Nauvoo Endowments

Soon after the saints moved to Nauvoo, they prepared to build a temple. On April 6, 1841, the temple's cornerstone was laid. The beautiful structure was to be 128 feet long by 88 feet wide with a clock tower and weather vane reaching to a total height of 165 feet - a 60% increase over the dimensions of the Kirtland Temple.

Weather-vane atop the temple tower

There were many similarities to the Kirtland Temple which they had been forced to abandon. For example, there were two assembly halls, one on the first floor and one on the second. One difference with the Kirtland Temple was a full basement which housed a a baptismal font.

Construction was only half complete at the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1844. 

As mob violence increased during the summer of 1845, Brigham Young encouraged the saints to complete the temple even though they were making preparations to abandon the city, so they could receive the sacred ordinances before they departed on their perilous trek across the continent.

Due to persecution, the saints were not able to entirely complete the construction during the Nauvoo era, however the basement with its font had been finished and dedicated in 1841, as were the first floor assembly hall and the attic (dedicated November 1845). When these parts of the building were completed they were used for performing ordinances (basement and attic) and for worship services (first floor assembly hall).

 

Assembly Hall today in the beautifully reconstructed Nauvoo Temple

During the winter of 1845-46, the temple began to be used for endowments and sealings. The first endowments were performed in the temple on December 10, 1845, and before the saints were expelled 5,615 endowments were performed and recorded.

Erastus Snow

Elder Erastus Snow beautifully described the spiritual outpouring upon the saints during this time, “The spirit, power, and wisdom of God reigned continually in the temple and all felt satisfied that during the two months we occupied it in the endowments of the Saints, we were amply paid for all our labors in building it.” 

The building was in use for only a short period, but during that time period, many of my ancestors were privileged to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple, including the following. Many proxy baptisms for their departed loved one were also performed.

                                                            Birth date                     Endowment

• Bateman, Joseph                    04 Sep 1802                28 Jan 1846
• Bateman, Thomas                  17 Sep 1808                 27 Jan 1846
• Bateman, William                  24 Apr 1824                29 Jan 1846
• Chase, Abigail Eliza                04 Oct 1820                15 Dec 1845
• Chase, Abner                           18 May 1813                06 Feb 1846
• Chase, Amos S.                       18 Dec 1820                 06 Feb 1846
• Chase, Charlotte                     11 May 1825                 15 Dec 1845
• Chase, Darwin                         25 Feb 1816                 06 Jan 1846
• Chase, Diana                            23 Jul 1827                 15 Dec 1845
• Chase, Ezra                               04 Feb 1796                15 Dec 1845
• Chase, Isaac                              12 Dec 1791                 13 Dec 1845
• Chase, Phebe                            07 Dec 1794                13 Dec 1845
• Chase, Tirzah                           29 Jul 1796                 15 Dec 1845
• Edwards, William                    16 May 1810               31 Jan 1846
• Fuller, Edward M.                    20 Jan 1792                20 Jan 1846
• Fuller, Hannah                         24 Jan 1797                20 Jan 1846
• Fuller, Hannah E.                    24 Feb 1827                29 Jan 1846
• Fuller, Ovanda                          27 Jun 1822                20 Dec 1845
• Greathouse, Mary Ann           04 Nov 1827                02 Feb 1846
• Pond, Abigail A.                       14 Jul 1828                 30 Dec 1845
• Thorn, Abigail                          02 Apr 1821                20 Jan 1846
• Thorn, Asahel                          04 Sep 1808                28 Jan 1846
• Thorn, Joseph                         22 Dec 1811                 28 Jan 1846
• Thorn, Richard                        18 Jun 1825                 22 Jan 1846

I am certain that this group also volunteered to labor during the construction, the brethren giving one-tenth part of their time, while the sisters knitted socks and mittens, and preparing garments for the laborers.

Most of the Latter Day Saints left Nauvoo, beginning in February 1846, but a small crew remained to finish the temple's first floor, so that it could be formally dedicated. Once the first floor was finished with pulpits and benches, the building was finally dedicated in private services on 30 April 1846, and in public services on 1 May. 

In September 1846 the remaining Latter Day Saints were driven from the city, no doubt looking over their shoulder at the temple they loved.

Some Power Not of My Own

The concept of plural marriage is beyond my understanding. The purpose of this post is not to highlight the practice of polygamy, but rather to praise the saints for their willingness to obey, as demonstrated by their living this difficult principle, amid extreme hardship and persecution. To do so I will share the inspiring example of Samuel Bateman, the cousin of my Great, Great  Grandfather William Bateman.

Samuel and Marinda's Family

Samuel was sealed to his first wife, Marinda Allen, November 17, 1854. Samuel was twenty-two years of age and Marinda was not quite sixteen. Together they had thirteen children, ten of whom lived to adulthood. 

Samuel and Harriet's Family

Sixteen years after his first wedding, on February 27, 1871, Samuel was sealed to his second wife, Harriet Egbert. Samuel was thirty-eight years old and Harriet, a much younger sixteen-year old bride. Nine children were born to this union, seven living to adulthood.

To provide for this very large family, Samuel worked in numerous professions, but primarily he was a devoted latter-day saint. His professions often overlapped with his religious assignments and callings as he assisted the brethren in every way he was asked, including participating in the United Order in West Jordan.

Pioneer Square Dance

Some of his varied work included farming, Treasurer of the West Jordan Cooperative Mercantile Institution, tax collector, and square dance caller, a service he provided to public gatherings, as well as private dances for the Brigham Young family. Ironically, as you will learn from the remainder of this narrative, Samuel assisted the Sheriff on numerous occasions in a posse searching for fugitives.

During times when Federal Authorities were on the lookout for polygamist activity, he served as a personal bodyguard to the Prophet John Taylor, and later to the Prophet Wilford Woodruff as well as a number of the apostles. This service included delivering mail to and from the church members from the leaders' locations of exile or hiding, usually at night under cover of darkness.

In consequence of Samuel's obedience to the principle of plural marriage, he  was also sought after by the U.S. Deputy Marshals. As Samuel did not relish the thought of spending time behind prison bars for something that he did not believe a crime, merely living his religion the best he knew how, he tried to outwit the deputies and escape arrest. A number of raids on the Bateman home were reported in the territorial newspapers. A report of one such raid appeared in a letter to the editor of the Deseret News on July 7, 1886, written by his wife Marinda:

Marinda Allen Bateman

“At about half past 3 o-clock on the morning of the 30^th of June, we were aroused from our peaceful slumbers by the tramping of horses’ feet, which halted in front of our home. The riders proved to be deputy marshals. They alighted and one of them taking hold of the knob of the wire door, shaking it, said: ‘let me in.’ By this time a lady – one of our family – came to the door, and he repeated his demand.

"He then said: ‘I have a warrant for Samuel Bateman.’ After getting inside he got down flat on the floor to look under the lounge, and then got on it on his knees and felt all around the bed where three children were asleep, and so he did with four other beds where there were children asleep in each. He even looked into a trunk not three feet long and scarcely one foot and a half wide; also a box where a little girl kept her clothes in, about two and half feet long and one foot wide, and other small boxes, in every nook and corner. As we had just had a grist brought home, he felt flour and bran sacks.

“This is the fourth time our house has been searched, but never has anyone acted so low and unbecoming as this man, and as he had searched the back rooms and cellar I returned to the front room and there stood Deputy Franks outside the door. He said, ‘I guess you ladies are getting tired of us disturbing you so often.’ We told him it was rather unpleasant to be disturbed so early.

“I asked him the name of his companion. He said it was Brooks. I said it was a new name. He replied, ‘yes,’ that he was a new detective from the East. This Brooks came into the front room and commenced to search again. Mr. Franks’ manner was quite gentlemanly and quite different to that of the other man.

“Respectfully, Mrs. S. Bateman”

Samuel’s daughter described another occasion, during a daytime inspection, when kind Deputy Franks entered the kitchen and looked in the cupboard, opened a small sugar can, and peered into the flour bin. Her mother said, “Deputy, have you no idea of the size of the man you are searching for?”

The deputy respectfully replied, “Mrs. Bateman, I do know his size, and I know the character of the man also. I trust it will never fall to my lot to arrest Mr. Bateman. I admire him. I must make a pretense of searching or the fellows outside will bawl me out.”

At the request of his friend and leader, John Taylor, Samuel kept a daily journal during his years in hiding (1886-1888). In this journal, he described this period as a time of constant guard, secret communication networks, hidden chambers, and private passageways. His journal is carefully worded, often with code phrases and with the names of people, buildings, and places obscurely referred to as, “the place where we were” or, “those we were with.”

To escape detection, his beard was often dyed and he went about in disguise so complete that even very close friends did not recognize him.

Of this difficult period, his courageous wife Marinda always upheld him. It is said that no bitter word against plural marriage ever passed her lips. I admire her simple faith, as shown in her words:

"I would suffer a hundred times more for the sake of that principle because it was revealed by God. The principle is right, the failures are due to human weakness.” 

To save the family from abject poverty, Marinda determined to contribute to the family welfare and studied obstetrics, after which she left the children in the care of Samuel's second wife, Harriet, to work as a midwife.

In 1888, under the advice of Church authorities, Samuel gave himself up to the federal officers. He served eight-five days in the territorial penitentiary and paid a $75 fine. Part of that imprisonment was shared with his friend George Q. Cannon. Although there is no known photograph of Samuel during his incarceration, this depiction of other polygamist captives helps one to visualize him there.

George Q. Cannon is seated in the doorway in this picture from the Utah State Penitentiary

Shortly after his release from prison, on October 6, 1890, Samuel attended General Conference when the Manifesto was first presented to the general membership. 

Aware in advance of this proposed discontinuance of plural marriage, for which he had suffered exile and imprisonment, Samuel decided to vote against the Manifesto when it was announced during the Conference. Considering the suffering he had endured for this principle, one would think that Samuel would have pleasantly anticipated its end. But instead, Samuel hesitated. 

When the Manifesto was read to the saints for their sustaining vote, Samuel described what happened: 

“Some power not of my own raised my arm, and I voted to sustain President Woodruff in this matter. As soon as I had done it, a sense of peace and contentment came over me.”

His statement gives me great cause to admire the saints during this time period who were willing to follow and obey, regardless of personal consequences. Undoubtedly, the uncertainty of what would become of Harriet and their seven children must have weighed heavily upon his heart as he sustained his leaders.

With the release of the Manifesto, and relative peace restored between the Church and the Federal Government, Samuel was able to spend the remainder of his years with his family, farming. He was permitted to raise both of his families. Samuel passed away in 1911.

Many years later, in 1936, Harriet, his widowed second wife, penned the following letter, at the age of eighty-two. I include her words here to remind me that obedience builds faith and brings happiness. Her life as a sixteen year bride, a second wife in a plural marriage, in a time of persecution and prosecution, by today's standards might cause doubt, but instead cemented her testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Where are your horns?

Someday I will thank Samuel Bateman, the cousin of my Great, Great Grandfather William Bateman, for keeping a journal and writing a family history. 

Samuel was born in Manchester, Lancashire, England, in 1832 and came with his parents to join the saints in Nauvoo in 1840. Although very young, Samuel worked with his father in the brickyard and helped to clear and fence land. 

From his writings comes this delightful memory from his teenage years, during a time when his family was living in Iowa. 

In the spring of 1848, sixteen-year-old Samuel was sent by his father on an errand that took him through Missouri. 

Samuel had only gone about thirty miles across the state line when it became obvious that his oxen would need to stop and rest. Nevertheless, Samuel was very reluctant to stop on account of the ill feelings toward the Mormons in that part of the country. 

His oxen, unaware of the religious persecution in Missouri, pulled up to a yard and began feeding on the grass. Fortunately, when the property owner appeared, he was very neighborly and asked Samuel to stay for supper and granted him permission to unyoke his oxen and feed them. 

During the evening meal, the gentleman began making inquiries regarding Samuel’s point of origin and intended destination. 

Samuel recollected that this gentleman became quite astonished upon hearing that he and his parents were Mormons – the stranger checked Samuel’s head several times, saying, 

“Boy, you are the first Mormon I have ever seen – 

but you haven’t any horns.” 

Although I've often heard jokes about Mormons having horns, I hadn't previously realized that citizens in the 1840's actually believed the silly rumor, but apparently at least one man had latched on to the folklore.

Having determined that no devilish appendages existed, this gentlemen was very impressed with Samuel and treated him with great kindness when he learned the Mormons were good "level-headed" people with hard-working sons. 

This experience of Samuel's is a good reminder that our behavior could also serve to dispel inaccurate perceptions of Latter-day Saints.

Brickyard

Nauvoo souvenir brick

Do you have one of these at your house? If you have toured Nauvoo, it is likely that you brought one of these souvenirs home. One of the most popular attractions of the LDS Church History site there is the brickyard where you can watch demonstrations of pioneer brick mixing and molding. 

My next visit will be more meaningful, knowing that several of my relatives were involved in the masonry business in Nauvoo. Among these were my Great, Great, Great Grandfather Joseph Bateman, his brother Thomas, and Thomas's son Samuel who worked at a brickyard on Parley Street. (One of the twelve brickyards in the early days of Nauvoo.)

G, G, G Grandfather Joseph Bateman

Joseph's brother, Thomas Bateman

Joseph and Thomas Bateman were born in England where they were brick masons by trade, as was their father before them. Masonry provided well for their families and they were described as men of "good circumstances". 

Thomas's son, Samuel, was the best record keeper of the bunch, providing us with a nice family history. According to Samuel, his father, Thomas, and his mother, Mary, joined the church in 1839. When Brigham Young attended a conference in their Manchester Branch in early 1840, the saints were encouraged to gather to Utah. Although Thomas and Mary had six children ranging from infancy to ten years of age, they were eager to follow Brigham's counsel.

"The North America"

Some records indicate that the family crossed the Atlantic aboard the "LeHigh", but Thomas's son Samuel is on the passenger list of "The North America". It is possible, if not probable, that they sailed on different ships (Samuel was only eight years old at the time). After crossing the ocean, they journeyed on to Nauvoo on the unforgettable day on which they first heard the Prophet Joseph speak .

Thomas immediately found work as a laborer on the temple.  His brother Joseph and his wife Margaret Turner Bateman also came to Nauvoo at approximately this time. Several months later the brothers moved their families  and opened a brickyard in Augusta, Iowa, but they continued to regularly return to Nauvoo and work in the Parley Street Brickyard. Histories brag that their family kiln could turn out as many as 3000 bricks per day.

In 1845,when going to the brickyard one morning, young Samuel heard music from the direction of the temple and in going upon the grounds became a witness to the laying of the capstone. 

Thomas and Mary received their temple endowments on January 27, 1846. Joseph was endowed the following day.

Kiln

The next time I am in Nauvoo, I am going to pay more attention at the brickyard, where a slice of my family history resides.

Love your enemies

The first pioneer scouts were sent to Cache Valley in 1847, shortly after the saints' arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, but it was not until 1859 that a contingent of families traveled there and began to build homes in small and scattered settlements.

Jim Bridger had told Brigham Young that it was the most desirable section of the territory for the construction of a permanent settlement. Brigham saw the potential of this beautiful and fertile area:

"No other territory is equal to this. This has been my opinion ever since I first saw the Valley.”

Nevertheless, when he observed the scattered settlements, he told the people they were too spread out and advised them to construct a fort where they could live closer together and protect themselves better against the attacks of the Indians, saying:

“As you now are a few Indians could make a raid some night and kill half of you off before the other half would know about it.” 

Obediently, the saints followed their prophet's counsel, creating a temporary fort. A public corral was also built where all the horses and cattle belonging to the settlers were guarded every night so they could not be taken so easily by the Indians. Being one of the frontier settlements, the settlers had to join forces to protect their livestock and their lives as well.

The story is told of one strong headed settler who refused to live in the fort and said he would risk an attack from the Indians. One evening the crack of a rifle was heard, followed by several shots and war whoops. The alarm was given of an Indians attack. A number of the men rushed forth with their rifles in defense. Shots were exchanged rapidly for a few minutes, and then all was quiet. A reinforced guard was placed around the fort, and especially around the house of the lone settler who had refused to join them within the walls. The next morning it was reported that Indian footprints could be seen near this man’s cabin, which convinced him to move. Later, the truth emerged that the attack was a ruse planned by some of the settlers in order to scare the obstinate non-conformist. Their plan worked admirably.

Although this attack was contrived by the settlers, the Indians did cause legitimate fear for the saints. The Indians had a different concept of ownership of land and animals than the pioneers, which led to raids on livestock, horses, and crops. Chief Pocatello planted spies among the settlements who reported back to him about all movements and activities in the communities. When one spy did not return, he ordered the kidnapping of a three year old girl who was never seen again. Emotions ran high as hostilities escalated, including the Indians setting fire to homes and fields.

 

A few years later an Indian came to live among the saints. Because of the history with Chief Pocatello, it is understandable how many homesteaders didn't trust this brother, but others befriended him and called him "Dixie". He set up his teepee near the other homes. He was very friendly and got along well with the settlers and worked alongside them. 

One evening Dixie called at one of the Mormon homes and asked for a loaf of bread and some milk as he had two Indians as visitors. That night shots were heard near the Indian camp and the next morning when the neighbors went to the teepee they found that Dixie had been murdered by the visiting Indians. It was believed that Dixie was killed because he had left his tribe to live with the white settlers.

William Bateman

There were mixed feelings among the saints about how to proceed. They knew they were being watched by the natives and were aware that burial of a traitor was forbidden. I am proud to say that my Great, Great Grandfather William Bateman was among those who loved their neighbor "Dixie". Unafraid of repercussions, he and two friends helped dig a grave near City Creek and buried the body of the native.

Cousins

In the post titled, “Too Cold to Sleep Alone”, I promised to unravel the puzzle of the Lavender cousins’ plural marriage to William Bateman. Here is chapter two in that saga.

 

James Lavender

Thomas Lavender

James and Thomas Lavender were brothers, born at the turn of the century in 1801 and 1804, respectively, in Cardington, Bedfordshire, England. Their father was John Lavender and their mother had the delightful name of Mary Mutton Lavender.

As an adult, James faithfully attended a church in Bedford which was presided over by the Reverend James Fielding. When Reverend Fielding met the first LDS missionaries sent to England, news of the restored gospel excited him and he invited them to come to Bedford and preach to his congregation.  

James Lavender was in that congregation and believed the preaching of the Latter-day Saint missionaries. He was baptized on Christmas day in 1837. Many others in the congregation were also converted to the faith and soon two Mormon branches were organized. James was ordained an Elder by Willard Richards to preside over the branches when the missionaries departed. Three years later James and his wife Mary Ann departed for America, arriving in Salt Lake City in about 1841.

It is unknown if Thomas was presented the gospel at the same time that his brother was converted, but he and his family remained in England. His conditions were described as “very well to do” and he held a position as a “fancy gardener”.

Fourteen years later James returned to England as the Mission President of the Bedfordshire Mission. Thomas opened his home to his faithful brother to use as the mission headquarters. The arrangement was positive and Thomas’s family was baptized in 1858. 

Histories state that when James returned to Utah at the end of his missionary assignment, Thomas sent his three daughters (Susan, Mary, and Elizabeth “Betsy”) with him to Utah, however, ship manifests lead me to believe that James sent the three girls ahead. They sailed on the boat “Underwriter”, departing March 30, 1860, from Liverpool and arrived May 1^st in New York. James' name is recorded on the ship manifest the following year along with the name of his brother Thomas.

After they arrived in America the three sisters crossed the plains to the West. Susan and Mary pulled handcarts, but Betsy was more fortunate. She was acting as nurse to a man’s sick wife, and was able to ride in the wagon most of the time.

In Salt Lake City, James had made arrangements for two of Thomas’s daughters to stay with families that needed domestic help. He had different plans for Betsy.

Sarah Lavender Bateman

Betsy Lavender Bateman

James had a married daughter, Sarah, who was in very poor health and was struggling to care for her large family of seven children. James had persuaded Betsy to become the plural wife of his daughter’s husband, William Bateman, to help care for her cousin Sarah’s children. It is interesting that histories don’t mention either William or Sarah’s feelings about this marriage; only that James felt it was the right course, making it sound like an arranged marriage. Betsy was fifteen years younger than Sarah. According to church custom at the time, Sarah, the first wife, would have given her approval of the union. William and Betsy were sealed in the Salt Lake Endowment House in 1861.

After the marriage, Sarah bore one more child and Betsy bore three children, bringing the combined total to eleven. The two families all lived together under one roof in very meager circumstances. Betsy labored diligently crocheting, knitting, sewing and doing everything she could to help make a living for the two families.

Less than six years later William passed away and Betsy moved with her three children, returning again to the household of her Uncle James.

Betsy later married Rosser Jenkins and bore two more children. This union lasted five years until Rosser died after which Betsy finished rearing her family alone, providing for them through frugality and hard work.

Betsy is my Great, Great Grandmother, the grandmother of my Grandmother Ethel Hurst Speas. 

Too cold to sleep alone

This is one of my very favorite family tales. It is about a relative named Joseph Hyrum Bateman. How is that for a solid Mormon name? 

Unfortunately, it is challenging to define his family connection. He is the son of William and Sarah Lavender Bateman. William is my Great, Great Grandfather. However, from there it becomes complicated. I descend through a different wife of William, Elizabeth Lavender, who is actually a cousin to Sarah Lavender. Confused? Does that make Joseph Hyrum a cousin, a step cousin, a step uncle, one of these options once or twice removed? That will be a puzzle and a story for another day. Stay tuned. 

Joseph Hyrum was born March 7, 1853, in Cedar City. By the winter of 1876 he was living in Richmond, Utah. He told the following story of how he decided to get to get married. 

Too cold to sleep alone

Evidently he had been “keeping company” with Sylvia Amelia Glazier (the 1880 Census spells her name Silva). He related that one night he slept extremely cold. When he got up the next morning he decided he wasn’t going to sleep cold and alone ever again. So he trudged through the snow to his girlfriend's house and asked her to marry him. They were married that day, December 28th.