Koyle, John Hyrum
John Hyrum Koyle (1864-1949) served in the Southern States Mission from 1891 to 1893. In his mission acceptance letter to Wilford Woodruff, he wrote: “I say in reply I am willing to go.” In 1885, he married in the Logan Temple and had four kids by the time he received his call to serve. Though his family lived in a lean-to, his wife encouraged him to go. They sold one of their two milk cows to help pay for his mission. While serving the Lord, he was attacked by mobs on several occasions, shot at, and once even poisoned in an attempt at his life. His stories about his labors in the the East Tennessee Conference have been preserved in “books of remembrance” on Family Search. He is mentioned once in the transcribed mission journal of Elder Robert Young. He and his wife had 13 children together. Elder Koyle confirmed Sarah Margaret Woody – the first member in our ward with a complete baptismal record – a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1892.
West, Alma Henry
Alma Henry West (1856-1901) served in the Southern States Mission from 1891 to 1893. In his mission acceptance letter to Wilford Woodruff, he wrote: “I received my appointment… and was somewhat surprised to think that I have been selected to fill a mission to the Southern States… I can get ready if it is the will of Him that is over all. I accept the calling realizing the great responsibility resting on me who is called to go into the world to preach the gosple (sic) and to fill the mission honorably.” He married in the Salt Lake Endowment House in 1884. He and his wife already had four children when he was called to the East Tennessee Conference. He was a well-known railroad man and master mechanic for the Utah-Eastern and later Saltair Railroad. Elder Henry West served as president of the East Tennessee Conference and his correspondence is documented with missionaries in the transcribed mission journal of Elder Robert Young. Elder West baptized Sarah Margaret Woody in Millers Cove, in 1892. She is the first member with a complete baptismal record in our ward.
Shumway, Jedediah Grant
Jedediah Grant Shumway (1866-1942) served in the Southern States Mission from 1892 to 1894. In his mission acceptance letter to Wilford Woodruff, he wrote: “Dear brother, your letter of Feb the 2 was received Feb the 9, it bund quiet a surprised. But will be their on the day a pointed 30 of March to go with the rest of the Elders if all is well.” While serving in Tennessee, he was arrested by the local magistrate. He was fined $14.70 for correcting the lies of a local preacher who was telling a false history about the Church. His time as a missionary is briefly documented in the transcribed mission journal of Elder Robert Young. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1895. They had seven children together. He served again, shortly after his wife died, in the Southern States Mission and East Central States Mission from 1928 to 1929. Elder Shumway baptized Jonathan Woody in Walland in 1893.
Young, Robert Cunningham
Robert Cunningham Young (1863-1904) served in the Southern States Mission from 1892 to 1894. He was baptized, at age 27, two years before his mission. In his mission acceptance letter to Wilford Woodruff, he wrote: “I received your letter… asking my feelings in regard to taking a mission to the Southern States. I will say that I will do the best I can and will be ready…” He was called to serve shortly after his wife passed away and he had to leave his infant son in the care of friends and family while serving. He entered East Tennessee during a period of local opposition against the Saints. He challenged the Church’s antagonists, even in the printed press of the Maryville Times, bringing light to darkness with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He returned home early from his mission due to illness, which lasted periodically until his death. He remarried in the Salt Lake Temple after he returned home. They had four children together. He became a school teacher, but taught only a few years before he died in 1904. His transcribed mission journal provides valuable insight into the efforts of the first Smoky Mountain Saints and their missionaries in East Tennessee, from 29 August 1892 to 14 January 1894, as the Church first began to grow. Elder Young baptized Sarah Margaret Cauble, Jordan Henry Harrison Hicks, Andrew Johnson Smith, Louvenia Hicks, Alexander Harrison Garland, Joseph John Calvin (JC) Garland, and Lona Mae Garland, and confirmed the first three named as well as William Edward Silver Garland and Louella Garland as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Journal of Elder Robert Young (1892 – 1894)
Sloan, Thomas Watts
Thomas Watts Sloan (1868-1918) served in the Southern States Mission from 1892 to 1895. In his mission acceptance letter to Wilford Woodruff, he wrote: “I beg to notify you of my acceptance of the same and a sincere desire to do my duty in this respect.” He married in the Manti Temple, on November 3rd, and left to serve, on December 2nd. His time in Blount County is well-documented in the transcribed mission journals of Elder William Hayes and Elder Robert Young. He became an esteemed business man working for the Heber J. Grant Company and eventually started the Sloan Corporation shortly before he died unexpectedly from pneumonia in 1918. He and his wife raised one son together in Utah. He baptized William Edward Garland, Louella Garland, and Lona Mae Garland, and confirmed the last named a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Hayes, William Lehi
William Lehi Hayes (1865-1934) 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.
Journal of Elder William Hayes (1893 – 1895)
Ricks, William
William Ricks (1839-1900) served in the Southern States Mission from 1893 to 1894. In his mission acceptance letter to George Reynolds, he wrote: “I am pleased to answer you in the affirmative.” He was nine years old when he traveled by wagon with the pioneers from Nauvoo to Utah in the Heber C. Kimball Company. At age 24, he returned to assist another group of pioneers traveling by wagon to Utah. He served as a Minute Man to defend the early pioneers against the indians. He returned to Wyoming multiple times to rescue pioneers needing assistance and suffered from exposure to the elements during these ventures. His ongoing physical ailments from this exposure are documented during his mission in the 1893 journal of his companion, Robert Young. William Ricks married early pioneer, Margaret Gordon, in 1865. When he was called to serve in East Tennessee, he and Margaret had 12 children, 10 would live to adulthood. His brother, Thomas E. Ricks, founded Ricks College, now known as BYU Idaho. Martin Harris, one of the transcribers of the Book of Mormon and one of The Three Witnesses of the gold plates, was William Ricks’ neighbor in Clarkston, Utah. He entered a second marriage with Mary Clark, with whom he had one child. He served nine months in the East Tennessee Conference and was forced to return home due to his health. William Ricks died six years after his mission “directly related to his exposure to extreme weather on his many trips to help his fellow saints.” At the time of William Ricks’ wife’s death, they had 138 living descendants. A record of his short time in Blount County is found in the transcribed mission journal of Elder Robert Young. Elder Ricks confirmed Alexander Harrison Garland and Joseph John Calvin (JC) Garland as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1893.
Orme, Joseph Cross
Joseph Cross Orme (1860-1933) served in the Southern States Mission from 1893 to 1895. His time as a missionary is documented in the transcribed mission journals of Elder William Hayes, Elder Robert Young, and briefly in that of Elder James Hubbard. In his mission acceptance letter to Wilford Woodruff, he wrote: “I will accept… I have not used my time as I ought so I am not very well posted on the principles of the Gospel. But God being my helper I will go and do my best to help role (sic) his woork (sic) on.” He married in the Logan Temple in 1888. They had two children when he left to serve in the East Tennessee Conference. In 1910, his wife died shortly after giving birth to their ninth child, leaving him a widower to provide for the children. He remarried, in 1912, and had four more children. He entered politics early in his career and was elected City Marshall and Mayor of Tooele, and City Councilman in both Utah and Idaho. He served as Bishop, in the Stake Presidency, and as Stake Patriarch. In the 1920s, he invited the Woody Family from Blount County to immigrate West, which many of them did, and at one point in the 1920s there were 32 Woody family members active in the Church in Twin Falls, Idaho. Sarah Margaret Woody is the first member with a complete baptismal record for our ward. She was baptized in 1892. Elder Orme confirmed Jonathan Woody, her father, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Walland, in 1893.
Shelley, Leo Thomas
Leo Thomas Shelley (1861-1937) served in the Southern States Mission from 1893 to 1895. In his mission acceptance letter to Wilford Woodruff, he wrote: “I received your letter, stating that I had been accepted as missionary. Although I feel very weak, I will be ready on the date mentioned.” He married in the Manti Temple, one month before leaving to serve in the East Tennessee Conference. He returned home to American Fork, Utah, where he raised five children with his wife. His parents were from England and emigrated with some of the first Saints to Utah. He was well known for his service in the Church, and humility and kindness, often being called to speak at funerals and administer to the sick. His time in Blount County is found in the transcribed mission journal of Robert Cunningham Young. Elder Shelley confirmed Louvenia Hicks a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Millers Cove, in 1893.
Halliday, John Roland
John Roland Halliday (1865-1935) 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.
Hubbard, James Willard
James Willard Hubbard (1861-1939) served in the Southern States Mission from 1895 to 1897. In his mission acceptance letter to Wilford Woodruff, he wrote: “Dear Sir, I am in receipt of your favor, notifying me of my being chosen as a missionary to the Southern States. In reply will say, it is my desire to do as near as I can what I am called upon to do by those in authority in the Church.” Elder Hubbard provided valued insight into the first members here in Blount County. He also discussed his battle with tobacco early in his journal and his turning to the Lord to end the habit. He married Emma Pettingill in the Salt Lake Endowment House in 1880. At the time he received his call to serve, they already had seven children, one of which died at the age of two. They had two more after he returned home from his mission, raising eight children in Utah. He held various Church callings throughout his life, including Stake Patriarch. His original missionary journal was transcribed by students at Brigham Young University, in 1960, and is available on Family Search with other writings about his life. Though Elder Hubbard was not assigned to Blount County or baptized members within the county – he labored in surrounding areas throughout his mission – he visited members baptized in Blount County as a “traveling Elder,” to include: JC Garland, Samuel Harmon, Sarah Woody, John Goulder Harmon, Mary Harmon (Davis), Andrew Smith, as well as friends of the “Mormons” – who are mentioned in other missionary journals during this time period. Thus, he has been included for this record.
Journal of Elder James Hubbard (1895 – 1897)
Muir, James Alma
James Alma Muir (1859-1945) 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.
Christensen, Hans Walter
Hans Walter Christensen (1873-1949) 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.
Petersen, Soren
Soren Petersen (1866-1953) served in the Southern States Mission from 1895 to 1897 and the British Mission from 1906 to 1908. Elder Petersen served throughout Tennessee to include in the Middle Tennessee Conference with the “Fighting Preacher” Elder Willard Bean before transferring to the East Tennessee Conference, where he labored in Blount County. Before his first mission, he married Annie Scarborough in 1891. His third child was born while he was serving in Tennessee. He and Annie had seven children together. During his mission in England, he presented a Book of Mormon to King Edward. He wrote a book about his life and included stories of his mission to Tennessee, which included a time when missionaries walked from Knoxville to North Carolina. Two men attacked the elders and debated whether they should kill them or beat them after they tied them up. The men settled on whipping the missionaries, which they did. The elders were reported to have delivered their finest sermon that evening in a local church after the whipping. Many years after his mission, Soren Petersen’s nephew, Alma Sonne, who was serving as Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve at the time, told a story of Soren who believed he had failed as a missionary, not having baptized many people or experienced warm receptions on his mission. During Alma Sonne’s visit to East Tennessee, he met a woman who Soren Petersen had taught decades before and had over 100 family members who were baptized into the Church. She said, “No, Elder Petersen didn’t fail, and I’m thankful he found my grandmother.” In 1897, Elder Petersen confirmed William Charlie Garland a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cades Cove.
Carter, William Henry
William Henry Carter (1874-1949) 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.
Warnick, Frederick Gilbert
Frederick Gilbert Warnick (1872-1960) served in the Southern States Mission from 1895 to 1898. Elder Warnick first served in the West Virginia Conference before transferring to the East Tennessee Conference, where he labored in Blount County, Tennessee and North Carolina as assistant to the conference president, Elder James Hart. He wrote of his mission, “During nearly all the time we traveled without money, relying on the kind people of the South to take care of us. It was really wonderful [how] the way was opened for us.” Elder Warnick is mentioned in the mission journal of Elder Isaac Smith. His brother, John Warnick, also was called to serve in the Southern States Mission but died in a mining accident before his departure. He married Clara Black in the Salt Lake Temple two years after his mission. They had eight children together. He taught in the business school at Brigham Young Academy and retired from First Security Bank in Provo, Utah in 1941. He held numerous Church callings throughout his life and died of complications from a fall in 1960. Elder Warnick baptized William Charlie Garland in Cades Cove in 1897.
Fairbourn, William Wright
William Wright Fairbourn (1861-1918) 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.
Woolsey, Joseph Henry
Joseph Henry Woolsey (1867-1928) 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.
Georgeson, Niels Wilford
Niels Wilford Georgeson (1878-1905) 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.
Hale, Howard Hoskins
Howard Hoskins Hale (1876-1969) served in the Southern States Mission and Middle States Mission from 1900 to 1902. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1893. In response to President Lorenzo Snow regarding his call to serve, he wrote: “I willingly accept the call made of me to take a mission to the Southern States… I want to fill the mission, and with the help of the Lord, will be ready whenever the brethren of the Missionary Committee of the Apostles, knowing my circumstances, see fit to call me.” He and his wife had one son together. Elder Hale served as President of the East Tennessee Conference and is mentioned numerous times in the mission journal of Elder Abinadi Porter. He baptized and confirmed William Bonham a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Maryville, in 1902.
Randall, Melvin Howard
Melvin Howard Randall (1879-1945) 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.
Smoky Mountain Ward 