Joseph M. Ferguson letter to Nancy W. Ott
Scope and Contents note
Letter, written August 11, 1849 by Joseph M. Ferguson to his sister, Nancy W. Ott. Ott had recently settled in Utah after traveling through Winter Quarters and across the Great Plains. Ferguson details in his letter that he will not be able to send any money to his sister, and gives a listing of family occurences since his sister's departure. The letter is postmarked Kane, Iowa, and forwarded to Salt Lake City, Utah. A three-page transcript is included with the original letter.
Dates
- 1849 August 11
Creator
- Ott, Nancy W. (Nancy Williams), 1822-1863 (correspondent, Person)
- Ferguson, Joseph M. (Joseph Martin), 1820-1896 (author, Person)
Conditions Governing Access note
Original item is condition restricted. The typescript is open for public use.
Conditions Governing Use note
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Joseph M. Ferguson letter must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.
Biographical History
Joseph M. Ferguson (1820-1896) was a farmer and minister in Iowa.
Joseph Martin Ferguson was born April 18, 1820 in Kentucky. Many members of his family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Elizabeth Susan Hilsabeck on October 16, 1838, and they had twelve children. He died on June 27, 1896 in Iowa.
Biographical History
Nancy W. Ott (1822-1863) was a Mormon woman in Utah.
Nancy Williams Ferguson was born in 1822 in Kentucky. On March 24, 1841 she married Campbellite preacher Frederick Ott in Clay County, Indiana. In 1842 Ott converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and joined the Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1845 her husband died in Nauvoo, leaving her with two young children. In 1846 she travelled with the Saints to Winter Quarters, where her youngest child died. The family stayed in Winter Quarters until 1848, when she crossed the plains to Salt Lake City, Utah. On March 3, 1850 she married Leman Bronson in Salt Lake City, living with him in his homes in the Salt Lake Valley and in Iron County, Utah. In 1855 Bronson died while serving a mission in Michigan. In 1858 she married Clayborne Montgomery Elder, moving to Grantsville, Utah where he worked as a farmer and carpenter. Around 1860 the family was called to settle in southern Utah, and they relocated to Duncan's Retreat, Utah. Nancy Williams Ferguson Ott died there in 1863.
Extent
2 folders (0.02 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Joseph M. Ferguson letter consists of one letter, written 11 August 1849, from J. M. Ferguson to his sister, Nancy W. Ott. The letter concerns his sister's resettlement in Salt Lake City.
Custodial History note
Donated by Helma Richards Haas in 1994.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Donated; Helma Richards Haas; 1994.
Appraisal note
The collection includes insights into the lives of 19th Century Mormons, including family separation and pioneers to Utah. 19th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts.
Processing Information note
Processed; Mary Downs; 2009.
- Title
- Register of Joseph M. Ferguson letter to Nancy W. Ott
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Mary Downs, student processor, and John Murphy, curator.
- Date
- 04 February 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States