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East family papers

 Collection — Folder: 1
Identifier: MSS 8091

Scope and Contents

Contains reminiscences of Edward Wallace East, a letter written by Eliza R. Snow to Willmirth Greer East discussing the gospel in the mid to late-1800s, and other materials related to the East family.

Dates

  • 1857-1893

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for public research.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from East family papers must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Biographical History

Edward Wallace East (1814-1884) was a Mormon pioneer who settled in Utah and Arizona.

Edward Wallace East was born October 11, 1814 in Henry County, Virginia to Thomas East and Sarah Graves. As a young man he served in the Texas Rangers. He married Willmirth Margaret Greer on October 2, 1839 in Washington County, Texas, and together they had twelve children. In July 1853 East joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in 1855 emigrated west to Utah. He settled in Salt Lake City and spent fourteen years as county clerk. While in Utah he married Emma Lundburg in 1864, and they had one child together. He remained active in the Church, serving missions to the Southern States in 1869 and 1875. In 1877 he moved his family to Arizona, and died in Pima on May 30, 1884.

Biographical History

Willmirth Greer East (1824-1902) was a Mormon pioneer who settled in Utah and Arizona.

Willmirth Margaret Greer was born November 18, 1824 in Bedford, Georgia to Nathaniel Hunt Greer and Nancy Ann Terry Roberts. She married Edward Wallace East on October 2, 1839 in Washington County, Texas, and together they had twelve children. In 1853 he and her husband joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and emigrated to Utah in 1855. They settled in Salt Lake City, where she taught school and wrote poetry. In 1875 she went with her husband on a mission to Texas. Then in 1877 the family moved to Arizona, living in Apache and Graham counties. Willmirth East died on March 31, 1902 in Pima, Arizona.

Biographical History

Eliza R. Snow (1804-1887) was a Mormon poet in Utah.

Eliza Roxcy Snow was born January 21, 1804 in Becket, Massachusetts to Oliver Snow and Rosetta Lenora Pettibone. Her family moved to Ohio while she was a child, where she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1835. She followed the early migrations of the Saints, working as a teacher in Kirtland, Ohio and Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1842 she married Joseph Smith, and after his death married Brigham Young in 1849.

Snow was deeply involved in the Church, participating in the organization of the Relief Society and later serving as its second general president. She was also a noted author and poet in pioneer Utah. Snow died on December 5, 1887 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Biographical History

The East family were Mormon pioneers from the American South who settled in Utah and Arizona. The family was established with the marriage of Edward Wallace East (1814-1884) and Wilmirth Matilda Greer (1824-1902) in Texas in 1839. Together they had twelve children. In 1853 the Easts joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and emigrated to Utah in 1855. The family settled in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Edward East worked as a court clerk. In 1864 he married Emma Lundburg (1846-1902), and together they had one daughter. Prior to 1880 Edward and Wilmirth East moved to Pima, Arizona, while Emma remained in Utah.

Extent

3 folders (0.06 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Left in its original order.

Custodial History

Donated by Kelly J. and Danelle Jarvis Curtis in 2012.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated; Kelly J. and Danelle Jarvis Curtis; 2012.

Appraisal

19th Century Western and Mormon Manuscripts.

The East family materials contains a journal of a Utah pioneer and a letter received by Eliza R. Snow.

Existence and Location of Copies

Transcriptions of journal and letter are available in folders 2-3

Processing Information

Processed; Peter Hoyt, student manuscript processor, and John M. Murphy, curator; 2012.

Title
Register of East family papers
Status
Completed
Author
Peter Hoyt, student manuscript processor, and John M. Murphy, curator
Date
2012 September 6
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

Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States