Microfilm of a journal kept during John McLaws' time as a member of the Allen Company at St. Joseph, Arizona, from 1879-1887 (the journal also includes some entries from 1894-1895). The journal is a record of McLaws' daily life and focuses on his activities as postmaster, sheep shearer, carpenter (particularly as a coffin maker), and teacher. He also includes financial reports from the St. Joseph United Order Company and mentions the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad's claim on the "St. Joseph upper ditch." The journal also includes a brief autobiography of McLaws from the time of his birth in 1852, as well as an epilogue which mentions his founding of the McLaws and Claswon Livery and Food Stable in 1892. Includes a detailed table of contents and index of names. Also included is a newspaper obituary for McLaws' wife, Sophia Delmar (DeLaMare) McLaws. The Huntington also has a bound typescript of the journal (FAC 1855). 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., 1948. 1 microfilm reel : negative 35 mm. Forms part of the Manuscripts Department's Mormon file, c.1805-1995. John McLaws was born in Salt Lake City on September 14, 1852. He trained as a carpenter and worked on the Mormon Temple at St. George, Utah, before travling to Arizona in 1876 with William C. Allen's Company (later St. Joseph Stake). McLaws is notable for his wide variety of occupations, including postmaster, carpenter, blacksmith, shoemaker, watchmaker, painter, butcher, sheep-shearer, farmer, mechanic, and teacher. He died in Joseph City, Arizona, on March 7, 1935.
McLaws, John, 1852-1935 St. Joseph United Order Company William C. Allen's Company Frontier and pioneer life--Arizona Mormons--Arizona--History--19th century Mormons--History--19th century--Sources Arizona--History--19th century Joseph City (Ariz.) 1879-1895 1895 Diaries Arizona 19th century. (aat)
Source
Mormon Manuscripts at the Huntington Library Mormonism and the West, Huntington Digital Library
Provenance
Microfilm of original loaned by owner through Augusta Flake, September 17, 1948.
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