Letter from Oliver Boardman Huntington, 14 October 1887 [LE-14261]
Document Transcript
Y, APRIL 10, 1887--SIX
PISGAH BURYING GROUND.
For the Preservation of a Sacred
Historical Spot.
To the Editor of THE HERALD
Over two years ago, President received a letter from a gentle-
man owning the land at , Iowa,
where three hundred of the Saints were
buried, in their exodus from to
these mountains. The gentleman, Mr.
A. E. White, stated to President Taylor
that he had never suffered the land to
be plowed or disturbed, known there as
the "old Mormon Burying Ground,"
and he wanted to know what the people
here in , who had friends buried
there, wanted to do about the ground
or the remains of their friends. In his
letter, he made mention of the name of
, my father, as
having been buried there, who was a
Bishop or presiding officer of the settle-
ment.
President Taylor sent Mr. White's
letter to me with instructions what to do
in the matter. I have followed his in-
structions, and to-day, through the
blessings of God, and the kindness and
humanity of Mr. White, the "Old Mor-
mon Burying Ground" belongs to 'the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.' The lot of one acre is fenced
with a good wire-netting fence, and this
spring there will be a row of poplar
trees set around the lot inside the
fence.
It is now desired by many, in order to
fully complete improvements upon the
ground, that a monument of some kind,
or a stone, should be placed in the
center of the lot, whereon shall be en-
graved the names of all persons buried
there, so far as can be obtained. This
work will necessarily require money,
which should be forwarded to me at
, Utah, as soon as possible,
and I will forward the same to Mr.
White, who has very kindly and
gratuitously attended to all business
matters pertaining to the ground which
lies in the center of his farm.
The liberality of those interested in
this matter will decide the kind and
respectability of the object that will
indicate the last resting place of their
loved ones.
Will every person having relatives
buried there forward the names of the
dead without delay, and as liberal
donations as their circumstances will
permit? Every one should send as
much as will pay for engraving the
names of their dead at least, and they
that are well-to-do should send more,
that the good work may be completed
in a creditable manner.
When fully completed, a photograph
of the ground will be sent to those most
liberal in donating.
.
SPRINGVILLE, Utah Co., Utah,
March 30, 1887.