Charles William Penrose (1832 - 1925) Profile

Portrait of Charles W. Penrose

Mission Photo

Sister and President Penrose

Missionaries of the Nottingham Conference

Charles William Penrose (1832 - 1925), British (1906 - 1910)

Missionaries of the Liverpool Conference

Leeds Conference Elders, 17 May 1909

Individual

death-date-qualifier-death

Charles William Penrose

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Andrew Jenson, "Penrose, Charles William," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia

Andrew Jenson, "Penrose, Charles William," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 1.

Andrew Jenson, "Penrose, Charles William," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia.

Andrew Jenson, "Penrose, Charles William," Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 3.

British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library

British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library, Page 7.

British Mission history, 1841-1971, Church History Library.

BYU Studies

Charles W. Penrose: The English Mission Years

Kenneth W. Godfrey, "Charles W. Penrose: The English Mission Years", BYU Studies, 27, January 1, 1987, 1.

BYU Studies.

Index to the British Mission manuscript history and historical reports

Penrose, Charles W.

"Penrose, Charles W.", Index to the British Mission manuscript history and historical reports.

Index to the British Mission manuscript history and historical reports.

Kenneth W. Godfrey, Charles W. Penrose Papers, ca. 1997, Utah State Historical Society

Kenneth W. Godfrey, Charles W. Penrose Papers, ca. 1997, Utah State Historical Society.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 1, Page 7, Line 299.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 2, Page 8, Line 299.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 4, Page 1.

Duncan, Homer, Report of Elder Homer Duncan's Mission to England in the years 1860 and 1861

Duncan, Homer, Report of Elder Homer Duncan's Mission to England in the years 1860 and 1861.

Transcript for Duncan, Homer, Report of Elder Homer Duncan's Mission to England in the years 1860 and 1861

DUP Pioneer History Collection

Eli Wiggill, reminiscences

"Eli Wiggill, reminiscences", DUP Pioneer History Collection, Page 39-41.

We were glad to reach Florence. It had been raining heavily. There was not a dry spot on which to place our boxes. The girls went on board again and were nearly taken off. The signal was given for the boat to start, and they had to run to reach shore again.


Wagons were at the Landing to take us to the settlement. We found it almost a deserted town. Nearly all the houses had been moved away to Omaha, as that City had just been laid out. We were taken to an old barn, where we stayed two days. I then looked about the settlement and found a small cottage, into which I moved by family, and we were more comfortable. We stayed here three weeks waiting for our wagons to be fitted up. There were stores there at which we bought goods and provisions for the journey.


Florence is a very pretty place. The country around is undulating and park-like. Good water and grass. While here, two of my children were married. My son Jeremiah to one of Mr. Talbot's daughters Pricilla, and my daughter Margaret to Thomas Talbot.


When I got my new wagon into my hands I made it very comfortable, putting in side boxes, covered its tent with two covers and a carpet. I paid eighty dollars for the wagon. I had six oxen, two cows and one calf.


We were then organized into a company. Homer Duncan was our Captain. He and several other Elders were returning from a mission to England. In our company also traveled Elder Charles Penrose, Jacob Gates, a family named Rossell, Mr. James Dyer, the Luffs and the Stratfords, and very happy times we had together.


After we were organized, we started off, and camped about a mile from Florence, near a small forest. Into the forest I went, as it reminded me of a South African Bush. I cut a stout hickory stick to take on our journey in case we needed a pole. While camping here, Mr. Talbot, Sr. was chosen Chaplain for the company.


I must record a sad occurrence which took place while in Florence. A lady and two sons were in our company. Just before starting, those two boys went to the river to bathe, and both were drowned. The grief of that poor mother was terrible to behold. They were buried in one grave, where so many faithful Saints have found a last resting place, as this place was the home of the Saints on their way to Utah, for years. Many companies having to winter there.


We left this camp on the last day of June, 1861, and now commenced our long journey of a thousand miles. We traveled many days over a beautiful rolling country, good grass and water, but very little wood. Miles and miles we traveled, until we reached "Wood River", where there were many trees. Between the streams of water grass covered the plains, two feet high, waving, full of seed.


A man with a hand cart started with us, but he soon tired of his job, sold his cart, and traveled with one of the wagons. As we traveled along, I thought of the brave handcart companies that had walked all those weary miles. Many meeting death on the way. Faithful and true, they sang as they traveled on, that cheering hymn, written by William Clayton, called "All is Well."


"Come, come ye Saints, No toil nor labor fear, But with joy wend you way. 
Though hard to you this journey may appear Grace shall be as your day."


They were on their way to a place of rest, far away from mobs and enemies, who had so cruelly murdered their beloved prophet Joseph Smith; where they could worship God according to the dictates of their conscience.


At Wood River a wagon broke down, belonging to a man named Charles Dean. It was an old wagon and one wheel gave out. I helped Captain Duncan repair the wheel and set the tire, and we journeyed on. I had sometimes to be out all night guarding cattle, which was very unpleasant when grass was up to our knees, and wet with dew. We passed many trading stations, at one of which I bought a Buffalo Robe.


At Loop Fork Ferry there was a village called Columbia. Here large boats took our wagons, fifty in number, over, one at a time, which took us all day. Charles Dean's wagon had to undergo more repair. We camped under cottonwood trees. Somewhere in this vicinity we met a train of wagons going to Florence to fetch emigrants. The Church sent wagons regularly to meet them. I have forgotten to mention that we were an independent company, that is, we all owned our own wagons. With these wagons were some missionaries on their way to Africa, among them Mr. Henry Talbot's son, John, who had come to Utah a year before. They camped with us one night. John telling his parents a great deal about Utah's manners and customs.


Next we separated, their train going east, and ours west. On and on we traveled until we reached Platte River, Nebraska. For two weeks or more, we traveled along its banks. The road was level and smooth and not much wood for fuel. We used "Buffalo chips" or dry cattle dung. An antelope was killed and its flesh much appreciated. Wild grapes and currants grew along the banks of the river. At a place called Ash Hollow, we were visited by a number of Indians; who came begging. The Captain collected a number of articles from the company. With these they went away satisfied.


We next came to some heavy sandridges. The oxen could not pull the wagons through the sand without doubling the teams. The ridges extended for ten miles. It took up all one day to travel that distance. All along this sandy road lay broken wagons, loose tires, and one stove. Wagon loads of good useful material could have been gathered on the plains in those days.


We were all anxious to see "Chimney Rock", a tall, sandstone formation, which could be seen for miles around. This was a romantic part of our journey. Low cliffs or buttes along the road, and these curious shaped masses rising from them, formed of loose gravel and hard grains of earth. I think this land must have been at one time covered with water, which as it dried away, after earthquakes and convulsions of nature, corroded parts of the earth's surface, and left the harder parts standing, also washing the sands down in those heavy ridges. We could see great mountains in the distance, which appeared to have plenty of pine-trees on their sides.


Still ascending, we finally reached the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains. Here we passed "Independence Rock", a huge perpendicular boulder of iron stone granite. On its sides many travelers had carved their names. We now came to a pass called Devil's Gate, through which flows a beautiful stream known as the Sweetwater River. Here we camped, and I had to mend a broken axle. The Devil's Gate is a very narrow glen. Its sides rise up perpendicularly for hundreds of feet. On the margin of the stream grow trees and shrubs. Some of our party walked through this glen, meeting the wagons on the other side. We camped here on[e] night, then journeyed on 'til we reached Green River. It is a very wide stream, its banks wooded with cotton-wood and birch.


A mile from here we camped in a grove of cotton-wood trees. As we had plenty of fuel. We built tremendous camp fires. The next place that comes to my mind in the Military Post of Fort Bridger, named after the famous old Trapper, Jim Bridger. This place is well wooded and watered. We were now one hundred and fifty miles from Salt Lake Valley. As we ascended the Rocky Mountains, good water became scarce, and we would have to travel long distances between camping places.


In some places our road lay on a ridge with the valleys on each side. Sometimes we were on a level plain covered with sagebrush. I now recall Bear River, a beautiful stream, its water clear as crystal, so one could see the pebbles and rocks in the bottom. Cotton-woods grew on its banks.


Our road now lay between red sand hills, descending until, we reached Echo Canyon and here I saw the most romantic and rugged scenery I ever saw in my life. On either side rise steep cliffs in most fantastic shapes imaginable, composed of rocks and pebbles, cemented together. Three of these columns close together are called "The Witches". It takes its name from sounds echoing and re-echoing among the rocks. It is twenty miles in length. Through it runs a creek of clear water, its banks lined with willow and other trees. Wild hop vines climb over the trees, as they were ready for picking. Great bunches were gathered.


This canyon joins another called Weber Canyon, through which runs a rapid stream called Weber River. On the river we struck the first Mormon settlement, called Hennifer [Henefer]. In Weber Canyon is the curious formation of rock called "The Devil's Slide". After leaving the settlement we turned off and traveled for six miles up the mountains of the Wasatch Range. Here we camped. Mr. Talbot and I thought we would go ahead of our wagons and so we started on horseback. We camped with another company that night between Little and Big Mountain. Next day we rode down Emigration Canyon, where thoughts of the Pioneers filled our minds. On emerging from this canyon, the valley came into view.


Our hearts were full of joy to see before us the City of the Saints, and know our toilsome journey was over.

Transcript for "Eli Wiggill, reminiscences," 39-41.

Daughters of Utah Pioneers. DUP Pioneer History Collection.

Historical Department journal history of the Church

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, September 13, 1861, Page 4.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Jenkins, John, Autobiographical sketch, 1933, 1-2

Jenkins, John, Autobiographical sketch, 1933, 1-2.

Having no means with which to proceed to Utah, Apostle Ezra T. Benson advised my father to stay in Iowa until such time as he could get equipment to take us on our journey. During this time my mother gave birth to two pairs of twins; the first pair was born May 15, 1851 and the second pair was born May 16, 1858. When the first pair was born the family was driven from their home by a flood and had to live in a dirt roof house that leaked so badly that an umbrella had to be placed over the bed to shelter mother who lay confined with the babies.
A soon as possible my father took out his naturalization papers. He then homesteaded a quarter section of land on which we lived for eleven years. While we lived here our neighbors were Mormon apostates and Josephites who were very bitter against the church, with the exception of one family named Fisher. These people succeeded in influencing Mrs. Fisher and my mother to the extent that they refused to move on to Utah. When means were provided by which we could have moved to Utah, mother refused to sign the deeds so father could sell his land.
About 1859 or 1860 Brother Fisher took some wheat for a grist to the mill one day. Leaving it there, he stated that he would call back for it. When he went back for the flour he continued on to Utah, leaving his family behind him. When my mother learned of the Fisher episode she changed her mind in regard to signing the deed and father sold his land for five hundred dollars ($500). He equipped an outfit and we started for Utah in the first part of June 1861, in Homer Duncan’s company.
Our train was in independent outfit; that is, it consisted of people who fitted up their own outfits. Father had two wagons two yokes of oxen, eight cows, and two or three horses. Father drove one wagon and I drove one. The family was in the wagon father drove. I drove one yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows. We worked the cows as well as the oxen.
When we started in the morning the milk would be put in the churn and by noon when we stopped it would be churned to butter. The Indians caused us no trouble on our journey, although they often they and begged us for flour and sugar.
One of our sports was to stand a dime in the split end of a stick, place the stick on end at about 25 paces, and then let the Indians shoot the dime from the stick with their bow and arrow. The dime belonged to the Indian that could hit it. It was remarkable how often they hit the target.
In the company I was known as the little hunter, and with an old muzzle leading rifle, I obtained more meat than our family could use. So we often had some to give to other families. At one time between the Platte and the Sweet Water Rivers, I wounded an antelope. After tracking it, I got another shot at it and killed it. I then dressed it and started for the train of wagons which was traveling. I soon realized I was lost. I wandered around until nearly sundown. On reaching the top of a knoll I thought I saw a man and started running toward him. On seeing me he ran from me, thinking I was an Indian. My motions in trying to stop him he thought were signals to other Indians to close in on him. However, I finally overtook him and found him to be a member of our company. When I told him about the antelope, nothing could stop him from going back for it. We soon found the game and I split the cord in one front leg, slipped the opposite hind leg through the slit, and put his head between the legs so that the antelope hung on the man’s back. I carried the guns and together, we made our way back to the train, arriving at camp late in the night. I have often been out alone in the hills but have never again had the feeling of being lost.
At this time I was a boy of sixteen. I remember among other members of the company, Pres. Charles W. Penrose, Francis W. Armstrong, and Samuel Russell. President Penrose often took part in the programs held around the campfire. We had many good times during our journey. We arrived in Salt Lake City in September 28, 1861.

Transcript for Jenkins, John, Autobiographical sketch, 1933, 1-2

John, David, Journals, 1856-1908, reel 1

John, David, Journals, 1856-1908, reel 1, Vol. 1.

Transcript for John, David, Journals, 1856-1908, reel 1, vol. 1, 253-64

John, David, Journals, 1856-1908, reel 1.

Wride, Barry, Original Journal, July 26

Wride, Barry, Original Journal, July 26, September 13, 1861.

July 26th [Friday] Camped on the Platt[e] trav[eled] 18 miles
 [Saturday] 27th Camped on the Platt
 [Sunday] 28th Camped in sight of chimney rock
 [Monday] 29th Very hot day trav 11 miles Camped opposite chimney rock
 [Tuesday] 30th Trav 16 miles Camped in sight of chimney rock[.] thunder[,] lightning &amp; very stormy after camping
 [Wednesday] 31 Trav 17 miles Camped by a crick
August 1st Trav about 12 mil Camped on Platt[.] Bros Jones[,] Gates &amp; Spencer drove to the Camp – Bro/ Jones made some remarks in the meeting in the evening 
 [Friday] 2nd Trav 17 miles[.] the Bros travelled with us this day[.] Bro/ Gates dilivered a discourse to the saints in the evening
 [Saturday] 3rd Trav16 miles[.] Thunder &amp; rain in the evening[.] to wet to boil water in the camp 7 b L
4th Crossed the Platt River opposite Laramie camped 2 miles west of Laramie[.] a great number of Indians passed the camp in the evening[.] the saints gathered a quantity of black currants[.] Cake was consumed freely and may be called the fiest [feast] of the passover
5th Remained at this place until the afternoon moved camp 7 miles at the bottom of a steep hill nr- the Platt
6th Travelled 17 miles over sand hill &amp; rocks camped nr- a spring of good water
7th Good roads travelled near 20 miles camped on the Platt[.] drove the cattle across the river to feed until mourning.
8th Travelled 18 miles good roads crossed the river to the north side camped in good feed by the Platt
9th Trav 13 miles made an attempt to cross the Platt but failed[.] Brother Talbots waggon stuck in the quick sand[.] they took the horses free and draged the waggon out by hands[.] camped on the brink of the river north side fed the cattle on the south side[.] thunder &amp; lightning this evening
10th We had some difficulty in finding the cattle this mourning[.] travelled 8 miles of very rugged hills rather heavy sands in the afternoon[.] camped on the Platt
Sunday 11th Trav about 17 miles some heavy sands at times
12th Crossed the river to the south side below deer creek[.] several of the brotheren traded flower [flour] for Buffalo robes &amp;c at Dear [Deer] creek Station[.] we camped 1½ miles west of the station stayed there the remainder of the day to do some repairs shoeing &amp;c
13th Some of the cattle were missing consequently we were obliged to stay until noon[.] we travelled 11 miles camped on a fine spot of ground nr- the Platt
14th Trav as far as the upper bridge on the Platt calld by the name of the upper crossing[.] camped on the north side
15th Camped by the upper station on the Platt trav 10 miles of very rough ro&lt;a&gt;ds
16 We left the Platt on the left traveled 17 miles Camped by willow spring drove the cattle about 3 miles to feed[.] good roads
[Saturday] 17th Trav 11 miles camped on greace wood creek [Greasewood Creek] one waggon broke down repaired in the evening
18th Camped a little west of Independence rock on sweet water[.] the Brotheren gathered an amount of saleratus this day[.] several of the Elders p[r]eached in the evening to the saints
19th Repairing waggons shoeing &amp;c in the mourning trav 5 miles in the evening camped 1½ miles west of Devil’s Gate[.] Annie Jane John my Sister Daughter was very ill this and had been for some days previous
20th Very wet mourning Annie Jane was very ill altered in the mourning about 4 O’Clock died at ½ past eight[.] she was laid out by some of the sisters and was carried in a waggon to the next camping place 12 or 15 miles west[.] a coffin was made by Bro/ [John] Turner[.] a grave was also prepared the same evening
21st The body was carried to the side of the hill on the borders of the sweet waters [Sweetwater] near the first opening of the rocks above Devil’s Gat[e.] Elder C[harles] W Penrose offered a very appropriate prayer after which the little body was intered in the place mentioned[.] travelled about 13 miles camped on the sweet waters
22 Camped on sweet waters trav 16 miles
23rd Left sweet waters on the right trav 18 miles some heavy roads passed high spring camped by cold spring poor feed
24th Trav 12 miles Rough rocky roads camped by a spring[.] good feed – rocky ridges
25th Rough roads camped on sweet water good feed
26 Trav 18 miles of rough rocky roads camped 8 or 9 miles above the upper crossing of the sweet waters the last camping place on that river[.] 3 miles below S[outh] Pass
27th Camped 9 miles west of South Pass over a small creek <s>of</s> bad water[.] we were obliged to guard the cattle from it[.] Bro/ [Milo] Andrus’s train camped 3 or 4 miles east of us
28 Camped by little sandy a small creek trav 21 miles without water[,] good roads
29th Camped at noon by Big Sandy[.] Camped in the evening on the Prairie[.] trav 16 miles poor feed ¾ of a mile to get water
30th Camped on Big Sandy last crossing[.] Trav 9 miles[.] shoeing and reparing in the evening
31st Camped on Green River 3 miles below the crossing[.] Trav 15 miles[.] good feed &amp; plenty of wood
Sept 1st Trav 12 miles Camped on Henrys Fork
2nd Camped on Black Fork 1½ miles from the Station
3rd Camped on Black Fork
4th Camped 1 mile west of Fort Bridger[.] Capt Murdock of the Church Train camped with us
5th Camped at the bottom of a steep rocky hill poor feed
6 Camped on the summit of the mountains 1 mile from a spring[.] Capt Martindale Camped close by
 [Saturday] 7th Camped 3 miles west of the crossing of Bear river very hilly roads good feed by a larger spring
Sunday 8th Passed Yellow creek where we wattered the cattle nooned nr- Cash [Cache] Cave[.] Camped in Echo Kanyon [Canyon] 15 miles above Weber
9th Trav 16 miles Camped on the Weber
10th I went back in search of a stray ox up Echo Kanyon 15 miles[.] I slept at a Station 10 miles above Weber
11th Started early in the mourning to overtake the train[.] trav about 35 miles this day overtook the camp at the bottom of the Big mountain[.] they camped the night previous 5 miles west of the crossing of the Weber
12th Trav over the Big mountain some double teams[.] Camped near the Little mountain[.] Bishop Hardy made some remarks to the saints in the evening
13th Double teams up the Little mountain arrived in GSL City in the afternoon[.] we were invited to stay at CV Spencer’s House that night

Transcript for Wride, Barry, Original Journal, July 26-September 13, 1861, in W. Thomas Wride, ed., Barry Wride, 1833-1913, His Family and His Journals (1999), 1-10

Charles William Penrose

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