The Waters Journal of Eli Chase

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Sept 10, 1820 my father and family consisting of my mother and brother Silas
and my sister Sophia, Orpha, Orryanna, Harriet, and Brother Darwin and Stephen,
took water for the state of Illinois in his own boat seven or eight tons
burden, Crofred Lake Ontario from Sandy creek to niagara river from thence into
lake Erie went up Lake Erie, crossed into Chetanque Lake and went the outlet
into the River Allegane at the town of Warren and went down the Allegane to
Pittsburg then down the Ohio to Cincinnati where we stopped through the winter
and buried brother Stephen there. In the spring 1821 we got into our boat
again, Uncle Hennie Haskin joined us from Lebanon, Ohio with his family, who
had a few months previous moved from the same town we left. From there we
moved down to it's juction with the Mississippi thence up the Mississippi to
the Mouth of the Illinois river thence up that to the Mouth of crooked creek
where we buried my sister harriet N. and Uncle Bennie's daughter Lucy, from
thence we proceeded to the mouth of Spoon River then up Spoon river to the
bluffs where we buried my sister Sophia, and formed a settlement in Lewistown
1821 - where we resided until the year 1831.

The next Feb 1832 I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
together with father and mother and brother Darwin and in the month of April we
left for Jackson Co. Missouri and fomed a settlement 12 miles north of
Independence Mo. where we felt the hand of persecution in consequence of our
faith and beliefs in the doctrine of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and our gathering
together unto him and worshiping God according to the dictates of our
conscience for we belived in revealed religion, we belived in a prophet, even a
prophet Joseph. We belived in apostles after the order of Christ for we
belived in the restoration of the Holy Priesthood with all it's attendant
blessings, we also belived in the ordinance of baptism, faith in Christ and his
promises to us, thru all the Holy Prophets since the work began, finally we
claimed all the gifts that are contained in the gospel of Christ consequently
we a body of people enmassed was persecuted, robbed and driven from our homes
to the Co. of Clay, east of the Missouri River (Independence is west of the
river and Liberty is the County seat of Clay County).

We continued in Clay Co. until a persecution planted us in Caldwell, year 1835
or 6 about 35 miles from the river where we lived until 1839 and the last six
months we lived under a dreadful persecution which terminated in the expulsion
of 15 or 20,000 souls to the state of Illinois where the church was received
with kindness and sympathy.

N.B. I was shot and wounded in the persecution for the persecutors delighted in
shooting and killing our people.

Jan 12, 1839, I was ordained under the hands of Joseph Smith Senior and Brigham
Young to the eldership. The 18th I left in company with brother-in-law
Berdinand Vandyke for Quincy Illinois, 200 miles and in April 6, 1839 we held a
conference in Quency where I was ordained under the direction of President
Joseph Young in the seventys and I took my mission May 27, 1839 into the east.
I traveled through upper Canada and in various parts of the state of New York
and ended my travels in the Co. of Madison where I formed an acquaintance with
Olive Hills the daughter of Amasa and Eunice Hills, and married her in the year
July 25, 1840. and in July 3, 1841 I returned to the church in Hancock Co.
Illinois, having traveled a distance of 3,000 miles exclusive of the circuitious
route to and fro, that I do not memorize.

But suffice me to say I was much lame in the time, in consequence of the many
fatiques and harships which I passed through while in the state of Missouri for
I took an active part in defending the cause of our faith in God and
preserving the lives of our people. I preched about 100 times and baptized 8
persons up to July 1845 and May 8, 1845, I saw the capstone of the Temple laid
in the City of Joseph and supposed to be 13,000 inhabitants in the city in
1845.

June 15, 1845, I was called from the 3rd quorum of Seventys and ordained
president in the 27th quorum (messenger to the nations and ordained) under the
hands of President Joseph Young and John D. Lee general recorder. August 23
the dome was raised on the Temple of the Lord in the City of Joseph.

September 4, 1845 the mob commenced buring houses in Hancock County, driving
the saints together to the City of Joseph. I was called out by order of the
High sherrif and served ten days in supporting the law against the treasonable
characters, Kem Williams at their head.

October 4, I rec'd credit on books for labor on the Temple 3 years and six
months. December the work of endowment commenced in the temple in the City of
Joseph. My father and mother went into the temple and received their
endowments. December 18, 1845. Jan 5, 1846, I Eli and Olive my wife received
our endowments in the Temple of the City of Joseph. Jan 6, Darwin went to
receive his endowments also.

Jan 3, 1846, Hiram Barry Chase received his endowments, Mary Mariah received
her endowments. I have paid one days work on Joseph Youngs house, I also have
paid on dollar fifty cents in cash. I paid penny tithing for my wife Olive for
the temple $1.50. I paid on oil for the endowments in the temple $.57. I paid
on wine prepared for the dedication of the temple $.25.

Jan 3, 1846, father and mother were sealed in the Temple in the City of Joseph,
Hancock Co. Illinois by Heber C. Kimble. I Eli and my wife Olive were sealed
at the same place at the same time by A. Lyman.

Feb 10, 1846 I left Nauvoo with the camp of the saints. One 10th evening I
camped on Sugar creek about ten miles from Nauvoo 26th I left Sugar Creek with
a portion of the camp and travelled 15 miles and camped on the waters of the
Desmond 27th we travled eight miles and camped near Dewitts mills on Reeds
Creek on the waters of the Desmond where Gen. C.C.Rich and his family overtook
us and we joined with him about 20 men of us about 8 or 10 wagons and teams and
we had no tent. Gen Rich had a tent wich covered his family, and the team men
lay in the open air for the time of 45 days then most of the camp had tents.
We had to work to support the teams on our journey.

May 8, we left the mill and traveled 4 miles and camped. May 9 we traveld 15
miles and camped on a branch of a creek. May 10, we traveled 4 miles and over
took the principle camp wich left us on Reeds Creek May 12 we removed 3 miles
and camped on the waters of Fox River. 19 May we traveled 11 miles and camped.
May 20 we traveled 12 miles and camped. May 21 we traveled and camped on the
west bank of Charleton River 16 miles distance. May 25 I received my
discharge and left Charleton river distance one hundred miles from Nauvoo.

May 29, I got home to my family in Nauvoo. May 20, we left Nauvoo for the
west myself and wife and child, father, mother, sister May and Uncle William
Rowe and his family 18 souls in all in company arrived at Council Bluff june 17.

Hiram volunteered under Colonel Allen July 4, 1846. Aug, 1st we left the
Bluffs. Aug 2, we left Council Point. Aug 8, we arrived on a smal stream camp
branch 6 miles above the line on the new purchase where we resided for winter
quarters.

Jan 17, 1847 I went to the main camp west bank of teh Missouri river. I
received 12 dollars in goods and 8 dollars in cash sent by Hiram Chase to his
father volonteer in the United States service. (Sandpete head quarters).

My father Stephen chase died Feb 11, 1847. Buried on indian land about 40 miles
from council point. 6 miles north of the Missouri Line about 12 miles above the
ferry on Nishmabotha river called Huntsuckers ferry on the ridge road about one
half mile north of the stream called camp branch. Two hundred and ten feet
norwest of boiling spring, our cabin standing about 120 feet above the head of
the spring.

The names of the brethern that built the coffin and buried my father, Samuel
Gates, Aaron Dolph, William Redficle, Martin Bushman, William Cazier, William
N. Rowe

April 23, 1847 we moved 30 miles on the road north and west leading to the
bluffs. Brother Clarkson Chase moved us and left us with Brother Israel
Behunning there we were kindly recieved in the Laharp Branch and after planting
sometime nera the first of June we moved in a cabin that William Sperry gave to
mother.

This summer I fenced and cultivated five acres of ground 4 acres of corn 1 acre
of beans, Potatoes, cabbage and other things, and built a house and moved in it
Septer 23, 1847.

About the First of June I left Council Bluffs, arrived to the city of Great
Sale Lake August 25, 1849. My mother Brother Darwin and Sister Mary and My own
Family, Eight Souls in all including Helen the third daughter who was born on
Platte River. We moved in a doby house I bought, price 60 dollar-block 17 lot
3 October 11, 1849.

Description of the Temple in the City of Joseph, Hancock County Illinois.

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*From the gound to the top of the eves 70 feet.
From the Eves to the top of the attic story 11 1/2 feet.
Tower 12 1/2 Feet.
Belfrey 20 Feet.
Clock Section 10 Feet.
Observatory 11 feet
Dome 13 1/2 feet.
Balls and rod 10 feet.
Total 158 1/2 feet.

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*This was copied from and old diary which has been in possession of relatives in
Medford, Oregon, and just recently (summer of 1940) sent to Mrs. Elease
Henderson, Collinston, Utah.

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City of Joseph, July 18, 1845. A blessing by John Smith patriarch upon the
head of Eli Chase, son of Stephen and Orryanna. Born Nov 9, 1808 in Ellisburg,
Jefferson County, New York.

Brother Eli in the name of Jesus of Nazareth I lay my hands upon thy head and
seal upon thee a belssing of a father.

Thou art the blood and lineage of Joseph, through the loins of Manasah and thou
shalt be blest with the priesthood which was sealed upon Manassah even in
fullness and be crowned with the blessings of Ephriam in the day when Isreal is
gathered.

Thou are called to preach the gospel to this generation and to be concelor in
the house of Israel, Thy calling is to travel and preach to nations in distant
land and where you cannot go to send, for this gospel must be preached to all
nations before the time of the end comes, thou shalt be a might man in
gathering the reminats of Jacob those who are scattered amoung the gentiles,
Jews and Lamanites.

Thou shalt gather thy thousands and lad them to Zion and establish them in one
place and build a city which shall be a stake of Zion and though shalt live to
see it prosper greatly and shal preside over it thoughout all generations even
through time and eternity thy name shall be had in honorable remembrance amoung
the saints for thou hast suffered much and hast not fainted neither hast thou
been ashamed to acknowledge thy faith in the gospel in the midst of persecution
for thy sufferings thou shalt be rewareded double, and for thy boldness in the
cause the Lord will acknowledge thee before the Holy angels.

Thou shalt have many children and they shall increase forever, thou shalt have
riches until thou art satisfied. Thou shalt stand on Mt. Zion in the last days
with the 144,000 enjoying all the powers of the Holy Priesthood. This is thy
blessing sealed upon thee and thy companion and children in faithfulness and no
power shall take it from thee even so, Amen.

Recorded in Book D p 302 No. 705

Albert Carrington, Clerk & Recorder.

Nauvoo was called the city of Joseph in the early days of Nauvoo.

• Married: 25 Jul 1840 in Madison, Ny
• Sealing Spouse: 23 Jan 1846 in NAUVO

Children

1. Harriet Louise Chase b: 18 Mar 1841 in East Hamilton, Madison, Ny
2. Olive Chase b: 18 Jul 1846 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Ia
3. Frances Helen Chase b: 21 Jul 1849 in Platte River, Ne
4. Eli Chase b: 5 Jul 1851 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Ut

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