Simpson Montgomery Molen (1832 - 1900) Profile

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Simpson Montgomery Molen

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Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:409-410

Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:409-410.

Mission to Sandwich Islands in 1854 to 1858, mission in 1864 to take charge of a large emigration train.  At the October conference in 1874 he was called on a mission to the States, in Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky returning in 1875;  in 1876 appointed to take another mission to Sandwich Islands with part of his family. Another article Vol. 4:408 cites his death.

Transcript for Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 1:409-410

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 1, Page 32, Line 1381.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 1, Page 41, Line 1742.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 2, Page 44, Line 1742.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 2, Page 35, Line 1381.

Bell, Eli, Diaries, 1854-[1864]

Bell, Eli, Diaries, 1854-[1864], Vol. 4.

Transcript for Bell, Eli, Diaries, 1854-[1864], vol. 4

Bell, Eli, Diaries, 1854-[1864].

Book of the Pioneers, 1:15

Book of the Pioneers, 1:15.

"Got In," Semi-Weekly Telegraph

"Got In," Semi-Weekly Telegraph, September 7, 1868.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">WEDNESDAY EVENING, 2.</center>



GOT IN.—Captain S. M. Molen’s train got in this afternoon, with over 300 saints. He brings also a large amount of freight "for Jennings &amp; Co. and others." They have made a quick trip, only twenty-one days en route. One child died on the way, and a little girl, the daughter of Capt. Mallett, was unfortunately run over near Bear River; but we are pleased to learn that she is not fatally injured.



Captain McArthur’s train, with over 400 saints, got in shortly after Captain Molen’s just 20 days from Benton. Five small children died on the way, and a young man named Henry Popple [Pople] accidentally shot and killed himself on August 14th, just as he returned to the camp from a shooting excursion.

Transcript for "Got In," Semi-Weekly Telegraph, 7 September 1868, 2

"Got In," Semi-Weekly Telegraph.

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1896-2001

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1896-2001, September 2, 1868.

Transcript for Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1896-2001, 2 September 1868, 3-22

Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1896-2001.

Hyde, William, "Correspondence," Semi-Weekly Telegraph

Hyde, William, "Correspondence," Semi-Weekly Telegraph, July 6, 1868.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">CORRESPONDENCE. HYDE PARK, June 27, 1868.</center>
EDITOR DAILY TELEGRAPH:—	
On Monday the 15th inst., I started, in company with others, on a fishing excursion to Bear Lake. The second evening we reached Paris, the county seat of Rich County, at which place Gen. Rich resides, and also the kind hearted and much esteemed Saxey. Paris is certainly a beautiful place and the proper location for the county-seat, and I came to the conclusion while there, that it mattered but little about the altitude of the valley, so long as it is presided over by a person in possession of as large and warm a heart as is that possessed by Gen. Rich, for it must produce, and if present prospects are a proper indication, that people will reap an abundant harvest the present season.	
At Paris we overtook Capt. Molen, in charge of the ox teams from Cache and Rich counties, bound for the terminus of the railroad, to assist the emigration. 
On the morning of the 17th Capt. M. rolled out, having gathered up his entire train, consisting of 55 ox teams and two mule teams, one of which belongs to father Thatcher, of Logan, Aaron Thatcher being assistant to Capt. Molen. This train is composed of the best teams and wagons and general outfit that have ever left the northern counties and it has the right man in charge, and his company is composed of the right kind of boys.	
Soon after the train had started, myself and company followed and, passing through Bloomington, St. Charles and two or three smaller settlements, went round the south end of the lake and down on the east side eight or ten miles, to a place called North Eden. This North Eden, with the exception of the fishery is run by one family. We found the seine at this place, belonging to Dudley Merrill, of Cache county, in successful operation.	
The next day after our arrival, brother Merrill hauled on shore, and five of us dressed and salted, ready for use, about ten barrels of beautiful fish. I cannot say that this business of dressing and salting fish would be so very pleasing to an Editor, but if the sail we had on this beautiful lake, the water of which is so clear that trout, mullet, and white fish can be seen to the depth of from 20 to 30 feet, wouldn’t be a pleasurable pastime for an Editor, especially if he had the right kind of company, then I have not comprehended that class of men.	
On the eighth day we arrived at our homes in Hyde Park, which place is situated, at present, in the midst of a sea of grain. Last year, when the President and company passed through this county, there was but little to be seen but sunflowers, as the grasshoppers had eat the grain and as they wont eat sunflowers, they were left in the full enjoyment of the entire strength of the soil. But with a full crop of wheat, sown in the proper season, the sunflowers (although as natural to this soil as musquitoes are to the swamps of Florida) do us no harm. Could the same company pass through this season, they would discover a very great and happy contrast.		 
<center>Yours, 			 WILLIAM HYDE.</center>

Transcript for Hyde, William, "Correspondence," Semi-Weekly Telegraph, 6 July 1868, 2

Hyde, William, "Correspondence," Semi-Weekly Telegraph.

"Immigration of 1868," Semi-Weekly Telegraph

"Immigration of 1868," Semi-Weekly Telegraph, September 28, 1868.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">FRIDAY EVENING, 25.</center>



IMMIGRATION OF 1868.—The following is a summary of this season’s immigration across the plains, with the date of arrival of each train in this city, the captain’s names, number of passengers, wagons, &amp;c., as reported:—



August 19th, J[ohn]. R. Murdock, 600 passengers, and 50 mule teams;



August 20th, J[oseph]. H. Rollins [Rawlins], 300 passengers, and 32 horse and mule teams;



Aug. 20th, Chester Loveland 293 passengers, and 40 teams;



Aug. 24th, Horton D. Haight, 275 passengers, and 46 ox teams;



August 29th, W[illiam]. S. Seeley, 272 passengers, and 39 teams,



September 2nd, D[aniel] McArthur, 405 passengers, and 61 teams;



Sept. 2nd, S[impson]. M. Molen, 300 passengers, and 61 ox teams;



Sept. 15th, J[ohn]. Gillespie, 500 passengers, and 50 ox teams;



Sept. 24th, E[dward]. S. Mumford, 250 passengers, and 28 mule teams; and



Sept. 25th, J[ohn]. G. Holman, 606 passengers, 62 teams, and 40 independent passengers with 8 teams.

Transcript for "Immigration of 1868," Semi-Weekly Telegraph, 28 September 1868, 3

"Immigration of 1868," Semi-Weekly Telegraph.

Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, June 21, 1847.

Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Life and Labors of S. M. Molen," Deseret Evening News

"Life and Labors of S. M. Molen," Deseret Evening News, December 26, 1900.

"Life and Labors of S. M. Molen," Deseret Evening News.

Missionary Database

Missionary Database.

Orson F. Whitey, History of Utah: in Four Volumes

Orson F. Whitey, History of Utah: in Four Volumes, Vol. 4.

"Upon our arrival at Iowa City, the point of outfitting for the plains, I found the company which had left me in New York many weeks before—they were still on the camp ground, engaged in making handcarts. I understood that a contract had been made with parties in St. Louis to furnish the carts, but the contractors had failed, and until about the 10th of August that the camp ground was cleared and all moved on in an organized capacity. I was appointed to assist Captain Benjamin Hodgetts, in what was called the Independent Company, fitted out by their own means with wagons and teams, and traveling in close proximity to the handcart companies. We reached Winter Quarters (now Florence) September 1st, and without delay moved on, with unusual anxiety for a successful journey across the plains. The first of November found us at the last crossing of the Platte, where we encountered a snow storm and were detained by it several days. Upon the experiences of suffering and death that followed I will not dwell. Finally all were made glad by meeting men and teams from Salt Lake City, bringing supplies and aid, which were much needed. The handcart workers, who were all worn out, were now released and with the other members of those companies conveyed the remainder of the way in wagons, as comfortably as circumstances would permit. On my arrival in Emigration Canyon, I was met by two of my brothers, who escorted me to my home, where I had the great joy of embracing the rest of my dear ones, after an absence of four years and three months; it being now December, 15, 1856."

Transcript for Orson F. Whitey, History of Utah: in Four Volumes, Volume 4 (Salt Lake City, Utah: George Q. Cannon & Sons Co., Publishers, 1904), 121

Orson F. Whitey, History of Utah: in Four Volumes.

"Our Candidates," The Journal

"Our Candidates," The Journal, November 3, 1894, Page 3.

"Our Candidates," The Journal.

"Pioneer S. M. Molen," The Journal

"Pioneer S. M. Molen," The Journal, July 3, 1897, Page 1.

"Pioneer S. M. Molen," The Journal.

Salter, William, [Autobiographical sketch], in Jane Jennings Eldredge, "Records and Historical Sketches of Residents of Davis County, Utah," 9 vols. (1916), 2:54

Salter, William, [Autobiographical sketch], in Jane Jennings Eldredge, "Records and Historical Sketches of Residents of Davis County, Utah," 9 vols. (1916), 2:54.

<xhtml:p xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns:xhtml="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Emegrated to Uath [Utah] the same year 1868[.] Walken all the way acrose the plains[,] forded the rivers. Crosed the plains in Capt Molin company[.] had a hard time on the plains[.] We ran out of perivions [provisions] and little children cryin for bread but when we got to Green River We got some more. We arrived in Salt Lake City Sep 2 1868</xhtml:p>

Transcript for Salter, William, [Autobiographical sketch], in Jane Jennings Eldredge, "Records and Historical Sketches of Residents of Davis County, Utah," 9 vols. (1916), 2:54

Simpson Montgomery Molen, Autobiography, reel 5, box 6, fd. 15, item 1

Simpson Montgomery Molen, Autobiography, reel 5, box 6, fd. 15, item 1.

In the Spring of 1847 after procuring a Scanty supply of provisions and clothing, we resumed our dreary march and on reaching what was then called Winter Quarters we joined the main body of Mormon Emigrants with whom we traveled to Salt Lake valley—We traveled in J[edediah] M[organ] Grants hundred and Wil[l]ard [Trowbridge] Snow fifty—The journey was long and tedious consuming over three months time. Roving bands of Indians made frequent visits to our camp demanding presents as tokens of peac[e] and friendship. On the Plains on either side of the Platt river were thousands of Buffulow and our cattle seemed to partake of that wild disposition and Stampedes by our cattle were a frequent occurence[.] one night—when Correlled they got scared at a Buffalow robe and made a dash for more room breaking down two wagons in their exit—and scatered among the herds of wild cattle many of them we never found which weakened our teams and retarded our Progress. Often our teams while traviling on the road would get scared and run and it would be with much dificulty we get them stoped. On arrival in the valley we pitched our tents on what is now the Western part of Salt Lake City near where the old fourt [fort] stood. This was in the fall of 1847 which make us <s>myself and</s> the family Pioneers and founders of Utah

Transcript for Simpson Montgomery Molen, Autobiography, reel 5, box 6, fd. 15, item 1

Smith, Mercy Livermore, Autobiography, in Dorothy Streeper, Family Histories, [ca. 1983]

Smith, Mercy Livermore, Autobiography, in Dorothy Streeper, Family Histories, [ca. 1983].

When we reached Laramie, the teamsters had been waiting for us about two weeks. Soon we were ready for our long trek across the plains, with Brother Simpson Molin [Molen] and Aaron Thatcher in charge of the company. It rained all the first day, but after that we had fine weather all the way. We enjoyed sleeping out under the stars after our long day's journey.
When the teamsters were on their way to meet us, the water in the Green River was so high that several of the boys as well as their oxen were drowned, but when we were ready to cross, the water had gone down, and we had no trouble in crossing, except that the water came in the wagon boxes and wet our things, so we had to wait there two days to dry our bedding and clothes; then—we had no more trouble.
We arrived in Salt Lake City the second day of September [1868].

Transcript for Smith, Mercy Livermore, Autobiography, in Dorothy Streeper, Family Histories, [ca. 1983]

Utah State History Cemeteries and Burials Database

Utah State History Cemeteries and Burials Database.

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fatherReferenceId

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Sophronia Rosannah Molen

Hannah Elizabeth Molen

Michael Webster Molen

Jesse Molen

Laurany Huffaker

Geneva Ellen Molen

Margaret Ann Molen

Alexander Campbell Molen

Docia Emmerine Molen

James Wesley Molen

Francis Marion Molen

Martha Melvina Molen

Mary Arepta Molen

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Simpson Montgomery Molen

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