Gustavious Williams served in the Southern States Mission from 1906 to 1908 and the Western States Mission from 1925 to 1926. In his first mission acceptance letter to Joseph F. Smith, he wrote: “I will be on hand at the time specified by you.” He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1909. They raised six children together in Teasdale, Utah. He became Bishop of the Teasdale Ward, ordained a High Priest by David O. McKay and Bishop by Joseph F. Smith. While serving in the East Tennessee Conference, the Walland School was going to be shut down in the winter of 1906 due to the absence of any teachers, so Elder Williams volunteered and taught at the school to keep it open all winter. He wanted it to be known in his last writing before he passed away that he never used tobacco or tasted alcohol. He baptized and confirmed Luther Howard Davis and William Houston Davis, in Walland, and Elmyra Miller, in Cades Cove, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wilford Woodruff Freeman served in the Middle States Mission and Southern States Mission from 1903 to 1905. When he was called to serve, he had already been married eight years and had three children. Elder Freeman returned home early due to a family illness and wrote a letter to Joseph F. Smith to report on his labors in East Tennessee: “The people of East Tennessee are very hospitable and in the main (sic) I received very kind treatment. The work is progressing nicely in that section.” He and his wife had ten children together. Elder Freeman baptized Lucinda Josephine Burchfield and Pearl Woody in Tuckaleechee Cove, whom he also confirmed – as well as David Lafayette Whitehead in Happy Valley – as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

David Samuel Warren served in the Middle States Mission and Southern States Mission from 1902 to 1904. In his mission acceptance letter to Joseph F. Smith, he wrote: “I will say that with the help of god i (sic) will be ready to start.” He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1906. They raised four children together in Utah while he worked as a deputy sheriff for Davis County. He served two stake missions. In 1904, Elder Warren baptized General Washington Harmon, in Cades Cove, David Lafayette Whitehead, in Happy Valley, and confirmed the first named and Lucinda Josephine Burchfield, in Walland, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

James Abraham Jr served in the Southern States Mission from 1908 to 1910. He saved money many years for his mission and to pay for his father’s funeral expenses by working in the fields of Utah as a farmhand. Elder Abraham briefly served in Blount County and documented in his mission journal his time meeting with several of the first Smoky Mountain Saints. He also journaled about attending the Northcutts Cove Chapel dedication, on October 24, 1909. This is the oldest standing LDS chapel in the southeastern United States. James was the youngest of 13 children. His mother was 47 years old when he was born. In 1921, he married Edna Hunt – in the Salt Lake Temple – who served in the Western States Mission from 1913 to 1915. They raised three children together in Utah. Elder Abraham baptized John Robert Davis in Tuckaleeche Cove, in 1910.

George Henry Erickson served in the Southern States Mission from 1907 to 1910. He married in the Salt Lake Temple after his mission and raised seven children while serving as Bishop of the Lehi 5th Ward. As Bishop he was construction manager and supervisor of the building of their chapel. He passed away shortly after its completion. Elder Erickson confirmed John Robert Davis a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tuckaleeche Cove, in 1910.

Earl Bradford Hales served in the Southern States Mission from 1912 to 1914. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1911. In his mission acceptance letter to Joseph F. Smith, he wrote: “I am well pleased with the call.” He served as a home teacher and later as a Bear River Stake missionary. He and his wife raised four children together. Elder Hales baptized Jane McClanahan in Tuckaleeche Cove in 1913.

George Alma Sampson served in the Southern States Mission from 1912 to 1914. In his mission acceptance letter to Joseph F. Smith, he wrote: “I fill (sic) my inability, but I am willing to go and do the best I can in helping to spread the gospel.” He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1915. They raised ten children together. George was well known for his singing and violin playing. At the time of his death in 1975, he had 70 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 1912, Elder Sampson baptized Toliver Andrew Parham and Austin Hale Harmon, in Millers Cove, and confirmed Laura Walker and Jane McClanahan, in 1913, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Gustavious Williams served in the Southern States Mission from 1906 to 1908 and the Western States Mission from 1925 to 1926. In his first mission acceptance letter to Joseph F. Smith, he wrote: “I will be on hand at the time specified by you.” He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1909. They raised six children together in Teasdale, Utah. He became Bishop of the Teasdale Ward, ordained a High Priest by David O. McKay and Bishop by Joseph F. Smith. While serving in the East Tennessee Conference, the Walland School was going to be shut down in the winter of 1906 due to the absence of any teachers, so Elder Williams volunteered and taught at the school to keep it open all winter. He wanted it to be known in his last writing before he passed away that he never used tobacco or tasted alcohol. He baptized and confirmed Luther Howard Davis and William Houston Davis, in Walland, and Elmyra Miller, in Cades Cove, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

William Price Fullmer Jr served in the Southern States Mission from 1910 to 1911. He documented his thoughts about home and his children in weekly letters available on Family Search. Before receiving his mission call, he had already married in the Manti Temple, in 1897, and had ten children at that time. While serving in Tennessee, his wife managed the home, children, and worked in the beet fields to provide for the family. Two children died just before he left on his mission and his daughter caught whopping cough, living long enough to see her father return home. He wrote home several months before the end of his mission asking his wife if she would like to serve a mission with him. She was concerned he was about to be called as Mission President and did not know how she could leave with their many children. Shortly thereafter, two months before he was to be released, she found her husband standing in the doorway. He received an early release to be Bishop at their home ward and they began their next mission together. They had 17 children, 14 of which survived to adulthood. Elder Fullmer baptized Braska Mae Harmon in Millers Cove and Ethel C. Davis in Tuckaleechee Cove, whom he also confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.