Looking for History

History is revealed in the journals. 

 

The mundane journals of each individual, could collectively contribute more knowledge than all the study of history has produced so far. 

 

To that end, I believe that there is a good chance that early, unpublished journals, could help us piece together more than we currently know about the early days of the Honeyville settlement.  Specifically, it would be interesting if any of the railroad men recorded their impressions of Honeyville as the Utah Northern Railroad passed through. I have listed some of those men below, and by chance, someone may have some family journals for inspection.  Failing further first-hand accounts, there is still much unknown about the early days of the town.

First engineer to pass:   Charley (Charles) Paul
First train crew to pass:   Evan Jones (engineer), George Farnes (fireman), Dan Roberts (conductor)
First roadmaster:   William Toombs

Other early engineer and crew members:   Mark Jones, Parley P. Jones, Pilip Phillips, A.M. Carter, William Sprount, William Hopkins, Colline Fulmer, Ed Lives, Chancey West.

I hope to yet post more as I continue to learn.

A Trip to the Dentist

Wisdom tooth extraction has always hurt, but I cannot claim that mine felt as bad as the account given in the journal of B.H. Tolman in 1882.  And although the dentists' tools don't look all that friendly today, they do not look like they did in the 1800s.

Set of dental tools from the 1800s

In his own words here is the account:

I am and have been suffering with a very painful face for about 10 days.  One of my wisdom teeth has been trying to come through for a number of years but made but little headway and was very painful at times so Sunday I went to Brigham City to attend the S. S. Jubilee and went to the dentist, Mr. Slocum, to have it lanced.  He gave it fits by cutting through the tough, inflamed flesh until the old lance grated on the tooth at the root, O horrible.  That was about noon.  It pained me severely all that night and at early morn I might have been seen wending my way to the dentists to have it got out entirely.  When finally I got him at it he commenced by giving it another severe lancing (wuh!)  Now comes the tug.  He worked till he got those enemies of iron and steel securely fastened away down below zero and then he commenced to pull and sweat until the forceps slipped off and, O John! I thought he had pulled my lower jaw off the hinges.  I never yet fainted and now I think I never can.  On went the hardened steel again as if his life depended on it and O Zounds!  O Whiss!  A long pull and a strong pull and they slipped again.  He had to rest and I, of course, I could not, but Jimminy Crickets!  How long till the millennium?  Somehow the time passed away and he got them things on the root again, pulled and the long legged pig ants they again missed fire.  The jumping snake and tickling end of the wasps, how comforted it feels to have them machines from the lower regions fastened on.  Monkeys and Jews harps! He brought the rooster to daylight, thank you, sir.  The next time I have him pulled I think I will let him stay there till it doesn’t hurt to have Wisdom Extracted.   I now wonder if I have atoned for my sins.

Yours truly, B. H. Tolman.

This is the ninth day and she keeps me awake nights now and very sore

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Journals are priceless

Two of the most influential men in the founding of Honeyville kept great journals.

Abraham Hunsaker

Abraham Hunsaker's journal/history can be found online:
Familysearch - Abraham Hunsaker 

BH Tolman II

BH Tolman kept a very detailed journal which I have, but it is not in the public domain.  There is a short biography on Familysearch and you can purchase the journal from the Tolman Family Organization.
Short Biography
Purchase full journal