…Bro. P.P. Pratt was preparing to start with a larger company of saints from California for Carson Valley and by the northern route to G.S.L. City….
[Mormon, Sept. 15, 1855]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, June 24, 1855, 7]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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San Francisco and San Bernardino
By letters from Elders Parley P. Pratt and Amasa Lyman, of May 18, and June 1 and 6, to Prest. B. Young, we learn that Elder Pratt and the Elders and Saints generally were in good health. Elders McBride, C.W. West, N. Tanner, Wm. Farrer, R.N. Allred, and a company of 50 persons started, April 30, from San Juan for San Bernardino and this city. The Press and paper had arrived to Bro. Pratt’s care. A few hundred dollars worth of ‘Mormon’ publications had been sold, and many small tracts and works had been distributed. On the morning of May 30, a block of 40 buildings were burnt in San Francisco; value not stated. ‘Want of money, want of employ, want of market, and every kind of trouble seems to prevail here. Everything is overdone, even deviltry itself.’ Br. Pratt intends to start home in June or July; his health was good, and he continually enjoyed the blessings of the Lord….
[Deseret News, July 4, 1855]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 4 1855, 5]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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From Elder George Q. Cannon
San Francisco, July 21, 1855
We arrived here from San Bernardino between three and four weeks ago, all well. When we landed here I found that bro. P.P. Pratt had started for the Valley, and the Saints, whose circumstances permitted, had gone with him, or with bro. McBride to San Bernardino. Owing to the improved facilities of travel, I succeeded in reaching bro. Pratt in the evening of the day we landed in San Francisco….
[Deseret News, 5:222]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 21, 1855, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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Elder Geo. Q. Cannon wrote to his uncle John Taylor, as follows:
San Francisco, July 14, 1855
Dear Uncle:
As the time for the departure of another mail is near I improve the opportunity of writing to you. Since I last wrote, I have been busily engaged in endeavoring to get rooms in which to set up the press, and have been successful in hiring two that answer our purpose pretty well….
Aug 1, 1855
…When we landed here Bro. Parley had gone, with all those who had the means and the disposition to assist much, to the Valley, leaving but few Saints in this country, and they, generally speaking, were in straitened circumstances. Bro. Pratt had stored the press, paper, etc., after its arrival from Honolulu, S.I., and it was in storage when I arrived. After my return from my visit to see Bro. Parley, of which I informed you in my last, we proceeded to examine the press and material and found everything in good order, with the exception of the ribs of the press, which were broken and which I immediately undertook have recast.
Bros. Hyde and Parley wrote me a joint letter instructing me to obtain a suitable building in which to set up the press; and to commence publishing the Hawaiian translation of the Book of Mormon; the publishing of a paper was to be deferred for awhile….
[Mormon, Sept. 15, 1855]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aug. 1, 1855, 3]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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Arrived
Elder P.P. Pratt arrived in this city, by the northern route, on Saturday, 18th inst., after an absence of fifteen months; he has preached and published the fullness of the Gospel, throughout California with considerable success.
He was accompanied by Elder James Hawkins, who has been absent from this city, on a mission to the Sandwich Islands, about 6 years….Our readers may expect letters to appear in the columns of our paper from Elders Pratt, Hawkins, and others of the returned missionaries.
Elder P.P. Pratt addressed the saints in the Tabernacle on the 19th inst.
[Deseret News, 5:189]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aug. 18, 1855, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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Musical Tour
G.S.L. City, Aug. 25, 1855
Mr. Editor, Sir:
With the permission of President Brigham Young, a concert band was organized early this month, whose object was to visit the northern settlements of this Territory, giving concerts of vocal, brass, and orchestral music in the various school houses and boweries….
On Thursday, the 16th inst., we proceeded to Willow creek, where sister Hubbard, in the absence of the bishop, her husband, did her best to make us comfortable, and was very anxious we should stay and give a concert that evening. Three of the resident brethren therefore kindly formed themselves into a committee, and went round to obtain subscribers, making arrangements for the concert to come off in the Bowery. Towards evening we were extremely gladdened by the arrival of Elder Parley P. Pratt, en route for this city. We immediately presented him with tickets, for which he thanked us in Spanish. He honored us by opening the concert with a few remarks and prayer, and we had a good time, the concert being numerously attended….
[Deseret News, 5:200]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aug. 23, 1855, 1]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]
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Elder Parley P. Pratt arrived in the city from California accompanied by Elder James Hawkins, and other returned Missionaries, on Saturday the 18th inst.
[Mormon, Oct. 20, 1855]
[Journal History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aug. 31, 9]
[transcribed and proofread by David Grow, Aug. 2006]