Journal from the 1st Mission of John Francis Astle Louisiana - May to July of 1896 Transcribed by Charlotte Astle

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May 21 '96 - Arose this morning feeling well, had breakfast and biding Mr. Dave Richardson good by and thanking him, continued our canvas in Parker settlement called on Mr. Cook, was invited in, his wife was confined to her bed having been throwed out of a wagon and a weel (wheel) running across her, breaking some of her ribs. They are spiritualists we had a long talk on the gospel, very nice people. The Lady is a teacher of elocution. We had dinner, the Lady seemed to have a desire to investigate, we left two tracts, she thought of sending for a Book of Mormon, thanking them and biding them good by went to Mr. John Parker, a man 73 years old was sick in bed, a short talk with him, he had us lead Prayer before leaving. called on Mr. Garlet, invited in a talk on the gospel, supper, another pleasant talk, went to bed.   visitng14F revisit1 Dis16T Walking 8 miles

May 22 '96 - Violin PO - We arose this morning well had breakfast Mr. Garlet said when we come there, we could hold meeting, biding him good by, continued our journey visiting, had a long talk of the gospel with Mr. Jno Crawford, from there visited 3 indian families, did not get to talk much with them, left a track with one of them, the others could not read, they are all Catholic, went by way of Mr. Welch, called for a drink, he asked us to stay for dinner we did so, thanking them went our way, called on Mr. Crawford had a long talk on the gospel for about one hour, then went on, set by the side of the road, wrote to Bro J. A. Davis of Simpson Co. Miss. Went to another Crawford, the gentleman was not home, and they did not seem to care for us. So we went and spent the night with Professor Hill supper, a pleasant talk till 10 oclock, had prayers, went to bed.

May 23 '96 - Flesenville PO - Rested very good, got up well, breakfast on bread and milk, thanking and biding Mr. Hill good by, made our way to Pearl River Station, got letter form my wife all very well, having cold weather, also letter from J.P.Thompson with $9.00 in the Seventies & elders got up a dance for my benefit on the 1 of May and raised it which I am very greatful for. Went to the store and got two ancherfies (handkerchiefs), started for Honey Island. The day is very hot, went out in the woods had a shave, read some, crossed the tressel work over the Pearl River, a large bridge, the tressel work about one half mile long, first house is man by name of J F. Blackwell, we called on him, introduced our selves, he said he would like to hear us preach, invited us to stay at his place and he would go and notify the people and we would have meeting tonight, we accepted the invitation, he started out. Before we had gone it began to rain, looked as though we would not have a meeting. Finely it let up, we had supper, the people began to come in, meeting began at 8 p.m. The spirit of the Lord was with us, the people kept very quiet. We enjoyed ourselves well, we sat up till 11 oclock, talked about our people. Mr. Blackwell was some what surprised, did not think we was the Mormons till we held meeting, one of the Bros did though, had met to of our elders in Mississippi, and was very curious to have us preach.

May 24 - Sunday Pearl River PO - A good nights rest, got up a fine day, feeling well, had breakfast, the timber here is very thick, there is no pine, very swampy. We had no meeting for today, so we went with Mr. Blackwell to attend a Baptist meeting, after waiting at the appointed for a long time, a few came. They held meeting, we was invited home with Mr. Hall, ½ miles a pole road, had dinner, the afternoon is very hot and sultry, no breeze what ever, spent the day talking on different subjects, never got on the gospel, though there was a Baptist preacher there by the name of----, He had met the elders in Mississippi. It rained some after supper, a long talk on the Word of Wisdom, retired 9 p.m.   W3 D5 V4

May 25 - Honey Island - Arose well, a fine day, had breakfast, wrote letter to my wife, biding Mr. Hall good by with invitation to call again we went over on the R.R.T., posted letter, visited a spoak (spoke) factory. They average 700 spoaks (spokes) a day, and some of them are for an 8 foot weel (wheel), a log cart. Went out to Bayou, had a bath and visited some lady by the name of Mrs.___ asked us to stay for dinner, we did so, a pleasant conversation, from there to Mr. Smith's, they both live close by the mill. We was welcomed in, his father lives in Mississippi, a great friend to the elders, one of his Daughters is here, she said there had been 10 elders at her fathers. Miss and Mr. Smith asked us to hold Meeting at their house, so we gave out appointments for 7 oclock, a gospel conversation, notified the people, took our underclothes to Mr. Barkers to get them washed and back to Mr. Smiths, had supper, and meeting began at 7:00. Mr. Smith and sister sang for us, Elder Moore spoke first on the Kingdom of God. I spoke a short time and closed, they sang God Be With You Till We Meet Again. We had enjoyable time. There were some there that hadn't attended meeting for years. The spirit of the Lord was with us, all seemed interested, after Miss Smith played the organ and sang for us, we retired at 10 p.m.   W2 D5 V5 Meet1

May 26 '96 - Honey Island - A good nights rest, got up well, wrote my dira (diary) for the past two days had breakfast, Mr. Calvin Smith asked us to take a walk over to the mill and look around awhile, we went on arriving there, Mr. Dr. Benton steped (stepped) up to Elder Moore, told him he did not want us Mormons there, said we was no good and wanted us to get of his place. We stood there a few minutes. Dr. Benton said something to Mr. Smith and told us to leave the place, we did so. Mr. Benton was mad because Smith let us preach in the house where he was living as the places around the Mill belonged to him. I am sorry for Smith as he was working there for a living, but think it will turn out for the best, I think it will cause him to think and investigate. Mr. Smith thought it was all right. Told us when we come on the Island again he would have some place to preach, Biding them good by and thanking them, made our way down the Island, visited several families, took dinner with Mr.---, a long talk on the gospel, thank them, continued, came to Mr. Hendley, talked on the gospel for some time. He said we could hold meeting in his house and sent a boy around to tell the people, had supper, went to the school house, has a nice little crowd gathered. I spoke on general & individual salvation. The people seemed to be interested, wished us to hold another meeting, went home with Mr. Budy Hindley, a short talk and went to bed.

May 27 '96 - Honey Island - Got up well had breakfast and shaved. Biding Hendley good by with invitation to call again, continued our canvas, had dinner with Mr. Mike Asher. He has seen the elders a good many times in Mississippi, a pleasant time, when biding good by asked to call again. Had a short talk with a Mr. Lot Smith a friend to the elders in Miss., he wished us to stay all night with him, so we left our grips and finished canvassing in the lower part of the Island. And went back to Mr. Smiths, had supper. Mr. Asher and wife came over and we had a long talk on the gospel. The old man asked a great many questions. Went to bed at 10 oclock.

May 28 '96 - Honey Island - I did not rest very well, after breakfast with an invitation to call again continued our canvas, went North crossed the R.R.T., we had a great deal of hunting to find the people, got our washing, cost 15¢ each, did not have dinner, and I did not feel the best kind. Called on Mr. Pembrit Mitchel, got entertainment, was very tired, had supper, a pleasant talk on our country, and went to bed at 8 oclock, it was thundering, lightning and raining very hard.   W9 V7

May 29 '96 - Honey Island - Rested very well, got up feeling a little better, had breakfast and biding Mitchels good by finished canvassing on the Island, went to Pearl River Station, we go very mudy (muddy) we brushed up and went to PO got letter from my wife all very well, but the weather was cold, also go letter from Prest. Swenson, stated the Conference would be held in Miss. in the last part of Aug., all the elders very well they Baptized a Lady in St Helena Pa. (Parish) PO card to have mail sent to Abita Springs. Went 4 miles west of Pearl River, to Mr. Jno. Kinedy, had supper, a pleasant talk about our country. Went to bed at 9:30 p.m.   12Mi V3 D3 Rev1.

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