Son of Stephen Chase and Orryanna Rowe
Introduction, transcription, and commentary by Colleen Helquist, 2005
In 1845, Eli Chase began a record of Chase family genealogy and history. On the first four pages, he recorded the information he knew about his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Five pages detailed the family migration from New York to Illinois, to Missouri, back to Illinois and on to Utah. The remaining pages contain bits and pieces of family information, some of it added by others after his death. Eli's handwritten account was microfilmed in 1940 by the Genealogical Society of Utah. Over the years, I have come across several transcriptions of his record, all of them somewhat different. I decided to study the microfilm myself and try to get a more accurate transcription.
During October of 2005, I spent over 20 hours examining film #48 from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. I transcribed it page for page, line for line, just as it seemed to be written. I used capitalization and punctuation only as I could see it on the record. I did not correct any spelling. In a few places where I could not decipher it, I added question marks. The pages were not numbered so I identified them as frames of film. This short record contains a wealth of information, but some of it may be confusing. At the end of the transcription, I have added notes and commentary based on additional research.
Note: This Eli Chase (1808-1851) should not be confused with his son Eli (1851-1934), his uncle Eli Chase (1785-1828) who married Betsy Manchester, or his cousin Eli (1820-1908) who married Nancy Dougherty.
See the history of Eli Chase and Olive Hills
Also see the history of his parents Stephen Chase and Orryanna Rowe
[Frame 1]
City of Joseph July 23 1845
The genealogy of My Grandfather Barry Chase and Phebe
his Wife who was Born in Dutches Co State of New york
Barry Chase was Born about the year 1754 Died 1808
Phebe his Wife was born about the year 1756
His son Lot was born in Dutches Co State of Ny 1777 Died 1778
His son Stephen was Born in Dutches Co Ny April 11 1779
His son Eli was Born in Dutches Co Ny Aug 1785 Died 1829
His Daughter Naomi was born Dutches Co Ny May 25 1784
His Daughter Esther was born in Saratoga Co Ny Died
His Daughter Lucy was born in Saratoga Co Ny 13 Sept 1798
Stephen My Father Married Orryanna Rowe May 12 1799
My Mother was born in Sharon Dutches Co Ny June 1 1784
The names and ages of their Sons and Daughters
Daniel was born July 25 1800 Manlius Onondaga Ny Died 1802
Silas was born in Saratoga Co Ny June 4 1803 Died Farmington Ill
I Eli was born in Ellisburgh Jefferson Co Ny Nov 9 1808
Darwin was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Co Ny Feb 25 1816
Stephen was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Co Ny Aug 27 1821 Died 1821
Hiram Barry was born Lewistown Fulton Co Ills March 14 1823
Asenath was born Providence Saratoga Ny Aug 20 1804
Sophia was born Elisburgh Jefferson Ny April 9 1807 died 1821
Orpha was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny June 27 1811
Orryanna was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny April 30 1813
Harriet Nancy was born in Elisburgh Jefferson Ny Oct 27 1818 Died 1821
Mary Mariah was born in Lewistown Fulton Ills March 29 1825
I Eli Married Olive Hill 1840 the Daughter of Amasa and Eunice Hill
Olive My Wife was born in Brookfield Madison Ny Aug 12 1815
Harriet Louiza was born East Hamilton Madison Ny March 18 1841
Olive was born Council Bluffs Mo.Riv July 18 1846
Helen Chase was born July 21 1849 on our Journey to the Great Salt Lake
[Frame 2]
The names of Elis family the son of Barry Chase
Betsey his wife was born in Providence Rhodisland
Seth was born in Elisburgh Jefferson Ny 1810 Died 1845
Wheten was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Co Ny 1814
Stephen was born in Elisburgh Jefferson Ny
Eli was born in Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny
Isaac was born in Canton Fulton Ills
Phebe was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny July 1811 Died
Nancy was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny
Lydia was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny
Betsey was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny
The names of Naomys family the Daughter of Barry Chase
She married John Haverland the year 1804 Died
Naomy was born in Dutches Co Ny May 25 1784
Eli was born in Providence Saratoga Ny 1809
& Barry was twins he Barry Died in ? Ny
Ira was born in Ellisburgh Jefferson Co Ny
Charles was born in Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny
Reuben was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny Died
Daniel was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny Jan 11 1827
Phebe was born Providence Saratoga Ny Died Jefferson Ny
Asenath was born Providence Saratoga Ny Died ?
Sarah Jane was born Providence Saratoga Ny Died May ?
Naomy was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny Died ?
The names of Esthers family the Daughter of Barry Chase Died
Who married Reuben Catlin in Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny 1809
Esther was born in Saratoga Co April 13 1793 Died 1823
Oldest son Horace was born in Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny
John was born in Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny
Amanda was born Ellisburgh Jefferson Ny
[Frame 3]
These are the names of
My Mothers Parents & family
David Rowe married Mary Thomas
He David was born about 1747 Died 1832
She Mary was born about 1745 Died 1795
William N. the oldest son was born in Dutches Co Ny Sept 1785
David 2 son was born Saratoga Co Ny April 11 1792
Benjamin 3 Son was born Saratoga Co Ny 1792
Orryanna my Mother was born Sharon Dutches Co Ny June 1 1784
Polly was born Saratoga Co Ny 1790 Died
Eleanor was born Saratoga Co Ny
she at the age of 17 years
William N. Rowe married Candace Blanchard the year 1818
The 1 son Ossian M. Rowe was born Feb the 15 1821 Indiana
2 son Nicholas C.C. Rowe was born May 1823 Delaware Co
3 son David P. Rowe was born June 25 1825
4 son Daniel Rowe was born Dec 30 1833 do
5 son Wm Rowe was born March 24 1835 do
6 son Leonidas was born Sept 21 1837 do
7 son Henry C. was born Jan 5 1844 do
1 Daughter Orryanna was born Ellisburgh Ny March 4 1818 Died
2 Daughter Eleanor Rowe was born Nov 20 1828 Died
3 Daughter Mary was born Oct 22 1828 Ind Delaware Co Died do
4 Daughter Mariah Theressa was born July 31 1830 Died do June
5 Daughter Candace was born July 15 1838
6 Daughter Hannah was born Aug 1 1842 Died do
Henry a grandson was born Oct 1837
grandson John do was born May 20 1840 Ind
do Stephen Chase was born Ind Died at the age of 5 months
Joshua Everhart was the Father of Stephen C. he died Ind
about the year 1844 his wife Orryanna died Ind all near
the same time Died they joined Church of L.D.St.
[Frame 4]
Haverland
13 Sarah Jane married Philip Conley Mich Died May 10 1845
She lost infant 2 months old after her death we have no name
The oldest She named Mary Jane born 1837 Linawa Co Mich
14 Naomy Haverland Married had 1 Child Died at the age of 6 months
which was 6 months after Naomys Death Name not known
The family of David Rowe 2
David Rowe married Hannah Mannan 1820 lebanon Ohio
1 son Wm Rowe was born Feb 20 1826 Ind
2 son Manning do 17 July 1830 Ind
1 daughter Maryan do Died Ind
2 daughter Margaret do Dec 1824 Ind
3 daughter Ruth do March 1828 Ind
Elisha Colamore 2 husband of Polly or Mary Rowe
Mary Rowe was born Saratoga Co Ny Died
Betsey Colamore was 1 of her Daughters in Canada
Mary was one of her Daughters
The family of Uncle Benoni Haskin
Who married Eleanor My Mothers sister
Benoni was born in Duwaynes Burg Ny July 26 1788
Eleanor his wife do Providence Saratoga Co Ny Aug 12 1794
Wm. Anson oldest son born July 6 1811 Jefferson Ny
James Nelson 2 was born do Sept 22 1812 Uper Canada
Morris 3 born May 31 1816 Elisburgh Jefferson Co Ny
Laura the oldest daughter born Elisburgh Jefferson Co Ny Sept 9 1814
2 Surepta was born Jefferson Co Ny Sept ? 1817
[Frame 5]
Eli Chase died in Salt Lake City Feb 30, 1851
[The above note was added to the top of the page in another handwriting]
I Eli Chase was born in Elisburgh Jefferson Co Ny Nov 9 1808
Sept 10th 1820 (My Father & family Consisting of my Mother
& Br Silas & my Sisters Sophiah Orpha Orryanna & Harriet N.
& Br Darwin & Stephen) Took water for the state of Illinois
on his own boat 7 or 8 tons burthen Crossed Lake Ontario
from Sandy Creek to Niagara river from thence in to Lake
Erie went up Lake Erie Crossed into Chetauque Lake & went
the outlet into the river Allegana at the town of Warren & went
down the Allegana to Pitsburgh then down the Ohio to Cincinata
where we stoped through the winter we buried Br Stephen
there & in the spring 1821 we got into our boat again (Uncle
Benni haskin joined us from Lebanon Ohio with his family who
had a few months previous moved from the same town we left)
from thence we moved down to its junction with the Mississippi thence
up the Mississippi to the mouth of Illinois River thence up that
to the mouth of Crooked Creek where buried My sister Harriet N.
& uncle Benoni's daughter Laury. Do from thence we proceeded
to the Mouth of Spoon River then up spoon Riv to the bluffs
where we buried my sister Sophia & formed a settle
ment in Lewistown 1821 - where we resided untill the
year 1831. The next year 1832 I joined the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter day Saints together with Father & Mother and
Br Darwin. & in the month of April we left for jackson
Co Mo & formed a settlement 12 Miles North of Independence
where we felt the hand of persecution in consequence of
our faith in the Doctrine of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.-
& our gathering together unto him & worshipping God
according to the dictates of our conscience for we believed
in revealed religion, we believed in a Prophet, even a
Prophet Joseph, We believed in apostles after the order
of Christ, for we believe in the restoration of the Holy
Priesthood with all its attendant Blessings we also believed
in the ordinance of Baptism faith in Christ & his promises to us
[Frame 6]
Through all the Holy Prophets since the world began finally
we claimed all the gifts that are contained in the Gospel of Christ
Consequently we a body of people en masse was persecuted Robed
& driven from our homes to the Co of Clay East of the Missouri Riv
(Independence is West of the Riv & liberty is the Co cite of Clay)
we continued in Clay Co untill a persecution planted us in Caldwell
in the year 1835 about 35 Mls from the Riv where we lived untill 1839
and the last six months we lived under a dreadful persecution
which terminated in the expulsion of 15 or 20,000 more souls
to the state of Ills where the Church was received with Kindness
and sympathy N.B. I was shot & wounded in the persecution
for the persecutors delighted in shooting & killing our people
January the 12 1839 I was ordained under the hands of Joseph Smith sen
and Brigham Young to the Eldership The 18 I left in Co with
My Br inlaw Ferdinand Vandyke for Quincey Ills-200Mils-
& in April 6th 1839 we held a conference in Quincey where I was
ordained under the direction of President Joseph Young in
to the seventys & I took my Mission May 27-1839--
in to the East I traveled through upper Canada & in various
parts of the state of Ny & ended my travels in the Co of Madison
where I formed an acquaintance with Olive Hills the
daughter of Amasa & Eunice Hills (& married her in the year July 25 1840)
in July 3-1841 I returned to the Church in Hancock Co
Ills having traveled the distance of 3,000 Miles exclusive of the
circuitous routs to & fro that I do not memorise but suffise me
to say that I traveled much & my health was poor & I was much
lame in the time in consequence of the many fatigues &
hardships 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 & preserving the lives of our people I
Preached about 100 times & Baptised 8 persons-up to July 1845
& May the 8 1845 I saw the capstone of the Temple laid in
the City of Joseph-& supposed to be 13,000 inhabitants in the City in 1845.
[Frame 7]
June 15 1845 I was called from the 3 Quorum of the seventys & ordained
President in the 27 Quorum-(messenger to the Nations & ordained)
under the hands of President Joseph Young & John D.
Lee general Recorder. Aug the 23 the Dome was raised on the
Temple of the Lord in the City of Joseph. Sept the 8 1845 the Mob
commenced burning houses in Hancock Co. Driving
the Saints together to the City of Joseph I was called out
by order of the High sheriff & served 10 days in support
ing the law against those treasonable characters Rev
Williams at their head. Oct the 4. I received Cr. on Books
for labor on the Temple 3 years & six months.
Dec The work of endowment commenced in the Temple
in the City of Joseph My Father & Mother went into the Temple
& Received an endowment December 15, 1845
46 Jan 3 I Eli Chase & Olive my wife Received our
Endowments in the Temple in the City of Joseph.
Jan 6 1846 Darwin went to receive his endowment also
Jan 30 1846 Hiram Barry Chase received his Endowment City Joseph
Do. Mary Mariah Chase received her endowment The City of Joseph
I have paid one days work on Joseph Youngs house 1.00
I also have paid one dollar and fifty cents in cash 1.50
I paid penny tithing for my wife Olive for the Temple 1.00
I paid on oil for the endowment in the Temple .37
I paid on wine prepared for the dedication of the Temple .25
do towards book in the third quorum to ??Brown 1.25
Jan 23 1846 Father and Mother was sealed in the
Temple in the City of Joseph Hancock Co Ill. H.C.Kimble
23 Eli Chase and Olive my wife was sealed at the same
time and at the same place. By A. Lyman
Feb 10 1846 I left Nauvoo with the camp of the saints on the 10
evening I camped on sugar creek about 10 Miles from Nauvoo
26 I left Sugar Creek in company with a portion of the Camp.
and traveled 15 Mils and camped on the waters of the Desm...
[Frame 8]
27 We traveled 8 Mils and camped Near Dewites mills on Reeds
Creek on the waters of the Desmon where general C.C.Rich and his
family over took us and we joined with him about 20 Men of us and
about 8 or 10 waggons & teams and we had no tent Gen Rich had a tent
which covered his family and the team men laid in their waggons and about
ten of us 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.
Mar 8th we left the Mill and traveled 4 miles & camped.
9 we traveled 15 miles and camped on a branch of a creek
10 we traveled 4 miles and overtook the principle camp which
left us on Reeds Creek 12 we removed 3 miles & camped on the
waters of Fox Riv 19 we traveled 15 Miles and camped
20 we traveled 12 Miles & camped 21 we traveled and
camped on the west bank of Chariton River 16 Miles distance
26 I received my discharge & left Chariton River distance 100
Miles from Nauvoo 29 I got home to my family in Nauvoo
Mar the 30 We left Nauvoo for the west my self and wife and
child Father and Mother and sister Mary and Uncle
Wm Rowe and his family 18 souls in all in company
arrived at the Council Bluff June 17
Hiram volunteered under Kernal Allen July the 4 1846
Aug the 1 we left the Bluffs 2 we left Council Point
8 we arrived on a small stream Camp Branch 6 Mils above the line
in the new purchase where we design for winter quarters
Jan 14 1847 I went to the main camp west bank of Mo Riv
I received 12 dollars in goods and 8 dollars in cash
Sent by Hiram Chase to his Father volunteer
in the United States Service - (Santa fee head quars)
[Frame 9]
My Father Stephen Chase Died
Feb 11 1847 Buried on Indian land about
40 Miles from Council Point 6 Miles North
of Missouri line about 12 Miles above the ferry
on Nishnabotna Riv called Huntsuckers Ferry
on the Ridge Road about one half Mile North of a
stream - called Camp branch two hundred and ten
feet North West of the boiling spring our cabbin
standing about one hundred and 20 feet above the
head of the spring the names of Brethren that
built the Coffin and buried my Father under neath
| Samuel Gates | Martin Bushman | |||
| Aaron Dolph | William Cazier | |||
| Wm. Redfield | Wm N. Rowe |
April 23 1847 we moved - 30 Mils on the road North & West
leading to the bluffs -- Br. Clarkson Chase moved us
and left us with Brother Isaac Behunning where we was
Kindly received in the Laharp branch and after planting
sometime near the 1 of June we moved in a cabbbin
that Wm. Sperry gave to Mother this summer 1847 I fenced
and cultivated five acres of ground 4 acres of corn 1 acre
of beans potatoes cabbage and sundry articles and built
a house and moved in it Sept 23 - 1847 -
About the first of June I left
Council Bluffs - arrived to the City of the
Great Salt Lake Aug the 25 1849
My Mother Br Darwin and sister Mary
and my own family eight souls in all
including Helen the 3 Daughter who was
born on Platt River - we moved in a doby House
I bought price 60 dollars - Block 17 Lot 3 - Oct 11 1849
[Frame 10]
June 2 Harriet L. Chase was baptized in the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter day Saints at the age of 9 years.
June the 2nd Harriet L. Chase was baptised in the Church of
Jesus Christ of Later day sant at the age of 8 years
Mary Ann Browning Died June 23 1878 25 years old
[Frame 11]
City of Joseph July 21 1845
Blessing by John Smith Patriarch upon the head of Stephe Son of Berry
& Phebe Chase born April 18 ? 1779 in Frederickstown Dutchess Co NY
The Patriarchal Blessing of Eli Chase the Son of Stephen and Orryanna
Chase Born in the town of Ellisburgh Jefferson Co Ny
City of Joseph July 18th 1845
A blessing by John Smith patriarch upon the head of Eli Chase
Son of Stephen and Orryanna Born Nov 4th 1808 Ellisburgh, Jefferson Co
New York
Births
Eli Chase was Born Nov 9th 1808
Olive Chase was Born Aug 12th 1815
Harriet Louiza was Born March 18th 1841
Olive 2 was Born July 18th 1846
Francis Helen was Born July 21 1849
Eli Chase 2 was Born July 5 1851
Deaths
Eli Chase died in Salt Lake City
Thursday February 20th 1851 Age 42 years 3 months 11 days
[Frame 12]
City of Joseph July21, 1845
Blessing by John Smith Patriarch upon the head of Orryanna the Daughter
Of David and Mary Rowe born June 1, 1784 Sharon dutchess County Ny
The Patriarchal Blessing of Olive Chase Daughter of Amasa & Eunice Hill.
Born in Brookfield Township Madison Co NY Aug 12 1815
[Frame 13]
A Blessing by Isaac Morly upon the head of Hiram Barry Chase the
Son of Stephen and Orryanna Chase born in Lewistown Fulton County Ill
March 14th 1823
[Frame 14]
The blessing of Mary Mariah, the daughter of Stephen and Orryanna
Chase born in Lewistown, Fulton County State of Illinois
Mar 29th 1825
[Frame 15]
A blessing by Isaac Morly upon the head of Darwin Chase son of Stephen
and Orryanna Chase born in Ellisburgh Jefferson County State of New York
February 24 18??
[End of Film]
[Frame 1 notes]
Eli began his journal in 1845 while living in Nauvoo, Illinois (called the City of Joseph at that time). He began by recording all he knew of the genealogies of his relatives. This page includes three families: his paternal grandfather's, his father's and his own. The birth information for Olive and Helen was apparently added lated, but it appears to be in Eli's handwriting.
[Frame 2 notes]
Here Eli separated three families, making it easier to read. The first family is that of his uncle Eli Chase who was married to Betsy Manchester. Eli and Betsy migrated from New York to Fulton County, Illinois in the 1820s. Some of their children moved on to Iowa.
The second family is that of Eli's aunt Naomi Chase who married John Haviland. The Havilands migrated from New York to Michigan where they settled in the Raisin Valley of Lenawee County.
The third family is that of his aunt Esther Chase who married Reuben Catlin. The Catlins migrated from New York to White County in Illinois.
[Frame 3 notes]
Eli added his own note of explanation at the top of the page. The first family listed here is that of his maternal grandfather, David Rowe. The information is sketchy.
William N. Rowe was the brother of Eli's mother. They lived in Indiana, then immigrated to Fremont County in Illinois. A number of Rowes made the trek to Utah as converts to the LDS Church.
The last paragraph of this frame refers to the family of William N. Rowe's daughter, Orryanna, who married Joshua Everhart.
Eli always listed the sons first and then the daughters. Here he begins numbering them. He often used "do" as a repeat or ditto mark. Sometimes it is difficult to tell what he was intending as the repeat. If he knew that a person had passed away by that time, but he didn't have a date, he simply wrote "Died".
[Frame 4 notes]
Here Eli records marriage information of two Haviland cousins who were named in Frame 2. It is unclear what the 13 and 14 indicate. If these girls were the thirteenth and fourteenth children in the Haviland family, then there must have been some that were not listed previously.
David Rowe 2 (son of David Rowe and Mary Thomas) married Hannah Manning. They lived in Indiana for many years. Their son, William Rowe (1826-1906), was a convert to the LDS Church and traveled to Utah in 1848. Parents David and Hannah immigrated with him, just to keep the family together.
Little is known of Mary Rowe and her husband Elisha. They apparently settled in Canada. It is believed that the surname is spelled Collamer.
Eleanor Rowe, sister of Orryanna Rowe Chase, married Benoni Haskins. They immigrated from New York to Illinois, along with the Chase family. Benoni's birthplace "Duwaynes Burg" could refer to Duanesburg near Schenectedy or to Doanesburg, a hamlet in Dutchess County, New York. Laura Haskins, the oldest daughter is the same as Laury who was buried along the river journey. (See Frame 5)
[Frame 5 notes]
Here Eli began a record of his life. It runs together and can be very confusing without an understanding of the history and geography of the time
As a result of his service in the War of 1812, Stephen Chase was awarded a land grant in the military tract of Illinois. In 1820, he and his family left Ellisburg, New York and began a long water journey following the Alleghany, Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. His newly married daughter, Asenath, stayed behind in New York. Eli's description of the journey is very detailed and can be easily mapped out.
The Chases were among the first settlers in Lewistown, Illinois. First it was part of Pike County but later it became part of Fulton County. The 1830 census of Fulton county lists Stephen Chase with his household. Numbers indicate Stephen, his wife, three sons (Eli, Darwin and Hiram), and one daughter (Mary Mariah). Three other children (Silas, Orpha and Orryanna) had married by then and were also living in Fulton County. Three children (Sophia, Harriet and Stephen II) died in route to Illinois.
In 1832, some members of the Chase family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and left for Missouri where other members of the faith were gathering. Silas stayed in Fulton County.
Upon their arrival in Missouri, the Chase family joined the Whitmer Settlement in Jackson County (located in present-day Kansas City). By 1832, a large number of Mormons had purchased land and settled in several communities in Jackson County, hoping to make a permanent home. Some Missourians felt threatened by the influx, mostly for political reasons.
An anti-Mormon mob attacked the Whitmer Settlement on October 31, 1833. They whipped some of the men with clubs and pelted women and children with rocks. The mobs demolished ten houses in the Whitmer Settlement, one of them belonging to Stephen Chase. Similar persecutions took place in other settlements.
[Frame 6 notes]
The Chase family escaped and established an emergency winter refuge in Clay County, Missouri, north of the Missouri River. Stephen Chase was the leader of those who gathered there and it became known as the Chase Settlement or Chase Branch.
Persecutions were again repeated and the Mormons were forced to flee to Caldwell County where they established the community of Far West and other communities. By 1838 there were about 12,000 Mormons in Missouri, 5000 of them in Far West. One surviving record lists the Stephen Chase family living in the southwest corner of the city.
As persecution and mob violence continued, a Caldwell County Militia was formed for protection. Eli and his brother Darwin served in that militia. During a conflict with a mob (known as the Battle of Crooked River), Eli was shot in his leg. He made a slight reference to it with "N.B." (notabene meaning note well).
Hostilities continued until the Mormons were forced to leave Missouri. In early 1839, they walked 200 miles where they were received warmly by the citizens of Quincy, Illinois. From Quincy, they moved north and established the city of Nauvoo in Hancock County.
[Frame 7 notes]
During the seven year period 1839-1846, the Mormons drained the wetlands and created an impressive city. The Chase family joined many others in building a beautiful temple and participated in ordinance ceremonies there. Many men went out as missionaries to share their message. Eli went to New York and Canada. Converts from the East and from Europe flocked to Nauvoo, which had become one of the largest cities in Illinois.
Persecutuion continued and leader Joseph Smith was murdered by a mob. Under the leadership of Brigham Young, the people prepared to go west where they hoped they could finally live in peace.
The exodus from Nauvoo took place in stages. In February of 1846, people began crossing the Mississippi River and established a camp on the Iowa side at Sugar Creek. An advance company was sent ahead to improve roads and bridges and to locate suitable campsites. Eli apparently had a teamster assignment with this advance group. Leaving his family in Nauvoo, he set out on a 45 day journey to help get the exodus started.
[Frame 8 notes]
The route the pioneers took has been carefully researched and mapped. Reed's Creek camp was east of Bonaparte (Iowa), a flourishing town in 1846. The men had to find work in the area in order to support themselves, so they stayed a while. Bonaparte is located on the Des Moines River. It was a good place for wagons to cross the river because of a rocky bed at one point. A large mill there provided the pioneers with flour for the journey.
At the Chariton River, Eli and some of the other men were sent back to Nauvoo and the advance company continued on across Iowa. Soon after arriving home, Eli and his family started west. It is difficult to determine the departure date in the record. It is likely March 30, because it took 10-12 weeks for the advance company wagons to cross Iowa. Eli clearly stated that the Chase group arrived at Council Bluff on June 17.
As groups continued to arrive, crops were planted and plans were made to stay for the winter. Settlements were established on both sides of the Missouri River. The main camp was on the west bank (present-day Omaha), but there were many smaller settlements in Iowa.
In July, army officials arrived at Council Bluff. President James K. Polk was requesting 500 Mormon men to help in the war against Mexico. Eli's brother, Hiram, joined the Mormon Battalion and started off on the march to California, the longest infantry march in history.
[Frame 9 notes]
Because the land around Winter Quarters (Omaha) could not support all the people, they were encouraged to spread out. Based on Eli's description and a history of the area, it appears that the Chase family settled in what became Fremont County, Iowa, probably near the settlement of Plum Hollow (present-day Thurman). The following facts help in the understanding of his description.
Council Point was a Mormon camp on the flats of Iowa near the Missouri River where Highway 92 now crosses.The Huntsucker or Hunsaker ferry was the first one in Fremont County, Iowa. It was located about two miles above present-day Hamburg on the Nishnabotna River.
The Iowa-Missouri border, at that time, was ten miles north of the present boundary.
William N. Rowe lived in Scott township in Fremont County for many years after.
During the winter of 1846-1847, hundreds died in the settlements, including Stephen Chase. Although Eli gave a detailed description of his father's burial place, the exact location has not been determined. It was undoubtedly in Fremont County.
In the spring of 1847, Eli moved his widowed mother and other family members to a settlement near Council Bluff, probably Highland Grove. William Sperry was a young man whose parents had died that winter. Staying true to a promise made to his father, he gathered his siblings and joined one of the early wagon trains headed for the Great Salt Lake. He apparently gave the family cabin to Orryanna before he left.
The Chase family stayed in Iowa two more winters, making preparations for a move west. Many pioneer wagon trains left the Council Bluff area in 1849. Not all were recorded and the Chase family does not show up on the rosters. Luckily, Eli recorded the date of their arrival in Salt Lake, August 25, 1849.
The eight people who traveled together would have been Eli Chase, his wife Olive Hills Chase, daughters Harriet Louiza and Olive Chase, a daughter Francis Helen Chase (born along the way), Eli's mother Orryanna Rowe Chase, his brother Darwin and a sister Mary Mariah.
According to an early pioneer map, the house they bought would have been located on State Street near Eighth South in the Third Ward. It was property originally owned by Erastus Bingham.[Frame 10 notes]
This information was in different handwriting, undoubtedly added by other family members. Mary Ann Browning was the daughter of Olive Hills Chase from her second marriage to James Browning.
[Frame 11 notes]
Eli, at age 42, died of consumption not long after arriving in Salt Lake. He was buried in the Salt City Cemetery in a plot owned by Bishop Edward Hunter. His only son was born a few months after his death.
[Frames 12-15 notes]
The copies of blessings were covered over with sheets of paper before microfilming. Only the headings are showing.