STAR VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HISTORICAL BOOKS INVENTORY DETAILS 1. Overview Title: James Hamilton Bruce Author: Verna Bruce Subject: Personal History Publisher: Publishing Date: Number of Pages: 6 ID#: 372 Location: Website 2. Evaluation Evaluator's Name(s): Kent and Polly Erickson Date of Evaluation: December 2014 Key Words: Scotland, Almy, Wyoming; Smoot, Wyoming; Michigan, "Found a Peanut" Included Names: James F. Clark, James Barefield Bruce, Isabell Wilson Bruce, Annie Elizabeth Clark 3. Synopsis He was born in 1864 in Scotland. His father left Scotland to find a new home for the family; he located in Almy, Wyoming. His wife and six children followed. In 1885, he married Annie Elizabeth Clark in the Endowment House in Logan, Utah. They had twelve children. When they left Almy, they came to Star Valley. They had a homestead in Smoot, In 1898, he left to serve a mission for the Latter-Day Saint Church. His diary provides interesting details about this time of his life. He died of poisoning in 1907.
4. Other *Diary entries *Copy of "A Missionary Blessing" given by Apostle Heber J. Grant upon James Hamilton Bruce, June 15 1898
James Hamilton Bruce 1 James Hamilton Bruce Jim Bruce (as lie was called) was bom April 1,1864 at Mothenwell, Scotland. He was the oldest son and third child of James Barefield and Isabell Wilson Bruce. When he was seven years old his father left Scotland and came to America to find a new home for his family. He settled in Almy, Wyoming and worked to the coalmines there. After a year or two his mother left Scotland with six small children to come to America. It must have taken a lot of courage on her part to start on this long journey. (I have the little cape that grandfather wore on the journey. It is made of red flannel-like material and all made by hand.) The family was reunited in Almy. Grandfather lived In Almy, Wyoming until about 1890. On October 9,1885 he married Annie Elizabeth Clark in the Endowment House in Logan Utah. In about 1890 they left Almy and came to Star Valley in Wyoming. They first lived in Auburn, then they moved to Afton for a short time, and then they took up a homestead in Smoot. They lived in a small cabin until they could get a two-roomed log house built. The house stood east of the highway 1 and a half miles south of Smoot. A large pine tree still stands today that was planted in their yard. He was the father of 12 Children. They are as follows: 1. James Lawrence 2. Janet 3. Annie 4. Robert Hamilton, 5. Joseph Wallace, 6. Stella 7. Glennis 8. *Ella Vietta 9. Spears 10. Elizabeth 11. Emest LeRoy 12. Isabell He proved up on his homestead. It was good land, he milked some cows. They were a happy family.
James Hamilton Bruce 2 Jim was a very hiappy man and an excellent Tenor singer. At one time he was ask to go on the stage and sing. He sang wherever he was. He was always a hard workingman. In June 1898 he left for a mission for the Latter-Day Saint Church. He labored in Michigan. His wife stayed home to run the fann and take care of their six children, the oldest being Lawrence, eleven years old. Jim traveled without purse or script or had very little money. The following is taken from his Diary. He left home a Cottonwood, as Smoot was then called, on the 6*^ of June. He left home in a wagon or buggy. Traveled to Montpelier then to Bear Lake and on to Ogden and Salt Lake City. He was set apart for his mission in the temple by Heber J. Grant. Before he left Salt Lake City he purchased some things as follows:.10 cents for a telegram to mother,.05 cents for bananas, $3.75 for a satchel, $2.50 for a hand grip,.20 cents for one collar,.15 cents for one tie,.50cents for a copy of my blessing,.10 cents for cherries, $21.25 for a railroad ticket to Chicago,.10 cents for strawberries, $10.00 for a watch, $1.00 to stay at the Valley House (a Hotel), $6.50 for books, paid.05 cents for banana,.10 cents for street car fare, $1.00 for shirt and collar and handkerchief,.10 cents for comb,.25 cents for looking glass,.25 cents for a clothes brush. He took the Oregon Short Line to Ogden where he got on the train and went to Evanston; there he met his mother, brother Rob, sister Agnes, and his brother Marshall and George Session, his brother in law. He got $5.00 from Agnes and George Session paid him $14.00 for a steer he had bought from him. Then he bid them all good-bye. He arrived in Chicago June 19,1898. Paid.50 cents for a room. Paid.20 cents for dinner and.15 cents for breakfast. He spent most of his mission in Michigan. Grandpa kept a diary all the time he was gone. Because Grandpa died before he had any grandchildren, we know very little about his disposition or what he was like. I found several writings in his diary that helped me see what kind of a man he was. November 29, 1898
James Hamilton Bruce 3 We left Grand Haven and went to Muskegon, Michigan. We are staying with two other missionaries. By doing our own cooking we can live cheap. We took a walk around town. No letter from my wife yet. Three weeks since I have heard from home. I can't make out what Is the matter. Decembers, 1898 I had a good sleep and a good night's rest after having some fun killing mice in the fore part of the night. We were all up in our drawers running around afterthem. (He meant undenwear.) December 8,1898 It is very cold so we stayed in the house most of the day and studied. Then in the evening we held a school meeting for the purpose of teaching us how to explain the scriptures. I am in good health but no letter from home yet. I helped carry two cords of wood upstairs to the third story. Pretty hard work. December 20,1898 I received a nice present of a nice handkerchief from my wife, the first Christmas present this year. After I ate supper then went out and bought.25 cents worth of peanuts. Then I sang "Found a Peanut", and some other songs to pass the time away joyfully, had prayers. Elder James H. Bruce prayed. December 25, 1898, I am feeling well in health. I wrote and studied all forenoon then we ate dinner, which consisted of bread and butter, syrup, and oysters. We had one pie and some nuts and candy and bananas. I am over two thousands miles from home among strangers doing God's bidding and fulfilling the call that was made of me. Januarys, 1899 I wrote two letters to my boys Lawrence and Hamilton. I sent a Voice of warning to Lawrence. I received a cake from my wife. It was a very nice fruitcake; just what I was wishing for.
James Hamilton Bruce 4 April 1, 1899 I am feeling good; this is my birthday, 35 years old. The boys thumped me all around. I was taking a bath and they threw cold water all over me. I read some in the Bible and then I wrote an April fool letter to my father in law James F. Clark. Made some Molasses candy had a good time all around. April 15, 1899 I am in Muskegon, 1stayed in the house in the forenoon, bathed, did my washing, shaved off my mustache. All the boys had a good laugh. I look just like Bishop Parsons. July 4,1899 While we were tracting we came to the Glat River. We enjoyed a good swim then we washed out our handkerchiefs, garments, and socks and hung them on the trees and dried them. Our clothing was dirty. We arrived in Stanton at 10 O'clock at night after 15-mile walk. August 30, 1899 We held a meeting in a schoolhouse. But the meeting was a failure. Just a few came out. We had no supper and slept in a barn with one horse blanket and three sacks. We were comfortable. September 12,1899 We rented a house with 5 rooms at $10.00 per month. We bought some furniture. Then we made two quilts. December 24, 1899 I wrapped up some presents for my wife, her mother and father and two sisters and posted them. Tonight a bundle rolled in our door. There were gifts for all of us. There was a shaving cup, lather brush for me. The others got toothpick and holder. Ink well, papenweight, pen tray, cuff and collar. I will quote one entry he wrote. I am fasting and praying for the benefit of my memory to receive the strength that is required for this work. I am waiting for my companion to come to work with me. I go down to the station every day to meet him but he hasn't got here yet. I walked around town then went back to my room and read the Mountain Meadows Massacre, then one of my tracts. Then I
James Hamilton Bruce 5 read out of the Bible and sang over a few hymns. I read a little from the book called the Succession of the Presidency of the church, and 1also studied the Articles of Faith. I took a walk then came back to my room had prayers and went to bed. I think I will fast again a little longer than I did before. He had very little money to spend. When he was traveling he was very, very glad when he was asked to stay for the night. Sometimes he and his companion had to spent the nights in a barn. They sometimes had to wash their clothes In the river and hang them on the bushes to dry. They could walk as many as 15 miles a day. He returned home from his mission in June 1900. Six more children were born to them. Two of these children died before they reached the age of one year. A daughter Isabell passed away when she was sixteen years old. Jim built a house in Smoot and moved the family there. They ran a store for a while. He cut off his mustache while he was on this mission. He died of poisoning on the 21 March 1907. Leaving a family of 9 living children. Written by Verna Bruce
James Hamilton Bruce 6 A Missionary Blessing Given upon the head of Elder James Hamilton Bruce, in the Salt Lake Temple Annex, June 15'^ 1898, by Apostle HeberJ. Grant Brother James Hamilton Bruce; We the servants of the Lord, by virtue and authority of the Priesthood of God which we hold, and in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, lay our hands upon your head, and we ordain you a Seventy in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and we seal and confer upon you all the rights, powers, privileges and authority which belong to this high and holy calling in the Melchezedek Priesthood, and we say unto you "Seek for the light and inspiration that comes from above, to aid you in discharging the duties and responsibilities that devolve upon you because of this high and holy calling. And we also set you apart to take a mission to the Northern States, whereunto you have been called by the Voice of Inspiration. We say unto you "Go forth relying not upon your own strength, but putting your trust in God, and seeking constantly and earnestly for the light and inspiration of the Good Spirit to attend you and we the sen/ants of the Lord promise you that if you are humble and diligent, prayerful and energetic in discharging the duties of this mission, that you shall be abundantly blessed, and you shall go in peace and return in safety. You shall be successful, and no harm, or evil, or accident shall befall you. Friends shall be raised up unto you, on the right hand and on the left. We say unto you "Obsen/e the commandments of God, live a pure life, and every desire of your heart In righteousness, and every giftand grace that is necessary for you to have, shall be yours, forwe seal them upon you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.