The James Little Account

Darrin & Andrea Lythgoe's Genealogy Pages

From David Carlisle

Descendants of John G. Carlisle have long been aware that he moved his family from Salt Lake to Nebraska about 1870, then shortly before moving to Logan in 1876, most of his children were baptized by James A. Little. Recently it has been learned that James A. Little kept a detailed history, and it appears that both Carlisles and Kewleys are mentioned several times. He also describes his unusual conversion story and family history, which add context and interest to references to our family. I have tried to assemble the most interesting and relevant parts of that history in this paper.

The early history of James A. Little can be found in the book "Our Pioneer Heritage" volume 15, page 85-98, which goes to the year 1849. This is followed by a history of his third wife, Mary Elizabeth Tullidge. An earlier version of this history covering a little longer period of time can be found in the book "Miscellaneous Mormon Diaries," at BYU Special Collections, MOR M270 M82 V16. This is followed by a history of his first wife, Mary Jane Lytle. There is a microfilm of his first handwritten missionary journal at the LDS Church Historical department, MS 6597, which covers his leaving for England in 1854, to the end of 1855. The next missionary journal covering his time in England, as well as journals of his missions in the states in the 1870s can be found in typescript form on microfilm at BYU Special Collections, Film 920 #15. I have changed some of the punctuation in a few of the quotations.

Noting simply that James Little was a nephew to Brigham Young doesn't accurately describe the complexity of the relationship. Although he was born in 1822 to a sister of Brigham Young, his father died the same year, and he was "bound out at an early age to a Mr. Bouton and his wife who married late in life and who had no children to soften and tone down their characters." He mentions getting "many serious beatings" and left there when about 17 years old. He recollects that when he was about 20 [page 86], "The winter of 1842 was a very severe one. I went out into the country where I met a couple of Mormon Elders, the first I had seen. They claimed to know President Young, and were on their way to Nauvoo. I took a notion to visit my relatives in Nauvoo, so a friend and I started and made our way to Chicago ... We found a steamer going to St. Louis without cargo, so we went free. I was young and thought I knew more than I do now after 50 years of study and experience. Like most people of that time who knew little or nothing of the Mormons, I was much prejudiced against them. There were some on the steamer, and as I remember, I fairly ventilated my prejudices. When I arrived there I was poorly clad, but as the Saints had colonized the place when driven from Missouri, I was about on a level with them. My mother, uncles Brigham, Phineas H., Joseph and Lorenzo D. were there, and many more of my relatives, but all alike were strangers to me, and it was some time before I could sense the relationship."

James Little arrived in Utah in 1849, got married, was called to settle Parowan Utah in 1850, and then in about 1853 he was called to help settle Cedar City. His family moved back to Salt Lake at the time he left on a mission to England in May 1854. There he was an assistant editor of the Star, which would make his name familar among the English Saints even though he spent most of his time in Liverpool.

John G. Carlisle joined the church in Nottingham in April of 1850, and emmigrated to America in 1854, leaving in November on the ship Clara Wheeler. James Little writes that he ticketed passengers for the Clara Wheeler, but interestingly on the day before, he mentions he participated with a Brother Carlisle in giving a blessing, then spoke at a meeting that evening which our John G. Carlisle could have easily attended. I found no Carlisle mentioned elsewhere in this journal, so there is a chance that the Carlisle mentioned was our John G. Carlisle who likely was in Liverpool the day prior to his departure. The reference [page 73]reads as follows:

Sunday, November 19, 1854, Liverpool England. ... In the afternoon I called at Brother Johnson's in Scotland Rood. I found his daughter Mary Jane quite feeble. In connection with Brothers Mathews, Carlisle, and (blank space) we blessed her, Brother Mathews being mouth. I spent an hour or two there, and in the evening attended meeting at Queen's Hall where I spoke a while on everyday salvation, etc.

20 Today I have been engaged in assisting to ticket the passengers of the Clara Wheeler.

21 & 22 I have been engaged for two days birthing the passengers of the Clara Wheeler. This job requires considerable labor and patience, but the Lord has blessed me. ... (end of quote)

James indicates the Clara Wheeler was still in the river on the 26th, but Howard Carlisle has found that rough weather forced the Clara Wheeler to return on the 30th, setting sail again in favorable winds a week later. A measles epidemic on board resulted in twenty-one deaths. (These details are from a book about the George Osmond family.) John arrived in New Orleans on January 11, 1855, then took a steamboat to Missouri where he worked until that summer, when he drove a freight wagon to Utah for William S. Godbe.

Two years after arriving in Utah, John G. Carlisle married Margaret Kewley who had recently arrived with her parents from the Isle of Man, having travelled in the ill-fated Martin Handcart Company. The Kewleys had joined the church on the Isle of Man in 1840, and it appears there was originally a lively branch of the church at Peel, where they lived. However, when James Little made a visit to Peel in 1855, it appears the Kewleys were the only church members in the area. Before noting the entry in James Little's journal, it is interesting to review some information about the church in Peel.

There was a sea captain (some say pirate) named George Cannon who lived at Peel, whose family was fairly well off until he was lost at sea, forcing his two oldest children to find work elsewhere in order to support the others. His son George, (father of Apostle George Q. Cannon) found work in Liverpool, and his daughter Lenora found work with a wealthy family with whom she eventually moved to Canada, where she married John Taylor and eventually joined the church. In 1840, John Taylor was called on a mission to England where he baptized George Cannon in the spring, then later that fall paid a visit to the Isle of Man, and was eventually invited to visit Peel and hold a cottage meeting at the home of Charles Cowley. (not directly related to Apostle Matthew Cowley.) Elder Taylor opened the meeting by singing the song "Come to the Supper of the Great Bridegroom." Ann Cowley, Charles wife, had had a dream not long before of an American minister preaching and singing that very song, the song being so clear in her mind that she was able to sing it along with him. They were baptized the following day along with Ann's sister Catherine and her husband John Quayle, and several of them spoke in tounges. They emmigrated to America in 1843. (In the book "Our Pioneer Heritage" volume 16, page 477 there are various stories of people who were converted in the Isle of Man in the 1840s, several of which came from Peel.)

Our family records indicate the Kewleys were baptized several months before John Taylor visited Peel, by an Elder John Boyd, as I recall, whose name is associated with several recorded ordinances performed in Liverpool. The details and circumstances of the baptism are unknown.

On page 120 of MS 6597, James Little writes about making a short visit to the Isle of Man in July of 1855. While there, he met a family in Peel whose difficult situation made a deep impression on him. When writing about them, he apparently did not recall their name, or perhaps did not know how to write it. Later, when visiting passengers boarding the ship Horizon, James mentions visiting the Kewley family from Peel, so it seems likely the family he mentioned when visiting Peel was our Kewley family. In 1855, residents of the Isle of Man still commonly spoke Manx Gaelic, related to Irish Gaelic. When Alma Carlisle visited the Isle of Man a few years ago, the residents there told him the name Kewley was pronounced something like Quail-ee-uh, which may explain why the name does not appear in the first reference. Another source indicates the pronunciation was like Keow (rhymes with Meow)- lee-uh. The reference reads as follows:

"[June] 29 [1855] ... This afternoon, President Franklin [D. Richards] informed me that he had received a letter from the Isle of Man requesting him to attend conference there next Sunday, but he could not well go, and wished me to go in his place to preach and comfort the Saints. ...

30th At 11 O'Clock or a little after I started for Douglas, Isle of Man, on the Mona's Queen. We were soon passing Brighton with its 14 gun battery on the left and Bootle on the right and making our way rapidly into the Irish Sea. It has been a fine day with a very gentle swell on the sea, sufficient however to cause several to pay particular attention to the condition of their stomachs, and myself was among the number. There was a goodly number of passengers on board, the most of them evidently taking an "Out" for a day or two. The distance from Liverpool to Douglas is 75 miles. We were landed at the pierhead at Douglas about 5 O'Clock. ...

[Sunday, July 1st, conference services were held at Douglas.]

[Monday] 2nd. This morning, Brother Duff [book agent of the conference] hired a car similar to the Irish Jaunting car, [a simple open vehicle where up to four passengers can sit back-to-back sideways over two wheels, drawn by a horse, which may have a forward facing driver's seat] and we drove 11 miles to the north [actually west] side of the island to Peel, another little port at which the principal business appears to be fishing. There was quite a large fleet of macks preparing to go out with the tide to take herring, which were just making their annual run around the coast. We also visited the ruins of Peel Castle, which were quite interesting. It was evidently quite a strong place before heavy artillery was brought into use.

We visited Brother and Sister (blank space) who are struggling to keep alive in the work in their poverty and isolated condition, for the work is so low in Peel that no meetings are held, or an organization maintained. I would not but deeply sympathize with this brother and sister who are anxiously praying for their deliverance.

In returning to Douglas we drove a little out of our way and visited Glennigh [Glen Helen?] Waterfall. It is one of the most romantic spots I ever saw. The island is very mountainous and presents the greatest variety of scenery furnished by nature and art together that I ever witnessed in so small a compass."

He returned to Douglas about 4:30 that afternoon, and to Liverpool the following morning.

Robert Kewley learned something about his parents departure from the Isle of Man when he made a visit in 1880 to the widow of the man for whom his father used to work. He writes: "Mrs Graves said she remembered very well the last Sunday my father & mother ate supper at their house, and how agraveted they was to think they had joined the Mormons. She said my father worked 22 years for them, and a honester man they never saw. "

Returning to the Journals of James Little, we find Kewleys mentioned in the typescript journal at BYU Special Collections for May 1856:

"Saturday [May] 24th. [1856, Liverpool, England] I went out with the brethren today to see the passengers passed on the Horizon. I had quite a number of aquaintances among the emigrants, among whom was my former landlady, Sister S. Wignall, and her two daughters; Brother James Kewley and family from Peel, Isle of Man; and brother McBirde and family from Southport. I had a pleasant time on board.

... I should [have] mentioned under date of Saturday 24th that I bid Elder John Jaques goodbye on board the Horizon. I have had much pleasure laboring in the Editorial Office with him since the first of January 1855. He is a good faithful man and may the Lord bless him and his family on their way to Zion.

... I mailed a letter to my wife containing a bill of goods which I sent by Brother E. Martin amounting to over ninety two dollars."

It was in John Jaques journal that Alma Carlisle discovered that 3-year old Thomas Kewley died in Cleveland, Ohio on July 4. The date and place of this death was not preserved in our family records. The Horizon had arrived in Boston in late June, and most of the company was travelling by train to Iowa City. Some 55 years later, John Southwell recalled that the company had arrived in Cleveland on the morning of July 4th, their third-class seats being made of two-inch plank with no backs, and that most of the company waited out a "great rain storm" in a large barn which had been secured. That night an anti-Mormon mob gathered around the barn, howling and bombarding it with stones and bats for several hours until a local authority persuaded them to go home, leaving the occupants "in a state of terrible excitement. Not a person closed an eye that night in sleep." Early the following morning they caught their connecting train.

Economy of travel had become increasingly important as the Perpetual Emigration Fund from which most of the emigrants borrowed was beginning to run low. Eight months earlier, James Little had spent an evening with several others "in writing down suggestions to President Richards on the manufacture of handcarts for the emigration of the Saints." Now their plans were being realized, and the first three handcart companies that year found general success. The fourth was still waiting for handcarts in Iowa City when the fifth company, the Martin Company arrived. They waited for the building of their own handcarts nearly three weeks.

It's not so much that no one forsaw the possibility of disaster, but rather that even in the face of a series of setbacks, their faith would not allow room for hesitance, and their poverty would not allow room for delay. The opportunity of more affordable travel had enticed a number of the old and the handicapped. They had started too late in the season, and were delayed further in Iowa City. The wood for many of their handcarts was green, causing them to eventually fall apart. There were challenges and hardships, there was courage and compassion, and all this may have been endurable if it wasn't for the early snow.

This is not the place to recount all the difficulties faced by the Martin Handcart Company. Regarding our family, we know Margaret Kewley lost a few toes to frostbite. In a story written by one of their descendants, Arlene Eakle, there are some other details that likely came from family members. One is that Margaret walked much of the way barefoot, "As each town was reached, she dusted her feet and replaced her shoes so she could walk through the town respectably. Then on the other side, off would come the shoes and she would go on barefoot." About the later hardships she writes "James Kewley tried to help different members of the group and carried many on his back across the river. His shins and limbs came in contact with sharp cakes of ice, which inflicted wounds on them which did not heal until long after reaching the valley. These hardships depleted his strength so that he became very ill." Near the end before the rescuers came, he is reported to have said "I cannot go any farther." Alma Carlisle has been investigating the Martin Company, and plans to write about it sometime in the future.

I will insert here some comments recorded by Heber Carlisle, son of Margaret Kewley. "When arriving [in Salt Lake] they were taken up to Farmington [and?] lived with Danial Miller for two weeks when a friend Mr. John Kelley took them to Salt Lake City where her father [James Kewley] got a job for the city. Margaret Carlisle told of how near starved the company were and when the dough cakes were made each child would break off a small piece off from theirs and give it to their father so he would be able to keep up the travel with the loaded handcart. She said that the men at times would sit around the camp fires and roast bits of raw hide and chew it they were so hungry. She said when they forded the Platt River the water was up to their waists and she remembers when her father had landed his family over he rushed back into the stream and saved two poor wommen from going down with the stream. She said the night before provisions arrived when her father ly down to rest he told his mother that he feared he would never get up again."

I will also note that there is a small bible in the possession of Howard Carlisle given to Margaret Kewley by her cousin C. E. Clucas just prior to her departure from the Isle of Man in 1856. Some pages of the bible have water stains that may have been formed during the ordeals of their journey [see photos]."

John Jaques reports some indicated about one in eight, or about one hundred of those who had boarded the Horizon in Liverpool died before reaching Salt Lake. His own general impression was that it was about one in six. It is not known what happened to the goods James Little sent home to his wife, and the contrast between the Kewley's experience of coming to their new home, and the above description of the Isle of Man is beyond comment.

John Carlisle was in the rescue party of the Martin Handcart Company when he met Margaret Kewley. They were married in the spring of the following year, then sealed by Brigham Young in 1860. In 1858 when the U.S. Government effectively declared war on Utah because of polygamy, John participated in what became known as the Echo Canyon War by harassing Johnston's army east of Salt Lake City. Later he was one of those assigned to burn the city if the army didn't march through peacefully. There is a story that there was some miscommunication with his wife about this, so when Margaret Kewley left for the lower part of town, she left the baby in bed, but then "stopped the horses and went and saved the baby," which was the infant John E. Carlisle.

We know that Carlisles lived in the 17th Ward in Salt Lake and that at least one of their children, Annie, was blessed there. (These records have not been checked for other blessings.) We also know that Carlisles moved to Nebraska about 1869, but the reason for the move was never clear. Recently some information was found which sheds some light on this. In the records of the RLDS church, it is noted that John E. Carlisle, born 4 March 1858, was baptized on 23 Aug 1869 (age 11) by David Hyrum Smith, youngest son of Joseph Smith, who was on a mission to Utah for the RLDS church. Recall that the transcontinental railroad was completed in May, 1869, which made travel to and from Utah much easier. There was also discovered in old Carlisle family photographs a beautifully encased tin photo of Joseph Smith III, first president of the RLDS church. (now at USU Special Collections in Logan) There are a few pages of records of an RLDS branch in Nebraska City, but the name of John Carlisle has not been found there.

In 1876, about seven years after Carlisles moved to Nebraska, James Little was called on a mission there and soon met with the Carlisles, baptized the children and apparently convinced the family to return to Utah. Because of the impact on the Carlisle family, it is interesting to note what had happened to James Little prior to that time, and the nature of the sacrifice he had to make in order to serve that mission to Nebraska.

James Little was then 54 years old. He actually filled two missions to the United States at this time, the first being to New York between October 1875 and February 1876. In the following paragraph, James Little describes returning home to Kanab from his first mission after stopping in Salt Lake City.

"Monday [March?] 14, 1876 I arrived home in the middle of the day and found my family well. Before leaving Salt Lake City, President B. Young requested me to be at the April Conference ready to go on another mission. After breaking up in Eagle Valley and going to Kanab a long way from resources, I had struggled hard with many others similarly situated to get in a way of living. When I left the ranch in October I considered the situation of my family and affairs generally in a bad shape to go on so short a notice on a mission, but as I had written to President Young asking for a few weeks in which to better my affairs and had received an unsatisfactory answer, I determined to try to meet his requirements even at the great sacrifice I presumed would follow. On my arrival home I found as we had rather expected when I left in October that with the loss of my labor, R. T. Cutler would have rather more than he could well manage. This proved to be true and there had been quite heavy losses in sheep. And taking all things into consideration it was still worse for me to leave home in the spring than it was in the fall before, but I still decided to try to meet his requirements no matter what the sacrifice, so I determined if possible to be at conference."

James attended General Conference on Sunday April 9th and was called upon to speak a short time. On Monday April 17th "President Young sent for me and appointed me a mission to the North Western States." His letter of appointment indicated he was "appointed to take charge and preside over the various branches of the Church in Iowa, Nebraska, Da Kota and Minnesota" and parts of Missouri. What James refers to as the "character" of his mission is indicated by the following paragraph from that letter.

"In the field of labor to which you are assigned you will find many who have once tasted of the pure principles of the gospel who have turned away from the same, and who delight to argue and cavil with regard to the plan of salvation. Treat such with kindness; present the truth to them in meekness, but avoid all argument and disputation; bear your testimony, proclaim your message and leave the results with the Lord, let his spirit supply the arguments, and when your words reach those truly honest the result will be apparent in the due time of the Lord."

Two days later he was on the train to Omaha. Two months later, we find the following entry in his journal.

"Friday 16th. [June 1876] I went by railway to Nebraska City, Nebraska, by invitation to visit Brother John Carlisle and family. I found them enjoying much of the spirit of the Gospel.

Saturday 17th. I spent the day mostly in reading and conversation at Brother Carlisle's.

Sunday 18th. After we had eaten dinner a hymn was sung followed by prayer at the house when Brother Carlisle and family went with me to a place which had been prepared and baptized five of Brother Carlisle's children the oldest eighteen years and the youngest eight years old. We returned to the house where I confirmed those who had been baptized, ordained the oldest an Elder, administered to sister Carlisle for her health, blessed the babe, and assisted by brother Carlisle administered the Sacrament. We were blessed with much of the Holy Spirit and rejoiced together.

Monday 19th. I spent most of the day at Brother Carlisle's. I returned in the evening to Council Bluffs."

In some papers of John E. Carlisle in the possession of Alma Carlisle, there is a very small envelope marked "Important," which contains a paper on which is written the following: "Nebraska City, Nebraska, June 18, 1876. This is to certify that I have at this place and Date assisted by Elder John G. Carlisle Ordained John Edward Carlisle to the Office of an Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. James A. Little."

In John E. Carlisle's journal, he writes: "June 18th 1876 I was baptized and ordained an Elder by Elder James A. Little, a missionary to the States. June 19 Elder Little left for Council Bluffs. July 9th 76 A. B. Taylor a son of Apostle John Taylor [and Elizabeth Kaighan from Peel] visited us. On Aug 7 1876 Father's family left Neb. City for Omaha and in the afternoon took the [?] for Utah and arrived there (Ogden) Aug 12th 76 - Remained there overnight. On Aug 13th we came up to Logan.

Margaret Kewley's brother Robert had been living in Logan since 1860, and several other families from Peel, including the Charles Cowley family mentioned earlier, had moved there at about the same time. This may be why Carlisles also moved to Logan.

Returning to James Little's journal we find on "Tuesday 8th [August 1876] I returned to Council Bluffs where I found Elder Young. He reported having a good meeting at the Boomer Branch. Here I found a letter from Brother Carlisle's family in Nebraska City. Five of the family I baptized on the eighteenth of last June. They notified me that they would pass through Council Bluffs on their way to Utah this morning, and would like to see me at the station. I regret that I am too late."

James Little returned to Utah in August of 1877, and worked for a while on a church compendium at a desk in Brigham Young's office. He fled to Mexico in 1891 to avoid prosecution for polygamy, eventually returning to Kanab where he died in 1908.

John E. Carlisle served a mission to the Southern States, then several years later served a short mission to England where he was an assistant editor of the Millenial Star. In his later years he served for many years in the presidency of the Logan Temple.