Not a direct line progenitor, but certainly very interesting, was the younger brother of Charles Hulet, Sylvester Hulet, born 1 March 1800. He was on a business trip in the vicinity of Kirtland, Ohio, when he heard Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, and Ziba Peterson preach the principles of Mormonism, and was baptized on January 1, 1830 (Joseph Smith papers says March) before the church was organized on April 6, 1830. He returned home without telling anyone.
When his sister Rhoda's husband, Robert Mills died, he took charge of Rhoda and her two children. He cared for them as a provider and kind relative until the children were mature, long after their mother's death. He also practically raised his brother Frances's son because his mother also died. This boy was called Schuyler.
Sylvester Hulet married Anna Whitmer Schott, the widow of Christian Whitmer, one of the 8 witnesses to the Book of Mormon, in 1835. In 1846, she left Sylvester and went back to her parents in Fayette. He joined the Mormon Battalion and served as a Lietunant. Afterwards he settled and explored a number of cities in Utah and Nevada including Bountiful, Provo, Manti and Las Vegas. He died and is buried in Fairview UT.
From Joseph Smith papers references:
Sylvester Hulet Biography
1 Mar. 1800–17 Nov. 1885. Born in Lee, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Son of Sylvanus Hulet and Mary. Moved to Nelson Township, Portage Co., Ohio, 1814. Baptized into LDS church, Mar. 1830. Moved to Jackson Co., Missouri, by Nov. 1833. Participated in the Battle of the Big Blue, near Independence, Jackson Co., Missouri, 4 Nov. 1833. Moved to Clay Co., Missouri, by July 1834. Ordained an elder, by July 1834. Married Anna Schott Whitmer in Clay Co., Missouri. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, by 1842. Ordained a high priest, 8 Oct. 1844, in Nauvoo. Served as second lieutenant in Mormon Battalion, 1846. Migrated to Salt Lake Valley, Oct. 1847. Briefly settled in Bountiful, Davis Co., Utah Territory, spring 1848. Moved to Manti, Sanpete Co., Utah Territory, 1849. Assisted in the exploration of area near what is now part of the Arizona and Nevada border, 1849–1850. Worked in California gold mines, May 1850–ca. 1853. Helped establish what is now Las Vegas, June 1855. Returned to Sanpete Co. Died at Fairview, Sanpete Co.
Neal Cox, 10/1/13 BYU Devotional
VID00002 from Kent Gardiner on Vimeo.
Sylvester Hulet in the Deseret News
2010 Sylvester Hulet Makes a Baby Shawl from K on Vimeo.
SYLVESTER HULET
By Adelia B. Sidwell & Euphrasia Cox Day
He was born 2 March 1800 in Lee, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, then immigrated to Ohio about 1820, and settled in Nelson, Portage County, one county south of Kirtland. He went on business in the vicinity of Kirtland and heard Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt and Ziba Peterson preach the principles of Mormonism. In 1830 he bought a copy of the Book of Mormon, absorbed its contents, was baptized and returned home to Nelson, Ohio. He presented the book to his relatives, who soon became converts… but he did not tell them of his baptism.
When his sister Rhoda's husband, Robert Mills died, he took charge of her and her two children and cared for them as a provider and kind relative until the children were mature, long after their mother's death. He also practically raised his brother Francis' motherless boy, Schuyler.
About 1832 he went to Missouri, and settled in Jackson County at Far West. Only one of his brothers, Francis, was in Jackson County with the Latter-day Saints… and he not long.
(Between Jackson County and Far West comes the story of his rowing a boatload of refugees across the river.) (Hulet settlement. See Church History)
He became acquainted with Orville S. Cox who was a roaming young man and who had heard many evil reports of Mormons. He asked Hulet if he had heard them. He answered, "Yes." He then asked, "What kind of people are the Mormons?" His reply was, "Come to Far West and see." He never told Cox that he was a Mormon.
Nearing the town Cox said he'd like to see the barricades the Mormons had built in defiance of the law. Hulet said, "There they are", pointing to a pile of logs and three wagons loaded with lumber standing end to end. He said, "Well if that's all it takes to make big stories about the Mormons, I guess they aren't so bad." Hulet took Cox to his home where his niece, Elvira Mills was housekeeper. From the first, Orville and Elvira cared for each other, but she did not want to marry outside the Church and he did not want to join any religion to get a girl... So they waited until Missouri drove the Mormons out and they all decided to settle in Lima, Illinois. October 3, 1839 they were married and October 6, Orville S. Cox was baptized by Joseph Smith.
When Christian Whitmer died in Far West, Sylvester Hulet married his wife, Anna. In 1846 she went East to visit her people and never did join her husband in the west. He went to Pisgah in 1846 and in July he joined the Mormon Battalion...(Second Lieutenant in Company D) was mustered into service at Council Bluffs, Iowa Territory with Colonel Allen commanding officer. They marched to Fort Leavenworth where they received their arms and equipment August 1, 1846, a full-fledged son of Uncle Sam.
October 9 Battalion reached Santa Fe, New Mexico where Colonel Philip St. George Cook assumed command. The hostile Mexicans refused to sell them supplies. October 19, 1846, left Santa Fe for California. They suffered much from excessive marches and short rations.
December 11, 1846, on the San Pedro River the Battalion had an extraordinary encounter with a herd of wild Mexican bulls that were startled while feeding in a luxuriant growth of tall cane and river grass, which was from four to six feet high. Amos Cox was caught on the horns of one bull and tossed over a covered wagon. It was estimated that he was thrown at least 14 feet high. The horn caught him in the groin and tore a 7-inch long cut in the flesh. Feeling that the company doctor hated the Mormons and gave them drugs to injure and not to heal, Amos requested that the knowledge of his injury be kept among his friends. Accordingly, Sylvester sewed the wound up, and he and other Elders administered to Cox. Also Hulet let Cox ride his horse, Hulet being a lieutenant. A scout rode a horse most of the time. In less than 7 days the wound was healed and Cox marched in the ranks thereafter.
December 18, 1846, the Mormon Battalion left Tucson, Arizona and suffered almost beyond human endurance from over-marching and lack of water and food. December 22, 1846, they arrived in Pima village and camped the following day by the Maricopa Indians. January 8th 1847, they reached the mouth of the Gila River. January 10th they crossed the Colorado, the "boys" drawing the wagons across and up the perpendicular banks with lariats. January 17, 1847, they arrived in San Luis Rey, California, a deserted Catholic Mission and from a neighboring bluff saw for the first time the Pacific Ocean.
January 29 they arrived at San Diego, California, where they rested.
April 1st, 1847, the Mormon Battalion was ordered to erect a fort on a hill near Los Angeles. When General Kearney arrived in California, he found Colonel John C. Fremont already there at the head of as brave a company of hunters, trappers, exiles, Indian traders and western explorers as was ever welded together by patriotism in one conglomerate mass for the benefit and protection of their country… All animated by intense patriotism, these noble brave fellows elected and proclaimed their beloved Fremont the first Governor of California.
Kearny was angry and there the trouble began. Kearny was the ranking officer and demanded the governorship for himself…his right as general. Fremont held only a Colonels commission, but his undaunted men declared him a General and all addressed him as such (and later the government commissioned him a General). Before this, however, Kearny arrested the Great Pathfinder and took him as a prisoner to Washington, D.C. for usurpation.
Horses to ride and pack mules were secured at Bidwell, California. Wanting a guard to escort his illustrious prisoner, he ordered the captains of the Mormon Battalion to select from each company two of their best all-around men, men who could ride the longest, do without sleep the longest, fast the longest, live on short rations the longest, load pack mules the most expeditiously, do double guard duty the best which meant do with half sleep enough. The chosen guards were Sylvester Hulet, Lieutenant of Company D, and Amos Cox of Company D. They were selected by Captain Higgins for his best men. Some of the others were Lieutenant Stoneman, Seargent N. V. Jones, Durgley, John Binley.
Once Matthew Caldwell broke a cinch and was delayed. Amos Cox went back a few rods to see why he was behind, and he discovered Indians crawling up toward him. Amos helped Caldwell and they both made it back safely.
May 31st, 1847, this detachment with Fremont left for the East, constantly making forced marches 45, sometimes 60 miles a day. They crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the State of Nevada, rested at Fort Hall near Pocatello, Idaho in July, and procured fresh horses and pack mules. Fremont had his freedom and was armed in case of Indian attack.
July 16 and 17 Soda Springs and Bear River was reached. Continuing their journey eastward they met several companies of Mormon Pioneers, including the company of C. C. Rich, in which traveled Orville S. Cox and his family, somewhere on the Platte River, near Sweetwater.
Here Amos heard the first news of his family in over a year. One sad item was that a little daughter had died. He went on with Fremont and received his honorable discharge at Fort Leavenworth, from where he hastened to his family in Iowa.
He remained near Shenandoah, Iowa, a number of years. He planted a tree on his 40-acre farm the day Abraham Lincoln was killed. That farm is now owned by Henry Field, Seedsman and he treasures the memorial tree.
Sylvester Hulet, by request, received his honorable discharge when he met C. C. Riches Company and turned his face once more westward in company of 0. S. and Elvira Cox.
They arrived in Salt Lake City October 3, 1847, where he assisted in building the old adobe Fort on Pioneer Square and made himself generally useful, where they all wintered.
In the spring of 1848 he went with a company and assisted in founding Bountiful.
In the spring of 1849 he responded to a call from President Brigham Young to found a settlement on the Provo River. There they built a fort of cottonwood logs, and in the fall of 1849, when Father Morley's company to settle Manti passed through Provo, he joined them and settled in Manti.
In 1850 or 51 he went to California and washed gold.
In 1854 or 55 he honored a call of Brigham to help build a fort at Las Vegas, now in Nevada. Another call in 1856 and 1857 from President Young sent him to Las Vegas where he found lead in native condition and melted out great quantities for Mormons to use in defense of their homes against the invasion of Johnston's Army.
Our Pioneer Heritage
Volume 13
Mormon Ghost Towns
Nevada
Company E Callville. Brigham Young was anxious to develop a cheaper mode of transportation in order to reduce the heavy expense involved by bringing immigrants and merchandise into the Utah Territory. With the steady growth of Mormon colonization toward the Pacific Coast, he conceived the idea of using the Colorado River as a solution to this expensive problem. Little was then known of the navigability of the river. In 1855 he sent Rufus Allen with a company of four companions to explore it. They traveled as far as Las Vegas Springs with William Bringhurst and a group of missionary colonists, who had been sent there to establish a Mormon settlement. They reached the springs on June 15, 1855. Bringhurst assigned two of his men, Sylvester Hulet and George Bean, to accompany Allen's exploring expedition. Four days after arriving at Las Vegas, Allen and his companions started for the Colorado where they followed its course after traveling twenty-eight miles to reach the river. They were away five days before returning to Las Vegas to report. They had found nothing but barren wasteland, deserts, high mountains, and deep canyons. Two years passed before the interest of the Saints was awakened again in regard to the navigation of the Colorado. In the fall of 1857, the U. S. government sent Lt. Joseph Ives to explore the river to see whether it could be used to advantage in transporting soldiers and ammunition of war to the valley of Salt Lake. Lt. Ives brought to the Pacific coast a small steamer having powerful machinery adapted for stemming currents. It had been tried on the Delaware River and found to meet expectations. It was launched and sailed up the river from Fort Yuma where the Gila River flows into the Colorado. Upon reaching a point two hundred seventy-two miles above Fort Yuma, Lt. Ives was able to get his ship over troublesome rapids only by fastening a line to the shore and helping his ship up. He reported to the government as follows: "It appears that the foot of Black Canyon should be considered the practical head of navigation, and I concluded to have reconnaissance made to connect that point with the Mormon Road, and to let this finish the exploration of the navigable portion of the Colorado." When the report reached Salt Lake City Brigham Young could hardly wait for Lt. Ives' boat to sail down stream. Then he sent George A. Smith with twenty men to explore the river and country adjacent to it for suitable settlements for the Saints.
Our Pioneer Heritage
Volume 18
The Las Vegas Fort
John Steele
Weber County April 21, started on an exploring trip to the mountains to explore for lead. Took with me Sylvester Hulet, John Lowder and Beeson Lewis, Jr., taking Koonah-Kibals, an Indian, along for our guide. Traveled three miles from our fort to a little spring, then seven miles to another spring, from thence, 25 miles to another small spring in a canyon. All the way through a very rough road and very little grass. Arrived there about 12 p.m. being then 12 hours on the road. Tuesday 22nd, started and met several Indians and Squaws. Went on to the lead and arrived there about 10 o'clock, a distance of four miles. Found plenty of lead. Packed up 180 lbs. and started back and got to the spring in the desert at sundown, and I got home on Thursday the 24th.
Old Samplers
Nauvoo Temple Elvira Pamela Mills was born March 2, 1820, in Nelson, Portage County, Ohio. Her father was Robert Mills, her mother Rhoda Hulet. She had one brother, Frederick Mills, who died when he was only one year old. Her father died in 1827 when she was seven. After his death, her mother's brother, Sylvester Hulet, helped his sister care for the farm and was almost like a father to the children. He also assumed the responsibility of another widowed sister and her child.
In Massachusetts, Rhoda asked her father how much Indian blood was in him. "Not one drop!” he answered. It was her mother, Mary Lewis, who was part Indian.
Sylvester was the brother who had Indian traits most developed: straight black hair, black eyes, high cheekbones, feet that 'toed' in a trifle, splendid scout, cat-like movements.
He finally settled in Manti and remained for about 4.0 years. His very last days were spent in Fairview with Elvira for hits nurse. He sleeps in the Fairview Cemetery beside Orville S. and Elvira Cox.
--------------------
Summary of his life:
Sylvester Hulet, a brother of Charles Hulet, married Ann Schott Whitmer widow of Christian
Whitmer, who died in the early rise of the Church. Uncle Sylvester was among the first
to emigrate West. His wife refused to come with him, but remained in Missouri with her
people. There were no children born to them. He never remarried.
It is thought that he
came in the same company as great grandfather Charles and family. Instead of settling in
Springville, he went on to Manti with other members of the family. He lived there for
quite a number of years. While there, he made combs to sell out of cow horns, by using a
lot of tiny saws with which to make the teeth. Before coming west, he was called into the
Mormon Battalion. He held the rank of Lieutenant in Company “D”. He was placed in
command of a group who became ill during the March and had to be taken back to where
they were mustered in, as soon as they were able to travel. One of the commanding
officers said of him: “There was no arrogance in his makeup. He was extremely kind and
considerate to his men at all times.”General information:
Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1848 about Sylvester Hulet
| Name: | Sylvester Hulet |
|---|---|
| Gender: | Male |
| Relationship to Primary Person: | Self (Head) |
| Father: | Sylvannas Hulet |
| Mother: | Mary Lewis |
| Birth Date: | 1 Mar 1800 |
| Birth Place: | Lee of Potawatomi County, Iowa, USA |
| Death Date: | 1883 |
| Death Place: | Fairview, Manti, Utah, USA |
| Residences: | Jackson, Missouri, USA Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, USA; 1847 Manti, Sanpete, Utah, USA; 1860 |
| LDS Church Ordinance Data: | Baptism Date: March 1830 Baptism Date: October 18, 1867 Ordained High Priest |
| LDS Temple Ordinance Data: | Endowment Date: December 18, 1845 Temple: Nauvoo, Hancock, IL, USA |
| Vocations: | Laborer; 1860 |
| Comments: | In 1860, Sylvester had a household of 1, a real wealth of $300,and a personal wealth of $150. Comments: #21. Sylvester asked for $2325 in damages from Missouri. Comments: #31. Sylvester was deceived by the devil through the gift of tongues. Comments: #41. Sylvester was a Second Lieutenant in Company "D" of the Mormon Battalion. Comments: #51. Sylvester was a member of the Nauvoo, Illinois First Ward. |
From: The Prairie Branch, Jackson
County, Missouri: Emergence,
Flourishing, and Demise,
1831-1834
Larry C. Porter and Ronald E. Romig
Ongoing missionary preaching, especially in places like Portage County,
Ohio, were remarkably successful. Rapid inroads among the extended fami-
lies of the Western Reserve, resulted in significant branches being created in
Nelson and Hiram townships in Portage County. In the early 1800s, the Hulet,
Mills, and Noah and Whiting families had located in Nelson Township, close
to Garrettsville and formed what was referred to as the Hulet settlement. In
point of time, Sylvanus Hulet and his brother had moved to Nelson in about
1814.50 Because the area was so sparsely settled, the families obviously be-
came well acquainted.
Larry C. Porter and Ronald E. Romig: The Prairie Branch 15
An account by a member of the Hulet family suggests that while living
in Portage County, they heard about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon
and discussed it. In the dead of winter, Sylvester Hulet reportedly rode horse
back from Ohio to New York where he met and talked with Joseph Smith and
was converted. He was baptized at Joseph Smith’s home in March before the
Church was even organized in April 1830.51 Sylvester was then said to have
returned to Nelson with a copy of the Book of Mormon.52 The authors, how-
ever, have been unable to substantiate this claim of so early a contact with the
Prophet from other relevant sources.53
When the Lamanite missionaries visited Kirtland and vicinity in October-
November 1830 they set in motion a rapid series of conversions. Members of
the Hulet family were said to have been among the first to be baptized. Oren
(Orin) Hulet was baptized either in October 1830 or February 1831. Anna
Hulet of Nelson was baptized in February 1831, as was Elvira Hulet Mills
on February 10, 1831.54 Young Katharine, daughter of Charles and Margaret
Noah Hulet, recalled, “In February 1831 my parents embraced the gospel, and
a few months later I was baptized.”55 The extended family of John Noah also
became interested in the Church sometime in the same proximity. At the time
Joseph Smith arrived from New York in Kirtland on February 1, 1831, Nelson
Township contained a budding network of inter-related families who were in
the process of aligning themselves with the Church.56
In the fall of 1831, Joseph Smith was living at the John Johnson Sr. farm
near the village of Hiram, Ohio, deeply involved with Sidney Rigdon in a
careful revision of the Old and New Testaments. The Johnson home in Hiram
Township was not far from the residence of the Hulets in Nelson, which prox-
imity provided the Hulets with an opportunity to get to know many Church
leaders. The Prophet Joseph once ate dinner at the Hulet settlement in Nelson.
Young Katharine, daughter of Charles and Margaret Noah Hulet recorded that
she was “born March 12, 1820, at Nelson, Portage, Ohio. In 1830 [1831] the
Prophet Joseph Smith and Parley P. Pratt came to my father’s house and de-
sired to hold meeting there. Father gave them the privilege. The Prophet bore
testimony to finding the plates containing the Book of Mormon. . . . I hear[d]
him preach the following Sunday [March 25, 1832] after the mob had tarred
and feathered and beaten him and Sidney Rigdon so badly.”60
16 Mormon Historical Studies
The summer of 1831 was a busy time for the Church in Ohio and Jackson
County, Missouri, for it encompassed the Western Mission and the Lord’s
identification of the land of Zion. During late 1831, important Church confer-
ences held at Hiram in Portage County delineated significant plans for enlarg-
ing the program of gathering. At one of these special conferences, Sylvester
Hulet and John Noah appeared from the Hulet settlement and “expressed de-
sires to preach the work if thought proper by this conference. Voted that these
two brethren be ordained according to the voice of the church in which they
live.’62 With the help of local priesthood leadership and missionary labors, the
Church was able to overcome some of its immediate problems, and the Hiram
and Nelson branches continued to thrive.
Members converted in the East were taught and encouraged to gather
to Jackson County, Missouri, as quickly as sanctioned by Church leaders.
And, with the rapid development of Zion during the years 1831-32, many
local members made preparations to move west. Katherine (Catherine) Hulet
wrote, “In 1832 my parents and I moved to Jackson County, Missouri, Fa-
ther had sent money ahead with which to purchase a farm.”63 Twelve-year-old
Elvira Pamela Mills, daughter of the widow Rhoda Hulet Mills and niece to
Sylvester Hulet, was among those who departed Nelson Township for Zion.
On their departure for the West, her aunt Marietta Streeter Mills presented her
with an autograph album on May 1, 1832, as a going away gift.64 Elvira used
the album to note family events throughout their stay in Missouri. The party
from Nelson arrived in Jackson County by early summer,65 in sufficient time
for Margaret Ann Noah Hulet to give birth to Elizabeth, her fifth daughter and
sixth child, in Independence, Missouri, on July 22, 1831.66
Missouri:
As a result of immigration, the Church in Missouri experienced a surge
of significant growth. Bishop Partridge sent many more new arrivals, includ-
ing the Hulets to the Prairie Branch area. Charles secured a farm and a good
home for his family; Rhoda Mills and daughter Elvira located nearby in the
Whitmer settlement.67
Larry C. Porter and Ronald E. Romig: The Prairie Branch 17
Portion of a map drawn by Thomas Bullock in 1862 showing the Mormon settlement
sites in Kaw Township, Jackson County, Missouri, including the Prairie Branch. Bullock
probably made the map based upon information provided to him by William W. Phelps.
Image courtesy LDS Church Archives.
1934 High Council in Missouri: (From History of the Church, Vol. II)
July 31.--The High Council of Zion assembled, and heard the report of Edward Partridge, Orson Pratt, Zebedee Coltrin, and Isaac Morley, concerning the mission appointed them at the previous council.
Elder Nathan West preferred charges against Samuel Brown, High Priest, for teaching contrary to counsel, namely, encouraging the brethren in practicing gifts (speaking in tongues,) in ordaining Sylvester Hulet a High Priest (without counsel) in a clandestine manner; asserting that he had obtained a witness of the Lord, which was a command to perform the same on receiving the gift of tongues, which gift he had never before received, but afterwards said that he had been in possession of that gift for the space of a year; and in undervaluing the authority and righteousness of the High Council by charging Elder West not to say anything that would tend to prejudice their minds, lest they might not judge righteously. The charges were sustained by the testimony of Leonard Rich, Charles English, Brother Bruce, Edward Partridge, Hiram Page, Roxa Slade, Caleb Baldwin, and Sylvester Hulet. President David Whitmer gave the following decision, which was sanctioned by the council: "According to testimony and the voice of the Holy Spirit, which is in us, we say unto you, that God, in His infinite mercy, doth yet grant you a space for repentance; therefore, if you confess all the charges which have been alleged against you to be just, and in a spirit that we can receive it, then you [Samuel Brown] can stand as a private member in this Church, otherwise we have no fellowship for you; and also, that the ordination or Sylvester Hulet, by Samuel Brown, is illegal and not acknowledged by us to be of God, and therefore it is void. Brother Brown confessed the charges, and gave up his license, but retained his membership. Council adjourned on the evening of the first of August; but previous to adjourning, the Council gave the following letter to the Elders appointed to visit the churches in Clay county:An openness in this new religion to the workings of the Holy Spirit, and
an interest in attendant charismatic gifts, helped attract converts. During the
Jackson County period, this inclination eventually proved a source of dif-
ficulty. At about the same time Church leaders in Ohio began to openly in-
clude the use of the gifts in public worship an identical interest was expressed
in Missouri. John Whitmer noted in his history that the gift of tongues was
received in the fall of the year 1832 by the disciples at Ohio.87 Members of
the Church had claimed and were inclined to exercise the gift of prophecy
from the beginning. This caused repeated difficulties as the Church labored to
establish a workable balance in regard to who could speak for the Church at
large. Some members of the extended Hulet family in Jackson County seemed
more predisposed to the exercise of the gifts than others. In December 1832,
high priests John Corrill and Isaac Morley were appointed to “go forth and set
in order the different Branches of the Church of Christ in the land of Zion.”88
On December 15, 1832, Church clerk John Whitmer took note of the “case of
Thomas Mils [Mills] who was going about preaching much: By due examina-
tion we found that he taught contrary doctrine to the revelations & prophesied
things contrary to scripture. We therefore received his license & silenced him
& advised him, if he would still persis in his foolish doctrine to withdraw from
Larry C. Porter and Ronald E. Romig: The Prairie Branch 21
the Church & save us the trouble of excommunicating him from the same,
which he did[.]”89
The Charles and Sylvester Hulet families found themselves in the middle
of this excitement. By late spring, Missouri Church leaders queried Church
headquarters in Kirtland regarding concerns of excesses. The questions asked
are known only from answers sent back over the signatures of Joseph Smith,
Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams from Kirtland on June 21, 1833.
The most important part of the letter was “The Plat of the City of Zion” and
its explanation, a key document in the Saints’ social planning. But the ques-
tions Phelps posed to Kirtland obviously had to do with doctrinal points be-
ing raised at Prairie Branch by Charles and Sylvester Hulet.90 The Prophet
replied: Say to the brothers Hulet and to all others, that the Lord never authorized them to say
that the devil, his angels or the sons of perdition, should ever be restored; for their
state of destiny was not revealed to man, is not revealed, nor shall be revealed, save to
those who are partakers thereof; consequently, those who teach this doctrine, have not
received it of the Spirit of the Lord. Truly Brother Oliver declared it to be the doctrine
of devils. We therefore command that this doctrine be taught no more in Zion. We
sanction the decision of the Bishop and his council, in relation to this doctrine being
a bar to communion.91
Biographical Sketch of Orville Sutherland Cox
by Euphrasia Cox Day [daughter]
(transcribed by Paul Day, Nov. 8, 2006)
Orville Sutherland Cox
Biographical sketch by Euphrasia Cox Day
May 1, 1934
Born Nov. 25, 1814 in Plymouth (western) New York. The fifth child of Jonathan Upham Cox and Lucinda Blood Cox, who had twelve children.
At the age of 14 he was "bound out" to learn the trade of blacksmithing but the smith failed to keep his part of the contract as teacher, so Orville left one dark night before he was 16, and alone made his way though a wilderness, avoiding hostile Indians and other dangers. Several days of traveling brought him to the Ohio River. There he took passage on a freight-boat and worked his way down stream to a lumber camp where he secured a job.
From one place to another and one job to another he spent 7 years traveling in a westward direction, and reached the western boundary of the U.S. in Missouri. He heard about the "awful Mormons", and one day near Far West he asked a man who was chopping down a tree to tell him what he thought of the Mormons.
"I am going in to Far West, come with me and see them for yourself."
The woodman was Sylvester Hulet, and he took Cox to his home---a home he was providing for his two widowed sisters and their 3 children and a brother's son. In a short time Cox saw and understood the true situation between the Mormons and Missourians and decided his place should be with the Mormons.
He admired Hulet's oldest niece and asked her to be his wife. She said she would if he would be baptized into the Church. Laughing he said, "I'll join no religion to get a wife." But he continued to make Hulet's home his headquarters, and when the Mormons moved to Illinois he went with them. Hulets made their home in Lima, Adams Co., a few miles from Nauvoo. In 1838 he again asked Elvira to be his wife, she consented and they were married the 3rd of October. Three days later he went to Nauvoo and was baptized by the prophet Joseph Smith.
When the Nauvoo Legion was organized he became a member of the band, and was quite intimate with the Prophet.
After Joseph was killed he attended the meetings called by Sidney Rigdon and the apostles and was in the meeting and witnessed the change in the appearance of Brigham Young when the "mantle of Joseph fell on him" and he never afterward doubted that Brigham was God's chosen leader.
When the Saints were leaving Nauvoo, he was appointed one of the "rear guard" to keep the mob from working evil before all the people had a chance to cross the river into Iowa. The mob started violence, the guard had few arms, so Browning (father of the gun manufacturer of Ogden) and Cox made two cannons, using an old steam boat shaft for the barrels. Then they held the mob in check. Crossing the plains he was in Charles C. Rich's company and arrived in Salt Lake Oct. 3, 1847.
He was among the first settlers of 15 different towns in the mountain region. He surveyed 45 irrigation canals that carried the first irrigation streams for their localities. Irrigation was a natural gift to him. To many it was a difficult problem. In some instances he surveyed ditches and took the water higher than professionals with scientific instruments could do.
He had a cheerful optimistic disposition. There never appeared a situation in pioneering so difficult that he could not solve it. Nor was there a job of work too hard for him to willingly undertake it.
See the stories of "The Last Match", "The Big Plow", "Buffalo Meat", "The Log Culvert", "Move that Rock", "Turkey Hunting", "Shoeing Oxen with Glassy Hoop", "Straightening a Gun Barrel".
O.S. Cox died in Fairview Utah, July 4, 1888.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1846
ELMER: September 21 - Marched eighteen miles today and camped.
No wood in this region at all. Five days march and have not seen a
brush; no feed for cattle except on the Cimarron bottom, a small creek.
HANCOCK: 21 came to the semerone springs making as my
informatat said 50 miles here we incamped
PETTEGREW: 21st, eighteen miles.
SMITH, AZARIAH: Monday Sept the 21st Last night I was detaled
for guard and marched with the guard all day, but my eyes being so sore,
there was another man detaled to stand guard tonight in my place.
STANDAGE: 21. Traveled 18 miles in the Semirone and encamp'd on
the same. No water only by digging. the river runs under the sand, very
warm all day and the men suffered much for water, but little grass in the
Bottoms and none on the hills.
WHITWORTH: September 21. Traveled 21 miles and dug for water.
Cooked with the everlasting Buffalo chips -
WILLIAMS: Sep 21. My turn for guard. I am placed in advanced
gaurd. Lieutenant Sylvester Hulett, Officer of the day. Our travel today
is over a rough and sandy plain. We traveled 16 or 18 miles and camped
again on the Cimmaron, and obliged to dig wells to obtain water for man
and teams.
It seems that our Colonel and Doctor are determined to carry out the
threat that was made to me by the Doctor. That he would kill one half of
us before we reached California. The Colonel by our fast marches, and
the Doctor by his poisonous Quack medicines.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1846
STEELE: However, after passing through some fine valleys and a
heavily wooded country, at last arrived at the far famed town of Santa Fe,
October 12, 1846, where our 250 brethren got the day before. The
American flag was flying and all went merry as a marriage ball. The town
is about 4 miles long, situated in a beautiful valley with a fine stream of
water running through it. Houses are one story high and flat roofed.
Must here say a few words about our officers of Co. D. to which I
belonged. Captain Nelson Higgins as I have said left us with a
detachment of families for Bents Fort while on the Arkansas. Our next in
command was George P. Dykes who acted as Adjutant to the Battalion
which left the command upon 2nd Lieutenant Sylvester Hulett who acted
very kind to those under his command. There was nothing of the tyrant
about him. Our next 3rd Lieutant was Cyrus Canfield. He was a rough
harum scarum man and dearly loved his glass and his lull. Our orderly
Sergeant was N.V. Jones, 2nd Sergeant, David Wilkin, 3rd sergeant,
Thomas S. Williams.
HANCOCK: ( Sanlouis Ray, CA) February 4th 1847 this day revile before sunrise sick call
and guard mounting over I took a walk with Sylvester Hulet and down
north out of town and went through a vinyard where I saw for the first
time a pepper tree that looks as nere as I could describe like a weeping
willow the pepper hung all over the tops like grapes in large clusters
large bunches and some was ripe and some very small some in bud some
in the blow and all on one tree beside the trees which was from one foot
to 16 inches diameter was a large orchard of olive trees and any quantaty
of grape vines castor beenes and other things to numerous to describe
which grow in the east on the south gate of the vinyard just as you enter
into the place is a cistern or well which will hold an emence quantaty of
water arched over all around and tilled it comes neare the top and there
an opening about the size of a well from the top is an acquaduct that
carries the water into vats forty feet square and three feet deep then a
gate that conducts it into a canall used for watering the whole vineyard
probably this is used for baithing this is a butaful place after viewing
this place I returned to the town.
HULET, SYLVESTER: Hancock 4 Feb 47. J Pace, 17 Dec 46. Standage 10 Apr 47.
Uniform worn at that time.On the trek his friend Amos Cox was gored by a bull and immediately Sylvester patched him up, gave him a priesthood blessing and loaned him his horse.
Gun carried by the Battalion:
He helped build fort Moore in early Los Angeles:
In 1846, at the outset of the war with Mexico, Captain Archibald H. Gillespie and other marines built a rudimentary barricade on Fort Hill in what is now downtown Los Angeles, but the Mexicans soon ejected the small American force. The Army returned in force and on January 12, 1847, erected a 400 foot long breastwork on the same strategic site and named it the Post at Los Angeles. It was intended to control the city, then the principal center of population in California. The site was agreed to, and plans were drawn by First Lieutenant William H. H. Emory, Corps of Topographical Engineers, in compliance with orders of Brigadier General Stephen Watts Kearny. Actual construction, supervised by Lieutenant Emory, began on January 12. 1847, but the fort plans were revised, and on April 23 a new, twice as large defense was begun on the same site. The work on the second fort, an earthwork embrasured for six cannon, was superintended by 2nd Lieutenant John W. Davidsion, 1st Dragoons. The post (never completed), designated Fort Moore on July 4,1847, by Colonel John D. Stevenson, 1st New York Volunteers, commander of the southerin military district of California, was named for Captain Benjamin D. Moore, Ist Dragoons, killed in the Battle of San Pascual inSan Diego County, on December 6, 1846. Colonel Stevenson publicly read the Declaration of Independence at the dedication of Fort Moore. It was apparently a grand ceremony, with Companies E and G of the New York Volunteers, a detachment of the 1st Dragoons, and the Mormon Battalion drawn up in a hollow square around the specially erected tall flagpole. A band played and the garrison's cannon roared a salute. The garrison was withdrawn in 1848 on orders of Captain William T Sherman and the post abandoned the following year. The hill that accommodated the fort was removed in 1949, and its site, on Hill Street near Sunset Boulevard, is commemoratted by a huge stone mural.
Fort Moore in 1847 overlooked Pueblo of Los Angeles. It was breastwork 400 feet long with bastions and embrasures for cannon. Main purpose was to prevent rebellion so its principal embrasure commanded church and plaza, most probable rallying points. Two hundred men were planned to garrison it. The Army incident of 1851 occurred when a dragoon company passed through town at the same time a hoodlum gang was threatening to storm jail and lynch some prisoners. Soldiers were secretly sworn in as posse and settled the matter.
Schuyler Hulet was also in company D.2010 Fort Moore, Mormon Battalion from K on Vimeo.
He arrived in Salt Lake City in 1847 where he assisted in building the old adobe Fort on Pioneer Square, and founded Bountiful, Provo and Manti. In 1850 he went to California and washed gold and helped build a fort at Las Vegas. He was part of the 50 men who went with Parley P. Pratt to explore southern Utah and he discovered iron ore in what is now Iron County, Utah.
Sylvester had American Indian ancestors that resulted in his development of straight black hair, black eyes, high cheekbones, feet that 'toed' in a trifle and was a splendid scout with cat-like movements.
He finally settled in Manti and remained there for about 4 years. His very last days were spent in Fairview with his niece Elvira who acted as his nurse. He died in 1885 at 85. He sleeps in the Fairview Sanpete Cemetery after a full life.
Longer version of this post.
The blanket below was made by or commissioned by Sylvester who was a weaver. This blanket probably dates back to his early years in Utah. It was carefully preserved by his niece Elvira Cox as a Heritage Quilt. Here is why he needed the blanket:
They arrived in Salt Lake City October 3, 1847, where he assisted in building the old adobe Fort on Pioneer Square and made himself generally useful, where they all wintered.
In the spring of 1848 he went with a company and assisted in founding Bountiful.
In the spring of 1849 he responded to a call from President Brigham Young to found a settlement on the Provo River. There they built a fort of cottonwood logs, and in the fall of 1849, when Father Morley's company to settle Manti passed through Provo, he joined them and settled in Manti.
HISTORY OF SANPETE COUNTY. A company of about fifty families from Salt Lalve City and Centerville was organized and started late in the fall for Sanpitoii Valley. The commanders were Isaac Morley, Setli Taft and Charles Shumway, who rep- resented the civil and ecclesiastical authorities and Nel- son Higgins the militars'. Among the original pioneers were the following men, some being accompanied by their families: D. B. Huntington, Barne}^ Ward, John Lowry, Sr., Titus Billings, G. W. Bradley, Albert Petty, O. S. Cox, Albert Smith, Jezreel Shomaker, Cjrenus H. Taylor, Azariah Smith, Abram Washburn, John D. Chase, Isaac Case, Sylvester Hulet, William Potter^ Gardner Potter, James Brown, Joseph Allen, M. D. Ham- ilton, William Richej', Harrison Fugate, Sylvester Wil- cox, Gad Yale, John Carter, Isaac Behunnin, William Mendenhall, Edwin Whiting, William Tubbs, John Hart, John Baker, John Elmer, John Butterfield, Amos Gustin, John Cable and AY. K. Smith. The company cleared roads, built bridges and suc- cessfully passed through Salt Creek canyon without any great hardships, and moved to the south in quest of a suitable location. Some wanted to pitch camp at Shum- way Springs, but better counsel prevailed, and the pres- ent site of Manti was selected as the frontier town of cen- tral and southern Utah. The first camp was made on City Creek on the evening of November 22, 184:9, and tem- porally houses made of wagon boxes, comprised the town. In a few days the snow began falling and continued al- most incessantly until the ground was covered to a depth of three feet or more, and the colony changed quarters to the south side of temple hill, where some families had dugouts, while others occupied their improvised wagons and tents. That winter was most severe and the snow fell to a greater depth than ever was known to the Indians, and
From Our Pioneer Heritage:
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In 1850 or 51 he went to California and washed gold.
In 1854 or 55 he honored a call of Brigham to help build a fort at Las Vegas, now in Nevada. Another call in 1856 and 1857 from President Young sent him to Las Vegas where he found lead in native condition and melted out great quantities for Mormons to use in defense of their homes against the invasion of Johnston's Army.
In Massachusetts, Rhoda, Sylvester's sister, asked her father Sylvanus how much Indian blood was in him. "Not one drop!” he answered. It was her mother, Mary Lewis, who was part Indian.
He finally settled in Manti and remained for about 4.0 years. His very last days were spent in Fairview with Elvira for hits nurse. He sleeps in the Fairview Cemetery beside Orville S. and Elvira Cox.
Sylvester Video:
Sylvester Hulet from K on Vimeo.
More information on Elivra Pamela Mills Cox.
Robert Frederick Mills was killed by indians leaving his wife to care for Elvira. Sylvester Hulet helped her and later in life she and her husband cared for him.
Mormon Battalion momument near Utah Capitol:
From O S Cox website:
Rhoda (our ancestor) was 19 years of age when the family moved to Nelson, Ohio. Before leaving Massachusetts, she had received what was known as "a good Massachusetts education".
Sylvester, a younger brother, emigrated to Ohio about 1820 when he was 20 years old. He became a very important individual in Rhoda's life, some of his other brothers and sisters and with the Coxes.
Two large linen sheets that were used for many years in Fairview to lay out the dead were woven by my Grandma Rhoda Hulet. She raised the flax, spun and wove it before she married in 1819. Girls were called "spinsters" or "spinners" and had bed and table linen, towels etc. before marrying. So, as the Hulets were well-to-do the girls, Sally (Whiting), Mary (West), Rhoda (Mills) and Polly, I think, had plenty.
From OS Cox Website:
- GIVN: Anna
- SURN: Schott
- Sex: F
- Born: 30 Mar 1801 in Waterloo, Seneca, New York, USA
- Died: 19 Nov 1866 in Fayette, Seneca, New York, USA
- AFN: CTNG-GH
- Record last updated: 27 Dec 2008
- TIME: 17:45
- Notes:
Widow of Christian Whitmer
Alt Ancestral Ref#: FS0W-ZS
Father: Frederick Schott, b. 1766
Mother: Anna Rathfon, b. 1752
Family 1: Sylvester Hulet, b. 2 Mar 1800 in Lee, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA
- Divorced: Y Abt 1847
- Married: Aft 1835 in , Clay, Missouri, USA
- Notes:
Anna refused to go west with Brigham Young, and Sylvester was determined to go, so they divorced. 19 Jan 1953 3 Aug 2008
Family 2: Christian Whitmer, b. 18 Jan 1798 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA
1860 Census
1870 census
1880 census
Most of the videos on this site are 2 to 4 minutes. This one is 26 minutes long. It is a nice
review of Sylvester's life:
2010 Nancy on Sylvester Hulet from Deborah Gardiner on Vimeo.
Callville. Brigham Young was anxious to develop a cheaper mode of transportation in order to reduce the heavy expense involved by bringing immigrants and merchandise into the Utah Territory. With the steady growth of Mormon colonization toward the Pacific Coast, he conceived the idea of using the Colorado River as a solution to this expensive problem. Little was then known of the navigability of the river. In 1855 he sent Rufus Allen with a company of four companions to explore it. They traveled as far as Las Vegas Springs with William Bringhurst and a group of missionary colonists, who had been sent there to establish a Mormon settlement. They reached the springs on June 15, 1855. Bringhurst assigned two of his men, Sylvester Hulet and George Bean, to accompany Allen's exploring expedition. Four days after arriving at Las Vegas, Allen and his companions started for the Colorado where they followed its course after traveling twenty-eight miles to reach the river. They were away five days before returning to Las Vegas to report. They had found nothing but barren wasteland, deserts, high mountains, and deep canyons. Two years passed before the interest of the Saints was awakened again in regard to the navigation of the Colorado. In the fall of 1857, the U. S. government sent Lt. Joseph Ives to explore the river to see whether it could be used to advantage in transporting soldiers and ammunition of war to the valley of Salt Lake. Lt. Ives brought to the Pacific coast a small steamer having powerful machinery adapted for stemming currents. It had been tried on the Delaware River and found to meet expectations. It was launched and sailed up the river from Fort Yuma where the Gila River flows into the Colorado. Upon reaching a point two hundred seventy-two miles above Fort Yuma, Lt. Ives was able to get his ship over troublesome rapids only by fastening a line to the shore and helping his ship up. He reported to the government as follows: "It appears that the foot of Black Canyon should be considered the practical head of navigation, and I concluded to have reconnaissance made to connect that point with the Mormon Road, and to let this finish the exploration of the navigable portion of the Colorado." When the report reached Salt Lake City Brigham Young could hardly wait for Lt. Ives' boat to sail down stream. Then he sent George A. Smith with twenty men to explore the river and country adjacent to it for suitable settlements for the Saints.
For more information on Amos Cox, friend of
2010 Sylvester Hulet's Grave Marker from K on Vimeo.
Burial:
Fairview City (Upper) Cemetery
Fairview
Sanpete County
Utah, USA
