Letter to Ammon Meshach Tenney, 31 May 1880
Salt Lake City,
Mr. A. M. Tenney,
Dear Brother:
I have just received your two letters and read them to Brother Taylor,
and our counsel is for you today, to those brethren who are at St. John, who
are taking land, that our counsel to them is to turn out in payment for the
land, oxen, horses, wagons, harness, or anything they have to help pay for it,
and not wait for the last day of payment.
I have written to you concerning the election. We want you to consult
with the presidents of stakes and their counsellors, the bishops and counsellors,
and all the people must unite together and agree whom they will vote for as
delegate to Congress, and then all write and vote for your county officers. The
Mormons have a great majority of votes in Apache County, and it is a duty they
owe to themselves to put their own men into office. You write to Lot and to
Jesse N. Smith and consult with them about it. The people must be united and
not divide in these matters.
I have already notified you that we have appointed David Wall, -[ David K.
Udall ]- as bishop of St. John and he has been notified of it. How soon he can
go I know not. You should reserve a good city lot and farming land for him.
You can ask him when he can come.
I am surprised that you have received so little pay on the purchase for
the number of men. All should understand that they cannot hold that land if
they do not pay for it, for it was bought for the Saints, but we expect them
to pay for it.
If you are likey to have trouble with the Apaches, you should all form
yourselves into a military company without delay and see that your arm and
ammunition are in good order and ready at hand.
I thought all matters were settled between Brothers Hunt and Hatch. They
agree(d) to settle and bury everything (the) night of the settlement.
I am now notifying some men at Box Elder City to prepare to go to St.
John. We will send men as fast as we can.
You need not call for any tithing stock to pay on the St. John purchase,
unless you are obliged to. I was sorry to hear that Brother Johnson had made
such a poor -[choice]- out of his settling. I told him to go to St. John. Men
who take counsel will be blessed. Those who do not will suffer.
I have only time to write a little this evening. My love to all.
Your brother in the Gospel, W. Wroodruff per J. J.
