Historical documents from the Church History Library and the Wilford Woodruff Papers provide detailed biographical accounts and correspondence involving several individuals during the late 19th century. These records include letters from Jesse W. Crosby and biographical data for missionaries who served during the presidency of Wilford Woodruff, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Crosby Correspondence to Woodruff
The Church History Catalog contains a letter written by Jesse W. Crosby to Wilford Woodruff. This correspondence is part of the First Presidency general correspondence spanning the years 1887 to 1898. The specific letter from Crosby is categorized within the Jesse W. Crosby letters dating from 1891 to 1896.
The Life of Ezra John Howell
Biographical records identify Ezra John Howell as a missionary who responded to a mission call in 1891. At that time, Wilford Woodruff was serving as the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Howell lived from May 7, 1865, until May 14, 1934. His missionary service is documented in the missionary department registers, specifically within Book B, which covers the period from April 25, 1860, to April 27, 1894.
Biographical Details of John Horne Miles
Records also detail the life of John Horne Miles, who was born on May 21, 1854, in London, Middlesex, England. Miles was the son of John Henry William Miles and Eliza Horne. He was baptized on March 30, 1873, and married Emily Spencer in October 1878. Miles participated in plural marriage and died on August 10, 1925, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Miles' Missionary and Census Records
The missionary registers further document John Horne Miles, noting his entry on page 36, number 1410, of Book B. Historical records indicate Miles was living in the Liberty Precinct of Bear Lake, Idaho, according to the 1900 U.S. Census. Additionally, The New York Times published a report titled "Marrying Mormon Miles" on May 10, 1879.
Missionary Service of Carl Gustaf Johanson
Carl Gustaf Johanson served two distinct missionary terms during the era of Wilford Woodruff's leadership. Johanson first responded to a mission call in 1889, while Woodruff was presiding as the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He responded to a second mission call in 1897, during the period when Woodruff was serving as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Johanson's Vital Statistics
The missionary registers for Carl Gustaf Johanson include entries in Book C, covering April 27, 1894, to October 16, 1906, and Book D, covering October 23, 1906, to July 15, 1919. Johanson lived from September 22, 1853, until January 26, 1939.
Temple Copybook Records and Mentions
Other documents within the Wilford Woodruff Papers include a collection of Saint George Temple letterpress copybooks dating from July 28, 1887, to May 14, 1892. This collection includes mentions of various individuals, such as James Godson Bleak, who lived from November 15, 1829, to January 30, 1918, and David Henry Cannon, who lived from April 23, 1838, to December 24, 1924. The records also note thousands of mentions of topics such as Jesus Christ and the temple.
