John Joseph Hayes (1825 - 1899) Profile

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John Joseph Hayes

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Christopher Jones Arthur autobiography, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938

Christopher Jones Arthur autobiography, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938.

{Pages 5-6}



We steamed up to St. Louis and from there to Keokuk and found Father [Christopher Able Arthur] under the weather. Our trip up was a pleasnt &amp; enjoyable one. We camped in Keokuk on the hill 6 weeks. Our tent was near a clump of trees—The camp in white looked very nice. We spent an enjoyable time—After going into the woods nearby, shooting game birds, and it furnished us many a game dinner.



One morning shortly after our arrival, Father walking thro the camp met Cyrus Wheelock—Bro Wheelock spied Appleton Harmon walking about and called to him at the same time informing Father that here comes the Utah giant. Father put his arm across Bro Harmons Shoulder, showing that he was taller. Isaac C. Haight had charge of the emigration and ran short of funds. He asked father to help him out. Father told him he had divided his means among his children. If they were willing he could have $1000.00. Bro. Haight came to me and I said I was perfectly willing to loan my part. Bro Haight on arriving in the valley paid the loan but I never saw a cent of my portion but I felt all right if father needed it.



Our first camp after leaving Camp at Keokuk was Montrose opposite Nauvo[o], wher Claudius V. Spencer was camped with several wagons awaiting our arrival. We organized the first night; Claudius V. Spencer President, Father captain of the 50 wagons &amp; C[hristopher]. J[ones]. Arthur Clerk. Next morning we started for Salt Lake City, sometimes stuck and mending and repairing breakdowns. I drove a wagon across with 2 yoke of steers and they were beauties. My wagon contained the provisions for our outfit. We met many adventures killing buffalo and had one stampede.

Transcript for Christopher Jones Arthur autobiography, Library of Congress collection of Mormon diaries, 1935-1938

{Volume 2, pages 6-7}



May 26th 1853, fourteen wagons started on the journey West with father, and joined Claudius V. Spencer’s camp at Montrose. In the afternoon meeting held to organise the company, father [Christopher Able Jones] was appointed captain of the Company, Nestice, [John Joseph] Hayes, Walker, [James] Gailey [Galley] and Evans Captains of ten wagons, who were instructed by Pres. [Claudius V.] Spencer in their duties. See that every family attended to morning and evening prayer, in their tents of wagons. Also see that guard duty was kept up every night, which was approved of by all present.



27th. Early start. Pleasant weather. Drove to and camped at Sugar Creek. Father had 3 wagons and a buggy, 8 yoke of oxen, 1 span of horses, 3 colts, weaned, 1 black horse colt for Benjam[in Arthur], 1 sorrel mare colt to Mary Ann [Arthur], 1 grey mare colt to me. We reached Salt Lake City Sept. 26. We had a very interesting trip. I drove 2 yoke of oxen and light wagon, which contained the family supplys &amp; where me and Benj’m slept. We had comfort all the journey. Father &amp; Mary Ann rode in the carriage

We had an excellent journey across the plains after leaving the Mis[s]ouri River but our President was not very agreeable as a general thing however the Lord blessed us remarkable. At Council Bluffs we broke down a wheel of one of the wagons, my cousen John took it back for repairs which was the last we ever saw of him, he has written to me several times &amp; in one of his letters told me that he staid in Iowa several years married there &amp; finally moved with his family to Denver where he became Sheriff of the County, finally moved on some ranches &amp; went into the business of stockraiseing, he was a large man and writes that he has a nice family, sent me several invitations to go and visit him.



We arrived in the Valley September _____1853 after a successful trip of ____ months _____ days &amp; found my brother Joshua in a Salt box room (1) with a wife.

Claudius V. Spencer Company report, 1853

Claudius V. Spencer Company report, 1853, Page 13.

Claudius V. Spencer Company report, 1853.

Hannah Tapfield King autobiography, circa 1864-1872

Hannah Tapfield King autobiography, circa 1864-1872, Vol. 6.

Transcript for Hannah Tapfield King autobiography, circa 1864-1872, Volume 6, circa 1864-1872

Hannah Tapfield King autobiography, circa 1864-1872.

Wagstaff, William, Biographical sketch, 3

Wagstaff, William, Biographical sketch, 3.

My Mother [Mary Bathsheba Wagstaff], my sister, Rachel and her husband, Brother [John Joseph] Hayes, came to America from England and when they arrived her they did not have money to get their luggage off the boat. Brother Hayes found out where I lived and he came and told me. I advanced the money to him and was very glad that I had it. Then, of course, we all wanted to came to the Valley of Salt Lake. What to do? I did not know. I knew I had not money enough and I knew they had none. Finally there was a family came by name of Western [Weston], William Western and his wife, Martha, and a niece, Martha [Chitty]. A man and his wife came along with them, the man was named George Gills. The Gills family backed out when they got to St Louis so the Western's wanted me to drive them across the plains. I told them it was a job that I had never been used to but I would do it. Brother Western was very sick at the time and trusted everything to me to buy everything as they knew nothing about American money. So I had to buy the whole outfit out of their money. We came in Claud[ius] Spe[nc]er's company across the plains, and nothing particular occurred.	
Brother Western was very sick and I tried to do everything I could for his comfort. Sister Western was taken very sick with the diarrhea. We got everything we thought needed to do her good. Nothing seemed to check it. At last we got some thickened milk and I think that this checked it too suddenly for she died very sudden. The day before it had rained all day and when we camped at night everything was so wet that we could not kindle a fire. In the night she lay in the wagon and it seemed she was so very thirsty. She made the remark, "Will someone get up and give the dying a drink of water?" "Yes," I said, "I will give you drink of water." I had no thought that she was dying, but she was, and in the morning we had to bury her. There had been so much rain the day before and all that night that the road was so very slippery I was afraid my two yoke of oxen would not be able to get up the hill. I asked Bother William Jeffe [Jeffs] and Charles Boan [Bourne] if they would lend me just one yoke to get up. They said no and I got up without any help. I think our captain said the place was Spring Town (no longer on the map.) When we buried Martha Western, Brother Spencer could see Brother Western would not live very long and he asked him what was to be done with the property when he died, if he would not give it to the church. He said, "No, his niece was to have half of it and me the other half. If she and I got married when we got to the valley it all belonged to us." When we buried Sister Western, all the company had passed and we had to follow.	
We drove about five miles that night. Just before we got to where we camped for the night, Brother Jeffs and Charley Bourne was behind all the rest of the camp and they got stuck in the mud hole and their oxen could not move their wagon. Brother Hays let them stick and said, "If I were you, I would not help them out; they would not help you this morning." I told him, very well but, no. I told him again, very well, I would take the oxen and as soon as he saw I was determined to help them, he took the oxen and helped them. It was a good thing that he did as Uncle Western died that night. They helped bury him and to dig the grave. I never saw two men more humble than they were after that. They did everything I asked them to do. Nothing worse than that occurred of any not that I can remember.	
We arrived in the Valley, if I remember right, about the 22nd of September 1853.

John Joseph Hayes

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