James Henry Rollins
James Henry Rollins, the son of Keziah Keturah and John Porter Rollins was born 27 May 1816 in Lima, Livingston County, New York. His father was John Porter Rollins, born in Rutland, New Hampshire about 1796. His mother was Keziah Ketura Van Benthuysen, born May 15, 1796 in Albany, New York.. His parents were married in 1815. James Henry had two younger sisters Mary Elizabeth, born 9 April 1818, and Caroline Amelia born 1 May 1820. In 1821, his father was transporting a load of cattle across one of the Great Lakes to Canada by boat or barge. A severe storm came up and the vessel was lost and all the cattle and crew were drowned. Keziah was left a widow with three small children, ages one, three and six. At some time, they went to live with Keziah’s sister, Elizabeth, and her husband Algernon Sidney Gilbert, who where in the merchandising business. This extended Family moved from New York to Mentor, Ohio in 1825; and a year later, 1826 they moved to Kirtland, Ohio, where Sidney Gilbert established a store. Some time later Sidney Gilbert entered a partnership with Newel K. Whitney; together the owned the Gilbert and Whitney store. We are not certain where the Gilbert house was; the Whitneys lived in a house across the street from the store. James Henry did chores around the house and store as soon a he was old enough; he worked in the store as a stock boy and helped to clerk.in 1828, when he was 12 years old. Sidney and Elizabeth Gilbert considered themselves to be foster parents of the three Rollins children .
In the fall of 1830, Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt and others came to Kirtland on their way to Missouri. They brought the Book of Mormon, and preached the gospel to those who would listen. James Henry said, “They preached the gospel to my uncle and aunt and the Whitneys and several others, and they were converted and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter_Day Saints. I did not join then, as I did not thoroughly understand it, but read the Book of Mormon through. I had to read at night by firelight, as candles were very scarce at that time, and I lay on the floor on my back with my head to the fire and read at nights, the only time I had to read.”
Joseph Smith came to Kirtland in February of 1831. The story of his going to the Gilbert and Whitney store to meet Newell K. Whitney is well known; that same day Joseph was at the Gilbert home and James Henry was able to meet the prophet. James Henry became personally acquinted with Joseph Smith Sr. and his wife Lucy Mack Smith and all their family. In his History, James Henry said, “William Smith would come to the store and ask for me to go with him on his shooting expeditions up and down the river. They often consented to let me go with him. Don Carlos and I were great chums. We were very attached to each other.
On p. 188 of Vol 1 of the History of the Church, it states, with Joseph Smith dictating, “On the 19th of June [1831], in company with Sidney Rigdon, Martin Harris, Edward Partridge, William W. Phelps, Joseph Coe, Algernon S. Gilbert and his wife, I started from Kirtland, Ohio, for the land of Missouri.”. James Henry went to Missouri in 1831 either with the Gilberts in this group or with his Mother who went with the Father Morley group which left Kirtland in October 1831.
In Missouri, James Henry lived in Independence and worked in the Gilbert and Whitney store which Sidney Gilbert ran. Some of the events associated with James Henry’s Baptism are worth Quoting form his History.
“Joseph Smith, the Prophet, came to Independence about the last of April. On the first of May, he came to my uncle and aunt's house and saluted my uncle and aunt. Then he came to me and said, "Henry, I want to baptize you if possible, before I leave." I was then working in my uncle's store and one Saturday, Joseph came into my uncle's store and I asked if I could go with him to the Whitmer's Settlement. They wanted to baptize me. My uncle said he could not spare me that day for the majority of the people came in on Saturday to do their trading and he had no other help. When Joseph returned from Whitmer's Settlement they authorized Oliver Cowdry to baptize me instead of Joseph, which he did not get to do. I said good_bye to the Prophet as he started on his journey down the river, the exact date of his starting I do not remember. [ 6th of May,1832]. I was finally baptized by John Carroll on the first day of June, 1832, about two miles west of the Temple block, in Rock Creek, Independence, Jackson County , Missouri.” James Henry was age 16 when he was baptized.
On the 20th of July 1833, the Jackson County mob demanded the discontinuance of the Church Printing establishment and the closing of the Gilbert store. The events were described in the Times and Seasons, vol.1, p18, as follows:
“In a short time hundreds of the mob gathered around the printing office, which was a two story brick building, which they soon threw down. The press was thrown from the upper story, also the apparatus, book work, paper, type, etc. A family [W. W. Phelps family] residing in lower story was also thrust out in great haste. After destroying the printing establishment, they proceeded to Gilbert & Whitney’s store for the same purpose, but Gilbert agreeing to box the goods, soon, they concluded to let it alone.”
On Thursday night the 31st of October 1831, a mob attacked a settlement of the Saints west of the Big Blue, unroofed and partially destrowed 10 homes and drove all the residents into the wilderness. On Friday the 1st of November 1833, the saints in Independence were again attacked by a mob; the doors and windows of the Gilbert Store were broken out, the merchandise taken and scattered and the brick portion of his home was torn down. On the following Tuesday and Wednesday the Saints were driven from Jackson County; most found refuge in Clay County. It was weeks before many of the people had shelter inside or a roof over their heads. It was during this time on the open prairies, on the night of November 13th or the early morning of November 14th that the famous Meteor shower occurred.
The following spring in June of 1834, Zions camp came from Kirtland. At this time James Henry, now 18 years old, was still living with the Gilberts who were living at a hill farm adjacent Rush Creek, about five or six miles from Liberty, Clay County Missouri. In the Prophet Joseph Smith’s History vol.2, p 122 He said about the end of the march of Zion’s Camp.
“June 23 – We resumed our march for Liberty, Clay county, taking a circuitous course around the heads of Fishing river to avoid the deep water. When within five or six miles of Liberty, we were met by General Atchison and other gentlemen, who desire us not to go to Liberty because the feeling of the people were so much enraged against us. At their solicitation we turned our course, wheeling to the left, and crossing the prairie and woodland, came to Brother Algernon Sidney Gilbert’s residence, and encamped on the bank of Rush Creek. in Brother Burkets’ Field.”
In James Henry Rollins’ history he said, “In a day or two after the Camp arrived, Joseph, the Prophet, his brother William, Dr. Williams and several others stayed at our place, but the majority of the camp went down Rush Creek, some three-fourths of a mile form us to the farm of John Burke [who had recently married James Henry’s mother, Keziah Keturah VanBenthuyen Rollins], where many were stricken with the Cholera and died. . . . George A. Smith, Jessie Smith, both of them about my age, and I, we three were trying to get a ball out of a pistol which had got wet while we were down at the river fishing. We were all three quite merrily laughing a great deal when Jessie made the remark ‘we had not ought to be making so much noise while there were so many of our brethren who were sick and dying. We don’t know how soon some of us will be taken.’ We then opened the gate and went in at the east door of the house; this noble boy was stricken with the cholera. Joseph and his brother worked over him; all that they could do for was done; he died lying on the floor. We then wrapped him up in his bedding and carried him to the place that was dug for those who had died. We carried him through a terrible thunderstorm. We laid them in their grave without any coffins and covered them with Mother earth.” Jessie was a cousin of the Prophet and Joseph took his death very hard.
Algernon Sidney Gilbert was another victim of the cholera. He died about the 29th of June 1834. Sixty-eight saints suffered from the disease and of this number, fourteen died.
After the Saints had lived for a year or two Clay county, the old inhabitants encouraged the Saints to move to the more sparsely populated counties of Caldwell and Davis counties. The following quote from the introduction to Joseph Smith’s History, vol. 3, page XLIII, tells the situation best. “For two years the work of purchasing lands, locating settlements, opening farms, establishing merchantile houses, and preparing for manufacturing and commercial enterprises went steadily on. In Calwell and adjoining counties, by the autumn of 1838, the Saints had opened two thousand farms, and paid to the general government $318,000 for land, which at the minimum price for government land would give them over two-hundred fifty thousand acres. One hundred and fifty houses had been erected at Far West; there were four dry goods stores, three family groceries, half a dozen blacksmith shops, and two hotels. The town of Adam–Ondi–Ahman was also making progress.”
Mary Elizabeth Rollins had married Adam Lightner of Liberty, Clay county, on August 11, 1835. Caroline married Nathaniel Carr, who later became a member of the Mob.
Adam Lightner and Mary opened one of the first stores in Far West; in 1835 or 36; in the latter part of 1837 they moved to Milford, a small town about ten miles from Far West and opened a branch store for James Henry to take charge of; but because of persecution they had to abandon it. James Henry Rollins, his sisters Mary Elizabeth and Caroline, his Mother Keziah and her husband John M. Burke, and his two children, and Elizabeth Gilbert all moved to Caldwell or Davis County.
In 1838.James Henry lived in Gallatin, Davis County Missouri. He had a home and operated a business there. James Henry said in his history: “Difficulties had commenced in Davis County on the day of election which was at my place of business and in a bowery by the side of the house about twelve or one o’clock in the daytime. The majority of the votes on the list were for Judge Morren A. Demessate; who was a great friend to our people in helping them to corn, bacon, and such when the people first went to settle the country. William Peniston, the Whig Candidate, got angry and jumped on an empty barrel and made a great commotion and excitement. About this time Dick Welding struck shoemaker Brown, one of our brethren, over the head with a three foot board. This aroused a great stir among those who were present. John Butler and Price Nelson knocked down three or four of the opposite parties which caused and uproar and broke up the election and broke me up also.” In the introduction to History of the Church, to vol 3, p xxviii, it says “It was an effort to prevent members of the church from voting at an election a Gallatin, Daviess county on August 6, 1838, which led to the commencement of those acts of hostility against the Saints which ended ultimately in their expulsion from that state.” And so we find that James Henry Rollins was living in Gallatin. Daiviess county, Missouri when the election troubles happened and he said the disturbance broke him up also. In a petition filed January 13, 1840, James Henry stated that the mob “drove us from the Town and Threatened me If I did not Leave the Town They would Pull down my House over my Head and which House Contained heavy stones& C & C, and which I was obliged To Leave, and which was mostly destroyed. . . .” he had to leave Gallatin, and with the other saints from that area, go to Far West. Within a month of that occurrence James Henry married in Far West.
James Henry married on September 4, 1838, Evaline Walker at Shoal Creek, later called Far West, Caldwell county Misssouri Evaline was the daughter of Oliver Walker. James Henry was 22 when he was married.
The mob actions became increasing worse during September and October. On September 27, 1838, Missouri’s Govenor Boggs issued his infamous Extermination Order. Two days later on Tuesday October 30, 1838, The mob attacked Haun’s Mill killing eighteen saints; including a young man, Oliver Cox who was a foster brother of James Henry’s wife, Evaline. The next day October 31st Joseph and Hyrum were betrayed in to the hands of the mob at Far West. They next day the Army of the Mob entered Far West, Confiscated the arms of the saints and required them to sign over all their property to defray the expenses of the Mob’s Army. Under the terms of the Governor’s Extermination Order, they were to leave the state. In his petition filed Jan 13, 1840, James Henry stated that his losses in Missouri amounted to not less than 3000 dollars.
Soon after their betrayal, Joseph, Hyrum and about 40 of the brethren were taken to Richmond. The leaders were put in the jail there; the others were kept under guard in the court house
James Henry tells that he got away from Far West in the following manner. “About this time the Lightner brothers came up with a wagon and a prairie schooner. They took Cleminson and the family, Adam Lightner and my sister and his wife and family. This wagon I was assisting them in loading their bedding, and they pleaded with me to go with them and take my young wife along. The family finally persuaded me to go and they put me in the bottom of the wagon. While I was lying there with my face downward, they threw bedding on top of me and when they left I was in this position and remained there until we had passed safely through the army and for several miles. When I was relieved of this tired position we camped some few miles from Far West. That night in the open prairie we had our beds on the ground and when we awoke the next morning there were two or three inches of snow above us.” That day they crossed a river at Purmey’s Ferry. The ice was very bad and was being floated down the river in big chunks. They then traveled to Abner Lightner's near Lancaster, Missouri, where they stayed for five days. While there: “As I was reading the family Bible, alone in the room, there came a knock at the door. A man stepped in the room and asked if Mr. Rollins was there. I told him I was the man. His name was Baglin, whom I knew very well in Davis County and he said to me, ‘Can you pay me for a house that you bought of me.’ I told him he knew very well I had nothing, that my pardner stayed in the Far West and had all my property. He said he would pay it at this time. Two other men rapped at the door and was inquiring for me and as they entered they said they had been sent for me from Richmond. I asked them what they wanted me for. I was wanted for a witness. I found out against others. I asked them if they would allow me to enter another room to put on a clean shirt. The men watched me from outside. They then ordered me to get on one of the horses behind one of them. It was snowing very hard at that time. I then mounted behind one of the soldiers and arrived at Richmond Court house when Gen. Clark appeared at the door, the men saying, "Here is the man you sent us for. He said, "You get down off the horse and go in the bull pen with the rest of the ***. That was the first intimation I had that there were any other men in there. When I had entered I was put into the bull pen, where, sure enough, there I found some forty or fifty of our Brethren, such as Bishop Partridge, Morley, James and Isaac Allred and many others that I will not mention here. I was called the next morning when the court had commenced and the state prosecutor read the charges which were treason and murder, arson larceny, and burglary. He asked me if I was guilty of any of these charges. I told him, "No sir, I am not guilty of any of these." About nine o'clock the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum were brought in the court department which was situated on the same floor where we were kept. A pole was stretched across to keep us back from Judge King and his court. I stood close to the pole, but back of Joseph and Hyrum and the lawyers. Doniphan and Atcheson brought a man in as a witness against me by the name of O'Dell. He testified that I had burned his house, so I spoke openly as I stood behind Joseph and Hyrum, that he was a curly headed liar. Joseph turned his head toward me and said, "Shaw, Henry, don't say anything." We were kept prisoners for several weeks. At last it was agreed that we could bail each other out. One of the Brethren bailing another and sometimes one would bail for three or four of them until they were all bailed out but myself. Isaac Allred, having agreed to bail me out previous to this, but he didn't. I got one of the guards to go with me to find him and when I saw him I asked him if he was going to bail me out and he said he couldn't as he had already bailed four or five men. I was then taken back and put under guard until evening. Someone came and told me that my young wife had come to see me, so I was allowed to go and see her and if anyone appeared as an angel, she sure did to me.
She had ridden on a horse from Lexington, which was thirty_five miles. She was dressed in black silk and looked very beautiful.. They also told me I should stay there with my wife that night. They put us in a room six by eight with two guards inside the room with their heads against the door. The next morning at breakfast they set me and my wife at the head of the table. About 10 o'clock I succeeded in obtaining bail. My bail was fixed for all crimes and was signed by [Samuel Bogart], Methodist Preacher, and Nathanial Carr, my brother_in_law. Soon after this was settled I obtained a horse and bridle and started with my wife on the same horse to the Far West, thirty_five miles distance. It was quite cold and we had to ride and run so as to get warm. We arrived in the Far West in the night safely. We had not been home long until Bogart appeared and exacted my step_father's hotel, my father_in_law's hundred acres of land and forty acres of my own land and at least a thousand dollars worth of other property for security for bail or he would take me back to the prison. Some of the land he wanted laid three miles from Haun’s Mills and I had not heard whether my wife's father would consent to Bogart's requirement or not.
About this time, my wife's brother, William Walker, brought a horse, saddle and bridle. Bogart that evening took me upstairs and told me if I didn't force those men to go my security the next day he would take me back to prison. That night I saddled up the horse and mother gave me $16.00 to start with.C.L. Higby and myself started together. The young people of the town gathered at a house half a mile out of town. We laid down and remained there until daylight and pressed on our journey. At sunset that day we crossed the mouth of Grand River, one hundred miles from home. I finally got to Alton at 9 o'clock at night; having rode the same horse 350 miles in five days. I found my brother_in_law there and I also found a home and a resting place. The next day I went with my brother_in_law to lower Alton. A few days later, hearing that Bogart was in pursuit of me I saddled my horse and rode some sixty miles into Magovin. After a number of days riding and working for food and lodging I arrived at Alton; there I found my wife very ill at the home of brother, John Walker. The doctor and women were just putting my wife in bed as I arrived. She was expected to die for days previous to this and in a few days after my return she began to recover. When she was well enough I rented a house and my family and William Walker's family moved together in this house. Soon after this Adam Lightner and wife (my brother_in_law) returned from Louisville, Kentucky, and they lived in the same house. We all remained there during the summer vacation. We then moved to Clifton, six miles above Alton, where we found a house promptly and large enough for three or four families to live. Here we decided to build a large flat boat to carry wood to Alton and St. Louis. This boat we constructed during the winter. The next year we decided to go to Nauvoo. After considerable trouble we were able to get to the home to my stepfather, John Burk's, which was nine miles from Mount Rose. We remained there and assisted my stepfather to open up a large farm, which we planted with corn, squash and melons and produced a large crop of each. Father Burke and my mother, in the spring, moved to Nauvoo. Soon after their departure I received a letter written by William Clayton and signed by Joseph Smith, the Prophet, the contents of which was that I should come to Nauvoo immediately.
I therefore went the next day and asked Joseph what he wanted of me. He inquired what I had in Iowa. I told him I had a few affects. He said for me to go there and arrange my things over so I could dispose of them and move to Nauvoo, that he wanted me there. I did as he advised me and moved to Nauvoo to live in with my mother for a short time, where my oldest daughter was born. My wife had been very sick. Several weeks previous to this time my little son was very low with measles and cankers. I asked him to call if possible and see my wife for she was very sick. Joseph came and administered to her and the little boy. The doctor then left for his home at Warsaw and my wife soon began to rally and gain strength. In a very short time after a baby was delivered which was the third child born to us. The first, a boy, died at Clifton above Alton, the next, a son, was born in Iowa and the daughter born in Nauvoo, December 27, 1843. Soon after this I went to Joseph, he resided down on the flats in a mansion, and asked him what he desired of me to do. He said, "You come down about 10 o'clock on Monday morning about the 28th," which I did. I went with him to his store and he asked Newell K. Whitney if he had any work for me to do. He replied he had nothing that he knew of then, that he had sufficient help at present. Joseph said to me, "I have work for you" and he took me through the back of the store and showed me the cords of hickory wood. He asked me if I was a good hand with the ax. I laughed and said, "a little." He said the clerks here were too shiftless to cut their own wood. I asked him if he had a sharp ax. He turned to Laren Walker and said, "Get the ax for him. I want him to chop up this wood." Which I did and piled it up the same day. The next day he came to the store and unbarred the outside cellar door and he would unlock it from the outside. When the doors were open he then asked if I could straighten up things and I told him I could. He was pleased with the change I had made with the appearance of the cellar.
On or about this time Lyman White, Amasa Lyman and Henry G. Sherwood came up the river from the south with 25 barrels of Orlean's sugar and several barrels of molasses and about this time Edwards Hunter also came with a large supply of dry goods from Philadelphia which he unloaded at his house where he stored them for a few days that he might select some article for his own use, before he sent them to Joseph's store. In the meantime Joseph told me to harness up his old Charlie to the buggy and take Brother Hunter around to view the city and to see Joseph's farm and to answer all the questions he might ask as near as possible. This I endeavored to do with pleasure and seemed to please Brother Hunter very much. He told Joseph when he sent for those goods, to send me, which I took with very much pleasure in doing. The superintendent and Mr. Whitney and two clerks were marking and setting prices on the goods for several days. At this time a good deal of work was being done on the temple which the workmen received orders for their labor on the store. It was very crowded for two or three days and as I stood in the counting room door, looking at faces in the house, there was a great many very familiar with me. They came over as they were waiting for their pay and asked me if I could wait on them. Joseph, being in the store at the time, said to me, "Why don't you wait on these people." I told him when I was ordered I would do so with pleasure. He then said, "Go and wait on them. I then went to work behind the counter on the grocery side and paid off the people this day and the next, the store being crowded constantly, at least fifty to one hundred people to be waited on and being so close with so many present was very oppressive to us all. When Joseph came in and saw us looking tired and pale he told us to shut up the store that night and not to open again for two or three days which we did until we got rested, then opened again for business.
I will now go back to atransaction between myself and Joseph. During the spring and summer of 1844, previous to his death, he told me to assist in carrying water and other commodities to the room above the store which I did and afterwards found out it was to give endowments to some of the Brethren.
A few days after this as I was alone in the store and was standing outside the counter, Joseph came in with his cane in his hand and stopped directly opposite me on the other side and eyed me for a moment. Then he walked across to where I stood and raised his right leg and laid it on my left shoulder. He then took it down and walked back to his first position. Then he said, "I thought to break you down with the weight of my leg, but you are stiffer than I thought you were." He then asked me what I was studying about. He then told me he knew what I was thinking about, this was about the first of May.
While I was in the store and no one being there, N. K. Whitney came in and said Joseph wanted me to come up the river near the old printing office. I went thinking he would send me somewhere on an errand as he sometimes did. When I arrived I saw that he had been baptizing several individuals. He said to me on my arrival, "Remember I promised to baptize you at Independence, Missouri." He said, "I (Joseph) want to fulfill my promise now, if you are willing." He then took me in the river and baptized me after which I took a seat on a rock and he confirmed me, and placed many blessings on my head and sealing such as I have learned the meaning of since in the Temple of the Lord.
Some two months after this, his store was closed for good. I asked him one day what he wanted me to do and he said, "Go work on the temple." I moved to a house near Bishop Miller and I went to a stone shop and endeavored to obtain work, and learn the stone cutting trade. I went to Dan and Andrew Cahoon. They said to me that if I would work with them six months they would teach me the trade. I asked them if they thought I could support my family and work for them six months. About this time I went to Harry Standly, a brother_in_law to the Cahoon boys. He said to come to him in the morning and he could tell what he could do. I called the next morning and he would allow me $12.00 for the first month and raise my wages $5.00 every month for three months or then $30.00 for two months. I accepted his proposition. He agreed to furnish me with provisions which he had to divide his portion which he drew from the tithing office. I commenced work the next day and cut with Mr. Standly, one of the diamond arch stones, which counted to him $500.00 when finished. This was my first work in the stone shop. I soon became so I could cut one of these arches without help. The Cahoon boys, about this time, made some little stir about Standly furnishing me provisions and complained to their father about it and so they both said to Standly to not let me have any more provisions. This caused Brother Player, the main workman on the wall of the Temple, and Williams Ibicks, the arch architect, to inquire into the matter of Father Cuttler and when Father Cuttler said to them, "He desires some provisions although it may be little. I will divide the last round with you." I then told Standly the decision and he said, "Here are the tools, take them and go to work for yourself and then you can't be denied provisions." Standly said, "You can have all the pay for your work yourself." After this I could do any work as the plasterer on arch work that was to be done and after the two months, Benjamin Mitchel came to me to rough out a capstone for which he said he would give me $50.00, which I did for him and one for Charles Lambert and another for a stone cutter from Quincy.
One month after this Brother Player and the architect came to me and I told them I didn't think I was capable of cutting one of those stones, but they persuaded me to try it and they would help me out. I did so with reluctance, but accomplished this task and it was raised on the northeast corner of the Temple wall, being the last capital stone raised on the wall. I then did other work that was to be done, except to work on the oxen, which I declined to do. They were cut out of stone by the expert hands and were to be placed around the baptism. This Temple, Joseph said, must be built and furnished for endowments and for work in five years or the Lord would reject them and their dead. The upper part of the building was soon accepted of the Lord for such as giving endowments and sealings.
When I left the shop I went to work laying stone and brick for other people, cutting doors and windowsills and caps. Soon after this, building was stopped on account of trouble by the mob and the people called were told of by Brigham Young to fit themselves up for their exit west across the Mississippi River. My stepfather, John M. Burk, and son, with myself, went to work to get timber for wagons such as fill spokes and hubs for the wheels of three wagons. The first one finished entirely we sold to Orson Hyde for $75 in gold. It was determined by us that I should go to Quincy with the money and buy iron to finish up the other two wagons and they worked hard in my absence. When I returned with the iron they could finish the other two wagons, my stepfather and son having one, and me the other during the winter of 1845 & 1846. I went to Hannibal, Missouri, with Frank Cuttler, each with a team to search for goods that were landed by steamer, some were below Quincy. We received information while there that the goods were landed at Hannibal, Missouri, across the river, and were landed there for Amos Davis, a merchant of Nauvoo, because of the great flow of ice in the Mississippi River. When we arrived opposite Hannibal the river was frozen entirely over, sufficient to bear wagons very heavily loaded. We crossed the river which appeared to be solid, loaded our wagons with the goods and returned safely back to the other side. When we arrived in Nauvoo we unloaded and found that many of the goods were much needed by the people. Davis retained me for a few days to clerk in his store, and then he sent me and William Empy to St. Louis for more goods which was of necessity for the people to have both in the Temple and on their journey west. On our return Davis again retained me in the store, our trip being satisfactory. I helped him for a few days.
They were giving endowments in the Temple at Nauvoo and on the last day of the Temple work, my wife and I went through with a great throng of people and received our endowments and were sealed for time and all eternity. This was February 2, 1846. I was told the next day to take my wagon and team across the river with some of the twelve families, which I did, and crossed the river on the ice to Montrose. My wagon and team and contents went out to Sidney Turner's, a few miles distance west, and remained there for three or four days until Brother Tanner and his family were also ready to go with us to Sugar Creek where the twelve were gathered with many others. We remained here for a few days during which time a violent wind storm came in the night. Teams were tied to wagons and trees.
A few days after this we started on our western journey and crossed the Des Moines River which was accomplished in two days. We journeyed until we came to Richardson's point then it commenced raining and continued for many days and nights. We got dry bark and laid it from wagons to the fire, which made a path for the women to walk on in order to cook their food. About this time Brigham Young sent word to me that I must return to Nauvoo with my teams and bring my own family which I had left all this time in Nauvoo and for me to come as soon as possible. Alexander McCary accompanied me back. We passed through Farmington and after crossing the Des Moines River we camped in the wood outside of town. Then at night I went to see my sister, Caroline, who lived in this place. This was the last time I ever saw her. I returned to my wagon and myself and McCary went to bed. In the morning, early, I went to feed my horses. In my feed box, as I approached my animal, one of them was frightened and pulled so bad on the rope that he broke his neck. But, having an extra animal I crossed the Mississippi that day and went to work to trade my horses for oxen. I succeeded, after much trouble, in obtaining three yokes of young oxen. I then took my family and affects and found Horace Alexander and family with no team to draw their wagon. I furnished my best yoke and oxen to draw their wagon and family. We pursued on our journey toward Council Bluff with Hector Haight, their father and others. A few days after arriving at Council Bluff it was noised about that we must round up 500 men to go to Mexico. Brigham Young and the Council of the Twelve decided that they would raise the number if possible. Colonel Kane and Captain Allen were the persons making this requirement for the government. Colonel Kane was a bright young man, made speeches to the people gathered there.
Volunteers were called by Brigham Young and others of the Twelve, until the number amounted to the number they required. Colonel Cane and Captain Allen said the government would give us the liberty to cross the Missouri River and build for ourselves in the Indian Territory, a place for the winter quarters for our people. We crossed the river, swimming cattle across which was a very perilous job, but we finally succeeded without the loss of a single animal. We went across to the cold springs on the other side a mile or so from the crossing of the river. We remained there on a ridge in a string facing the south and a council was soon held at this place where it was determined for all the men that were able to go to cutting and stacking hay for the winter use, which we accomplished in due time. After this time it was decided to all move to Winter Quarters. This was the place picked out by the President Brigham Young and the Council and we moved immediately and commenced to build houses and dugouts in the side hill. I went with the company up the river some miles and cut and rafted logs to Winter Quarters. I came very near getting my leg taken off by the raft in landing it. I sprang from the raft with the rope to fasten it and stop it. As I jumped for the shore the bank gave way from under my feet, just as the raft struck the bank, but saved myself and succeeded in stopping it, by a turn around a tree which was from the other bank. It was a very large raft of timber which made several houses with one for myself. I also cut several logs and built a house for the wife and family of my brother_in_law, Horace Alexander, who had gone as one of the five hundred that were called to Mexico and they were left in my charge.
During the winter of 1846 his wife gave birth to a child, after which she had what the doctor called the black leg and she died and was buried in the hill. In a week or so her infant died and we carried it and opened the mother's grave and placed its little coffin on its mothers. She left three little girls and her sister took them and took care of them.
Soon after this we began cutting timber to build a stockade for our fort before the pioneers should start in the spring for the west. This was to protect the camp from the Indians, which at this time there were a great many Indians that would pass by us in a battle with Sioux and up the river. In the spring after the pioneers left, we plowed and planted corn, squash, melons and etc. This was the spring of 1847, our farms raised a large crop of each. In the late fall, teams and wagons were sent back for the purpose of furnishing those that had none, that they might pursue their journey west. It was decided that these oxen should be taken up the river and herded in the brush bottoms some twenty_five miles up the river. John M. Gleason and myself took them and our families and herded the cattle in the rush beds. If we would do this we should have teams to draw our wagons in the spring westward, which we did. There were other cattle, those that were sent back from the West were driven up there also. In the spring of 1848, when the company started from Winter Quarters to cross the plain, Brigham Young, being the leader of companies, started ahead with his company and then Amasa Lyman's Company, with a hundred wagons, I being in Amasa's Company as a captian of ten.. Included in my ten, were Dionita W. Lyman, a sister to my wife, and wife of Amasa Lyman; my wife, Eveline Walker Rollins; our children, John Henry 8, Mary Amelia 5, Ephraim edward, 3, My mother-in - law, Nancy Cressy Walker, the three Alexander children whose mother, my wife’s sister had died, her husband had gone with the Mormon Baltallion; and my Mother, Keziah V. B. Burke with her husband and their children. The second day out we camped on Little Horn River, where we stayed two or three days. Then we pursued our journey to left fork on the Platte River. When we crossed down the other side which was very difficult to cross, Dr. Richards and company arrived on the other side as we had left. It was determined to help with our lead oxen to cross them over on the same side as we were which we accomplished that day. No accident happened. We remained there the next day or two, then starting the next morning early for the main Platte River twenty miles distance and when we arrived there both Amasa Lyman and Dr. Richards were very sick. We remained there two days, and went out and killed four antelope, on the Sunday while we laid over. Our next move was up the Platte River towards Fort Laramie. We supplied ourselves with meat, killing a buffalo myself that day, and another Brother Flake had down. And we were obliged to shoot two bulls in order to get the cow that he had killed. As we were skinning that cow, another cow had made its appearance coming down a ravine near us. I took aim and shot it; it turned and went up the bluff. About this time Brother Horne came to us and said their Company had not killed anything. We told him to take the loins and hump, and as much more as he wanted out of the two bulls, and go upon the bluff and he would find a cow that he might have for his company, which he did and found it to be very fat.
The next day we pressed on our journey toward Laramie. We came to an Indian village where a great many tents were made of tanned buffalo hides. They impeded our progress and stopped our train by squatting in the road. They demanded pay for the water and grass of our Captain, and the chief answered; "We want you to get us flour, sugar, coffee, powder and lead." The captains of each ten were set to work to get from the wagons these articles, the chief spreading his large buffalo robe on the ground on which the contributions were emptied. We asked him if he was satisfied. He said, "Yes, if you will give me a little more powder." He was told we did not have any more to spare. The Indians then removed the contents of the buffalo skins and said we could pass on our journey. We were not troubled any more until we reached Fort Laramie, where we stopped our train. There were many Indians there with the French who kept the Fort. The Frenchmen told us not to sell the Indians any whiskey, which, of course, we did not do. We then pursued our journey, after obtaining many buffalo skins, until we came to the three crossings of the Sweetwater, where we camped for two or three days, for the women to wash. We killed quite a number of mountain sheep and one buffalo. We pressed on our journey up the Sweetwater, and while traveling up the stream, I killed 20 antelope and eleven of their hides I took into Salt Lake and tanned them. When we came to Pacific Springs, we camped here for one day. The next day we started for Green River, which we crossed safely by raising our wagon beds with blocks to keep the water from running into them, then we pursued our way toward Bear River, and crossing this river we again raised our wagon boxes and crossed without accident. Then we wended our way over the mountains, and arrived in Salt Lake about the first of October, being five months on the road, from the time we left Winter Quarters until we arrived in Salt Lake. All this I have written from memory. The records of our travels on the way which I had kept, I delivered to our Captain was lost and could not be found, and at this writing I am 80 years old and six months of age. Many incidents of our travels I have not here related, such as losing many of our cattle. One evening when we were cooking our supper over the camp fire, baking bread in the bake ovens, a number of Indians surrounded our camp fire and asked for bread, and as soon as it was baked, the Indians would grab it from the bake ovens and were quite fierce. And while they were all around an old Indian stole our oldest son by catching hold of him and putting him under his blanket, and then soon mounting his horse rode away with John Henry. We soon missed him and several of the men and myself mounted our horses and away we went; overtook the old Indian and my son about seven years old at that time. We told the Indian we wanted the boy, and the little boy was almost smothered to death by being held so tight, so not to cry, the Indian said, "I was just fooling." My wife was so frightened and also all the camp, but we felt to thank our Heavenly Father for his recovery, and him unharmed. And on this trip our oldest daughter, Mary, only five years old, fell and the wheel of the wagon ran over her leg and caused a dreadful scar which she carried to her grave; then the Company journeyed on toward Salt Lake.
After we arrived there, I moved my wagon into the Old Fort.
I soon obtained a room, where we lived through the winter. In the spring I plowed and planted about five acres of wheat and corn and some vegetable seeds. This was located about one mile and half south of the old fort, but water being very scarce that season did not raise much of a crop.
In October of 1849, President Young called several missionaries to the Sandwich Islands and George O. Cannon being one of them; Charles C. Rich and myself and others accompanied them as far as California.
On the trip back from California, as we traveled towards the Marra Posa Mine, we camped at a small creek where we obtained considerable gold. In a day or two after our arrival there was a man and a boy came along and took his rocker off his wagon and set it down and commenced digging, and from that time on as long as we stayed there, it was called Burges Diggins. This man and boy washed from a 1 ½ lb. of gold each day. Some of our men struck the same lode by digging on the bank, and getting the same kind of gold. We did not start over the mountains to Mara Posa on account of the snow on the mountains.
When we reached Mara Posa we found many mines there. Brother Flake and myself were partners and worked together. We dug and made about an ounce a day a piece by working hard. After several days there came to our camp Brother Rich and Amasa Lyman. They told me they wanted me to go north with them to take charge of a lot of mules which Amasa Lyman had obtained from Albert Tanner. I sold my own mules to Darwin Chase for $230 and did not get pay. Brothers Rich and Lyman furnished me with another animal to go with them. Before leaving the Mara Posa Mine, I said to Brother Flake, if he would go below the falls of the creek he would find some gold. He did so and found a chunk of quartz containing $30 in gold.
I then started with Brother Rich and Lyman for Lathrope Tavern on the Sacramento road. I stayed there several days and prospected around near by. I found some gold but it was very low grade. I went from there to Greenwood Valley. When I arrived I found Fayette and Carlos Shephard, and many of the boys, and there I went in partnership with James Bailey. He had a very good shanty and plenty of provisions. I went down to Greenwood town 3 miles distance, and bought a short handle shovel which cost me $8. While I was gone down Bailey found a place for us to work about half a mile from camp, and he made $25 while I was gone that forenoon. In the afternoon we both went up there and washed out $16 a piece. The next day our quantity increased $10 each day, for five days, and the last day we got $92, and then could get no more, not even a dollar. Previous to this Brother Rich came to our camp to collect some tithing. I gave him $40 which I had in my purse at that time. He replied, "I don't want you to give all that; it is too much." But, however, I emptied it out on the scales. He asked me if he took it all it would pay for some in future. I was at work with Dr. Richardson as a partner, and Brother Rich said, "You will get this amount back before you know it. In less that a half hour after this we washed out $90 in gold, and while he was throwing out the dirt I picked up a nugget weighing 12 ½ ozs., which resembled a little fat Dutch woman sitting in a rocking chair. This the Doctor wanted and I sold it to him for $16.
Many incidents which happened about this time, I will not here relate. One circumstance which happened that we nearly all went and put up a double log house for James Dailey's brother, for which we received no pay. A few days after this Dan Clark and myself went to Lathrope's Tavern on the Sacramento road, 50 miles distance, and took 21 or 22 of the mules and packed some of them with provisions, such as flour, pork, hard tack, coffee, sugar, tea, etc. We crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains with our train into Carson Valley. Here we sold our provisions to emigrants for $1.25 a tin cup full; and pork was 41.25 per lb., sugar, coffee, tea and other commodities at very high price. I bought a Chicago wagon and two sets of harness complete for the amount of 10 lbs. of flour. I offered him more but he could not take it across the mountains.
We camped here several days waiting for Amasa Lyman and his company to arrive from the other side of the mountain. When Lyman came with his Company, it amounted to 25 or 30 men, 6 wagons, besides our own, some of them procurred in Carson, and when we were all prepared, we started across the Desert of 40 miles without water.
After crossing the desert, we came to Bear River without any accident. We crossed the Malad on a natural bridge composed of cane and rushes. We passed on from this place towards Salt Lake, crossing the Ogden River and the Weber Rivers and arrived in Salt Lake in the morning of the 6th day of October, 1850, having left the city for our journey on the first day of the same month in 1849. I found my family all well and paying 25 cents per lb. for all the flour they consumed, and other things at a very high price. My family boarded several emigrants and obtained money through that means to pay their provisions. We remained and lived in the 14th Ward during the winter. During this winter I sold to D.H. Wells a span of mules to go on a stage line which was to be paid in cattle in the spring.
About this time, Charles Rich and Amasa Lyman were set apart by the Presidency to take their families and go to California. In the spring following, preparations were made for their departure.
I was called to go to California and take my family. Brothers Rich and Lyman were at the head of the company. When this was noised about there were many of the brethren came to them and wanted to go. I heard Amasa Lyman say that I was the only one that the Presidency had told him was appointed to go as yet. But from that time on until starting there were many chosen to go with their families. There was a young English girl that had been living with us, and assisting my wife with her work. She wanted to go with us to California, as she had neither father nor mother. I received advice from President Young on the 1st of March to bring her up to the Council House and have her, namely Hannah Hulmes, sealed to me. Which I did on the 3rd of March. There were present at this time Brothers Kimball, Wells, and others. It had been said by many I could not take her to California unless I married her.
On the 5th day of March, 1851, we started on our journey and arrived at Cottonwood where we found many ready to start in two or three days. They were mostly southern brethren. We went on in the course of a few days to a place called Payson. Here at this place, James Pace had built a log house, which was unfinished. At this place the Presidency from Salt Lake came to us. President Young and Kimball after talking to people, counseled them to be faithful and true to the obligations we had taken upon ourselves. We then proceeded on our journey, and when we arrived in Iron County, we stopped at a place called Red Creek, and stayed for a few days.. We then proceeded on our way, going by the old Spanish trail to the Clara River. Eventuall we came to the upper crossing of the Mojave River, the water raising only in pools along the trail, and rising in different places. When we left this stream, it was 18 miles before we reached the top of Cajon Pass and camped. We then passed down on the other side the next day. The mountain was very steep and sandy; we had some difficulty to clear the road down the canyon. The next day we arrived at the mouth of the pass, where we found a nice spring of water; at which place we camped. Another camping place was found by some of the brethren about one mile distant. We remained here about three months. While we were living here, my wife gave birth to a fine daughter, which we named Melissa Kaziah, and Dan Clark's wife also gave birth to a daughter, which was also given the name of Melissa.
While camped here we were organized in regular form with High Council. of which I was chosen as a member. During all this time, as we were scarce of provisions, Brothers Rich and Lyman went to San Francisco and purchased flour and articles for the camp were landed at St. Pedro, 79 miles distant, and when we received it in camp it was distributed to those that were most needy.
During this time two schools were started, and I was selected to be one of the teachers, and J.P. Lee and daughter Lucinda were to teach. I taught in a grove near our camp, which was in June. I did not teach any more than three or four weeks, as I could not stand to be confined, and begged to be released, and Daniel Thomas taught the remainder of the time until the ranch of San Bernardino was purchased, which was made for $75,000 of the Luge family. At this time, we moved onto the ranch and chose a site to build the town. Our purchase contained eleven leagues of land. We commenced, after arriving there, to make adobes to build houses with and preparing for the rainy season. A legislative meeting of all the men was called each evening, and there it was determined what work should be done the next day, all working in unison.
In 1852 we raised a large amount of grain, wheat, corn, barley, and vegetables of all kinds. We built adobe houses, and commenced to build a mill. We found it necessary to build a road into the mountains, it being very rough to get timber. About this time, Crismon and Sarihn obtained an engine which was taken up this road for the purpose of sawing lumber, which was accomplished with a great deal of hardship. We also obtained rock for mill stones. Isaac Grundy and myself cut the stones which were finished and placed in a mill which had been built for that purpose out of adobes. A large adobe building was erected for a storehouse near the mill, the same I erected myself. At this time, flour was 16 per hundred in Los Angeles. We sold large quantities of our flour for this price, this we accomplished in 1852 and 1853. We sold in 1854 large quantities of our lumber at a very high price, as it was the only saw mill in this southern country. On November 10th, 1854, my first wife, Eveline, gave birth to a son, which we named Charles Lyman, for our two leaders. My second wife, Hannah, gave birth to a daughter, Caroline Elizabeth, on Feb. 11, 1854. Hannah's first child, a son, was born 29th of April, 1852, and lived three days; died on the 1st of May, 1852.
Some time later, money began to grow scarce. I then went in pardners with Lyman, Rich and Hopkins. Brother Rich, Hopkins and myself went to San Francisco and purchased some 410,000 worth of goods. We shipped them on schooner for St. Pedro, one passage down costing us nothing. In going down the coast we encountered some very high winds and shipped many waves, which broke into the cabin windows as we lay in our berths in the night. Hopkins said, "Brother Rich, catch my boots," as the water was a foot or more deep in the cabin. The next day or two after this our boat was becalmed among the Annagapus Islands. There were many whales as long as our vessel, came around our ship, which was wonderful for me to behold. The wind raised that evening; we pressed on our way to San Pedro, where we arrived in safety. I forgot to say that on our upper trip on the steamer, Sea Bird broke her shafts opposite Monteray, and we were carried hither and thither for several days, some of the time out of sight of land. We finally landed on Point Conception, where we obtained water, beef, and provisions, which we were entirely out of.
About this time, the United States steamer had been searching for us several days; they found us at this point. She pitched onto our steamer and towed us to San Francisco. We then hurriedly purchased our goods and loaded them on the schooner, "Laura Bevin", and started on our homeward trip, as described before.
About this time, Hopkins drew out of the store. I saw that money was getting very scarce. I loaded three wagons with goods for Salt Lake. I sold these along the route, including all the settlements, and when I arrived in Salt Lake disposed of the balance to Hooper and Williams, and made preparations to return to San Bernardino, which I did in 1855.
In the year 1856 my first wife was very miserable, being confined to her bed most of the time, as the climate did not agree with her. On May 24, 1856, she gave birth to a son, James Watson Rollins, and this same year, Hannah, my second wife, gave birth to a son, George Woodville, on the 19th of March, 1856.
There was nothing particular transpired during the years of 1856 and 1857, except improving our places, making orchards and farming. In 1857 I was candidate for assessor of San Bernardino County and was elected, not_withstanding the opposition. In 1858 we were called by President Young to Salt Lake, so we sacrificed our land and homes and fitted up for the journey. As we were coming on the road, my oldest son, John Henry, was driving a team of three span of mules, with my wife and children in the wagon. We trailed along the Mojave, and he started out one morning and was a few miles ahead of the train. As he drove around a point of a mountain, two big buck Indians came down upon them, and grabbed his leaders and swung them around and almost tipped the wagon over. At this, my wife with her baby in her arms jumped from the wagon, and they threatened to shoot John Henry with their bows and arrows; and he stood them off with a loaded black_whip. At this juncture, when they were about to shoot my son, the train of wagons came around the point and the Indians fled up into the mountains. This frightened my wife so that from that time on the rest of the journey, she was confined to her bed, and we came very nearly losing her. When we arrived in Cedar City, Utah, we stayed there for several weeks until my wife could regain her strength. While we thus rested before going on to Salt Lake, we were counseled to remain in the southern part of the State to help strengthen the settlements there, which many of them did. Not being able to obtain a house to live in Cedar, I moved on with my family to Parowan, I lived in Parowan for a year or so. While here, on November 18, 1859, my wife Hannah gave birth to a son, Francis Robert. That year I was called and set apart to go and be Bishop and help to settle a place on the lower Beaver River called Minersville, on account of there being some mines around that vicinity.
In the fall of 1858,Isaac Grundy, Jesse N. Smith, Tarlton Lewis, and William Barton discovered lead in the mountains northeast of where Minersville stands. Specimens of the ore were taken to President Brigham in Salt Lake City, who called upon some of the brethren to open up the mines and locate a settlement near by. Consequently Minersville was first settled in the spring of 1859. The first meeting was held in June 1859 _ Isaac Grundy taking temporary charge ecclesiastically of the new settlement. Brother Grundy presided in the settlement until April 7, 1860, at which time Minersville was organized into a ward. I was then called and set apart as Bishop by apostles Amasa Lyman and Charles C. Rich.
I located one of these early lead mines. We formed a company and opened up the mine, calling it the "Rollins Mine", and the district, Pioneer District. The company with Isaac Grundy hauled rock and made a primitive furnace to which we hauled the ore. Brother Grundy having had experience in smelting, agreed to smelt the ore for one_half of the product. Some members of the company withdrew. The first bar of lead smelted weighed sixty pounds. This was carried to Salt Lake City by Tarlton Lewis. The next bar I sold, enabled me to buy shoes and clothing and groceries for my family. The five pound bars I sold to Brother Pyper for the purpose of making white lead. The smaller bars I sold for twenty_five cents.
At an election held on the first Monday of August, 1867, James Henry Rollins was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Deseret, from the district composed of the County of Beaver, for the term of two years ending 1869.
I went to Salt Lake City and remained there for forty days when I returned home. At this time I asked to be released from being Bishop and to let James McKnight, my counselor take over. However, this was not done until 1869, my term being up. Friday, March 12, 1869, I was chosen High Council Member for Beaver Stake. _
I was made Postmaster at Minersville, my salary being twelve dollars a month. It increased year by year until in 1872 I received two hundred and forty dollars a year. This great increase of mail was caused by the opening up of mining districts in different parts of the county, this being the central office. Four horse coaches were run here daily from Salt Lake to Pioche. I kept the station at Minersville, where the stages met either way, from which point I distributed for Beaver and mail going South. Finally my salary was increased to two hundred and seventy_five dollars a year _ 1894.
I was also Recorder of Mines and I was in the Mercantile Business for years.
I sold my interest in the Rollins Mine for five thousand dollars. This mine was afterwards called the Lincoln Mine or District. I put three thousand dollars of this money in another mine called the Cave mine, which was located some four miles north of Minersville and seven miles east from Milford.
Myself and Julian Bosman and a Mr. Colwell, leased a quartz mill at Milford, now a railroad station on the Salt Lake and Los Angeles road. We hauled the ore from the Cave Mine to Milford and made gold and silver bars of bullion, each bar being valued at fifteen hundred and two thousand dollars. But eventually I lost all I had on account of trouble, which left me penniless, and so ends my financial affairs. While we operated the lead mines, Brigham Young sent word for us to make bullets, so all the family and children were put to work helping to mold the bullets, preparing for Johnston's Army.
I was ordained a Patriarch, June 23, 1893, of Beaver Stake by Francis M. Lyman. November 4th I was set apart as a counselor to Daniel Tyler in the High Priest Presidency of Beaver Stake. In March, I bore my testimony and sent an article to the Deseret News _ by request.
I am now eighty years and six months old, and I am still residing at Minersville, where some of my younger children are. On Thursday, September 30, 1896, my wife Hannah died, at Minersville.
As we are both getting old we have decided it would be best to move to Bridger Valley, Wyoming, where some of my older children live. It is now March, 1898. I disposed of my house to George Roberts for six hundred dollars and we will soon depart for Wyoming. We left for Lyman, Wyoming, the first day of July in 1898. We arrived at Salt Lake City and visited with my daughter, Mary Osborne, for several days. Had a very enjoyable time with her. We arrived in Lyman, Wyoming, to my youngest daughter's home, Mrs. Wallace Hamblin (Ida) July 8, 1898.
My sons and daughters and families were all very happy to see us and have us with them again. The town of Lyman was preparing to celebrate the 24th of July, in honor of the pioneers. They ask me to make a speech on that occasion, which I consented to do. I related a great many incidents that I had passed through in those early days, which were very interesting to the young people. The rest of the summer and fall I spent visiting with my sons, Charles and Watson and families. This I enjoyed so very much. As winter and cold weather came on, my health seemed to fail me and I am quite feeble. So I will close this writing and put my trust in the Lord, His will, not mine, be done.
Postscript, by His Daughter Ida Hamblin
In the month of January, 1899, father went to visit my brother, Watson and family. Father and mother stayed there about two weeks and during that time father became quite sick and they brought him home to my place but he kept failing in health. He never did get bedfast. We called for Bishop Brough to come down and administer to father. After administering to him the Bishop returned to his home to do his chores. But he said that he would return and stay all night with us. The Bishop did not get home before father passed away. He was sitting in his chair by the fire. There were no telephones here and no way to get news only by horseback.
During the evening a blizzard came up and it was dark. Bishop did not know how he was going to get down to our ranch, it was so stormy. But as he had promised us he would return and spend the night with us, he had better try it. So he went out and saddled his horse and started for the ranch. As he did so a light appeared in front of him and lighted the way to our house. He told us about it as soon as he came in. He stayed the rest of the night and helped to wash and lay my father out. This was on the 7th day of February, 1899. He was buried in the Lyman cemetery. He was a faithful Latter_Day Saint to the end of his journey here on this earth. He always had a strong testimony of the Gospel. He was a great reader and a well educated man.
James Henry Rollins and his first wife, Eveline Walker, were the parents of nine children.
James Henry Rollins and Hannah Hulme, his second wife, were the parents of thirteen children.
At this writing, August 1960, one of his daughters still lives, Hannah Burdette Rollins Hollingshead, at Bountiful, Utah. She is 84 years old but her mind is keen and bright and she lives by herself, taking care of her needs, a stalwart member of the Church and her community. Aunt Birdie Hollingshead, the name of which she is called by all of her friends and relatives, is loved by all who know her.
