Colenda Chrilla Rogers (1869-1934)

Adams, Colenda Chrilla Rogers, 1869– Journal (1885–1923) Journal (1885–1923) Photocopy of holograph. 90 pp. 24.5 cm. HDC [LDS Church Archives] (Ms d 1863)

Life in and around rural Pleasant Grove, Utah, beginning in 1885. Typical teenager. (“The circus was a builk.”) Premonition of sister’s death proves correct. Father in penitentiary for polygamy; allowed to attend funeral (1887) in custody of U.S. Marshall. Family forced to live with relatives much of time until father‘s release.

Dating activities. Courtship with Joseph Adams leads to marriage in Logan Temple, 1888. Both rebaptized and reconfirmed two months before marriage. First child born nine months later. More children follow.

Number of accidental deaths noted. One girl fell from horse, another drank some “carbolic acid,” another shot to death. Also records local violence and several suicides. Church service. (“Went to relief society meeting [and] was voted in to act as chairman over decorateing of the meeting house for funerals.”)

Other experiences in Pleasant Grove. House wired for lights, 1911. Earthquake, 1915. Flu epidemic, 1918. (“Joe and me went in Salt Lake to the funeral. There was so much Flu around they held services in the cemetry.”) The first airplane to fly over Pleasant Grove, 1919. Account ends abruptly in 1923.