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William Knox 164 West 4th South Salt Lake City, Utah
1887
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, All My Relatives & All My Friends:
I again pen these few lines, hoping that you will get them. It is over 38 years since I and my family left Hylton.
The last night we lodged with my sister, Dorothy. In the morning, my wife Elizabeth’s brother was ready with his horse and cart to take us to the railroad. But such a morning. The wind blowing a terrible race and such a gale from the northeast. This morning (bleak and foreboding to all appearances) we were stopped. The intense cold made it impossible for us to take our journey that morning, but the time had come. My mind was made up me thinks, or I am back in my sister Dorothy’s house again. That morning seeing the serious love of my dear kindred and friends trying to cloth up my little children to stand the cold. How did I feel? I felt that God was with me and any of you that were there recollect what I said and did. I know and recollect just the same as it was but yesterday. I stood up in your midst, when everyone that was in the house was striving to show their kindness to me and mine. I saw that the time was at hand for us to depart with that fearless northeast wind whirling past my sister Dorothy’s house. What a gloomy look for us to start. I felt as calm as if it was a fine, summer morning. I spoke and said, “If you all in the house will kneel down. I will pray and the wind will stop blowing and we will get away.” This seemed somewhat strange for all in the house still kept working on to make the little children comfortable. I again said the same over again. We all knelt down. I prayed. It was a simple prayer. I prayed for the Lord to bless you all that I was about to leave, perhaps never again to see you upon this earth and to stop the wind from blowing that I and my little family might depart in peace. The little prayer was answered. The wind stopped blowing. All ready, we grasped each other’s hands. A farewell adieu, we departed in peace, fearless of the future for God was with me, and I still have the same testimony to bear this day.
I am glad that I had the courage to do as I have done, notwithstanding the many things that we have passed through that you know nothing about for they that will live Godly in Christ Jesus, must suffer persecution. Jesus said that offenses must come, but woe unto them by whom they come.
At this time there is black, foreboding, gloomy clouds hanging over this people and to the outside appearance ready to burst and sweep this people from the stage action. There is no fear or shaking of the knees of men and women that are true to man and God. Come what may, they are ready to follow their grand Master, Jesus Christ, to prison or to death, if required, and no surrender at present. This people seems to the outside appearance to be doomed, but the other side will turn up and the seen will of it is the penitentiary all night. They cannot put me in a great deal worse place than I have been, so all is well with me.
Mr. Wilson. Mother, I respect him. Give my kind regards to him. My feelings are good towards all men, notwithstanding all their abuse. If they knew what I know, they would not be against this people but the blind lead the blind. Jesus said when he was nailed to the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they do.” So, all is well with those that know that they are right.
Now, my dear sister, don’t concern yourself about those things that you want to send to my family. I will find out by and by how to send you money to pay the duty and the freight that will take to bring them here, for the duty must be paid as well as the freight.
I would like a letter from my sister, Dorothy. Likewise: from my brother, James Knox. Likewise: my sister, Elizabeth. I get a paper from them now and then. I send the Deseret News to them. It’s a long time since I heard from my sister, Mary Ann (never got a letter from her.) I like to hear from you all and was it in my power, I would place you all beyond.
All this great plenty of everything that is in this great country both for man and beast, yet more than half of the people in the United States of America are in a very bad state. Why is this? Because their hearts are getting harder. The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer and the poor cannot help the poor. All this is and the end is yet to come. If you get the papers that I send to you, you will see how the people in the United States of North America are working themselves up for a great revolution. Such a revolution as never was upon this earth. Then they will let Utah alone, but at present, we must abide our time and we can afford to do it.
You want to hear about my wife, Elizabeth Tweeddle Knox. She is right side up and well. She is not in Salt Lake City and I am glad of it. If she had, I would have been in the penitentiary long ago. It is dangerous for a man like me to write much about my family affairs. Betty Knox feels well and doing well. I wish that all of you felt as good as Betty and all of us.
Our American post office is not to be trusted. You are not aware of the fraud that is practiced in this American Nation and getting worse. Well, I will tell you how I feel in the midst of all the prosecution and persecution. I never felt better. Come what may be changed, this great, proud American Republic Nation is on its last legs. It is now teetering. Rome was once a grand Republic, proud, lifted up above every other Nation. It was once a great honor to be a common Roman soldier. Where is Rome today this great American Nation is following in her wake. Her dye is cast.... Her doom is sealed. They have shed the blood of the prophets and innocent men and women and taken their property and are hauling men and women to prison to glut their black, foul hearts. Yesterday there were nine men taken to the penitentiary for keeping the commands of God. I know these men. They are good, honest men that this Nation ought to be proud of having such men.
It seems a great pity that such a great, grand country as America, with such a grand constitution allowing every man to worship as he pleases, so long as his worship doesn’t infringe upon anyone else. Our religion has the same rights as all others have. We don’t infringe upon any. Everything is done by common consent amongst us. We don’t force any women to be our wives. Neither do we take them without the consent of our first wife. We are all agreed in all these things. Neither do we ask anybody to help to school and keep our families. Besides all this, this people when they were driven by the force of arms from their property in the states, came to this place, a born wilderness: suffered great privations and made this place as it is ... a beautiful place! One of the best places on this great, American Continent. Now these greedy hounds, black-hearted scoundrels, murderers (some of their hands dripping and red with the innocent blood of this people) are seeking to deprive this people of their rights. Not only that, but to drive this people from this place. We have come here to stop and by the help of God we will. They may and they are putting this people to a great deal of expense, trouble and unnecessary suffering. We never know whose turn will come next to be taken to the penitentiary.
I was amongst the first in the grand jury, but I had a friend there. Besides, my wife, Elizabeth, is living a Smithfield, Cache County, Utah, one hundred miles north of Salt Lake City. I also go back and forward from this city to Smithfield. I have a very good place in the temple block. Now, if I was to be seen in Smithfield, the next place I would be in the penitentiary. So we, my wife Elizabeth and I, write to each other as friends for the time being. It is no use to put yourself in the hands of scoundrels if you can help it.
Finally, my paper is closing up. My wife, Elizabeth, is getting to look old. She is four years older than myself. The people tell me that I get no older. Your niece, Sarrah, has three children. James is doing well. He will be eight years old on the 4th of March. He will soon be able to write to you. The rest of the families are all well. We received your welcome letter. Don’t be long writing again.
Best love to all. Let my mother read this if you feel like it. Your letter reading Salt Lake City on the 18th (1877) from my home that you wrote it. I have no time to answer it.
God Bless You All, William Knox
P.S. Please let James Knox read this letter and my sister, Dorothy’s family. I never hear from my sister, Elizabeth, but I get papers. This Coat of Arms belongs to the House of Knox. |