Least Chipmunk

The following least chipmunk was photographed in Henry's Fork Basin in the Uinta Mountains near the Utah/Wyoming border and in the vicinity of King's Peak. The first two photos are among some of my favorite photos because of the lighting and color and the beauty of this little mammal. The least chipmunk is the most prevalent chipmunk in the western United States, with its range extending over much of Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Montana, and extending into smaller portions of California, Arizona, Washington and New Mexico.

They have three dark lines with white in between on their face and five black stripes with brown edges and white in between on their backs. They are grayish and reddish-brown on their upper parts and grayish white on the undersides.

I struggled trying to determine whether this was a least chipmunk or a Uinta chipmunk. I finally found something that indicated a difference was that the Uinta chipmunk does not have a dark strip under the white on the side. That was consistent with photos I could find.

I have not had a lot of experience with chipmunks growing up, but do recall a family that had a cabin just off of Parley's Canyon outside of Salt Lake City. Their son would set Havahart traps and catch them with peanut butter. They seemed amazingly energetic and friendly.

Western Scrub Jay

The western scrub jay is found through most of California, except the eastern deserts of Southern California, Nevada, Utah, most of Colorado, large parts of New Mexico, the north and eastern parts of Arizona, small portions of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Texas and down into Mexico. The scrub jays below, other than the last one, were photographed in Joshua Tree National Park.

The head, wings and tail are blue and the back is a pale brown. The underparts are pale gray.


They are found in foothills, oaks and junipers.

They are frequent visitors to our backyard in Redlands. In fact, our cat Sparrow, seemed to have somewhat of a love affair with one. The scrub jay would land on some furniture on our back covered patio and the cat was inside staring out the sliding glass window. They would sit and stare at each other for minutes at a time on a daily basis.

This scrub jay was photographed in a back yard in Redlands.

Mountain Quail

The mountain quail is a quail living in the mountains of the Pacific coast, from Washington to Mexico. It has a long, straight head plume, a red or chestnut throat and white bars on the sides of its chest (barely visible on the second picture below). These mountain quail were seen just above Angeles Oaks on the Mount San Bernardino Trail.

It was kind of a shock when I first saw them as I'd never heard of them before and they are markedly different from other quail I've seen. I have only seen them twice and I don't even recall the second place I saw them, but it was just a brief view.

A third chick is visible in the bottom right-hand corner and a fourth is visible in the bottom left-hand corner of the picture.

Valley Pocket Gopher

The valley pocket gopher is found through most of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and southwestern Colorado. The one below was in a campground at San Simeon State Park relatively near the ocean. They vary widely in size and color.

The next gopher is one we found dead on our back lawn in Redlands. It was either a casualty of poison or one of our cats.

This picture shows its amazing teeth and digging paws. We are in a constant battle with the gophers in our backyard, but I have never seen one alive.

Lamb Stew

On a cold winter day there is not a better comfort food than lamb stew. Judy has a recipe that is absolutely dynamite. It is thick, it is very lamby and when horseradish sauce is added to it, is spicy and has a pretty good kick. I decided to try making it on my own recently and over-emphasized the ingrediants I love, seeing if I could make it even better. Judy's recipe is here. Her recipe calls for a pound of lamb stew meat. She has suggested that using meat with bone in it might enhance the flavor. I have figured that if a little lamb is good, a lot of lamb might be better. So I bought some shoulder scraps and shoulder steaks, three pounds plus worth, although a fair portion of the weight was bone.

Her recipe calls for three or four cloves of garlic, cut up. I put in two heads of garlic, about 30 cloves, cut up. I also used three or four onions, more than the two she recommended.

I cut up the lamb as good as I could, leaving the bones in, coated it in flour and fried it briefly in a large cookpot.

I also put in extra oil.

After boiling the meat and other ingredients, I pulled the meat out and de-boned it the best I could. I didn't have any mushrooms. The stew turned out great. I would like to have had the mushrooms in it and I should have added some more beef bullion given all the extra ingredients I put in.

The stew was extra meaty. The garlic was not overpowering, in fact, I would probably put more in the next time. I liked the extra meat, would probably add more of it as well. Judy and I polished off the stew in just a few days, just the two of us. We had several days of cool weather and the stew was perfect for it. Lamb meat is about as good as it gets and lamb stew, as stews go, is as good as it gets.

Bullock's Oriole

The Bullock's oriole is much more widespread in the west than the hooded oriole. It is found throughout the entire west during the summer, except for small portions of Washington, Idaho and Montana. The male is orange to orange-yellow, except for the crown, a throat patch, a stripe through the eye, the nape, the back and the wings, which are black. There is a large white patch on the wing. The oriole below was photographed at a feeder in our back yard in Redlands.

They are so colorful that they are a delight to see. Even with an oriole feeder, we didn't get to see them as often as we would have liked.

Hooded Oriole

The hooded oriole is found in the southwestern United States, from central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, central Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and west and south Texas down to southern Mexico. The male has an entirely orange or orange-yellow head (where the name "hooded" comes from), nape, rump and underparts. It has a black bib and narrow mask and a black back, tail and wings, except for two white wingbars, the upper one wide and bold and the lower one narrow. The oriole below was photographed at our home in Redlands.

A sideview of a hooded oriole up in the top of our pine tree.

We had an oriole feeder for a number of years and I never lost the thrill of seeing the orioles on our back porch. They are truly some of the most beautiful birds anywhere. I've seen them in the desert as well, and they light up a landscape.

The female, below, is olive-yellow on the head, rump and tail. The back is a dull, grayish olive. The underside is a brighter yellow.

Unusual Cannon Christmases - Nine Generations

1779 George Cannon, age 13, of Peel, Isle of Man, was seven months into a ten month voyage on the ship Rawlinson, from Liverpool to Jamaica and back to Liverpool again. On Christmas day, he was likely in Kingston, Jamaica, enjoying copious amounts of rum, even at that age, as sailors were want to do.

1787 George Cannon, was only three days at sea from Liverpool into an eight and a half month voyage on the ship James, from Liverpool to Jamaica and back again. He was probably enjoying the Christmas spirits, but was still close to land and having to pay careful attention to the workings of the ship. It would have been a working day.

1788 George Cannon was nine days at sea from Liverpool into a seven month voyage, again on the ship James, from Liverpool to Jamaica and back. He was a little further from land than the year before, and depending on the weather, may have had more time to enjoy the Christmas spirits.

1790 George Cannon was nine months into a three and a half year voyage of the slave ship Eliza. He was likely in Anomabu on the Gold Coast of West Africa, present-day Ghana. He may have been enjoying native spirits made from fermented coconut oil.

1791 George Cannon was 21 months into the voyage of the ship Eliza. He was likely in Cape Coast Castle on the Gold Coast of Africa, present-day Ghana.

1792 George Cannon was 33 months into the voyage of the Eliza. During the past year he had gone from the Gold Coast of Africa to deliver 119 slaves in Falmouth, Jamaica, had sailed to New York, perhaps back to Jamaica, and on Christmas day was at sea on his way back to Cape Coast Castle on the Gold Coast to purchase more slaves.

1793 George Cannon was likely back home in Peel, Isle of Man. During the year the Eliza had gone back to Kingston, Jamaica with 167 slaves and then sailed back to Liverpool, arriving in early September. Less than a month after Christmas, in January, George, flush with cash after all of those months at sea, loaned 20 pounds to his parents, Hugh and Eleanor Cannon, secured by their home in Peel.

1794 George Cannon married Leonora Callister on February 3rd in Peel and she was four months pregnant when he left in July for a voyage as first mate on the ship Good Intent. The Good Intent sailed to Angola, Africa, where it purchased slaves, then sold the slaves in Grenada and sailed back to Liverpool. The birth of George’s first child, George Cannon (who later emigrated to Nauvoo) on December 3rd, and Christmas day both occurred while George was at sea, sailing between Angola and Grenada. Surely, as he drank his grog on Christmas day, George wondered whether Leonora and his first child had survived childbirth.

1796 In June, George sailed as first mate on the ship Helen from Liverpool headed for Angola in Africa to purchase slaves and then to Barbados and Antigua in the Caribbean to sell the slaves. Leonora was five and a half months pregnant with their second child when he left and the child, Leonora (who later emigrated to Canada and married John Taylor), was born on October 5th while George was in Angola. It appears that in late November or early December, while on the Middle Passage, the Helen was captured by a French privateer, the ship Scipio (England and France were at war with each other). The Helen was later recaptured by the President Sloop, part of Admiral Harvey’s Squadron of the British Navy in the West Indies and was taken to St. Kitts. George likely spent this Christmas as a prisoner of the French, at sea, wondering if Leonora and his second child had survived childbirth and also wondering when and if he would see his family again.

1798 In June, George left Liverpool as first mate on the ship Iris for Bonny, Africa (present-day Nigeria) to purchase slaves. Leonora was several months pregnant. Captain John Spencer drowned in Africa in August and George replaced him as captain. After purchasing 420 slaves, the Iris headed for Kingston, Jamaica. While in the Caribbean, Captain Cannon and the Iris captured two vessels as prizes, the North America and the Uncle Toby, one a French and the other a Spanish ship. The prizes and the slaves were taken to Kingston. Captain Cannon celebrated Christmas day in Kingston, likely a very happy day as he contemplated the substantial riches he was likely to realize from the capture of his two prizes, and a complete reversal of two years prior when he spent Christmas as a prisoner of a French privateer. Captain Cannon got back to Liverpool in April. His third child, Thomas, born in January, was likely not alive, as he died in infancy.

1799 After less than three months at home, George Cannon left Liverpool in July as captain of the Iris, this time headed for Angola in Africa. For the fourth straight voyage, Leonora was pregnant when George left home, but this time he may not have been aware of it as she was only about one month along. On Christmas day, Captain Cannon was likely in Angola. He may very well have spent the day with the captains of other slave ships, and local Portuguese and African slave traders, as was the custom, drinking and eating in celebration. George arrived in Kingston, Jamaica in August to sell his slaves and the Iris, leaking badly, was condemned. Captain Cannon had to get passage back to England on another ship, arriving in November after being gone for 16 months.

1801 Captain Cannon celebrated Christmas at home in Peel, owner of a new home, purchased in October, located at 7 Michael Street. When advertised for sale 14 years later, the home was described as a large dwelling house three stories high, with four rooms on each floor, an excellent cellar, with a stable and backyard on “one of the most convenient and pleasant streets in Peel.” His father, Hugh, had died earlier that year, so his mother, Eleanor, who lived nearby, likely spent the day with him and his family.

1802 Captain Cannon left Liverpool on September 29 as captain of the ship Minerva. On Christmas day, he was likely in Bonny (Nigeria), spending his fourth Christmas in Africa, dining with other captains and local African traders. In April, he delivered 212 slaves to Nassau, in the Bahamas and was back in Liverpool by August.

1810 William Cannon, brother of Captain Cannon, was likely killed when the ship he owned and was captain of, the Leander, wrecked on Great Manan Island in the Bay of Fundy, near Nova Scotia, in September or early October 1810. Captain Cannon may have had William’s widow, Alice, also a resident of Peel, over for Christmas that year.

1811 Leonora Cannon likely spent Christmas day at home in Peel with her family. Captain Cannon, just eight months after the death of his brother William, was killed in July in a mutiny on his own ship. Captain Cannon’s family had done very well financially, but now the breadwinner was gone. It was a time of belt tightening as well as sorrow.

1825 George Cannon, son of Captain Cannon, and Ann Callister, both originally neighbors in Peel, where they grew up, were married on October 24, 1825 in Liverpool. They were in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, and George, a carpenter, was likely lured to Liverpool seeking a job. Their first Christmas as newlyweds, was likely spent in Liverpool.

1840 George Cannon’s brother-in-law, John Taylor, arrived in Liverpool in January, having left Nauvoo at the direction of Joseph Smith, to go on a mission to England. Taylor immediately went to the Cannon home, located at 43 Norfolk Street, to introduce himself. A month later, in February, George and Ann Cannon were baptized into the LDS church and Taylor lived at the Cannon home while proselyting in Liverpool. In June, at the instigation of Parley P. Pratt, the three oldest Cannon children, George Q., Mary Alice and Annie were also baptized. Later in the year, Taylor went to the Isle of Man to preach. George Cannon and family likely spent Christmas day at home, with John Taylor, and perhaps some other missionaries. The amazing progress of the LDS church in England, and Taylor’s experiences with family and friends in the Isle of Man, were likely topics of conversation during the day.

1841 John Taylor and many of the other LDS missionaries, including Brigham Young, Heber Kimball, Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards and Orson Pratt, left Liverpool in April to go back to Nauvoo. During the year, many ship loads of LDS converts left Liverpool to join the saints in Nauvoo, including a ship with 170 converts, which left on November 8th. George Cannon and his family were anxious to do the same and were working to save money and prepare themselves to go. Christmas day was likely spent in Liverpool with the anticipation and sorrow that this could be their last Christmas in England and the last time that they might see other family members.

1842 George Cannon, the immigrant, with his family, left Liverpool on the ship Sidney on September 18th, headed for Nauvoo, Illinois. His wife, Ann, died on October 28th off the coast of Louisiana and was buried at sea. They then took a steamboat up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to the vicinity of St. Louis where their steamboat got stuck in the ice. George rented a home in or near St. Louis where they spent their Christmas. It would have been a Christmas of many mixed feelings: much sorrow for the loss of their wife and mother, and great excitement to meet Joseph Smith and be with the Taylors and other saints in Nauvoo. In the spring, once the Mississippi opened up again, they took a steamboat to Nauvoo where they arrived on April 12, 1843, greeted by John and Leonora Taylor and Joseph Smith.

1844 On June 27, Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois. George Cannon built the drag, kind of like a large sled, that their bodies were brought back to Nauvoo on. He also made their death masks, clipping off a lock of Joseph’s hair, caught in the plaster, and giving it to his son, David. During this time of uncertainty and hardship, George left his family in Nauvoo and traveled to St. Louis to find work. There, on August 17 he died of sun stroke. George Q. and his sister Ann, moved in with their Uncle and Aunt, John and Leonora Taylor. John Taylor was with Joseph and Hyrum when they were killed. He was shot four times and was severely wounded. He was shot in the left thigh (the bullet grazing the bone), the left hip (leaving a hole the size of a cup), his left arm (the bullet lodging in his hand) and below the left knee. Mary Alice, just age 15, married Charles Lambert on November 28 and she and Charles took care of her two youngest siblings, Angus and David. It would have been a hard Christmas that year, following the death of their father, the death of the prophet, the near-death of their uncle and the splitting up of their family. I am sure they must have questioned their parents’ decision to leave England.

1849 George Q. Cannon was on his way to the gold fields of California with a large group, including Charles C. Rich, Jefferson Hunt, Addison Pratt and Henry Bigler. Having traveled across the Mojave Desert, they were resting up at the Isaac Williams Ranch, also known as the Rancho del Chino, in what is now Chino, California. The day before Francis Pomeroy made a plum pudding, Addison Pratt shot several ducks and a curlew and they “dressed” a “bullock” and appointed cooks to make the Christmas dinner. Christmas day the “earth [was] green with grass and wild oats” and they had a dinner with “plenty of roast beef and potatoes, baked ducks and plum pooding.”

1850 George Q. Cannon was on the Island of Maui in the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands on an LDS mission. He spent the day reading and studying the Hawaiian language. “My thoughts naturally reverted to home and its attractions.” He thought members of the family might be “wondering where George is today.”

1851 George Q. Cannon spent Christmas with Brothers Winchester and Burnham on the Island of Maui. Christmas morning, Mr. Rice arrived from Waiehu. “We spent a very agreeable day and had an excellent Christmas dinner, but still my thought naturally reverted to home and its attractions and I could not help wondering whether I was forgotten by the folks amid the general festivities. We had in the evening a candy frolic a spirit of hilarity and mirthfulness prevailed.”

1853 George Q. Cannon was in Hanapepe, Kauai. On Christmas Eve, he “[c]ommenced reading the translation of the Book of Mormon, in company with Bros. Farrer and Kauwahi, for the purpose of correcting any inaccuracies that might be in the translation and to see that no words or sentences had been left out.” On Christmas day, “[v]isions of the enjoyments and pleasures of home floated through my mind…Bro. Wm. Farrer went to meeting at Hanapepe this morning, leaving Bro. Lewis an me here; -- our residence was the old prison house of this place, it being vacated in consequence of all the law breakers being sent to Lihue; our dinner consisted of a calabash of poi, and a dish of boiled sweet potatoes and pork. Truly it requires the spirit of the Lord to enable an elder thus to isolate himself, from all that is near, dear, and attractive to him on earth, and take up his abode among a semi-barbarous people and in an out of the way place like this, where there is no attraction, except to do the will of the Father; -- for one who has ever known the pleasures and true happiness of a life among the saints, and yet under these circumstances, I spent a very happy day,-- I preached morning and afternoon on the first principles/ I never preached better to my own satisfaction on these subjects, and, although, laboring under a heavy cold, I was blessed with strength and an abundant flow of the spirit and of the teaching; the saints appeared to be filled, and all rejoiced in the blessings of the new & everlasting covenants. Three were confirmed who had been baptized.”

1862 George Q. Cannon was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and President of the European Mission. He was in Liverpool on Christmas day. “Arranged for a Christmas dinner for the Elders and the brethren in the office, there were present: Elders [Jacob G.] Bigler, West, B[righam]. Young Jr., John M. Kay, and Sis. Kay, Elders Bull, Shearman, Sloan, Perkes, Graham and Sister Graham, Bros. D. M. McAllister, Robert R. Anderson, Ephraim and Wm. McMillan. The dinner was excellent and did E. credit and all enjoyed themselves very heartily. In the evening we all attended tea party in the chapel, and had an excellent evening's enjoyment in listening to the singing, recitation and acting. There were two pieces performed: "The Phenomenon In a Smock Frock," and "Box and Cox." The acting of Bros. Graham and Perke's was admirable. The folks from the office were the main contributors to the evening's amusements, and I was much gratified with their efforts.”

1876 George Q. Cannon was a counselor to President Brigham Young and was in Washington D.C. as a non-voting delegate for Utah Territory in the U.S. Congress. “Took the train at 9.20 last night for New York. We put up at the St. Nicholas which hotel we reached between 7 & 8 this morning. Remained there until a little after noon, awaiting the arrival of Rudger Clawson, Bro. John W. [Young] having said that he would meet us. We then walked up Broadway and took a car to Central Park. The ground was covered with snow but there were immense crowds of people pressing to the skating pond. This was so crowded they could hardly skate and to make it still more unpleasant the ice was covered with snow. Went to Wallack's Theatre in the evening, and saw "Shaughraun" Mr. Boucicault's famous Irish comedy. The acting was very good and the scenery was very fine.”

1881 George Q. Cannon was a counselor to John Taylor and was in Washington D. C. as a non-voting delegate for Utah Territory in the U.S. Congress. “Christmas day. I spent it principally in my room reading the Books of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. After dinner I took a walk for an hour and a quarter. Received a very interesting letter from my son Abraham, dated the 8th inst. at Berlin, Germany. He has been traveling in Germany, having left Bern about a month and a half ago, and has labored in different parts of Germany among other places, Nurnberg and Berlin. At Nurnberg 20 members were added to the Church while he was there, and to many outside he had borne his testimony and they had promised to investigate the doctrines further. The police had been after him at Nurnberg, and at Berlin the meetings are all under the supervision of the police, and if it was known by the officers that he was there in the city, he would have to march very soon or be imprisoned. The evening previous to his writing there was no officer present at the meeting, and he therefore addressed the assembly; but that morning early, a detective was around making inquiries in regard to him, he having learned by some means that a stranger addressed the meeting. He says he means to be as wise as possible, as he had no inclination to see the inside of a German prison, still he means to do his duty whatever the result may be. He expected to go to Hamburg in a few days, to assist Bro. Guhrke, who was in prison and would not be released till the 17th. He was alone so far as Elders were concerned; but he was enjoying his labors very much, and rejoiced that he had the privilege of laboring where he was, and of bearing his humble testimony to many persons. Being away from English-speaking people was an advantage.”

1884 George Q. Cannon was in Salt Lake City. “Spent the day with my family at home. We had a dinner to which I invited my sons John Q., Frank, and Abraham with their wives in which we all attended except Frank who was detained by the sickness of his child at Ogden, but promised to be down in the evening. He failed, however, for the same reason to be here. In the evening attended the theater with my wife Sarah Jane, Angus and David and saw the opera "Bohemian Girl" and enjoyed it very much.”

1885 George Q. Cannon. “The family were greatly pleased with the presents I gave them. We had a quiet day. Angus [Cannon] and myself spent considerable time conversing with Pres. Taylor whose health was not good.”

1886 George Q. Cannon was a counselor to John Taylor and they were on the “underground” due to their plural marriages. On Christmas Eve, he noted, “Our usual correspondence was attended to. In the evening my brother Angus and myself went to the city. It was a very dark night and it was with difficulty we could keep the road. We reached the Tithing Office about eight forty five where Bro. Wilcken was waiting and he drove me to my home on the [Jordan] river. I found all well.” On Christmas day, “I had a very pleasant day with my family. My son Abraham called to see me, also Bro. H. B. Clawson. I made a present to each of the children, except the four youngest, of a bible. The older ones received valuable editions, the five boys having bibles given them which I thought would answer their purpose as missionaries should they ever go out preaching. I had very serious talk with my older sons, enquiring into their secret lives and habits; to my son William, especially, I talked with very great plainness. I slept in my secret place of concealment.”

1888 George Q. Cannon was in the Utah Penitentiary serving a five month sentence for unlawful cohabitation. We do not have a journal entry for this date, but we do have journal entries for part of the time he spent in prison.

1890 George Q. Cannon was a counselor to President Wilford Woodruff. On Christsmas Eve, “I went home a little earlier than usual, hoping that by some exertion I could get my new kitchen prepared for us to have our Christmas dinner in the dining hall, but I found affairs too far behind for this.” Christmas day, “I spent the day at home and visited my family a little. Had a call from Brothers F. Armstrong and A. E. Hyde, who came to see me respecting the laying of the corner stone of the sugar factory tomorrow. They said that Bishop Cutler would be greatly disappointed if I did not come.”

1891 George Q. Cannon was a counselor to President Wilford Woodruff. “I had invited all my children and grandchildren to take Christmas dinner with me, and they were all present today excepting my son Hugh, whose wife visited me, but could not stay. My dining room was full. There were sixty five sat down to dinner, each branch of my family at a separate table. All enjoyed themselves very much. We had a beautiful Christmas tree, and it was loaded with presents for the children, and in the evening the little wax candles were lit, which made the tree very brilliant. My gardener, John Young, plays very excellent music, and we all had a dance, which kept up till about 10:30. This has been a day of very great enjoyment to me, and I think it has been to the entire family, as all expressed themselves to that effect.”

1892 George Q. Cannon was a counselor to President Wilford Woodruff. “Held Sunday School with my children this morning, after the departure of John M. Cannon and Mr. C. A. Hall, who came down and breakfasted with me. Had an interesting time with my children. At 2:00 I was at the Tabernacle. The speakers were Bro. Junius F. Wells and my son Abraham. A very good meeting. I think Abraham is improving in his speaking. He spoke with more vigor than I had heard him before. I drove around by Bro. Grant's to see his wife, and found her very low, but her mind bright and clear. This is one of the finest Christmas days I ever saw; the weather is charming.”

1893 George Q. Cannon. “Reached Salt Lake City at 3 a.m. Brother Wilcken and my son Hugh came up by daylight for me. I found my family all well, excepting Martha. Her disease seems to have settled in her left arm and it is helpless. Although I am cramped for means and unable to make the customary Christmas presents, I felt profoundly thankful that we had good health and could meet together under such favorable circumstances. I took my Christmas dinner with my wife Carlie.”

1894 George Q. Cannon. “I sat very quietly at home after visiting all my houses [on the Cannon Farm] and wishing my family a merry Christmas, until about 3 p.m. when my daughter Mary Alice and her husband came, followed by my sons John Q. and Abraham with their families. My adopted daughter Rosy was also there with her children. We spent a very delightful time together and had an excellent meal prepared by my daughter Emily. My wife Carlie had all her mother's family at her house.”

1899 George Q. Cannon was a counselor to Lorenzo Snow. This journal entry covers three days, from December 23 to 25. “I did not feel well and feared that I was threatened with a recurrence of pneumonia; so I determined to stay indoors these three days and see if a rest and keeping in the house would not help me. I felt myself benefitted by doing this. I had a very enjoyable Christmas. My family all called to see me.”

1907 Edwin Q. Cannon was serving in the Swiss-German mission in Tilsit, East Prussia (now Sowjetsk, Russia). He was staying with a married companion, Hermann Babel. They had a Christmas tree where they lived and a nice gathering with members and friends on Christmas Eve. On Christmas day they “had lots of good things to eat,” he ate dinner at Sister Onusseits and in the evening visited an investigator.

1908 Ed Cannon was serving in Leipzig, Germany. His companion was Archie Brockbank. They rented a hall in Leipzig. He got there early in the morning to decorate a Christmas tree. At noon he went to Bro. Schrodter’s in Golis for dinner and then their program at the hall began at 4 P.M. They had a program, including singing, which he participated in, then refreshments, and at the end, a short dance. The “celebration was quite a success.”

1909 Ed Cannon was serving as president of the Frankfurt Conference and living in Frankfurt, Germany. On December 23rd he “hired a Santa Claus suit for Christmas” and the elders met at 7.30 P.M. to practice. On the 24th he “worked in the hall all day.” He wrote to Luella Wareing [later his wife] after getting home. Christmas day he wrote, “Sister Wagner’s little child died the other day and was buried this morning at 8 A.M. Bro. Belnap and I and some of the saints attended the funeral and we sang ‘O Mein Vater’ and ‘Komm Heim’ and I dedicated the grave and spoke a few words to those present…Our Christmas program started at 4 P.M. and lasted until almost 7 P.M. We had over 180 grown people present 52 of them being friends [investigators]. Elders Stewart, Thompson and I ate supper at the ‘Salzhause’ then went roller skating. I took the part of “Sankt Nickalaus’ at the ‘Feier’.”

1947 William and Margery Cannon were serving in the Hawaiian Mission in Wailuku, Maui. The night before they went to a Christmas Eve program given by the Wailuku Branch. Afterwards, when they got to their car, they found “a sack of presents from the Akiu’s, and the Mokehas brought a chicken over.” Christmas day, “All of the missionaries around the vicinity of Wailuku had dinner at Afoon’s house, given by the Relief Society. Michael, just a newborn, was left “at the home of Mrs. Dutro in the evening and all went to a show. Pres and Sis Smith attended.”

1948 Marg Cannon had previously left Hawaii to go back to Salt Lake to have their second child, David. Bill was now stationed in Honolulu where he served as a counselor to the mission president, E. Wesley Smith. The day before, Bill visited his aunt and uncle, Florence and Chauncey Cannon. Then he went to his other aunt and uncle’s home, Irene and George Cannon, where he had dinner and stayed the night. Christmas morning “I found that Santa had visited leaving all of George’s kids a big pile of things. He also left me a stocking full of gadgets useful) and George and Irene gave me a Leather date book, a wallet, a box of candy, and other incidentals. They were surely kind. After noon we had the usual Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. We went for a ride in their sleek new Nash afterwards, and then I had to come back and prepare my Sunday School lesson.

1950 Edwin Q. Cannon and his wife, Luella Wareing Cannon, were in Frankfort, Germany, where Ed was president of the West German Mission. On Christmas Eve, they gathered around the Christmas tree had a prayer and Luella wrote, “Sister Zanner played ‘Silent Night’ on her flute. Again I was reminded of our son Ted, and of his first Christmas in the German Mission, at Insterburg. Ed asked Brother Wagner to read the Christmas story from St. Luke, which he did by candlelight. Brother LeRay McAllister and others sang. We had punch and cake and my homemade candy…My thoughts were of Salt Lake City and my family, and I had a touch of homesickness.” Christmas day, they “enjoyed the luxury of some relaxation in the morning.” They later enjoyed dinner at the home of some American friends, the Bernard Lewises, in Germany with the U.S. State Department. Then they attended an open house of the Norton’s.

1951 Ed and Luella Cannon were in the middle of remodeling the mission home in Frankfurt, Germany. Luella wrote, “Christmas was just another day of work, preparing meals for a big crowd in a torn-up house. We had a Christmas tree and for dinner we had a chicken pie and plum pudding.”

1952 Ed and Luella spent their third straight Christmas in Frankfurt, Germany. They had a Christmas tree on the garage of the mission home and one in a large second story window. On Christmas Eve, Luella made eight large and 13 small mince pies and crumbed bread for turkey dressing. Christmas day, the “Frankfurt missionaries came for dinner, and Clawson Cannon [Ed’s brother] also was with us for Christmas. We all went to the opera ‘Lohengrin’ in the evening.”

1970 My brother, Layne W. Cannon, was serving in the France – Switzerland Mission and was in Arles, France with Elder Gary Ballam. On December 24, Layne wrote, “Today…It is really Christmas…We went to the Marche and bought some candy for the stockings, and we went to the store and talked to our friend in the store around the corner, and she is really bugged with the fete. Her daughter is in bed with a bad leg, and she misses her husband and was really down, so I went to the Marche and bought her a turkey (a big one) and gave it to a girl to give it to her anonymously. She was cheered up the rest of the day. It was cool.” Later, “I was trying to think of something else to give to help someone else’s Christmas…That evening, we were tracting…and we decided to go get some candy for the kids at the door, and [Elder Shupe, their zone leader] told me about a family who Elder Ballam and he had tracted out earlier that day…[T] hey tracted out a family that was very poor. He asked if Santa Claus was coming, and they said, probably not, so he pulled out [some] candy and gave it to them. There were seven kids, and one sick in bed, and they went after it like crazy. He told me about that happening, and I just wanted to help them so bad. I had decided that the $50 that Tutu & Pop sent me was going to others as much as possible…I thought, and suggested to Elder Shupe, that we buy them a Christmas dinner. We went to a butcherie and bought already-cooked chickens, and two big cans of peas, and a big thing of saussison, and milk and mashed potatoes, and a lot of the chocolates and candy that we bought for the ZLs, and took it over to the place. There wasn’t anyone there, so we lifted up a curtain and the window in the door was busted, and put everything inside, and left. I really felt good about that the turkey. I wanted to give the store lady something that came from us and so we bought her some roses and gave them to her. She was really happy then. It was cool. I really had fun buying that stuff for everybody, buying the dinner and turkey and everything. We went to Soeur Moktar’s, and she and the gang were there, we sang a few songs and gave her her present…We then went to Soeur Aillaud and gave her and Frederic their presents, and they were happy. Especially Fred. We gave him a stuffed Babar elephant…Elder Trujillo gave her her interview for baptism, which he said went very well. He said she has a better testimony than most investigators…She is going to be baptized the 2nd…[W]e went home and made the rest of dinner…[W]e went to Midnight Mass, but got bored and left…I have had some cool feelings today.” The next day, Christmas day, “all I’ve felt like doing…is rest.” They went to Les Baux, a “place on top of the mountains. The wind was blowing very hard and it was cold.” They went back home and ate at Soeur Olivier’s, and went home and studied, then went out again at night and everyone was drunk…”

1971 My parents, Bill and Marg Cannon, my sister, Wendy, and I went to Europe to pick up Layne from his mission in France. We met him in Geneva where his mission was headquartered. We then traveled to Zurich where my uncle and aunt, Ted and Janath Cannon, were serving as presidents of the Switzerland Zurich Mission. The day before Christmas we traveled by van through Lucerne and then to Interlaken, a city between lakes and surrounded by the Alps. We traveled up into the mountains to the Jungfraujoch and then took a train through the Eiger, with views out onto its steep north face. We traveled back to Zurich where we spent the night. Christmas day we had a family program. We read the Christmas story in German and English, sang and had a small talent show. Marg and Bill sang the Hawaiian Wedding Song and Elder Nelson read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” We visited a lady who lived across the street from the mission home. Layne wrote, “She had a Christmas tree with candles on it instead of lights, and candles all over.” That night we “all listened to an old tape of the family when we were younger, and the kids as they performed, and the tape of Grandfather’s [Edwin Q. Cannon] birthday in 1963…It made me want and kind of make a resolution that I would take pictures and keep tapes of the family…”

1976 I was serving in the England Birmingham Mission in Nottingham with Elder Gary Kearl. The day before we went to the Market Square to sing Christmas carols with 14 other missionaries. I had a scare as I lost Elder Kearl on the way on my bicycle and was razzed by some teenagers. I eventually found the place, but “we ended up having a large group of drunken people come down and join in with us which kind of ruined things.” Christmas day we cycled for 40 minutes, six or eight miles, to Wollaton, and had dinner with the Lowes. Sister Lowe mentioned that years before she had been tracted up by a couple of young missionaries. One was very charming and they saw her twice a week for about six months. She could not give up smoking and she lost contact. Eleven years later she was tracted up by the missionaries again. That time she readily accepted the gospel and gave up smoking. Her husband and children also accepted the gospel. “She said it was the influence of the first missionary that did it, and she said she often wished she could get a hold of him and tell him what he had done. The seed was planted, but he has not seen what it sprung. It turned out that young missionary’s name was John Preston Creer.” I knew his daughter at East High School in Salt Lake. So I wrote my sister, Wendy, who knew them, to have her tell him. We left the Lowes about 3:30 to cycle all the way back to West Bridgford and ate a “second Christmas dinner at home at Pilkingtons.”

1977 I was serving as an assistant to Pres. Eldon Callister in the mission home in Sutton Coldfield with Elder Rob Potter as my companion. From a letter to my parents dated December 26th: “I’m in Arnold, Nottingham right now, where we’ve come for Christmas. Elder Potter and I came up by train. At Nottingham II yesterday there were 13 Elders, and 10 down at Nottingham I…I spent most of yesterday at the Lewis’s home where they fed us. We spent some time singing Christmas carols…We had a mission wide Christmas seminar on Wed. where the whole mission met together at Woodsetton Chapel in Wolverhampton, and spent the day. We normally have a G.A. for it, but as Elder Brockbank is being replaced by Elder Cullimore—there wasn’t one available. The get together consisted of a mission wide scripture contest, which I conducted—then followed by 10 min. skits which each of the 10 zones produced. The zones in the missions are the Bedford, Northhampton, Newcastle, North Wales, Lincoln, Nottingham, Lichfield, Leicester, Birmingham, and then the Sutton Coldfield zone, which I’m in now. It includes the mission home, and some lower areas like Worcester, Evesham, Redditch, etc. The mission has about 196 missionaries. Also at the seminar we had a couple of speakers—Bro. Winfield, the Leicester Stake Patriarch, and Pres. Jogn Cox, a regional rep., and also Pres. of the Church Offices in Lichfield. Then we opened it up to testimonies for 1 ½ hrs. Also, we collected Christmas letters which we handed out, and stockings with fruit & candy, etc. It’s quite an enjoyable day. The mission collected 50 pence from everyone and bought the Callisters an old cuckoo clock and had it engraved “England Birmingham Mission 1977.”… We’re preparing for zone conf. which starts tomorrow, and will run for 2 wks. Tomorrow we’ll be out in North Wales.”

2000 Judy, Rachael, Sam, Andrew and I were in Paris, France, picking up Rachael who had just spent a semester there with BYU study abroad. We were staying in a hotel in Versaille. Judy brought small red stockings for our hotel room and we read the Christmas story from the Bible. We ate lunch at Le Madrigal on the Champs Elysees and walked through the Cathedral of Notre Dame where they were having a Christmas mass.

2004 Sam was serving in the Poland Warsaw Mission in Wroclaw, Poland. After talking with us for several hours on the telephone, he and his Polish companion, Elder Pawelczyk, met with Tomek at the local meeting house, eating and chatting.

2005 Sam was serving in Zabrze, Poland. We talked with him quite awhile on the telephone. Three days later Sam wrote his last email to us before returning home. “I feel a love for the Polish people that I hope will never leave me…a piece of my soul and heart shall always claim Polish soil…This is the last correspondence that you shall receive from Elder Cannon, and the last I shall write while still enjoying the mantel of a missionary of the Lord. Emotions are strong now and at the surface as I contemplate this fact.”

2006 Our daughter Rachael and her husband Nate Hutchings, were living in Tokyo, Japan. Judy was in Tokyo for the birth of Savannah, our first grandchild, in December. Judy came home to Redlands for Christmas, but Rachael and Nate spent Christmas in Tokyo with Savannah, as new parents.

California Ground Squirrel

The California ground squirrel is found in western Southern California and northwestern Baja California, most of central and northern California, western Oregon and a sliver of southwestern Washington and mid-western Nevada. The head is brown, the body is brown flecked with white or buff, the sides of the neck and shoulder are whitish, there is a dark triangle on the back between the shoulders, the hair around the eyes is whitish, around the ears is black and the tails are rather bushy for a gound squirrel. The underside is a lighter grayish or buff. The squirrel below was photographed in Round Valley near Mount San Jacinto.

A different view of the ground squirrel.

Their home range is less than 150 yards and they can live up to about five years in the wild. The squirrel below was photographed in Yosemite National Park near the top of Nevada Falls.

The California ground squirrel below was photographed in the Yosemite Valley near the bottom of Nevada Falls on a very warm day, approaching 100 degrees. I loved the fact that it was splayed out on a rock trying to get cool.

Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel

The golden-mantled ground squirrel is often mistaken for a very large chipmunk because it has a white stripe bordered with black on each side of its body. But unlike a chipmunk, it does not have stripes on the side of its face, rather it has a coppery colored head. It also has coppery colored front paws and chest. It has grayish-brown fur on the back and a lighter underside.

It has cheek pouches for carrying food. This golden-mantled squirrel was photographed at 11,499 feet, the summit of Mount San Gorgonio, eating some gorp left by a hiker. I have also seen them at 14,494 feet, the summit of Mount Whitney.

They can be quite tame when found in areas frequented by lots of visitors.

They are only found in a small portion of Southern California, the higher mountains. However, they are found in large parts of most of the states of the western United States and up into portions of Alberta and British Columbia.

They eat fruits, nuts and seeds and hibernate during the winter.

The golden-mantled squirrel, below, was seen in the White Mountains at over 12,000 feet.

EQC: German Mission - Leipzig (July 1908 to January 1909)

Leipzig was Edwin Q. Cannon’s third area while serving in the Swiss German Mission. He initially spent seven months in Tilsit and then three months in Konigsberg. His time in Konigsberg was cut short when a missionary drowned and it became known to Prussian police that Ed was a Mormon missionary serving illegally in Prussia. Ed was banished from the Kingdom of Prussia and then assigned to Leipzig which was part of the Kingdom of Saxony, also part of the German Empire. Ed was in Leipzig for five and a half months, from July 22, 1908 to January 7, 1909.

David H. Beardshall was President of the Leipzig Conference, today’s equivalent of a zone leader over a zone. Ed stayed with him for almost two weeks until Ed found a room of his own. Then two weeks later, Ed, who had been companionless, was assigned to Lou Peery and they found a different place to stay. They were companions for a little more than two months, then Peery was transferred to Erfurt and Archie Brockbank came from Erfurt to be Ed’s companion. They were companions about two and a half months until Ed was transferred to Magdeburg.

It would be fascinating to know more about the constraints they had to live under. There seems to be an underlying tension to their work. More than three weeks after he’d moved to Leipzig, Ed registered at the local police headquarters. But then on October 1, while at Bible class, they “thought it better not to stay for fear of the police”. Ten days later, on October 11, while Ed was speaking in a meeting, a stranger came in and sat down. Ed thought it was a “detective” and indicated he was “quite frightened.” The elders were “expecting to be taken” at the end of the meeting. It turned out to be a member visiting from another area. Then on January 1, Ed told his landlady “who we were and had quite a conversation”.

Elder Beardshall went home on October 31 and it appears that Elder Felt took his place as Leipzig Conference president. Ed was in charge of “mailing printed matter” such as tracts and newspapers to the missionaries and worked out of the offices of Hiller & Co., apparently the office of a member, Bro. Hiller, that lived in Connewitz. Ed also worked on the branch books which kept him quite busy toward the end of the year. There were three baptisms on August 27 (three women and a man), Ed confirmed one of the three, and Ed baptized three women on September 6. He talks very little about his investigators (he calls them “friends”), what he teaches them, or even when he visits them. This may relate to the constraints of secrecy related to his missionary work.

Ed was visited by his half-brother, Espey Cannon, from September 4 to 8, who was serving a mission in another part of Germany. Ed and Espey also met the year prior, on September 15, 1907. He noted when his half-brother, Tracy Cannon, in Berlin studying music, left to go home on November 2. His future wife, “Miss Luella Wareing,” sent two Christmas packages which arrived on January 4, right before he was transferred.

The missionaries were able to enjoy some culture. He mentions going to plays, operas, including Verdi’s Rigoletto with Enrico Caruso, the Italian tenor, and at least one “moving picture show.” He also saw the 22 year old king of Spain on October 6. The Word of Wisdom must also have been different then. There have now been nine references to Ed and other missionaries enjoying coffee.

The journal entries follow:

July 22, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Beardshall assigned me to the work of mailing the printed matter from here, such as tracts, newspapers etc. to the missionaries. I spent the day at the office of Hiller Co. helping take care of this work. This evening Bro. Beardshall and I visited a friend with Bro. Friedrich and had a very good gospel conversation.

July 23, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I spent today at the office. Bro. Beardshall and I ate dinner at a vegetarian restaurant.

July 24, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Beardshall and I went bathing this forenoon and this afternoon I worked at the office. This evening I attended a 24th of July celebration held by the Leipzig branch.

July 25, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Connewitz)

This afternoon Bros. Algeier, Friedrick and Bruder and I held a little meeting at Bro. Bruder’s. This evening I stayed with Bro. Hiller in Connewitz.

July 26, 1908 (Sunday): (Connewitz, Statritz)

This morning I milked Bro. Hiller’s goat. This afternoon I went to meeting and was called upon to speak. This evening Bro. Friedrick and I went out to Statritz and from there I walked to Connewitz passing the Vokker Schlacht Monument. This monument when it is finished in 1913 will be the largest in the world.

July 27, 1908 (Monday): (Connewitz, Leipzig)

I walked from Connewitz to Leipzig through the woods this morning. I spent the afternoon at the office and this evening Bro. Hiller and I walked to Connewitz.

July 28, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I worked in the office this afternoon. This evening I took a street car ride.

July 29, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I visited Bro. Algier at Sister Hubolts this morning. This afternoon I worked in the office and this evening I visited a family of friends with Bro. Algier.

July 30, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning, worked in the office this afternoon and this evening I went to Bible Class. Bro. Beardshall returned this morning.

July 31, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I worked in the office this forenoon and Bro. Beardshall and I visited the art gallery this afternoon. I visited a family of friends this evening with Bro. Friedricks.

August 1, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Beardshall and I visited the Museum of Race Arts, the Panorama, the “Reichs Gericht” building and went to a concert in St. Thomas’ Church. Bro. Beardshall appointed a meeting of the boys here, to be held in his room and all the boys were there except Bro. Bruderer. Bro. Bruderer himself came in about 4 p.m. and as he came through the door he shook hands with Bro. Beardshall, then with Bro. Algier. As he shook Bro. Algier’s hand he gave it a jerk and hollered in German “I’m Crazy”, then he went into a frenzy and it took all four of us, Bros. Beardshall, Friedricks and Algier and I to throw him on the sofa and hold him. After struggling for a few minutes he became rational and in this way for about an hour he would alternately rave then become rational. The brother has been unwell since he has been on a mission and has been worrying about his missionary work as well as about his family at home and about financial reasons and through this his mind became unbalanced momentarily. Bros. Beardshall and Friedricks will stay with him tonight.

August 2, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Connewitz)

This afternoon Bros. Dopp and Beardshall, and I went to visit Bro. Bruderer and found him feeling a great deal better. Bro. Dopp and I went to meeting from there and after meeting we went with Bro. Hiller to Connewitz for supper.

August 3, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I helped Bro. Dopp in the office this morning and ate dinner with him and Bro. Beardshall. This afternoon, Bro. Dopp and I hunted for a room for me and finally found one in Comenius Str 41st Etashe. I visited Bro. Bruderer with Bro. Beardshall this evening.

August 4, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I took my things to my new room this morning. This afternoon I sent the mail off for Bro. Dopp. I waited a long time to see Bro. Bruderer but he wasn’t home.

August 5, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I staid in my new room for the first time last night. This forenoon Bro. Bruderer and I visited the art gallery. We ate dinner at a private place here in the vacinity of where I live. This evening Bro. Beardshall and I visited a blind man and his wife.

August 6, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning and met some very nice people. I went to dinner with Bros. Bruderer and Friedrick and this afternoon we went to Gohlis and saw the Schiller house and from there we went to the turin berg. From the high wooden tower on this hill one can see all over Leipzig as well as all the suburbs. From the “Turmberg” we walked to Charlotten Hof. Here we refreshed our selves with milk then took a boat ride. We went to Bible Class this evening.

August 7, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. Bro. Bruderer, Sister Walzer and I ate dinner at the private dining place. This afternoon I wrote a letter and this evening Bro. Beardshall and I visited Herrn Nueser.

August 8, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

I did some shopping today. This afternoon I went to priestood meeting at Bro. Friedrick’s.

August 9, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

I went to dinner with Bro. Bruderer and Sister Walzer. I attended Sunday School and meeting and this evening Bros. Algeier, Beardshall and Dopp and I went out to a small town where one of the sisters lives and held a cottage meeting.

August 10, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I helped Bro. Bruderer tie up his trunk this morning. This afternoon the missionaries and some of the saints took a walk in the forest. We had a very pleasant time together. This evening Bro. Beardshall and I went to visit two families of friends but they did not receive us.

August 11, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning and went to dinner with Bro. Bruderer and Sister Walzer. Bro. Ballif [mission president] came this afternoon. This evening we met Elders Preston and Stevens and we all went to the depot to see Bro. Bruderer and Sister Walzer off.

August 12, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

All the elders of the Leipzig Conference convened in Priesthood this morning at 10 o’clock. We spent the time in giving our reports, and expression to our feelings. After dinner we came together again and Presidents Beardshall and Ballif took up the time giving us instructions. The meeting was of the most profitable nature and we enjoyed a very good spirit. This evening Bro. Tonks and I visited two families of friends and invited them to the meeting tomorrow night. This evening we all went to the opera “Fra Diavalo”.

August 13, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I went out this forenoon to tell all the saints and friends in this district about Bro. Ballif’s going to be in meeting this evening. I stayed home and wrote this afternoon. This evening I went to meeting and we had a very good time together.

August 14, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. Bro. Dopp and I ate dinner with Sister Paech and this afternoon I helped him do the mailing. This evening we went to “Peter and the Zimmermann” in the Stadt Theatre.

August 15, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

I spent the forenoon writing letters. This afternoon I went to the police Headquarters to register and after that I went to a meeting of the elders at Bro. Algiers. I spent the evening at home.

August 16, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning at home studying. This afternoon I went to Sunday School and meeting and this evening I went to a house meeting at Bro. Cretchmeir’s.

August 17, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning and this afternoon Bro. Peery arrived and we spent the afternoon looking for a room. This evening Bro. Dopp and I visited Bro. and Sister Housedorf and ate supper with them.

August 18, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I spent this morning in moving my things from Comenius Str. To Goeschen Str. 17. I went tracting this afternoon and found very few people at home. I made one good visit, however, by an opera singer, who seemed quite interested in what he had already read. Bro. Peery and I went to make a visit this evening but the family was not home so we went to the Cristal Palace Vaudiville. Bro. Peery has been appointed as my companion.

August 19, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning and spent the afternoon at home studying. This evening Bros. Peery and Dopp and I visited Family Lenkheit.

August 20, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning and the afternoon stayed home and read. I went to Bible Class this evening.

August 21, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I spent the forenoon tracting. This afternoon Bro. Peery and I helped Bro. Dopp the mail to be sent off then all three of us hunted for a place where they had a swimming pool. When we did finally find a place it happened that on Fridays the swim baths are for women. This evening, Bro. Peery and I visited Sister Mossig and tried to visit a friend but no one was home.

August 22, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

This afternoon all the boys here in Leipzig met at Bro. Friedrick’s and studies the Sunday School and Bible class lessons.

August 23, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

I went to Sunday School and meeting this afternoon and this evening all of us boys went to Bro. Beardshall’s for a while.

August 24, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. Bros. Peery and Beardshall and I went out to Bro. Hiller’s for dinner. Bro. Peery and I visited a family of friends this evening.

August 25, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I went with tracts this morning and we ate dinner at Kretchmeirs. Bro. Peery and I visited Sister Goldammer and her aunt and got supper there.

August 26, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

This morning Bro. Dopp and I went to Sister Mossig’s for dinner but we had made a mistake as to the day so we went to the vegiterian restaurant to dinner. I tracted this afternoon and visited Bro. and Sister Kuster this evening.

August 27, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

This forenoon I staid home and wrote letters. Bro. Peery and I ate dinner with Sister Mossig. This afternoon I tracted and this evening I went to Bibel Class. After Bible Class we baptized three women and a man. Bro. Friedrick did the baptizing and I confirmed one of them.

August 28, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. At noon I met Bro. Dopp and we ate dinner together at the vegitarian restaurant. Bro. Peery and I visited a family of friends this evening.

August 29, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

We elders held a priestood meeting this afternoon and this evening we went to the Theatre.

August 30, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

I went to Sunday School and meeting this afternoon and this evening Bros. Peery and Dopp and I held a sacrament meeting at Bro. Kuster’s

August 31, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig, Mokau)

Bro. Richter invited all of us elders to dinner today. Bro. Friedrick and I went out to Mokau to find a place to baptize this evening. Bro. Peery and I visited the family of the blind man.

September 1, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning. This evening Bro. Peery and I visited Sister Goldammer and had a good talk with her cousin.

September 2, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

After tracting this morning, Bro. Peery and I went to dinner at the Vegetarian Restaurant. This evening we tried to make two visits, but one family had visitors and the other family wasn’t home.

September 3, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. This evening I went to Bible Class.

September 4, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. We ate dinner at the vegeterian resturant and spent the afternoon at home. Espy* arrived from Dresden at 5.55 P.M. and we went to the theatre this evening. The play was “Rosen Montag.”

*Espey Cannon was Ed’s half-brother. They’d previously met on September 15, 1907 in Basel and spent several days together.

September 5, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

Espy and I went out to the “Volker schlacht Denkmal” this morning. We also saw the place where Napolion stood while directing the Battle of Leipsic on Oct. 18th 1813. We went to the zoo this afternoon and to the Cristal Palace this evening.

September 6, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Mokau)

Espy and I went through the Art gallery today. This afternoon we went to sunday school and meeting. This evening we had a Baptismal Service at Mokau and I baptized three women.

September 7, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I went with the other Bretheren to look at a hall this morning. Espy and I visited the Reichs Gericht Building and the Book Merchants’ museum. This evening Bros Peery and Dopp, and Espy and I went to see Boccaccio.

September 8, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning with Espy visiting the university. He left for Berlin at 12 Noon. I spent the afternoon writing. This evening Bro. Peery and I tried to make a visit but the two families that we went to see were too busy to receive us so we went out to the Messe.

September 9, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. This afternoon Bros. Dopp and Peery and Sister Goldammer and I went out to the “Volkerschlacht Denkmal.” I went to singing class this evening.

September 10, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Peery and I ate dinner at the vegetarian resturant today. This evening I conducted the Bible Class.

September 11, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I spent the forenoon tracting. This afternoon Bro. Beardshall and I visited a backsliding sister and a friend. This evening we tried to visit three different families but found no one home.

September 12, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning at home writing. This afternoon I went to priesthood meeting out to Bro. Frederick’s. This evening Pres. Beardshall and I visited a family of friends.

September 13, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

Pres. Bearshall and I visited a family of friends today. This afternoon I attended sunday school meeting and priestood meeting and this evening attended sacrament meeting at Bro. Hillers.

September 14, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Peery returned from Dresden this afternoon. I went tracting. Spent the evening at home.

September 15, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. This afternoon Peery and I went out and took some pictures. We tried to make some visits this evening but found the people away.

September 16, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning. I spent the afternoon writing letters. This evening Bro. Peery and I visited Bro Kuster.

September 17, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. This afternoon went out to find some of Bro. Bruderers old friends. I went to Bibel Class this evening.

September 18, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. I helped Peery on the reports this afternoon. This evening Bro. Peery and I visited a family of friends.

September 19, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

I helped Bro. Peery on the books this morning. This afternoon we elders held a priestood meeting. Bro. Beardshall and I went to the “Walzer traum” this evening.

September 20, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Altenburg, Conniwitz)

Pres. Beardshall and I went out to Altenburg today and we visited two saints and a friend and tried to find an old apostate saint. This evening we held a cottage meeting in Conniwitz.

September 21, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I helped Bros Bearshall and Peery with the reports this morning. This evening Bro Peery and I went to Carmen.

September 22, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning. This evening Bro Peery and I held a cottage meeting at Custer’s.

September 23, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I stayed home and wrote letters this morning. This evening Peery and I went to the “Krystal Palast.”

September 24, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning tracting. This afternoon I went to visit some friends this afternoon I conducted Bible Class this evening.

September 25, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Dopp is laid up with the itch and I spent the day working in the office. This evening Bro. Peery and I visited Bro. Kiesig. Bro. Schwendiman came today to take charge of the branch.

September 26, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning at home writing. This afternoon we went swimming and this evening Bro. Algeier and I went to the Merry Widow.

September 27, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Peery and I went to the English Church this morning and this afternoon I went to Sunday School and meeting. This evening we held a sacrement meeting at Bro. Hubalt’s.

September 28, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. This evening we went to move the things from the old to the new meeting place.

September 29, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I helped move the things from the old Hall to the new one today. The old Hall is at West Str. 24 and the new one is at Windmuhlen Str 42. Bro. Peery and I ate supper at Sister Pietsche’s.

September 30, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I help paint and clean up at the Hall today. Bro. Peery and I spent the evening at home.

October 1, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning. This afternoon I wrote letters and this evening I went to Bible Class but we thought it better not to stay for fear of the police so Bro. Peery and I went to a moving picture show.

October 2, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I went out tracting this morning. This afternoon Peery and I went out in the forest and took some pictures and this evening we went to see the “Dollar Prinzessin”.

October 3, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning at home reading. This afternoon Peery and I took a swim bath. I went the Hotel Eva at the old Theatre this evening.

October 4, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Altenburg)

Bro. Peery and I went out to Altenburg today to visit two sisters and a friend. We spent the evening at home.

October 5, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning and had a very unsatisfactory time. This evening Bro. Peery and I tried to make a visit but didn’t find the people at home. We went to the Automobile show this afternoon.

October 6, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning at home studying. This afternoon Bro. Peery and I saw the King of Spain* as he arrived at the Dresdener Bahnhof. This evening we had a cottage meeting at Bro. Kusters.

*Alphonso XII of Spain, just age 22 at the time.

October 7, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning and wrote letters this afternoon. This evening Bro. Peery and I visited a family of friends.

October 8, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning while out I gave a tract to an English woman. I had quite a talk with her. Bro. Peery and I went to Bible Class this evening.

October 9, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I stayed home and studied this morning. This afternoon I went tracting and had a very interesting time. Bro. Peery and I went to the Batenberg this evening.

October 10, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I spent the morning at home writing letters. This afternoon we held a priestood meeting in Plagwitz at Bro. Dopp’s and Bro. Schwendimans rooms and I spent the evening at home.

October 11, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

I visited Bro. Kuster this morning to deliver him some tracts. I also went to visit a friend but he wasn’t home. This afternoon I went to Sunday school and meeting. In meeting I was called on to speak and had hardly gotten started when a man, whom I thought was a detective, came in and sat down. I was quite frightened, moreso than I would otherwise have been had not Bro. Schwendiman pulled my coat two or three different times and I ended my speech as soon as possible. All of us elders were confidently expecting to be taken at the end of the meeting but the man turned out to be a brother from Halle. We held a local priesthood meeting at Bro. Kuster’s this evening.

October 12, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Peery and I went out and took some pictures this morning. I sent most of the afternoon at home studying. I visited a friend however shortly before supper. Bro. William S. Wright from Ogeden arrived here this evening. He stayed with Bro. Peery and me this evening. Bro. Peery and I visited a friend this evening.

October 13, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. This afternoon Bro. Peery and I showed Bro. Wright around Leipzig and this evening we went to the “Walzertraum.”

October 14, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning and studied during the afternoon. Bro. Peery and I visited Bro. Olze this evening.

October 15, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this forenoon. I wrote a letter and studied this afternoon. I conducted the Bible Class this evening.

October 16, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning and Bro. Peery and I visited Sister Massig this afternoon. We kauften bread and milk ein for supper. Went to see Sarah Bernhardt in “Lax Taska” this evening. It was played in French but the acting was very fine.

October 17, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

Peery and I bathed this morning. This afternoon we went out to Plagwitz to Priestood meeting. This evening we went to hear Enrico Caruso play Rigeletto.

October 18, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Grimma)

Bro. Beardshall and I went out to Grimma Sunday morning to hold a meeting. Bros. Dopp and Beardshall had been out there two weeks before and had met the minister and they promised that when they came again they would let him know. We arrived there about noon and soon after Herr Knorr went out to invite a few friends to attend the meeting and also to tell the pastor that we were there. The pastor came at about 6 PM and a number of people arrived shortly after. We had quite an exciting time talking with him and arguing as to which had the correct doctrine. We had the best of the argument, I believe, and made a good impression with the people, but our inability with the language made it impossible to make a decided victory. The people left about ten o’clock and we spent the night with Knorrs’.

October 19, 1908 (Monday): (Grimma, Leipzig, Connewitz)

Bro. Beardshall and I arrived in Leipzig from Grimma about 9.30 a.m. and I went out to Connewitz with him and stayed until noon. I ate dinner at the vegiterian Resturant and met Bros. Peery and Dopp there. I went tracting this afternoon and this evening Bro. Peery and I tried to visit Herrn Musser but he wasn’t home so we spent the evening at home.

October 20, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning. This afternoon Bro. Peery and I visited a family of very poor people. They were entirely destitute, but the man showed a great interest for the gospel. This evening we held a cottage meeting at Kuster’s.

October 21, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig, Connewitz)

I went tracting this morning. This afternoon I went out to Connewitz to see Bro. Beardshall but he wasn’t home but I met him on the way into town and made an appointment to make a visit with him. I mailed the packages for Bro. Dopp and returned home. Bro. Peery got notice to go to Erfurt to take charge there. Bro. Beardshall came about 5.30 P.M. and we visited the poor family that we found yesterday. Bro. Peery and I went to Forster-Chrystel this evening.

October 22, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I spent a good part of the morning waiting at the office for Bro. Dopp but he didn’t come. I waited quite a while this afternoon and he didn’t come so I came home and wrote some letters. I conducted the Bible Class.

October 23, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

While out tracting this morning I visited the English lady that I found the other day she invited me in and I had quite a talk with her. Her home is in Melbourne Australia and she is here with her daughter who is studying musik. I helped Bro. Dopp at the office this afternoon and this evening Bro. Schwendiman and I visited the family of poor people that we found the other day.

October 24, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I took a swim bath this morning. I stayed home the fore part of the afternoon and wrote a letter or two and then went out to Plagwitz to priestood meeting. I also spent the evening with the boys in Plagwitz.

October 25, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

I went to the depot with Bro. Peery this morning. He left for Erfurt in Thuringen where he has been assigned to labor. I attended Sunday school and meeting this afternoon and spoke in meeting. Bros. Dopp and Schwendimann came out to my room and we spent the evening together.

October 26, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I spent the whole day working on the branch books. This evening Bro. Dopp and I visited Bro. Schrader and got supper there.

October 27, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning at home studying and went tracting this afternoon. This evening I went to the Opera Othello.

October 28, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this forenoon and went to the vegitarian resturant for dinner. I spent the afternoon at home studying I also stayed home this evening.

October 29, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Brockbank arrived from Erfurt this forenoon. At the “Veg” we met Bros. Schwendimann, Dopp and McKay and later in the afternoon Bro. Gardner. Bro. McKay is going to Zurick to take charge of the conference there and Bro. Gardner is released to go home. We all went up in the tower of the “Rathhaus” this afternoon. Also visited Kretchmars. We went to Bible Class this evening.

October 30, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

Bro. McKay stayed with us last night and this morning I took him down to Sternwartenstr and then went tracting. This afternoon Bro. Brockbank and I visited sister Kuster Herrn Mannteufel and Herrn Heinike. We spent the evening at home.

October 31, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

Bro. Brockbank and I went to the swim Bath this afternoon and then out to Plagwitz to priestood meeting. Bros. Beardshall and Felt were there and after the meeting we went to the depot to see Bro. Beardshall leave for home.

November 1, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Connewitz)

Bro. Brockbank and I went through the art gallery this afternoon then went to Sunday school and meeting. After meeting we went to the “Veg” for supper. Bros. Tonks, Felt and I held a sacrament meeting at Bro. Hubolt’s in Connewitz this evening and had a very fine time.

November 2, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I stayed home this forenoon and worked on the books. This afternoon I went tracting and toward evening Bro. Dopp and Brockbank and I visited Herrn Henike. This evening Bro. Tonks came up and we tried to make four different visits but the people we either not at home or unable to entertain us so we went to a moving picture show. Tracy Cannon left Berlin to go home today.

November 3, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I spent the fore and afternoon tracting. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I held a cottage meeting at Kusters’.

November 4, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting both this morning and this afternoon. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited Sister Pietsch and had supper there.

November 5, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

Being unwell I didn’t go out tracting this forenoon but this afternoon I tracted and this evening I went to Bible Class.

November 6, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning and this afternoon. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited Bro. Schroder and had supper there. As we were coming home we stopped to look through a telescope which is set up on Augustus Platz every night. We looked at the planate Saturn and the Moon. The ring around Saturn was very clearly to be seen.

November 7, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

Bro. Dopp came up this morning and we went to have a swim bath. This afternoon we held a priestood meeting in Plagwitz. We all went to the “Dollar Prinzessin” in the new theatre.

November 8, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Connewitz)

Bro. Brockbank and I spent the forepart of the day at home writing and this afternoon we went to Sunday School and meeting. This evening we attended a cottage meeting a Bro. Hubolt’s in Connewitz.

November 9, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I met Bro. Dopp at 11.30 am and we went out to Bro. Richter’s for dinner. I made two visits this afternoon and spent the rest of the time working on the books. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited Herrn Heinicke, the sick friend, after which we went to the Crystal Palace.

November 10, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I spent the forenoon at home writing. This afternoon I went tracting and made one first visit. Bro. Brockbank and I went to visit the blind man this evening but he wasn’t at home.

November 11, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I stayed home this morning. This afternoon I took a coat out to Bro. Wachmuth in Plagwitz for him to fix it. I spent the rest of the afternoon tracting and made a first visit. I spent the evening at home.

November 12, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I spent the forenoon at home studying. This afternoon I went tracting and this evening I conducted the Bible Class.

November 13 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I stayed at home and studied this morning. I went tracting this afternoon while out I made a visit by an old friend. Having no friends to visit this evening I stayed at home.

November 14, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Brockbank and I went swimming at noon today and this afternoon we went out to Plagwitz to and held priestood meeting out there. This evening we went to see the “Baron von Trent”.

November 15, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Brockbank and I went out to Harbolts to dinner. Bros. Dopp, Schwendiman, Wright and Tonks were there and we had a good dinner. This afternoon I went to Sunday School and meeting and spoke at the latter. Bros. Wright and Tonks and I ate supper with Bro. Rockholz and this evening we went to a sacrament meeting at Bro. Kusters.

November 16, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning and worked on the books this afternoon. Bro. Brockbank and visited Herrn Heinicke this evening.

November 17, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig, Connewitz)

I worked on the books this morning. At noon I met Bro. Felt at Hiller’s and from there I went out to where Bros. Tonks and Wright live in Connewitz to get some report blanks. This afternoon I tracted and this evening I went with Bro. Schwendiman to a cottage meeting at Kuster’s.

November 18, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

Today being “Bustag” and a legal holiday we didn’t do any work such as tracting etc. as it is hard to find the people at home. I spent the day and evening writing and studying.

November 19, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning at home studying. This afternoon I went tracting and this evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited Herrn Heinicke after which we went to Bible Class.

November 20, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I visited an Australian Lady and her daughter this morning. This afternoon I visited a Herr Gumberecht and had quite a conversation with him. I then went tracting and this evening I visited Herrn Koll.

November 21, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

Bro. Brockbank and I spent the morning at home writing and this afternoon we went swimming after which we went to priestood meeting and to Plagwitz. Pres. Ballif [mission president] was present and we had quite an interesting time. We ate supper and spent the evening there.

November 22, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Brockbank and I visited Herrn Heinicke this morning. This afternoon we went out to Bro. Hubolt’s to hold Sunday School. We spent the evening at home.

November 23, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning at home writing. This afternoon I went out tracting and made a visit. I spent the evening at home.

November 24, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I werked in the office all day today. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited Bro. Kuster.

November 25, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I tracted this morning and this afternoon. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I tried to find Bro. Peery but failing ate supper and returned home where we spent the evening.

November 26, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Peery and I visited three of my friends this fore noon to invite them to meeting this evening. This afternoon we wall went out to Hubold’s and had a Thanksgiving dinner. There were Bro’s. Ballif, Felt, Dopp, Tonks, Peery, Parrett, Friedrick, Brockbank, Preston, Schwendiman, Adams, Wright, and Stevens all the missionaries of the Leipzig Conference. We had a dindy goose dinner and a fine time together. This evening we had a meeting in the hall and Bros. Schwendiman, Peery, Friedrick, Dopp & Felt and Pres. Ballif spoke. Bro. Ballif was talking quite pointedly on the teaching of Child Baptism and some man caused a little disturbance by getting up and taking his wife out of meeting.

November 27, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

We held two priestood meetings today and received some very good instructions from Pres. Ballif. At noon we all went and had our pictures taken. This evening we at supper at the reform resturant and then went to “Madame Troubadour.”

November 28, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

Bro. Peery and I went down to the office this morning and I had a talk with Pres. Ballif. This afternoon Bros. Ballif, Peery and Schwendiman left Leipzig. We boys held a priestood meeting in Plagwitz this afternoon and this evening we went to see Frau Sigrid Arnoldson and Herrn Kurt Fredrich in “La Traviata.” Bro. Preston is staying with us tonight.

November 29, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

Bros. Brockbank and Preston and I went out to Plagwitz this morning and met Bro. Dopp then we took Preston to the Depot. This afternoon I went to Sunday School and meeting and this evening we held a sacrament meeting at Bro. Hausdorf’s.

November 30, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I met Bro. Felt this morning and we paid a bill for some chairs for the hall. I then took a bath and I spent the afternoon tracting. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited a friend.

December 1, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I worked on the books this morning until Bro. Wright came at about 10.30 am, then we talked over about the Christmas Celebration for the branch. This afternoon Bros. Felt and Dopp and I went to see about getting a hall for celebration, then Bro. Dopp and I did some shopping. This evening Bro. Felt came down and we visited the Heinicke family then held a cottage meeting at Kusters.

December 2, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I went out tracting this morning. At noon I met Bro. Felt at the “Veg” and this afternoon we made some visits together. Bro. Brockbank and I visited a family this evening and we got into quite an argument.

December 3, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I spent the forenoon at home studying. At noon I went to the Veg and met Bro Dopp there and we ate dinner together. I tracted this afternoon and had quite an interesting time at it. This evening I conducted the Bible Class.

December 4, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig)

I remained home this morning and studied and wrote a letter. I met Bro. Dopp at noon and we went to a new place to eat dinner. This afternoon while tracting I had an invitation to go in to talk to a woman and three of her friends came in to hear. I had a fine talk with them. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited Bro. Schrodter and had a good conversation with his wife.

December 5, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

I stayed home and wrote letters this morning. At noon Bro. Brockbank and I went and took a bath. This afternoon we held a meeting at Bro. Tonks and studied the Sunday school and Book of Mormon lesson. This evening Bros. Dopp, Brockbank, Fullenbach and Felt and I went to see an operette called “Die Fledermans”.

December 6, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Brockbank and I remained at home until a little after noon and we then went to Sunday school and meeting. Bros. Dopp and Brockbank and I ate supper with sister Anna Hiller and this evening we held a meeting Kuster’s.

December 7, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I spent the morning at home working on the books and later tried to find a hall to hold our Christmas exercises in. This afternoon I went tracting and this evening Bro. Brockbank and I went to visit the “Blind Man” but he wasn’t home so I spent the evening working on the books.

December 8, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig)

I went tracting this morning and this afternoon I went to visit a man but he wasn’t home. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited Herrn Heinike.

December 9, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig, Fuchsain, Liebertwolkwitz)

I met Bro. Dopp at the office at noon and we went to dinner then went to the Dresdener Bahnhof and bought tickets for Liebertwalkwitz, and from there we intended to walk to Fuchshain where sister Hausmann lives but we got on the wrong train and didn’t find it out until we got to a little station quite a ways out from Leipsic. At this place we found that Fuchshain was about two hours walk away so we walked. On the way we gave out a few tracts. In Fuchshain we visited sister Hausmann and had cocoa with her and then walked to Gross Posena and visited a Frau Zimmer who is a good friend. We had a good gospel conversation and she also gave us coffee and something to eat. We left there about 6.30 pm and walked to Liebertwolkwitz and took the train for Leipsic.

December 10, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

I stayed home and read and did some writing this morning and this Afternoon I tracted. I went to Bible Class this evening.

December 11, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig, Lindenau)

I spent the morning at home writing. Bros. Dopp, Tonks, Wright and Brockbank and I ate dinner at Sister Suzky’s. This afternoon I ordered some coal for the hall then tracted for a while. I met Bro. Brockbank at 5 oclock and we visited one of his friends. This evening Bro. Dopp and I visited an old friend in Lindenau.

December 12, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

I stayed with Bro. Dopp last night and returned home this morning and spent the forepart of the day studying. This afternoon Bro. Brockbank and I went out to Bro. Tonk’s and we held a meeting and practiced singing. This evening we all went to Siegfried in the New Theatre. This is the third piece from Wagner’s “DaRing des Nibelungen”

December 13, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig)

I spent the fore part of the day at home working on the books. This afternoon I went to Sunday School and Meeting and after meeting we held a priestood meeting with the local priestood. This evening we ate supper and spent the evening at Sister Suzky’s. A number of the saints were there and we spent the time talking and singing songs.

December 14, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I bathed this morning then went with Bro. Dopp to look for a hall to hold a concert in, as it has been proposed that we have some of the students from Berlin come down for this purpose. We found a good hall in the “Kunstler Haus” but it hasn’t been decided whether we’ll have the concert or not. I went tracting this afternoon and this evening I went to practice singing in the hall.

December 15, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I spent part of the morning at home writing and then I went to the office to clear up some matters about the books. Bros. Wright, Tonks and Brockbank came and we all ate dinner together at a “Privat Mittag Tish” This afternoon Bro. Dopp and I took an inventory of the Branch property. I then ordered some coal and waited to have it delivered. I also visited Bro. Felt out at Plagwitz. This evening Bro. Dopp and I saw “the Gotterammerung” from Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen”. I enjoyed it more than I did “Siegfried.”

December 16, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig)

I worked on the books awhile this morning then I went out to Pietsche’s to find out an address but Sister Pietsch wasn’t at home. After dinner Bro. Dopp and I visited Sister Anna Hiller and administered to her. We then visited Herrn Heinike who is the “Kranken Haus” This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited Frau Grosser and had a good conversation with her.

December 17, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig, Connewitz)

I spent the morning working on the books. I also spent most of the afternoon working on them then Bro. Brockbank and I went out to Bros Wright’s and Tonk’s in Connewitz to practice musick. I conducted “Bibel Klasse this evening.

December 18, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I spent the whole day working on the yearly reports. Late this afternoon I went out to Plagwitz to take them to Bro. Felt. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited a family for the first time and they showed quite a bit of interest for the gospel.

December 19, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I went out to Plagwitz first thing this morning and helped Bro. Felt with the books. I was there all day and this evening also.

December 20, 1908 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I went out to Plagwitz first thing this morning to help Bro. Felt with the books, but he wasn’t there. At noon I met Bro. Brockbank and we ate dinner at the “Veg.” At 2 P.M. Bro. Brockbank and I went to the Hospital to see Herrn Heineike. We visited with him awhile then went to Sunday School and meeting. This evening Bro’s. Felt, Wright and Tonks and I and Herr Miesegaes went out to Mokau and Bro. Wright baptized Herrn Miesegaes and Bro. Tonks confirmed him.

December 21, 1908 (Monday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Brockbank and I went out to visit Bro. Wright this morning to practice singing. I helped Bro. Felt with the books this afternoon. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited a family of friends and had a good conversation.

December 22, 1908 (Tuesday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I spent the day out at Plagwitz helping Bro. Felt with the books . This evening Bro. Brockbank and I went swimming then visited a family of friends.

December 23, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I went with Bro. Dopp to see the proprietor of hall where we are going to have our Christmas celebration. This afternoon I visited Bro. Felt at Plagwitz and then helped Bro. Dopp at the office for a while. Bro. Dopp and I then visited the blind man came home and ate supper then went to see [sentence not finished]

December 24, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig, Connewitz)

Bro. Brockbank and I went out to Connewitz to Bro. Wright’s to practice singing this morning. I helped Bro. Dopp at the office awhile then we bought thing for the celebration tomorrow. This evening all the boys met at Sister Engelhardt’s and Sister Wachsmuth furnished cake and coffee and we bought nuts and apples and we had quite an enjoyable time.

December 25, 1908 (Friday): (Leipzig, Golis)

I got up early this morning and met Bro. Dopp at Turner Str. Where we held the celebration and we spent the fore noon decorating the Christmas tree. At noon I went out to Bro. Schrodter’s in Golis and at dinner with him. Our entertainment started at 4 P.M. and we spent the evening having a program and refreshments and then on the end a short dance. Altogether the celebration was quite a success.

December 26, 1908 (Saturday): (Leipzig, Erfurt)

I spent the fore part of the day at home and late this afternoon left for Erfurt. Bro’s. Peery and Perrett met me at the depot and we went up to Sister Ludwig’s and had supper. The supper was gotten up by the saints and most of them were there. After eating supper we played games until 11.30 P.M.

December 27, 1908 (Sunday): (Erfurt)

We went to Sunday School this morning and at noon ate dinner with one of the friends. I spoke in meeting this afternoon and this evening Bro. Peery and I went to a social given by some temperance organization we were invited by one of the sisters and she introduced us to two English people. We spent quite an interesting evening talking to them.

December 28, 1908 (Monday): (Erfurt)

We spent the morning at home. At noon we went to Sister Ludwig’s for dinner and this evening we ate supper at Bro. Braun’s.

December 29, 1908 (Tuesday): (Erfurt, Weimar, Leipzig)

Peery and I left Erfurt at 9.47 AM and went to Weimar and spent two hours there. I went through the “Schiller Haus” and Peery and I visited the Theatre and the “Schiller Gothe Denkmahl”. Together we left Weimar and rode to Cobertha together and changed cars there and came to Leipzig and he kept and with the same to Berlin. Upon reaching home I found, Bro. Doyle Jensen a new missionary who arrived in Leipzig last night. He is from Idaho. We held a cottage meeting at Custer’s tonight.

December 30, 1908 (Wednesday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz, Reudnitz)

I spent the morning writing letters. This afternoon we held a priestood meeting in Plagwitz and I was assigned to work in Magdeburg. This evening Bro. Brockbank and Jensen and I visited a family of friends in Reudnitz.

December 31, 1908 (Thursday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Brockbank and I worked on the books this morning. We went to the Veg at noon and met Bro. Newman from Breslau. After dinner we all went to the photographers and Bro. Jensen and I each had our pictures taken. Bro. Brockbank and I worked on the books again this afternoon. This evening we went to Bible Class and I was called on to occupy part of the time. After Bibel Class Bros. Dopp, Newman, Wright, Brockbank, Jensen, Felt and Tonks and I went to the Café Baur and spent the rest of the evening until 11.30 P.M. then we went out on Peters and Gramaisches Str. to watch the fun which always takes place on New Years eve. The streets were quite crowded but not nearly as crowded as they generally are New Years eve. A number of hacks went through the streets and the crowds would take hold behind and hold them back. Bro. Dopp was helping hold one back and a Police man grabbed him and took him up, but they turned him loose again as soon as they got him to the Police station.

January 1, 1909 (Friday): (Leipzig)

Bro. Brockbank and Jensen and I spent the forenoon at home. At noon I told Frau Steinbrecher my Haus Frau who we were and had quite a conversation with her. All the boys here in Leipzig at dinner with Bro. Hubold. We went skating this afternoon and this evening we went to the “Krystall Palast”.

January 2, 1909 (Saturday): (Leipzig)

Bros. Brockbank and Jensen and I went over and took a shower bath this fore noon, then went to the “Veg” for dinner. This afternoon Bros. Tonks and Newman and I visited Sister Pietsch and she served us with Chocolate. This evening we all went skating.

January 3, 1909 (Sunday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

I spent the morning at home. This afternoon I went to a local priestood meeting, sunday school and meeting and this evening I went to a sacrament meeting at sister Koch’s in Plagwitz.

January 4, 1909 (Monday): (Leipzig)

I went to the “Zoll Amt” this morning and got to Christmas packages from Miss Luella Wareing [later his wife]. This afternoon I visited a woman in Ludwig str and this evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited Herrn Heinicke and Bro. Schrodter.

January 5, 1909 (Tuesday): (Leipzig, Plagwitz)

Bro. Dopp came up this forenoon and he and Bro. Brockbank and I all went down to the “Veg” to dinner. I helped Dopp while at the office and we then went out to Plagwitz and I had Bro. Wachsmuth fix my overcoat. This evening Bro. Brockbank and I visited a family of friends and had a very good time with them.

January 6, 1909 (Wednesday): (Leipzig, Gross Bardau)

I spent the morning at home turning the books over to Bro. Brockbank. This afternoon Bro. Dopp and I went out to Gross Bardau to visit a family of friends. We returned late this evening.

January 7, 1909 (Thursday): (Leipzig, Magdeburg)

Bro. Meyrle Taylor arrived from Konigsberg last night and stayed with Bro. Brockbank and me. I spent the forenoon packing my trunk and left for Magdeburg from the Berliner Bahnhof at 4.06 P.M. I arrived in Magdeburg at about 6 P.M. and went to the boys room at Bahnhofstr 48.