*August 8th 1900.

~August 8th 1900. Lawson. Raleigh Co. Weather warm started on our long journey through the mountains to Mt. Hope a distance of 20 miles. Received no dinner got two refusals, succeeded in getting to stop but the people treated us very cool and said the people talked about them when they keep the Mormon Elders.~

~Photo..path through the forest Raleigh Co.

August 7th 1900

~August 7th 1900. Clear Creek. Stopped at Woods Jarrells ate breakfast went up to Victorias. Miss played some on the organ for us, took a swim went up to Lawson. Received word to go up to Nicholas County.~

~Photo was taken in Nicholas Co.

*August 6th 1900

~August 6th Lawson. Raleigh Co. Sun very warm left our grippes at Bro. Thompsons started for Acme to see some of our saints that had apostized name Paine and Thompson. Mrs. Paine wouldn’t talk went in the house left us standing outside the fence. We went up the gulch to Mr. Thompsons introduced ourselves to the family he said get right out of here and quick you cant stuff any such stuff as that down me. Walked back over the mountain without any dinner. ~

~Photo is a home in WV. This is Hatfield and McCoy territory;)

August 5th 1900

~August 5th 1900. Raleigh Co. Weather pleasant fasted as usual went down to Lawson attended Sunday School and at night held a sacrament meeting. Ate dinner at Br. S. Jarrells* also stayed all night.All well.~



~Probably Sam Jarrell.
~Photo is an abandoned church in Raleigh Co. WV,it is not the church Grandpa attended this day,it wasnt built until 1913.Many abandoned churches and old homes in this area of Raleigh Co.This one was built for a Black congregation,they abandoned it for another.

August 4th 1900

~August 4th 1900. Lawson Raleigh Co. Weather warm packed up our grippes* and started up the mountain to Bro. Jarrells gave out an appointment for meeting at night. Visited Bro. Jarrells ate supper walked two miles through the timber held our meeting, went back and stayed with Perry Jarrell. All well.~


~'Grippes' are suitcases.
~Photo is typical WV forest.

*August 3rd 1900

~August 3rd 1900. Drewes. Ate breakfast, Blessed two of their children started for Lawson a distance of 12 miles. Ate dinner at Jacob Jarrells continuing our journey arriving at Lawson at an early hour ate supper visited one of our old apostates was treated very cool he threatened to strike us. His wife stood with a large chew of tobacco and spitting around they said they wanted their names taken off from the books. Stayed at Bro. Jarrells. All well.~


~Can find no town called Drewes.

~Photo is near Lawson WV area.

August 2nd 1900

~Aug.2nd 1900. Peach Tree. Weather sultry I took a nap then ate dinner went up to Sam Jarrells* visited them, talked with them on the gospel at an early hour retired.~



~Peach Tree is not considered a town at present day but it is a road in Raleigh Co.

~may be Samuel Edward Jarrell(B. 1873 / D. Aug 19th 1927 in Marsh Fork,Raleigh Co. WV)

~Photo is an unknown abandoned house in Raleigh Co. WV

August 1st 1900

~Aug.1st 1900. Rock House. Weather warm got in the wagon with Mr. Pettry and rode to Peach Tree. Roads rocky visited Sister Pettry had a few tunes played on the fiddle ate supper and retired. All well.~


~Photo is an old road in Raleigh Co.

July 30th 1900

~July 30th 1900. Lawson. Weather agreeable started to visit the saints down the creek. Took dinner with Bro. O.Thompson and his wife. A lady stopped and wanted us to sing and read some which we did. Took a bath in the creek packed our shoes across. I stepped on a rock fell in but got out before getting wet.~



~Photo is the Blue Stone River.

July 29th 1900

~July 29th 1900. Lawson Raleigh Co. At 10a.m. we attended Sunday School held a short meeting.At 4p.m. Held a sacrament meeting among the saints at Bro. Lawson Jarrells. Retired at an early hour. All well.~


~Photo is an abandoned Church in Raleigh Co.WV

~A note about the terrain

At this point Grandpa has left the lower river valleys and is walking in what is considered the Cumberland Plateau,basically the foothills of the Alleghany Mountains,a mountain range which is part of the Appalachians. The Cumberland Plateau is characterized by its sandstone outcroppings and bluffs, cliffs, gorges, rockhouses, natural bridges and waterfalls. West Virginia is 'The Mountain State',and he is now in very rugged territory. Without the help of North Face,Gore-Tex or REI. He is also unarmed.

*July 28th 1900

~July 28th 1900. Charleston. At 10 a.m. we took the train for Coalburg then took a branch line rode to Acme. There started on our seven mile walk over the mountain arriving at Lawson. Ate supper with C.A. Thompson started about dark down the canyon gave out an appointment for a meeting. Got lost in the woods took off our shoes and stockings waded the creek. Came to the road we were tender footed and lots of rocks to go over. We stumbled around until 11 p.m. and came back to Bro. C.A. Thompsons. All well.~

~Photo is Raleigh county WV, wouldnt want to be lost down there.

July 27th 1900

~July 27th 1900. Two Mile Kenawha Co. Weather pleasant after eating breakfast we started for St. Albans. There waited for the train it must have been Negro day the train was loaded with them. Took the train for Charleston found all well.~

~Photo is the original train depot at St. Albans,taken in 1911. It still stands today as a museum.
~St. Albans to Charleston is 21 miles along the Kenawha River.





~Photo in St. Albans: The passenger railroad depot built by the C&O here still stands, restored, used as a museum. Also the passenger depot built by the Coal River & Western Railway here remains.

July 26th 1900

~July 26th 1900. Big H.C. Still raining we started for Bro. Angles. Waded the creek several times got into a wagon and rode to Griffithsville there tracked the country as far as Bro. Angles. Found him weak in the faith and on the point of withdrawing from the Church. We had walked a long way and were tired so went to bed.~

~Photo is trail leading out of Jenks WV.

July 25th 1900

~July 25th 1900. Big house*. Weather stormy we were compeled to withdraw our appointments. Stayed there all day took a bath. I took a nap and layed over another day.~



~Big house may have been an empty or abandoned house,since there are no names mentioned or associated with it.
~Photo is very near Jenks WV.

July 24th 1900.

~July 24th 1900. Lincoln Co. Jenks. Weather pleasant. Miss Adkison gave us some candy and we started for Mr. Johnsons a distance of 18 miles. Gave a widow a book. Met Bro. Angles talked with them on the law of tithing. The family that they were staying with would not let any Mormons in the house. Visited with Mr. Johnson they were strong investigators. All well.~


~Photo is the Adkison homestead.Charlotte may have been the young girl (Miss Adkison)who gave them the candy,she would have been 10 years old at that time..

July 23rd 1900

~July 23rd 1900. Jenks. Lincoln Co. We were called to visit Mr. Farnettes in company with Bro. Adkison. We went over the mountain to his house but found him gone. Ate dinner with his brother gave them some tracks. Went over and visited Bro. Stumps he showed me the pictures of the Civil War. Stayed with Deats Adkison.~


~ Photos may be some of what Grandpa saw that day. These were taken at Harpers Ferry WV after a Confederate Army win.
~West Virginia was a State born from the Civil War,in 1863 Virginians divided their State in an act to sustain Pres. Lincolns war effort. It blocked what could have been Confederate control of the territory and closed one of the key gateways to the Union states.

July 22nd 1900

~July 22nd 1900.Jenks.Lincoln Co. Held our cottage meeting at eleven oclock. Visited Bro. Adkison blessed two of their children. Ate dinner at Bro. Adkison at 7 oclock. We held our meeting in the School House had a good crowd stayed with Bro. Adkison all night.~


~Photo is an old School House in Lincoln Co. WV

July 21st 1900

~July 21st 1900. On account of rain we were compelled to stay over until the next day. Wrote a few letters to the saints. Found the orchard and helped ourselves to the contents.~


~Photo is rainy day in Lincoln Co. WV

July 20th 1900

~July 20th 1900. ~Lincoln Co. McCamas Ridge. Weather moderate ate breakfast and started for Bro. James Adkison. Took off shoes and stockings waded Mud River. Received our mail at Jenks Post Office. Sold a Book of Mormon. Ate dinner with Bro. James Adkison gave out an appointment for a sacrament meeting Sunday morning. Sang a few songs with the girls and retired. All well.~


~Photo is Covered Bridge spanning Mud River in Lincoln Co. WV Built in 1875.Sign over the bridge states "This Bridge maintained by the Union Army."

July 19th 1900

~July 19th 1900. Lincoln Co. Painters Branch. Left Penningtons called at Mrs. Stuarts found the sick children out playing. She said she was going to join our church. Went back to Holbrooks took a shave and went down to see Mrs. Miller, she wouldn’t give us any dinner. Went back to Holbrooks ate dinner. Went over to Bro. Newman Yeagers and stayed all night with them.~

~Methodist Church Myra WV

July 18th 1900

~July 18th 1900. Lincoln Co. Six Mile. Weather warm and sultry talked with them on the law of tithing. Went up to Sister Holbrooks ate dinner administered to her and she said she felt better immediately. Administered to Mrs. Stuarts two little children. Went down to Myra Post Office and received our mail. Stayed at Mrs. Penningtons all night.~

~Photo is an old home in Myra WV

July 17th 1900

~July 17th 1900. Lincoln Co. After breakfast bid them goodbye and started on our journey for Mr. Patents. One man said we had ought to get rich preaching for such big salaries and he would like to see their ministers get hold of us. We told them to bring on their ministers* but they did not. Have twice ate dinner with Mr. Sights. Stayed all night with Bro. Lunsfords.~


* Bring it!!
* Photo is an old shack from a remote area of Lincoln Co.WV

July 16th 1900

~July 16th 1900. Camp Br. Weather pleasant but warm and sultry*. Bade the Elders goodbye and started for Bro. Aliskers. Crossed the Guyan toll river in a boat, also took a bath in the river,arriving at Bro. Aliskers about one o clock. They got us some dinner stayed there all night. Was troubled with bed bugs but finally made out. Mrs. Aliskers would chew and spit tobacco all over the hearth. ~


~ This area of the Ohio River Valley is a humid subtropical climate.
~In January 1913, national news was made when the middle span of a Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad (C&O) bridge over the Guyandotte River collapsed, and a train locomotive, engineer and bridge workers fell into the river. Engineer Shorty Webber and six bridge workers were killed. (The workers had been performing maintenance on the bridge.) Rescuers saved seven bridge workers from the river.It was not until June 1913 that the C&O company was able to salvage the locomotive from the river.

July 15th 1900

~July 15 1900.Camp B. Sunday morning the weather pleasant. We fasted as usual, went to Sunday School at 7 o clock p.m. We held our meeting had a good turn out. All well again.~

~Photo is Guyandotte R.

July 14th 1900

~July 14th 1900. Camp Brouch. Weather pleasant went up to Otto Sharps there met Elders Roundy and Childs. Ate dinner and held a sacrament meeting. Went back to Bro. Mayfields,went to hear a Preacher. He called on us to sing and pray which we did. Gave out an appointment for a meeting the next evening. All well.~

~There is presently no town called Camp Brouch. They havent walked a long distance,so they are still in the river valley. Photo is of Guydotte R.
~No picture of Otto Sharp,but I did find a record of him.(B.9/30/1870,Huntington WV~D.9/20/1967)Barboursville WV)

July 13th 1900

~July13th 1900. Meadow Branch, Lincoln Co. Weather moderate ate breakfast and continued on our journey. Crossed the Gumdote* river in a boat. Arriving at Bro. Mayfields at five o clock. Ate supper, a crowd came and we sang a few songs and had a good time.~


~ Guyandotte River,offshoot of the Ohio R.They had turned west again,Guyandotte is on the Western side of Lincoln county. There is no town called Meadow Branch,Im assuming the name was referring to a branch of the river.
~Photo is of the Guyandotte R.

July 12th 1900

~July 12th 1900. Hamlin, Lincoln Co. Found him very opposed to us he said our doctrine was rotten and that we were out to steal men’s women from them. He said he did not want us to talk before his children. We started on our way arriving at Hamlin, inquired the way to Russell Fryes. It rained very hard. Stopped with Brother Fry.~



~Photo~rainy foggy day near Hamlin WV.

July 11th 1900

~July 11th 1900. Cable Co. Weather very pleasant but warm. Bid Hazletts goodbye and started for Hamlin, Lincoln Co. Took dinner* with Alonzo Luther, gave them some tracks inquired the way to Hamlin. One would tell us it was 14 miles go on a little farther ask again and it was still farther. Received a few refusals, stopped with Mr. Jessie Queen.~

~Remember back then(and still in Wy.)lunch is "dinner" and dinner is "supper".
~ Hamlin is 26.5 miles,and apx. 8 hrs. 47 min. (walking) distance from Huntington.Thats on PAVED roads.
~ Photo is Lincoln Co. along Upper Mud River Road near W. Hamlin

July 10th 1900

~July 10th 1900. Hunnington Cabel Co. Not feeling so disposed to eat breakfast we got on the running gears of a wagon and rode to Robert Hazletts. Ate dinner and wrote a few letters to the saints. Stayed there all night and gave them some good advice on the principles of the gospel.~


~ Photo is of Robert Hazlett.I always look for pictures of ppl to match the names in Grandpas diary, but I can never be sure its them so I dont include them.This source was WV Biographies. Even though his associations were in Ohio... Huntington WV borders Ohio.:)And the dates of birth,etc. coincide perfectly.

*July 9th 1900

~July 9th 1900. Had chicken for breakfast they insisted on us eating some but did not touch any themselves. Elder Henrie was made sick and vomited it up. We continued on our journey about noon I became sick and our belief is that they tried to poison us. Stopped at Jacob Williams at Hunnington, stayed the night.~

~Photo is of a pioneer Homestead in Huntington WV

July 8th 1900

~July 8th 1900. The weather pleasant started for Hunnington*, walked down the railroad came to Mr. Edwards. They invited us in and treated us very kindly, stayed all night.~


*Huntington WV is the county seat for Cabell Co.,located along the Ohio River,created as a Rail Road town for the C&O R.R.Population in 1900 was 11,923

July 7th 1900

~July 7th 1900. At the breakfast table it was a push and shove to choke it down. Pulled out as soon as possible. It was a pleasant day, traveled thru the mountains for 5 miles, which brought us to Milton. There visited Bro. Keefer and family.~

~Photo is an old barn in Milton.

July 6th 1900

~July 6th 1900. Went back to Bro. Baleys and took dinner then started over the mountain to Jasper Kingerys. Stopped in the wood held a meeting the trees acting as the congregation. Visited Sister Sivine, stopped at Jaspers all night and spent it very restless on account of bed bugs and other animals of various sorts.~

Photo~ Woods near Hurricane....the congregation;)Love that line.

July 5th 1900

~July 5th 1900.We visited the rest of the saints and friends. Took dinner with Mr. C. Fourth. Gave out an appointment to preach at Bro. Kingerys at night,and there had my first discourses delivered. Stayed with Bro. Kingery all night.~


~Photo is Hurricane RR station early 1900s.

Juy 4th 1900

~July 4th 1900. Elder Hubbard, Henrie and myself attended a circus in Charlestown, the town was crowded with people at four oclock. Elder Henrie and I took the train for Putnam Co. Hurricane. Walked 4 miles to Edward Baleys,one of our saints, where we stayed all night.~

~Photo is of a typical circus c. 1900
~Hurricane,is apx. 26 mls. East of Charleston

June 17th 1900

~June 17th. Elder E.G.Cheney and myself were appointed to labor together . Visited the Saints on Pocatalogo.There we were called to a sick girl that had been given up by her parents. Pres. W.H. Swart came down from Brooklyn, him and about 12 Elders came out on Pocatalago held some meetings and received some instructions. Changed our companions. Elder George Henrie and myself were assigned to travel among the saints then made our way back to Charlestown. Pres. Joseph Hubbard, Irwin, Critten, and myself walked about 5 miles, held a meeting at night. After meeting we walked back to Charlestown took a small boat, crossed the Kanawha River.~

Photo~Kanawha River. Kanawah R. is a tributary of the Ohio River.
Top photo~ Pocatalico River,Pocatalico is apx. 15 mls. distance from Charleston

June 13th 1900

~June 13th.We received our appointments.Elder Maughn,Leddell,Allen,and myself were assigned to labor in W. Virginia. Elder Maughn being sick was compeled to stay at the office for a few days. Elder G.W.Allen and myself boarded the Chesapeake & Ohio R.R. after traveling 24 hours we arrived in Charlestown W.VA. Met those in charge at the office.~

*Photo~ The Chesapeake Ohio R.R. otherwise known as the C&O

June 12th 1900

~June 12th. Stayed at the offices a few days visiting the city.~

*Picture~Brooklyn Bridge and Lower New York c. 1900

June 8th 1900

~Next morning the 8th We found ourselves at the Rio Grande river starting over the Mountains until 9:30p.m. when we arrived in Denver Colorado. There changed cars took the Berlington route to Chicago. Visited that city Sunday and took in the sights rode the elevated cars, stopped at the Hotel. Next morning took the Pennsylvania short line traveling through the largest citys arriving at Brooklyn N.Y. ~

*Picture is of the 'elevated' cars in Chicago early 1900s

June 6th 1900

~When I continued my journey Arriving in Salt Lake the 6th there attended to our temple work .
Stayed in Bountiful that next day visited Joseph Sessions until 7:30 p.m.,when Heber C. Maughn, Barnard Leddell,George W. Allen,Elders Harper Follet and myself boarded
the train Denver and Rio Grande R.R. for Brooklyn New York.~

* Bottom picture is the 1911 Denver & Rio Grande RR menu, typical of the day.Top picture is the Denver Rio Grande R.R. winding its way through Utah.

June 4th 1900

~Being called by the servents of the living God to take a mission to the Eastern States. On the morning of June 4th 1900 I bid my loved ones good bye took a team as far as Montpelier Idaho. Then took the Origan* Short Line R.R. to Poctallo* where I stayed all night.~

*Oregon
*Pocatello,Idaho
* Photo above is of the Pocatello,Idaho Railyard in the year 1900

A Missionary Blessing

Elder Edward Sessions
Auburn Wyoming
Uinta Co.


A Missionarie Blessing pronounced upon the head of Elder Edward Sessions in the Salt Lake Temple annex June the 6th ,1900 by Pres. C.D. Fjeldstad*.

Brother Edward Sessions, we lay our hands upon your head and ordain you a seventy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And confer upon you all the keys,power and authority belonging to this high and holy calling in the Melchesede Priesthood.We set you apart for a mission to the Eastern States wither you have been called by the servants of the living God.
To go warn your fellow men and testify to the restoration of the Gospel in these the last days. In as much as you will lift up your heart in earnest and testify that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God: The Spirit of God shall rest upon you and the spirit of testimony shall not leave you and you shall have Joy and Satisfaction in this labor and you shall have strength to Perform this same.
You shall have influence among the people and friends shall be raised up unto you who shall feed you and administer to your want. And you shall have power over the diseases abroad. And have power to bless the sick and to raise them from their beds of Affliction if you will keep yourself dear unto the Lord. And you shall enjoy the Spirit of this office and calling. And you shall feel and understand that the Lord is with you and that his Angels are with you and you shall be warned when the wicked shall lay plans against you the Lord will warn you and you shall escape and be blessed and shall always have an answer in the time and season thereof. And the wicked shall not withstand and you shall be able to do much good. And when you have finished your labors you shall return and feel to rejoice in the Lord. We Dedicate you for the service of the Lord and seal upon you blessings and qualification your heart deserves in rightousness to perform this labor. And say unto you dear Brother be of good cheer for you are a servent of the Living God.
These blessings with all you desire in righteousness as we seal upon your head our seal upon you. All your former blessings and say unto you,fear God and keep his commandments and you shall go in peace and return in safety to your loved ones this we do in the name Jesus Christ.
Amen

* Scandanavian surname