After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Ernest M. Chamberlain was soon called to active duty. He was assigned to serve in the 41st Infantry Division Artillery. Unknown to any mortal, an incredible sequence of events was about to take place which would change his military assignment and the future course of his life and that of his family. Would Ernest become a “Jungleer” in the Pacific, or fight in the Battle of the Bulge?

On a peaceful Sunday morning, Ernest went to Priesthood meeting. His expectant wife, Fay, and his one year old son, Martin were home when news of the attack flashed over the radio. Ernest heard the news when he got home. He wrote in his journal:

Sunday December 7, 1941 “Like lightning from a clear sky Japan Declared war on the U.S. She struck Pearl Harbor Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines while we were still trying to talk peace… This evening, all you hear on the radio is war.”¹

Ernest was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army reserve. From earlier news reports, he believed that war with Germany was inevitable.

Wednesday November 26, 1941 “Germans getting very near Moscow. Position most dangerous since 1812. Not so good. Looks more and more as though Hitler won’t stop till we stop him, and it may be better if we did it now while we have Russia to assist us.”¹

The U.S. was now at war and Ernest received his “red margin letter” on December 19. “Well the suspense of worrying about when and where is over” he wrote.¹

A peculiar chain of events began when Lt. Harlin offered Ernest a ride

Ernest was instructed to have a physical exam at Fort Douglas, Utah and then report for active duty at Fort Lewis Washington on December 29. Confirmation orders would follow. Ernest checked the Union Pacific train schedule but changed his plans when Lt. William P. Harlin, a fellow Army Reserve officer, called him and offered to give him a ride.

A doctor’s strange requirement

During his physical on Monday, December 23 his pulse rate was over 100. The doctor told him to return and have his pulse read twice a day for three days. He went back on Tuesday and Wednesday and again on Thursday. However, upon his arrival on Thursday, December 26 there was a different examining doctor.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

“I am here to take my final pulse reading to see if I have passed my physical”, Ernest explained.

“Who was your doctor?” 

Ernest gave his reply and the doctor left the room. In a few minutes he returned with some unfortunate news. His previous doctor had been transferred and was no longer available. Also, his additional pulse readings could not be found.

By this time Ernest was about to explode. His “internal combustion chamber went into high gear” and his pulse rate soared. The doctor calmly asked, “Do you happen to remember what those pulse readings were?“²

All animosity disappeared as he grasped the clue, “Yes, I believe I do.” He then carefully reported the previous five tests as honestly as he could recall. The doctor took his pulse and said, “You pass. That really wasn’t an important deal anyway.”²

An error in his special orders

Bill Harlin had received his orders to report to Fort Lewis on or before December 31. He said he would wait for him if Ernest had his orders by the 30th. It was now December 26. To save time, Ernest offered to take his physical examination papers to headquarters himself. However, his offer was refused as they had to be sent by military carrier. “They should be there by tomorrow morning.”

The next morning, Friday December 27, Ernest went to the headquarters of the Third Military Area in Salt Lake City. His physical examination papers had not arrived. He explained the situation and his need to have his orders so he could leave by December 30th. They assured him of their cooperation and told him to call them on Monday December 29. On Monday his papers had arrived and they told him he could pick up his orders at 8 am the next morning, December 30th.

Ernest was there promptly at 8 am, but the orders were not ready. This was very upsetting, (to say it mildly). He restrained his desired comments.  Nevertheless, he reminded them as boldly as he dared that they had promised his orders would be ready at 8 am. Finally, they asked him to come back at noon. “I am waiting right here until I receive them!” came his reply.²

As Lt. Chamberlain waited, they prepared special orders for him. In their haste the clerk omitted an important part of the document. He failed to write in his assigned unit, the 41st Infantry Division Artillery. The error went unnoticed.²

Late arrival at Fort Lewis

They decided to leave early in the morning which would get them to Fort Lewis on time, (by midnight of December 31). Heart felt and painful goodbyes filled the evening.

It began to snow over night. They loaded their belongings and had their skis on top of the car with dreams of skiing on Mt. Rainier. Finally, they were on their way. The storm got worse as they headed north up Highway 89. At Bountiful, Utah they were involved in a sudden head on crash. Both vehicles were moving very slowly through the storm so no one was injured. However, Bill’s car was damaged and not likely able to make the trip. He drove to an auto repair shop and called his brother to take care of the situation. Bill and Ernest got a room at Hotel Utah. Bill’s brother was sworn to secrecy as they did not want to worry the families nor endure again the emotional goodbyes.²

They sent a telegram to the Commanding General, Fort Lewis, Washington explaining the situation. They would be on the next available train to Fort Lewis. Their train arrived at Tacoma, Washington the afternoon of Friday, January 2, 1942. The military transportation booth to the post had closed for the week-end, so they flagged down a captain of a tank unit. He took them to Fort Lewis where they reported their arrival about five minutes before closing. They were told to come back in the morning for processing.²

Saturday and no one around to correct the mistake

The next morning they reported to Major Garver, the Adjutant of the IX Corps. He read Bill’s orders and promptly assigned him to the 76th Field artillery Brigade of the IX Corps. Lt. Chamberlain’s orders simply read, “Report to the Commanding General Ft. Lewis, Washington.”

The major read Chamberlain’s orders and left the room for a long time. When he returned he explained the problem. He showed Ernest his orders. Unlike Bill’s orders, there was no unit assignment. Their late arrival time at Fort Lewis placed them in Major Garver’s office on Saturday when almost everyone had left the post for the week end. Therefore, after calling the offices of the 41st and the 76th, he was unable to locate anyone who knew Chamberlain’s assignment.²

“I have to assign you somewhere.” the Major said. “Your headquarters and reporting date is the same as Lt. Harlin. So, the best bet is to assign you to the same unit.” He assigned Lt. Chamberlain to the 76th Field Artillery Brigade, 183rd Regiment.²

“One big pain in the butt!”

The entire Pacific Coast was concerned about a possible attack by the Japanese.
The 183rd Regimental Headquarters was located at Camp Murray. They assigned Ernest to a firing battery, Battery E, at an isolated defense post near Grays Harbor on Puget Sound. About a week later they sent him on special assignment to Officer Training School and then to Post Guard Duty on the main post. Because of these assignments he was away from his regular unit from January 12 to March 11.³

When he returned to Regiment Headquarters a sergeant called him over and said, “Lieutenant Chamberlain, you have been one big pain in the butt!”

“How could I have been? I have been on special assignments.”³

The sergeant showed him a file which was an inch or two thick. “This,” he said, “is correspondence between the General of the 41st Infantry Division Artillery and the General of the 76th Field Artillery Brigade. Each is claiming that Lieutenant Ernest M. Chamberlain belongs to their organization!”  The 41st  was preparing to leave for the Pacific and the situation needed to be resolved by a higher authority. He then showed Ernest a telegram from the Pentagon. It stated that although Lt. Chamberlain was originally assigned to the 41st Infantry Division, he is currently with the 76th Field Artillery Brigade and there he will stay.³

The Sargent said, “Welcome to the 76th!”³

After Ernest learned he was in the 76th, instead of the 41st, he began to ponder the strange events that led up to the change in his assignment. He slowly began to realize that if any of the frustrating experiences of December and January had not occurred the assignment change would have not have happened.

Martin seemed to know what was happening but no one would listen

Martin, (Ernest and Fay’s 1 and 3/4 year old son) seemed to have some insights about the situation which were oblivious to his mother and grandmother. When Ernest arrived at Fort Lewis he wrote to Fay and told her his experience with the auto accident and ride on the train. In a letter of January 6, Fay wrote to Ernest about Martin:

“Martin was surly cute and understanding. He knew you had gone from us. All day the day you left he told everyone his Daddy had gone on the too-too. Now, every time we ask he says, “Daddy on too-too.” By the way, how did he know you had gone on the train? None of the rest of us knew until a couple of days later.”⁴

On January 16, Martin’s grandmother, Livonia Barney wrote:

Ernest dear you and Bill were surely blessed in your experience on the Highway. We will always be thankful for such a blessing granted you. It was strange, Martin insisted you had gone on the “toot-too” every minute and was very excited when we would say “Car with Bill”.⁵

The 41st Infantry Division

In February 1942, units of the 41st Infantry division began movements to deploy overseas. By May 1942 the entire 41st Infantry Division had arrived in Australia. It was the first American Division to go overseas after the attack on Pearl Harbor and it served overseas longer than any other division. It was the first division trained for jungle warfare. This division became known as “the Jungleers” and fought in more campaigns than any other division, mostly in New Guinea and the Southern Philippines. On December 31, 1945 at 2400 hours, the 41st Infantry Division was deactivated in Kure-Hiro Japan.⁶

The 951st Field Artillery Battalion

In 1943 the the 76th Field Artillery Brigade’s 183rd Regiment was reorganized. The First Battalion was named the 183rd, and the Second Battalion became the 951st Field Artillery Battalion. Ernest served in the in the 951st for the remainder of the war. The 951st landed on Utah Beach in Normandy on D-day + 6, fought in the Hurtgen Forest  campaign and in the Battle of the Bulge.⁷

Some old questions began to haunt him

When Ernest returned to his home in 1945, he put the war behind. He never spoke of the war nor his experiences. He placed his energy into establishing a career, serving in his church, building a home and raising a family.

Ernest and Fay had five children, three boys and two girls. Three of their children were born after the war, Deanna Fay, Lyle Brent, and Mary Ann. To them, their family was the most important accomplishment and purpose in life. To Latter-day Saints, families last through eternity.

After Ernest retired in 1976, he organized an Army reunion of those who fought with the 951st Field Artillery Battalion. These reunions brought back to his mind the military experiences that had laid dormant for years. Some old questions began to haunt him. He again began to ask, “Why?” “What difference would it have made if I had gone to the Pacific with the 41st?”

“Now you know!”

In March 1978 Ernest and Fay went to visit their son Lyle Brent Chamberlain who was stationed at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. During their visit, Lyle took them to visit the large Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. They spent considerable time at the beautiful memorial. 

Lyle drove them along a road in the cemetery where they viewed thousands of white crosses and stars of David, each marking an individual grave.

Suddenly, Ernest said, “Stop the car!”

“What’s wrong?” Lyle replied.

“I just have to get out of the car,” Ernest said, and he then began wandering through the rows of markers. He came to the place he felt he should go and looked down. The inscription on the unnamed cross before him simply read: “41st INFANTRY DIVISION – KNOWN ONLY TO GOD”.²

As he gazed at the marker, he began to tremble. He felt a clear voice say in his mind: “NOW YOU KNOW!“²

“Lean not unto thine own understanding”

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ernest believed that we all lived as spirits in the heavens before we came to live on earth. Even before the earth’s creation when “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” (Job 38:4-7). Like Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-5), we may have a specific mission in life and we will be able to accomplish that mission by seeking the Lord’s guidance.

From that sacred moment in the Manila cemetery, Ernest wrote, “I knew… that I would have been killed in combat if the Lord had not intervened, and… there was a strong inward feeling that in the preexistence a promise pertaining to the family had been made.”³

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6)

To be continued….

Chapter 29- Ernest and Fay Chamberlain During WWII, 1942

If you got this far, please click Goodbye or Table of Contents. This will simply tell me that someone looked at this post. Thank you! Dennis Chamberlain

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the written content of this site without express and written permission from the author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Dennis D. Chamberlain and direction to www.thechamberlainstory.com.

Photo of Graduating Officers:

IX Army Corps, Officer Training School Graduation, Fort Lewis Washington, February 15, 1942.

First Row: 1- Lt. Kenneth Ames, 2- Lt. Gilbert Brittain, 3- Lt. Robert Burnham, 4- Lt. Manton Carl, 5- Lt. Ernest Chamberlain, 6- Lt. Elton Gray, 7- Lt. William Harlin Second Row: 8- Lt. Arthur Hedlund, 9- Lt. Niel C. Jackson, 10- Lt. Alfred Jacobsen, 11- Lt. George Keyse, 12- Lt. William Long, 13- Lt. James Mc Leod, 14- Lt. ??? Third Row: 15- Lt. James Moe, 16- Lt. Ferral Ogilire, 17- Lt. Glen Petersen, 18- Lt. Frank Quante, 19- Lt. Allen Scott, 20- Lt. Archie Selders, 21- Lt. John Shonsey Last Row: Lt. Norman Tanner, Lt. Wellington Webb

References:

1- Ernest M. Chamberlain, “Year Book”, hand written journal for 1941-1942.

2- Ernest M. Chamberlain, an unfinished autobiography.

3- Ernest M. Chamberlain, “Now you know”, My Constant Companion and Prayer, unpublished.

4- Fay Barney Chamberlain, personal letter to Ernest, January 6, 1942

5- Livonia Adams Barney, personal letter to Ernest, January 16, 1942

6- The 41st Infantry http://freepages.rootsweb.com/

7- Ernest M. Chamberlain, Battalion History, 951st Field Artillery Battalion

Published Jan. 4, 2019, Re-published on Dec. 7, 2019

On a hot day in July, 1897 two Mormon Missionaries knocked on the door of Harry and Mary Chamberlain. Two years later, on May 8, 1899 Mary Ellis Chamberlain was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her choice to join this church had a profound influence on my grandfather Harry Ellis Chamberlain and his descendants. Why did she do it? The reason Mary decided to be baptized may be hard for some to comprehend.

In 1830 Mary’s father Water Ellis was growing up in Aurelius, New York. At that time, there was a religious fervor through out the land. Almost everyone had a passionate belief in the Bible as the word of God, though religious sects of the time did not completely agree on what it says and what it means. Walter was twelve years old when he began hearing news reports of a “gold Bible”, The Book of Mormon. It was being printed in Palmyra only about thirty miles from his home.

Walter Ellis heard News Reports of the “Golden Bible” (Book of Mormon)

The Chamberlain Story tries to see historical events through the eyes of the authors ancestors. The Ellis family’s perception of the strange new religious group a few miles away was shaped by numerous newspaper reports. Most readers were quite amused by early reports.

“Just about in this particular region, for some time past, much speculation has existed, concerning a pretended discovery, through superhuman means, of an ancient record, of a religious and divine nature and origin, written in ancient characters, impossible to be interpreted by any to whom the special gift has not been imparted by inspiration. It is generally known and spoken of as the Golden Bible.” – Wayne Sentinel, Palmyra NY , June 26, 1829

This report by Egbert B. Grandin, editor of the Wayne Sentinel continued: “most people entertain an idea that the whole matter is the result of a gross imposition, and a grosser superstition. It is pretended that it will be published as soon as the translation is completed.”

In August of 1829, Hyrum Smith arrived at Mr. Grandin’s print shop in Palmyra with a handwritten manuscript. When Grandin learned that Joseph Smith was in negotiation with a printer in Rochester, and that Martin Harris, a wealthy local farmer, would be guaranteeing payment of $3000 he decided to accept the project. He agreed to print the first 5000 copies of The Book of Mormon.

As the Book of Mormon printing began, another paper, The Palmyra Freeman called it “the greatest piece of superstition that has ever come within the sphere of our knowledge.” According to the Freeman, proselytes of the “Golden Bible” presented the following account:

“In the fall of 1827, a person by the name of Joseph Smith, of Manchester, Ontario county, reported that he had been visited in a dream by the spirit of the Almighty, and informed that in a certain hill in that town, was deposited this Golden Bible, containing an ancient record of a divine nature and origin.” 

Certainly no one could believe such a tale! However, to his astonishment, some seemingly normal people did:

“An account of this discovery, was almost invariably treated as it should have been — with contempt. A few however, believed the “golden” story, among whom was “Martin Harris, an honest and industrious farmer of this town.” – The Palmyra Freeman, August 11, 1829

On March 26, 1830 the The Wayne Sentinel announced the printing is finished and The Book of Mormon is now for sale at the Palmyra Bookstore, by HOWARD & GRANDIN.¹

Believers claim Joseph Smith “had seen God frequently and personally”

About November 1, 1830, Oliver Cowdery and three others arrived in Painesville, Ohio with the “New Bible” on a mission to the “notorious Sidney Rigdon.”

“Rigdon received them graciously — took the book under advisement, and in a few days declared it to be of ‘Heavenly origin.’ Rigdon, (a Cambellite preacher) with about 20 of his flock, were dipt immediately… Smith (they affirmed) had seen God frequently and personally. — Cowdery and his friends had frequent interviews with angels, and had been directed to locate the site for the New Jerusalem.” – Palmyra Reflector, February 14, 1831

A news report of the activity in Ohio was published at Canandaigua, New York in the Ontario Messenger on December 22, 1830: “The Book of Mormon, otherwise called the Golden Bible, has excited considerable curiosity in some parts of the country; and we learn that preachers have appeared in the State of Ohio and elsewhere.”

The same story recorded that on Thursday, December 16, a preacher, believed to be Rigdon, delivered a discourse at the Town House in Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York, fifteen miles south of Palmyra, and about 30 miles west of the Ellis home. Two or three hundred people attended. “In the course of his remarks, he explicitly avowed his firm belief that the book of Mormon is a revelation from God.“¹

The astonishing growth of book of Mormon believers

Walter Ellis and his family living in Cayuga County would likely find this report interesting. Based on information from the Geauga (Ohio) Gazette, The Sentinel (Palmyra) attempts to to affirm the accuracy of the number of believers in Wayne and Cayuga Counties:

“The Golden bible, or book of Mormon — The believers in the sacred authenticity of this miserable production, are known by the name of ‘Mormonites,’ and their book is commonly called ‘the book of Mormon.’ It is asserted by them that their number in this vicinity is four hundred. In a conversation a few days since with a gentleman from Kirtland, well informed, and every way concerned to give us the truth, we are assured that their numbers in that town were two hundred souls. We doubt not then that their whole number in this county and Cayuga are at least four hundred.”– Wayne Sentinel, March 4, 1831¹

Mormon Emigration from New York to Ohio, May 1831

“Mormon Emigration. — About two hundred men, women and children, of the deluded followers of Jo Smith’s Bible speculation, have arrived on our coast during the last week, from the State of New York, and are about seating themselves down upon the “promised land” in this county.” — Painesville  (Ohio) Telegraph. (Ontario Repository, Canandaigua NY- May 25, 1831)

Several families from Palmyra including Martin Harris joined the westward migration.

“Mormon Emigration. — Several families, numbering about fifty souls, took up their line of march from this town last week for the “promised land,” among whom is Martin Harris, one of the original believers in the “Book of Mormon.” Mr. Harris was among the early settlers of this town, and has ever borne the character of an honorable and upright man, and an obliging and benevolent neighbor. He had secured to himself by honest industry a respectable fortune — and he has left a large circle of acquaintances and friends to pity his delusion.”– The Wayne Sentinel, May 27, 1831¹

The family of Walter Ellis and Clarissa Nichols in the 1890s

On July 4, 1839 Walter Ellis married Clarissa Jane Nichols. Clarissa was born in Penfield, New York on September 22, 1820. Both Walter and Clarissa descended from Puritan ancestors.

Walter was reared in farming and pursued this occupation through his life. By 1850 they left New York and bought a farm in Marshall, Illinois where Walter farmed until 1855. That year he moved to Polk County, Iowa to Beaver Township. They lived there on a farm of 160 acres until 1870. Thereafter, he lived or developed the land in a number of locations, Rising Sun, Polk, Iowa; Dexter, Dallas County, Iowa, Clay County Iowa; and Faulk County, South Dakota. He moved to Marysville, Missouri in 1889 where he now (1890) lives with his loved wife. Both are devoted members of the Christian Church.²

1- Dennis Ransom Ellis, oldest of seven children, was born in Orleans County, New York on August 3, 1841. At age 18 he united with the Christian Church in Rising Sun, Iowa. Four years later, he became a minister of that congregation. The following year (1864) he was married to Mary J Ellis (no relation). By 1879 they had seven children, though two died in infancy.^2,3

2-  Jason L .Ellis  b. October 25, 1842, Orleans County, New York. He enlisted in the Iowa Eighteenth Infantry July 19, 1962 and died in the service during the Civil War in Springfield, Missouri, February 28, 1863. “Father, I hope you are not sorry because I went; ma, I hope you are gratified that you had a son that was willing to take up his cross and help sustain the good old Flag, that was purchased by our forefathers in the time of Washington.” Letter dated Sept. 7, 1862, five miles from Springfield.⁸

3- Minerva Jane Ellis, b. March 9, 1845. Orleans County, New York. She married November 24, 1864 Frank Burke now a farmer in O’Brian County, Iowa, (1890). Minerva died November 18, 1931

4- James Lyman Ellis, b. August 4, 1854, Marshall, Illinois. He married Mattie C. Hoyt and they made their home (1890) in Coon Rapids, Carroll County, Iowa. James died April 1, 1943.

5- Mary Eva Ellis b. December 15, 1855, Rising Sun, Polk, Iowa. She is the the wife of Harry Chamberlain of Spencer, Clay County Iowa. Mary died October 19, 1917.

6- Nelson Alphonso Ellis, born August 12, 1857 married Mary Jane Corsbie August 14, 1883. They live on their farm in Warren County, Iowa (1890). Nelson died December 24, 1930.

7- Elmer Ellsworth Ellis, born August 12, 1857 married Emma J. Wooley November 30, 1883. They are living in O’Brian County, Iowa, (1890). Elmer died January 2, 1906.^2,3

The Reverend Dennis R. Ellis and his sister Mary

Dennis Ellis worked on his farm where he grew ornamental trees in addition to his other crops. However, he did not let his farming distract him from his church work. His services were given cheerfully and freely when ever needed for the good of his fellow man. His upright life and consecration to the work won many hearts. Apparently a powerful speaker, his work was blessed by many additions to the church with fifty being added at one time under his preaching.²

Dennis seemed to have close bonds to his sister Mary and the Chamberlain family. In 1876 he helped establish the Christian Church in Spencer, Iowa. At that time he baptized Mary. Her husband, Harry Chamberlain, helped with the construction of the Church building.⁴

There were regular visits between their families. My grandfather, Harry Ellis Chamberlain enjoyed the train rides to Des Moines when his Dad and Mother visited her brother in Rising Sun, a suburb just east of town. He related this story of when he was six or seven years old, (1897 or 1898):

“On one visit I went with Dad to the railroad station in Des Moines to check the train time. As we were walking up Court Street Dad said to me, ‘If you ever get lost, take a right down Court Street to Uncle Den’s.’ (which I believe was three miles). Well, everything was interesting to me and as Dad was checking on the train information I was not keeping track of him. When I started to take hold of Dad he was not in sight (but was close).  I got  panicky, but sure enough remembered what Dad said. When Dad got through with his business he could not find me. He got frightened and I believe he got a taxi, but I beat him back (to Uncle Den’s) and was lying down tired out.”⁵

Dennis Ellis was a loving brother and uncle, nevertheless, he was a challenging opponent to the Mormon preachers. The following report of April 12, 1890, is from the Altoona Harold:

“Rev. D. R. Ellis has been preaching doctrine, to the people of Runnels, that completely upsets Mormonism. It appears that the Mormon preachers challenged him to debate. He accepted the same and presented himself for the purpose of discussing the questions. His Mormon opponents failed to put in an appearance, however he proceeded to deliver two discourses to the people that knocked the bottom out of Mormonism and established the truths of the Bible.” ⁶

Why did Mary Ellis Chamberlain do it?

I have often asked myself this question. Why did Mary Ellis Chamberlain join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

There was no boy friend encouraging her to learn about his religion. She didn’t know anyone who was a Latter-day Saint. No one in her family were members. If fact, the decision to join would certainly cause her father, brother and other family members, whom she loved, some emotional distress. There was no congregation that would  provide fellowship, or who would support and strengthen her family. There was no apparent personal or family crises to bring her to her knees in the search for deliverance.

These are all good reasons that have drawn people toward the Restored Church. However, in Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seeds, these reasons by themselves do not provide the “good ground” by which seeds (the word of God) will spring up and bare fruit. (Luke 8:4-15)

Mary’s decision was based solely on the message that was first brought into her home by a couple of missionaries from Colorado and Utah. Their religion had been driven out of Missouri, Illinois and Iowa some fifty years earlier. To understand Mary’s faith, it will be helpful to understand the faith and experience of the Mormon Missionaries who had returned to Iowa to bring her the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“The honest in heart shall be prepared to receive thy testimony”

On May 4, 1897 Joseph Francis Thomas, age 39, left his home in Manassa, Colorado. He left a wife and five children, their ages between 12 years and 4 months, to wait his return. He headed for Salt Lake City, Utah where he met with Apostles Francis M. Lyman and George Teasdale. They appointed  him to serve in the Northern States Mission.

These apostles laid their hands on Elder Thomas’ head. Then Elder Francis Lyman blessed him… “by virtue of the Holy Priesthood” and set him apart…. “to preach the Gospel and to bear testimony to the Mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. To preach the first principles of the Gospel of life and salvation.”

His blessing continued with the following prophetic promise:  “The honest in heart shall be prepared to receive thy testimony, to feed and clothe and give thee money. Thou shalt always find friends and attentive listeners and thy testimony shall be powerful under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.”

The missionary program has changed over the past 120 years. Today (2018) it is more family friendly, calling only young, single men and women and retired couples. Also, today’s missionaries receive a monthly allowance funded by contributions from their family and friends. However, the only means of support for Elder Thomas in 1897 was faith in an apostles’ promise. “The honest in heart shall be prepared…. to feed and clothe and give thee money.”

Traveling “without purse or script”, meant preaching the Gospel required faith that the Lord would prepare someone, not only to listen to your message, but that they would also feed you and invite you to stay in their home overnight!⁷

The first day without purse or script

Elder Thomas boarded the Denver and Rio Grande Western train on the morning of May 6, 1897 bound for the Northern States mission home in Chicago. His three traveling companions from Salt Lake were assigned to serve Omaha, Nebraska, Oshkosh, Wisconsin and Ohio. Elder Thomas was sent to Sioux City, Iowa. He arrived at the Sioux City depot at 7 am May 13 where he met the President of the Iowa Conference, Levi A. Polvin, from Payson, Utah. He assigned Elder Thomas to labor with Elder James D. Coon of Ritter, Utah. They would open a new field in Clay County, Iowa.

On the morning on May 15, he left by train for Sheldon, Iowa to meet Elder Coon, his first companion. He caught a ride with a farmer to shorten the five mile walk to the farm house where he received a warm welcome from Elder J. D. Coon and Elder Henry Bisel. He stayed over for the Sunday  service at Beving School house. There, Elder Thomas gave his first mission speech “The Lord Hears Us”. That afternoon they attended a Baptist meeting in Matlock.

On May 17 Elders Coon and Thomas started at noon for Spencer, Clay County to open a new field. They walked about five miles south and east to Sheldon and took the train at 3:50 pm for Spencer, arriving at 5:05 pm.

At a small grove of trees one mile north of town, they knelt in prayer, asking the Lord to lead them in their work, and take them to the door of the honest in heart, and to someone who would give them food and lodging. They then proceeded to distribute their tracts and to declare their mission.

They visited eight houses and at each they were refused entertainment. Only two families invited them inside. At another house the lady told them she would keep them overnight were it not that her husband was not at home. 

They arrived at the tenth house, between seven and eight o’clock. There they were invited to spend the night, given supper, a good bed and breakfast in the morning. This family’s name was J. M. Earle.

The two Elders had a nice long conversation with the Earles on the gospel.  Judging from her comments, Mrs Earle believed the doctrine they taught. She also told them that she knew the night before that she had to keep them overnight.  She said that something influenced her.⁷

In answer to prayer the spirit said, “Go to the right”

Elder Thomas and Elder Coon continued to labor diligently and with great faith every day handing out tracts and discussing the Gospel with anyone who would listen. They often sold or gave away “A Voice of Warning”, a book by Parley P. Pratt, to those who showed interest. The regular price was 15c. One time when Elder Thomas  sold one, he said, “Now I have money to by postage stamps.”

They traveled afoot from town to town within the Clay County lines and returned to Spencer occasionally to pick up their mail. They often did not know where they would receive their next meal nor where they would sleep that night, trusting only that the Lord would guide them.

June 1, 1897 was rainy and cold. The two elders visited houses and distributed tracts all day. At one house, Charles Fritz gave them dinner. He conversed with them on nearly every topic except the one they wanted to talk about. When they left it was drizzling rain and the wind was blowing very cold.

As they walked east down the road, Elder Thomas prayed, asking the Lord to guide them to a place where they could get warmth and shelter. They came to a cross road with houses to the right and to the left. In answer to his prayer the spirit said, “Go to the right”. Saying nothing to his companion, he turned right. They knocked on the door of the first house. A kind lady invited them in and made them comfortable. Unfortunately, she had no room available.

Soon a teacher, who was boarding there, came in and said, “I am going home and will not be here tonight”.  The lady of the house (Mrs H. M. McConick) then said to the missionaries, “I was worried to know how I could take care of you gentlemen, but now the teacher has gone home and his room and bed will be empty and we can keep you very nicely”.

Elder Thomas told her the Lord sent him home so they would have a place to stay. He then gave thanks to the Lord.”⁷

“We teach Christianity”

Elder Thomas and Elder Coon inquired on the various churches in town asking for permission to use their building to preach their Sunday Service. At the Congregational Church, the Friends Church, Methodists and Free Baptists they were turned away. Their next visit was to Mr. George Runyan, principle trustee of the Christian Church where their request to hold meetings on Sunday was granted. They purchased some cardboard and a lead pencil and started making signs to advertise the event.

“A True Exposition of the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called ‘Mormonism’, at the Christian Church at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 6, 1897. No collection. Everyone invited.”

On Sunday, the meeting began at 3:00 pm. They sang “Redeemer of Israel”, then opened with prayer by Elder Joseph F. Thomas, followed by another hymn “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning“. Elder Coon spoke of their travels and on “Faith, What It Is”. Elder Thomas spoke on “The Godhead, Faith in God and His personality, Repentance, Baptism by Immersion and Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Apostasy from the Primitive Church and Restoration by an Angel.” It was a great meeting with 50 or 60 attending.

Meetings were held there on Sundays for a several weeks. However, for Sunday, July 11 the churches in town rescheduled their times to conflict with the 3 pm meeting to obstruct attendance. The missionaries waited until 3:30 pm. No one came so they had no meeting.

On July 15, Elder Thomas prepared an article for the newspaper. It pointed out the kindly treatment given to the Society of Christian Endeavor on tour to San Francisco. When they arrived in in Salt Lake City on July 4, a large building known as the Mormon Tabernacle with seating for 12,000 and a large organ was made available to the them. In order to do this the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints postponed its own regular Sunday services. He wrote, “It occurred to me to inquire why such favors may not be reciprocated here in Iowa by professing Christians”. 

In his article, Elder Thomas’ proclaimed “We teach Christianity.” And in the six paragraph article he taught much church doctrine including the following:

“The Latter-day Saints or ‘Mormons’ believe in God the Eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost, and that these three constitute the Godhead, the supreme governing power over all things. That the Son of God is in the express image of the Father’s person, as Paul says. (Hebrews 1:3) That the Latter-day Saints look to Christ the Lord as their Redeemer, Savior, King and Lord. They believe that in Him they receive all things. That He has spoken and does speak to His Church through the Prophets and by the voice of His Spirit.”

Elder Thomas previously had met the editor of the Clay County News, Mr. Samuel Gillespie, describing him as “broad minded.” He carried his article to Gillespie who read it over carefully.

“That is very good, I will publish it”, he said. The article was published in the Clay County News on July 25, 1897. Thereafter, Gillespie published notices from Elder Thomas without charge.⁷

Visits with Harry and Mary Chamberlain

The following are direct quotes from the Journal of Joseph Francis Thomas. These only include portions of his entries directly pertaining to the Chamberlain family, plus a few entries which I found to be especially interesting.

July 29, 1897– This morning there was an eclipse of the sun showing quite plainly. We visited houses in the town of Spencer and delivered tracts to them and talked to them. Had a discussion with Mr. Rev. L. J. Anderson, a Baptist minister, in the front yard of Mr. Jaynes. Returned to Mr. Earle’s and stayed all night again.

July 30, 1897– Another awful hot day. We shall not attempt to travel much because of the heat. This afternoon we went to south Spencer and had a visit with Mr. Chamberlain (Harry) and a very pleasant conversation with him and Mrs. Chamberlain. Left them a “Friendly Discussion” tract and sold them a “Voice of Warning”. We were invited to stay all night, but knowing we would be waited for until quite late at Mr. Earle’s, we returned there, promising Mr. Chamberlain to come there and visit again.

August 4, 1897 Wednesday. Wet and cloudy this morning. We returned to Spencer, got our mail, and after some conversations with various persons on our doctrines, we went to Harry Chamberlains and spent the night.

August 16, 1897 – Monday. Stayed at Mr. Walker’s till afternoon. Administered to Mrs. Walker at her request, for gout or something like it. Came to Spencer this afternoon. Went to H. Chamberlain’s house where we were kindly entertained for the night.

August 17, 1897 – Tuesday. Raining this morning. Stayed at Mr. Chamberlain’s house reading, singing and talking until noon. Ate dinner, rain stopped and we went out and visited the rest of south Spencer.

August 30, 1897– Monday. This morning we are to start toward Spencer where we will probably spend the rest of the day. The air is cool this morning and light frost is reported in some parts. At 11:00 am we reached Mr. Walker’s house and had dinner. We found Mrs. Walker well. She told us she had had none of her old trouble since we administered to her and that since she was a child she could not walk with out pain nor place her feet flat on the floor and walked only on part of her foot, but she can now set her feet flat on the floor and her malady is gone. In the afternoon we came to Spencer. Stayed all night at the house of Mr. H. Chamberlain.

August 31, 1897– Mrs. Chamberlain gave us her youngest son’s photograph. His name is Harry.

(Note: Harry was six years old at this time and the only one of their four children who would  join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized in 1910)

September 10, 1897– Went to friend Chamberlain’s house and stayed tonight. Talked till late. Mr. Chamberlain claims to be an atheist, yet agrees with us in our ideas of eternal progression and eternal judgment, but does not believe in Christ’s atonement. We are always treated kindly by him.

September 17, 1897 – Friday. Visited about 37 houses in Spencer today. Stayed the night at Mr. Harry Chamberlain’s.

September 21, 1897 – Came to Spencer in the afternoon, having spent the forenoon at  Mr. Doty’s house. Saw Mrs. Earle and Mr. Chamberlain and several of their friends. Stayed at  Mr. Chamberlain’s all night, having preached at the North Side School House at 7:30 pm and went from the school to his house.

September 22, 1897– This morning the conversation of last night was resumed by Mr. Chamberlain on resurrection.

September 23, 1897– I went to Mr. Earle’s. His garden potatoes and other vegetables have been blessed of the Lord for his kindness to us and he himself is surprised at it though he does not acknowledge the reason. Stayed all night at Mr. Chamberlain’s.

September 26, 1897 – Spent the night at Mr. H. J. Chamberlain’s* house again. He says he has always been an “infidel”  when judged by orthodoxy, and that our doctrine (Mormonism) is the only one he ever heard that he could like to have come true or be true. Had a long conversation with him and his wife and daughter. Sat up and listened till 11:30 when we retired.

*(Note: This is the first time I have ever seen both of his initials together. Apparently his full name was Harry John Chamberlain. He is currently known in all my writings as John Harry Chamberlain.)

September 27, 1897– Monday. Left Mr. Chamberlain’s and went to the post office and down to Mr. Earle’s.

October 6, 1897– Went to Mr. Harry Chamberlain’s and stayed all night. Conversed with him and his family past eleven o’clock.

October 7, 1897– This morning I bade Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain and family good-bye and went to Mr. Earle’s, bade him and Mrs. Earle good-bye, and taking leave of them went to the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad depot and bought a ticket to Sioux City, Iowa.⁷

The visit to Hanna R. Turby

Elder Joseph F. Thomas was chosen to be President of the Iowa Conference. His headquarters was located in Des Moines, Iowa.

On December 11, 1897 Elder Thomas visited Hanna R. Turby in Des Moines. She was a widow with three children. She had lived in Iowa since she was a child and as a child was a witness to two important events in Church history. There are other witnesses of these events, however, they are in Utah. She didn’t emigrate to Utah and therefore has been isolated from other witnesses of these events. I believe this makes her vantage point especially interesting.

“She told me of the meeting in which Brigham Young was made president of the Church. She said when the meeting opened she was sitting where she could not see the stand on account of a post in her way. It was an outdoor meeting. When the speaker, Brigham Young, began, it was the voice of Joseph Smith, and so perfect, in surprise, she got up and stood on the seat and looked at the speaker- that it was the face of Joseph and she knew the mantle of Joseph had fallen on Brigham.”

“Also of a meeting in Des Moines where Martin Harris, then an old man, testifying to the people of the city that an angel descended before his eyes and those of his brethren, the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, and showed them the (gold) plates. The angel told him he would fall away in darkness for a while but he thought then that it was impossible, but that it had come to pass, said he, ‘I am now an old man returning to the fold of which it had strayed.’ He went to Utah and lived the rest of the days of his life in the Church and died in Utah.”⁷

Elder Joseph F. Thomas returns to visit Spencer, Iowa

May 19, 1898– Thursday. Elders Garner and Rasmussen go today to Dakota City, Humboldt County and I take Elder Hansen and will make a visit to my old “field of labor” in Clay County.

May 20, 1898– Friday. Left with Elder Hansen over the “Rock Island”  for Spencer, changing cars at Ruthren, through C.M.&Sp.P. to Spencer 13 miles. Arriving there I went to my old friend Harry Chamberlain’s house. All seemed glad to see me and made me welcome.

May 21, 1898– Rained all day, and at times very hard. Stayed indoors. (Apparently at Chamberlains)

May 22, 1898– Sunday. Leaving our friend’s house this morning we attended church (M. E.) and at 3:00 pm attended the men’s meeting. At the request of Mr. Larsen, I spoke for a few minutes. We stayed all night with Mr. Chamberlain.

June 4, 1898– Spent day in Spencer, changed my linen and wrote letters and stayed at Mr. Chamberlain’s tonight, talking and singing songs till late bed time.

June 5, 1898– Was invited to dine with Mr. Chamberlain. Did so, and preached again at evening, after which Brother N. Hansen bore testimony. Stayed at Mr. Chamberlain’s.

June 10, 1898– Still raining. Oh! My! Stayed at Mr. Chamberlain’s.

June 13, 16, 17, & 22, 1898– I stayed with Mr. Chamberlain tonight.⁷

On June 24 the elders contacted Mr. Hoffman, the Christian Minister, desiring to speak at his church next Sunday. After obtaining approval of the official board, Mr. Hoffman requested that they speak on the following subjects: 1- Was Joseph Smith a prophet? 2-What relation does he sustain the Christian Church? 3- The Book of Mormon, 4- Do men in the Church have the same power as the Apostles had? 5- Is the so-called Mormon Church, the true Church of Christ?

Elder Thomas went to the “News” office in Spencer and had 300 hand bills printed for $1.00. They distributed the handbills and invited people to attend Sunday at 4 pm.

June 26, 1898– Sunday. (Note: Apparently Harry Chamberlain attended the meeting with Elder Thomas.) This pm I spoke for an hour and a half on the subjects alluded to in the hand bills and had good liberty. After closing quite a discussion ensued between people in direct relation to the doctrine taught. Went home with Harry Chamberlain.⁷

Elder Joseph F. Thomas’ visit to the Reverend Dennis R. Ellis.

On June 27, 1898 Elder Thomas took the train and returned to Des Moines. Apparently, Mary Chamberlain gave him a referral to visit her brother Dennis Ellis who lives near Des Moines. This he did and recorded it in his journal:

July 21, 1898– Thursday. Went to Rising Sun, seven miles east of Des Moines.  Spent the night at the house of Mr. D. R. Ellis, a brother of Mrs. Chamberlain of Spencer. Left some tracts, but got no opportunity to talk on the Gospel as he was busy.⁷

Visit to Spencer again, arrived on August 25, 1898

August 28, 1898– Went to visit Mr. Chamberlain today. Ate dinner with him.

August 31, 1898– Came to Mr. Chamberlain’s today at his urgent request. Spent the evening with him and stayed all night.

September 3, 1898– Got my report almost completed. Took a bath, shaved and went to visit Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain. Stayed all night with them, conversing till 11:00 pm.

September 4, 1898– Accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain, in a buggy, to meeting at 11:00 am. Heard Mr. Hoffman. (the Christian minister)  Evening heard Mr. Frank Knowles, “Christian” church-men. Stayed at Mr. Chamberlain’s all night.

September 7, 1898 Left Mr. Chamberlain’s rather early and went to Mr. Earle’s to write letters to Elders. Spent most of the day there. Had a letter from home. Stayed at Mr. Earle’s tonight.

September 7 was the last post regarding the Chamberlain family.

“I have something I want to tell you”

Mr and Mrs Earle were the ones who invited Elder Thomas and Elder Coon into their home on the first night they arrived in Spencer. They became very good friends.  Their home was a dependable place for them to stay when they were in town. Mrs Earle told a surprising story to Elder Thomas on the last day he was in Spencer. He recorded it in his journal:

September 8, 1898– After returning to Mr. Earle’s house. I spoke of going east on the train. Mrs Earle said to me, “I have something I want to tell you.” She proceeded thus:

“You remember the first night you came to our house on May 17, 1897? I did not know you were Mormons. You said you were Ministers of the Gospel, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I did not think of Mormons. When you asked for lodging, I was about to refuse you, but something told me not to.”

“Well, that night shortly after retiring, I lay thinking of your conversation, when suddenly the room became bright as if it were filled with fire. I sat up in bed wondering, and there came a being and sat on the side of the bed near me. My husband was lying beside me. This was bright and beautiful, brighter in countenance than any earthly being. He had on a loose robe rather low at the neck, and of very pure white material. He said to me, ‘These, my brethren, teach you the truth.’ He remained only a moment more, then with a  kindly smile, departed. The light began to grow dim as he started, and faded away when he left. I lay for some time musing on the glorious scene, and I know it was from God, and that the Gospel taught by the Latter-day Saints is true.”

(Mrs Earle told me last year, she wanted to be baptized but her husband opposed it)

Stayed at Earle’s tonight.⁷

Jesus’ parable of the Sower of the Seed

Mary Ellis Chamberlain was baptized on May 8, 1899. Elder Joseph Thomson was given an honorable release on August 14, 1899. Unfortunately, there are no journal posts available between February 11, 1899 and August 14, 1899.

Because of Mary Chamberlain, her son Harry Ellis Chamberlain became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most of Harry’s 200 descendants (estimate 2018) also are Latter-day Saints, about twenty have served, or are now serving full time missions through out the world.

The prophetic blessing from an Apostle, Elder Francis M. Lyman on the head of Elder Thomas, described Mary and others when he said: “The honest in heart shall be prepared to receive thy testimony, to feed and clothe and give thee money. Mary is one of these honest in heart.

Elder Thomas and Elder Coons were sowers of seed much like Jesus’ parable found in the Book of Luke:

A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, an bare fruit hundred fold. And when he had said these things, he cried. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Luke 8:5-8)

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are those that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts lest they believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:11-15)

To be continued….

Chapter 23- The Early Life of Harry Ellis Chamberlain. Harry’s life in Spencer, Iowa and Visalia, California. The terrible tragedy and a spiritual moment that changed the life of my grandfather, Harry Ellis Chamberlain and his family forever.

Other stories:

Chapter E6- Sir Isaac Newton: the Athanasian Creed and Bible Prophecy.  Isaac Newton wrote over 1.3 million words on the prophecies of the Bible and early Christian Church History. These writings were hidden until they were discovered in 1936. Newton believed that Christian Church doctrine had been corrupted. As a result, this “Apostasy” would continue until just before the 7th trumpet and second coming of Christ. At that time, Newton believed, there would be a universal teaching of the truth through out the world. He implored those who are seeking truth to study the scriptures an ask God.

Chapter E18- The Promise of Passover in the Last Days  Jewish tradition, Bible prophecy, and a promise of Passover in the last days. Temples and the ordinance of Passover. A call to prepare to meet the Bridegroom. A Latter-day Saint perspective of “The Rapture”. Readers may also find interesting my interpretation of the recent fulfillment date of the prophecy of Revelations 7:9-10.

Joseph Smith Music Video 

Comments and questions welcome. Contact me by email click here.

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the written content of this site without express and written permission from the author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Dennis D. Chamberlain and direction to www.thechamberlainstory.com.

References:

1- Uncle Dale’s Reading in Early Mormon History, Newspapers of New York. 1829-1831
2- The Family of Walter and Clarissa (Nichols) Ellis, Familysearch.org, memories, Portrait
and Biographical Album of Polk County, Iowa, Lake City Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1890.
pp 626-627
3- Familysearch.org
4- Obituary of Mary Eva Ellis, Spencer Reporter, Wednesday, October 24, 1917.
5- Life Story of Harry Ellis Chamberlain (Given to Martin and Genene Chamberlain in
October, 1972) Unpublished.
6- The Altoona Harold, Altoona, Iowa, April 12, 1890.
7- Record of Travels and Incidents in the Missionary Life of Joseph Francis Thomas, Northern States Mission, May 4, 1897 to August 14, 1899.
8- Leonard Brown, American Patriotism: Or, Memoirs of “Commen Men”, (1869), p. 244-248 article found in Familysearch.

 

Homestead act of 1862

It certainly was a great opportunity, but feelings were mixed in the Chamberlain house. On May 20, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act to encourage Western migration. Under this act, settlers were provided 160 acres of public land for a small filing fee. Homesteaders who met the requirement of five years continuous residence, received ownership of the land. When young Harry turned 21 in July 1870, he qualified to apply for his own land.

Alonzo and his son Harry were considering another pioneer adventure, homesteading in Jewel County Kansas.  However, a neighbor in Illinois received some “boom” issues of the Clay County News from his brother George Huggins. Their neighbor’s hot tip convinced them that Clay County, Iowa was their new “El Dorado”!

Harry’s step mother Lydia was skeptical.

On April 18, 1871, the Chamberlains packed up their belongings into two prairie schooners. Harry brought his only property, a horse and buggy. They headed west traveling along side of the Illinois Central railroad through Dubuque. After they were 100 miles into Iowa it began to rain.¹

There were no roads or bridges and travelers faced danger crossing the wet marshy swamps that mired down their wagons. A couple of areas became especially note worthy, Hell Slough and Purgatory Slough. According to rumor, a wagon and team of oxen disappeared from sight as its driver attempted to cross Purgatory Slough, and were never seen again.²

“It rained almost every day,” Harry later recalled. “It was just out of one mud hole and into another… by the time we got to Pocahontas County we were well qualified to tackle Hell Slough and the two Purgatories.”¹

Arrival at the county seat, Peterson, Iowa.

After three weeks of travel through dust and mud they arrived in Clay County where they spent their first night sleeping under a cottonwood tree.³ Their first sight of Peterson did not impress them. There was one store, a small hotel and a blacksmith shop. No problem. They came to homestead the land.

The next morning they drove five miles northeast to see Mr. Huggins. “He gave us a real pioneer welcome.” This apparently included the notice that there were no land claims available.

What? No land claims? All they could see was land in every direction. Nevertheless, all the claims had been filed. They found that “land sharks” had covered up all the vacant homestead claims by putting fictitious filings on them. These filings were good for six months. Then they would relinquish their claim and immediately slap on another bogus entry until they could find some immigrant to sell it to.¹

At this point in his story Harry begins to use the personal pronoun “I” instead of “we.” Alonzo and Lydia came to Clay County with him, but apparently they were now on the road back to Illinois. Alonzo eventually settled on Harry’s homestead, but Lydia returned to, and remained in Shirland.^4,5

The Last Indian Scare

Harry went out, and for the next few days he explored the country to look for land locations. One night at about midnight, when Harry was sleeping alone in his prairie schooner, he was awoken when he heard someone shouting, “Fly for your life, Indians are upon us!”

He poked his head out of the covers and saw a man on a white horse armed with a rifle, knife and ax. “Where are they?”

“No time to visit,” came the reply. “You may be scalped in ten minutes, get on your best horse and go!”

He knew his farm horse would not stand a chance against a horde of Indian ponies. Also, according to family tradition, he was a direct descendant of the Chamberlain who had killed the Indian Chief Paugus at the battle at Lovewell’s Pond. Therefore, he figured, he would get his rifle and shot gun, hide under his schooner and wait for the Indians. The long night wait was tense, but the Indians never came.

It was with feeling of great relief to see the bright and glorious sunrise welcome a new day. He climbed upon his wagon and looked over the horizon. Nothing living or moving could be seen on that whole expanse of prairie. Some homestead seeking families left that night, he was told, and they never returned. He cooked up a pioneer breakfast and continued looking for land.

Finally, he traded his horse and buggy for a claim in Clay Township on section 29-95-ZS.¹

About a year after the Chamberlains arrived, William Warren and Amanda Chamberlain Warren brought their three young daughters, Elnora 5, Florence 4, and Clara 1 to Clay County. They settled on a homestead in Clay Township about seven miles NE of Peterson.⁶

Living off the land

In the Spring of 1871, 2600 emigrants came in to settle Clay County. Six hundred houses were built and 18,000 acres were turned over.⁷ The land only offered the homesteader a place to camp and grass for their livestock. There were no railroads within about 50 miles.

The homestead act required that homesteaders make improvements on the land. Fortunately, the government made an order accepting  the sod house and sod barn as an improvement. Otherwise, compliance would not be possible. The prairie was covered with an abundance of very tough sod.¹

Homesteaders would hitch up a plow and turn a furrow in the sod for a half mile or so. Then the sod was cut with a spade into about two foot lengths. The walls were made about two feet thick by alternately laying the pieces lengthwise then cross ways. They filled the cracks in the walls with grass and soil.

When the walls reached the desired dimension they covered the structure with poles and thatched them with slough grass. They then covered the roof with grass, sod or both. When they managed to get enough lumber they would make window frames, a door frame and a door. One or two small windows were framed and cheap windows were made that would swing on hinges.

The houses were very cheap but quite comfortable. Homesteaders had no other option, since there would be no money until they could raise a crop of wheat.^1,8

Harry related a story of the fuel problem they had the first couple of years on the prairie:

“The fuel question was quite a problem at first, but we so on—regardless of our religious training— learned to—  well, they would call it stealing wood. We did not call it stealing; we just went and took it. But when we were too busy to steal wood we twisted hay and got through that way. it was not a bad fuel. We had one preacher whose conscience hurt him a little to steal wood, and he said that he would either have to stop preaching or quit stealing wood, but I saw him down in the timber the next day just the same.”¹

The first school house in Clay County

There was no public money for a school but they had to have one. They built a respectable sod school house in the geographical center of Clay Township, section 26 about 18 miles southwest of Spencer. There were only three sod houses and two farm houses between Spencer and Peterson at the time. The neighbors came to Harry and wanted him to teach school the first winter.¹

Harry needed to have a certificate to qualify to teach. To take the examination, he traveled to Spencer and then went west down what later became Fourth Street past the cemetery. There he turned off the road and went up the river bottom northwest about a mile. He then forded the river where he found the county superintendent, Charles Carver, out in the field digging potatoes.¹

The school opened on a cold winter day. Harry had to dismiss class so that the neighbors could pile on a few loads of hay and add sod to the roof to keep out the wind.¹ “The school house where I taught had its stovepipe going right up through the thatch,” he later mused, “I don’t know why the roof didn’t burn off two or three times that winter.”⁸

Harry taught every thing from the ABCs up to and including Algebra. His duties for his thirty-seven dollars per month salary also included building the fires to keep the place warm. One morning after a fearful storm, he had to sweep out about three inches of snow. He built a wood fire in the stove and continued sweeping. In a few minutes, he looked over at the stove. The heat had melted the snow from the top and it ran down and froze in a fringe of icicles all around the edges of the stove. It was about twenty degrees below zero that morning.¹

One of the worst blizzards that Harry remembered came in January, 1874. It had been a beautiful forenoon, but the storm hit at about 1 o’clock. Soon people began to come for their children. They all had been picked up but two young men and three small girls. Harry knew that the girls’ father was out working in the timber. He took them out into the storm and somehow got them through to their homes. The young men made two attempts to get a mile to their home. Each time they got lost in the storm and were forced to return to the school where they stayed until the next day.^1,3

Harry later said of his pupils that he never saw any work as hard as they did, and as far as he knew, they did well in the world. One of his students was sixteen-year-old Mary Eva Ellis.⁹

Mary Eva Ellis

Mary Ellis was born in Rising Sun, Polk County, Iowa on December 15, 1855. There she obtained her early education in rural Polk County. She moved with her parents, Walter Ellis and Clarissa Nichols Ellis, to Clay County where they settled on their homestead in Clay Township section 6.

Mary attended school in the little sod school house in Clay County, under the instruction of her 22-year-old teacher, and future husband. She also attended for a while at the private school of Mrs. Phoebe Lincoln in Spencer.⁹ After finishing her education, she was hired as a teacher at the Clay Township school.³

She married Harry Chamberlain on June 20, 1875, and they began married life together on the groom’s Clay County farm.

In 1876, Mary’s older brother the Reverend Dennis R. Ellis came from Des Moines to lead in the establishment of the first Christian Church in Clay County.⁵ Harry Chamberlain¹ and William Warren¹⁰ and others organised a Sunday School and built the Church. Mary Ellis Chamberlain became united at that time with this church being baptized by Rev. D. R. Ellis.⁹

Grasshoppers

It looked like a bumper crop of wheat during the spring of 1876. Harry Chamberlain was about to begin harvest in late July when a flight of grasshoppers clouded the sun in Northwest Iowa and Western Minnesota. They then began devouring every vestige of vegetation.¹¹ “We had a wonderful crop but they took it all“, Harry wrote, “They clustered on everything like swarms of bees. Even the dog and the chickens had to stay in the barn. The only thing we had left in our garden was a castor bean. They stayed eleven days. Then the wind changed to the northwest and they all left in two hours.”¹

This was a real disaster for Harry and his young bride. The future looked bleak. This year’s whole crop was destroyed and the grasshoppers had laid their eggs. It seemed likely that next year might be just as bad. There were some who believed that Northwestern Iowa would soon become a desert. On top of this, it was about this time when Mary realized that she was pregnant with their first child.

Political Intrigue

In the early days, Clay County was unified as Republican on national questions, but county politics was a fight between two factions, both of which claimed the name Republican. The main issue that divided the county was the location of the county seat. Peterson took it away from Spencer in 1860 by ten votes. One faction was led by M. E. Griffin. The other was led by Dr. Charles McAllister.

In 1871 Harry Chamberlain, Dr. McAllister and County Treasurer S. W. Dubois fought for Peterson. Generally, the south part of the county was with them. However, Mr. Griffin defeated Dubois for county treasurer, 359 to 200, and therefore, the treasurers office and county seat was moved back to Spencer on January 1, 1872.

The treasurers safe was small enough for one man to carry it, so security precautions were put in place for its transfer to Spencer. John Copper, a public spirited citizen who had been sheriff, was persuaded to guard the safe. After they brought it up from Peterson he vigilantly stood guard protecting the little safe all night. He did not know that it was empty.

Griffin and his associates started The Spencer Reporter in the late seventies because the existing paper, The Spencer News, was controlled by McAllister, and it would not print the Griffin faction’s political arguments. The first Reporter office was on the west side of Main street between Second and Third.

There was a county election every year and the recorder and clerk of courts were elected in the even numbered years. The elections for other county offices were held in odd numbered years. In 1876, after his devastating crop loss due to the grasshopper plague, Harry Chamberlain decided to run for the office of Clerk of Courts.

At that time ballets were not provided by the government. Instead, various party organizations printed their own tickets. It was up to any candidate interested in being elected to personally see to it that the ticket with his name on it got into the hands of the voters. The voters handed in the ticket of their choice as their ballot. They could “scratch” it by crossing out and filling in a different name if desired, but it was the fashion to vote a straight ticket.¹²

Harry Chamberlain explained his political strategy:

“I drove all over the county before election handing McAllster tickets to the voters. I also put barrels of apples and boxes of cigars at strategic points for the use of electors. They ate Chamberlain’s apples and smoked Chamberlain’s cigars and then they voted for Chamberlain.”¹²

Harry Chamberlain served as clerk of courts for ten years, 1877-1886. He began his first term on January 1, 1877.

Who voted for Alonzo?

In the 1884 election, Harry Chamberlain the incumbent ran unopposed for the office of county clerk of courts. There were thirteen hundred and sixty-seven votes cast, of which Harry Chamberlain received 1366. A. Chamberlain received one vote.¹³

Post Office Box 31

When Harry became the clerk of courts he moved into Spencer. In February 1877 he rented Post Office Box 31 which was located in Post Master Jim Haskin’s “Justice of the Peace and Realty Office.”  He  held that box for many years with one slight interruption.

In the late 1880s the Post Masters owned the postal equipment including the boxes. Also, they were directly connected to the national presidential administration. Glover Cleveland won the US presidency in 1884. He was the first Democrat in the White House since before the Civil War. The new Post Master did not buy the PO boxes which were currently in use. Therefore, Haskin’s placed a sign on his PO Boxes: “THIS OFFICE CLOSED DURING DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION.”

When Republican Benjamin Harrison won the presidential election in 1888, Haskins changed his sign: “OPEN FOR BUSINESS.” Thus, Chamberlain once again had his Post Office Box 31.⁸

Law Practice and Mayor of Spencer, Iowa

Harry was defeated in the election of 1886 and succeeded in by A. H. Cheney. However, he had been reading and studying law during his ten years as clerk of courts. He had prepared himself well and was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1886. On January 1, 1887, Harry opened a law office on the second floor of the Hanson building in partnership with E. C. Hughes.^3,5

In 1892 Harry Chamberlain served his first term as Mayor of Spencer. He served as Mayor through 1896.

Spencer vs Emmetsburg

On Thanksgiving day in 1895 excitement was high in anticipation of the big high school football game between Spencer and Emmetsburg. The Emmetsburg boys arrived on the 10:45 train and were accompanied by a great crowd of Emmetsburg enthusiasts, among them was noticed a goodly number of ladies.

At 12 o’clock the boys entered the field. Spencer’s team captain Hirleman won the toss and judiciously chose the south goal to take advantage of the wind.

The teams prepared for the kick off. As the teams lined up, the superior weight of the Emmetsville boys was particularly noticeable. They were larger and heavier than the Spencer boys.

Freeman’s kick sent the ball flying into the air. It hit well down in Spencer territory, but it was at once carried back to the center and downed. The game was on and for the next twenty minutes the ball was forced back and forth near the center. It was now some fifteen yards into Emmetsburg territory.

Captain Hirleman called out, “x, y, z, c, b, m, n, o, p, q, five thousand, seven hundred and eighty-six.” That was it, the signal for the criss-cross. Eckley took the ball and feigned the left end then passed the ball to Chamberlain.

Chamberlain made a desperate run toward the right, and with the aid of interference made it around the right end. The field was now clear except for one man who was brushed off and Chamberlain made the most exciting run of the game carrying the ball over the line and behind the goal. It was the first touchdown of the game scoring Spencer 4 points. The ball was carried out ten yards, Chamberlain kicked a goal and the score stood at 6 to 0.¹⁴

Note: In 1895 the rules for football were different than today (2018). A touch down was 4 points, kick after touch down was 2 points, a safety was 2 points and a field goal was 5 points. The forward pass was not yet a part of the game. It is believed that the first forward pass occurred on October 26, 1895 in a game between Georgia and North Carolina when out of desperation, the ball was thrown instead of punted. It did not become part of the rules of American football until 1906.¹⁵

In the second half, Emmetsburg drove the ball down to five yards from the goal line. However, it was there fumbled and recovered by Spencer.¹⁶ SHS made two touchdowns in the second half, but the kicks after the touchdowns failed. “By this time the ball had become very wet and slippery, which, together with the strong wind made it no wonder Chamberlain missed the goal”.¹⁴

The Emmetsburg paper wrote of the action after the early 20 minutes of stale mate, “then Chamberlain, the star half back on the Spencer team was given the ball and made a splendid run of 35 yards around the end and made the first touchdown for Spencer”.

The final score was Spencer 14, Emmetsburg 0. In Emmetsburg the newspaper headline read:

“A BIG GOOSE EGG- THAT IS WHAT OUR FOOTBALL TEAM GOT AT SPENCER”¹⁶

Alonzo W. Chamberlain, the son of Harry Chamberlain, graduated from Spencer High School in the class of 1896. He was known to all of his friends as “Lonnie”. Perhaps a sign of Chamberlain modesty, I have never seen a write-up of him where he was mentioned as a star high school athlete. My grandfather, Harry Ellis Chamberlain was only 5-years-old at the time and probably didn’t remember Lonnie’s high school days.

Harry Jr. wrote of his brother, “Alonzo belonged to the band and had different instruments he practiced on. Alonzo (Lonnie) was a wonderful brother to me and I love him very much”.¹⁷

1895-96 Spencer High School football, names and team positions: Dubois center, Bitsen right guard, Griggs left guard, Greaves right guard, Hendricks left tackle, Eckley right end, Tryon left end, Hirleman quarter back, Chamberlain right half back, Eckley left half back, Wiesen full back, and substitutes Verharen, Tayler, Crandall and Stokes.¹⁶

The grandchildren of Alonzo Chamberlain

Children of William Warren and Amanda Chamberlain:
1- Elnora Idelia Warren b. 18 September 1867, d. 2 October 1931
2- Florence Elmira Warren b. 15 May 1869, d. 8 February 1957,
3- Clara Edith Warren b. March 1871, d. December 1969
4- Betty Norris Warren b. 16 February 1874, d. 1941
5- Arthur Irwin Warren b. 2 November 1878, d. June 1974
6- William Roy Warren b. 16 August 1883, d. 5 July 1969
7- Nellie Warren b. 14 March 1885, d. 8 July 1979

Children of Harry Chamberlain and Mary Eva Chamberlain:
1- Alonzo Walter Chamberlain b. 6 February 1877, d. 15 November 1930
2- Myrtle Mae Chamberlain b. 22 January 1882, d. 20 January 1928
3- Ernest Clarence Chamberlain b. 2 October 1883, 21 September 1904
4- Harry Ellis Chamberlain, Jr. b. 21 December 1890, d 23 February 1973

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be continued…

Chapter 22- Mary Ellis Chamberlain: The Mormons Return to Iowa

If you got this far, please click Goodbye or Table of Contents. This will simply tell me that someone looked at this post. Thank you! Dennis Chamberlain

© Copyright Dennis D. Chamberlain, The Chamberlain Story, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of the written content of this site without express and written permission from the author and owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that credit is given to Dennis D. Chamberlain and direction to www.thechamberlainstory.com.

References:

1- Harry Chamberlain- Memoir of Harry Chamberlain. (Family copy) published in the Spencer Reporter, December 16, 1985.
2- Cheryl Mullenbach/Iowa History, February 25, 2017, http://www.iowawatch.org/tag/pocahontas-county/
3- Newspaper clipping from Spencer Iowa titled “Harry Chamberlain- Can Recall First Fair Ever Held in County Over Fifty Years Ago”
4- 1880 U. S. Census
5- The Spencer News-Herald, Spencer Iowa, February 1, 1935
6- Obituary Elnora Warren, October 8, 1931
7- The Philadelphia Inquirer, Friday, July 14, 1871
8- Spencer Reporter, Wednesday, December 17, 1924
9- Obituary of Mary Eva Ellis, Spencer Reporter, Wednesday, October 24, 1917.
10- Two Homesteaders of County Die, Spencer News Hearld, Thursday, February 25, 1926
11- The Gazette, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Friday, August 4, 1876
12- The Spencer Reporter, December 24, 1924
13- Clay County News Supplement, November 20, 1884
14- Spencer Herald, December 4, 1895
15- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_American_football
16- Emmetsburg Democrat, Wednesday, December 4, 1895
17- Life Story of Harry Ellis Chamberlain, (Given to Martin and Genene Chamberlain in October, 1972, Unpublished)