W. Woodruff Ashlley Fork July 13 [18]86 Historian's Office, P. O. BOX 321, Salt Lake City ^Ashley Fork^ Utah, June 29 1886 Presidents John Taylor and Geo. Q Cannon Dear Bretheren I have ben a month on the road traveling to this place with Emma and her children. We came to have an out in the mountains and to visite Henry & Nellie my nephew and Daughter. Of course we have tried to ...

to form an acquaintance with the Allen family, especialy the old gentleman but I dont think he learnt much. But it is now reported that he is returning to this place with other marshals with papers for men, and some think for L. A. and others, and in consequence I think it wisdom I think to take a place out of sight for a season. But bretheren it is not for this purpose that I write to you It is upon the situation of this Ashley ward that I ...

appointed president, and I think Bp. Hatch wants the office. And although my son David has married his daughter I cons- ider him unfit to preside over the Stake. I will now give some of my reasons at the last election Bp. Hatch united with one of his counselors Nathan Davis and the outside element to nominate and elect Liycurgus Johnson one of the seclectmen of the county. He has served a term as Deputy Marshal, is not in the church, and report says ...

to the offices of the last election, and Bro. Davis told me to day that this Johnson has reported that F M Lyman John Henry Smith both promised him that if he would be baptizsed they would make him president of this Stake. I have more confidence in these two men than to believe any sutch report he is an enemy to this people, and I believe would sell us all far a few dollars apiece. The same Johnson has married Bro. Davise's Daughter which ...

with that decision of characture that a man shauld possess who presides over this Stake; for his infuence is with those who are against the interest of the Church. This Johnson is a brother to Johnson whoe's wife shot a man in Bearlake. I do not think him a friend to the Saints of God. Bishop Hatch is a good hearted man, and I think means to do what is wright, but he is easily influenced, and I think his influence is on the wrong ...

reign until he puts all enemies under his feet. I feel thankful that your are still free men, and my daily prayer to God is that you may be kept out of the hands of your enemies unto the end, and that you may be blessed with health and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost I remain your Brother in the Gospel of Christ W Woodruff ...

I will further say I had an inter- view yeasterday with Bishop Glines the Probate Judge and C. C. Bartlett the Tithing Office clerk & they gave me a general history of the political and temporal situation of the whole Ashley Ward and the trouble lies in this that Bishop Hatch and his first councillor Nathan Davis claim the wright to govern controll and dictate all political conventions, caucuses & to get up the list of nominations & control the elections ...

convention or having any voice in the nomination of a ticket, & the way the thing is moving it looks as though the power was going into the hands of our enemies, and the misfortune is that Bishop Hatch and councillor Davis is useing their influence to carry out this programme. This is about the way it looks to me from the testimony I get. Again, Brother Bartlett the Tithing Clerk says: "there has never ben any settlement by any one of Bishop Hatch Tithing affairs or with myself as Clerk ...