[Image and signature of Wilford Woodruff]

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. No. I. OCTOBER, 1883. VOL. III. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF CHAPTER I. FAMILY SKETCH. MY EARLY DAYS AND MINISTRY. In tracing the history of my fathers, I find it difficult to obtain a satisfactory account of the Woodruff family for more than three generations. My great grandfather, Josiah Woodruff, lived nearly one hundred years, and pos- sessed an iron constitution, and per- formed a great amount of manual labor nearly up to the time of his death. His wife's name was

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. ing the Farmington Mills, until I was twenty years of age. In April, 1827, I took the flouring mill of my aunt, Hellen Wheeler, which I at- tended three years. In May, 1830, I took charge of the flouring mill of Mr. Col- lins, the ax manufacturer, in South Can- ton, Connecticut. At the end of one year it was demolished to make way for other machinery. In March, 1831, I took charge of the flouring mill ...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. April 11th, 1834—With my horses and wagon I took Brothers Harry Brown and Warren Ingles and started for Zion. I met with Orson Pratt, John Murdoch and other elders on the way, and ar- rived in Kirtland on the 25th day of April, 1834. The Prophet Joseph invited me to make his house my home; I accepted his offer, and staid with him about one week. ...

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. Zion's Camp to Missouri, and we had passed through all the trials of that jour- ney, and had buried a number of our brethren, as recorded in history, the Prophet called the Camp together, and organized the Church in Zion, and gave much good counsel to all. He advised all the young men, who had no families, to stay in Missouri, and not return to Kirtland. Not having any family, I stopped with

give us a piece of bread, lied to us about the road, and sent us across the swamp, and we wallowed knee-deep in mud and water till ten o'clock at night in trying to follow this crooked river. We then left the swamp, and put out into the prairie, to lie in the grass for the night. When we came out of the swamp, we heard an Indian drumming on a tin pail and singing. It was very dark, but we traveled towards the noise, and when ...

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. eat. That was the hardest day's work of my life. The man's name was Williams. He was in the mob in Jackson County: and after the Saints were driven out, he, with many others, went south. We got up in the morning and walked in the rain twelve miles to the house of a man named Bemon, who was also one of the mob from Jackson County. They were about sitting down to breakfast as we came in. ...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. A mob was soon raised, and warning sent to us to leave immediately or we would be tarred and feathered, ridden on a rail and hanged. I soon saw where the serpents were. My companion wanted to leave; I told him no, I would stay and see my dream fulfilled. There was an old gentleman and lady, named Hubbel, who had read the Book of Mormon and believed. Father Hub- bel came to see ...

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. riages, clothed in broadcloth, and had large salaries, and would see this whole world sink to perdition before they would wade through one hundred and seventy miles of mud to save the people. The landlord wanted a little fun, so he said he would keep me if I would preach. He wanted to see if I could preach. I must confess that by this time I be- came a little mischievous, and pleaded with him not to set me preaching. The more I plead ...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. pointment at the house of Brother Tay- lor, the step-father of Abraham O. Smoot. I had to cross Bloody River, which I had to swim in, in consequence of heavy rains. While crossing, my horse became entangled in a tree-top, and almost drowned; but I succeeded in getting him loose. We swam to the shore separately. He reached the shore first, and waited till I came out. I got into the saddle, and went on ...

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. min L. Clapp priests. I also ordained one teacher and two deacons. After conference I took Brothers Smoot and Clapp with me to preach. The former traveled with me constantly till the 21st of April, when we had the privilege of meeting with Elder David W. Patten, who had come direct from Kirtland, and who had been ordained one of the Twelve Apostles. It was a happy meeting. He gave us ...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. surrounded by the mob, but the brethren had escaped through the mercy of God. I was invited to hold a meeting at a Baptist meeting house on the 27th of June. On my arrival I met a large con- gregation; but, on commencing meeting, Parson Browning ordered the meeting to be closed. I told the people I had come ten miles to preach the gospel to them, and was willing to stand in a cart, on a pile of ...

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. we were joined by Elder Milton Holmes. There we went aboard the steamer San- dusky, and made our way to Buffalo, and proceeded thence to Syracuse, by way of the Erie Canal. We then walked to Richland, Oswego County, New York, where I met my two brothers, whom I had not seen for several years. After spending one night there, we continued our journey to Sackett's Har- bor, and crossed ...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. After visiting with my father a day or two, I returned to Avon, where most of my relatives lived, and held meetings with them, and on the 12th of June, 1837, I baptized my uncle, Ozem Wood- ruff, his wife Hannah, and his son John, and we rejoiced together, for this was in fulfillment of a dream I had in 1818, when I was eleven years of age. On the

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. earth I ever saw. It would be difficult for any person to describe it. It is about ten miles in length by five in width, and is one universal mass of rocks, formed into shelves, hills, and valleys, and cut up into necks and points to make room for the coves and harbors that run through and through the island. The population was 1,000. The in- habitants got their living entirely by fishing. There is no chance for farming upon the island ...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. us to the meeting-house, where we met a large congregation, none of whom knew who we were, or anything about our profession, except the minister. Elder Hale and I went to the stand, and I arose with peculiar feelings and addressed the congregation for one hour, taking for my text Galatians i. 8–9. This was the first time that I or any other elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ...

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE remarks against the Book of Mormon and our principles. I spoke two and a half hours, and an- swered every objection against the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, or our prin- ciples. I had good attention and the people seemed satisfied. At the close of the meeting Elder Hale administered the ordinance of baptism. Mr. Newton, in order to save his cause, went to the mainland and brought over several ministers with him and held ...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. We retired to a grove and knelt down and prayed together, and had a good time, and, after commending each other to God, we parted, he to return to Kirt- land and I to Fox Islands. I spent fourteen days visiting the Saints and friends, and holding meetings among them, and on the 28th of Octo- ber I took leave of Father Carter and and family, and in company with my wife rode to ...

TULLIDGE'S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. the North Island. Here I found that the seed I had sown was bringing forth fruit. Six persons were ready for bap- tism. But my mission to these islands was not an exception to the general rule: success did not come without many obstacles presenting themselves. Those who rejected the word were frequently inspired by the evil one to make an attempt at persecution. Some of those who felt to oppose me went down to the harbor and got ...

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WILFORD WOODRUFF. and he felt impressed to say, "Walk in, gentlemen." There is probably no other chapter in the whole book that would have the same influence in causing any one to feed a person who professed to be a servant of God and asked for bread. After becoming acquainted with his circumstances I thought it providential that we were led to his house, for al- though he was a professor of religion and a Methodist, he was ...