There were 23 Harmon family members baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Blount County and two in Georgia from 1895 to 1939.
Timeline of Baptisms
1890
7 Apr 1895: Samuel Harmon
2nd-Generation
5 May 1895: Polly Davis
2nd-Generation
23 Aug 1896: Mary Davis
2nd-Generation
7 Sep 1896: John Harmon
1st-Generation
1900
21 Jan 1900: Mary Harmon
3rd-Generation
23 Mar 1902: Laura Harmon
3rd-Generation
25 May 1902: Joseph Harmon
2nd-Generation
10 Apr 1904: General Harmon
3rd-Generation
11 Aug 1907: Olive Harmon
3rd-Generation
1910
12 Dec 1910: Braska Harmon
3rd-Generation
27 Jul 1912: Austin Harmon
3rd-Generation
27 Sep 1918: Burley Harmon
3rd-Generation
1920
18 Feb 1921: Rosie Davis
3rd-Generation
15 May 1921: Mack Davis
4th-Generation
16 Aug 1921: William Brown
3rd-Generation
2 Jun 1922: Ether Harmon
4th-Generation
16 Jun 1922: Rachel Tucker
3rd-Generation
30 May 1925: John Cooper
4th-Generation
30 May 1925: Minnie Proctor
3rd-Generation
1930
11 Feb 1937: Alberta Harmon
4th-Generation
11 Feb 1937: Nole Harmon
4th-Generation
24 August 1938: Wonedith Smith
3rd-Generation
23 August 1939: Levi Harmon
4th-Generation
John Goulder Harmon (1840-1920)
7 September 1896: John Goulder Harmon was baptized by William Wright Fairbourn and confirmed by James Alma Muir
Elder William Wright Fairbourn (1861-1918)
William Wright Fairbourn served in the Southern States Mission from 1896 to 1897. Elder Fairbourn departed for his mission shortly after having married in the Salt Lake Temple. His autobiography noted the hostility the elders experienced: “The people of Tennessee were hostile toward the elders and not a bit friendly. As Missionaries [we] were mobbed and withstood many hardships.” Elder Fairbourn became seriously ill on his mission and was returned home, in January 1897. He and his wife raised five children together. Elder Fairbourn is discussed in the mission journal of Elder John Hinckley. Elder Fairbourn baptized John Goulder Harmon and confirmed Mary Jane Davis and James Russell Woody members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1896 and 1895, respectively.
Elder James Alma Muir (1859-1945)
James Alma Muir served in the Southern States Mission from 1895 to 1897. He married in the Salt Lake City endowment house in 1883. They had one son together. His son was six years old when he left to serve in the East Tennessee Conference. Elder Muir is discussed in the mission journal of Elder John Hinckley. He helped build the Salt Lake Temple and managed the quarry in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The granite of the Salt Lake Temple remains to this day with the cuts made by James. He began working in the quarries at age 11. He cut the bases of the block for the Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith statues that are located on Temple Square today. He attended the Salt Lake Temple dedication, in 1893. He served as Bishop of the Granite Ward for 17 years. Elder Muir baptized James Russell Woody, in 1895, and confirmed John Goulder Harmon, in 1896, and Polly Ann Harmon, in 1895, in Millers Cove, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mary Jane Davis (1855-1920)
23 August 1896: Mary Jane Davis was baptized by William Henry Carter and confirmed by William Wright Fairbourn
Elder William Henry Carter (1874-1949)
William Henry Carter served in the Southern States Mission from 1895 to 1898. William Carter married in Colorado, in 1899, and was later sealed with his wife in the Manti Temple, in 1903. They raised ten children together. Like many of these early missionaries, his family was acquainted with the prophet Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and other leaders as the Saints first gathered and later traveled West to Utah. Of his mission, he wrote: “I made may dear friends and baptized several converts into the Church.” Elder Carter is mentioned in the mission journal of Elder James Hubbard. Elder Carter baptized Mary Jane Davis in Millers Cove, in 1896.
Elder William Wright Fairbourn (1861-1918)
William Wright Fairbourn served in the Southern States Mission from 1896 to 1897. Elder Fairbourn departed for his mission shortly after having married in the Salt Lake Temple. His autobiography noted the hostility the elders experienced: “The people of Tennessee were hostile toward the elders and not a bit friendly. As Missionaries [we] were mobbed and withstood many hardships.” Elder Fairbourn became seriously ill on his mission and was returned home, in January 1897. He and his wife raised five children together. Elder Fairbourn is discussed in the mission journal of Elder John Hinckley. Elder Fairbourn baptized John Goulder Harmon and confirmed Mary Jane Davis and James Russell Woody members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1896 and 1895, respectively.
John Goulder Harmon was born in North Carolina, in 1840, and became a farmer like his father, William Council. He married Nancy Jane Hicks circa 1865 and together they had 14 children – many did not survive infancy. In 1882, Nancy died, at the young age of 35, and was buried in North Carolina.
John, being a widower with young children, married Mary Jane Davis, in 1883. Together they had eight more children, four of which were baptized around the same timeframe as Mary and John, including Samuel Patterson, William Council, Joseph Franklin, and Jobe Abraham. Mary and John raised at least ten surviving children together. The four who were baptized became second generation Harmons. They moved to Millers Cove, Tennessee before 1890, where they met the missionaries.
In August 1896, the missionaries of the East Tennessee Conference held a meeting in Cherokee, NC, where they received instructions from President Elias S. Kimball. Immediately following the conference, a group of missionaries walked across the Smoky Mountains and entered Millers Cove. Elder James Willard Hubbard documented the baptism of Mary Jane Davis in his journal in the following entries:
Thursday – 20 [August 1896] M[iles] w[alked] 13. We continued on to Abrahams Cr[eek], thence up to Happy Valley, getting lost and losing considerable time and distance. We were welcomed at Thomas He[a]ron’s.
Friday – 21 [August 1896] M[iles] w[alked] 10. We came on to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland’s. Find all [are] well.
Saturday – 22 [August 1896] Rested, changed cloth[e]s etc. Held one meeting and all stayed at Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] G[arland’s.
Sunday – 23 [August 1896] M[iles] w[alked] 7. S[unday] S[chool] at Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] G[arland]’s, then held a meeting. After dinner, we all went up the cr[eek] 3 mi[les] to Bro[ther John Goulder] Ha[r]mon’s, where we held a meeting, then baptized Sister [Mary Jane Davis] Harmon. Then we all went back to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] G[arland’s.
Elder John Hinckley, while en route to his newly assigned area, was laboring in Blount County for a few weeks with other missionaries and also witnessed the baptism. He documented such in the following journal entry:
Sunday – 23 August 1896 [illegible] held a meeting after which some other elders went up to Harmons, held a meeting. Elder [William Henry] Carter baptized [Mary Jane Davis] Harmon [illegible] [Elder Archibald Squire] Richardson being sick.
Two weeks later, John Goulder Harmon was baptized in the same creek, also documented by Elder John Hinckley in the following journal entry:
[Monday] – 7 September 1896 John G[oulder Monroe] Harmon was baptized by Elder W[illia]m Fairbourn and confirmed by Elder James A[lma] Muir. At night we held a meeting, had a good crowd. I did the speaking. After [the] meeting, we went to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] G[arland‘s] on the wagon by torch light.
In 1902, Elder Abinadi Porter was serving in Blount County. He documented his time with the Harmons in the following journal entries:
[Monday] – 19 May 1902 Monday, ate dinner at Bro[ther John Goulder] Harmon’s. Got Sister [Mary Jane Davis] Harmon to cut my coattail off two inches. I don’t like it so long. [In the] afternoon, went in bathing.
[Sunday] – 25 May 1902 Today is Sunday, decoration day. Today we went down to [the] cemetery with Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garl[a]nd and family to where the people were gathered on the side of [a] hill, in under the trees. I was called on to speak to them, which I did. I spoke on the Resurrection of the Dead. It seemed to be interesting to all but one or two; they were Missionary Baptist[s]… Two speakers spoke, after they spoke in harmony with me and seem[ed] to partake of the Spirit, all went off enjoyable. [There were] about 150 present. We went back to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garl[a]nd’s, ate dinner, [and] held meeting at three o’clock. About 40 present. Elder [Othello] Roundy spoke a few minutes on Faith. I took up the remainder of the time on the Apostasy and Restoration and Zion Gathered to the Mountains. After [the] meeting, [we] baptized Sister [Mary Jane Davis] Harmon’s [and John Goulder Harmon’s] little boy, [Joseph Franklin Harmon]. The crowd stood on the banks of the stream. We sang “Lo on the Water’s Brink We Stand.” I dedicated the water and ourselves unto the Lord. Elder [Othello] Roundy baptized him. I confirmed him.
In 1904, Elder Leroy Armstrong was serving in Blount County and spent time with the Harmons, documented in the following journal entries:
[Saturday] – 24 Jan[uary] 1904 Walland, Blount Co[unty]. We left [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland’s and came up to [Samuel Patterson] Harmon’s. We wrote letters in the forenoon and, after dinner, we held [a] meeting. Sister Crook was prompt on time. I fast[ed] till supper, which was prepared just after dark: cornbread and string beans with the hide on. Went good between the teeth.
[Sunday] – 25 Jan[uary] 1904 Walland, Blount Co[unty]. After breakfast we left Polley [Ann Davis] Harmon’s and came down to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland’s, set around and chewed the sage with Uncle [Joseph] John [Calvin (JC) Garland]. After dinner, we went up to the mail box and got our mail. We met a Cambellite (sic) preacher there and had quite a little talk with him. After supper, we went up and stayed with Bro[ther] John [Goulder] Harmon.
[Saturday] – 6 Feb[ruary] 1904 Walland, Blount Co[unty]. We left W[illiam] C[harles] Garland’s and came over to Pollie [Ann Davis Harmon]’s for dinner. We then went down to Joe [John Calvin (JC)] Garland’s and packed our grips and made ready to leave the co[unty] as there were so many measels here. We went over and spent the night with Bro[ther] John [Goulder] Harmon.
[Sunday] – 7 Feb[ruary] 1904 Walland, Blount Co[unty]. We left Bro[ther John Goulder] Harmon and came over to [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland’s and got our grips. Then went up to Bro[ther Jonathan] Woody’s. Just after we got there, how it did rain and blow and there [were] places in the house that you could throw a cat through and the rain came in and wet the bed and the folks had a hard time to keep in the dry. But after it stop[p]ed raining, we had a good time talking with the people and we sang some for them. The night before we got there, Bro[ther Jonathan] Woody and his son caught 5 [o]possums. Some had [o]possum for dinner to [illegible].
In 1911, 15 years after their baptisms, Elder John Morley was serving in Blount County and documented meeting John and Mary in the following journal entries:
Friday – 10 March 1911 …Walked another 3 miles to M[ary] J[ane Davis] Harmon’s. Had supper and held a cottage meeting, after which we walked 1 mile to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland’s…
Sunday – 21 May [1911] Went up to [the house of] Sam Hodge and had a chicken for dinner. After which, [we] went to Grandma [Mary Jane Davis] Harmon’s and held [an] open-air meeting. [We] came back to [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland’s.
Elder Cliff Robertson was serving in Blount County as the health of John and Mary’s was declining in November 1914. John was very sick and Mary passed away the same month. John was 74 and Mary was around 60. The missionaries quickly went to visit them, briefly documenting John’s illness and Mary’s funeral. Elder Robertson’s journal contains the following:
[Sunday] – 1 November [1914] We received word that Bro[ther John Goulder] Harmon was very ill, so we went immediately to see him. While there, we held a meeting and also one at Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s after we returned back.
[Friday] – 20 November [1914] Last night we had the largest snow and the most home like since I came south. We received our mail then walked to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s in the snow. When we arrived, we got the word that Sister [Mary Jane Davis] Harmon was dead.
[Saturday] – 21 November [1914] We got Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s team and took Sister [Mary Jane Davis] Harmon to the graveyard. There we held the services, a very cold day.
Ultimately, John and Mary Harmon’s legacy would live long after their deaths as 25 members of the Harmon family were baptized before the end of 1939. John Harmon died in 1920, at the age of 70, and is buried in the Lawson Cemetery in Cades Cove, Tennessee. Mary Davis died in 1914, at the age of 64, and is buried in the Millers Cove Cemetery in Walland, Tennessee.
Samuel Patterson Harmon (1870-1940)
7 April 1895: Samuel Patterson Harmon was baptized by William Lehi Hayes and confirmed by John Roland Halliday
Elder William Lehi Hayes (1865-1934)
William Lehi Hayes served in the Southern States Mission from 1893 to 1895. He married in the Manti Temple, in 1888. His wife died shortly after their daughter was born, in 1890. He received his mission call in 1893 and left his daughter in the care of friends and family while he served in the East Tennessee Conference. His transcribed mission journal of his labors in Blount County have offered valuable insights into the lives of the first Smoky Mountain Saints; the digitally scanned journal is available in Church Collections. He also is mentioned in the transcribed mission journals of Elder Robert Young and briefly in that of Elder James Hubbard. During strong opposition to the Church in Tennessee in 1893, he wrote an article published in the Deseret Evening News that noted: “Of all people on earth, surely those of the Southern States are the most open-hearted and hospitable. Get their confidence and you get a friend who will lay his life down for your protection.” He served as President of the East Tennessee Conference in 1895. The first two members from Blount County to receive their endowments in the temple, JC Garland and Sarah Cauble, did so at the invitation to Utah from William Hayes, in 1909. After his mission, he remarried and had five more children. He entered politics and served two sessions as Utah State Senator. Elder Hayes baptized Samuel Patterson Harmon in Millers Cove, in 1895.
Elder John Roland Halliday (1865-1935)
John Roland Halliday served in the Southern States Mission from 1894 to 1896. He married in the Logan Temple, in 1890, and already had four children when he was called to serve. They raised six children together in Utah. In 1890, Elder Halliday’s brother, Willard Halliday, died of pneumonia while serving in North Carolina. Elder Halliday received his call to serve in the same conference, the East Tennessee Conference, in 1893. During his mission, he had the opportunity of visiting the location where his brother died and meeting John Vanderbilt in Asheville the following day. Elder Halliday served as President of the East Tennessee Conference during the first period of growth for the Church in Blount County. His time in Blount County is well-documented in the transcribed mission journal of Elder William Hayes and briefly mentioned in that of Elder James Hubbard. He confirmed Samuel Patterson Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1895. Samuel Harmon was the first Harmon baptized. 24 Harmon family members would be baptized by the end of 1939.
Polly Ann Davis (1875-1935)
10 April 1904: Polly Ann Davis was baptized by Hans Walter Christensen and confirmed by James Alma Muir
Elder Hans Walter Christensen (1873-1949)
Hans Walter Christensen served in the Southern States Mission from 1894 to 1896. He married in the Manti Temple after his mission. They had one daughter who died at age six. Elder Christensen is briefly mentioned in the mission journal of Elder John Hinckley, who is the great uncle of President Gordon B. Hinckley. The April 1896 edition of the Deseret Evening News reported his arrival home from the East Tennessee Conference, having labored “among a people who are now filled with the kindness of the Mormon Elders. A vast change in sentiment toward the Latter-day Saints is visible and where a feeling of much hatred existed when these brethren entered the mission, nothing but respect and hospitality now reigns.” Elder Christensen baptized Polly Ann Harmon in Millers Cove, in 1895.
Elder James Alma Muir (1859-1945)
James Alma Muir served in the Southern States Mission from 1895 to 1897. He married in the Salt Lake City endowment house in 1883. They had one son together. His son was six years old when he left to serve in the East Tennessee Conference. Elder Muir is discussed in the mission journal of Elder John Hinckley. He helped build the Salt Lake Temple and managed the quarry in Little Cottonwood Canyon. The granite of the Salt Lake Temple remains to this day with the cuts made by James. He began working in the quarries at age 11. He cut the bases of the block for the Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith statues that are located on Temple Square today. He attended the Salt Lake Temple dedication, in 1893. He served as Bishop of the Granite Ward for 17 years. Elder Muir baptized James Russell Woody, in 1895, and confirmed John Goulder Harmon, in 1896, and Polly Ann Harmon, in 1895, in Millers Cove, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Polly Ann Davis and Samuel Patterson Harmon have – and will continue to have – an enduring impact on the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Blount County. Their legacy of faith and discipleship in following the teachings of Jesus Christ have lead many to follow in their footsteps to the waters of baptism in cold creeks throughout the Smoky Mountain Ward boundaries.
Like many recent members, their parents felt a prompting to seek shelter in East Tennessee and they followed. They emigrated from North Carolina to Blount County when they were teenagers. Three years before Polly and Samuel Harmon were baptized, while living in Millers Cove, Tennessee, a recently-widowed missionary from Utah named Elder Robert Young had just left his infant son at home in the care of a relative and entered the Southern States Mission assigned to Blount County in the East Tennessee Conference. He was only two months into a 31-month mission when he wrote of his one-documented meeting with Polly Ann Harmon.
Thursday – 20 [October 1892] – Millers Cove. Took our grips [TN: bags] and started. We visited the house of a Mr. [Samuel Patterson] Harmon, they are friends to the elders. The lady, [Polly Ann Davis], was intending to get baptized several years ago but she was sick. They are poor indeed. We did not see her husband, [Samuel Patterson Harmon], as he was off to work.
Following this meeting with Elder Young, the Harmons were baptized almost three years later in 1895. Samuel Harmon was baptized in April and Polly in May. By this time, they had three children. Polly likely had to wait until May to get baptized because she had just given birth to their third child, General Washington Harmon, who would be shot and killed in Cades Cove 29 years later.
This certainly was not the first meeting between the missionaries and Polly Harmon. She would have been around 14 years old when she “was intending to get baptized,” according to Elder Robert Young, but unable due to illness. Elder Young does not document any more interactions with the Harmons during the almost 29 months he continued to labor in Blount County and neighboring counties. In 1888, four years before these missionaries met Polly Harmon, she was married to Samuel Harmon in Happy Valley, Tennessee. She was 13 years old and Samuel was 18, which was not uncommon for that era.
She was already working as a midwife and traveling to homes when called upon. Many years later, she was one of the best-known, licensed midwives living in Cades Cove, Tennessee. Well-known historian, professor at Maryville College, and former resident of Cades Cove, Dr. Randolph Shields, recalled, “Polly Harmon was one of the more recognized midwives. She came to the Cove as a licensed midwife and brought many babies into the Cove.” Unsurprisingly, she even delivered Dr. Randolph Shields, according to the staff at the Cades Cove Museum in Maryville.
Polly Harmon was one who put the needs of others before her own and she loved those she served. Over the years a number of missionaries documented her service to them in their journals. She also enjoyed being in their company. In 1898, the traveling elders were sent to Blount County to help resolve unspecified trouble between the members. The missionaries met with the Saints and at the end of the day members they forgave one another. Peace was restored. Elder William Dawson noted Polly’s emotions when they had to depart.
[Monday] – 20 June 1898 As we bid the Saints good-bye this morning many of them busted into a flood of tears and dear Sister [Polly Ann Davis] Harmon grabbed me around the neck and cried, but I blessed her and told her this was a day of warning and not of many words. That it was duty before pleasure with us and gave them all the assurance that the true gospel would unite us if we would live it.
Four years later, In 1902, Elder Porter documented her kindness to the missionaries and sadness when they left Blount County.
[Tuesday] – 10 June 1902 A nice clear morning. After breakfast talked with them a while, then went down to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garl[a]nd‘s, sitting on the porch. Went up to Polly [Ann Davis] Harmon‘s in afternoon. Talked a while, got our clothes, she washed them. Went back to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garl[a]nd‘s. [There was] a stranger there. Talked with him some, ate supper. Talked a while then went to bed.
[Wednesday] – 11 June 1902 We started out for Greenville about 8 o’clock. Sister [Polly Ann Davis] Harmon cried when we left her home. It is now one o’clock, sitting in the shade by a spring eating dinner that Sister [Sarah Margaret Cauble] Garl[a]nd put up for us. We mailed our letters at Millers Post Office. Came to the home of James Headric after getting refused twice. The Elders had stopped there before. Elders Selk and Smoot were two of them. We went to bed without supper. We told them not to bother. It was late. We walked 20 miles during the day.
In 1911, Elder John Isaac Morley documented in his journal that Samuel and Polly were regularly hosting the missionaries overnight, and held sacrament and cottage meetings at their home:
[Tuesday] – 28 February [1911] Walked about 2 miles to Bro[ther Samuel Patterson] Harmon’s and held a cottage meeting.
Sunday – 5 March 1911 Fast day. Held sacrament meeting at 10 AM. Afternoon went to Bro[ther Samuel Patterson] Harmon’s. Had pleasant time. Saw a ground hog returning. Thanked the Lord for his mercies to me this day.
Saturday – 11 March 1911 …Went up to Bro[ther] Sam[uel Patterson] and Polly [Ann] Harmon’s and stayed all night.
Thursday – 17 March 1911 After breakfast come back (sic) to Bro[ther Samuel Patterson] Harmon’s.
Monday – 3 April [1911] Went up to Bro[ther] Sam[uel Patterson] Harmon’s. Had dinner and got some wood for him.
Sunday – 9 April 1911 Held sacrament meeting at Sarah [Margaret Cauble] Garland’s at 10 AM and in afternoon at Polly [Ann] Harmon’s.
Saturday – 29 April [1911] Studied. Went out in creek and had bath and eat (sic) dinner up at Sam[uel Patterson] Harmon’s.
Monday – 1 May [1911] Saw some ginsang (sic) and tasted a Indian turnip. Went up and stayed with Sam[uel Patterson] Harmon.
Tuesday – 9 May [1911] Spent most of day canvassing. Helped kill pig. Held meeting at Bro[ther] Sam[uel Patterson] Harmon’s at night.
Long before the above journal entries – before Polly Harmon was baptized, on May 6, 1895 – she saw a book in a dream that left a great impression upon her, feeling that there was something very special about it. She later discovered this book was the Book of Mormon, when she found it in a dug-out cellar. Below is a transcript of a story Marie Holder told of her grandmother, Polly Harmon.
“To my knowledge she [Polly] was the only licensed midwife… She had this dream, that she went to this house to deliver this baby. They had this cellar, it wasn’t a finished basement, it was just a dug out hole you would call a cellar. And in the dream, on the bank in that cellar, was a book that was laid out. And she thought, ‘that book is something I should look at.’”
“Well, I don’t know how much time passed away. She went to this house to deliver this baby. And they told her, ‘I don’t have any money to pay you with.’ So they told her to go down into the cellar to get three quarts of something to pay her that she had canned. Polly went down into the basement, into the cellar to get the canned stuff and she saw this book lying over there on the bank. She thought of the dream she had. She went over there and picked the book up. When she closed it, it was the Book of Mormon. She took it back up stairs and asked the woman, in lieu of the canned stuff, ‘If you don’t mind, I’ll just take this book.’ The woman said, ‘Well, sure. You can have the book. A couple of men came by here not too long ago and left it. I just couldn’t throw it away. So I put it down in the cellar.’” “So, grandma [Polly] took The Book of Mormon home with her.” “You couldn’t tell grandmother anything but the Mormon Church was true. I mean, that was it. Nothing. She was staunch. And when she’d get paid anything she’d save her tithing money. When the missionaries would come through she’d give her tithing money to send in for her. She was a strict tithe payer.”
A story shared by Olivee Long, granddaughter of Samuel and Polly, is similar to that of Elder Robert Young’s timeline in his journal entry. The Harmons had known the missionaries for many years before they were baptized. This family history of Samuel’s and Polly’s conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ has been passed down through the generations.
“Grandfather was very ill and had a high fever. He was so ill that many neighbors plus some local ministers had gathered at the Harmon home. He had not eaten anything for days. His parents were sent for and by the time his parents arrived there they were informed their son was already dead. Two LDS missionaries were with my great grandparents, as they were already members of the Church.
My grandmother was crying over the death of her husband and one of the missionaries tapped her on the shoulder and asked why she was crying. Grandma, a non member, was not pleased with the question and answered “You ask me why I am crying when my husband is lying there dead?” The missionary said “No, he is not dead. May we administer to him?” Grandma still irate answered that she did not care what they did as her husband was dead and they could do nothing to hurt or help him.
Some of the neighbors and ministers said if the missionaries could raise that man from the dead there would be a lot more Mormons before the sun went down. The Elders did administer to my grandfather, and when they said amen my grandfather sat up and said, ‘Polly I am hungry I want something to eat.’ None of the other people were baptized, they then said it was the work of the devil. Grandpa however started to read and study the Book of Mormon and pray and was baptized.”
On April 6 and 7, 1895, Elder William Lehi Hayes documented Samuel Harmon’s baptism in the following entry:
Saturday – 6 [April 1895] This is a day of rejoicing among the Saints at home bring[ing] general conference. We shall look with longing eyes for some of the conference sermons. We built a step today. Hired our shoes preparatory for our journey Monday morning. Trees are now in bloom and nature once more seems to smile. It seems almost wonderful to think of the rapid growth made by our Church during its short life. 65 years have passed since its birth. Then only six members and now numbered by the hundreds of thousands.
Sunday – 7 [April 1895] Sunday again. Spent [the] AM in quiet, but in the PM, having been requested so to do, had the pleasure of initiating another person into the fold of Chris[t]. It was Sam[ue]l Harmon, a young married man who has heard our elders speak many times for several years past. Elder [John Roland] Halliday confirmed him and would have done the baptizing but that he was not feeling quite well, the water was quite cool.
The Harmons moved from Millers Cove to Cades Cove circa 1912. They had 10 children. While living in Cades Cove, the Harmon Family was known for having “Mormon” services in the Methodist Church. According to the staff at the Cades Cove Museum, these services were held in the Hopewell Methodist Church, which is no longer standing. Dr. Randolph Shields recalled, “In the later years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) had a small following, primarily a single family, the Harmons, who were permitted to use one of the Methodist church buildings for services.”
In 1922, Elder Thomas Gibby was serving in Blount County and documented his time with the Harmons, including their son’s baptism, in the following journal entries:
[Thursday] – 1 June [1922] We left [the] Rutherfords soon after breakfast for Cades Cove. On the way we called at Myers’ and they had us stay for dinner. We had a pleasant visit with them and left them a Book of Mormon. As soon as we had taken the trail again it began to rain. We tried to shelter ourselves under trees, but could not. There was a seven-mile hike to make and not a house between. The rain never let up throughout the trip and by the time we had been out in it for three hours we were soaked to the hide. At [Samuel Patterson and Polly Ann] Harmon’s we changed clothes and dried out clothing before returning.
[Friday] – 2 June [1922] It was Ether [Lloyd Harmon]’s birthday. We prepared for the baptismal services. It was rather cold and raining some. At a little bend in the creek we found a suitable place for the service. Before about four people, we baptized the little boy, Brother [David John] Black first explaining the need of baptism. I performed the ordinance. We went back to [Samuel Patterson] Harmon’s and changed clothes. In the evening, we held a sacrament meeting at Brother Will[iam Wade Hampton] Brown’s, where we confirmed Ether [Lloyd Harmon] a member of the Church. The few Saints bore their testimonies to the truthfulness of the Gospel. The little boy, [Ether Lloyd Harmon], also bore his testimony, which was sure fine for a boy so young. At night we spent a pleasant evening at [the] Harmon’s in singing. Brother [Samuel Patterson] Harmon and [the] boy played on the violin and banjo.
[Sunday] – 4 June [1922] Sunday morning was spent at [Samuel Patterson] Harmon’s in reading and conversation. In the afternoon we held a Sacrament Meeting. Had a very pleasant visit, and enjoyed these humble mountain people’s hospitality very much. They were sure interesting to me.
At least five of their children were born in Cades Cove. Within Church Collections, there are baptismal records for eight of them. Their children became the third generation of Harmons who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ. Samuel Harmon died in an automobile accident, in 1940, at the age of 70, and is buried in Armona Baptist Church Cemetery in Maryville, Tennessee. Polly Ann Harmon died in 1935, at the age of 59, and is buried in Whitfield, Georgia.
Jobe Abraham Harmon (1872-1967)
4 May 1902: Jobe Abraham Harmon was baptized and confirmed by Melvin Howard Randall
Elder Melvin Howard Randall (1879-1945)
Melvin Howard Randall served in the Southern States Mission and Middle States Mission from 1900 to 1902. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1909. He and his wife had seven daughters. He served many years as Stake President of the Morgan Utah Stake. Elder Randall explained the death of one of the first baptized members in Blount County, Alexander Garland, in his missing mission journal that was recounted in his biography, which portion is now available on Family Search. Elder Randall is mentioned in the mission journal of Elder Abinadi Porter. Elder Randall baptized Jobe Abraham Harmon and confirmed Laura Bell Harmon, William Council Harmon, Robert Filmore Garland, and the first named as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1902.
Jobe Abraham Harmon was living in Millers Cove when he was baptized with his brother, William Council Harmon, in the spring of 1902. In 1906, he married Mary Jane Garland, who is the daughter of William Charles and Elmyra Miller Garland and sister of Wilburn Townsend Garland – all three were baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ between 1897 and 1917. Mary Jane Garland is also the sister of Jake Garland, who is known for killing General Washington Harmon in 1924.
In 1911, over the period of about two months, Elder John Morley documented Jobe and Mary Harmon’s participation in the gospel of Jesus Christ and in hosting meetings and the missionaries at their home in the following journal entries:
Tuesday – 14 March 1911 After breakfast, [we] went out canvassing. Was treated very well. Was invited to eat dinner with Mr. Cameron who had been out West. After dinner, [we] canvassed and come back up to Bro[ther] Job[e] A[braham] Harmon’s and held [a] meeting.
Saturday – 25 March 1911 [We] left [William] Chas Garland for Townsend. Canvassed Dry Valley. On way reach[ed] Bro[ther] Job[e Abraham] Harmon [at] about 6. Had [a] good supper and will stay with him tonight.
Tuesday – 28 March 1911 Went tracting above Townsend… Come back to Bro[ther] Job[e Abraham] Harmon. Helped him make [a] pig pen. Went down to Lew Grant’s. Held cottage meetings and stayed all night.
Wednesday – 29 Mar 1911 Came back up to Bro[ther Jobe Abraham] Harmon’s. Studied all forenoon. In [the] afternoon, [we] went down to see Lou[el]la [Garland] Parham. Held [a] meeting at William [Riley Thomas] Tipton’s. Come up to Job[e Abraham] Harmon’s tonight.
Saturday – 1 Apr 1911 [I] wrote letters to [my] wife. Washed clowse (sic). Was visited by Job[e Abraham] Harmon and wife [Mary Jane Garland], [Toliver] Andy Parham and wife [Louella Garland], Ms. Sallie Bry and Dora Tipton and Mrs. S[he]rmon B[u]rchfield. [We] held [a] cottage meeting.
Wednesday – 3 May 1911 [We] went out up Gosple Holer (sic). Went down and seen Garfield. Held [a] meeting at Job[e Abraham] Harmon’s.
Jobe and Mary Harmon had six children together, four of which died at young ages. Jobe Harmon died in 1967 and Mary Harmon in 1940. They are buried together in Millers Cove Cemetery.
Joseph Franklin Harmon (1888-1936)
25 May 1902: Joseph Franklin Harmon was baptized by Othello Roundy and confirmed by Abinadi Wesley Porter
Elder Othello Roundy (1875-1957)
Othello Roundy served in the Southern States Mission from 1902 to 1904. In his mission acceptance letter to George Reynolds, he wrote: “I received your letter last knight (sic) and in reply will say I am ready and willing at any date to fill a mission.” Elder Abinadi Porter documented his labors in Blount County with Elder Othello Roundy in his transcribed mission journal. He was one of 13 children in his family. He married in the Logan Temple, at the age of 37. They raised one daughter together. He spent his career working for the United States Postal Service. Elder Roundy baptized George Woody, Robert Filmore Garland, Joseph Franklin Harmon and Laura Bell Harmon, and confirmed the first named and William Council Harmon as member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1902.
Elder Abinadi Wesley Porter (1865-1932)
Abinadi Wesley Porter served in the Southern States Mission and Middle States Mission from 1901 to 1902. In his mission acceptance letter to Lorenzo Snow, he wrote: “My call for a mission to the Southern States is accepted.” At that time, he already had six children at home and was working on the railroad to save money for his mission. He married in the St. George Temple in 1885. He and his wife had ten children of their own and raised another five after the death of his son. Elder Porter kept a detailed journal during mission mentioning many first members by name. He served in the bishopric for most of his life and was called the “walking Bible” while serving in East Tennessee. Elder Porter baptized Sealy Caroline Garland and confirmed Joseph Franklin Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1902.
Joseph Franklin Harmon was baptized in Happy Valley, Tennessee in 1902, when he was 14 years old. In 1913, he married Doshia May Garland, who is the daughter of William Charles and Elmyra Miller Garland and sister of Wilburn Townsend Garland – all three were baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ between 1897 and 1917. In 1902, Elder Abinadi Porter documented the baptism of Joseph Franklin Harmon in the following journal entry:
[Sunday] – 25 May 1902 Today is Sunday, decoration day. Today we went down to [the] cemetery with Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garl[a]nd and family to where the people were gathered on the side of [a] hill, in under the trees. I was called on to speak to them, which I did. I spoke on the Resurrection of the Dead. It seemed to be interesting to all but one or two; they were Missionary Baptist[s]. They are the meanest people of all denominations and [the] most prejudice[d]. Two speakers spoke, after they spoke in harmony with me and seem[ed] to partake of the Spirit, all went off enjoyable. [There were] about 150 present. We went back to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garl[a]nd‘s, ate dinner, held meeting at three o’clock. About 40 present. Elder [Othello] Roundy spoke a few minutes on Faith. I took up the remainder of the time on the Apostacy and Restoration and Zion Gathered to the Mountains. After meeting, baptized Sister [Mary Jane Davis] Harmon‘s [and John Goulder Harmon‘s] little boy, [Joseph Franklin Harmon]. The crowd stood on the banks of the stream. We sang “Lo on the Water’s Brink We Stand.” I dedicated the water and ourselves unto the Lord. Elder [Othello] Roundy baptized him. I confirmed him.
In 1911, Elder John Isaac Morley documented an evening of supper and a meeting at Joseph and Mary Harmon’s home in the following journal entries:
Sunday – 19 March 1911 Left Mr. Grant’s about 10 AM. Went up to H[ouston Thomas] Hicks and held meeting and had dinner. After meeting went down to Bro[ther] Joseph [Franklin] Harmon’s and held meeting.
[Monday] – 20 March 1911 Left Bro[ther Joseph Franklin] Harmon’s for Cades Cove after climing (sic) steep mountain. Reached the head of Dry Valley at 11:30 AM and was invited and had dinner with Mr. J. L. Walker. After dinner talked on about war. Got in Cades Cove about 5:30 PM. Was invited to stay with James Manuel. Am here as this writing.
Joseph and Doshia Harmon moved to Cades Cove some years later and had five children together. Joseph died in 1936 and is buried at the Brickey Cemetery near Townsend, Tennessee. Doshia died in 1922 and is buried in the Calderwood Cemetery just south of Chilhowee, Tennessee.
William Council Harmon (1892-1947)
25 May 1902: William Council Harmon was baptized by Melvin Howard Randall and confirmed by Othello Roundy
Elder Melvin Howard Randall (1879-1945)
Melvin Howard Randall served in the Southern States Mission and Middle States Mission from 1900 to 1902. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1909. He and his wife had seven daughters. He served many years as Stake President of the Morgan Utah Stake. Elder Randall explained the death of one of the first baptized members in Blount County, Alexander Garland, in his missing mission journal that was recounted in his biography, which portion is now available on Family Search. Elder Randall is mentioned in the mission journal of Elder Abinadi Porter. Elder Randall baptized Jobe Abraham Harmon and confirmed Laura Bell Harmon, William Council Harmon, Robert Filmore Garland, and the first named as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1902.
Elder Othello Roundy (1875-1957)
Othello Roundy served in the Southern States Mission from 1902 to 1904. In his mission acceptance letter to George Reynolds, he wrote: “I received your letter last knight (sic) and in reply will say I am ready and willing at any date to fill a mission.” Elder Abinadi Porter documented his labors in Blount County with Elder Othello Roundy in his transcribed mission journal. He was one of 13 children in his family. He married in the Logan Temple, at the age of 37. They raised one daughter together. He spent his career working for the United States Postal Service. Elder Roundy baptized George Woody, Robert Filmore Garland, Joseph Franklin Harmon and Laura Bell Harmon, and confirmed the first named and William Council Harmon as member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1902.
William Council Harmon was baptized in Millers Cove, Tennessee in 1902, when he was ten years old. In 1917, he married Jane Cowden and moved to Cades Cove. They had seven children together. William died at the age of 54 and is buried in the Piney Level Cemetery in Maryville, Tennessee. Jane died at the age of 65 and is also buried in the Piney Level Cemetery in Maryville.
Mary Jane Harmon (1890-1935)
21 January 1900: Mary Jane Harmon was baptized by Niels Wilford Georgeson and confirmed by Joseph Henry Woolsey
Elder Niels Wilford Georgeson (1878-1905)
Niels Wilford Georgeson served in the Southern States Mission from 1899 to 1901. He was the oldest of nine children from Idaho. He was sealed to his wife in the Logan Temple shortly before leaving for Tennessee and died of a heart attack four years after his mission. They never had any children. A member of his family wrote: “Will had a small home and some land and was going to farm with his brothers up Weston Creek after he returned from his mission. He was a happy and very sociable fellow. He… loved to sing in quartets and take part in programs.” Elder Georgeson baptized Mary Jane Harmon in Millers Cove, in 1900.
Elder Joseph Henry Woolsey (1867-1928)
Joseph Henry Woolsey served in the Southern States Mission from 1898 to 1900. In his mission acceptance letter to Wilford Woodruff, he wrote: “I will willingly accept the mission and consider my self (sic) very highly honored.” He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1903. They had 13 children together, 11 of which survived to adulthood. In 1900, Elder Woolsey confirmed Mary Jane Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove.
Mary Jane Harmon was the first third-generation Harmon to be baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her mother, Polly Harmon, was only 14 years old when Mary Jane was born. She was baptized in Millers Cove, Tennessee in the dead of winter in 1900. She married William Edgar Tucker at the age of 19. In 1911, Elder John Morley documented visiting Mary Jane and William Tucker. Mary Jane was sick ill for the blessing of her baby, Ernest Adam, who would not survive another month.
Tuesday – 7 March 1911 …Got dinner and [arrived at] William [Edgar] Tucker’s [at] about 2 PM. Come (sic) down to David [Lafayette] Whitehead’s. [We] had supper and talked on [the] gospel until 9 PM. Slept in [illegible].
Friday – 10 March 1911 From there, [we] went to Ms. Mary [Jane Harmon] Tucker’s and blessed Earnest Adam, her baby. Walked about 5 miles and was invited and took dinner with Mr. Spencer [illegible]. Was treated well…
Sunday – 12 March 1911 Went to Mary J[ane] Harmon’s who is sick. [We] held [a] cottage meeting at 10 AM.
Ernest Adam died shortly after his blessing. Mary Jane and William Tucker suffered great loss. They had 12 children and only Rachel Emeline survived childhood. Rachel Emeline was baptized in 1922 and became a fourth-generation Harmon.
In 1922, Elder Thomas Gibby was serving in Blount County when he met Mary Jane Harmon and baptized her daughter, Rachel Emeline Tucker. He documented the baptism in the following journal entry:
[Thursday] – 15 June [1922] Before noon, we left [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland’s for Knoxville hiking. I felt rather weak and we could not walk very fast. We tracted as we went with fare success. I met a woman who gave me quite a good “bawling out” but I was quite able to defend myself. We got off the main road and had quite a time in getting straight. We found Will[iam Edgar] Tucker at Rockford, whose wife, [Mary Jane Harmon], is another of Sam[uel Patterson] Harmon’s daughter[s]. They were sure poor people and they were certainly backwoodmen. The man had had his throat cut from ear to ear but had managed to live through. We held a little meeting with them and they asked us to baptize the girl, her daughter Rachel [Emeline Tucker], but wanted us to go back to [illegible] to let her sister know about it, so we walked back to [illegible] to another Will Tucker’s (sic). While there, I had a little boxing match with a young fellow there. We stayed there that night but they did not want to go back with us to Rockford.
[Friday] – 16 June [1922] It was a nice little hike back but we got there in time to baptize Miss Rachel [Emeline Tucker] before noon. Elder [John David] Black performed the ceremony. The rest of the day was spent at [the] Tucker’s in study and talking. At night, we held a little cottage meeting and confirmed Rachel [Emeline Tucker]. I acted as mouth. We had a sleepless night, or at least I did.
Mary Jane Harmon died at the age of 45 and was buried in Whitfield, Georgia. William Tucker lived to be 94 and is buried in the Piney Level Cemetery in Maryville, Tennessee.
General Washington Harmon (1895-1924)
10 April 1904: General Washington Harmon was baptized and confirmed by David Samuel Warren
Elder David Samuel Warren (1882-1965)
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.
Rosie Davis (1901-1973)
18 February 1921: Rosie Davis was baptized by Joseph Parley Heiner and confirmed by Marius Fred Hansen
Elder Joseph Parley Heiner (1900-1973)
Joseph Parley Heiner served in the Southern States Mission from 1920 to 1922. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1925. He spent his career working as a sales manager for Salt Lake Flour Mills. He and his wife raised five children together. Elder Heiner baptized Rosie Davis in Happy Valley, in 1921.
Elder Marius Fred Hansen (1899-1971)
Marius Fred Hansen served in the Southern States Mission from 1919 to 1921. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1923. They raised two children in Utah. Elder Hansen baptized Mack Davis in Happy Valley and confirmed Rosie Davis in Happy Valley, William Moses Whitehead in Happy Valley, and Horace Lester Wilcox in Maryville members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
General Washington Harmon was baptized in Millers Cove and Rosie Davis in Cades Cove. They married in 1920 while living in Cades Cove and had one son, William Levi Harmon, who became a fourth-generation Harmon baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ. Tragically, General was shot three times by Jake Garland in 1924, at the age of 29, and died of his wounds. Jake Garland was never convicted for the killing, claiming self defense over a dispute for payment of a fence. Jake Garland became a well-known moonshiner and is the son of William Charles and Elmyra Miller Garland and brother of Wilburn Townsend Garland, who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ baptized between 1897 and 1918. In the book “The History of The Garland Family in America,” Paul Ezekiel Garland wrote that Jake Garland expressed to him that killing General Harmon was his greatest regret in his lifetime.
Laura Bell Harmon (1892-1964)
23 March 1902: Laura Bell Harmon was baptized by Othello Roundy and confirmed by Melvin Howard Randall
Elder Othello Roundy (1875-1957)
Othello Roundy served in the Southern States Mission from 1902 to 1904. In his mission acceptance letter to George Reynolds, he wrote: “I received your letter last knight (sic) and in reply will say I am ready and willing at any date to fill a mission.” Elder Abinadi Porter documented his labors in Blount County with Elder Othello Roundy in his transcribed mission journal. He was one of 13 children in his family. He married in the Logan Temple, at the age of 37. They raised one daughter together. He spent his career working for the United States Postal Service. Elder Roundy baptized George Woody, Robert Filmore Garland, Joseph Franklin Harmon and Laura Bell Harmon, and confirmed the first named and William Council Harmon as member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1902.
Elder Melvin Howard Randall (1879-1945)
Melvin Howard Randall served in the Southern States Mission and Middle States Mission from 1900 to 1902. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1909. He and his wife had seven daughters. He served many years as Stake President of the Morgan Utah Stake. Elder Randall explained the death of one of the first baptized members in Blount County, Alexander Garland, in his missing mission journal that was recounted in his biography, which portion is now available on Family Search. Elder Randall is mentioned in the mission journal of Elder Abinadi Porter. Elder Randall baptized Jobe Abraham Harmon and confirmed Laura Bell Harmon, William Council Harmon, Robert Filmore Garland, and the first named as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1902.
Laura Bell Harmon (Emmett) was baptized at the end of winter in Millers Cove, Tennessee. She married Ira Arbelia Abbott, at the age of 21, and then moved to Georgia where she married William Russell Emmett, at the age of 24. She and William raised eight children together. Laura died in Atlanta, Georgia in 1964, at the age of 72. She and Emmett were buried together in the Tuckaleechee Campground Cemetery in Townsend, Tennessee.
In 1937, while Laura and William were raising their children in Georgia, Elder Mitchell Lillywhite and Elder Marion Hughes visited Laura and William. Elder Lillywhite related the following in his journal about them when he baptized their niece and nephew, Nole Toliver and Alberta Harmon:
Thur[sday] – 11 Feb[ruary 1937] At 7:30 this morning, we started for Austin [Hale] Harmon’s sister’s [Laura Bell Harmon] place. He said she lived about 6 mi[les] further. We left our grips at [Austin Hale] Harmon’s, because we thought we would just go over and right back. We about froze this morning, There was ice all along the road and the ground was frozen over. After taking a few short cuts thru the woods, and going a mile or two out of our way, we finally arrived at the house of Bill [Russell] Emmett, whose wife [Laura Bell Harmon] was a member. They were very glad to see us. The Elders had never visited their home during the 8 y[ea]rs they had been married. Mr. [William Russell] Emmett said he had always wanted to meet some Mormon Elders and hear them preach and had never had the privilege (sic). We didn’t expect him to be very friendly towards us, but he begged us to stay with them and hold a meeting that night. We told him our grips were at [Austin Hale] Harmon’s and he said he would take us in his car to get them. Since they hadn’t had any Elders to stay with them, and he had never heard them preach, we decided to stay and hold a meeting. Mr. [William Russell] Emmett took us back to [Austin Hale] Harmon’s to get our grips, after eating cornbread and gravy for dinner, which he apologized for, but said that was all they had. We told him it wasn’t what they gave but how they gave it. When we got to [Austin Hale] Harmon’s, the wind had quit blowing and it was somewhat warmer, so I suggested that we baptize the two Harmon children [Nole Toliver and Alberta]. So, when they got home from school, I got some old overalls of Austin’s, and they got ready, and we went down to the branch. One of the neighbor women, Bill [Russell] Emmett and the Harmon family were the only ones there. We sang “Lo on the waters brink,” had prayer, then I baptized them. The water was ice cold and my legs were so numb I couldn’t feel them. I know it was cold on the two children, Nole Toliver Harmon and Alberta Harmon, but they didn’t say a word. I was warm as could be when I got out. It was a spring that we baptized them in. Elder [Marion] Hughes confirmed them both. When we got back to [the] Emmett’s, the family [boys] was out looking for us, thinking we had a [vehicle] break down or something. We had turnip greens, cornbread and gravy for supper, but it was the best they had, and we knew we were welcome to it. Four men came to the meeting tonight, one a Baptist minister. None of them had ever heard a Mormon preach. We had a pretty good conversation before beginning the meeting. Elder [Marion] Hughes took charge. I was the first speaker, and spoke on the kingdom of God as established at the meridian of time, then the apostasy and how the people changed the things set up by Christ. Elder [Marion] Hughes took the restoration. The meeting lasted 1 1/2 h[ou]rs. It seemed that they were carried away by the meeting. Everyone there asked us to come and stay with them, especially the Baptist minister. He said if we couldn’t visit him this trip, be sure and come next time. We can preach in the Baptist church any time we give them notice a little ahead of time. One of them grabbed me by the arm and nearly broke down crying when he left and said to remember him in our prayers. Mr. [William Russell] Emmett said he had learned more tonight than all the rest of his life. He said he had never seen any preachers before that would sit down to cornbread and gravy, and seem to enjoy it as much as a fine meal. And also that there wasn’t another denomination that would baptize anyone at this time of the year, practically breaking the ice to do it. We sat up until 10:30 and talked, I think he would have sat up all night. He certainly is interested. He has about 10 kids…
Fri[day] – 12 Feb[ruary 1937] Talked to them [Laura Bell Harmon’s family] mostly this morning on the Word of Wisdom. Mrs. [Laura Bell Harmon] Emmett doesn’t break it and is the only member, but we talked it to the rest of them. It wouldn’t take much to convert the whole family…
Laura and William left a grand impression on the missionaries, because Elder Marion Hughes, who confirmed Laura’s niece and nephew, also wrote – 40 years after the events – the following story of meeting Laura, William Russell Emmett and their children at the time of the baptisms:
“We went to a to a family member’s home by the name of [Austin Hale] Harmon [and Minnie Proctor]. They had a boy [Nole Toliver] age 12 and a girl [Alberta] age 8 (sic) that they wanted us to baptize. We told them we would when they got home from school that afternoon. Brother [Austin Hale] Harmon had a sister [Laura Bell Harmon] that lived about eight miles from there. She had been married for eight years and her husband [William Russell Emmett] had never heard of the Mormon missionaries, so we told them we would go up and visit them. Brother [Austin Hale] Harmon put us on a short cut up through the piney woods to cut down on some of our walking. When we came out of the woods, we were out in an open cotton field. It was February and real cold, and across the field we could see a group of men there building a home. When we came out in our suits, the men started asking us what we were doing there. There were lots of moonshine stills and revenuer men coming to check up on them. We explained we were looking for the family of [William Russell] Emmet. It was alright now, so they took us by their fire so we could get warm, and we were able to talk to them for some time and tell them about the Church. Many of the revenuers would be shot and never heard from again so we were glad that they would listen to us.
We got to the [William Russell] Emmet[t]’s about noon, so they asked us to stay and eat with them. We had corn bread and gravy. Mr. [William Russell] Emmet[t] pleaded with us to stay and spend the night with them. He said when his boys got out of school, he’d send them around on the mull (sic) and invite people to come to a meeting. We explained that we had left all our books down at the Harmons and we were supposed to go back and baptize their children [Alberta and Nole Toliver]. He still insisted on taking us back in his old car to get our books. It was about sundown before their children came home so it was real late by the time we got back to the Emmet’s that night. During the afternoon, while we were waiting for the Harmon kids to come home from school, we went about half a mile out in the fields and found where the rain water had been running and dammed it off so it would back up enough water to baptize them. It was cold. The wind was blowing and there was ice on the water. My companion [Elder Mitchell Vernon Lillywhite] said when his feet hit the water that they went numb. The kids [Nole Toliver and Alberta] both took deep breaths and we baptized them, and then we all had to walk back to the house in our wet clothes. The kids were just one sheet of ice by the time they got to the house.
They got their clothes changed and we confirmed them members of the Church before going back with Mr. [William Russell] Emmet[t]. About one mile from the Emmet[t] house, we were met by his boys and their mulls (sic). They were coming out looking for us as they thought the car had broken down. In that cold north wind, we held our meeting. The boys had been out after school inviting people to it and there were three people that showed up to it. There was a holiness [Catholic priest], a Baptist preacher, retired age 73 years old, and one more man. After the meeting was over, the Baptist preacher told us that one of the last Mormon missionaries that had been in that area had been killed about 15 miles from there. There were Rudgar Clawson and Joseph Standing as companions and they shot down Joseph Standing in cold blood. Elder [Rudger] Clawson opened up the buttons of his shirt and they got scared and left. The Church owns that property now and they have a big monument and information there now. The preacher had tears in his eyes and said, “I haven’t got the truth and I know it. You notify Brother Emmet[t], who is a deacon in my church, and I’ll guarantee you a big crowd when you come again, and you can preach over at the church.”
I never did get to go back as I was transferred after a month to Atlanta and then to Savannah, Georgia for the last eight months of my mission down there. I did meet some of our missionaries that did get to preach in that church and they had 75 people in attendance.
That night, we all had corn bread and gravy for supper. The next morning, we had corn bread and gravy again and we appreciated it as it was all they had and we were hungry. This man said to me, you show me any other preacher that would baptized people like I saw you baptize those children last night and then eat corn bread and gravy three times a day and eat it like you enjoyed it like you did, then I’ll give them my span of best mulls (sic) and they are the best in the country.”
Olive Retta Harmon (1899-1981)
11 August 1907: Olive Retta Harmon was baptized by George Leonard Hobson and confirmed by Arnold Rose Meacham
Elder George Leonard Hobson (1882-1957)
George Leonard Hobson served in the Southern States Mission from 1905 to 1907. In his mission acceptance letter to George Reynolds, he wrote: “I am willing to take the mission required of me and will be ready to go…” While serving in Tennessee, he published an article in the Deseret Evening News: “There is a great demand for Elders in the South, as in other parts, and work is fast bearing fruit. There is much religious confusion existing among the religious denominations of the state.” He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1912. They raised seven children together in the mountains of Summit, Utah. Elder Hobson baptized Lillie Hayes Garland, Olive Retta Harmon, Milburn Asher Harris, and Champion Burke Harris, and confirmed the first and last named as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, all in Millers Cove, in 1907.
Elder Arnold Rose Meacham (1884-1959)
Arnold Rose Meacham served in the Southern States Mission from 1905 to 1908. In his mission acceptance letter to George Reynolds, he wrote: “While I have not any habits, I can’t say that I have entirely kept the Word of Wisdom [but] I am willing to go to any country where you wish to call me.” In 1908, he married in Logan, Utah. They raised two children together. Elder Meacham confirmed Olive Retta Harmon and Milburn Asher Harris as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1907.
Olive Retta Harmon was eight years old when she was baptized in Millers Cove in the warm summer month of August, following in the footsteps of her two older sisters and brother. Olive moved with her family to Cades Cove in 1912 and, in 1930, married Griggs Byrush Harmon, who is also a grandson of first-generation members, John Goulder Harmon and Mary Jane Davis. Griggs was baptized a member of the Church in 1950. Olive and Griggs traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah and were sealed together in the Salt Lake Temple, in 1965. They never had any children. Olive died in 1981 and Griggs died in 1986. They are buried together at the Zion Chapel Cemetery in Maryville, Tennessee.
On February 22, 1944, the first Home Sunday School was organized in Blount County. Olive Retta Harmon was sustained and set apart as the Sunday School Secretary.
“22 February [1944] …The new District President, Elder Lyman S[mith] Wiser and Elder Leffel A[ddison] Bean left Chatt[anooga] for Louisville, Tenn[essee] to organize a Home Sunday School. The organization was effected, officers were sustained and set apart: Brother Ether [Lloyd] Harmon as the Sunday School Superintendent, Sister Olive Retta Harmon as the Secretary. Both are of R[ou]t[e] #2 Louisville, Tennessee“
Braska Mae Harmon (1902-1926)
12 December 1910: Braska Mae Harmon (Brown) was baptized by William Price Fullmer and confirmed by John Charles Burrell
Elder William Price Fullmer (1871-1933)
William Price Fullmer 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.
Elder John Charles Burrell (1884-1966)
John Charles Burrell served in the Southern States Mission from 1910 to an unknown date. He emigrated with his family from England and was living in Chihuahua, Mexico when he received his call to serve. He returned home and married in the Salt Lake Temple. He and his wife raised eight children together. He was a well-known saddle maker and returned to Mexico under contract with the Meixcan government to make saddles for the Mexican Army. During raids of a rebel group, he was bayoneted and returned home. He was well known in the community and with Church leaders, including President Spencer W. Kimball, who attended his 50th wedding anniversary shortly before he passed away. Elder Burrell confirmed Braska Mae Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1910.
William Wade Hampton Brown (1888-1959)
16 August 1921: William Wade Hampton Brown was baptized by Rulon Harlum Nielsen and confirmed by Collins Rulon Rogers
Elder Rulon Harlum Nielsen (1899-1973)
Rulon Harlum Nielsen served in the Southern States Mission from 1920 to 1922. He married in the Logan Temple in 1926. They raised one daughter together in Cache Valley, Utah, where he was manager of Anderson Lumber Company for 25 years. Elder Nielsen baptized William Wade Hampton Brown in Cades Cove, in 1921.
Elder Collins Rulon Rogers (1899-1991)
Collins Rulon Rogers served in the Southern States Mission from 1919 to 1921. He married in the Mesa Temple in 1921. They raised four children together in Arizona. Elder Rogers confirmed William Wade Hampton Brown a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cades Cove, in 1921.
Braska Mae Harmon was baptized at the age of eight in Millers Cove in the cold of winter, in December 1910, and moved to Cades Cove with her family sometime around 1912. William Wade Hampton Brown married Braska Harmon in June of 1921. He was baptized three months shortly thereafter in August 1921. Braska died seven years later, at the age of 26, and never had any children. Braska is buried in Cades Cove. William Brown died a widower in Knoxville, in 1959, and is buried in Middlesettlements Cemetery in Maryville.
Austin Hale Harmon (1904-1982)
27 July 1912: Austin Hale Harmon was baptized by George Alma Sampson and confirmed by John Lawrence Lowry
Elder George Alma Sampson (1888-1975)
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.
Elder John Lawrence Lowry (1877-1954)
John Lawrence Lowry served in the Southern States Mission from 1910 to 1912. He married in the Manti Temple in 1900. They already had four children when he was called to serve and his fourth was only two months old when he left. They ultimately raised seven children together in Sanpete, Utah. Elder Lowry confirmed Austin Hale Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1912.
Minnie Proctor (1907-1964)
30 May 1925: Minnie Proctor was baptized Floyd Oliver Garfield and confirmed by Frank Edgar Douglas
Elder Floyd Oliver Garfield (1902-1976)
Floyd Oliver Garfield served in the Southern States Mission from 1924 to 1926. He married in the Logan Temple in 1928. They raised four children together. He worked as a shipping clerk at Edwards Air Force Base and later at Hill Air Force Base. He and his wife served senior missions in Australia, from 1951 to 1954, and in England, from 1961 to 1963. Elder Garfield baptized Bessie Marie Harris in Walland, Minnie Proctor and John Francis Cooper, in Cades Cove, and the last two named – as well as Doris Blanche Russell – he confirmed as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doris Blanche Russell was confirmed at her home on Crooked Creek.
Elder Frank Edgar Douglas (1901-1976)
Frank Edgar Douglas was born in Ogden, Utah and served in the Southern States Mission for 26 months from 1924 to 1926. He married Drue Eliason in 1932. They had two children together. Frank became a dentist and remained in Utah the remainder of his life. He gave baby blessings to James Alma Garland and Nole Toliver Harmon. He confirmed Minnie Proctor and Bessie Marie Harris as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Austin Hale Harmon was baptized in Millers Cove, Tennessee in the summer of 1912. He married Minnie Proctor while living in Cades Cove, Tennessee, in July 1924. Minnie was baptized almost one year later. They raised five children together, four of which were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ. Austin Harmon died in 1982, at the age of 77, and Minnie in 1964, at the age of 57. Both of them are buried at the Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mack Davis (1916-1973)
15 May 1921: Mack Davis was baptized by Marius Fred Hansen and confirmed by Alden Conrad Sorenson
Elder Marius Fred Hansen (1899-1971)
Marius Fred Hansen served in the Southern States Mission from 1919 to 1921. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1923. They raised two children in Utah. Elder Hansen baptized Mack Davis in Happy Valley and confirmed Rosie Davis in Happy Valley, William Moses Whitehead in Happy Valley, and Horace Lester Wilcox in Maryville members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Alden Conrad Sorenson (1897-1989)
Alden Conrad Sorenson served in the Southern States Mission from 1919 to 1921. In his mission acceptance letter to Heber J. Grant, he wrote: “I received your expected letter and was very much pleased. I am well satisfied with my appointed place… hoping I will fufill (sic) an honorable mission.” He had recently married in the Salt Lake Temple when he received his call to serve. He was described as “a wonderful man, very kind, and helpful.” He was self-made, being kicked out of school at a young age and made a name for himself with his hands, laboring in the Ogden Iron works. He and his wife raised two children in Utah. He baptized – in Cades Cove, Maryville and Happy Valley – Ralph Lamon Whitehead, Pearl Edith Wilcox, William Moses Whitehead and Horace Lester Wilcox, and confirmed the first two named and Mack Davis as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mack Davis was born in 1903. He is a third-generation member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the son of Rachel Adelaide Harmon and Joseph Davis. He was baptized in Cades Cove. The only information available of Mack Davis is his baptismal record and a census record. Other details of his life are unknown and remain to be discovered.
Rachel Emeline Tucker (1890-1935)
16 June 1922: Rachel Emeline Tucker (Connely Brackett) was baptized by David John Black and confirmed by Thomas Gilbert Gibby
Elder David John Black (1899-1993)
David John Black served in the Southern States Mission from 1921 to 1923. He was born in Chihuaha, Mexico. In 1918, he fought in France in World War I. He returned home and served 30 months in the Southern States Mission, where he met his wife, Ellie Billingsly, in Alabama. They married in the Salt Lake Temple, in 1923. He was called as Mission President and together they served a second mission in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He worked as Post Master for 20 years. He and Ellie had four children together. His time in Blount County is documented in the transcribed mission journal of his companion, Elder Thomas Gibby. Elder Black baptized Rachel Emeline Tucker and confirmed Ether Lloyd Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cades Cove, in 1922.
Elder Thomas Gilbert Gibby (1901-1983)
Thomas Gilbert Gibby served in the Southern States Mission from 1922 to 1924. He left Morgan, Utah, at the age of 20, to serve in the East Tennessee Conference. He married his wife in the Salt Lake Temple in 1930. They had at least one child together. Elder Gibby’s son recently found his mission journal in an old box and shared it with us. Though he only labored in Blount County for one month, his transcribed mission journal offers great information about the first members, including his two baptisms. Elder Gibby baptized Ether Lloyd Harmon and confirmed Rachel Emeline Tucker a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cades Cove, in 1922.
Rachel Emeline Tucker was born in Millers Cove, Tennessee. She was baptized in Cades Cove in 1922. Elder Thomas Gibby recorded Rachel Tucker’s baptism in his missionary journal.
[Thursday] – 15 June [1922] Before noon we left [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland’s for Knoxville hiking. I felt rather weak and we could not walk very fast. We tracted as we went with fare success. I met a woman who gave me quite a good “bawling out” but I was quite able to defend myself. We got off the main road and had quite a time in getting straight. We found Will[iam Edgar] Tucker at Rockford, whose wife, [Mary Jane Harmon], is another of Sam[uel Patterson] Harmon’s daughter[s]. They were sure poor people and they were certainly backwoodmen. The man had had his throat cut from ear to ear but had managed to live through. We held a little meeting with them and they usked us to baptized the girl, her daughter Rachel [Emeline Tucker], but wanted us to go back to [illegible] to let her sister know about it, so we walked back to [illegible] to another Will Tucker’s (sic). While there, I had a little boxing match with a young fellow there. We stayed there that night but they did not want to go back with us to Rockford.
[Friday] – 16 June [1922] It was a nice little hike back but we got there in time to baptize Miss Rachel [Emeline Tucker] before noon. Elder [John David] Black performed the ceremony. The rest of the day was spent at [the] Tuckers in study and talking. At night we held a little cottage meeting and confirmed Rachel [Emeline Tucker]. I acted as mouth. We had a sleepless night, or at least I did.
On May 12, 1925, she married Isaac Hartsell Boring while they were living in Cades Cove. They were not married long before she divorced and married Thomas Andrew Hendrix Brackett and lived in Georgia. They had seven children together and there may be baptismal records of an unknown number of fifth-generation Harmons in Georgia. Rachel died in 1977 and Thomas in 1979. They are buried in the Deepsprings Baptist Church Cemetery in Whitfield, Georgia.
Burley Lorina Harmon (1910-1988)
27 September 1918: Burley Lorina Harmon (Proctor) was baptized by Loren Joseph Blain and confirmed by Hugh Hamilton Service
Elder Loren Joseph Blain (1890-1919)
Joseph Blain Loren served in the Southern States Mission from 1916 to 1918. In his mission acceptance letter to Joseph F. Smith, he wrote: “I am certainly glad to know that I am worthy to be called on a mission and will be glad to accept it.” Elder Blain was released from his mission December 13, 1918 and died January 20, 1919. He fell ill and died of pneumonia after returning home to Thatcher, Arizona. He was not married. Elder Loren baptized Wilburn B. Townsend, Bessie Ann Frye, Homer Frye and Burley Lorina Harmon in Cades Cove, in 1918, and Georgia Edna Wilcox and Lila Tefeteller in Maryville the same year. Elder Loren confirmed Lona Parham in Millers Cove, in 1917, and Georgia Edna Wilcox and Lila Tefeteller in Maryville, in 1918, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Elder Hugh Hamilton Service (1890-1942)
Hugh Hamilton Service served in the Southern States Mission from 1916 to 1919. In his mission acceptance letter to Joseph F. Smith, he wrote: “I feel highly honored and accept the call by all means.” He was born in Scotland and emigrated as a child. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1919. They raised two children together in Utah, Idaho, and California. In 1918, Elder Service baptized Susie Malling Sills, in Maryville, and confirmed Burley Lorina Harmon, Wilburn Townsend Garland, and Bessie Ann Frye – in Cades Cove – as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Burley Lorina Harmon was born in West Millers Cove. In 1912, at the age of two, she moved with her family to Cades Cove. Burley was baptized at the end of the summer in 1918. She likely met Hiram Proctor while she was living in Cades Cove. They married in 1925 and had three children. Fernetta Long related the following about her grandparents, Burley and Hiram:
“Grandma has always been my favorite person, always, and grandpa would tell some of the neatest stories. I’d sit and listen to them tell me stories about themselves. Grandma was 15 when she got married. Because they were the only LDS family in [Cades Cove], they were really ridiculed and really made fun and people were mean to them. She had a farm, she walked through the woods to school and she said she just couldn’t take it. She could only go to sixth grade. So, I think she stayed home after that… Grandma was a smart lady. She got married. She couldn’t get married in Blount County when she was 15. If you go to the Knox County line there is a bridge and that is where they got married. They stepped over into Knox County, over the line. So they were on the Knox County line when they got married. And when they got married, they went back into the cove. None of grandpa’s family were members [of The Church].
Grandma said the missionaries would come all the time. They talked about them all the time. And she said that people did not accept them very well. But she said they came to their house all the time. She said they would come and stay for a while. That’s how they would live. They would go around and stay at the members homes for a while. She said it was hard to be a Mormon back in those times. It was really tough. She said it was one of the hardest things she ever did was be a Mormon and live here in town.”
Burley died in 1988, at the age of 78, and is buried in Redwood Memorial Cemetery in West Jordan, Utah. Hiram died in 1975, at the age of 69, and is also buried in Redwood Memorial Cemetery.
Ether Lloyd Harmon (1914-1983)
2 June 1922: Ether Lloyd Harmon was baptized and confirmed by Thomas Gilbert Gibby and confirmed by David John Black
Elder Thomas Gilbert Gibby (1901-1983)
Thomas Gilbert Gibby served in the Southern States Mission from 1922 to 1924. He left Morgan, Utah, at the age of 20, to serve in the East Tennessee Conference. He married his wife in the Salt Lake Temple in 1930. They had at least one child together. Elder Gibby’s son recently found his mission journal in an old box and shared it with us. Though he only labored in Blount County for one month, his transcribed mission journal offers great information about the first members, including his two baptisms. Elder Gibby baptized Ether Lloyd Harmon and confirmed Rachel Emeline Tucker a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cades Cove, in 1922.
Elder David John Black (1899-1993)
David John Black served in the Southern States Mission from 1921 to 1923. He was born in Chihuaha, Mexico. In 1918, he fought in France in World War I. He returned home and served 30 months in the Southern States Mission, where he met his wife, Ellie Billingsly, in Alabama. They married in the Salt Lake Temple, in 1923. He was called as Mission President and together they served a second mission in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He worked as Post Master for 20 years. He and Ellie had four children together. His time in Blount County is documented in the transcribed mission journal of his companion, Elder Thomas Gibby. Elder Black baptized Rachel Emeline Tucker and confirmed Ether Lloyd Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cades Cove, in 1922.
Wonedith Harmon (1918-2001)
24 August 1938: Wonedith Smith was baptized by Willis Joseph Michaelson and confirmed by Marion George Forsyth
Elder Willis Joseph Michaelson (1916-2009)
Willis Joseph Michaelson served in the East Central States Mission from 1938 to 1940. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1941. They raised two sons together before she passed away. He later remarried. He served three stake missions following his service in Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Wyoming. A family member wrote of him: “He loved a good story and a good joke.” Elder Michaelson baptized Wonedith Harmon in 1938.
Elder Marion George Forsyth (1917-1999)
Marion George Forsyth served in the East Central States Mission from 1937 to 1939. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1941. They raised eight children together. He received a bachelors degree from the University of Idaho in Moscow in agriculture education and agronomy. He taught school for 37 years at Salem High School and Ricks College. Some of his Church callings include Bishop, Stake President and Patriarch. Elder Forsyth confirmed Wonedith Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1938.
Ether Lloyd Harmon was born in Cades Cove in 1914. He was so eager to be baptized that he made sure it happened on his eighth birthday, June 2, 1922. He married Edith Harmon in 1932. She was baptized six years later in 1938. They raised their family in Maryville, Tennessee. In 1975, they drove to Maryland and were sealed in the Washington D. C. Temple. They were widely known for their kindness, honesty, and love for others.
It comes as no surprise that Ether Harmon was named after Ether in the Book of Mormon. Ether and Edith’s daughter, Marie Holder, said in an interview that her “daddy was always a kid, never grew up,” and of both her father and mother, “their whole life was around their family, they always made sure that holidays were special to us.” Marie added, “Daddy was as honest as can be, he was tremendously honest.” Marie Holder told the following story of Ether’s honesty:
“One time that impressed me very much about him was at the grocery store. They gave him change back, 50 cents too much and he didn’t catch it unti we got home. So he’s taking this change out and counted it. He looked at it and he looked at the ticket [receipt]. He said, ‘They gave me 50 cents too much here.’ We were living in Louisville and we bought, we were shopping in Maryville. So he drives all the way back to Maryville to give that person 50 cents. They gave him too much money. He was extremely honest. He was a hard worker and wouldn’t take anything from anyone but was willing to give. I loved growing up with my family, it was a lot of fun.”
Jake Garland (1883-1973) is known to have killed Ether Harmon’s older brother, General Washington Harmon, at the age of 29. Jake Garland is the brother of Wilburn Townsend Garland and son of William Charles Garland and Elmyra Miller, all three were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ. General Harmon is Marie Holder’s uncle and was killed before she was born, but she was witness to her father, Ether Harmon, forgiving Jake Garland. She retells the story in the below transcript of the interview.
“He [Ether] had an older brother. His name is General Washington… He was killed by Jake Garland. He shot him [three times]. General built, prepared a fence for Jake. He went over to his house and told him he needed to be paid for the work that he did. And Jake told him he didn’t owe him anything. He didn’t do the work like he wanted it done, but anyway it went down, General got killed.
My grandparents couldn’t afford to take it to court. The Garlands had money. They should have done something about it but they didn’t. I know we went to a memorial one day up there at the church and Jake Garland was there. Jake came up to Daddy and Austin [Ether’s older brother] and asked Austin if he would forgive him and to see if he wanted to shake Austin’s hand. Austin would not shake his hand and he said, ‘No, I would not forgive you even if you were dying.’ And then he came over to Daddy and offered to shake Daddy’s hand. And he said, ‘Will you forgive me?’ And he [Ether] said, ‘I will, I forgive you.’ I thought that was commendable of Daddy. And Daddy said, ‘Well, it’s like this: to be forgiven you’ve got to forgive because our Heavenly Father is the one that does forgive.’ And he said, ‘So I do forgive him. I don’t hold any grudges against him.’ I thought that was commendable of daddy to do that, what his brother wouldn’t do.”
I visited the Cades Cove Museum to inquire what the staff knew of the Harmons and Ether Harmon in particular, thinking it was a long shot. As soon as I mentioned Ether Harmon’s name, the staff immediately responded that they knew he was “the Mormon.” They shared good thoughts and stories that had been passed down from their families. These stories – like the one Ether’s niece, Olivee Long, shared below – are the stories of faith that leave a legacy for many generations.
“I first learned of this story in April 1993 at a funeral viewing. I met Kermit Caughron, the last resident of Cades Cove. I introduced myself to him. When he found out I was a Harmon descendant he said, ‘The Harmon’s were Mormons. Are you a Mormon?’ Now, remember, this was April 1993 and the story he related to me had happened in about 1920 when my Uncle Ether was around 6 years old. In this year, according to Kermit, they were having a terrible drought in the Cove and it was a great worry to all the people. If they or their animals lived through the winter months they had to have rain for their crops and yet their crops where dying because no rain came.
The drought was talked about all the time, even the children at school were worried. Uncle Ether informed them there was no need to worry, if they wanted rain, all they had to do was to pray for it to rain. Many of the kids kidded him or made fun of him. The children told him if he could pray for rain and get it then to go ahead and pray for rain. At last Uncle Ether said he would pray for rain and started to walk into the woods by the school to pray and the kids started to follow him. He stopped and said they had to stay there and not follow him. Kermit said they watched him from a distance and that he knelt down and prayed for several minutes and then got up and walked back to them and said, ‘It will rain.’ Kermit said there was not a cloud in the sky and it looked as if it would never rain, but before the school day ended, the sky became dark and the rain poured down. It kept raining during the growing season and, when it did get a little dry again, some of the kids said, ‘Ether, we need more rain you better pray.’ Uncle Ether said, ‘No, if you want rain then pray for it yourself; I taught you how to pray.’ Approximately 73 years after the incident an elderly man was still amazed and still remembered when a 6-year-old Mormon boy prayed for rain.”
In 1922, Elder Thomas Gibby was serving in Blount County and documented Ether Harmon’s baptism on his eighth birthday in the following journal entry:
[Friday] – 2 June [1922] It was Ether [Lloyd Harmon]’s birthday. We prepared for the baptismal services. It was rather cold and raining some. At a little bend in the creek we found a suitable place for the service. Before about four people, we baptized the little boy, Brother [David John] Black first explaining the need of baptism. I performed the ordinance. We went back to [Samuel Patterson] Harmon’s and changed clothes. In the evening, we held a sacrament meeting at Brother Will[iam Wade Hampton] Brown’s, where we confirmed Ether [Lloyd Harmon] a member of the Church. The few Saints bore their testimonies to the truthfulness of the Gospel. The little boy, [Ether Lloyd Harmon], also bore his testimony, which was sure fine for a boy so young. At night we spent a pleasant evening at [the] Harmon’s in singing. Brother [Samuel Patterson] Harmon and [the] boy played on the violin and banjo.
On February 22, 1944, the first Home Sunday School was organized in Blount County. Ether Harmon was sustained and set apart as the Sunday School Superintendent.
“…The new District President, Elder Lyman S[mith] Wiser and Elder Leffel A[ddison] Bean left Chatt[anooga] for Louisville, Tenn[essee] to organize a Home Sunday School. The organization was effected, officers were sustained and set apart: Brother Ether [Lloyd] Harmon as the Sunday School Superintendent, Sister Olive Retta Harmon as the Secretary. Both are of R[ou]t[e] #2 Louisville, Tennessee“
Ether and Edith Harmon raised six children. Their legacy of faith has passed on to their children. Their daughter, Marie Holder, received an unsolicited mission call to New Zealand. She accepted the call to serve and, to this day, her face lights up with a beautiful smile as she recounts her time serving the Lord. Ether passed away in Maryville in 1983, at the age of 69. Edith lived 18 more years and passed away in 2001, at the age of 82. They are buried in the Grandview Cemetery in Maryville.
Alberta Harmon (1927-1996)
11 February 1937: Alberta Harmon was baptized by Mitchell Vernon Lillywhite and confirmed by Marion Hughes
Elder Mitchell Vernon Lillywhite (1912-1988)
Mitchell Vernon Lillywhite served in the Southern States Mission from 1935 to 1937. He married – in the Mesa Temple – Iris Mae Swain, who served in the Eastern States Mission from 1937 to 1938. He wrote about each day of his mission in his journal available on Family Search. Later in life, he wrote regarding his mission: “It was the most enjoyable time of my life. My life was completely changed. I knew I could accomplish any assignment with God’s help.” They raised five children together while he spent his career working for Douglas Aircraft as an engineer. Elder Lillywhite baptized Alberta Harmon and Nole Toliver Harmon in 1937.
Elder Marion Hughes (1912-1977)
Marion Hughes served in the Southern States Mission from 1935 to 1937. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1938. They raised one daughter together. He served two stake missions and became Stake Patriarch. He was remembered for being “close to the Lord, willing to do or go wherever he was needed,” and loving “the Church and bearing strong testimony of its truthfulness, of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his Savior.” Elder Hughes confirmed Alberta Harmon and Nole Toliver Harmon members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1937, and wrote vividly about their baptisms, at the age of 66, in his “life story” available on Family Search.
Nole Toliver Harmon (1925-1983)
11 February 1937: Nole Toliver Harmon was baptized by Mitchell Vernon Lillywhite and confirmed by Marion Hughes
Elder Mitchell Vernon Lillywhite (1912-1988)
Mitchell Vernon Lillywhite served in the Southern States Mission from 1935 to 1937. He married – in the Mesa Temple – Iris Mae Swain, who served in the Eastern States Mission from 1937 to 1938. He wrote about each day of his mission in his journal available on Family Search. Later in life, he wrote regarding his mission: “It was the most enjoyable time of my life. My life was completely changed. I knew I could accomplish any assignment with God’s help.” They raised five children together while he spent his career working for Douglas Aircraft as an engineer. Elder Lillywhite baptized Alberta Harmon and Nole Toliver Harmon in 1937.
Elder Marion Hughes (1912-1977)
Marion Hughes served in the Southern States Mission from 1935 to 1937. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1938. They raised one daughter together. He served two stake missions and became Stake Patriarch. He was remembered for being “close to the Lord, willing to do or go wherever he was needed,” and loving “the Church and bearing strong testimony of its truthfulness, of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his Savior.” Elder Hughes confirmed Alberta Harmon and Nole Toliver Harmon members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1937, and wrote vividly about their baptisms, at the age of 66, in his “life story” available on Family Search.
Alberta Harmon and Nole Toliver Harmon were born in Cades Cove and moved to Georgia after the land was purchased by the Federal Government for the establishment of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Their baptisms occurred in Georgia but are included in this record being born in within Smoky Mountain Ward boundaries Cades Cove and as part of the Harmon Family.
Elder Marion Hughes, who confirmed Nole Toliver and Alberta, wrote of their baptisms in the following journal entry:
Thurs[day] – 11 February 1937 Faced north wind to [William Russell] Emmet[t]’s. About froze nose off. Met the family. Had dinner. Mr. Emmet[t] took us back to get our grips [bags]. Baptized the Harmon children [Alberta Harmon and Nole Toliver Harmon] and confirmed them. Held a meeting at [William Russell] Emmett’s with seven investigators. About froze overnight.
Elder Mitchell Lillywhite, who baptized Nole Toliver and Alberta, also wrote of their baptisms in the following journal entries:
Tue[sday] – 9 Feb[ruary 1937] It rained nearly all night, hard, and was still raining this morning. I didn’t know how we were going to get over that 10 mi[les] of red mud, but Mr. Powers got kind-hearted and took us in his new “chev” to Calhoun, that is on the main highway. We could never have walked in, we had to cross 3 or 4 creeks, that came nearly over the running-board. I guess he wanted to get rid of us, and so brought us in, but we appreciated it anyway. It wasn’t so bad walking through the rain, when we had pavement to go on. We caught a ride out about 5 mi. in a new V8, walked a mile into a small town, then after 1/2 h[ou]r or so caught a pick-up. Had to ride in the back, and it was sure cold. We were wet through anyway. He took us in to Dalton. We thought we would have an easy time here, we had so many names. We walked a mi[le] or more to where a member was supposed to have lived, but alas! They had moved out in the country. Back into town we trudged. Most of the names we had were Box 128, Rt #3, so we decided to find that. We asked a man which way that was, and he directed us a certain direction. After we had gone about 1/2 mi[le] in that direction, we asked another man. He directed us back the other way. We asked another and he directed us on the same way we were going. We walked on out about 1 mi[le] and inquired at a store. We were directed to 5 or 6 different stores, and they all told us different, so we walked clear back to town to the post office, where we should have gone first. They didn’t know at the Post office, but said the mail carrier for that r[ou]t[e] would be in about 12. That was only 15 min[utes] to wait. He came at 12:30 and we found where Austin Hale Harmon lived, around 13 mi[les] NE. He drew us out a map so that it wasn’t hard to find, but we were mighty tired after walking most of that 13 mi[les] with a 25 or 30 lb. grip. No one knew where Harmons lived until we got about 1 mi[le] from his house. It was a good thing we had a map. Bro[ther Austin Hale] Harmon was out chopping wood… He told us to go on in the house. No Elders had been here for about 2 y[ea]rs. Austin Harmon’s father [Samuel Patterson Harmon], brother [Ether Lloyd Harmon], and two sisters had moved to Tenn[essee] near Knoxville. One of his married sisters had died since the Elders were here, and he has two children ready to be baptized. They seem to be a fine family… He has 4 fine children. After supper we had a fine visit with them. They only have one bedroom, and insisted that we take their bed. They laid down some quilts on the floor in the other room and slept.
Wed[nesday] – 10 Feb[ruary 1937] Visited with Harmons until 11 AM, when they left for town. We stayed to catch the mail man, and find out where Satterfields lived, more of our members. After we found this out, we went back to the house and studied for an hour. Harmons came back about 3 PM and we spent the rest of the day visiting with them, and spent the night there. The reason we spent so much time with them was because no Elders had been by for 2 y[ea]rs and they had two children [Nole Toliver and Alberta Harmon] old enough to be baptized.
Thur[sday] – 11 Feb[ruary 1937] At 7:30 this morning, we started for Austin [Hale] Harmon’s sister’s [Laura Bell Harmon] place. He said she lived about 6 mi[les] further. We left our grips at [Austin Hale] Harmon’s, because we thought we would just go over and right back. We about froze this morning, There was ice all along the road and the ground was frozen over. After taking a few short cuts thru the woods, and going a mile or two out of our way, we finally arrived at the house of Bill [Russell] Emmett, whose wife [Laura Bell Harmon] was a member. They were very glad to see us. The Elders had never visited their home during the 8 y[ea]rs they had been married. Mr. [William Russell] Emmett said he had always wanted to meet some Mormon Elders and hear them preach and had never had the privilege (sic). We didn’t expect him to be very friendly towards us, but he begged us to stay with them and hold a meeting that night. We told him our grips were at [Austin Hale] Harmon’s and he said he would take us in his car to get them. Since they hadn’t had any Elders to stay with them, and he had never heard them preach, we decided to stay and hold a meeting. Mr. [William Russell] Emmett took us back to [Austin Hale] Harmon’s to get our grips, after eating cornbread and gravy for dinner, which he apologized for, but said that was all they had. We told him it wasn’t what they gave but how they gave it. When we got to [Austin Hale] Harmon’s, the wind had quit blowing and it was somewhat warmer, so I suggested that we baptize the two Harmon children [Nole Toliver and Alberta]. So, when they got home from school, I got some old overalls of Austin’s, and they got ready, and we went down to the branch. One of the neighbor women, Bill [Russell] Emmett and the Harmon family were the only ones there. We sang “Lo on the waters brink,” had prayer, then I baptized them. The water was ice cold and my legs were so numb I couldn’t feel them. I know it was cold on the two children, Nole Toliver Harmon and Alberta Harmon, but they didn’t say a word. I was warm as could be when I got out. It was a spring that we baptized them in. Elder [Marion] Hughes confirmed them both. When we got back to [the] Emmett’s, the family [boys] was out looking for us, thinking we had a [vehicle] break down or something. We had turnip greens, cornbread and gravy for supper, but it was the best they had, and we knew we were welcome to it. Four men came to the meeting tonight, one a Baptist minister. None of them had ever heard a Mormon preach. We had a pretty good conversation before beginning the meeting. Elder [Marion] Hughes took charge. I was the first speaker, and spoke on the kingdom of God as established at the meridian of time, then the apostasy and how the people changed the things set up by Christ. Elder [Marion] Hughes took the restoration. The meeting lasted 1 1/2 h[ou]rs. It seemed that they were carried away by the meeting. Everyone there asked us to come and stay with them, especially the Baptist minister. He said if we couldn’t visit him this trip, be sure and come next time. We can preach in the Baptist church any time we give them notice a little ahead of time. One of them grabbed me by the arm and nearly broke down crying when he left and said to remember him in our prayers. Mr. [William Russell] Emmett said he had learned more tonight than all the rest of his life. He said he had never seen any preachers before that would sit down to cornbread and gravy, and seem to enjoy it as much as a fine meal. And also that there wasn’t another denomination that would baptize anyone at this time of the year, practically breaking the ice to do it. We sat up until 10:30 and talked, I think he would have sat up all night. He certainly is interested. He has about 10 kids…
Fri[day] – 12 Feb[ruary 1937] Talked to them mostly this morning on the Word of Wisdom. Mrs. [William Russell, AKA Laura Bell Harmon,] Emmett doesn’t break it and is the only member, but we talked it to the rest of them. It wouldn’t take much to convert the whole family. We left about 10 this morning for Dalton. Mr. [William Russell] Emmett would have taken us, but he didn’t have any gas or money. We walked about 5 or 6 mi[les] to the main highway, just a few mi[les] below Varnell’s Station, where Elder [Joseph] Standing was killed. From here we caught a ride into Dalton. We went to no. 2 Green St., where Mrs. Bernice Parker, a member, was supposed to live but they had moved. We went to the post office and asked for their new address, but they said they didn’t know. As we were walking through town, someone hollered, “where are youuns from?” Elder [Marion] Hughes said, “the West originally.” He introduced himself as Brother Satterfield. We had been trying to find where they lived. We went to his house and spent the night.
Almost 40 years later, at the age of 66, Marion Hughes, who confirmed Alberta and Nole Toliver, also wrote the following story of their baptisms when he was writing his life history:
“We went to a to a family member’s home by the name of [Austin Hale] Harmon [and Minnie Proctor]. They had a boy [Nole Toliver] age 12 and a girl [Alberta] age 8 (sic) that they wanted us to baptize. We told them we would when they got home from school that afternoon. Brother [Austin Hale] Harmon had a sister [Laura Bell Harmon] that lived about eight miles from there. She had been married for eight years and her husband [William Russell Emmett] had never heard of the Mormon missionaries, so we told them we would go up and visit them. Brother [Austin Hale] Harmon put us on a short cut up through the piney woods to cut down on some of our walking. When we came out of the woods, we were out in an open cotton field. It was February and real cold, and across the field we could see a group of men there building a home. When we came out in our suits, the men started asking us what we were doing there. There were lots of moonshine stills and revenuer men coming to check up on them. We explained we were looking for the family of [William Russell] Emmet. It was alright now, so they took us by their fire so we could get warm, and we were able to talk to them for some time and tell them about the Church. Many of the revenuers would be shot and never heard from again so we were glad that they would listen to us.
We got to the [William Russell] Emmet[t]’s about noon, so they asked us to stay and eat with them. We had corn bread and gravy. Mr. [William Russell] Emmet[t] pleaded with us to stay and spend the night with them. He said when his boys got out of school, he’d send them around on the mull (sic) and invite people to come to a meeting. We explained that we had left all our books down at the Harmons and we were supposed to go back and baptize their children [Alberta and Nole Toliver]. He still insisted on taking us back in his old car to get our books. It was about sundown before their children came home so it was real late by the time we got back to the Emmet’s that night. During the afternoon, while we were waiting for the Harmon kids to come home from school, we went about half a mile out in the fields and found where the rain water had been running and dammed it off so it would back up enough water to baptize them. It was cold. The wind was blowing and there was ice on the water. My companion [Elder Mitchell Vernon Lillywhite] said when his feet hit the water that they went numb. The kids [Nole Toliver and Alberta] both took deep breaths and we baptized them, and then we all had to walk back to the house in our wet clothes. The kids were just one sheet of ice by the time they got to the house.
They got their clothes changed and we confirmed them members of the Church before going back with Mr. [William Russell] Emmet[t]. About one mile from the Emmet[t] house, we were met by his boys and their mulls (sic). They were coming out looking for us as they thought the car had broken down. In that cold north wind, we held our meeting. The boys had been out after school inviting people to it and there were three people that showed up to it. There was a holiness [Catholic priest], a Baptist preacher, retired age 73 years old, and one more man. After the meeting was over, the Baptist preacher told us that one of the last Mormon missionaries that had been in that area had been killed about 15 miles from there. There were Rudgar Clawson and Joseph Standing as companions and they shot down Joseph Standing in cold blood. Elder [Rudger] Clawson opened up the buttons of his shirt and they got scared and left. The Church owns that property now and they have a big monument and information there now. The preacher had tears in his eyes and said, “I haven’t got the truth and I know it. You notify Brother Emmet[t], who is a deacon in my church, and I’ll guarantee you a big crowd when you come again, and you can preach over at the church.”
I never did get to go back as I was transferred after a month to Atlanta and then to Savannah, Georgia for the last eight months of my mission down there. I did meet some of our missionaries that did get to preach in that church and they had 75 people in attendance.
That night, we all had corn bread and gravy for supper. The next morning, we had corn bread and gravy again and we appreciated it as it was all they had and we were hungry. This man said to me, you show me any other preacher that would baptized people like I saw you baptize those children last night and then eat corn bread and gravy three times a day and eat it like you enjoyed it like you did, then I’ll give them my span of best mulls (sic) and they are the best in the country.”
Alberta Harmon moved back to Blount County and married Claude Henry Hyatt in 1958. They adopted a girl who has since passed away. Claude was baptized in 1961. Alberta and Claude traveled to Utah and were sealed together in the Logan Temple in 1962. Alberta died in 1996, at the age of 68, and was buried in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery in Townsend. In 1983, Claude died in Washington, at the age of 83, and is buried in Hawthorne Memorial Park in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Nole Toliver Harmon married Nora Russell. They had three daughters together. Nole died in 1983, at the age of 57, and is buried in Piney Grove Cemetery in Wayne, Tennessee.
William Levi Harmon (1923-2005)
23 August 1939: William Levi Harmon was baptized by Gilbert Reed Hunter and confirmed by Jesse Devoe Terry
Elder Gilbert Reed Hunter (1919-1981)
Gilbert Reed Hunter served in the East Central States Mission from 1939 to 1941. He married in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1962. They raised at least two children together in Idaho. He was well-known for playing the piano and singing in a quartet, and his son remembers him always kneeling down to say his prayers each night. He was quoted for often saying, “You’ll never know if you’ve been a successful parent until you see how your grandchildren turn out.” Elder Hunter baptized William Levi Harmon in 1939.
Elder Jesse Devoe Terry (1916-2008)
Jesse Devoe Terry served in the East Central States Mission from 1938 to 1940. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1945. They raised four children in Idaho. Elder Terry confirmed William Levi Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1939.
William Levi Harmon had just completed his first birthday when his father, George Washington Harmon, was killed by Jake Garland. Rosie Davis, now widowed, was left to raise William alone. William was baptized in 1923, at the age of 16. He died in 2005, at the age of 82.
John Francis Cooper (1916-1973)
30 May 1925: John Francis Cooper was baptized and confirmed by Floyd Oliver Garfield
Elder Floyd Oliver Garfield (1902-1976)
Floyd Oliver Garfield served in the Southern States Mission from 1924 to 1926. He married in the Logan Temple in 1928. They raised four children together. He worked as a shipping clerk at Edwards Air Force Base and later at Hill Air Force Base. He and his wife served senior missions in Australia, from 1951 to 1954, and in England, from 1961 to 1963. Elder Garfield baptized Bessie Marie Harris in Walland, Minnie Proctor and John Francis Cooper, in Cades Cove, and the last two named – as well as Doris Blanche Russell – he confirmed as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doris Blanche Russell was confirmed at her home on Crooked Creek.
John Francis Cooper is a fourth-generation member of The Church of Jesus Christ, son of Olive Retta Harmon. John was baptized at the age of 9. He married Anna Belle Russell and together they had four children. He died on 18 November 1973, at the age of 57, and was buried in Louisville, Tennessee.
| 1st Generation Members: |
| John Goulder Harmon |
| Mary Jane Davis (Harmon) |
| 2nd Generation Members: |
| Samuel Patterson Harmon |
| Polly Ann Davis (Harmon) |
| Jobe Abraham Harmon |
| Joseph Franklin Harmon |
| William Council Harmon |
| 4th Generation Members: |
| Alberta Harmon |
| William Levi Harmon |
| Nole Toliver Harmon |
| John Francis Cooper |
| Mack Davis |
Smoky Mountain Ward 