January 1916

EVENTS IN EMMELINE B. WELLS’S DIARY FOR 1916

18 January: With the approval of Presiding Bishop Charles W. Nibley, EBW arranged to stay in a room at the Hotel Utah, next to the Bishop’s Building, instead of commuting back and forth to her home in south Salt Lake City.
25 February: EBW and others visited Governor William Spry in the new Utah State Capitol. The building was nearly finished and would be dedicated that October.
29 February: EBW’s diary for this date, her birthday, mentions she was “exhausted” after a party. She was referencing a luncheon at the Hotel Utah, followed by a public reception on the mezzanine floor of the hotel. She also received a congratulatory telegram from the Countess of Aberdeen in Scotland.
17 March: On the anniversary of the founding of the Relief Society, EBW spoke for an hour in the Ensign Ward on her Nauvoo experiences and attended an original cantata in the Granite Stake.
19 and 20 April: A two-day convention was held to train Relief Society general board members to teach lessons and address questions at conferences around the church.
17 September: In September, EBW and granddaughter Katharine Cannon spent time in Idaho visiting EBW’s daughter Melvina Whitney Woods and granddaughter Daisie Dunford Allen and their families.

INTRODUCTION, 1916

In January 1916, EBW arranged with the manager of the Hotel Utah and the presiding bishop of the church to occupy a room in the hotel during the winter months; this allowed her to walk to her office in the Bishop’s Building instead of having to commute by streetcar from south Salt Lake City. She mentioned in her diary that her grandson George Q. Cannon and his family were staying in her house free of charge. In February EBW and others traveled by motor car to the new Utah State Capitol to meet with Governor William Spry. The building was officially dedicated on 9 October 1916. To celebrate her eighty-eighth birthday on 29 February 1916, EBW was honored at a luncheon with members of the Relief Society general board, followed by a public reception on the mezzanine floor of the Hotel Utah with music and refreshments for six hundred guests. She received a congratulatory telegram from the Countess of Aberdeen in Scotland, who had visited Utah with her husband in December 1915. “I am completely overwhelmed with gifts and with Love,” EBW wrote.

After expressing dissatisfaction with the “mechanical” nature of general board meetings, EBW undertook an experiment to enhance the “spiritual side.” She dedicated the 16 March meeting to a commemoration of the original members of the Relief Society. Afterward, EBW recorded in her diary, “We had a good spirit, We enjoyed it very much I felt better this evening.” On the 17 March anniversary of the founding of the Relief Society, EBW spoke for an hour in a ward meeting about her Nauvoo experiences. The same day she listened to an original cantata performed in the Granite Stake “reprsenting the Reelief Society in all its phases and activities.” One innovation of the general board this year was holding a two-day convention to prepare board members to travel to outlying stakes and present material at stake Relief Society conferences. It was “quite significnt and very effective,” EBW wrote. She herself visited women in the Cassia Stake in southern Idaho in late July and then commented in her diary, “I can scarcely be thankful enough for the active energy that I feel and realize in the position which I have been called to fill in the Church it gives me largerr opportunity than I could othrwise whave done.” EBW felt limits to her stamina, however. After she went to see a sick friend, Libby Young, in the L.D.S. Hospital, she said she felt exhausted and faint and determined not to go there again: “it [i]s too deprssing for me.”

In September EBW visited her daughter Melvina Whitney Woods and granddaughter Daisie Dunford Allen and their families in Idaho. Her granddaughter Katharine Cannon was her traveling companion. Two great-grandchildren were born in 1916—a daughter to Lyman and Emmeline Martineau, and a son to Daniel and Winifred Cannon. She felt glad for them and for herself. “My posterrity is increasing I shal soon be up with all the great tribe of mothrs,” she exclaimed. Sadly, Joseph Smith Wells, son of Daniel H. Wells and Martha Harris Wells, died in October. He was a stepson on whom she relied, often taking dinner at his home on first Sundays of the month and benefiting from streetcar passes he obtained for her. “He was a very fine man and very dear to mee He always paiid me the greatest respeect and attention,” she observed in her diary. Despite greater reliance on others for her basic needs, EBW concluded the year optimistically, writing, “We cannot but feel how wonderrfully we have been blest after all in these nountain valees” and “I am herre alone tonight but all is well and I should be gratified.”

¹1 January 1916 • Saturday

I begin the N[e]w Year in the home of my daughte[r] Amnie [Elizabeth Ann Wells Cannon] I spnt th[e] new day with Annie and famiily she has the hig[h]est number of of any of mine or any of her fathers children, we h[a]d a very pleasant day togethr and evning also and al[l] were well & some caller {p. 36}

2 January 1916 • Sunday

This mo[r]ning came up to the Temple Cavendish [Cannon] with me and attnded the Temple meeting in the room devoted to such meetings Jos F. Smth [Joseph F. Smith] pres[i]ded and also spoke were there until one. I went to 18th Wa[r]d & also even[i]ng meeting saw Aunt Susan [Alley Wells] {p. 37}

3 January 1916 • Monday

Mo[n]day not very well but fulfilled all my duties and came back to Hul [Hotel] Utah and stayed all night Tday has been very bu[s]y many callers and quite interesting my own heard [heart] is not satsfied because of circunstances that hnder me from duties inportant {p. 38}

4 January 1916 • Tuesday

George Q. Cannon was 34 today and his fathr² and mothr³ din[e]d with his f[a]mily We are not the makers of our own destny not withstanding all wise men may say we are controlled by circumstancees {p. 39}

5 January 1916 • Wednesday

Yestrday was Geo Q’s birttday I did not see him nor give him any prsent however as he lives free of rent in my home I feel it is all I can afford many draw from me in various ways and I do all I can to keep myself ◊◊◊nt {p. 40}

6 January 1916 • Thursday

T[o]day was our regular meeting Julina [Lambson Smith] was not able to atend nor Romania Penorse [Bunnell Penrose], atend were Clarissa [Smith] Williams Sarah J. [Jenne] Cannon Priscilla Jnnings [Paul Jennings] Emily S. [Snyder] Richards Rebecca Mobley [Neibaur Nibley] Emma [Adams] Empey Amy [Brown] Lyman Alice [Merrill] Horne we trnsacded [transacted] some business and had a few things printed up President [Joseph F.] Smith is not verry well {p. 41}

8 January 1916 • Saturday

I have been very blue today went over first to see Clarissa Williams before her departure for Washington,⁴ gave here [her] a blessing Came back and went over my books to find Lucile and write in it for Alicce Wells and Ellis [Elias] Smith Don [Daniel Cannon] and Winifred [A. Winifred Smith Cannon] came to see me I attended Red Cross meeting in the Deseret hall [bank?] we are to have a public banquet in the theatrre {p. 42}

9 January 1916 • Sunday

Have had a dreadful night with siatic [sciatica] am still in great pain men at the Hotel Utah {p. 43}

10 January 1916 • Monday

Came up from m [home] this morning there has been a terrific wind this aftrnon, but it subsided some and this evening is comperatively calm. I am in the Hotel Utah and my facilitiees for writing are not the best but all is wel {p. 44}

11 January 1916 • Tuesday

Today is the annversary of Gorge [George] Q. Cannons birthday and it is being observed by his family I went down to the parrty at evening with Linus & wife⁵ It was very pleasant but not so much as is usua◊l there having been two deaths⁶ {p. 45}

12 January 1916 • Wednesday

Tod[a]y is a rather tame as thngs go in this office, we do not do much on Wednesday and yet I think it is my favorite day as it has alway been a rather precious day for me however all d[a]ys now are rare {p. 46}

13 January 1916 • Thursday

Today I am not well and I dread the meeting so many things come up for action of which I do not approve⁷ and it is not very pleasent to be always making the pretence duty is firrst with me {p. 47}

16 January 1916 • Sunday

Today I rested in the mo[r]ning and then went to meeting in the aftenon [afternoon] Rulon S. Wells and Presidemt Smith preached, then went to the Bee Hive housee and visited with sister Julina Smith and from theree to 18th Ward & home with Joseeph [Joseph S.] Wells & spent the evening {p. 48}

17 January 1916 • Monday

I had a very unhapy day was not well and other worries and each day b[r]ings its b[u]rdens and cares and so little help that is efficient & I suffer so because of my eyees and also women who are envoius [envious] and traitors & it is wrong⁸ {p. 49}

18 January 1916 • Tuesday

I was late coming over f[r]om the Hotel but did try to do a few important things and spoke to Bishop [Charles W.] Nibley about a room at the Hotel and I have been to see Mr. Rolfe [George O. Relf] and hope I may be fortunate in securing a comfortable room to sleep in until the Sp[r]ing comes and warmer weather Nay [May] the Lord help me {p. 50}

19 January 1916 • Wednesday

This has been a very pleasant day, sunsh[i]ne and clear sky and I came up fron [from] the Martneau [Martineau] home⁹ almost two P.M. in time for the regular Board meeting, and even tho’ I was not very well I managed to get thro the meeting ver[y] well no letters rec’d but sent mine to the Countess of Aberdeen [Ishbel Marjoribanks Hamilton-Gordon], very glad {p. 51}

20 January 1916 • Thursday

Came up from Emn [Emmeline Cannon] Martinau and had a good meeting of the Seventy– all went well– had thngs done of importance but am not ve[r]y well myself– am sorry that th[e]re is no ome [one] here {p. 52}

21 January 1916 • Friday

This is a gray day the sun does not shine out. It is the anniversary of the of [one] of Z[i]ons greatest woman¹⁰ and I have invited some of our sisterrs to come to our offiice and help commemorate her with and speak of her as a queen among women {p. 53}

22 January 1916 • Saturday

I am in as usual and there was no mail and scarceely a smile or a welcome from the office force but I soon received a letter from Mrs. [Margaret Walker] Salisbury with a check for 50, dollars & that gave me great joy

I gave Miss Cannon Lucile a very pretty scarf {p. 54}

23 January 1916 • Sunday

Had been very ill all night but went over to the Conv[e]nti[o]n in the University Building and thn to meting in the Assmbly hall, the Confernce of Pioneer Stake Br [Charles] Hart of the Seven Presidents of Sevnety and Pres. [Charles W.] Penrose of the First Presdency I wnt up to see Sister Jennings and read to and visited with her and thn to evning meting in the 18th. Wrd slept at the Hotel {p. 55}

24 January 1916 • Monday

Have had a busy day people calling and went to Lyon’s family store and ordered two dserrt [dessert] Spoons for Emmie a present, walked ther[e] and back again have had caller to day letter from Nw [New] York by Clarissa had Susans ticket for Liberty theatrre snt to me free, it [2 illegible words] very well long to be able to see again {p. 56}

25 January 1916 • Tuesday

had a very unhappy day Although Dot [S. Isabel Sears Buchholz] and Will [C. William Buchholz] came to see me and Isabel [Whitney Sears] but Lucile [Sears] is very ill and Iabel [Isabel] could not stay Emm called up and asked me to come down and I was very glad to go because I was lonely yet Cavendish had been in and playd on the piano which I felt was pleasant, he went to the car with mee & Emm met the car {p. 57}

26 January 1916 • Wednesday

Mr Martneau [Lyman R. Martineau] came home after we were in bed and I felt it was a relief this moning– I went up and found no one had come in to help me Lucile was siick and Belle was in the Temple but came late Amy and Miss [Elizabeth] Bradford were herre and I went out to lunch and had a ride with Mrs. Jennigs [Jennings]. {p. 58}

27 January 1916 • Thursday

[W]e had our regular weekly meeting of the Relief Society after which I went to the Receptin at the Hotel Uta◊h and thn down to Emm. Martineau to stay all night the wind blew furiously and Emm was slow and Emm came out to me and {p. 59} I stayed all night

28 January 1916 • Friday

The day is very stormy and it is difficult to get out at all, however we were all right in the Building and at night although it it was so very cold I went down to stay all night with Emm and both Emn. & her husband met mee at the car & we were {p. 60} all right,

29 January 1916 • Saturday¹¹

This morning we were late. up but I went to the Assembly hall and enjoyd the services afterwards went up to see Susan Wells & Kate [Wells] who was as generous as possible and we had dinner and she went with me to the evening meeting. {p. 61}

30 January 1916 • Sunday¹²

I slept at Emms and came up about noon, it was snowing very fast & the icee was slipperry I had some maiil but not any from my own people one letter from Washington, called u◊p Clarissia & talked {p. 62} with herr

31 January 1916 • Monday

Slept at the Hotel last night hd a dreadful day yesterday so many calls we could not answer

2 remarkable women were born on Jan. 31. Zina D. H. [Diantha Huntington] Young & Jane S. [Snyder] Richards– and the month ◊◊◊◊ed with remembrances of them {p. 63}

Jane S. [Snyder] Richards– and the month ◊◊◊◊ed with remembrances of them {p. 63}

Cite This Page

January 1916, The Journal of Emmeline B. Wells, accessed December 21, 2024 https://chpress-web.churchhistorianspress.org/emmeline-b-wells/1910s/1916/1916-01

Footnotes

[1]As EBW’s eyesight worsened, her handwriting became less legible. She also sometimes lost track of where she was in some words. Words with extra stokes are represented as closely to the manuscript as possible. Letters with missing strokes are represented as complete, as are letters conflated together, as is common with the two letters in th.
[2]John Q. Cannon.
[3]Annie Wells Cannon.
[4]Clarissa S. Williams was the Relief Society delegate to the National Council of Women meetings in Washington, DC. (Relief Society General Board Minutes, 20 Jan. 1916, vol. 7, 9.)
[5]Perhaps Lewis M. Cannon and Lillian Hamlin Cannon.
[6]Angus M. Cannon, brother of George Q. Cannon, died in Salt Lake City on 7 June 1915. (“Angus Munn Cannon,” accessed 19 Apr. 2021, https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/the-first-fifty-years-of-relief-society/people/angus-munn-cannon?letter=C&lang=eng.)
[7]At the meeting held on 13 January 1916, Relief Society board members discussed how to record “number of days spent in Temple work”; the salary of the stenographer to the board; approval of bills, including $182 for eight thousand Relief Society teachers’ report books; consideration of books to be read by women in the Utah Stake; and planning for a home economics convention to be held in the Bishop’s Building. (Relief Society General Board Minutes, 13 Jan. 1916, vol. 7, 4–6.) It is hard to judge what may have annoyed EBW, but she occasionally asked for a meeting at which the women could treat spiritual matters. She requested such a meeting eight days later while honoring the birthday of Eliza R. Snow with some of the sisters. (See EBW, Diary, 21 Jan. 1916.)
[8]It is difficult to know what specific annoyance caused EBW to characterize women around her as “envious and traitors.” Envy was an emotional response that she analyzed in a later entry. (See EBW, Diary, 23 Mar. 1916.) After EBW discontinued publication of the Woman’s Exponent in February 1914, she watched the new Relief Society Magazine receive attention and financial resources that she had lacked, and that may have been painful to see. She also seems to have resented the board’s appointment of Susa Young Gates as historian of the Relief Society, a post that EBW had filled for many years. (Relief Society General Board Minutes, 25 Mar. 1915, vol. 6, 30–31.)
[9]The home of EBW’s granddaughter Emmeline Cannon Martineau and her husband, Lyman R. Martineau.
[10]Eliza R. Snow.
[11]The activities in this entry, although written under date of Saturday, 29 January, sound like EBW’s usual Sunday meetings and visits. She may have meant to date this entry to Sunday, 30 January 1916.
[12]The activities in this entry, although written under date of Sunday, 30 January, sound like EBW’s usual weekday activities. She may have meant to date this entry to another day.