that 
 continue to press upon me, during his last ill- 
 ness to come here and see him ; make him a vis- 
 it and renew our association; for I have la- 
 bored with him in times past. Some of you 
 will remember that in the presidency of Brig- 
 ham Young, I myself acted as the president of 
 this stake of Zion, although it was not at that 
 time organized into a stake. But I was appoint- 
 ed by President Young to labor here as the pre- 
 siding officer over Davis county. President Lay- 
 ton was one of my right hand men, one of my 
 active advisers and helpers, and I learned to 
 appreciate his work and his ability as a man 
 almost endowed with real genius in many re- 
 spects. And I was acquainted with him in the 
 days of his bishopric, and in the days of my 
 presidency here, and also in the days of his as- 
 sociations with President Smith and President 
 Hess here; and I have been acquainted with 
 him ever since his appointment to the presi- 
 dency of the stake of Zion. And all through 
 I have been pleased and gratified with my ac- 
 quaintance with so noble and so faithful and 
 so energetic a man. 
 
 Now my brothers and sisters, it matters not 
 in relation to these things, about our tempor- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 247 
 
 alities. I might spend all the moments that 
 were allotted to me here in eulogies of Brother 
 ,Layton, but it would amount to but little after 
 all. Some of you knew him more than I did, 
 and I am thankful for it, and I feel to say God 
 bless the family of Brother Christopher Layton. 
 He has done a great work in the earth, and I 
 tell you that he has made his calling and elec- 
 tion about as sure as almost any man I think 
 that ever lived in the flesh, so far as that is 
 concerned. I want to read a few words. The 
 Lord says : 
 
 "Behold! mine house is a house of order, 
 saith the Lord God, and not a house of con- 
 fusion. 
 
 "Will I accept of an offering, saith the Lord, 
 that is 1 not made in my name? 
 
 "Or, will I receive at your hands that which 
 I have not appointed? 
 
 "And will I appoint unto you, saith the 
 Lord, except it be by law, even as I and my 
 Father ordained unto you, before the world 
 was? 
 
 "I am the Lord thy God, and I give unto you 
 this commandment, that no man shall come 
 unto the Father but by me, or by my word, 
 which is my law, saith the Lord ; 
 
 "And everything that is in the world, wheth- 
 er it be ordained by me, by thrones, or prin- 
 
248 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 cipalities, or powers, or things of name, what- 
 soever they may be, that are not by me or by 
 my word, saith the Lord, shall be thrown 
 down, and shall not remain after men are dead, 
 neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the 
 Lord your God ; 
 
 "For whatsoever things remain, are by me; 
 and whatsoever things are not by me, shall be 
 shaken and destroyed." 
 
 Now, there is a principle involved in this, 
 and it is a principle of vast consequence to the 
 children of men, and it is a principle that in- 
 volves the relation that exists today between 
 him who was Bishop Layton, or President Lay- 
 ton, and this vast concourse of people that I 
 see before me here, which constitute his wives 
 and his children and his children's children to 
 the second or third generation. I want to as- 
 sure this family and also this vast congrega- 
 tion that those who are associated with Broth- 
 er Layton have become associated unto him 
 and with him, by the law of God, and by the 
 power of the Almighty; and therefore they 
 will remain in and after the resurrection from 
 the dead, and there is no power on earth, nor 
 in the heavens, nor beneath the heavens that 
 can ever disrupt or destroy the relationships 
 that have been formed under and in connec- 
 tion with the power of God, and the law of 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTONl 249 
 
 God, between Brother Layton and his family, 
 except the power of sin, and that sin on the 
 part of the individuals themselves. We have 
 every reason to believe that Brother Layton 
 himself has been true to his convictions, has 
 been faithful to the light that he possessed, 
 and to the intelligence that he possessed, and 
 the power that he possessed to cope with the 
 affairs of the world that were arrayed against 
 him ; and that he has been faithful to the last ; 
 and that he has fought the good fight ; that he 
 has kept the faith; that henceforth there is 
 laid up for him a crown of everlasting life, and 
 no man can take it from him. Now I want to 
 say to the family and the children and wives of 
 Brother Layton, that the relationships that 
 have been formed between you and this man, 
 are not relationships that were destined to last 
 until death should part you and then cease, but 
 they were relationships that were intended to 
 exist throughout the countless ages of eter- 
 nity, because they were by God created, 
 formed, and entered into and confirmed, and 
 therefore they are eternal in their nature. 
 
 The house of God is a house of order. Let 
 me read a little more in relation to the cove- 
 nant of marriage. A distinguishing feature 
 more than another of his character was that 
 he was a married man, and he was married by 
 the law of God. 
 
250 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 "Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in 
 the world, and he marry her not by me, nor by 
 my word ; and he covenant with her so long as 
 he is in the world, and she with him, their 
 covenant and marriage are not of force when 
 they are dead, and when they are out of the 
 world; therefore, they are not bound by any 
 law when they are out of the world ; 
 
 "Therefore, when they are out of the world, 
 they neither marry, nor are given in marriage ; 
 but are appointed angels in heaven, which an- 
 gels are ministering servants, to minister for 
 those who are worthy of a far more, and an 
 exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory ; 
 
 "For these angels did not abide my law, 
 therefore they cannot be enlarged, but remain 
 separately and singly, without exaltation, in 
 their saved condition, to all eternity, and from 
 henceforth are not Gods, but are angels of 
 God, forever and ever." 
 
 Then the Lord goes on to say, if a man 
 marry a wife by him 'and by his law, then that 
 covenant is accepted of the Lord, and it is an 
 eternal covenant, and they go on to increase 
 and continue in life and in death and in the res- 
 urrection from the dead, and throughout the 
 countless ages of eternity; and then, says the 
 Lord: 
 
 "Then shall they be Gods, because they have 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 251 
 
 no end ; therefore shall they be from everlast- 
 ing to everlasting, because they continue ; then 
 shall they be above all, because all things are 
 subject to them; then shall they be Gods, be- 
 cause they have all power, and the angels are 
 subject unto them. 
 
 "Verily, verily I say unto you, except ye 
 abide in my law, ye cannot attain to this glory ; 
 
 "For strait is the gate, and narrow the way 
 that leadeth unto the exaltation and continua- 
 tion of the lives, and few there be that find it, 
 because ye receive me not in the world, neither 
 do ye know me. 
 
 "But if ye receive me in the world, then shall 
 ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation, 
 that where I am, ye shall be also. 
 
 "This is eternal life, to know the only wise 
 and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath 
 sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my 
 law." 
 
 I want to say to you that Brother Lay ton 
 has received this law ; Brother Layton has en- 
 tered into this law. These women that I see 
 before me, that are sealed to him for time and 
 eternity, entered into that covenant by that 
 law, and they are sealed for time and for all 
 eternity ; and they shall not be angels who shall 
 be ministers unto those who are worthy of a 
 far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
 
252 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 glory ; they shall be queens and priestesses un- 
 to God, and shall reign in the heavens and in 
 their kingdoms. This is what I wanted to say 
 to this congregation and to his family, and to 
 all who have by the law of God entered into 
 the new and everlasting covenants. 
 
 My brethren and sisters, it was a duty that 
 brought me here. I felt that I wanted to come 
 to pay my last tribute of respect to my depart- 
 ed brother. There are others who can speak 
 of his qualifications and of his faithfulness, but 
 my time is short. I came that I might speak a 
 word of comfort to this family ; if by any word 
 of mine they could be comforted, made to feel 
 a spirit of happiness and hope, a spirit of for- 
 giveness one towards another, of forgiveness 
 for everything that they have felt was wrong 
 in their lives or in the lives of those with whom 
 they have been associated. If they will for- 
 give one another, and will be worthy of the 
 covenants that they have made, they will reap 
 the reward and they will not be deprived of any 
 blessing that has been promised unto them, nor 
 shall any promise fail that has ever been made 
 to them. His sons shall be blest; his daugh- 
 ters shall be blest ; and every child shall be blest 
 in this land that is given unto you. Possess 
 this land and inherit it, and inherit your fath- 
 er's faithfulness to the cause of Zion. Your fath- 
 er has lived and died true to the gospel ; and 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 253 
 
 he has lived to set an example of integrity to 
 the cause of Zion. So let me admonish the 
 children of Brother Layton to be true to their 
 covenants and never depart from the right way. 
 My brethren and sisters, the sons and daugh- 
 ters of Brother Layton, I ask you as a friend 
 and brother, and I ask you in the name of the 
 Lord, as a minister of the gospel of the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, that you will be true to your 
 father, true to your integrity as he has been 
 true to the integrity of the cause of Zion. As 
 he has gone out of the world sure of eternal 
 life and exaltation, so will you each of you in 
 your time follow your father, as sure of exal- 
 tation as he is sure of exaltation. Brethren, I 
 would like to spend an hour or so talking with 
 you. I would like to read from the Scriptures 
 the thoughts that are passing through my mind, 
 but my time will not permit. I have another 
 engagement in Salt Lake City a little after four 
 o'clock, and after I shall close my remarks I 
 shall take the liberty of departing from the 
 meeting, leaving the brethren to continue the 
 services. God bless the family, and God bless 
 all that pertains to the children of President 
 Layton ; lead them on triumphantly until they 
 shall gain the exaltation that he has gained; 
 where they shall not be angels to minister unto 
 those that are more worthy, but they shall be 
 kings and queens and have everlasting life and 
 
254 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 eternal increase, which is the gift of God. May 
 the Lord bless you, is my prayer, in the name 
 of Jesus. Amen. 
 
 REMARKS BY SEYMOUR B. YOUNG. 
 
 President Christopher Layton received many 
 years ago, in the eventful history of his life, a 
 change of heart, and it imprinted itself upon 
 him as a new life, and he became as were the 
 people on the day of Pentecost, a convert to 
 the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ ; and he ex- 
 claimed as Ruth exclaimed: "do not persuade 
 me from following after them." He said to 
 the people of the Lord, "whither thou goest I 
 will go, and whither thou diest there I will die 
 also, for thy people shall be my people hence- 
 forth ;" and this was characteristic of the life 
 of Christopher Layton. I believe that he was 
 a friend of mine, and I am proud to say that I 
 was a very true friend to him so far as I knew 
 how to be. And I say God bless his memory ; 
 and I testify that the words spoken by Presi- 
 dent Joseph F. Smith are true, and they do 
 truly represent the life and character of Pres- 
 ident Christopher Layton. And I will repeat 
 the words of Whittier, who said : "He has done 
 the work of a true man ; crown him, bless him, 
 honor him, and love his name forever. " God 
 bless the family of Christopher Layton. God 
 bless you all, my brethren and sisters, and may 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 255 
 
 you seek to exemplify the noble lives that are 
 set before you as leaders, in all your life to 
 come, following the good example of these 
 great men that live and die in our midst. And 
 we have the full testimony that has been read to 
 us today, and that testimony is in every heart, 
 that the Lord has said, seeing the good works of 
 his faithful servant, "go up higher." May this 
 be the lot of every one of us, to walk faithfully 
 before the Lord, keeping his commandments 
 and magnifying the callings he has placed 
 upon us, doing our whole duty as faithful ser- 
 vants and handmaidens ; with the hope that at 
 the end of our days, it may be truthfully said 
 also of us : "he has fought the good fight, he 
 has kept the faith, henceforth there is a crown 
 of glory laid up for him." May this be the well 
 done and happy termination of all of our lives ; 
 that we may receive those welcome plaudits, 
 "well done, thou good and faithful servants and 
 handmaidens, enter into the joy of thy Lord." 
 This is the condition I testify today of Chris- 
 topher Layton. His faithful life has gained 
 this happy result for him. May we also be 
 faithful, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus 
 Christ. Amen. 
 
 REMARKS BY APOSTLE JOHN HENRY SMITH. 
 
 My brethren and sisters, I am happy in the 
 privilege of attending these services and of 
 
256 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 adding my tribute of respect to President Lay- 
 ton; as it has fallen to my lot probably more 
 than to any of the associates in my immediate 
 council, to have companionship with President 
 Lay ton. For the past ten or twelve years, al- 
 most yearly, and sometimes twice a year, I 
 have made the tour of the southern stakes of 
 the Church. And through this means have 
 been thrown more or less intimately with Pres- 
 ident Layton in his field of labor. A year ago 
 last March I was in that part of the country 
 and discovered that he was in a very critical 
 condition physically. Upon mv return to Utah, 
 I told the Presidency that it seemed to me that 
 it would be a measure of propriety in the in- 
 terests of the preservation of his health, that 
 the cares and the labors that were upon him 
 he should be relieved of. They felt, how- 
 ever, that there was no necessity particular- 
 ly for change under the circumstances, al- 
 though President Layton had said to me in 
 parting with him, that he felt that he was car- 
 rying about all that was possible for him to 
 do, and he would regard it in the light of re- 
 lief to be freed from his responsibilities. It 
 was my privilege again, during the earlier 
 months of the present year, upon his solicita- 
 tion and in company with others of the breth- 
 ren, to make the changes that led to his release 
 from that presidency. And it is always a deli- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 257 
 
 cate place to be put in, no matter what the con- 
 dition of our health or the circumstances sur- 
 rounding" us are, to relieve men who have been 
 strong, determined and capable in the perform- 
 ance of every duty in their lives to the best 
 of their ability. But I believe that his family 
 that were with him in that part of the country 
 will bear us out in this, that in the performance 
 of this duty, we received his blessing and his 
 approval and most kindly feeling in the labor 
 that we had there to perform. And in speak- 
 ing in the conference where the changes were 
 made, I almost felt in paying a brief tribute to 
 his labors and ministry, that it was like pos- 
 sibly the preaching of his funeral sermon ; for 
 it did not seem to me that it was possible that 
 he could last any great length of time; al- 
 though his great or his splendid constitution 
 seemed to be struggling against the encroach- 
 ments of disease; and with his heroic courage 
 and determination to bear up to the last min- 
 ute, no one can tell the possibilities of a man of 
 his type. I desire to endorse with all my heart, 
 the remarks that have been made by my breth- 
 ren who have preceded me on this occasion. 
 And I think he himself, in possibly the last 
 conversation but one that I ever held with him 
 previous to our separation in Arizona last 
 spring, paid as high a tribute to his own fam- 
 ily as any one of us could possibly pay, es- 
 
 18 
 
258 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 pecially so it is the case in regard to his chil- 
 dren. I think several times, however, in my 
 meeting with him, he has made the remark ; "I 
 am the father [if I remember the number cor- 
 rectly] of over fifty living children, and I have 
 neither boy or girl that would ever allow me to 
 hitch up or unhitch a horse if they were about 
 the home." I thought in his remark made in 
 regard to this numerous family, it was a tribute 
 probably that few men could pay to their chil- 
 dren, even where they had but a limited family 
 of one, two, three, four or five children, and 
 possibly more; and that it spoke volumes for 
 his leadership, the force of his character, and 
 the influence and power that he exercised in 
 the control and government of his family. I 
 have been led to think as I was sitting here 
 upon my seat and listening to the remarks that 
 have been made, what family in this district 
 has been better housed and better fed, that 
 have been kept more industriously at work, 
 than has the family of Brother Layton? Is 
 there any man in the district standing abso- 
 lutely alone, without wife or child, that has 
 fared better than he has fared, than his family 
 has fared? Or any man with a wife and no 
 children, or with a wife and half a dozen chil- 
 dren, that has done his part in a more master- 
 ful manner, in providing for the wants and 
 needs, and utilizing the powers and forces that 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 259 
 
 he possessed in directing the improvements 
 and labors of his house, in the accomplishment 
 of their temporal good ? And I believe that the 
 same impress of forcefulness manifested in 
 the industry of his household, he has also es- 
 tablished and fixed in their spiritual needs. Not 
 that it can be anticipated, nor should be, that 
 there shall not be members of a house of this 
 magnitude that shall not be possessed of faults, 
 that shall not make some mistakes and have 
 some of the weaknesses of human nature. We 
 could not anticipate this. President Layton 
 was possessed of his faults and weaknesses. 
 He made his mistakes. It has fallen to my 
 lot in my companionship with him, to adjust 
 troubles between him and his brethren, and to 
 correct him ; and I have noted in connection 
 with this delicate species of labor, that he has 
 never failed so far as he was concerned, to -ex- 
 hibit that degree of humility that was in him; 
 and I have had greater love and respect and 
 regard for his devotion to the cause which he 
 had entered in his early life. I was talking 
 last evening with a young man, a former resi- 
 dent of your county, and remarking to him that 
 among the remarkable men of our time was 
 Christopher Layton; and that among the most 
 remarkable body of men that had ever been 
 brought together in this world, were the men 
 who established themselves in these valleys in 
 
260 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 the early day. Standing upon the corner of 
 one of the blocks of Salt Lake City, I enumer- 
 ated to this young man and pointed to the 
 homes of men who had been residents in a cer- 
 tain section of Salt Lake City, to the place they 
 had taken among their fellow men, and to the 
 characteristics and strength of the body of men 
 whom the Almighty had selected for the ac- 
 complishment and establishment of his work. 
 We talk about education. The world you 
 know are making every effort that it is possible 
 for them to make in the line of what they call 
 the higher education ; that the school may be 
 utilized for the benefit of the human race in 
 every possible form, and they are schooling 
 them scientifically. It takes a scientific man to 
 be a captain of one of our steamships. It takes 
 a scientific man to be a master mechanic on 
 board one of those boats. It takes a man 
 schooled and trained in the accomplishment of 
 those purposes looking to the naval interests 
 of our country, to our military interests, to 
 our civil interests, etc. Here was a man edu- 
 cated up to the highest possible standard, not 
 in the scholastic training, or in the training of 
 the schools ; but in that practical common sense, 
 that ability and force and power that from the 
 elements right around him he has wrung a 
 fortune, been enabled to provide for an im- 
 mense household, pointing the way by which 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 261 
 
 from the sordid elements the blessings of life 
 could be wrung; all through that master edu- 
 cation, the great common sense which the Al- 
 mighty gave him. He has been a blessing to 
 hundreds and thousands of his fellow men. 
 Thousands of men and women among the Lat- 
 ter-day Saints who have come in contact with 
 him, and been under his advice and compan- 
 ionship, must say if they tell the truth of him, 
 "he was a blessing to me, he was a blessing to 
 my home, he pointed the way in some measure 
 to the success that has attended my life.^ 
 While he possessed characteristics that I was 
 not pleased with, his native individuality and 
 strength and power and skill with which God 
 had endowed him, made him a tower of 
 strength and blessing to hundreds and thou- 
 sands of his fellow men. I am not here to 
 bestow eulogies upon Brother Layton. You 
 knew him, you knew his characteristics. You 
 knew the forcefulness of his nature and the 
 faith with which God had endowed him. You 
 knew the determination that was in him that 
 said "there shall be no drone in the hive of our 
 God." If there was necessity of labor or 
 strength or power, he possessed it, and he has 
 utilized it with the ability which his 
 Maker has given him for the blessing of his 
 fellow men. Under what circumstances he 
 may have been placed, he has never betrayed 
 
262 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 a friend; he has never betrayed the gospel of 
 the Lord Jesus Christ ; he has never betrayed 
 his Redeemer ; he has never betrayed his Maker 
 or the principles of truth so far as he had light 
 and knowledge and understanding to guide 
 and govern his life. If he has made any mis- 
 takes, they have been mistakes of the head and 
 not of the heart. I found fault with him upon 
 one occasion because of his devotion and 
 friendship to men that I thought were bad 
 men, and he regarded me as extremely harsh 
 in the judgment that I passed in regard to 
 those men. Two years later, in meeting him, 
 he came to me and confessed that the position 
 that I had assumed in regard to the matter 
 was correct, and that his friendship had warped 
 his judgment in connection with this matter, 
 and that he had been placed in a position that 
 was unfortunate from that friendship. It is 
 not for me to say here that he was without 
 fault. It is not for me to say here that there is 
 any man or woman or child without fault, and 
 to heap encomiums without wisdom or judg- 
 ment upon the heroic men who laid the foun- 
 dation of this commonwealth and whose hearts 
 were in tune with liberty, and with the de- 
 termination fixed and established among them, 
 that every man, woman and child who accepted 
 a belief in the supreme Being, who desired to 
 do his bidding, should be blest by their coun- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 263 
 
 sels and their efforts. This was the case with 
 this man who established himself here. He 
 returned to the southern land as one of the 
 saviors of the Latter-day Saints, carrying the 
 standard of our nation, and being one of the 
 means that led to the preservation of the Lat- 
 ter-day Saints in the midst of many of their 
 trials. We could point to his heroic acts, and 
 of his associates, who offered themselves that 
 the interests of our government might be ex- 
 tended. And returning to these fields, util- 
 ized his means in the purchase of large tracts 
 of country, placing it in the reach of others ; 
 devoting himself with the energy that should 
 have been found in a young man of twenty 
 years. Almost to the day of his death was he 
 planning and scheming that the borders of 
 Zion might be extended, and that the men and 
 women who had come under his watch-care, 
 should be put upon the soil, that they might 
 have blessings such as the possession of homes 
 could give. My brothers and sisters, as I look 
 over the past, and as I note the changes that 
 are being daily wrought in the passing of that 
 heroic band who built up that civilization that 
 we possess, while a tear of regret at separation 
 may pass down my cheek as I note one by one 
 passing behind the scenes, I rejoice in the fact 
 that I have known them. I feel that I am a 
 better man for having known Christopher Lay- 
 
264 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 ton; for having seen the liberality of his soul 
 and the products of that wisdom that God gave 
 him and the use he made of his powers. And 
 I might go on and point out hundreds and 
 thousands of them ; for I bow my head in rev- 
 erence to them all. Each one was a hero, no 
 matter where they had been placed. They had 
 their selfish make up; they had their peculiar 
 characteristics ; for every one of them was dis- 
 tinct. This man was unlike every other man I 
 ever met. He was himself, Christopher Layton, 
 guided by a belief in God, and with a determin- 
 ation by the help of the Almighty, to extend the 
 borders of Zion, conquering the desert and 
 bringing to man's dominion those elements that 
 tend to his happiness and peace, and are a bless- 
 ing to all who desire homes and a place among 
 the people of God. Sitting around me are 
 men who have drunk from the bubbling foun- 
 tain of truth with him, who knew his worth, 
 who have plighted their faith with him, pledged 
 their lives to him, and for whom he has pledged 
 his life in the accomplishment of spreading the 
 truth of the gospel. His talents, his means, 
 everything that man holds dear, was upon the 
 altar for the accomplishment of the work of 
 God. Not an apostle of the old school from 
 President Young down to myself, at least, but 
 what has received of his hospitality, been cared 
 for in his homes, hauled in his wagons, drank 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 265 
 
 from his wells, slept in his beds, and received 
 from his hand if need be the means with 
 which to pay our way over the railroads, or 
 to be carried hundreds and thousands of miles 
 possibly under the watchcare and protection of 
 his sons or the men in his employ. Not one of 
 them but when they come to his bier may come 
 from reverence, for in his death one of the tru- 
 est, one of the most stalwart, one of the most 
 fearless, most sterling of men has surrendered 
 his spirit to his Maker, and has gone to the re- 
 ward of the just. A man who followed the 
 laws of God and fulfilled the purpose of his be- 
 ing to the best of his ability with which his 
 Maker had endowed him. This is my tribute. 
 Peace to his ashes. May his sons and daugh- 
 ters prove of the same worth and honor such 
 as was in him. May they bow at his bier and 
 register a vow, both sons and daughters, chil- 
 dren and grandchildren, that that honor main- 
 tained by him shall never be lowered by them ; 
 not one of them shall become a drunkard ; not 
 one a profane man ; not one a thoughtless, im- 
 pure or unwise man or woman ; but with heroic 
 courage say that the standard he has raised so 
 high shall continue to ascend and grow in 
 power as long as time shall be. I regarded 
 President Layton as an honest, truthful, fear- 
 less believer in the principles of the gospel, and 
 as devoted to its advancement as any man with 
 
266 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 whom I have come in contact in my experi- 
 ence with the work and its development ; and it 
 has been my. privilege to know quite a number 
 of them. But when we come to speak of one of 
 these men, and look over the past, I cast my 
 eye around me, look upon the men sitting by 
 my side, and I see that the reaper is gathering 
 and gleaning from a host of the worthiest men 
 that have ever lived in this world ; and that 
 that gatherer will continue to come and gather ; 
 and I wonder as I look around on their sons 
 and daughters, whether there is one of us who 
 have descended from that stalwart stock, that 
 will lower the standard that they raised in any 
 degree, and whether the sires and the mothers 
 who have borne us shall bow their heads in re- 
 gret that they upheld the principles of the eter- 
 nity of the marriage covenant and the laws of 
 God given for the establishment of righteous- 
 ness in the world, and the gathering in of God's 
 children ; or whether we may bow our heads 
 and shrink from the labor that lies before us. 
 I trust that such shall not be the case. We 
 may be weak; we may lack the capacity that 
 these sires have ; but we can do our duty with 
 the ability that we have. And so far as I am 
 concerned, I have registered my promise with 
 my God, that if he will give me strength, the 
 mother that bore me and went to her rest in 
 my infancy, shall not blush that I am her son ; 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 267 
 
 for I honor her that she accepted the marriage 
 covenant and the plurality of wives. I honor 
 her in the presence of God and of men, that 
 she sustained the principle of right. May heav- 
 en's peace and joy abound in the homes of 
 these boys and these girls, of these men and 
 these women, of these mothers who have passed 
 through the fire and trial of experience, and 
 been devoted and true and unyielding, fulfill- 
 ing their mission. May God sustain them with 
 that fortitude, that through the balance of their 
 lives they shall recognize the fact that the 
 Father has honored them in the possession of 
 such a husband ; and I know that he feels that 
 God has honored him in the possession of such 
 wives and such children. The gospel, my 
 brothers and sisters, is true; it will not fail; 
 its promises will be accomplished, and the star 
 of light will spread and increase until all the 
 world shall learn the way; and the righteous 
 shall reign and the evil shall go to condemna- 
 tion. God bless you all, my brothers and sis- 
 ters. May peace abide and abound in your 
 homes. May the heroic spirit continue to 
 struggle as long as breath shall remain in your 
 body; characterize you as it characterized this 
 man whose remains lie here. Not sinking your 
 individuality; not losing 'yourself. For he 
 never sank his individuality. Wherever he was 
 his voice must be heard, giving his views upon 
 
268 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 any proposition looking to the development in 
 the section in which he lived, or for the accom- 
 plishment of good. My witness is that our 
 Father has gathered another gem, and that he 
 will gather others in brief periods of time, to 
 link with the grand heroes that have gone be- 
 fore, who sustaining the name of Christ in this 
 world, will sustain it in the next world, as gems 
 adorning the crown he shall wear, because they 
 accepted his principles and labored to make 
 them honorable in the world. God bless you. 
 Amen. 
 
 REMARKS BY STAKE PRESIDENT JOHN W. HESS. 
 
 I feel as if I wanted to occupy a few mo- 
 ments. There has already been a great deal 
 said, and I testify, so far as my knowledge goes, 
 that it is all true, and not one word that I know 
 of has been spoken amiss. And I suppose that 
 we might go on and keep up this kind of talk 
 until dark, and we would not exhaust the good 
 that might be said. It is true that as a people, 
 when we come to a time that our hearts are 
 filled with charity, our hearts are filled with the 
 spirit of truth, so that we forget all of the lit- 
 tle matters that once perhaps disturbed us more 
 or less. When we forget these little matters and 
 begin to think with a charitable feeling upon 
 one another, there seems to be no exhaust- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 269 
 
 ing it. It is not only so in the case of Brother 
 Layton, but it is so with the great majority of 
 this people, as we have already heard. Now I 
 have been acquainted with Brother Layton a 
 great many years, and much has been said of 
 his nobleness of character and the greatness of 
 his intentions and desires. I want to go back. 
 You know I am one of these old residents. I 
 want to go back about fifty years, perhaps 
 more. I want to go back to 1846, and I want 
 to relate a circumstance in which this man par- 
 ticipated, that there has been nothing said 
 about. A circumstance that many of our 
 young people know nothing at all about. A 
 circumstance and a time when the Church, 
 when the Latter-day Saints were on the altar 
 of sacrifice, if you know* what that is. These 
 people have been on the altar of sacrifice a 
 number of times, and the Lord has had his 
 means at those different times to save the peo- 
 ple. I want to relate in short, a circumstance 
 of this kind that took place about the time of 
 our exodus from Nauvoo. We were generally 
 bad, so considered by the world; as a rule it 
 was considered by the world that we were not 
 fit to live, that we ought not to be allowed to 
 live because we were so generally bad, and so 
 corrupt that we were not worthy of a place on 
 the earth. This was about the time that we 
 were driven from Nauvoo. Now the question 
 
270 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 when we were about to be driven out of the 
 confines of the United States was, what shall 
 be done with these Mormons? We can't have 
 them here; the state of Missouri couldn't en- 
 dure them; they have driven them to Illinois 
 and they have come here. We can't have them, 
 and what are we going to do with them ? Well, 
 we were to be driven somewhere, no one 
 knew where ; into the wilderness ; into the 
 west; none of us knew where. This was a 
 question in Congress. Now I have heard this 
 explained in a different light, and it is simply 
 not true wherein it has been explained in a 
 light that it was a favor; it was a blessing 
 conferred upon our people to allow five hun- 
 dred men to enlist to go to Mexico and to be 
 landed in California or somewhere else where 
 we were to be going; that it was done as a 
 matter of favor. I say it is not true. The 
 devil did not intend such a thing;' did not in- 
 tend to favor us as a people ; it was always the 
 opposite ; and these were the devil's emissaries 
 scheming and planning what to do with the 
 Mormons. Thomas Benton was a congress- 
 man from Missouri. He was figuring in Con- 
 gress, and induced the President to give an 
 exterminating order; instead of allowing the 
 Mormons to go to the west, to be driven among 
 the Indians, to give an exterminating order and 
 kill the people all off. The question was asked 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 271 
 
 Benton, "what will you do with the women and 
 children ?" "Kill them all, they are not worthy 
 to live, there shall not one of them be left 
 alive. " In the character of Thomas L. Kane, 
 the Lord moved upon him to take a trip up 
 through the camps of the Saints as they were 
 scattered from Nauvoo to the Bluffs, and see 
 their condition, and if need be to do so, to go 
 and make a report to the President of the con- 
 dition of the people, and of the innocence of 
 the people, and of the loyalty of the people; 
 that they were not disloyal to our government, 
 but that we had been driven from everything 
 that we had, and we were on the road some- 
 where, nobody knew where. He induced the 
 President to take notice of this matter. And 
 during this time the war with Mexico was go- 
 ing on, and the argument came up in Congress. 
 Mr. Kane said: "The people are not disloyal, 
 Mr. President, and to prove to you, give me 
 one more chance. Call upon them for five hun- 
 dred of their men to go to Mexico to fight the 
 battles of the United States, and if they refuse 
 to go, I will cease importuning/' The Presi- 
 dent took up with this offer and the demand 
 was made. Captain Allen to my certain knowl- 
 edge, with five dragoons, came to us, and I 
 know he was the man that was sent out to re- 
 cruit these five hundred men from the Mor- 
 mon camps. I know that because I was there ; 
 
272 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 and to cut my story short, this call was made 
 upon the Mormon people to turn out five hun- 
 dred of their able-bodied men, the strength, the 
 physical force, the strong arm of the people 
 was called forth, while our people were scat- 
 tered from Nauvoo, from the Mississippi Riv- 
 er to the Council Bluffs; with the people 
 camped along the road, and many of them all 
 the shelter they had was the shade of a tree. 
 Yes, without any support; the fathers were 
 called, the husbands were called, the sons were 
 turned out to make up these five hundred men. 
 What for? To go as a sacrifice. You have 
 many of you read of Abraham offering up 
 his son Isaac upon the altar. Our people at 
 that time, the Latter-day Saints at that time, 
 were as much on the altar of sacrifice as 
 Isaac was in the days of his father. And the 
 call of five hundred men was the means the 
 Lord used at that time as a sacrifice for Israel. 
 And the men were furnished, and the people 
 were saved, and permitted to go on their jour- 
 ney to the Rocky Mountains ; and we are here 
 as we are. I see one man on the stand be- 
 sides myself, and in connection with Chris- 
 topher Layton and others we went as a sacri- 
 fice while Israel was on the altar. I say, my 
 brethren and sisters, that these things are true, 
 and I want to tell them for the advantage of 
 the young people that are here. This was one 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 273 
 
 of the efforts the evil one has made from time 
 to time in the history of our people to destroy 
 the people of God, to annihilate and destroy 
 every man that held the priesthood of the Son 
 of God, and every wpman and child, that they 
 might be wiped out. The Lord has used men 
 and women from time to time to save Israel, 
 and this one that I refer to was used to save 
 Israel at that time. If these men had not been 
 furnished, if President Young had said, "no, 
 gentlemen, you have driven us from our homes, 
 you have robbed us of everything, and we have 
 been driven from everything ; and now to come 
 and ask us to turn out our men, the strength of 
 Israel, when we are under such conditions, no, 
 gentlemen, it is too unreasonable, it is so un- 
 just we will not do it." If he had done this, 
 there never would have been a Latter-day 
 Saint in these valleys, because their doom was 
 sealed to wipe this people from the face of the 
 earth. And that was the only means that 
 saved them at that time. This man was one of 
 those who took his life in his hand. As the 
 angel said to Abraham when Abraham had 
 raised the knife, he said, "stay thy hand, Abra- 
 ham, there is a ram in the thicket; sacrifice 
 him." These men were the ram in the thicket, 
 they were the sacrifice to deliver Israel; and 
 this man was one of them. I pray that we 
 may be as full of integrity as we were at that 
 
 19 
 
274 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 time, and as many of us have been since that 
 time, always ready to be sacrificed for the good 
 of others. I ask the Lord to bless his family. 
 I was a great friend of Brother Layton. He 
 had his peculiarities, and some of them I did 
 not like very well. I have peculiarities that 
 some of you do not like very well, but I have 
 them all the same, and I am trying to get rid 
 of them; and I ask you to extend your char- 
 ity towards me, and towards one another, be- 
 cause there is more or less good in all of us ; 
 and with all of our weaknesses, we have no 
 desire, no intention to do wrong. But we have 
 our weaknesses, and if we had more charity 
 toward one another before we are dead, it 
 would be a blessing to us, because we would 
 enjoy it to some extent. May the Lord grant 
 it and bless this people, that they may emulate 
 every good example, and that they may do at 
 least as well as he has done, is my prayer. 
 Amen. 
 
 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT LORIN FARR, OGDEN. 
 
 I am pleased to meet with you, and I am 
 pleased to hear the words that have been spok- 
 en today in regard to our beloved friend Broth- 
 er Layton. I have been acquainted with him 
 ever since he came to these valleys. I have 
 known his history; I have known his integ- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 275 
 
 rity, dnd that his integrity has been good. I 
 loved him because he was a man that was not 
 afraid to speak his mind. He was not afraid 
 to tell it, and if his mind differed from those 
 over him, he was willing to submit to the ma- 
 jority, but we got his mind. I loved him for 
 that. It is the class of man I am. I love 
 those that are not afraid to speak their minds ; 
 and above all I like their minds to be the mind 
 of God, the will of God, and on the side of 
 right. The Lord God is right. And it has af- 
 forded me a great deal of pleasure in meeting 
 here this afternoon, to witness the good feeling 
 and the good things said in regard to Brother 
 Layton. The last time I saw him in Arizona, 
 I had a very pleasant time with him, stopped 
 all night with him, and found him to be a true 
 friend there, and I always felt blest in his so- 
 ciety, because he was a friend of God, and God 
 was his friend. With all his peculiarities, he 
 was a man of integrity and tried to do right, 
 and he has gone to his rest. He has not gone 
 far. He is not a great ways off. We don't 
 have a great ways to go if we have gone to a 
 good place. President Layton has, and I am 
 thankful that he has gained the hope and that 
 he has got through with his troubles. He has 
 gone to associate with holy and pure beings. 
 I pray the Lord to bless his family and comfort 
 them, that they may follow his good examples 
 
276 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 and seek to do all the good they can. I ask 
 the Lord to bless you and preserve you in the 
 truth, that you may take that course that you 
 may meet Brother Layton again with joy and 
 pleasure, and meet all the righteous ones that 
 have gone before, is my prayer, in the name of 
 Jesus. Amen. 
 
 REMARKS BY BROTHER RALPH DOUGLASS, OGDEN. 
 
 I am happy to meet with vou here today. I 
 do not want to occupy the time. I have been 
 acquainted with Brother Layton for fifty-six 
 years, worked with him fifty-six years ago in 
 Illinois, and I have been acquainted with him 
 ever since. And I know that he was a good 
 man ; and I hope we will all work so as to get 
 salvation as he has, and that his family may 
 do the same, and that they may have the credit 
 that he has got. That is my prayer, in the 
 name of Jesus. Amen. 
 
 REMARKS BY BROTHER WILLIAM C. RYDALCH, 
 GRANTSVILLE. 
 
 My brethren and sisters, I am pleased that 
 I have taken the opportunity to come to pay 
 my respect to my beloved brother and friend, 
 whom I have been acquainted with about forty- 
 five years. And I can bear testimony that the 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 277 
 
 words that have been spoken by the brethren 
 are true. Whatever I have known about him 
 has been for good. He was a good neighbor, 
 a true friend, true to the Lord; gave good 
 counsel to his brethren and sisters. I hope 
 and trust that we will all serve our God as 
 faithfully as he has, and ask my Heavenly 
 Father to bless the family, the sons and the 
 daughters, and his wives, and all who are near 
 and dear to him, is my prayer, in the name of 
 Jesus. Amen. 
 
 REMARKS BY BISHOP PETER BARTON. 
 
 I have been acquainted with Brother Layton 
 and the work that he has been performing, and 
 can bear testimony to the same. And it is a 
 satisfaction to the Latter-day Saints, that we 
 will be rewarded for the good that we have 
 done. None can deprive us or rob us of our 
 reward which is promised unto us if we are 
 faithful. And it should be a stimulus to each 
 and every one to put in practice the good ex- 
 amples of those that have stood the test and 
 that fought the good fight, and have labored so 
 many years in the cause of truth and to estab- 
 lish the kingdom of God here upon the earth. 
 We should try to emulate the good examples 
 and profit by their experience, and if we do so 
 we will grow up to be honored of God, and it 
 
278 FUNERAL SERVICES. 
 
 will be said of us when we pass away, that 
 we have been faithful and have labored to build 
 up the kingdom upon the earth; and that this 
 may be our part and our privilege is my prayer, 
 in the name of Jesus. Amen. 
 
 "O my Father, Thou that dwellest ;" by the 
 choir. 
 
 PRAYER BY BROTHER JOHN THORNLEY. 
 
 O God our Heavenly Father, who dwellest 
 in the light, look down upon us thy children in 
 the multitude of thy tender mercies. Accept 
 the gratitude of our hearts for what our ears 
 have heard this afternoon ; for the goodly por- 
 tion of thy Holy Spirit which has been shed 
 abroad in the hearts of thy children who have 
 come to pay a last tribute to one of thy noble 
 Saints who has gone to dwell with the right- 
 eous. O Lord, do thou bless the remarks that 
 have been made unto us, that they may sink 
 deep into our hearts, that we may profit by the 
 same. Bless this family with the power and 
 the gift of the Holy Spirit. Be with them both 
 by day and by night, and may they prove them- 
 selves worthy of these blessings being poured 
 out upon them as they have been poured out 
 upon their parent and husband. To this end 
 we ask thy blessing to rest upon all in Israel 
 who are scattered throughout the length and 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 279 
 
 breadth of the land. Bless this people, O Lord. 
 We ask these mercies with all others that we 
 need in the name of Jesus Christ, our Re- 
 deemer. Amen. 
 
 After the services father's body was interred 
 in the Kaysville cemetery, where shortly after, 
 his families erected a monument. 
 
 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS. 
 
 In stature Christopher Layton was nearly 
 six feet in height. He had a compact and 
 well-knit frame ; walking in an erect and state- 
 ly manner. His features were regular, with a 
 broad forehead and over-hanging eyebrows. 
 He had blue eyes and light hair. His expres- 
 sion was changeable, varying from a smile 
 which revealed a heart full of deep sympathy, 
 love and affection, to a stern, cold look, indi- 
 cating strong will, self-reliance and mastery at 
 rebuke. He was easy and void of affectation, 
 deliberate in speech, conveying his original 
 ideas in apt though homely phraseology. He 
 
280 PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS. 
 
 was outspoken and plain, never mincing mat- 
 ters with any one, high or low, nor treating 
 the simplest honest member of the Church with 
 less deference than the greatest of all the dis- 
 tinguished men and women with whom he as- 
 sociated. 
 
 Without the least shadow of vanity we can 
 truly say of him, his integrity was unim- 
 peachable, and he was trustworthy in all the 
 social relations and business transactions of 
 life; and he carefully trained his children to 
 habits of industry, economy and strict moral- 
 ity, and a knowledge of true religion as re- 
 vealed to the prophets of the latter days. 
 
 He was a good judge of character and had 
 an excellent memory. His mind was as capable 
 of grasping and deciding upon great ques- 
 tions as of directing the smallest details of 
 life's everyday affairs. He was a strong be- 
 liever in the divine mission of Joseph Smith, 
 and a staunch supporter of Brigham Young 
 and his successors. His duties and responsibil- 
 ities were discharged with scrupulous punc- 
 tuality and that inflexibility of purpose which 
 insures success, and from childhood he exhib- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 281 
 
 ited that energy and decision of character 
 which marked his progress in life. He not only 
 taught profound doctrine, but also how to 
 beautify tlie home, how to build towns and to 
 redeem the desert. His advice was sought for 
 its wisdom and moderation, while he was loved 
 for his hearty, genial soul and his deep convic- 
 tions of right and justice. 
 
 When a colony was called to pioneer a new 
 country, he was the man for the place, ready 
 at the appointed hour. His mind was keen 
 and far-reaching while he inherently pos- 
 sessed those attributes which make leaders and 
 counselors. By hardships, trials and toil 
 (which had been his portion) he had been 
 tempered mentally and physically to endur- 
 ance. 
 
 He had his faults, some of which were grave 
 but not serious, but his defects need no apol- 
 ogies, for his virtues swallowed them up. He 
 left a worthy example of energy, industry, 
 indomitable will, self-sacrificing nobility, fath- 
 erly nature, love of mankind and love of God ; 
 and coming generations will link his name 
 with the noblest characters of earth. 
 
282 THE MAN— 
 
 Christopher Layton— The Man. 
 
 MY first acquaintance with Christopher 
 Layton dates from an evening in the 
 sixties, when, in charge of a small train of wag- 
 ons hauling grain from Cache Valley to Salt 
 Lake City on Deseret News account, I as a boy 
 drove into his broad dooryard at Kaysville, 
 and found welcome entertainment for man and 
 beast over night. The patriarchal size and 
 character of his family, his homely, clean-cut 
 conversation with them around the blazing fire- 
 side, his simple yet sincere devotional exer- 
 cises before separating for the night — all made 
 an impression upon me which I have never 
 forgotten. 
 
 I met him again, as incidentally referred to 
 in the foregoing history, in Arizona during 
 the "crusade days" in 1885. Like many an- 
 other, he was being hunted and hounded, until 
 he scarcely knew which way to turn for safety. 
 T encountered him on one of the flat barren 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 283 
 
 deserts of that southern territory, and will not 
 soon forget the pleasure he evinced in meet- 
 ing friends when he had almost suspected and 
 was resolutely prepared to come into clash 
 with enemies. Patience by this time had well- 
 nigh ceased to be a virtue with him and he 
 chafed under the restraints and the seclusion 
 his brethren advised. His cool, calm courage 
 seemed to me so admirable that this meeting 
 also made a deep impression upon me. While 
 this "crusade" was still raging, we met again 
 under somewhat uneasy circumstances — this 
 time on a train between Salt Lake and Ogden 
 — and it was my good fortune tx> assist him in 
 baffling those who thought they at last surely 
 had him in their grasp. Again he displayed 
 the admirable resourcefulness and courage with 
 which I had learned to associate him. I be- 
 lieve he never had a thought of fear; and I, 
 like everybody else with good red blood, al- 
 ways admired a brave man. 
 
 The work I have bestowed upon the preced- 
 ing Autobiography has but emphasized the im- 
 pressions I received of him in my youth, con- 
 firmed by acquaintance with him in my maturer 
 
284 THE MAN— 
 
 years. Christopher Layton was one of the 
 great men of this wonderful community of 
 Mormons. In the group of the remarkable 
 ones who were the leaders in the making of 
 the commonwealth, he instinctively took and 
 held his place. Handicapped more than any 
 of his associates by reason of lack of school- 
 education, he nevertheless proved himself no 
 whit their inferior in judgment, wisdom, fore- 
 sight, energy, and the great practical qualities 
 that make for success. In the race, unequal 
 though it might have seemed, he was never left 
 behind; he was in every respect a worthy and 
 respected colleague of the biggest and brain- 
 iest. A natural pioneer and colonizer, he de- 
 veloped with years the rare high attributes of 
 the empire-builder ; and his name will be held 
 in honorable remembrance as long as men shall 
 inhabit the great inter-mountain west. 
 
 Perhaps no man ever practiced better than he 
 a thorough devotion to the gospel of Work. 
 Tirelessly industrious himself, he felt pity, if he 
 did not feel contempt, for an idle person. His 
 life was one continued scene of active energy, 
 and all who approached him came perforce 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 285 
 
 within its influence. His family were taught 
 to work, for he set them the good example; 
 and any neighbor needing help — if he were 
 but industrious — came to him not in vain. The 
 list of those who credit him with giving them 
 their start would be a long one ; of worthy un- 
 fortunate to whom he turned a deaf ear there 
 is not one. 
 
 Another trait was his intense spirituality. To 
 expect this in a man so essentially practical 
 as he was might seem a contradiction, for the 
 one is usually thought to be the very antithesis 
 of the other. Yet he was spiritual to an em- 
 inent degree. He was finely susceptible to in- 
 fluences which are felt by but few, and the fore- 
 going pages contain many instances where pre- 
 monitions and impressions gave him warning 
 of events about to happen. His faith in his 
 Maker and his confidence in His servants was 
 great and unyielding ; and he desired above all 
 other things that this should also be the case 
 with his posterity. He had abounding love for 
 his family, and his children were reared in a 
 godly atmosphere; in evidence of which it is 
 only necessary to observe that so far as is 
 
286 THE MAN— 
 
 known at this time, every one of his numer- 
 ous posterity stands in full fellowship in the 
 Church which their father loved and served so 
 well; many of them hold positions of prom- 
 inence and responsibility in it; and all who 
 have married have sought, at whatsoever ex- 
 pense of time, travel and money, to have the 
 ceremony, if not at first performed, at least 
 later confirmed, in sacred places. All through 
 his history, after his children began to grow in 
 years, he speaks fondly of their labors with 
 and assistance to him ; and it was with worthy 
 pride that he was able to say, when in the 
 evening of his days, that not a single son or 
 daughter had ever been disobedient to him. 
 His word in his great household was indeed 
 law ; but it was such because he ruled by love 
 and not by fear, and had won the absolute 
 confidence and affection of all who bore his 
 name. 
 
 His colonizing labors speak in their results 
 more eloquently of him than any historian's pen 
 could hope to do. His monuments are found 
 in numerous vast garden spots of Arizona, 
 where his energy and example gave him a 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 287 
 
 founder's fame ; and notably in that bounteous 
 Utah granary — the northern part of Davis 
 county. He was the first to make commercially 
 successful the now gigantic business of dry- 
 farming of wheat. His Autobiography tells of 
 the sneers and doubts of those who watched his 
 initial experiment ; but it does not tell an inci- 
 dent that is more interesting: how a well- 
 known miller of Salt Lake City went with mis- 
 giving and against his will to look at the Bish- 
 op's ripening crop, returned delighted after 
 contracting for it, and from that 5,000-bushel 
 purchase put forth a brand of flour that gave 
 his mill a reputation which it enjoys to this 
 day. Not less difficult is it to estimate the 
 importance of the consequences attending the 
 introduction of alfalfa, or lucern — an epoch- 
 marking experiment in which he was largely 
 instrumental. No one can calculate the mil- 
 lions of dollars in value which this great for- 
 age plant has secured to the inter-mountain 
 country during the last forty years. As a 
 matter of fact, the West of today without it 
 could not have come to pass. It has solved 
 graver problems, and made habitable more sec- 
 
288 THE MAN— 
 
 tions, and conferred greater benefits, than any 
 other single element or several of the best of 
 them combined. Before its advent, Utah and 
 its neighboring communities had almost 
 reached the end of their tether, so far as con- 
 cerns the feeding of domestic animals. Chris- 
 topher Layton's importation of seed from Aus- 
 tralia, and its planting in Davis county, her- 
 alded the coming of a new day in western 
 agriculture. Its success was instantaneous, 
 and its beneficent results are limitless. To 
 have been the pioneer in this one great enter- 
 prise alone would be of itself enough to entitle 
 any man to grateful remembrance at the hands 
 of posterity; and yet this is but one of many 
 things that have made secure his place on the 
 list of the community's benefactors. 
 
 His vivid story of experiences with the Mor- 
 mon-Battalion is made doubly interesting by the 
 fact that nearly four decades later he was the 
 leader in establishing prosperous homes and 
 busy towns at various points along the trail 
 of that immortal march. His recital, too, of 
 incidents connected with the "Carson Valley 
 mission" is a valuable contribution to history, 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 289 
 
 since but little has been heretofore recorded 
 concerning that expedition. 
 
 The effects of the perusal of this little book 
 will be more far-reaching, I believe, than he or 
 his family could have anticipated. He was so 
 essentially a public character that the public 
 are entitled to know more about him than is 
 perhaps generally known. This autobiography 
 lays bare the guiding motives and the impelling 
 forces of his eventful life. While it com- 
 memorates with due modesty some of his 
 achievements and successes, it is not silent on 
 the trials and obstacles he was forced to meet. 
 In its entirety it should constitute not only a 
 joy and a comfort to his family but also an 
 inspiration to all others who shall read it. 
 
 Jno. O. Cannon. 
 
Genealogical Appendix 
 
 PARENTS OF CHRISTOPHER LAYTON 
 
 SAMUEL LAYTON, born 1787, in England; died 
 March 21, 1859, at Kaysville, Utah. 
 
 ISABELLA WHEELER, born , in England; 
 
 died March, 1850, at Thorncut, Bedfordshire, 
 England. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 (All born at Thorncut, Bedfordshire, England) 
 
 John, born Aug. 7, 1815; died July 3, 1886 in 
 Kaysville, Utah. Had son Abraham, who 
 also came to Utah, ha'd seven children, and 
 died about 20 years ago; also daughter, 
 Mary Ann (m. John Traugott) living in 
 Davis County, Utah. 
 
 Bathsheba, born ; died , in England. 
 
 Married — Denton; had one son, Charles, 
 who came to Utah and accompanied his 
 uncle to Arizona. Dead. 
 
 Amos, born ; died in childhood. 
 
 Priscilla, born , married to Samuel 
 
 Martin, and died in St. Louis, U. S. A. in 
 1851 ; had five children, who all came to 
 Utah, married and are living here still. 
 
 CHRISTOPHER, born March 8, 1821; died 
 Aug. 7, 1898 at Kaysville, Utah. 
 
292 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 POSTERITY OF CHRISTOPHER 
 LAYTON 
 
 FIRST FAMILY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER LAYTON, married July 10, 1842, 
 at Thorncut, England, by Rev. Taddy, 
 MARY, daughter of William MATTHEWS and 
 
 Elizabeth Roundy, born , England; died 
 
 Sept. — 1845 at Big Mound, 111. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 
 William, born on Atlantic ocean, Feb. 14, 
 1843; died March 28, 1843, on Mississippi 
 river, near St. Lo'uis, Mo. 
 
 Elizabeth, born Aug. 17, 1844, at Nauvoo, 111.; 
 married to William Galbraith, April 11, 
 1861, at Kaysville, Utah, by Christopher Lay- 
 ton; died, Feb. 13, 1908 at Raymond, Al- 
 berta, Canada. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born at Kaysville, Utah) 
 William L., b. Jan. 12, 1862; m. (1) Ann 
 Elizabeth Bodily, Dec. 22, 1886 (d. May 
 19, 1904) ; (2) Annie Pearl Curtis, Feb. 
 10, 1909. 
 Mary L., b. Sept. 24, 1864; m. (1) Chas. 
 C. Hyde, March, 1883; and (2) Elijah 
 Laycock, Nov., 1889; d. Jan. 14, 1908 
 at Raymond, Canada. 
 George, b. Nov. 6, 1866; d. Oct. 4, 1868. 
 Christopher, b. Feb. 28, 1869; m. Mary 
 Heva Johnson, March 23, 1895 at Diaz, 
 Mexico. 
 Peter, b. Sept. 16, 1871 ; d. June 4, 1873. 
 • David, b. March 30, 1883. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 293 
 
 SECOND FAMILY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER LAYTON married, May 3, 
 1850 at Sandy church, Thorncut, England, by 
 Rev. Cook, 
 SARAH, daughter of John MARTIN and Mary 
 Ann Price; born, Nov. 29, 1822 at Thorncut, 
 England; died, Oct. 25, 1864 at Kaysville, 
 Utah. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 
 William, born May 1, 1851 at St. Louis; 
 
 died August — , 1851 at St. Louis. 
 Christopher, born Jan. 1, 1853, at Salt Lake 
 City; married Jane E. Bodily, Jan. 18, 
 1874 in Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. 
 Wells. 
 
 His Children 
 (All born in Kaysville) 
 Frank M., b. Sept. 1. 1876; m. Emma 
 Diana Ellsworth, June 12, 1901, at 
 Safford, Ariz., by Andrew Kimball. 
 Christopher B., b. July 6, 1878; m. Mar- 
 garet B. Flint, Apr. 23, 1902, in Salt 
 Lake City, by John R. Winder. 
 Lawrence, R. B., b. Nov. 14, 1880. 
 Maggie B., b. Aug. 7, 1882. 
 Mary B., b. Feb. 13, 1885; m. to Albert 
 B. Barton by President A. H. Lund, 
 in Salt Lake Citv, Jan. 25, 1911. 
 Delbert Edwin, b. Aug. 19, 1887; d. 
 
 April 18, 1891. 
 Jennie B., b. Sept. 25, 1889. 
 Roy Vernon, b. June 22, 1891; d. Jan. 
 
 30, 1892. 
 Eveline B., b. Mar. 19, 1893; d. Mar. 
 
 27, 1893. 
 Vernon Cecil, b. Feb. 12, 1896. 
 
294 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 Eliza Ann, b. May 28, 1856, on Humboldt 
 River, Nevada; married Joseph G. Allred, 
 Dec. 8, 1873 in Salt Lake City, by Daniel 
 H. Wells. She died April 11, 1903 in 
 Arizona. 
 
 Her children 
 (The first four born in Kaysville, Utah) 
 Sarah M., b. Oct. 16, 1874; m. Alexan- 
 der C. Hunt, June 11, 1901 at Thatch- 
 er, Arizona, by Andrew Kimball. 
 Christopher A., b. June 16, 1877; m. 
 Sylvia M. Faulkner, June 3, 1900 at 
 Thatcher, Arizona, by Andrew Kim- 
 ball. 
 Rhoda Olive, b. Oct. 2, 1879; d. at Kays- 
 ville, July 29, 1880. 
 Myron, b. July 6, 1881. 
 Gilbert, b. Oct. 19, 1884 at St. David, 
 
 Arizona; d. there Mar. 23, 1886. 
 Maggie Eliza, b. April 16, 1891 at 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 
 Erastus, born Mar. 18, 1858 at Kaysville, 
 Utah; died, Mar. 20, 1859 at Kaysville. 
 
 Emma Jane, born May 29, 1860, at Kays- 
 ville; died there, July 13, 1861. 
 
 Charles Martin, born July 3, 1862, at Kays- 
 ville; married Mary Ann McMasters, 
 Sept. 20, 1883 at Salt Lake City, by Dan- 
 iel H. Wells. 
 
 His Children 
 (The first five born in Kaysville) 
 Sarah Virginia, b. July 12, 1884; m. Mar- 
 ion Lee, Oct. 11, 1905 in Salt Lake 
 City, by President J. R. Winder. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 295 
 
 Alexander, b. April 21, 1886; m. Delia 
 
 Curtis, June, 1910, in Salt Lake City, by 
 
 President J. R. Winder. 
 Charles Martin, b. May 18, 1888. 
 Margaret Grace, b. Feb. 8, 1894. 
 Dora Joan, b. Jan. 7, 1896. 
 Mary Lucille, b. Mar. 25, 1899 at 
 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 Christopher Athol, b. Aug. 8, 1901 at 
 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 Owen Woodruff, b. Jan. 29, 1904 at 
 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 
296 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 THIRD FAMILY. 
 
 CHRISTOPHER LAYTON married, Sept. 26, 
 
 1852 at Salt Lake City, by Brigham Young, 
 
 SARAH, daughter of William BARNES and 
 
 Elizabeth Jeffries, born July 6, 1836 at Sandy, 
 
 Bedfordshire, England; died Sept. 13, 1906 at 
 
 - Kaysville, Utah. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 Hyrum John, born Sept. 8, 1853 at Salt Lake 
 City, Utah; married Mary Louisa Egbert, 
 Dec. 8, 1873 at Salt Lake City, by Daniel 
 H. Wells. He died Sept. 17, 1885 at 
 Syracuse Junction, Utah. 
 
 His Children 
 Christopher Hyrum, b. Sept. 28, 1874 at 
 
 Kaysville. 
 Mary Ann, b. Aug. 20, 1876 at Sunset 
 Crossing, Arizona; d. July 3, 1889 at 
 Kaysville. 
 Geneva E., b. Oct. 28, 1878 at Kays- 
 ville; m. D. M. Fisher, Aug., 1896. 
 Joseph Edwin, b. Oct. 26, 1880; m. 
 Mary Ellen Allred, Feb. 3, 1909 at 
 Ogden, by Father Cushnahan. 
 Sarah Crilla, b. Dec. 4, 1882 at Kaysville. 
 Myrtle E., b. Dec. 1, 1884; m. A. M. Gill, 
 June, 1904, at Ogden. 
 Mary Ann, born Feb. 18, 185.6 at Grants- 
 ville, Utah; married George Swan, Dec. 12, 
 1878 at Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. 
 Wells. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born at Kaysville) 
 Sarah Louise, b. June 25, 1880; m. B. F. 
 Yaunt, Nov. 14, 1906. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTOX. 297 
 
 Agnes Ann, b. July 31, 1882. 
 Mary Lenore, b. Oct. 5, 1884. 
 George William, b. July 21, 1887. 
 Janet Innes, b. Dec. 10, 1889. 
 Darl Irene, b. Mar. 31, 1893 
 Garnet Leone, b. Feb. 12, 1895. 
 Frank Ronald, b. Mar. 5, 1897. 
 Christopher MacDonald, b. Sept. 27, 1899. 
 
 Ezra William, born July 11, 1858, at Kays- 
 ville; married Mary Ellen Colemere, Jan 
 10, 1878 at Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. 
 Wells. 
 
 His Children 
 George Christopher, b. Oct. 7, 1878 at 
 Kaysville; m. Annie Secrist, Nov., 
 1898 in Salt Lake City, by John R. 
 Winder. 
 Rachel Pearl, b. Oct. 1, 1881 at Kays- 
 ville; m. Walter W. Stewart, Nov. 23, 
 1905 in Salt Lake City, by John R. 
 Winder. 
 Sarah Mabel, b. Feb. 26, 1885 at St. 
 David, Arizona; d. Jan. 11, 1887 at 
 Kaysville. 
 Leo Hyrum, b. Mar. 24, 1891 at Kays- 
 ville. 
 Roy Ole, b. Nov. 10, 1896 at Kaysville. 
 
 David Edwin, born Oct. 17, 1860, at Kays- 
 ville; married Alice Watt, Jan. 6, 1886 at 
 Logan, Utah, by Marriner W. Merrill. 
 His Children 
 Maud, b. Sept. 30, 1886 at Kaysville; 
 m. Jan. 11, 1911, Alfred Ryre in Salt 
 Lake City. 
 Julia, b. April 8, 1888 at Kaysville. 
 Sarah B., b. May 3, 1890 at Kaysville. 
 
298 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 Ziporah, b. Oct. 12, 1894 at Layton, 
 Utah. 
 
 Alice Marie, b. Mar. 11, 1897 at Lay- 
 ton. 
 
 Isabel, b. May 28, 1899 at Layton; d. 
 there Oct. 30, 1900. 
 
 David Christopher, b. Mar. 3, 1906 at 
 Layton; d. there July 8, 1910. 
 
 Stanley W., b. July 9, 1908. 
 
 Annie B., born Jan. 25, 1863, at Kaysville; 
 married Seth Chauncey Jones, Aug. 25, 
 1884 at Logan. 
 
 Her Children 
 
 Annie Beatrice, b. Feb. 11, 1887 at 
 
 Kaysville; m. Norman Lloyd, Dec. 
 
 16, 1908 in Salt Lake City, by John R. 
 
 Winder. 
 Sarah Myrtle, b. Oct. 30, 1890 at 
 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 Seth Chauncey, b. Dec. 2, 1888 at 
 
 Thatcher, Arizona, and died there 
 
 Mar. 3, 1889. 
 
 Sarah Elizabeth, born Sept. 4, 1865 at 
 Kaysville; married Levi Taylor, Dec. 21, 
 1882 at Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. 
 Wells. 
 
 Her Children 
 
 (Both born at Kaysville) 
 
 Sarah Emmeline, b. Sept. 27, 1883; m. 
 
 to John Smith, Sept. 7, 1905. 
 Levi L., b. Aug. 20, 1885; m. Priscilla 
 Barber, Nov. 8, 1906. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 299 
 
 FOURTH FAMILY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER LAYTON married, in Decem- 
 ber, 1854 at Salt Lake City, by Brigham 
 Young, 
 ISABELLA, daughter of Richard GOLIGHT- 
 LY and Isabella Richardson, born Aug. 6, 
 1836 at Newcastle, England; died Dec. 15, 
 1877 at Kaysville, Utah. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 
 John Henry, born Dec. 6, 1855 at Salt Lake 
 City; married Hannah Phillips, Jan. 23, 
 1879 at Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. 
 Wells. 
 
 His Children 
 (All born at Kaysville) 
 
 Heber John, b. Sept. 20, 1879; m. Wini- 
 fred Derby, Oct. 28, 1902 in Salt Lake 
 City. 
 
 Hannah Isabel, b. April 2, 1880; d. May 
 3 1880 
 
 Delbert P., b. May 4, 1882. 
 
 Lottie Jane, b. April 1, 1884. 
 
 Chloe Louise, b. July 10, 1886; m. Thos. 
 Jesse Harris, June 23, 1909 in Salt 
 Lake City, by John R. Winder. 
 
 Edward P., b. Mar. 19, 1888. 
 
 Luella ) twins, b. Aug. 29, 1892. 
 
 Leo J Leo d. Sept. 4, 1892. 
 
 Leona, b. Nov. 29, 1893. 
 
 Harold Christopher, b. Aug. 19, 1895. 
 
 Richard Glenn, b. Jan. 11, 1897; d. Aug. 
 8 1897 
 
 Frankie Josephine, b. Jan 12 ,1898. 
 
 Norma Gladys, b. Sept. 29, 1900. 
 
300 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 Jacob Alonzo, born Dec. 18, 1857 at Kays- 
 ville; married Ann McPherson, Jan. 5, 
 1882 in Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. 
 Wells. 
 
 His Children 
 
 Mary Isabel, b. Sept. 22, 1882 at South 
 Hooper, Utah; m. Fred W. Gibson, 
 May 20, 1903 at Ogden, Utah. 
 
 Katie, b. Oct. 31, 1884 at Kaysville; m. 
 Enoch Harris, Mar. 11, 1903 at Og- 
 
 ' den. 
 
 Diamon McP., b. Jan. 2, 1888 at Kays- 
 ville. 
 
 David, b. Feb. 12, 1893 at Layton, Utah. 
 
 Christopher Ross, b. Mar. 28, 1898 at 
 
 Layton; d. Mar. at Syracuse 
 
 Junction. 
 
 Richard G., born Mar. 21, 1860 at Kaysville; 
 married Annie E. Horne, Feb. 8, 1886 at 
 St. David, Arizona, by Bishop P. Lough- 
 green. 
 
 His Children 
 Mary Isabella JL, b. Mar. 26, 1887 at 
 St. David, Arizona; m. Lemuel R. 
 Pace, Oct. 2, 1907 in Salt Lake Tem- 
 ple, by John R. Winder. 
 Leonora H., b. Feb. 6, 1889 at St. David, 
 Arizona; m. Ashael Clifford, Feb. 20, 
 1907, by W! D. Johnson. 
 Richard G., b. Dec. 27, 1890 at Thatch- 
 er, Arizona. 
 Martha G., b. June 18, 1893 at Thatcher, 
 
 Arizona. 
 Sophronia G., b. April 26, 1895 at 
 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 Leland H, b. Feb. 22, 1898; d. Jan. 22, 
 1899. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 301 
 
 Theresa H., b. May 2, 1901 at Thatcher. 
 Henry Marden, b. May 18, 1910 at 
 Thatcher. 
 
 Rachel, born Jan. 24, 1862 at Kaysville; 
 married James Warren, April 1, 1880 at 
 Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. Wells. 
 
 Her Children 
 
 Sarah Isabel, b. Oct 30, 1880 at Kays- 
 ville. 
 
 David, b. Jan. 21, 1882 at Kaysville; m. 
 Florence Stacy Guthrie, May 23, 1906 
 in Salt Lake City, by John R. Winder. 
 
 Jane, b. Dec. 23, 1884"at Kaysville. 
 
 Eugene, b. June 24, 1886 at Syracuse 
 Junction, Utah; d. Jan. 2, 1887. 
 
 Rachel Elizabeth, b. May 4, 1889 at 
 Syracuse Junction; m. Leland Elliott, 
 June 21, 1911, by Bishop Wood, Syra- 
 cuse. 
 
 James, b. Mar. 24, 1890 at Kaysville; d. 
 Jan. 5, 1891. 
 
 Leo, b. May 21, 1895 at Syracuse June. 
 
 Glenn, b. Feb. 18, 1901. 
 
 Irene, b. Jan. 21, 1906. 
 
 Samuel, born Oct. 21, 1863 at Kaysville; 
 married Mary Hannah Linford, June 15, 
 1898 at Salt Lake City. 
 
 His Child 
 Leland Clifford, b. Mar. 16, 1902 at 
 Kaysville. 
 
 Lucy Isabel, born Nov. 7, 1865 at Kaysville; 
 married Francis Bone, Dec. 19, 1888 at 
 Kaysville, by John R. Barnes. 
 
302 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born at Layton, Utah) 
 
 Delbert Francis, b. Nov. 10, 1889. 
 Ethel Isabel, b. Oct. 12, 1890. 
 Clarence L., b. Jan. 12. 1892. 
 Clyde William, b. Oct. 8, 1895. 
 Mary Ellen, b. Mar 13, 1900. 
 Alberta Louise, b. Mar. 9, 1903. 
 Annie L., b. Oct. 11, 1906. 
 
 Jane, born April 9, 1868 at Kaysville; died 
 Sept. 8, 1881 at Syracuse Junction, Utah. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 303 
 
 FIFTH FAMILY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER LAYTON married, April 12, 
 1856 at Salt Lake City, by Brigham Young, 
 CAROLINE, daughter of James COOPER and 
 Christine , born Sept. 26, 1836, in York- 
 shire, England. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 
 Selina, born August 15, 1857 at Carson 
 City, Nevada; married Edward C. Phillips, 
 Nov. 17, 1873 at Salt Lake City, by Dan- 
 iel H. Wells. 
 
 Her Children 
 (The first six born at Kaysville) 
 Jesse Charles, b. Aug. 30, 1874; m. (1) 
 Dora Williams, Oct. 24, 1895 (she died 
 Dec. 1, 1896) ; (2) Elizabeth Williams, 
 May 26, 1903 in New Mexico, by Bishop 
 Thomson. 
 Christopher Edward, b. Tuly 27, 1877; d. 
 
 Dec. 28, 1891 at Thatcher, Arizona. 
 Franklin C, b. Mar. 8, 1880; d. Aug. 14, 
 
 1881 at Kaysville. 
 David Dee, b. Jan. 5, 1882; m. Eliza 
 Annetta Phillips, Dec. 30, 1903 at 
 Thatcher, Arizona, by Andrew Kim- 
 ball. 
 Joseph Alvin, b. July 27, 1884; m. Jen- 
 nie Syrena Merrill, Sept. 23, 1907 at 
 Thatcher, Arizona, by Andrew Kim- 
 ball. 
 Rudger, b. Jan. 6, 1887; m. Nancy Sims, 
 April 5, 1906 in Salt Lake City, by John 
 R. Winder. 
 
304 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 Horace ) b. June 16, 1889 at Thatch. 
 Benjamin j er, Arizona; d. same day. 
 Alice Selina, b. Jan. 2, 1892 at Thatcher; 
 m. Pratt Pace, May 25, 1910 at Thatch- 
 er, by Andrew Kimball. 
 Priscilla, b. Dec. 27, 1895 at Thatcher, 
 Arizona. 
 James Albert, born June 13, 1859 at Kays- 
 ville; married Edith Harrod, May 27, 1886 
 at Kaysville, by Bishop Peter Barton. 
 His Children 
 (First two born at Kaysville, the others 
 
 at Cardston, Canada) 
 James Myron, b. June 30, 1887. 
 Cora Caroline, b. Dec. 24, 1890. 
 Thomas Franklin, b. April 3, 1892. 
 Edith Eva, b. Jan. 17, 1895. 
 Ida Rose, b. Jan. 17, 1898. 
 Virda Alice, b. Oct. 31, 1900. 
 Martha Priscilla, b. Aug. 12, 1903. 
 Afton Erzula, b. June 7, 1907. 
 Martha Alice, born Feb. 20, 1861 at Kays- 
 ville; married James T. Walker, Mar. 4, 
 1877 at Salt Lake City, by Joseph F. 
 Smith. She 'died at Kaysville, Feb. 22, 1880. 
 Her Children 
 James Frederick, b. Jan. 10, 1878 at Kays- 
 ville. 
 Christopher John, b. Jan. 8, 1880 at Kays- 
 ville ; d. Jan. 28, 1880. 
 Heber C, born Dec. 8, 1862 at Kaysville; 
 died there Sept. 9, 1863. 
 
 Joseph, born July 28, 1864 at Kaysville; 
 married Cynthia Fife, Sept. 2, 1886 at 
 Safford, Arizona, by Christopher Layton. 
 He died May 10, 1897 at Thatcher, Ariz. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON 305 
 
 His Children 
 
 Joseph Chris, b. Sept. 14, 1887 at Thatch- 
 er, Arizona; m. Lue Irene Evans, 
 Sept. 17, 1907 at Thatcher, by An- 
 drew Kimball. 
 
 Glenna Selina, b. April 26, 1889 at Lay- 
 ton, Arizona; d. Feb. 12, 1892 at 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 
 Edna Cynthia, b. Jan. 24, 1891 at St. 
 David, Arizona. 
 
 William Walter, b. Oct. 3, 1892 at 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 
 Iretta, b. Oct. 28, 1894 at Thatcher, 
 Arizona. 
 
 Phebe Caroline, b. Sept. 23, 1896 at 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 
 Caroline, born April 12, 1866 at Kaysville; 
 married Joseph W. Hill, Dec. 4, 1884 at 
 Kaysville, by Bishop Peter Barton. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born at Kaysville) 
 Martha Alice, b. May 25, 1886. 
 Joseph Melvin, b. May 16, 1889; m. Cora 
 Pearl Flint, Dec. 11, 1909, by Bishop 
 Henry H. Blood. 
 Leonard, b. Jan. 25, 1893. 
 Jenniso, b. Sept. 6, 1902. 
 
 Frank G., born Jan. 21, 1868 at Kaysville; 
 died there Sept. 10, 1870. 
 
 Frederick, born Jan. 27, 1872 at Kaysville; 
 married Barbara Allen McGuire, Aug. 31, 
 1892 at Thatcher, Arizona, by William D. 
 Johnson. 
 
 21 
 
306 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 His Children 
 
 Leo, b. June 7, 1893 at Thatcher, Ariz. 
 Esma Cynthia, b. Oct. 10, 1901 at 
 
 Thatcher, Arizona. 
 Irene, b. Dec. 28, 1903 at Thatcher, Ariz. 
 
 Chauncey West, born May 7, 1874 at Salt 
 Lake City; married Josie Raddon, June 27, 
 1900 at Kaysville, Utah, by Bishop Peter 
 Barton. 
 
 His Children 
 James La Page, b. Feb. 10, 1901 at 
 
 Kaysville. 
 Chauncey Eugene, b. Sept. 20, 1903 at 
 
 Cardston, Canada. 
 Raddon, b. Mar. 6, 1905 at Cardston, 
 Canada. 
 
 Horace, born Oct. 26, 1876 at Kaysville; 
 married Phebe Corbridge, Dec. 6, 1899 at 
 Kaysville, by Bishop David E. Layton. 
 His Children 
 Leroy, b. Oct. 17, 1900 in Alberta, Can- 
 ada. 
 Sophronia, b. Nov. 28, 1902 at Card- 
 ston, Canada. 
 Odessa, b. July 31, 1906 at Frankburg, 
 Alta, Canada. 
 
 Benjamin, born Sept. 26, 1879 at Kaysville; 
 married Mary Amanda Anderson, Oct. 4, 
 1905 in Salt Lake City. 
 
 His Child 
 Leon, b. July 26, 1906 at Cardston, Can. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 307 
 
 SIXTH FAMILY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER LAYTON married, Aug. 2, 
 1862 at Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. Wells, 
 ROSA ANN, daughter of William HUDSON 
 and Mary Miles; born Sept. 22, 1846 in Lit- 
 tle Park, Yorkshire, England. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 
 George Willard, born Nov. 11, 1863 at 
 Kaysville; married Janet Hill, Dec. 18, 
 1884 at Kaysville, by Bishop Peter Bar- 
 ton. 
 
 His Children 
 
 (The first five born at Kaysville, the 
 others at Layton, Utah) 
 
 George, b. Aug. 1, 1885; d. Aug. 1, 1885. 
 
 Joseph, b. Sept. 3, 1886; d. Sept. 8, 1886. 
 
 Pearl Beatrice, b. Oct. 29, 1887. 
 
 Vera Louise, b. Oct. 20, 1891. 
 
 Cora Emmeline, b. Feb. 20, 1894. 
 
 Mamie Alta, b. Dec. 16, 1898. 
 
 Glenn Seymour, b. Aug. 22, 1900. 
 
 Leonard H., b. Nov. 6, 1902. 
 
 Albert Thomas, born Dec. 28, 1865 at Kays- 
 ville; married Ax med a Marintha Tibbetts, 
 April 7, 1887 at Layton, Arizona, by 
 Christopher Layton. 
 
 His Children 
 
 (First five born at Layton, Arizona; 
 
 the others at Franklin, Arizona) 
 
 Rose Ellen, b. Sept. 19, 1888; m. Eras- 
 tus Moore, July 4, 1907 at Franklin, 
 Arizona. 
 
GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 Myrtle Almeda, b. Nov. 23, 1890; m. 
 John Hall, May 1, 1907 at Franklin, 
 Arizona. 
 
 Bertha Minerva, b. Nov. 10, 1892; m. 
 Bartlett Gale, Aug. 31, 1910 at Frank- 
 lin, Arizona. 
 
 Olive Agatha, b. Dec. 6, 1894. 
 
 Hyrum Christopher, b. May 19, 1897. 
 
 Edith Belle, b. July 31, 1899. 
 
 Albert Sylvester, b. Oct. 9, 1901. 
 
 William Neal, b. June 23, 1904. 
 
 Walter Leo, b. Mar. 22, 1907. 
 
 Marintha Geneva, b. June 24, 1910. 
 
 Heber Chase, born Nov. 2, 1867 at Kays- 
 ville; married Agnes Almeda Welker, 
 April 7, 1887 at Layton, Arizona, by 
 Christopher Layton. 
 
 His Children 
 (All born at Thatcher, Arizona) 
 Heber Lorenzo, b. Jan. 31, 1888, m. 
 Hulda Celestia Brundage Jan. 5, 1910, 
 at Layton, Arizona, by Bishop J. R. 
 Welker. 
 Agnes Ann, b. Jan. 4, 1890; m. Leo. 
 Romney, Apr. 11, 1911 at Thatcher, 
 Arizona, by Bishop James R. Welker. 
 Adam Leroy, b. Mar. 5, 1892. 
 Cordelia May, b. May 4, 1894. 
 Delmar Christopher, b. Aug. 19, 1908; 
 d. Aug. 30, 1908. 
 
 Ernest, born Aug. 25, 1869 at Kaysville; 
 married Ada Flint, Mar. 9, 1898 at Salt 
 Lake City. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 309 
 
 His Children 
 (All born at W. Layton, Utah) 
 Itha, b. Dec. 31, 1899. 
 Lela, b. July 9, 1901. 
 Golden F., b. June 9, 1905. 
 
 Isaac Clarence, born Nov. 1, 1871 at Kays- 
 ville. 
 
 Mary Isabel, born Feb. 2, 1874 at Kaysville; 
 married Reuben Barnes June 28, 1893, by 
 Bishop Peter Barton. 
 
 Her Children 
 
 (First three born at Kaysville; others at 
 
 ' Layton, Utah) 
 Leona, b. Nov. 30, 1894. 
 Christopher J., b. Nov. 25, 1896. 
 Myron Nacomio, b. Oct. 27, 1899. 
 Leland R., b. April 29, 1902. 
 Marie Ruby, b. Nov. 3, 1904. 
 Wilkie L. { b. April 26, 1907; Wilkie d. 
 Wilda L. J Sept. 19, 1907. 
 
 Jeanetta, born June 12, 1875 at Kaysville; 
 
 married Ernest Zesigar, , at 
 
 West Layton, by Bishop David Layton. 
 
 Her Children 
 
 Leo, b. Feb. 12, 1896 at West Layton. 
 Ernest Lawrence, b. May 9, 1900 at 
 
 Bear River. 
 Edith, b. Aug. 12, 1902 at Bear River. 
 
 Rozina, born Dec. 12, 1878 at Kaysville; 
 married John H. Thornley, Nov. 3, 1899 
 at Salt Lake City, by John Woolley. 
 
310 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born at Layton, Utah) 
 
 Irene J., b. Mar. 20, 1900. 
 Jesse, b. Nov. 18, 1902. 
 Delias L., b. Oct. 20, 1904. 
 Dora L., b. Mar. 4, 1908. 
 Henry L., b. July 26, 1910. 
 
 Olive, born Feb. 24, 1881 at Kaysville; mar- 
 ried Walter Barlow Jan 28, 1909 in Salt 
 Lake City, by John R. Winder. 
 
 Her Child 
 Walter Layton, b. May 19, 1910. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 311 
 
 SEVENTH FAMILY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER LAYTON married, January 7, 
 1865, in Salt Lake City, by Heber C Kimball, 
 SEPTIMA, daughter of George SIMMS and 
 Caroline Gill; born July 20, 1848 at Chelten- 
 ham, Gloucestershire, England; died Oct 5, 
 1889 at Kaysville. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 
 Amy C, born Dec. 24, 1867 at Kaysville; 
 married Reuben Walter Fuller, Jan. 1, 
 1886 at St. David, Arizona, by Bishop 
 Peter Loughgreen. 
 
 Her Children 
 (Born at Thatcher, Arizona) 
 
 Maggie Drucilla, b. Nov. 21, 1887; m. 
 Warren Bingham, Sept. 24, 1906 at 
 Layton, Arizona, by Bishop J. W. 
 Welker. 
 
 Reuben Walter, b. Feb. 13, 1890; m. 
 Anna Taylor, July 23, 1908 at Pima, 
 Arizona, by Bishop P. C. Merrill. 
 
 Lawrence, b. Mar. 21, 1894. 
 
 Archie Joseph, b. May 12, 1898. 
 
 Priscilla May, born Jan. 19, 1870 at Kays- 
 ville; married Thomas Flitton, Feb. 19, 
 1889 at Kaysville, by John R. Barnes. 
 Her Children 
 Jennie L., b. Dec. 25, 1889 at Kaysville. 
 Rupert Thomas, b. Oct. 21, 1891 at 
 Kaysville. 
 
312 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 Daniel David, b. Oct. 7, 1893 at Hooper, 
 
 Utah. 
 Joseph Christopher, b. Nov. 3, 1895 at 
 
 Kaysville. 
 Harry Wilford, b. Nov. 25, 1897 at 
 
 Kaysville. 
 Curtis Monroe, b. Mar. 8, 1900 at Og- 
 
 den. 
 Alfred Hannon, b. Sept. 26, 1902 at 
 
 Syracuse, Utah. 
 Elmira, b. June 9, 1907 at Syracuse, 
 
 Utah. 
 
 Louie' I b ' ° ct ' »■ 1909 ' 
 
 Drucilla Grace, born Mar. 23, 1872 at Kays- 
 ville; married John H. Blood, Jan 7, 1890 
 in Logan, by M. W. Merrill. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born in Kaysville) 
 
 Septima L., b. Mar. 11, 1891. 
 
 Annie L., b. Feb. 24, 1894. 
 
 Merlin John, b. Aug. 3, 1896; d. July 22, 
 
 1909. 
 Byron L., b. Oct. 7, 1898. 
 Vera Jane, b. Mar. 7, 1901. 
 Millie L., b. Sept. 10, 1903. 
 Seth L, b. Aug. 6, 1905. 
 Nora L., b. Sept. 25, 1908. 
 Howard, b. Feb. 11, 1911. 
 
 Oscar George, born May 12, 1874 at Kays- 
 ville; married Lula Jane Lewis, May 24, 
 1892 at Thatcher, Arizona, by W. D. John- 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 313 
 
 His Children 
 (All born in Thatcher, Arizona) 
 Blanche Septima, b. May 11, 1893. 
 Oscar Clyde, b. Aug. 26, 1894. 
 Delbert George, b. May 22, 1896; d. 
 
 Aug. 2, 1897. 
 Flossie, b. Mar. 2, 1898. 
 Bertha, b. Feb. 19, 1900. 
 Marlin Bruce, b. Mar. 18, 1903. 
 Beatrice, b. Sept. 8, 1904. 
 Junius Lewis, b. Mar. 15, 1906. 
 Jessie, b. Oct. 31, 1907. 
 Roy Lewis, b. Aug. 7, 1904. 
 
 Harry Wilford, born Oct. 7, 1876 at Kays- 
 ville; married Emily Reay, Nov. 15, 1898 
 at Thatcher, Arizona, by W. D. Johnson. 
 
 His Children 
 (All except first one born at Central, 
 
 Arizona) 
 Miles Merlin, b. Sept. 7, 1899 at Thatcher. 
 Ralph Ray, b. June 5, 1901. 
 George Spencer, b. Feb. 27, 1903. 
 Nola Drucilla, b. Dec. 1, 1904. 
 Martha Opal, b. Dec. 11, 1906. 
 Roy W., b. Jan. 27, 1909. 
 
 Franklin Simms, born Mar. 21, 1879 at 
 Kaysville; died there Sept. 27, 1879. 
 
 Jesse Monroe, born Dec. 27, 1884 at Eden, 
 Arizona; married Muriel Randall (born 
 Dec. 4, 1889, at Nephi, Utah) April 1, 1909 
 at Solomonville, Arizona, by Judge F. S. 
 Bunch. 
 
 His Child 
 Daughter born Feb. 18, 1910; died same 
 day. 
 
314 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 EIGHTH FAMILY. 
 
 CHRISTOPHER LAYTON married, May 1, 1870 
 in Salt Lake City, by Daniel H. Wells, 
 MARY JANE, daughter of Levi ROBERTS 
 and Harriet Ann Neff. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 
 Florence, born Aug. 3, 1871 at Kaysville; 
 married Albert K. Green, Mar. 8, 1893 at 
 Kaysville. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born at Kaysville) 
 Otha K, b. Dec. 26, 1893. 
 Levi B., b. Sept. 27, 1896; d. April 26, 
 
 1899. 
 Parnell, b. Sept. 20, 1898. 
 Ortensa, b. Nov. 26, 1901. 
 Austher L., b. Oct. 4, 1903. 
 Mary L, b. Oct. 30, 1909. 
 
 Ella, born Oct. 8, 1873 at Kaysville; mar- 
 ried Edwin Webb, Feb. 28, 1893 at Kays- 
 ville, by Bishop Peter Barton. 
 Her Children 
 (All except first one were born at Ma- 
 lad, Idaho) 
 Earl, b. Nov. 24, 1894 at Kaysville. 
 Josie Mary, b. Nov. 20, 1896. 
 Christopher, b. May 1, 1899. 
 Leland, b. Oct. 2, 1901. 
 Verma, b. April 11, 1904. 
 Edmund L., b. Jan. 27, 1906. 
 Charles L., b. , . 
 
 Levi Brigham, born Dec. 28, 1875 at Kays- 
 ville; died Nov. 13, 1895 in Idaho. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 315 
 
 Harriet Ann, born Dec. 28, 1877 at Kays- 
 ville; married E. Conrad Miller, Dec. 9, 
 1893 at Salt Lake City, by Bishop Adam 
 Spiers. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born at Layton, Utah) 
 Marie, b. Oct. 9, 1894. 
 Davina, b. April 7, 1898. 
 Lovina, b. April 7, 1900. 
 Harriet Edwina, b. Oct. 9, 1903. 
 Benjamin L., b. Nov. 28, 1907. 
 Harmon L., b. June 12, 1910. 
 
 Phebe, born July 2, 1881 at Kaysville; mar- 
 ried Willard R. Harris, Jan. 30, 1901 in 
 Salt Lake City, by John R. Winder. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born at East Layton, Utah) 
 Leora, b. Jan. 11, 1902. 
 Mary Neve, b. Aug. 2, 1903. 
 Wayne L., b. Mar. 6, 1905. 
 
 Jennie M., born at Kaysville Aug. 30, 1886; 
 married Alonzo J. Gilert, Oct. 30, 1907, 
 in Salt Lake City, by John R. Winder. 
 
316 GENEALOGICAL APPENDIX. 
 
 NINTH FAMILY 
 
 CHRISTOPHER LAYTON married, Aug. 15, 
 1878 at, Salt Lake City, by Joseph F. Smith, 
 ELIZABETH, daughter of Ebenezer WIL- 
 LIAMS and Ada Evans. 
 
 THEIR CHILDREN 
 
 Lawrence W., b. Aug. 4, 1879 at Kaysville; 
 died there Aug. 28, 1879. 
 
 Lottie W., born Nov. 18, 1880 at Kaysville; 
 married Joseph Heber Larson, May 25, 
 1903 at Thatcher, Arizona, by Andrew 
 Kimball. 
 
 Her Children 
 
 (All born at Thatcher, Arizona) 
 
 Magdaline, b. May 3, 1904; d. May 22, 
 
 1905. 
 Thora, b. Aug. 27, 1905. 
 Joseph L., b. Oct. 23, 1907. 
 
 Leslie W., born Jan. 5, 1883 at Kaysville; 
 married Nellie Claridge, Sept. 3, 1903 at 
 Thatcher, Arizona, by Patriarch Samuel 
 Clari'dge. 
 
 His Children 
 
 Christopher, b. April 19, 1904 at Thatch- 
 er; d. May 29, 1905. 
 
 Angeline, b. Jan. 21, 1906 at Thatcher. 
 
 Elizabeth, b. May 30, 1907 at Thatcher. 
 
 Leslie Joy, b. Feb. 16, 1909 at Brice, 
 Arizona. 
 
CHRISTOPHER LAYTON. 317 
 
 Lillian W., (twin) born Feb. 12, 1885 at St. 
 David, Arizona; married Edward M. 
 Claridge, Sept. 3, 1903 at Thatcher, Ari- 
 zona, by Patriarch Samuel Claridge. 
 
 Her Children 
 (All born at Thatcher) 
 Luella, b. April 5, 1904; d. May 21, 1905. 
 Samuel Lynton, b. Mar. 2, 1906. 
 Ethna, b. Nov. 19, 1908. 
 
 Luella W., (twin) born Feb. 12, 1885 at St. 
 David, Arizona; married Ousley A. 
 Reneer, Sept. 4, 1904 at Thatcher, Ari- 
 zona, by Bishop Moody. 
 
 Her Children 
 (Born at Thatcher, Arizona) 
 Leman A., b. Oct. 8, 1905. 
 Ebon, b. Jan. 22, 1908. 
 
 Priscilla W., born Nov. 11, 1887 at Thatch- 
 er, Arizona. 
 
 Minnie W., born Jan. 3, 1890 at Thatcher, 
 Arizona. 
 
 Gilbert W., born April 11, 1892 at Thatcher, 
 Arizona. 
 
 Elizabeth W., born May 19, 1894 at Thatch- 
 er, Arizona. 
 
 Wilmuth W., born Sept. 4, 1896 at Thatch- 
 er, Arizona. 
 
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