Biography of Samuel Miles the son of Samuel and Prudence Marks
Scope and Contents
Manuscript autobiography, labeled by the author as a biography, with thirty-two pages of a handwritten life story by Samuel Miles. The story includes a life summary from 1826 to 1851, and short yearly summaries for each year between 1852 and 1881. The text includes information that is particularly familial and spiritual, but often references broader historical events that contextualize his life. He mentions several events in Latter-day Saintn history including the violence in Missouri, his reaction to the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, and the settlement of the cotton mission in St. George, Utah. Also described is the contention between states on the verge of Civil War in 1860, and the Gold Rush at Sutter's Mill. Dated 1852-1881.
Dates
- approximately 1852-1881
Creator
- Miles, Samuel, 1826-1910 (creator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Originals restricted. Digital copy available online for public use. Transcriptions also available for public use.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from the Biography of Samuel Miles the son of Samuel and Prudence Marks must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Coordinating Committee.
Biographical / Historical
Samuel Miles was born on April 8, 1826 in New York to Samuel Miles Sr. and Prudence Marks. He attended the University of Nauvoo in 1841 at age 15. In 1846 he joined the Mormon Battalion and marched to Los Angeles, California. Miles moved to San Francisco for work near Sutter’s Mill for a time before joining a group of Battalion men heading to the Salt Lake Valley. They arrived in Utah on September 10, 1848. He farmed and ranched on his own land, but also returned to work as a schoolteacher. He married Hannah Miranda Colborn on September 6, 1849. In 1862, his family was called south to help settle Washington County, Utah. He continued his profession as a teacher while there. Samuel Miles died on May 22, 1910, in St. George, Utah.
Extent
3 folders (0.06 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Materials are in original order.
Custodial History
Donated by Barbara Guisinger in 2009.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated; Barbara Guisinger; 2009.
Appraisal
Utah and the Western American and LDS cultural, social, and religious history (19th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts collection development policy IV.a.i.1 and 4, November 2013).
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital copy available online. Transcription of autobiography are located in folders 2 and 3.
General
Holograph.
Processing Information
Processed; Audrey Spainhower, student manuscript processor, and John Murphy, curator; 2010.
Processed; Erin Owens; May 2015.
- Autobiographies
- Immigration and American Expansion
- Latter Day Saint churches -- History -- 19th century
- Latter Day Saints -- Diaries
- Miles, Samuel, 1826-1910 -- Diaries
- Mormon authors -- Biography
- Overland Journeys to the Western United States
- Saint George (Utah)
- St. George Temple (Saint George, Utah)
- Transcripts
- United States. Army. Mormon Battalion
- Title
- Register of Biography of Samuel Miles the son of Samuel and Prudence Marks
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- John Murphy, curator, and Audrey Spainhower, student manuscript processor
- Date
- 2010 September 3
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States