Microfilm of a typescript version of Joseph Grafton Hovey's autobiography, adapted from his journals by his grandson M.R. Hovey in 1953. The volume opens with a note on "The Hovey Book" and a page tracing Joseph Hovey's descent from Daniel Hovey, the "First American Progenitor of the Hovey Descendants." The autobiography begins with as account of Hovey's childhood in Massachusetts, including the death of his father, his move to Boston, and his interest in religious revivals. It then describes his move to Illinois and conversion to the Mormon Church, includes Hovey's critical reaction to John C. Bennett, and describes the days leading up to and following the death of Joseph Smith at Carthage. Hovey then gives an account of Sidney Rigdon's departure from the Church, of Hovey's own ownership of shares in the Seventies Hall, and of his departure from Nauvoo in 1846. He then writes of traveling to Winter Quarters with Joseph Young and of his experiences there from 1846-1848, including the death of his wife from illness in 1847. The first part of the account ends with a description of his overland journey to Utah and his colonization of Iron County through about 1854. The rest of the volume consists of portions of Hovey's writings from about 1855-1856, which cover his life in Palmyra, Utah, and his mission to Provo. This portion of the volume is annotated by M.R. Hovey. The volume concludes with a portion of Hovey's wife Lusannah Hovey's record of the family's move to Cache Valley in 1860 and of Joseph Hovey's death in 1868. Also included is some Hovey family genealogy. All inquiries about this item should be directed to the H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western Historical Manuscripts at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA. Microfilm. San Marino, Calif. : Huntington Library Photographic Dept., 1947. 1 microfilm reel : negative 35 mm. Forms part of the Manuscripts Department's Mormon file, c.1805-1995. Joseph Grafton Hovey (1812-1868) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and grew up on a farm outside Boston. After the death of his father Joseph went to Boston to learn the carriage trade, a pursuit ill health forced him to abandon. In 1837 he followed his brother to Quincy, Illinois, and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1839. That same year he moved to Nauvoo, where he lived until anti-Mormon sentiment caused him to flee in 1846. He traveled to Council Bluffs and Winter Quarters with Joseph Young's party, and lived in Winter Quarters until 1848 when he departed for Utah. In 1850 he was sent to help colonize Iron County, and served on a mission to Provo in 1856. He settled in Cache Valley in 1860 and died in Salt Lake City in 1868.
Bennett, John Cook, 1804-1867 Hovey, Joseph Grafton, 1812-1868 Rigdon, Sidney, 1793-1876 Smith, Joseph, Jr., 1805-1844 Frontier and pioneer life--Nebraska Frontier and pioneer life--Utah Mormon Church--History--19th century Mormon converts Mormon pioneers Mormons--Utah--History--19th century Overland journeys to the Pacific Illinois--History--1778-1865 Nebraska--History Nauvoo (Ill.)--Expulsion of the Mormons Utah--History--19th century Winter Quarters (Neb.)--History--19th century 1953 Autobiographies Utah 19th century. (aat)
Source
Mormon Manuscripts at the Huntington Library Mormonism and the West, Huntington Digital Library
Provenance
Microfilm of typescript loaned by Merlin R. Hovey, August 13, 1947.
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