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LIFE & TIMES OF ERASTUS SNOW
 

 

By Theresa Snow Hill. Published by her daughter Cornella Hill in 1997. 
Hard Cover 8.5 x 11  286 pages. 
 ISBN 1888106182  
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Other books by this author:
  George Washington Hill  Henry Eyring & Mary Bommeli  Reuben Lorenzo Hill & Theresa Snow 

  Introduction    Preface    Table of Contents  

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INTRODUCTION

This novel is a granddaughter’s portrayal and dramatized account of the life and times of her illustrious grandfather—against a backdrop of the American Revolution, birth of the Mormon Church and polygamy, the westward trek to Utah, development of Southern Utah, and finally Erastus as a lonely fugitive traveling incognito, evading U.S. Marshals. The author quotes extensively from his diary, journal, and personal letters.
    More than half a century ago, Mary Theresa Snow Hill, who grew up in the Mormon colonies of Mexico, began a many year study of his diary, journals, and letters—and all available historical documents. She interviewed scores of family members and others until she felt she knew the personality and character of this ancestor well enough to write the fascinating drama and dialogue surrounding his life. Through the eyes of this granddaughter, the dramatic experiences of her ancestors, including their day-to-day decisions and marriage hardships, are brought to life.
    Between 1930 and 1956, the author wrote two books about the lives of her ancestors: paternal grandfather Erastus Snow and his wives, and maternal grandparents Henry Eyring and Mary Bommeli. She then wrote a third book, her own story, including her growing up experiences in the Mormon Colonies in Juarez, Mexico.
    Her father Willy Snow, son of Erastus and Julia, was tragically killed at a very young age and left his wife, Emily Eyring Snow, a widow with two young daughters, Mary Theresa and Bea.
    Mary Theresa’s daughter, Cornella Hill White, after publishing two volumes of her own life story, is now publishing all of her mother’s books. As Cornella states: "Most history books are dry. My mother’s books are not. They are so readable and full of the drama of their times that I wanted to make them available to others. It was said of my mother that she could hold hundreds spellbound with her storytelling.

PREFACE

These stories from the life of Erastus Snow, my grandfather, were written that my children and grandchildren would become acquainted early with this courageous Utah Pioneer, a true and tried Latter-day-Saint.
    Being the daughter of one of the youngest of his families (William Spencer Snow and Emily Eyring) and living most of my life far from my Snow relatives (because my father died at such an early age from a tragic accident), my knowledge of his life came more from those who had known him rather than from his own close kin. I, therefore, had to search here and there among his descendants and through Church documents for the basic facts in my stories. Many legends I found were not based on fact and I hope those discovered in his diary will be proof of the truth.
    I had part of a copy of his autobiography which was dictated to his son Franklin Snow. My cousin, Inez Snow Moody, had the complete copy, which she sent to me. To her I owe a debt of gratitude.
    I found that Grandfather Erastus Snow had written a diary up to the year 1856, from which bulletins had been copied on the "original pioneer trek." Aunt Cora Snow, wife of Uncle Clare (Dr. Clarence Snow) sent me those bulletins.
    Rachel Kingsbury, another cousin (daughter of Franklin Snow), kindly loaned me her copy which was most generous for she was loath to let the precious manuscript leave her hands.
    Leah Ivins Cardon, daughter of Aunt Libby (Elizabeth Snow Ivins), a cousin also, loaned me another precious manuscript (copies of letters to and from Erastus and his family beginning almost where his diary left off).
    From letters of another Aunt (Maude Rosamund Snow) in possession of my cousin Inez, I gleaned other dates and items. I have tried not to duplicate the wonderful stories told in the Snow Book written by our cousin, Bess Snow, but I did get some references and dates from her book.
    For the stories handed down by Aunt Martie (Martha Snow Keate) and her sister Flora Wooley, I am indebted to Aunt Flora’s daughter, Bessie Wooley Jensen, as well as for many of the pictures which are available to go with the stories.
    To these good people and my dear sister, Beatrice Snow Winsor, I owe much gratitude for kindness and help.
    As with the stories of my childrens’ other great-grandparents, these stories are based on fact. Words and incidents in keeping with the character and life of this ancestor have embroidered and brought to life the history and living of this great and wonderful man.

Mary Theresa Snow Hill

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Table of Contents

THE SNOW HOME TWO CENTURIES BEFORE ERASTUS SNOW WAS BORN

LEVI SNOW AND LUCINA STREETER

LUCINA’S FOURTH GREAT-GRANDFATHER, ROGER WILLIAMS

TILLINGHAST IN THE REVOLUTION & JUDGMENT DAY IN ST. JOHNSBURYS SCHOOL

LIFE IN THE BOYHOOD HOME OF ERASTUS

THE LIGHT THAT CAME TO ERASTUS IN 1832

PRIESTHOOD USED IN THE SNOW FAMILY

ERASTUS IS BAPTIZED INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD

JOSEPH SMITH, OUR AMERICAN PROPHET

PENTECOSTAL BLESSINGS IN KIRTLAND

KIRTLAND TEMPLE DEDICATION

THE LONE ELDER (Mission one)

THE SPIRIT HELPS ERASTUS AND PROTECTS HIM

LIFE OF ERASTUS IS PRESERVE

INCIDENTS ON ERASTUS’ SECOND AND THIRD MISSIONS

ERASTUS MEETS HIS HELPMEET TO BE

ERASTUS HEARS THE STORY OF MISSOURI TROUBLES

ERASTUS AND ARTEMESIA ARE WED

ERASTUS PLEADS HIS OWN CASE IN A COURT OF LAW

REFUGEES FROM MISSOURI

FAMILY REUNIONS ON HIS FIFTH EASTERN STATES MISSION

ERASTUS BECOMES A FATHER

ERASTUS THE SINGER

FATHER LEVI’S DEATH

THE PROPHET’S MESSAGE TO METIA SOON AFTER THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, APRIL 1842

NAUVOO THE BEAUTIFUL—HOME AGAIN

TRAGEDY OF JUNE 27th, 1844

FIRST TEMPLE ENDOWMENTS

SARAH SAVED FROM A WATERY GRAVE

WINTER QUARTERS

THE HISTORIC TREK TO THE WEST BEGINS

FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW AFTER

CHASTISEMENT AND HOW IT WAS RECEIVED

NEW MEMBERS FOR THE PIONEER COMPANY

MOUNTAIN FEVER

CITY OF ZION IS LAID OUT

THE SNOW FAMILY PASSES THE SIFTING PROCESS

ON TO ZION, BEAUTIFUL ZION

PERPETUAL EMIGRATION FUND

ERASTUS BEGINS THE LONG JOURNEY TO DENMARK

BEGINNINGS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN DENMARK

HOME TO ZION

ST. LOUIS AND ITS MANY PROBLEMS

PATRIARCHAL MARRIAGE AND WHAT IT MEANT TO THE MEMBERS OF ERASTUS SNOW’S FAMILY

SARAH’S PLAN FOR MARRIAGE

WORKINGS OF THE PERPETUAL EMIGRATION FUND

(Material taken from the book, Prelude to the Kingdom, by Larsen).

THE UTAH WAR

THE DIXIE MISSION

PROBLEMS IN EARLY ST. GEORGE HISTORY

THE FIRST UTAH TEMPLE

TASK OF BUILDING THE TEMPLE IN DIXIE

A NOTED VISITOR IN ST. GEORGE

TEMPLE IS DEDICATED APRIL 1877

FAMILY LIFE PROBLEMS

ARTEMESIA BELOVED

CAN WE, OR CAN WE NOT LIVE OUR RELIGION IN THE UNITED STATES

SERVICE IN HIDING

"FAREWELL UNTIL WE SHALL MEET AGAIN"

MEXICO HAVEN

ERASTUS IN JUAREZ, MEXICO, 1887

HOME AGAIN

ERASTUS AND METIA REUNITED

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