Note: Print and copy these histories! No one knows how long this web page will last10 years? 20 years? Paper has proved the most durable medium for preserving histories so far, so if we can get printouts in the file drawers of scattered family members, these stories are more likely to be there for our great-grandchildren.
[*COMPLETE*] Journals. Samuel Rose Parkinson kept a journal from 1873 to at least 1918 (ages 42 to 87). These transcripts were completed and posted here in late May 2011. Note: a full-color facsimile edition will be made available for purchase in time for the 2011 reunion.
Note: The HTML journal files are probably easiest to read on-line, but they do not preserve small caps, double-underlining, and indents.
Dates |
Notes | Links |
| 12 Apr. 1831–31 Oct 1876 | Personal history to 1873. Daily entries begin 12 Apr 1873, |
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| 26 Jun 1874 | Notebook with poems and songs he liked, together with accounts and notes. Includes a single entry for 16 Oct 1892 |
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| 1 Nov 1876–2 Oct 1879 | First arrest for polygamy (acquited). Details of family life and running the Franklin Co-op. |
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[3 Oct. 1879–16 Nov. 1886] |
* GAP IN KNOWN JOURNALS * | |
| 17 Nov 1886–22 Feb 1895 | Samuel's time in prison for polygamy. Family life and co-op. |
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| 22 Feb 1895–26 Aug 1901 | Co-op store and of his sheep operation. | Word 97 RTF HTML |
| 27 Aug 1901–6 May 1906 | Co-op store and of his sheep operation. | |
| [7 May 1906–13 Sep 1907] | * GAP IN KNOWN JOURNALS * | |
| 14 Sep 1907–6 Oct 1907 | Trip east, and various notes. | |
| [7 Oct 1907–30 Sep 1910] | * GAP IN KNOWN JOURNALS * | |
| 1 Oct 1910–15 Aug 1914 | Family life, temple work. | |
| [16 Aug 1914–10 Aug. 1917] | * GAP IN KNOWN JOURNALS * | |
| 11 Aug 1917–9 Sep 1918 | Family life, temple work. | Word 2007 RTF HTML |
| [10 Sep 1918–23 May 1919] | * GAP IN KNOWN JOURNALS * |
This page includes a pair of Improvement Era articles by Lydia Alder, a niece who traveled with Samuel's company. One of the articles quotes Samuel. The page includes also references to diaries of other members of the company.
William Goforth Nelson and Tayler Nelson, History of the Life of William Goforth Nelson, (1906), excerpt from chapter 14. FHL film 02378080 item 10.
Nelson was Samuel's missionary companion on their 1873 exploration mission to Arizona.
Samuel sums up the experience of the 1860 Franklin pioneers. Includes photo.
Good 7-page overview by two of Samuel's children. William C. is better on the early years, and Caroline fills in some gaps on his later life. Transcript courtesy of Dula Parkinson.
An 8-page history by Samuel's youngest daughter. This builds on William C.'s history but has much better detail for Samuel's family life and later years. Transcript courtesy of Dula Parkinson.
Carmen, a granddaughter, was the family organization's official historian. This 18-page history was distributed by the family at the 1966 reunion. Good detail, including Samuel's final testimonies and events not included in the other histories. Transcript courtesy of Dula Parkinson.
An strange but interesting account from Samuel's courtship, as told by two of Samuel's children. Transcripts courtesy of Dula and Benson Parkinson.
Compiled by a great-grandson, includes stories from the other versions plus a version of the peepstone story.
Note: If you know of other histories that should be included here, please contact the webmaster (see below). Eventually we would like to include histories of all the children.
I'm aware of three books on Samuel Rose Parkinson:
Just off the press, this carefully-researched, 900-page book by a third grandson may prove the definitive treatment of Samuel's life. It includes a 70-page biography as well as a complete ancestory and a descendancy and over 1000 pages. Click here for more information.
This 199-page treatment covers Samuel's whole life in detail. Lester, a grandson, recently died. It's out of print, but Lester's widow Shirley has given permission for us to distribute a transcript or PDF. If you are able to help with scanning or typing, please contact the webmaster.
Sam is another grandson and the current president of the Samuel Rose Parkinson Family Organization, which sponsors this page. This work includes a 43-page history of Samuel and biographies of other members of his family. Sam tells me he has about 35 copies of this book left. (Contact the webmaster and I'll put you in touch with him.)
A very lauditory account that nevertheless includes many interesting details.
