John Hinckley served in the Southern States Mission from June 1895 to June 1898. He married Jesse Taggart in the Salt Lake Temple in 1906. They had six children together. He served as bishop for ten years in his ward. He held numerous public offices including state senator for many terms. He labored briefly in Blount County during two time periods, documenting the blessings of four children of members as well as baptisms of James Russell Woody, John Goulder Harmon and Mary Jane Davis Harmon. John Hinckley is a great uncle of President Gordon B. Hinckley.
Visit to Blount County
[Saturday] – 21 September 1895 We remained in Knoxville. [At] about four o’clock elders [Hans Walter] Christensen and [Joseph Leitch] Dunkley came in.
Sunday – 22 September 1895 Elder [Hans Walter] Christensen and I went to [a] Baptist Church. In the evening, we went to the Southern Medithist (sic), where we hear[d] the best sing[ing] I have heard in the Southern States by a lady.
[Monday] – 23 September 1895 Elder [John William] Webster and I walked to Charles Otts’ and stayed alnight (sic). He is a short German, great talker.
[Tuesday] – 24 September 1895 We went on to Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s. He was making molasses. We went out and watched them make it.
[Wednesday] – 25 September 1895 Helped make molasses. That is, I carried the cain (sic) to the mill and changed the horses, carried water, etc.
[Thursday] – 26 September 1895 Went to P. O. Received a letter from father, one from J. R. Paul. Walked back with one of the oldest settlers of [the] place. Met a girl thirteen years old that weighted (sic) over two hundred [pounds].
[Friday] – 27 September 1895 We dident (sic) do anything but read.
[Saturday] – 28 September 1895 After noon went up to Jon[athan] Woody‘s and spent [the] afternoon.
Sunday – 29 September 1895 There was no meeting or anything to attend. Stayed at J[oseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s.
[Monday] – 30 September 1895 Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland and I went hunting cattle in the mountains. Saw forests of timber as far as the eye could reach. Found all the cattle but one. Saw a grove of pine trees all dead, had dried this summer. He said when the lighten (sic) struck a tree in September the worms would get in them and all the trees around it would die. That is, all the black pine.
[Tuesday] – 1 October 1895 [Elder] J[ohn] W[illiam] Webster and I went up to Thomas H[e]aron‘s – Razor P. O. Stayed all night with him. He gave us some apples and watermellon (sic) in the morning.
[Wednesday] – 2 October 1895 Coming back, we got some hickery (sic) nuts and mushrooms. Stayed at [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s.
[Thursday] – 3 October 1895 Went to post office on [the] Little River – Millers [Cove] P. O. Did not get any mail. Stayed at Joseph [John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s.
Friday – 4 October 1895 We picked up potatoes. The old horse did not like to plow. Plowed with the mule after noon. Stayed at Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s.
[Saturday] – 5 October 1895 Went after sheep. Found them but did not get them. Stayed at Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s.
Sunday – 6 October 1895 Franklin came to [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s. Said he had been a preacher for thirteen years, but there was always something lacking. He thought he had found it. We went up to [Jonathan] Woody‘s, then back to Sam[uel Patterson] Harmon‘s and stayed all night.
[Monday] – 7 October 1895 Joseph [John Calvin (JC)] Garland and I went to [illegible] and fixed a molasses mill. Stayed at Jo[seph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s.
[Tuesday] – 8 October 1895 Mended gates and shoes, etc. Went over on the creek and loaded a load of timber. Stayed with J[oseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland.
[Wednesday] – 9 October 1895 Elder [John William] Webster and I went back to see Charles Otts. He was sick but got up and talked until bed time.
[Thursday] – 10 October 1895 Came to Knoxville. Found six of the other elders. In the evening, went down in the folds and sang.
Conference in Anderson County, Tennessee
[Friday] – 11 October 1895 Went to Anderson County to [the mission] conference. Found [East Tennessee Conference] Pres[ident] [John Roland] Halliday at Mr. [Wesley] Burnett’s. We all went up to the prayer ground as they called it. Then all went to different places to sleep. Elder [John Matthew Johnson] Allen and I went to Parons Wever’s and stayed.
[Saturday] – 12 October 1895 Went to the prayer ground at eight o’clock. Had to leave P[aron] Wever’s before breakfast to get there on time. It was a cold day, had rained the night before. Elders gave in reports. [We] met in conference with the people at ten o’clock. Had two. [illegible] [Elder John Matthew Johnson] Allen and I stayed at Sam Brooks’. Meeting with them that day.
Sunday – 13 October 1895 Fasted. Met at eight o’clock on [the] prayer ground. Gave in reports etc. Met at ten [o’clock] with people. Elder [Edward William] Payne and President [Elias S.] Kimball were the principle speakers in [the] morning. The people brought [a] picknick (sic) and we had a feast. Elder [John Heber] Seymour and I stayed at Joseph Broks’.
[Monday] – 14 October 1895 Met at [the] prayer ground. Found our seat [illegible]. President [Elias S.] Kimball spoke all day. At twelve [o’clock] we went to Ms. [illegible]. Had dinner and our picture taken.
3rd Row L-R: John Heber Seymour; John William Webster; Archibald Squire Richardson; Charles Henry Ohlwiler; Alfred Woodcock Nebeker; Robert Reid Judd; Joseph Barnes Woodward; John Cutcliffe Bertoch
2nd Row L-R: James Alma Muir; Wesley Burnett; unidentified; Elias Smith Kimball; John Hyrum Hubbard; John Matthew Johnson Allen; Hans Walter Christensen; Robert Newton Egbert
Front Row L-R: John Rowland Halliday; unidentified; Edward William Payne; Erastus Kruse Fillerup; Frederick Moroni Houston; Ernest Rupert Needham; George Barlow Wintle; Charles Llewellyn Roberts
Conference in Cherokee, North Carolina
[Wednesday] – 5 August 1896 Came through Hayesville, a pretty little town in the center of Clay County. Had dinner with them through the county toward Murphy. Called at a place or two where the elders had been. Mr. H. L. Sanders said we could stay after supper. He said the people would give him down the county for keeping us [TN: be upset with him]. There were a lot of boys and young men in the road when we ask[ed] him to stay and they all came up to see what was said etc.
[Thursday] – 6 August 1896 Was Thursday, fast day, so we ate no (sic) breakfast. I cut Elder [Archibald Squire] R[ichardson]‘s hair. Went through Murphy. Elder [Charles Llewellyn] Roberts got a few crackers and some candy. We went over in the woods and ate them. Stayed with R. P. Hall. He had Mrs. Stenhouse’s book, said he had our history. Treated us very kindly.
[Friday] – 7 August 1896 We went up in the woods, washed, shaved, etc. Met Elders [John Cutcliffe] Bertoch and [William Henry] Carter. We went to Mr. Talor’s. Found most of the elders there. We had a jolley (sic) meeting together. Then Elder W[illiam] H[enry] Carter, Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland and I went to T. B. Garland – Letitia P. O.
[Saturday] – 8 August 1896 There was priesthood meeting in the morning. Pres[ident] Elias S. Kimball gave it to us right in conference. Elder [Frederick Moroni] H[o]uston was the first speaker. Elders [David William Ward] Jeffs, [Archibald Squire] Richardson, [John Heber] Seymour, [Robert Reid] Judd all spoke in the morning. Elder [Joseph White] Musser and others spoke in the afternoon. After meeting, we held another priesthood meeting and Elder J[ames] W[illard] Hubbard and I went to Mrs. A. Hallins to shop etc.
[Sunday] – 9 August 1896 Sunday we fasted. President Elias S. Kimball took up most of the time. Elder [Erastus Kruse] Fillerup followed him. [At] about one o’clock, [we] trained for some time. Some of the elders recited and sang after noon. There were a good many speakers. We held another priesthood meeting in the evening. Then I went with Elder [George Benjamin] Williams to G. W. Johnson’s – Letitia.
[Monday] – 10 August 1896 All day was spent in p[riest]h[ood] meeting. President [Elias S.] Kimball taking (sic) all day in giving us instruction: we were to travel without purse or scrip; to go to the editors and subscribe for their papers telling them how we treated [TN: labored] and, if they won’t let us have their papers, tell them we would pay them or soon as God gave us the money; are to preach on the first principles of the gospel only; to give away or sell six V[oices] of W[arning] a week; and hold at least five meetings. This is not a two year mission. Send our large grips home. Elder [Ernest Rupert] Needham and I went to Mrs. Hellins and stopped alnight (sic).
Second row, L-R: William Henry Carter; Edmund Riley Shaw; Archibald Squire Richardson; John Cutcliffe Bertoch; David William Ward Jeffs; Elias Smith Kimball; John Richard Terry; Robert Reid Judd; William Fairbourn; William Edward Robinson
Back row, L-R: Alfred Woodcock Nebeker; Charles Henry Ohlwiler; James Willard Hubbard; Milton Holmes Welling; James Ellingham Hart; Saint Joseph White Musser; Joseph Leitch Dunkley; Frederick Moroni Houston; James Alma Muir
Standing in back: Joseph John Calvin (JC) Garland
[Tuesday] – 11 August 1896 Met in p[riest]h[ood] m[eeting] again and received our appointments. Elder A[richbald] S[quire] Richardson and I were appointed to labor in Union, C[l]aiborne, Granger, Hancock and Hamblen Counties. After meeting, we bid the elders good-bye that were not going our way. We had dinner with Mrs. Garland. Went on to Murphy. Stayed at the Henry House. He did not like the way we traveled, but let us stay.
[Wednesday] – 12 August 1896 Elder [Archibald Squire] Richardson had a swelley (sic) on his leg, was quite [illegible]. We walked about eighteen miles to G. W. Gunter’s. There wastin (sic) elders in that naborhood (sic). We held a meeting at night.
[Thursday] – 13 August 1896 We all fasted and held [a] meeting with the people. Stayed at Charlie Harden’s with Elder A[lfred] W[oodcock] Nebeker.
[Friday] – 14 August 1896 Continued our fast and holding meetings. Stayed up with G. W. Gunter.
[Saturday] – 15 August 1896 Eight of the elders went out but Elder [Archibald Squire] Richardson was not able to go. Elders [James Alma] Muir and [William Wright] Fairbourn waited until Monday. Four more of the elders came at night. There were eight of us to hold meetings with them Sunday. We held only one Saturday. Elder [William Wright] Fairbourn and I went to [illegible] and had supper there. Elder [Edmund Riley] Shaw and [Charles Llewellyn] Roberts came as they were tired. We went back to Charles Haden’s and stayed.
[Sunday] – 16 August 1896 We had a fine bath in the creek. Went to [a] meeting. Had dinner with Brother [Charles] Haden. He and his wife and another lady were baptized by Elder [Frederick Moroni] H[o]uston [on] Friday the fourteenth. Held a meeting in the afternoon. Went to John Freeman’s to stay. A crowd of boys were there. They threatened to mob us. We went and talked to them. They felt [illegible]
[Monday] – 17 August 1896 We went to Robinsville with Mr. Ellis. The day was very warm. At Robinsville we met Mr. W. H. Garrison. He lead us across two steep mountains to his home. Elder [Archibald Squire] Richardson was worse at night.
Visit to Blount County
[Tuesday] – 18 August 1896 After dinner, we crossed the m[oun]t[ain] and the Tennessee River. Went up to James [Newton] Proctor‘s at [the] foot of the Smokey (sic) Mountain. Elder [Archibald Squire] Richardson and Elder [James Alma] Muir were coming after as we were to get a horse and come back. Mr. [James Newton] Proctor said we could stay with him for the money and no other way. Was very insulting, would not slow. Elder [William Wright] Fairbourn to say a word [illegible]. But the Lord softened his heart so that he let us stay. He was the most insulting of any man I have met in the South. Will say nothing more.
[Wednesday] – 19 August 1896 In the morning, we thanked the man for his kindness and left him feeling a little better than we found him. Then started up [the] Smokey (sic) Mountains. In about two hour[s], we were on top. There, nature has furnished a fine coal spring to cheer the weary traveler on his way and the sporting deer that once occupied that lofty range. Here we stood and gaized (sic) on the broken mills and marrow chewed in vallies (sic) below. On our left was the bald leak, which stood as a stalwart old man. At our right the Smokey stretched of[f] until it was hid in the smokey hase (sic). At our back lay the broad Tennessee River, creaping (sic) through the hills like a large snake searching for pray by now and then. The front of us was Cade’s Cove then Millers Cove lying side by side. Far in the distance was the undulating lands of Knox County. The thick smoke hid Knoxville from our gaze. A little to the left of north of us lay the Chilhowee [illegible] that could say to its neighbors as Smoky could to it, come up hither. As we look down on the vallies (sic) below. We thought of the words of the Savior, when he stood on the Mount of Olive[s] and said: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often would I have gather they children together even as a hen gather her chickens under her wings and ye would not!” [TN: Matthew 23:37] There we left Cade’s Cove, the road lead from right to left, from left to right, up and down as no other road could. We reached our destination about six o’clock at J[oseph John] C[alvin] Garland‘s having walked twenty seven miles over mountains.
[Thursday] – 20 August 1896 Waited until nearly night for Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland to come home then started back on [illegible] met him about a mile from his place. Elder [William Wright] Fairbourn went back with him. Job[e Abraham] Harmon went with me to W[illiam] C[harlie] Garland[‘s]. He lives in the mits (sic) of the hills. Is a good friend.
[Friday] – 21 August 1896 Started back to meet Elders [James Alma] Muir and [Archibald Squire] Richardson. Met them just this side of Cade’s Cove. Came back to Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s. Elder[s] [James Willard] Hubbard, [Adams Wesley] Ensign, [Erastus Kruse] Fillerup, [William Henry] Carter and we other four were there. J[ames] W[illard] Hubbard and I stopped with Samuel [Patterson] Harmon.
[Saturday] – 22 August 1896 All but [Elder] A[rchibald Squire] Richardson went down to the creek and had a bath. Held a meeting at night. J[oseph John] C[alvin] Garland‘s. Stopped with him.
Baptism of Mary Jane Davis Harmon
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.
[Monday] – 24 August 1896 Went to P. O. after mail got wet [illegible] my shoe all to [illegible].
[Tuesday] – 25 August 1896 Spent the forenoon in fixing my shoe, the afternoon cutting corn.
[Wednesday] – 26 August 1896 Stayed with Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland, cut corn part of day.
[Thursday] – 27 August 1896 We dug potatoes and gathered corn. Had a meeting at night.
[Friday] – 28 August 1896 Went to Knoxville with [Elder] A[rchibald] S[quire] Richardson. Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland took us in the wagon. We stayed with Dealia Baley.
[Saturday] – 29 August 1896 Waited al[l] day to get word from Chattanooga. At six o’clock it came. Elder [Archibald Squire] R[ichardson] had to [go] to Chatt[anooga].
[Sunday] – 30 August 1896 At four-fifty Elder [Archibald Squire] R[ichardson] started for home. About nine o’clock I started for Blount Co[unty]. Stayed with Charles Ott, Tar Hill Valley H[amilton] Co[unty].
[Monday] – 31 August 1896 Went on to Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] Garland. Met Elders [James Alma] Muir and [William Wright] Fairbourn. We held a meeting at said place.
[Tuesday] – 1 September 1896 Stayed with Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] G[arland]. Striped corn and pulled fodder and cut tops.
[Wednesday] – 2 September 1896 Road (sic) a colt to Maryville to hear Bob Taylor speak on politics. Held a meeting at night at Jonathan Woody‘s.
Harmon and Woody Blessings
[Thursday] – 3 September 1896 Was fast day. We had a fast meeting at Bro[ther Joseph John Calvin (JC)] G[arland]’s. All fasted all day, also all spoke. We blessed four children, two of Jonathan Woody‘s and two of John G[oulder Monroe] Harmon‘s. The first was James Russell Woody, son of Jonathan Woody and Samantha Caroline Naillon Woody. Was born April 22, 1888 at Naillon Locke Co[unty], Tenn[essee]. Blessed by Elder James A[lma] Muir on third day of September 1896 at Miller[s] Cove, Blount Co[unty], Tennessee. George Larken Woody, son of ditto, [Jonathan Woody and Samantha Caroline Naillon Woody], was born Mary 18, 1890 (sic) at ditto. Was blessed by Elder W[illia]m [Wright] Fairbourn on same day. [Blessed] Joseph Franklin Harmon, son of John G[oulder Monroe] Harmon and Mary Jones (sic) Davis Harmon, born April 13, 1889 at Happy Valley, Blount Co[unty], Tenn[essee]. Blessed by John H[einer] Hinckley same day. [Blessed] W[illiam] Council Harmon, borned (sic) [in] Miller[s] Cove, Blount Co[unty], Tenn[essee] Sept[ember] 17, 1892. Blessed by James A[lma] Muir ditto. James Russell Woody was baptized on [the] same day by James A[lma] Muir, confirmed by W[illia]m [Wright] Fairbourn. We had a meeting at Samuel [Patterson] Harmon‘s at night. I did the speaking. [Stayed the night at] Joseph [John Calvin (JC)] Garland‘s.
[Friday] – 4 September 1896 We had a meeting with J[ohn] G[oulder Monroe] Harmon‘s brother. [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] G[arland] and I went up on horses to it.
[Saturday] – 5 September 1896 Strip[p]ed corn and cut tops. Went up creek and had a bath in a large hole.
[Sunday] – 6 September 1896 Went to Sunday School at Brother [Joseph John Calvin (JC)] G[arland]’s to Chilhowee S[unday] S[chool]. Held a meeting in afternoon at same place. Elder [William Wright] Fairbourn did most of the talking.
Baptism of John Goulder Monroe Harmon
[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.
[Tuesday] – 8 September 1896 I left J[oseph John] C[alvin] Garland‘s alone for Union Co[unty]. As I walked down [the] Little River, a lonely feeling came over me, but soon after crossing the river Colonel James Davis came along with his buggy and asked me to ride. He asked me to stay and have dinner with him. His wife (Tennessee) got a fine dinner, after which we had a fine talk. Then he took me back across the river and I went on [my] way. Had a talk with a preacher and two others at [illegible] way rejoicing. To Charles Otts. Springs.
[Wednesday] – 9 September 1896 Came to Knoxville. Got a new pair of shoes. Then went to [illegible] to Bro[ther] W. P. Turner. Received a welcome etc.
Source: John H. Hinckley Mission Journal, 1895 February-1896 October, https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/assets/7f0c7537-7be2-45e2-be6b-277c651e20d2/0/47?lang=eng (accessed: November 2, 2024).
Smoky Mountain Ward 