Letter from George Teasdale, 19 August 1891 [LE-37898]

Colonia Diaz Chihuahua, 637 Mexico. August 19^th 1891 President W. Woodruff and Council Salt Lake City, Utah Dear Brethren:

I have just returned from another very interesting and satisfactory visit to all the settlements of the Mexican Mission. I last wrote you on July 29^thfrom Colonia Juarez on the 30^th alt, in company with Bro. W.R.R. Stowell & wife, Sister T and the children. We left Colonia Juarez and drove to the mouth of the Kanyon. We stayed here all night and had a very pleasant visit with Elder Helaman Pratt and his family. The next day we drove to Bro. Orvil M. Allens where we dined and held meeting. It is quite a rough road through the Kanyon and a part of the way from the summit to Bro. Allens. He has the charge of the companys stock and appears to be a capable man. He has made himself a very comfortable home and I think he will make a success. His trouble was to secure good help it being so lonely. It is only between six and seven miles from Corralis. We had some 30 souls at our meeting and should have had more had it been known. We drove that evening to Bro. Franklin Spencer's. He has built himself a comfortable home at Corralis and is doing now well in the stock and cheese industry. He makes artery for particle of cheese which commands ready sale at Chihuahua, Bp.Jesse N. Smith owns an interest in the cheese industry. Sister T. was taken down with the colera morbus and was in a dangerous condition but was remarkably healed by the power of God. On Saturday Aug 1^st we visited the Primary Association. It had been reorganized. Sister Laura A Mecham was president with Sarah A Lunt and Martha Porter as her counsellors Mary E. Porter Secretary. This association we found in are excellent condition. On Sunday we attended the Sabbath

school of the Pacheco Ward, which includes Corralis, and the afternoon and evening meetings which were well attended and an excellent old-timed spirit prevailed. It seems as if we are better Saints and enjoy more of the power and spirit of God in our tribulation, common to all new settlements, than we do in our prosperity. The Saints here are humble willing united and earnest. They labor under very discouraging circumstances, up in the pines. The town site ^is^ covered with rocks ^the^ water ^is^ short and land scarce, but they are hopeful patient and energetic. They have a good school house, a store and some comfortable buildings. There are some 30 families, and they want more help. On Monday we went to Elder George Calvin Williams (Parson Williams) and held a meeting on Tuesday evening. We were much pleased with his energy. He has a nice Southern home, good orchard and kitchen garden and a good farm. He is a stock man and his very comfortably situated. Bros. Thompson and Coon have rented Bro. Helaman Pratts ranch There are three ranches in what is known as Cane Valley belonging to Apostle Moses Thatcher. Elders Helaman Pratt and George C Williams. Some families are living on them endeavoring to improve the lands and make homes. It is quite an experiment in this high altitude.

But these places have all been inhabitated at 638 sometime. I did not send the above but substituted the following ----------------------------------

I have just returned from a visit to all the settlements in the Mexican Mission, having been away from Colonia Diaz nearly five weeks. I wrote you from Juarez July 29. Since then I have visited the Saints in the other settlements. We left Juarez on the 30^th July, and stayed overnight at the mouth of the Kanyon with Elder Heleman Pratt. The next day we visited and held meeting at Bro. Orvil M. Allens. He has charge of the company's stock. At Pacheco we attended meetings of the Primarys, Sabbath Schools, Sunday meetings, Fast Day meetings and Relief Society meeting. Also held a meeting at Elder Geo. C. William at Cane Valley and one at Elder Franklin Spencers at Sarralis. All the meetings were well attended and we enjoyed the blessings of our Heavenly Father in a remarkable manner. At the Fast Meeting Aug 6^th, we united our hearts and prayed for rain. The crops were suffering for the want of rain and the water used for irigation was decreasing and the people were much exercised about it. Between the morning Fast meeting and the afternoon meeting of the Relief Society of Pacheco, it rained but not much but as soon as we were assembled in the Relief Society meeting it commenced to pour down rain. We had a three hours meeting, simply because we could not leave for the rain which poured down. It was quite a testimony to the young people and

encouraging to the older ones, for the principle of praying in faith, believing we should be heard and answered had been freely discussed at the Fast meeting, [first] and can as some had been represented to say it was useless to ask for rain as it came in its times and seasons etc. We who trust in the Lord and believe in prayer believe in God who has said "ask and we shall receive, rejoiced" very much in this signal evidence of the truth of the promise and that He was the same[ illegible ] forever. There was quite a spirit of faith and prayer in the fast meeting which was well attended. We spent the following Sunday, the 9^th inst at Juarez and held a Priesthood meeting in the evening. We stayed until Thursday the 13^th, visited the Tannery, Flouring Mill, and Romneys furniture factory. The high prices of every thing in the shape of furniture is a great help to home manufacture. Bro. Jas. C. Peterson is starting a boot and shoe Factory at Juarez. So little by little we are growing in the right direction. Bro. Henry Eyring, who is an excellent, honest business man, is making quite a success at the Co-op store. There is a store also at Pacheco. Bp. Jesse N. Smith and Franklin Spencer have made quite a success in making a fine saleable article of cheese. On Thursday we for Coloina Dublan, held meeting that night with the Priesthood and stopped at Dublan until the

639 following Tuesday. We held nine meetings and put in order all the associations and met with every institution, so that ward is fully organized and general satisfaction appeared to be given. They are a good hopeful people relying upon the Lord to open up the way for the purchase of the land and the establishment of the settlement. We are surely having lessons in faith, hope, patience and long suffering. But we trust in the Lord and wait upon him, knowing he hath decreed to establish His Kingdom & righteousness upon the earth. With kind love & respect

I remain your brother George Teasdale Colonia Diaz Chihuahua Mex. August 27. 1891

Juvenile Office S.L.C. Utah per Bro Cannon Please send Jas. Dillman Lanelle, Schuylkill Co., Pa. a copy of the Book of Mormon in [Roase], and charge my asc. Your brother Geo Teasdale

P.S. Bro E.M. Curtis made a mistake in giving me his order, June 6, he said he wanted the Juvenile Instructor from April 15, 1891 #8, thinking his family had it from the beginning of the year. But now it transpires they wanted it from the beginning of the year. So kindly send him the first seven numbers for this year and charge him, instead of from #8 1891 to April 1892, for the subscription for this year 1891 - by my acc. - G. T.