Charles Henry John West and Eliza Dangerfield information

Two wonderful links to information on Charles Henry John West and Eliza Dangerfield West:

Charles Henry John West
http://theycamebeforeme.blogspot.com/search/label/Charles%20Henry%20John%20West

Eliza Dangerfield West
http://theycamebeforeme.blogspot.com/search/label/Eliza%20Dangerfield

Charles Henry John West obituary

Davis County Clipper - 11-19-1906

Conversion story of Charles Henry John West and Eliza Dangerfield

Charles Henry John West and Eliza Dangerfield headstones

Patriarchal Blessing for Charles Henry John West

Patriarchal Blessing for Charles Henry John West

Charles Henry John West
Patriarchal Blessing
Salt Lake City
January 21, 1877

A Patriarchal Blessing given by Charles Edwards, Patriarch, upon the head of Charles Henry John West, son of John and Lydia West. Born January 12th, 1833 Middlesex County, London, England.

Brother Charles West in the name of Jesus Christ I place my hand upon your head and pronounce upon you a Patriarchal Blessing. You are of the House of Israel through the lineage of Ephraim and are fully entitled to have all the powers and gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit of God pertaining to the High and, Holy Priesthood of Jesus Christ our Lord. He having given the same through the great Prophet Seer and Revelator of this the last Dispensation, even Joseph Smith, and you have been blessed in your own native land with power to render obedience to the Holy Gospel, the great plan of Salvation and suffered yourself to be gathered to this land of Joseph by the power and revelation of God the Eternal Father, given to his servant Brigham Young, the lawful and legal successor to Joseph Smith, and now it is for you to round up your shoulders for the heavy burden that your Father in Heaven is about to place upon your shoulders, you having entered into the fullness of the law of Celestial marriage and God your Eternal Father is well pleased with your integrity and the desires and aspirations of your heart to do good and to work righteously here upon the Earth. He designs to help, bless and reward you for all the trials and troubles that you have been called to pass through during your past life.

You shall have power in your temporal conditions to gather around you all the elements and comforts of life that may be necessary for you from time to time under all the circumstances that you may be placed in all the future period of 1ife here on the Earth. You shall always be willing to contribute of your substance to the building of temples, of sending the gospel to the nations and gathering scattered Israel. And you shall have the privilege of going to your native land and raise your warning voice to your relatives and friends and obtain all the information that you may wish for with regard to your dead and after having filled your mission and after having filled your mission and been faithful to God you shall return home to Zion in safety to the be of your family; and in all your administrations you shall have power given you to heal the sick, cast out Devils, comfort the heart of the bowed down and every other blessing God designs to bestow upon his faithful children.

You shall become the Father of a numerous posterity that shall grow up and become honorable men and women, even Fathers and Mothers in Israel. Your fame shall be known far and near for your honesty and integrity to the truth. And though your path may be strewn with little troubles from time to time and the finger of scorn pointed at you and the wicked may seek your life, yet fear not, the spirit of the Lord is with you. You shall have the privilege to live to see the Zion of the Lord established and many temples and waste places built upon this the land of Zion and see this government broken into pieces as a potter's vessel according to the word spoken by the apostle of the Lord, Wilford Woodruff.

Be faithful and true to your family, and health and peace shall reign and rule in your habitation for you shall always have power to govern and control them in gentleness, meekness, and lowliness of heart and still in the humility of your soul you shall see the day that you shall stand up in the midst of your family in the power and majesty of a King and Priest unto God and not only to your family but be powerful in the councils of the Priesthood.

Seek to prepare your mind for this great work for God has blessed you with great talent and ability. All these blessings are yours if you live for them which I seal upon you with length of day which shall be according to your faith and the desire of your heart to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection with a numerous and honorable family.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Memories of Charles Henry John West

MEMORIES OF CHARLES HENRY JOHN WEST

by Zilnorah Draper Barnett

He and Grandmother visited us many times before they moved to Clearfield. He was a bookkeeper and helped my father George Draper with his bookkeeping. Father hired several men to work in the hay fields and care for cattle so at times needed help with bookkeeping.

Grandfather loved children and used to sing to us. At one time we had a wooden doll and he used to dance this wooden doll on his knee and sing, "Sweet Evalina, Dear Evalina, My love for you shall never, never die."

He taught us to love the common things of life. He had a very sunny disposition. I can never remember seeing him angry.

Grandfather had remarkable eyesight and did not wear glasses. He said he had received his second eyesight.

He could write the Lord's Prayer on a paper the size of a dollar and it was readable. He was a fine penman.

Charles Henry John West and Eliza Dangerfield by Hazel Lewis West

Charles Henry John West and Eliza Dangerfield

As told by Hazel West Lewis--

INTRODUCTION
At a meeting of the John West Family Organization, I was requested, as a granddaughter of Charles Henry John West, to write a history of his life that would be interesting and readable, especially to the younger members of the family.

The source of most of my information was a rather small but comprehensive journal written by Charles himself. It covers (1) the period of his birth and early life in England (2) his coming to Utah and (3) all the years he lived in Utah, up to and including his and grandmother's golden wedding anniversary, December 25, 1900. Grandfather's small green leather journal (3.5 inches by 6 inches) contained 115 pages of small legible writing in black non-fading ink except for the last few pages which were written with ink that has faded considerably.

The material contained in Charles' journal was first typed (mimeographed) about 18 years ago. The typist had the help and advice of Ruth West Sorensen, Agnes (Dot) West and Myrtle West Bitter, who are daughters of Charles' son, Jabez. The typed copies made Charles' life story available to more of his descendants. But since it retained the unique spelling and sentence structure of the original material, older members of the West family urged that a complete rewrite of the material was necessary if it was to be read by all of Charles' descendants.

It is largely from Charles' journal that the writer has obtained the information to write a history of her grandfather Charles Henry John West. In general the manuscript follows the journal closely. But in several instances notes from other sources are used to round out the history of his life. If I have taken the liberty of interpreting some events or conditions that arose in his life, it is because I was trying to understand him better as a man of character who gave up a great deal when he left his secure and comfortable home in England for a new home in foreign land which was full of severe hardships but where his religion continued to be the motivating force in his life.

Charles Henry John West with daughters

1862

Charles Henry John West with daughters Caroline and Ann

(photo taken in England before he sent his daughters ahead of the rest of the family to Utah)

Charles Henry and Eliza Dangerfield photos

Charles Henry and Eliza Dangerfield West family photo

Charles Henry John West photo

Charles Henry John West death certificate

Charles Henry John West family group sheet with photos

Charles Henry John West is blessed for going to church

I had joined the tabernacle choir in the old tabernacle. Brother Sanders was our leader. My clothes being a little shabby I kept away several Sundays. Finally I made up my mind to go. I thought it was not my clothes but my voice that was needed. One Sunday after meeting was let out, a Brother John Cox (the brother-in-law of a young man by the name of Joseph Neville, who was keeping company with my daughter Annie) asked me what I was doing, I told him helping masons. He told me his brother-in-law, George H. Knowlden, wanted a clerk in the grain business on Main St. At noon the following day I saw Mr. Knowlden and he took me in his employ at $40 per month, so you see I done some good by going to meeting regardless of fine clothes.

Charles Henry John West learns to listen to the still small voice

I worked for President Young quite awhile, doing all manner of chores. Sometimes in the garden and orchard, in the harvest field. While working there I had, with another teamster, to go after bridge timbers for the railroad, President Young having the contract, I went up City Creek Canyon about 7 miles to the mill, got loaded up, and made up my load with inch lumber. Coming down the canyon a voice said to me stop and rebind your load. I said no I will stop when I get up with the other team which was ahead of me. Some of the boards shoved forward and touched the mules and when I wanted to stop I could not, which scared the mules and I found I had a runaway team to handle. I made up my mind to start the mules uphill when I came to a good place and then jump off. It happened fortunate the the mules saw the team ahead of them and slackened their speed. I stopped and rebound my load. That was a lesson to me to give heed to the still small voice.

Charles Henry John West is visited by one of the three Nephites

Brother Stains prophecy concerning us was fulfilled, we did not lose one of our family on the journey but did lose one soon after. She was buried next day, Friday, in Provo Cemetery. Brother Miller was very kind, let us have the use of his buggy and had her cared for properly, ourselves being the only mourners, the driver, I think, being the only one present. We returned home feeling very downcast, being so different to any funeral that I had seen before. Of course being newcomers we were not known. We had a few thing to start house keeping, our sea chest for table and a chair, rawhide bottom, our baking kettle and tinware, bedclotdhes we brought with us. We done the best we could, did not feel like murmuring but made the best of what we had and got. Yet our loss of our daughter sent a gloom and seemed more than we could bear. We reflected, what had we done that our child should be took from us, what sin had we committed, while pondering over these things in our mind a tall gentlemen came in without knocking, he sat down on the only chair we had, and commenced conversing with us. In his conversation he seemed to know our history. He comforted us in our trouble and blessed us, was with us for 1/2 an hour or 3/4. During that time we both felt a heavenly ingluence, and all our troubles ceased and we felt very happy. When he left he stepped backwards toward the door opened it and went out, I followed directly after, but could see nothing of him. He was a very tall man clothed in homespun, dark suit, was very gray, and his beard came down to his chest. Next day I went to Bishop Miller to thank him for his kindness in helping us to put away our dead, also thank him for sending us a teacher, we thought a very good man. I described to him the teacher (as I thought) giving him full particulars, he said, "Brother West, we have no such teacher as you describe. You have been blessed with the visitation of one of the Nephites, that was to remain on the earth."

Charles Henry John West - feels blessed by the Lord

If I donated any amount made of me, the Lord always opened up the way so that I never felt the loss but gained a blessing. On the 1st day of May 1856 we had another daughter born to us  her name being called, Ann Lydia West. I continued working at William Cooper and Co. I recieved two shillings more per week making in all twenty two shillings per week. It seemed that the Lord put it in the hear of my employer to raise my wages about the time we needed it, done without the asking.

We took the council of the brethren to live within our means, we did so. We found that with a fixed determination to get out to Zion, that the Lord was good to his word "He would help them that helped themselves."

We found by studying economy and using wisdom in what means we had coming in every week, that we not only cleared the debt but was enabled to get means enough to take ourselves and four of our children the following year as far Florence, Nebraska. (two of their daughters had previously emigrated)

Before leaving England my employer Mr. Thomas Cooper was sorry to have me leave his firm, I gave him notice of my going away, he gave me every inducement to stay, said that I could have my place in his establishment as long as I live. He seeing I was determined to leave, he made me a present of 30 shilling for good conduct which I was thankful for. When my wife went to the Latter Day Saint office to pay the balance of our emigration money, Brother Stains who was the emigration agent for the church, he told another brother that was present that she was the Sister who had sent two of her young daughters away to Zion a year before. Brother Stains blessed her and all of our family and said that we would get there safe and not one of us should die on the way (which promise was fulfilled, although one daughter died shortly after arriving in Utah).

We went to the Endowment House, 23rd day of March, 1804, and was married and sealed together for time and eternity. We felt fully paid for our journey and few trials we had passed through.

Charles Henry John West missionary experience

On friday evening the first day of December 1850, we had a good meeting. Elder Wallace from Utah or Zion being present spoke upon the subject of young men going out to preach, towards the close of his remarks he asked wether there were any young men who would offer their services, upon so glorious an undertaking. Elder John Hyde who was president of the meeting pointed out my brother John and myself as suitable, we were asked our feeling about it, said we felt weak but had no objection to go.

The same evening I was called and ordained by Brother Wallace to the office of an Elder. To leave home and go out preaching I was promised that if I kept faithful to my calling I should be of great use in my generation and should be gathered home to Zion. Elder Eli B. Kelsey who was president of the London Conference told my Brother John and myself to labor in the Bedfordshire Conference under the presidency of Elder Squires. My parents who had joined the church was quite willing to our going. They done their best to help us out. My youngwoman's parents had no objections to my going although her Father was a member of another church (the Baptist). They thought it adviseable for me to first get married as that would bind us together, accordingly on the 25th day of December 1850, we were married at St. Andrews Church Holborn by the rector Mr. I. I. Ivogood.
 
My brother John and myself started on our mission from the Euston Road Station to Bedford, we arrived the same day, the weather being very cold. We went direct to the house of Elder Squires and was well received by the Saints in Bedford. I shall never forget my feeling, when arriving here 62 miles away from home. I had never before been one night away from home. I was there to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, had never stood up before a number of people to speak. I felt determined by the assistance of God to do the best I could. On the Sunday following I spoke before the Bedford Saints a short time about 10 minutes. I bore my testimony to the truth of the latter day work, In the evening I went to the house of one of the Saints and had some singing. I found the Saints on hand to assist me. I visited Eversholt in Woburn, went through Woburn Park (the seat of the Duke of Bedford). It's a beautiful park although it was the month of December it looked like spring all along the road the trees being evergreen. When going through the park a gentleman on horse-back stopped us an offered us money. We supposed that the Lord had put it in his heart to do so. I stopped at a house in Eversholt, was well received by the Saints who lived there. They had to entertain us on the quiet as the place was Priest-ridden. If it was known that they harbored any Mormon Elders they would be discharged from the Dukes services. After stopping there two or three days we walked to Bedford a distance of 11 miles. We saw Brother Job Smith. I asked President Squires permission to labour in Stoney Stratford as my wife's brothers wife had friends there. Accordingly we went and stayed at Mr. Stephen Brown my wife's Brother's wife's Father and Mother. We were well received there by them. They had no accomodations for sleeping. So we slept in the town. We went to Densaryer Branch 3 miles from Stoney Stratford across 3 fields it being night time. I was very much startled (being dark) by a man saying good night. I had a lettter from my wife telling me that her father had sent me by Express an overcoat as a present for he thought I must be very cold. In walking I found the roads somewhat different from London, on a wet day it was all one's work to walk, the mud being ankle deep. When visiting some of the villages round about I felt myself very backward in visiting the people, not having had been so for some years. He was the only preacher in that village. After reading and talking some time he said his religion was better than mine and said that we would come with a different tale this day seven years. We went to Wolverhampton did not visit anyone their, we tryed to get into peoples houses to talk. Also went to Buckingham and Leyhtons Buzzard. At Fenny Stratford we visited the homes of three of the Saints, had a meeting in the evening and elderly Elder spoke after meeting. We went to the house of Sister James a nurse by occupation. We slept that night at her house. She was very kind, she gave up her own bed to us, and kept up herself, which we did not know of till the next day. On our journey one day being my birthday 12th of January I wrote home that I had a hot dinner that day. Some of the Saints had given us bread and lard and I found a few onions in the field. After doing the best we could under the existing circumstances, and not seeming to be doing much good, we concluded to write our President our intention of returning home after being away from home three weeks. We returned home and reported ourselves to the President of the London Conferance. Told him that I did not feel competent to the task of a Preacher and teacher. We were received well by them at Jewin Street, was invited to supper at table was present Elder Orson Pratt of the twelve apostles. I shall never forget my feelings, being there in the presence of an apostle. I felt I had not done my duty, first of all getting married before starting on my mission and secondly not relying more on the arm of God. If I could crawl in a nut shell then I would gladly done it. I was spoken to by them very kindly.
 
On account of not continueiing my mission, I with my brother John, was suspended from our office for a short time. After a while by my good conduct I regained my former position as Elder.
 
I continued doing all I could to promote and build up the Kingdom in outdoor preaching and singing. Also acting as Sunday school teacher, sometimes delivering tracts, paying tithing and other calls.  I baptized Mary Ann Eagle in the Cumberland St. Baths.

Charles Henry John west - a fish for his daughter

Our little daughter, Mary Ann Young, she was sick more or less while crossing the plains, her appetite failing her, I thought I would goto the river side (being near one) and get a fish. I know it would do her good. The river being very low and leaving small puddles of water I would try and chase the fish by my hands into shallow water, so catch one. I did not exceed in getting any. I then and there prayed to God that I might get some if it was only one. I was about leaving to catch up to the train, when a man came along with a string of fish and offered me one, my prayers being answered, I went along rejoicing

Charles Henry John West - crossing the plains to Utah

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868

Source of Trail Excerpt:

West, Charles Henry John, Reminiscences [ca. 1900], 7-9.

Read Trail Excerpt:

We stayed at Florence a few days before starting across the plains. We were 10 weeks on the plains and arrived in Salt Lake City the 4th day of October 1863, just in time for Conference.

In giving a description of our journey across the plains I must trust to memory as I was not in a position to take notes. The brethren from Salt Lake were there at Florence to take charge of them, they had been there some time waiting, they had brought from the valley a goodly number of wagons loaded down with Dixie cotton. After getting their cotton disposed of they had then to fix up for the Saints, besides merchandise, there were in all about 60 wagons in our company and so many Saints and their families allowed to each wagon with their luggage and provisions, with a captain over all. When all was in readiness some of the young men, being appointed teamsters, we had three and four yoke of oxen to each wagon. We started for a thousand mile trip, all able-bodied men and women and young women and children that could walk, had to do so.

The first day to me the walking behind the slow gait of the oxen was fun. When we got to a place where there was good grass for the cattle we could stop and cook our dinner or supper as the case may be. My wife not being used to the way of mixing our flour for bread got too much salaratus in, so we had some nice looking yellow bread for buskits, one of the boys told my wife what proportion to put in, so afterwards we had some good bread. Our captain looked after the teamsters and saw that they (the oxen) all done their duty in pulling. He had a long black snake whip, when that came down on the cattle they had to get. In the evening we camped they would form a circle with the wagons, and had night herders to watch the cattle. We then had to build our fires of any dry sticks we could find near the water's edge. If we had to camp where there was no wood, we would on our journey pick up and carry Buffalo Chips and make a fire with that. It was the dry dung of oxen. Before going to bed a few would gather together in the dance, but we allways had prayers each evening. Sometimes we would come across some greens good for food, my wife would make many a good meal so we faired very well.

We had made up our minds to enjoy the trip without grumbling and found it the best way, we had a few grumblers in the camp. We had to wade up to our breasts some rivers we had to go through, if the current was very strong we would hold hands. I would sometimes have a child in one arm and holding on to another. If we got wet would let our clothes dry on so we would not take cold. We would average in traveling 20 to 30 miles each day. Sometimes we had travel by night in order to get to good camping ground.

One day towards evening our Captain told us to prepare for a big wind storm, had all the fires put out and the wagons all in a circle, the wheels of each wagon fastened together with heavy log chains, and the cattle all inside of the inclosure. We had barely got ready when the storm came, such a piercing and stormy wind, that it seemed to allmost take our breath away. We had to hold on to the wagons less we be blown away. After it was over I don't think there was one wagon cover left all had been blown to pieces.

Our little daughter, Mary Ann Young, she was sick more or less while crossing the plains, her appetite failing her, I thought I would goto the river side (being near one) and get a fish. I know it would do her good. The river being very low and leaving small puddles of water I would try and chase the fish by my hands into shallow water, so catch one. I did not exceed in getting any. I then and there prayed to God that I might get some if it was only one. I was about leaving to catch up to the train, when a man came along with a string of fish and offered me one, my prayers being answered, I went along rejoicing.

Our son Jabez William he got hurt through being run over by one of the wagons, and was badly hurt. I did not know whether it was broke or not it swelled up to a great size. I was recommended by one of the teamsters to catch the drippings of the oxen and apply it as a poultice. I done so several times, and the swelling went down and he soon got the use of his leg again.

We continued our journey day after day about the same routine, one continous stretch of country no houses to be seen on the journey. We would come across some of our young brethren, who were left to look after the provisions for the Saints, when we got to these different places, they being alone so long, when they saw our train, they would jump for joy and make quite a demonstration with their frying pans clapping them together. After loading up all the provisions they had for the camp, they would turn in and follow. We were in all 10 weeks on the plains, when we arrived at Salt Lake City on the camping grounds in the 8th Ward square. The friends and relations of different ones would come and take them away to their homes.